Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1109: Chapter 902: Greed and Restraint

Edna shook her head at the ’Old Age Striking King’ waving at her, then smiled and made a hand gesture taught by the Undead Tribe, expressing gratitude but also refusal.

She couldn’t possibly stay in the Sanda King Sister’s Mushroom House at this time, as the others, especially those Quel Senta Mages, wouldn’t be welcomed by the Undead Tribe to stay in their Alchemy Hut.

Even if relations weren’t that great, as the team leader, she couldn’t abandon her team members to enjoy comforts alone.

Anyway, it’s only a day; after arriving in Long Saddle Town tomorrow, she can rest... Even though relations with the Lord of Agleya aren’t great, Edna doesn’t believe the Haber Family has the courage to make a move on her in their own territory.

These days, having a serious, responsible, and powerful boss above you makes life much easier.

Especially when few people can use Ninth Ring Spells, the lord of Agleya, who can personally slay a Giant Dragon, appears exceptionally mighty.

Edna chose not to stay by the stream; instead, she stood on a small hill.

The elevated view turned out to be quite good. Everything happening was clear to see.

Not only could she see the Alchemist infatuated with an Iridescent Flower amidst the grass, but also those Mages and their followers attracted by Frost-ling Flowers beneath the ice, secretly sneaking outside the safe zone.

Edna gently turned her head and looked at Leonard not far away, circling a Vanda Tree: ”Leon, what are you doing?”

”Ah! I didn’t expect Vanda Trees to survive outside the Supreme Forest,” Leonard remarked while sighing, ”Those who travel from the Tower of Nature say such trees are nearly extinct in the Ferun Great Land.”

Edna looked perplexedly at the 30-meter tall tree resembling an oval-shaped lantern: ”Aren’t Vanda Trees quick to grow? Moreover, their Life Force is quite resilient.”

”Elves have always used Vanda Wood branches for instruments, so these trees were everywhere in Sword Bay before humans found them perfect for beams, and their fate was sealed.

They are so tall, unless deep in forests where no one ventures, they would be cut down completely.

It’s such a pity; these trees used to be Nature Mage tree houses when traveling.”

Edna glanced at the somewhat dissatisfied Leonard and couldn’t help but laugh: ”Then you can visit Agleya; these trees are perfect for making nests for White Dragons, and a hill beside Agleya City is nearly completely planted with them.”

Leonard looked back at Edna in surprise: ”Did that Agleya lord plant them?”

”Who else could it be?” Edna shrugged lightly, ”Hill still collects various plant seeds, and if there’s something he doesn’t have, the reward he offers is quite generous.”

”Last time when he was a guest in the Star Mountain Range, I wish I could have returned,” Leonard said with some regret, ”Both my dad and mom really like him.

Especially my dad, who keeps saying that although they are both Nature Mages, that lord is closer to nature.”

”Is he comparing you or your Tower Master?” Edna asked pointedly.

”How could I ever be eligible to be compared with such a powerful Mage?” Leonard sighed, ”That’s a frightening being capable of personally slaying several Ancient Dragons.

The Ancient Green Dragon of the Supreme Forest was terrified during that time, fearing being implicated by reckless relatives.”

Leonard, slowly walking to Edna’s side, lowered his head to softly ask: ”Do we really not need to care about those reckless ones?”

”What they’ve set eyes on are Frost-ling Flowers, worth 2000 Gold Coins each.

Since their eyes are gleaming with Golden Light, nothing I say will help,” Edna said without changing her expression.

”What creature is beneath the water? Will we get implicated?” Leonard asked casually.

Being a Half-Elf but a believer of Coron, Leonard never bothers with matters of others seeking danger... Seeking danger is also someone else’s freedom, Edna already warned them.

His concern only lies with the safety of those acting within the rules.

”Just some aquatic ice creature,” Edna said softly, ”If we talk strength, there are indeed Transcendent ones inside.

But compared to the Undead Tribe, they are somewhat lacking.

They absolutely won’t dare to leave the water; otherwise, they would have been cleaned up by the Undead Tribe long ago.”

The Undead Tribe has always maintained a lesser pursuit of defeated foes, never severing the ties of monsters completely.

The various monsters of Neverwinter Forest have understood this boundary... As long as they escape swiftly, at least quicker than their kin, they can live quite long.

Leonard nodded and stopped paying attention to those sneaky folks.

He pointed to the Vanda Tree and said: ”Want to try the life of a Nature Mage?”

Edna couldn’t help but laugh: ”Do I need to use the Weave Spell?”

The sky was already getting dark, and if it’s a Weave Spell, it can be replenished tomorrow, so might as well use it.

But now, many mages actually use high-level spells without the Weave, which consumes a large amount of their own mana, and it’s not something that can be recovered by just a good night’s sleep; it requires meditation.

Although with the Undead Tribe’s protection, the two of them shouldn’t be in any danger, but... Edna learned from the Undead Tribe since childhood that it’s better to be safe than sorry; one should never rely on ’I feel it won’t happen.’

Leonard smiled and said, ”Just a Fifth Circle spell.”

That is still within the support range of the Weave, Edna said happily, ”Then I’ll take a look at how the Nature Mage’s tree house differs from the Druid’s~”

”Eh? What are they using to chisel the ice?” Luca, who had also noticed what those restless guys were doing, found Devis, ”It won’t affect us, will it?”

”Edna and Leonard seem to be studying the tree house.”

Devis seemed to answer irrelevantly, but Luca already understood what he meant to say: ”Tsk, I’ve always heard that Moduken City has a few unparalleled geniuses, and these two are probably among those rumors, right?

How could those guys boast like that!

It’s not like they transcended immediately just after becoming adults.”

”Probably because people around them think they’re unparalleled geniuses, so they really believe they’re Elminster?” Devis said coldly, ”Or rather, they’re hoping to become the next Kelben?”

Luca couldn’t help but tilt his head, not quite understanding what Devis meant.

”I’ve been pondering this. Although people in Moduken City have wanted to break free from Azuth’s control for years, they aren’t foolish enough to disrespect the descendants of the Deity of Mages while he stands under the starry sky.” Devis pointed a finger at Luca’s shoulder, ”Before setting out, your family must have said something, right?

About Mystra.”

”Hmm? Of course, they did!” Luca said blankly, ”Once she appeared, we should neither be too close nor too distant, show a respectful side but not be overly friendly.

When something happens, still follow Edna, whether she is right or wrong.

We follow the Deity of Mages, and only the Deity of Mages.”

Luca said, suddenly enlightened, ”They’re doing the opposite? Their family demands them to keep away from Edna? Are they mad? They came out as followers of Azuth!

Do they think that just because Azuth likes to greet people with a smile and tell cold jokes, he’s really just a good-natured guy?”

”Self-important people exist everywhere.” Devis couldn’t help but glance over at Edna, who was gesticulating with Leonard, making various requests to change the appearance of the tree house... If before, he thought that this lady’s intelligence and capability were on par with his, now Devis felt he was far behind.

The thing he pondered for a long time, Edna might have already thought through when they encountered the gnoll people earlier... Otherwise, she wouldn’t have suddenly brought up this valley.

Before that, Edna seemed to be saying to first traverse the Neverwinter Forest, bypassing Marko’s Tower of Dusk in the well-known Haber Family, then to Long Saddle Town.

Devis, a bit confused, glanced at Edna again.

He couldn’t quite understand how this seemingly beautiful and pure girl grew into what she is now.

As the future lord of the city-state, the education Devis received since childhood was completely different from that of a pure mage like Luca; he grew up amidst various overt and covert schemes.

In Hidden Town, although Devis only stayed for two days, he easily saw that these Mithril Elves weren’t very adept at scheming.

Teraxil Elves, on the other hand, had a rather straightforward style of doing things.

Yet Edna was completely different, adeptly using the means politicians excel at.

Devis thought for a moment before pulling Luca along towards Edna’s direction, ”It’s getting dark; what are you still fussing about? Didn’t you hear Edna say that Teraxil Elves often gather herbs from here to sell?

If you like something, just place an order with them; it’s not like you’re short on money.

Moreover, who knows, Agleya City might have even more and better things.

Come on! Let’s see how the Nature Mage builds a tree house.”

Luca, who had been struggling, suddenly softened; how could he forget this?

The Undead Tribe seemed to have an interest in this tree house too, gathering around and pointing at this natural lantern-like house, even Elvia and Josanie, who had been flying in the sky, came down.

Unknowingly, this team of hundreds naturally divided into a large group and several small clusters.

Then, because of how sturdy the ice surface was, those small clusters also began to slowly gather on the ice surface... Initially, they were somewhat wary of the dangers Edna mentioned.

But after a group of them had mucked about in this area far from the safe zone for half a day without any disturbances, the others couldn’t hold back any longer.

The graceful Frost-ling Flowers beneath the ice surface, as far as the eye could see, numbered in the hundreds... Such vast wealth that even mages highly regarded by the Magic Tower couldn’t take it lightly.

A heart full of greed quickly swept over everyone... yet none seemed to consider if there were really so many Frost-ling Flowers, would the legendary millions of Teraxil Elves have left them.