Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1480: Chapter 58: The Silk Spider That Hates Moonlight

Although not as deeply knowledgeable about Silk Spiders as Hill, Count Stelter and his people were not blind to the situation.

Therefore, if these Mutated Silk Spiders were only those on the Golden Cloud Orchid, even with an incredibly large number, it could merely be said that Stelter Castle was naturally suitable for their proliferation.

But as things stand now, it clearly poses a threat to the entire castle’s security... The Count no longer dared to believe he could completely eradicate all the Silk Spiders.

It must have been discovered that there is something special, or even irremovable, in their family’s domain, allowing these Silk Spiders to proliferate in stable genetic conditions.

However, it must be something not easily found... At least not something the Stelter Family would be interested in without knowing the details.

If it were other Great Nobles, unexpected things might happen, but the Stelter Family, who had to painstakingly make their children become Mages, would probably feel nothing even if they passed by these things every day.

Moreover, Count Stelter, who had just differed with the King and had no ties with the traditional nobility, was just the right person to play the scapegoat for them.

Most importantly, neither Count Stelter nor his wife were inclined to research gardens. For twenty years, there had been no major garden renovations at Stelter Castle... Even if some plants mysteriously died, they would only instruct the gardener to plant evergreen plants that would not obstruct the view.

Count Stelter suddenly turned his head and stared viciously at Little Finch: No wonder the Alchemist Association guarded their family so closely!

Finch couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, ”I have always been one to abide by the rules!”

Count Stelter didn’t actually think that this matter in their family was related to the Finch Family; otherwise, Finch wouldn’t have taken a quiet step back just because of the appearance of the Great Sage Belfran, nor did he intend to interfere with Lind’s conspicuously excuse-ridden spell learning.

But the Alchemist Association, especially the Silk Father, certainly had issues, while the Finch Family unknowingly acted as an accomplice.

”I’ve always been a bit curious.” The Grand Rune Priest suddenly spoke, ”Why did you, Finch, come to Basia City?

If you needed someone with status and ability to suppress the Stelter Family, many of your brothers would have been suitable, right?

Why did you, a candidate for the position of the next President of the Alchemist Association, come?

When you came, there were many speculations in Basia City... such as your defeat in a power struggle.

But later, it was found that your father’s attention towards you never wavered, and the support from the Alchemist Association headquarters was exceedingly thorough.

Yet, Basia City had only opened up to international trade in the past couple of decades, and the real large-scale transactions still took place at the old ports.

There’s not much here of value that necessitates your stay, right?”

”Delgado.” Finch gently closed his eyes, ”The relationship between him and me is so bad, you could even say it’s hatred, because when I was preparing to take over as the head of the capital branch, he jumped out and claimed that there was no difference between the capital’s branch head and the vice president of headquarters. If I wanted to take over, I had to either become an Alchemist Master of High-level Mage’s caliber or work in other branches for over 30 years and gather enough resources for the headquarters.

Although I have some ability, I cannot compare to the talents of Great Sage Ismael.

After he proposed this, the council of the association passed the condition at lightning speed.

Our family could only suffer in silence.”

”Well, that’s quite normal.” The Sun God Temple’s Grand Priest nodded seriously, ”Who would be willing to watch you turn the Alchemist Association into an independent kingdom and have it inherited by your fathers and sons?

If you didn’t have the capability, maybe no one would band together to take you down!

Delgado’s proposal went through so easily, it shows how unpopular your family’s ways have become!

Tsk—making so much money isn’t enough, you wish for generations to gain everything!

Hahaha—thinking too beautifully!

Although the King holds a hereditary position, he doesn’t earn as much as you!”

Finch helplessly turned his head away, choosing not to look at this Grand Priest obsessed with ’money, money’... Money is indeed crucial, especially to a family whose generations have studied Alchemy.

The materials needed from a child’s ignorance to becoming an Alchemist Master are innumerable... Without the support of the Alchemist Association, would their family have to don boots, wield magic wands, and risk their lives again?

If one could safely and methodically rise to a high position, who would want to venture into the wind and dew, at risk of losing their life?

Initially, the Finch Family merely wanted to control the Alchemist Association for a bit longer to strengthen their own family, but after their father used the association to nurture so many children capable of becoming Alchemists, ambitions naturally grew.

Who wouldn’t want the chance to become an uncrowned king?

Someone like Ismael only emerges once in a millennium, and even he didn’t give up on expanding his family!

Even though it’s his myriad of lovers who front for him, do you think they work so hard just to support themselves?

”No wonder you didn’t do anything when Delgado was beaten half to death by that handsome prince from Scaret.” The Silvermoon Archbishop is more interested in another gossip, ”By the way, have you searched his ship?”

”That one’s identity is quite unusual.” Count Stelter turned around sharply, warning them, ”I suspect he is the Crown Prince of Scaret. On that ship, there are at least three high-level professionals, and there’s also the magical system.

Currently, Danboro has no interest in sparking a war, so, esteemed priests, if you have any special interest in that ship and its occupants, it’s best to do it in the name of your temple.

Danboro will absolutely not take up this responsibility for anyone or anything.”

His demeanor solemn, he surveyed the crowd: ”We Danboro have never fought for the wild ambitions of any deity.

It is our duty to defend the country, but to invade another powerful nation for the glory of deities... well, please fight in the name of your own temple!”

Looking at the various dissatisfied faces among the high priests, Count Stelter chuckled softly: ”Ah~ fortunately, our Master of Runes has never been interested in these conflicts.”

”Though Scaret doesn’t worship our lord, they also use runes!” The Rune Temple Priest smiled warmly, ”To our lord, everyone who uses runes holds value.”

Finch couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh... In the mage world, there’s a long-standing saying that the so-called Master of Runes is actually just a puppet of the Will of the World of Aesces, lacking any specific personality or character, much like the significance of Toril’s Tablets of Fate to AO.

Otherwise, why would the Rune Master Temple worship only a colorful illusion composed of various runes?

Facing his rudeness, the Grand Rune Priest, long aware of this rumor, merely smiled kindly at Finch.

If their God of Runes cared about these mortal nonsense, he would have shown his real form long ago.

However, once there’s a specific image, mortals like to add their own interpretations.

For some deities who prefer fewer troubles, it’s truly unnecessary to bother extricating these chaotic fantasies from their divinity.

”Huh...” The Earth Temple Great Priest Tote looked bewilderedly at their back-and-forth, ”Weren’t we here to capture silk spiders?

They’re about to riot soon, why are you all still babbling?”

The Sun God Temple Great Priest Turgay turned around abruptly: ”Why didn’t you say so earlier? Where are they now?”

”Your... upper left, ah! Coming out... it’s out already!”

Before Tote finished speaking, a mass of white sticky spider silk came hurtling towards the few people standing on the stone ground.

”Damn! Tote!” Turgay cursed angrily, ”Is your brain turned to stone too?”

With a roar, the two Holy Water Flasks in his hand viciously hurled at the spider silk crashing down on him, while Finch rapidly erected a force wall, blocking the silk.

Watching the spider silk sizzling in the blazing holy fire, just as the few were relieved, they suddenly realized that the distant small spiders were unaffected, quickly spinning webs to dance in the sky, evidently hostile to those occupying their former cafeteria.

Is the cafeteria gone, and they’re planning to eat people?

”It’s understandable they aren’t afraid of fire... but why aren’t they even afraid of holy fire?” Finch pressed his face against the invisible force wall, bewildered but curious, ”Ah... the consequences seem evil, yet the spiders themselves have no issues?”

”Regardless of whether they’ve mutated or not, they are not evil at all!” Earth Priest Tote kneeled on the ground, trying hard to make the stone ground beneath them even denser, while saying seriously, ”They only turned this way for self-preservation!

If you didn’t insist on wearing silk, wouldn’t they still be happily living in the Elf Forest?

The only ones suffering... are the elves.”

”Speaking of which... this thing supposedly has a better effect when fed with Crystal Fruit?” Silvermoon High Priest Austin worked hard to set up a moonlight wall, ”These are small enough to pass through soil cracks, and the smaller ones... they must be directly eaten with the fruit pulp?

Does this thing fear acid?”

”Eh?” The Grand Rune Priest Beg suddenly looked up, ”These spiders don’t like the moonlight wall! Look, they’re slowing down!”