Chapter 48: Duke Mutual Aid Society

Naimi Xisi looked at the third woman, who claimed to be from the same world as him.

Name: Xia Nai·Kelaimont

Race: Human

Location: Magic Net Multiverse — Prime Material Plane — Tianyu Realm Crystal Barrier System — Toriel.

Toriel is the name of the planet on which the Feren Continent resides; beyond Toriel lie eight major planets and a sun at the center of the planetary system.

These planets together form the crystal barrier system called the Tianyu Realm.

Crystal barrier systems are the most common entities in the Prime Material Plane; each is encased in a crystal wall, drifting in the combustible sea of the plane like mustard seeds.

Each crystal barrier system contains varying amounts of matter—some may be merely a massive continent, others host billions of stars.

In fact, Naimi Xisi thinks crystal barrier systems are roughly analogous to star systems of the previous universe, the only difference being that each is shielded by an indestructible crystal wall.

This is why countless beings of the Prime Material Planes can live peacefully in a multiverse populated by gods and demons.

With a crystal wall, even deities and demons cannot manifest physically within the system; only those pitiful worlds whose crystal walls are broken cannot resist divine or demonic invasion.

Xia Nai extended her slender white hand and said, "Greetings, esteemed True Dragon Excellency. I come from the Am Empire of Feren; as you can see, I am a Sixth-level Mage."

Naimi Xisi raised an eyebrow. The Am Empire? He had heard of it—a coastal empire backed by the Sea of Swords, prosperous in trade, with a strong army, a renowned power in western Feren.

He shook hands to show goodwill; although in reality that kind of mage was merely a minor figure before him, as a fellow holder of the mysterious artifact he still accorded proper respect.

"Naimi Xisi, I come from the Yinbu Tu Kingdom."

Xia Nai hesitated; being from a wealthy family she had read extensively since childhood and knew about the Juan Ce Long, but it seemed such a dragon essentially did not exist in the Prime Material Plane.

She had assumed the other was a tourist visiting the Prime Material Plane, but it turned out he was truly a fellow native.

"Yinbu Tu Kingdom? The country near Sai Er?" Xia Nai said, surprised.

"I heard that not long ago it was attacked by Deep Poison—Ao Qi Wei Li Si, and the Yinbu Tu Kingdom's envoy came to our nation seeking aid."

Naimi Xisi nodded, internally scoffing at how famous that Green Dragon was—its reputation even reached the Am Empire on the western coast.

He couldn't help feeling a bit envious; as a True Dragon, the highest honor is having one's meticulously crafted, imposing title known to all creatures across the continent.

Before Xia Nai could continue asking, Fa Qi beside them impatiently interrupted her.

"Alright, after we're done you'll have plenty of time to reminisce; let's begin formally now?"

The three exchanged glances and nodded, only Naimi Xisi looking rather bewildered.

Fa Qi nudged his fingertip against his nose, then seemed to realize something and lowered his hand, saying:

"This is the rule we three set: since we're all gathered here because of the gem, regardless of where we are, we have naturally formed a connection."

"Therefore, we believe everyone should uphold a spirit of mutual aid, and during our monthly meetings exchange items, knowledge, secrets, or offer something in return for assistance."

"Only then can we maximize the gem's potential."

"Will you join us?" he finished, looking at Naimi Xisi with hopeful eyes.

"Um," Naimi Xisi hesitated, but after thinking he realized this was indeed the only purpose between the Thrones; six individuals from different worlds could help each other, pooling each world's unique resources and knowledge—a distinct advantage.

So he nodded in agreement and, out of curiosity, asked, "Do you hold this meeting every month?" Fa Qi nodded and replied, "Whenever someone calls a meeting, the rest are notified. To ensure our mutual aid society runs smoothly, we always try to join whenever others convene."

"Time flow between the Thrones is static, so even if we do something midway, we need not worry about being affected."

"Then what does Duke represent, and why am I called the fourth Duke?"

For this question, after a long silence, Lajiate spoke up, tugging at the white hair peeking from his black hood, and exclaimed, "Look at that Throne."

"Don't you think it's waiting for a king to ascend? I believe the gem will eventually choose one of the six to sit on that Throne, so I call us Dukes! The most honored beings beneath the King!"

"I call it the Duke Mutual Aid Society!"

Fa Qi and Xia Nai shrugged, indicating they somewhat agreed with the speculation.

"Then, let's begin formally. The 74th Round Table Meeting, officially commencing~" Fa Qi mimicked holding a hammer, tapped the table and announced.

Naimi Xisi was speechless; how could this Englishman be so ritualistic? Then Fa Qi was the first to raise his hand and say, "I have a request and hope to receive your help."

He forced a wry smile and said, "In reality I've already been kidnapped by a legendary vampire; that mad woman plans to finish me off after I finish my drink."

"Please, Naimi Xisi, you must have a way; you're a legendary dragon!" Fa Qi pleaded with clasped hands, his face full of hope.

"Um," Naimi Xisi was once again at a loss for words; the man was near death, yet still putting on a ceremony? Xia Nai interjected, surprised, "Vampire? Do you mean the vampire count you were tracking before? She actually showed up?"

Fa Qi bitterly nodded and said, "I only placed a newspaper ad looking for information on Countess Elizabeth of Valakia, and she showed up at my door that night."

Xia Nai's eye twitched; seeking death like that was a bit much.

She sighed, "I'm broke now; studying spells has nearly drained my gold coins. Take this, it's an Accelerating Ring my mentor gave me, capable of releasing a Three-ring Transformation spell—Acceleration Technique—once per day."

She produced a ring pulsing with magical energy, grimacing, "Listen carefully: this is only a loan. If you survive, you must return it to me!"

Fa Qi eagerly took the ring, thanking her, "Of course, don't worry. If I survive, I'll bring the ring back intact!"

Xia Nai looked wistfully at the taken ring—it was the only valuable thing she still owned after her family's bankruptcy.

"You must bring it back to me!" Xia Nai urged anxiously.

Fa Qi snapped his head in agreement, then looked expectantly back at the original asker.

Naimi Xisi's delicate fingers tapped the table a few times; he tilted his head, sizing up the other, seemingly assessing the value of the investment.

"The Vampire Count—what is her strength?" Naimi Xisi asked.

Xia Nai, who knew the matter well, replied, "Vampires in their world differ from Feren's undead; they possess almost no magical ability but have extreme speed and can hypnotize humans."

"I once commissioned Fa Qi to hunt a vampire, bring its corpse here for trade, and I derived those abilities from studying the body."

Naimi Xisi nodded; it sounded like a low-magic world creature.

He then asked, "If you give him the Accelerating Ring, can he use it? Does that world also have magic?"

The minimum requirement for using a Magic Item is a creature that possesses magical energy and can resonate with the Magic Net.

The Magic Net weaves through the Multiverse, yet in most worlds it remains in a dormant, invisible state; there, magic is an unknowable myth, a tool for rural swindlers to cheat money.

If Fa Qi can use a Magic Item, it indicates that world has fertile ground for magic to grow.

(End of Chapter)