Chapter 50: Du Kuide Family

At the closing stage of the Duke Mutual Aid Society, it is the phase where the four exchange information and swap items.

Fa Qi, heavily in debt, again secured a series of Fourth Ring Shaping Energy System Spell names and specific effects as the price for promising to bring a Magic Item to Naimi Xisi in the future.

This is preparation for an advanced Shaping Energy Magic Ring.

The Earth where Fa Qi resides is very unusual; the Magic Net there is extremely inert and backward, so magical research is very primitive and cumbersome.

Those spellcasters called "experts" must undergo lengthy casting rituals to release spells of very weak power.

Xia Nai once taught Fa Qi the spell model of the Second Ring Shaping Energy System Spell 【Burning Hand】, but its effect was greatly weakened when Fa Qi used it on Earth.

It is a realm that exists, but it is not suitable for magical flourishing.

Xia Nai also covets the magical knowledge Naimi Xisi possesses and made an agreement for the next trade.

"Mr. Naimi Xisi, I hope that at next month's exchange meeting I can trade 300 gold coins for a Third Ring Transformation System Spell model," Xia Nai said, a little embarrassed, because she had just spent a fortune on magical materials and several spell models last month, leaving her purse empty.

"300? It can't be less than 1,000 gold coins," Naimi Xisi said, his merchant grin appearing at the mention of gold. "1,000? Too much! At most five hundred gold coins, that's the market price, and I need the most practical spell!" Xia Nai snorted inwardly; she too is a master of haggling.

"Deal!" Naimi Xisi said quickly, leaving Xia Nai suddenly choked; she felt she had over‑offered.

She paused, then said awkwardly, "Um, actually I might not be able to produce five hundred gold coins next month either; could I extend another month? Pay you the month after that?"

Naimi Xisi narrowed his eyes, wondering if this woman was trying to get something for free.

But he thought of a better angle, one that could obtain useful information and also be a favor that goes with the flow.

"How about this: I can waive part of this gold depending on the situation, as long as you give me some information of comparable value."

Xia Nai was pleased; for a mage, gold coins are never too many, since they're needed everywhere, and saving a little is a little.

"Of course, but I usually focus on news from the Arcane circles, so I might not know much."

Speaking, she began to ponder and then asked, "I wonder if you know any news about the Maztek Continent?"

Naimi Xisi frowned, indicating he was not clear; indeed other continents exist on the planet Toriel, but people of Frelen at a medieval technological level have hardly explored beyond Frelen.

Occasionally, some travelers from the East arrive by ship, and the people of that continent call it 【Karatu】.

As for the so‑called Maztek Continent, he had never heard of it.

Seeing Naimi Xisi didn't know, Xia Nai continued, "Three years ago, a deep‑sea vessel of the Am Empire discovered a new continent, teeming with precious magical gems and materials, and vast primeval forests."

"General Kodel of the Am Empire named it the Maztek Continent and is assembling an expeditionary force called the 【Golden Legion】 to colonize Maztek,"

The female mage said wistfully, "It is said the ground of the new continent flows with gold; if I could join the expedition and get a share, it would be a fortune beyond imagination!"

Naimi Xisi stroked his chin; Xia Nai's description was indeed very enticing, as Frelen's wealth had been almost entirely divided up, with the vast majority of magical resources held by those powerful factions.

A new continent means huge profit.

It is likely that not only the Am Empire, but a series of strong powers along the western coast will also take part. Sure enough, Xia Nai's next words confirmed his view: "My organization—the Masked Mage Society—has already received word that powerful coastal city‑states such as Deepwater City, Luscan, and Baldur's Gate plan to cooperate with Am. I suggest that, if you have the chance, you join one side when the expedition is launched."

In fact, though it is called cooperation, Naimi Xisi guessed the expedition would ultimately be led by the Am Empire.

After all, among the coastal powers, the Am Empire is famously a colonial giant; its navy is one of the most fearsome in Frelen. If Frelen were not a theocratic nation, probably only Deepwater City could resist an Am invasion.

The reason, naturally, is that Deepwater City possesses one of the strongest spellcaster forces on the Frelen continent.

The Black Staff Tower Arcane Academy, led by the legendary mage Kaelben Heizhang!

"What a pity," Naimi Xisi lamented; his current strength is still too weak, leaving him only to stare hungrily at this gold mine.

But the colonization process itself is a long struggle.

Just assembling the expeditionary force and reaching Maztek would likely take ten years, and with wars against the natives lasting at least thirty years, Maztek's colonization would remain in its early stage.

"You're clever," Naimi Xisi praised, "This news will soon become worthless and isn't much use to me, but since I promised I won't renege. Here, this is the spell model of the Third Ring Transformation System Spell 【Flash】."

Naimi Xisi tore the page from the spellbook that recorded the Flash spell model, and Xia Nai carefully took the fragment as if handling a treasure.

It is her habit; she regards Arcane knowledge as more important than her own life.

The four then began a wide‑ranging conversation, and Naimi Xisi was surprised to discover that Lajate could not use any Magic Net spells.

In their world, they draw power by absorbing the world's life energy to cast spells, a method that can be described as extremely exploitative.

But this is the dilemma faced by worlds that cannot use the Magic Net; they must exhaust every means to locate a source of supernatural energy.

Naimi Xisi obtained from Lajate some knowledge about spells in their world for future study.

Five hours later, everything within 【Between the Throne】 began to become illusory; the time was up, and Naimi Xisi was whisked back to his own lair in the blink of an eye.

The floating 【Throne】 fell into his claws; he sensed that the advanced Shaping Energy Magic Ring inside him had vanished.

The material truly passed through that tiny gem and was transported to another plane.

Just as he was still researching, Kelan Jiatin and Volensa hurriedly entered.

"Master, this Gray Dwarf has information for you,"

Volensa tugged at Kelan Jiatin beside her, saying, and the short‑tempered Gray Dwarf glared at him, but the disparity in strength made this earliest‑joined dependent dare not speak his anger.

He cleared his throat and said, "Master, following your orders, while selling our Cold Iron Weapons in the central‑northern region, I heard news about Menzoberranzan."

Naimi Xisi raised an eyebrow; he had always been keen on Menzoberranzan's movements, since after the Upper Dark Region's ruler failed an invasion, who knows what it might do.

"The third family, the Di Fo Family, of Menzoberranzan has been exterminated," Kelan Jiatin said word for word.

Returning to the surface soon~ (End of chapter)