Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Even Oliva understands what Hilbert knows.

So he quickly confirmed, ”Does the same apply here?”

”Of course.” Ruth suddenly sneered, ”Tell your students and subordinates, until the confirmation of relocation to Sia Tower, no one is allowed to leave the Tower of Dark Enigma, preferably not even the outskirts.

I’m not interested and absolutely won’t care about their hardships.

There’s absolutely no reason for anyone in our Magic Tower to go outside... If it’s truly serious, let them come straight to the Main Tower.

I’ll definitely listen seriously.”

He glanced at Oliva, ”When handling chaos, you don’t need to care about who causes the trouble.

Nicholson and Kamente Tower have promised to align with me on this matter.

Of course, if you determine the troublemakers belong to the other two factions, you can inform them and ask if they’re willing to take it over.

You must decide within 10 minutes, if they don’t respond, you’ll have to go.

The same applies on their side.

Though, I think... you wouldn’t abandon your own people.

Don’t bother with other people’s affairs, just follow the rules.”

”Huh?” Aislin, with her head down, couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Even Great Magician Nicholson is willing?”

As someone managing internal affairs and relationships with other factions in the Ruth Faction, she understood well the chaos among Nicholson Faction’s mages.

In the outskirts, nearly half of the people were linked with them... Even she, always watching them appear, struggled to identify who was whose lover, whose child, it took a lot of effort.

She always thought those people were quite important.

Isn’t Great Magician Nicholson most concerned about his family?

Among those people in the outskirts... almost hundreds have his lineage!

If he could abandon all these... how genuine is his affection for his family?

But his emphasis on his lineage doesn’t seem false!

Could it be, he only loves a part of them?

Then, what differences are there between these people?

Suddenly, Aislin felt she didn’t understand that Archmage at all.

As though her years of attention to those in the outskirts were reduced to a joke at this moment.

Unable to help it, she turned her head towards Oliva.

Oliva had no intention of paying her attention... he and the teacher had long told her not to focus on those irrelevant individuals.

In the mage world, indeed conspiracies may exist, but those that shake the heavens and earth require equality in power at least.

Mages like their teacher, Ninth Ring Mage, who could wipe out the entire outskirts with a gesture, why would they care about the tiny ants outside who couldn’t even touch the hem of his robe?

As managers, it’s only vital to ensure fairness and peace for those in the outskirts... especially avoiding letting our people do extreme things.

As for what others might do... whether chaos might ensue, what does it matter to the Ruth Faction?

Even if it blows up, forcing intervention of the adjoining two Archmages, that would merely be extra entertainment!

Did anyone in the outskirts really have the ability to overturn the heavens?

Once they’ve received adequate compensation, they’ll cease... strength eternally remains the root of all.

If you must meddle, what gains can you obtain, how much amusement can you acquire from the neighboring situation?

It only ends with everyone thinking of Aislin as a troublemaker.

Tsk~

Gilbert watched their interaction and suddenly let out a cold laugh, ”Nanali is still eagerly waiting for your rescue!

Aislin Archmage.

The Magic Tower is about to descend into chaos, shouldn’t you provide enough protection for that poor mother and her three children?

Heh~”

Though the three have remained hidden recently, it’s clear they must have received substantial benefits... otherwise, they definitely wouldn’t quietly watch Rolando shouting slogans behind Prutt.

Once Ruth’s instructions are disseminated, the outskirts mages know this is their chance... whether it’s choosing to wait quietly for an opportunity to win favor from the three Tower Masters, or taking action to find Prutt, to gain more benefits, and anticipate potential glory after relocating to Sia Tower.

Even if this means they’re taking risks.

Among those who can only count the days and await their fate, no one knows how many will abandon their souls.

How many mages would willingly give up extra years of life to go to the Divine Kingdom!

Mages will always choose themselves over deities... even including devout adherents of those deities.

Otherwise, they never would have chosen the mage path.

If they truly chose deities, they mostly would take on the priest role.

Nanali and her children’s home between outskirts and Inner Ring, closer to the outskirts, now becomes an ideal target.

Their ally, Rolando... heh, that towering, spacious Magic Tower, located on the extreme outskirts of the Tower of Dark Enigma, is in the least populated area.

Reaching it likely means meeting a quicker demise.

After all, everyone knows Rolando has certainly scooped a lot from Prutt... he even sacrificed his own son!

Not only Felis but also Nanali’s youngest son.

The simplest method to pin an undeniable charge on Felis is to frame him for attacking others.

Hence, residing next door and drifting idly, unfortunately, calls for misfortune for that youth.

If Nanali hadn’t reacted swiftly... indeed, probably more likely Aislin gave a heads up... that child would genuinely be dead.

Prutt wouldn’t care about an apprentice’s life, considering Rolando didn’t even value his own son much, after consuming the Soul Elixir he disregards it even more.

Besides, what if he cares? What’s the use?

Prutt doesn’t even care about Rolando.

Thus, Rolando may be the earliest and smoothest casualty in this chaos.

Even if he could use the warning signal, it’s useless... unless he relocates to the Inner Ring.

Yet with Kamente Tower clearly disliking Prutt, what options does a henchman like him have?

No one would provide this chance.

Indeed, Ruth’s words are clear; outskirts mage issues are handled by whoever encounters them, ideally this applies to the Inner Ring, though a grace can be granted.

After all, Inner Ring mages live closer, generally avoiding any issue and able to address them promptly.

Yet, even as Rolando resides far away, he isn’t part of the outskirts!

Responsible on Kamente Tower’s end is certainly Rommel.

Hill harbors confidence that Rommel can ensure Rolando still breathes upon arrival... leaving behind the culprit and scattered resources.

Moreover, indeed importantly, Rolando as bait can definitely be reused.

After all, they’re merely curious about Rolando’s final fate; whether it’s barely living or enduring profound suffering, who cares?

Offering Kamente Tower the chance to vent, truly, no better day could there be!

But the situation differs for Nanali and her three children; they’re merely Rolando’s accessories... Initially, Nanali did count as a member in Nicholson’s Inner Ring, however, marrying Rolando meant relinquishing that identity.

Therefore, her only hope rests on collaborating with Aislin.

-----------------

Aislin slightly hesitated, ”Her? I’ll notify Rommel.”

”Aislin.” Ruth looked disapprovingly at her, ”You think Kamente Tower doesn’t know what you’ve done?

Even Nicholson mentioned, you’ve been plotting for quite some time!”

Aislin blinked, ”What I had with her is a fair trade, and it’s already finished... right?”

Hilbert’s cold laughter, though subdued, echoed in everyone’s ears.

Oliva shook his head helplessly, ”Aislin always fails to grasp what tying up loose ends means.

Anyone who collaborated and cooperated extensively... saying it’s a fair trade, when an Eighth Ring solicits a Low-rank Mage, would she dare refuse collaboration?”

Since Nanali persistently remains silent, not exploiting Aislin for leverage, it demonstrates her maintaining a mage’s baseline.

Yet Aislin intends not to care for her... when it’s obvious to everyone Nanali’s plight involves her, this only breeds a perception that engaging with her lacks value.

”Aislin, do you plan never to interact with others again?” Oliva scrutinized his teacher’s less than pleasant countenance, opting to clarify a bit, ”Look around; not even those in the hall will dare believe cooperation with you probable after you voiced that comment?”

”Don’t use us to educate your beloved little sister.” Hilbert coldly interjected, ”However, with my precedent, no one would dare collaborate again.

Counting my affair among those scheming in the underground pathways disclosed to factions.

Heh~

Who’d provide such advantages moving forward?”

Oliva faced the rebuke head-on, sighed, ”Apologies, Gilbert, but my priority is preventing teacher’s disappointment, not...”