Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 908: Chapter 704: Transcription! The Mage’s Basic Skill

Hill recalled Edward’s attributes: his abilities were not high, his ambition was great, his desires and abilities were completely unmatched, but he was very adept at playing petty tricks, entirely devoid of morality, good at thriving when others suffered unsuspecting injuries, an epitome of one who excels only at internal strife... and... completely defenseless against temptation... he looked honest, yet his head was filled with trash.

Anyone with a bit of intelligence, once seeing through his traits, would definitely stay away, because you never know if he might one day sell you out for a bit of a favor or pleasure, he is that kind of absolutely selfish person.

Such a person... if it became a racial trait, then normal people would indeed go crazy.

If it were Hill, if he had to communicate with people, he would also be willing to endure the cunning character masked as foolishness like the Black Dragon.

Looking at Hill’s sympathetic gaze, Fran helplessly shook his head: ”But only such people can survive under the rule of Giant Dragons, actually, there aren’t many pure-blooded humans in Aber anymore... Human life is too fleeting.”

Hill could actually understand why these humans had become like this, the Primordials were not truly in human form, that City Lord had merely changed his shape... The true forms of them were not much smaller than Ancient Dragons.

And these Primordials had been at war with the Giant Dragons for tens of thousands of years, the kind-hearted ones either secluded themselves in half-planes or were already killed.

Those who could still remain outside and fight the Giant Dragons, their ambition couldn’t even describe their desires.

With two such types of rulers, combined with the Dragonborn and Elemental Descendants who were innately stronger than humans, the status of these hybrid species was far superior to that of humans.

So the status of humans in Aber, to some extent, was really similar to those humanoid creatures with relatively low intelligence.

Humans with a bit of pride probably found it hard to survive, and most importantly... the current Aberians have been thoroughly brainwashed and have given up on the pursuit of knowledge themselves.

In Fran’s words, Hill could hear that over the years he had tried to make these humans reawaken their intellect and not live by their bloodline like beasts.

But he still failed.

If Fran was fighting when he first arrived in Aber, it might have been because the Giant Dragons or Primordials wanted to rob him; then later, it could very well have been for his desire to make Aberians aware of the power of knowledge.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said he’s been fighting all along, but with Fran’s temperament, he wouldn’t speak too clearly about these hardships and cruelties.

To make someone like Fran, who never liked meddling, unable to stand it... the current situation in Aber must be truly terrifying.

Hill gently said, ”Grandfather, do you need to take a good rest? Over the years, you haven’t had a good night’s sleep, have you?”

Fran shook his head: ”Reading, to me, is the greatest rest. Next time, unless it’s such a Legendary treasure, have List put everything else in storage for me!”

He looked around the study: ”Put up an empty bookshelf.”

Hill silently pulled out a bookshelf and placed it behind himself... moving the cabinet filled with various Strange Objects to the side corner.

Fran directed row after row of books to fall onto each level of the shelves: ”In sequence, copy from the first shelf to the highest, the original is yours, a transcript for me will suffice.”

He stood up and glanced at Hill’s study: ”Don’t tell me, your study isn’t arranged by Magic Level from low to high? Even for magic principles, there should be decomposition and synthesis, right?”

Hill quickly replied: ”Of course it’s organized by these rules. Aside from the general and synthesis categories placed in the central tetrahedral bookshelf, the rest are arranged according to the Mage University’s classifications on Toril, the classification names are written on the side of the bookshelves.”

Fran nodded, his welcome for his grandson had been warm enough, now it was time to get down to business.

But before that, he still tossed a storage ring to Hill: ”A gift prepared for you... although these worlds all have some problems, there are plenty of good things too, enjoy yourself, but first copy the books before having fun.”

Hill followed behind him: ”Grandfather... you can have Purwell take you to the outside terrace to read, the air is nice, and you can enjoy the ocean view.

Or List can take you to your own room, he’s already prepared a study for you.”

Fran unhesitatingly said: ”The room is fine, you can see the ocean anywhere. I need absolute quiet!”

He selected for over an hour, then floated away with a hundred or so books following behind List, but of course, before leaving, he reminded Hill to hurry up and copy the books.

Hill sat back down at the desk, sighed softly, and touched his paw, then opened the first book.

He had to at least finish copying the first row before Fran returned to change books, otherwise, his grandfather would stare at him with a disapproving gaze... a look of disappointment from a senior can sometimes feel more uncomfortable than scolding.

Hill picked up the pen and buried himself in the book.

Purwell slowly sailed in the sea, anyway Hill was not in a hurry to return home immediately... His grandfather probably wanted to finish reading those tens of thousands of books in the study before considering anything else.

So he discussed with List and decided to take advantage of the current opportunity to gather some good things.

He flicked his tail and swam towards the nearest pile of floating debris. If these things had their previous properties, he wouldn’t dare to touch them casually, but now, all the evil strange objects had been directly washed into chaos attributes by the void storm!

Of course, the level of these strange objects would not exceed Subartifact, at most they are Legendary level treasures, a Divine Artifact wouldn’t be so easily altered in attributes.

However, Purwell, who communicated with List, knew very well that on the contrary, Divine Artifacts were meaningless to Hill, and he couldn’t replicate them.

These things now had value for use.

List recorded in his booklet the large pile of items Purwell found in the sea this time. The unfortunate one should have been a certain female demon: a large number of jewelry, presumably court-made products of Toril, these things can just be thrown into the ordinary warehouse.

Some general types of elementary wonders, generally speaking, are useless, all are things Hill can make, and they are to be sent directly into the low-level magical items warehouse, waiting to be sold to Marsha when they return.

The genuinely valuable items were a pair of crowns: both of these golden headbands had tops higher than the temples and brow, and the front was decorated with three Starry Rubies.

There was also a black iron great sword, engraved with deceased and wailing demons. Its black guard and round head seemed like a Balor pierced by the blade, and void energy coursed through the sword body like lightning.

These two items were quite special, List decided to search within his core for their owner, mainly wanting to see who this unlucky person was, since Hill would certainly ask.

Indeed, there was a record: the succubus Suniluone, known as the Whispering Queen, snatched these after she took out Princess Aria of the Yinbutu Kingdom in eastern Ferun.

This powerful succubus and her Death Knight husband resided in the Giant’s Ridge Mountains, and under their command was an elite group of goblins. Hence, despite knowing their princess was killed by them, Yinbutu Kingdom didn’t dare act against this notorious criminal pair, even though the monarch’s ceremonial sword had become the Death Knight’s sword.

List silently marked the location on the map, thinking it necessary to inform Hill, waiting until it was confirmed that the pair was thrown back into the Bottomless Abyss, as Yinbutu would certainly act against the goblins of the Giant Mountains.

But their strength was just like that, with eastern Ferun kingdoms being notoriously corrupt and degenerate, their military force probably not being even comparable to Neverwinter, and definitely they would invite external help then.

What external aid could be better than the undead tribe that comes with their own magic ship?

Coincidentally, Hill had been concerned about what the undead tribe would do after defeating the half-orcs, and if the Hell’s Gate in the Supreme Forest couldn’t open within two years, the undead tribe would become an unstable source.

Compared to Coron, who thrives on chaos, Hill’s character was too good, not wanting to let the undead tribe enter stable countries that hadn’t offended him.

List drew a red star on his booklet... it already had several red and yellow stars: red marked certain kingdom collapse, yellow indicated solvable by spending money.

These would be Agleya’s future big clients, compared to mercenaries, the undead tribe might be more boisterous, yet much safer! They wouldn’t burn, kill or loot ordinary people, at most, wealthy evildoers, especially demon followers, would have some misfortune.

Hold on, List paused his hand, Yinbutu should be marked with a star to prioritize handling later.

That country had a prolific number of demon worshippers; otherwise, they wouldn’t just watch their own princess drown alive in their inland sea.

With the undead tribe’s way of eliminating all marked in red, if they first went to other countries, Yinbutu might not dare act... Even if Yinbutu set out against those goblins, it wouldn’t be for any sense of justice, the only large gold mine in Yinbutu was right on the Giant’s Ridge.

It’d be best if Yinbutu initially sought external assistance and the undead tribe directly took on the task, as long as the country hired them: after all, inviting a god isn’t the same as sending one away.

List solemnly wrote down his suggestion in the booklet, hmm... if so, before Lady Midnight reached adulthood, there’d likely be no trouble.

He turned at the warehouse door to glance at the Magic Tower, none would disturb Hill when nothing was amiss! So many books... hopefully Hill can finish transcribing them before returning to Agleya.

According to Fran’s usual temperament... upon discovering another study room in Hill’s Floating Castle, he would definitely ask Hill to transcribe another set into it, though the second time using the Transcription Technique.

At this moment, photographic memory was quite useful, without worrying about any issues with the Transcription Technique.