by Zhuang Bifan
However, this was understandable. When Lin Li left, almost everything was thrown onto the old man. He had to handle all sorts of chores and supervised the construction of the tower. It was already a feat for him not to collapse from exhaustion after all those days.
"Felic, you are back…" When the old man saw Lin Li, he greeted him anxiously.
"What happened, Mr Herza? Did something happen at Black Clouds Town?"
"No, no, let's go. I'll tell you as we walk…" The old man dragged Lin Li into Black Clouds Town. "It will be your President's Inauguration Ceremony in five days. There will be a lot of prominent figures invited at that time. I have already settled the invitation letters. Come with me and see if there is anything that I have missed…"
"So fast?" Lin Li had a shock.
"There's no choice. This is the decision of the Supreme Council."
Herza brought Lin Li to his living quarters, and quickly brought out a thick stack of invitation letters. "Take a look at these invitation letters first. If there is nothing missing, I will get somebody to deliver them tomorrow. Additionally, there are some details about the President's Inauguration Ceremony that I need you to confirm yourself."
"Let me say this, Mr Herza. Why is the Supreme Council so anxious this time?" Lin Li flipped through the invitation letters in his hands while chatting with Herza.
"I have just received the order as well. As to why it was decided so, this is something I cannot know. Perhaps you should consult your Mentor Andoine. He is somebody that has the highest chance to be an adjudicator. He should be well-informed about this aspect…"
Chapter 346 - Guest List
Lin Li looked at the invitation letters in his hand. The presidents of the 24 Guilds of Magic were all invited. Balbo of the Pharmacists Guild, Al'Akir of the Adventurers Guild, and Hoffman of the Glittergold Trade Union were invited by the Supreme Council as well. Additionally, the royal court and the military of Felan would also send their own representatives for this celebration. Representing the Felan royal court was the current king's second son, His Highness Arthur. As for the Felan military, it was Lin Li's old acquaintance, Mr Sagre—the captain of the Sky Knights.
Thinking about this middle-aged pervert that molested a female adventurer in the black market, Lin Li shook his head while smiling. He thought to himself, It's better to appoint two men to watch over him during this inauguration ceremony. Otherwise, if he were to set his sights on a pretty female guest, wouldn't that cause some big trouble?
What shocked Lin Li the most was that the Supreme Council actually invited two guests from the Ledin Kingdom. The difference between them was that one was Archbishop Martin from the Brilliance Shrine, and the other was High Priest Ritchie from the Darkness Shrine.
It was no big deal about the Darkness Shrine. After all, after that disaster, the Darkness Shrine was just an empty title. Other than Sendros being rather reputable due some attainments in pharmaceutics, few heard anything much about the Darkness Shrine in the last hundred years. However, it was different for the Brilliance Shrine. Ever since Rosario became the Pope, the influence of the Brilliance Shrine was like the sun at high noon. Devout followers had filled every corner of Anril, and the Paladins' Inquisition had large numbers of Legendary powerhouses. With Pope Rosario setting his sight on the whole Anril, there was no longer any force that could go against the Brilliance Shrine except for the Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council and the Brilliance Shrine were two strongest factions in Anril. They ruled all sorts of territories, and controlled the fates of countless people. Many times, they just needed to say a single sentence, and it could affect the arrangement of the whole Anril. Without their support, at least two of the four great human nations would disappear. It was probably because of their respective positions, but the two forces had never had any sort of conflict between them in the last 1300 years. Yet, they did not have any dealings with each other, either. The Supreme Council and the Brilliance Shrine seemed to have come to a tacit agreement—one party would amass followers in the Ledin Kingdom, while the other pass on magical knowledge in the Felan Kingdom. It was just a thin wall between them, but they each stayed in their own lane. They would still show some restraint during the occasional minor disputes. Even though 1300 years passed, the two forces were like strangers.
It was also what gave Lin Li a shock. If they did not contact each other for 1300 years, why did the Supreme Council suddenly think of inviting somebody from the Brilliance Shrine now? Furthermore, the Brilliance Shrine was willing to respect them, and even sent an Archbishop to attend the inauguration ceremony? Lin Li knew that this was a rather high standard. In the Brilliance Shrine, the position of the six Archbishops was only below the Pope himself. The words of three Archbishops were almost equal to the will of the Pope. A person like this had actually been sent to attend his inauguration ceremony… It had to be known that when the kings of several nations were enthroned, the Brilliance Shrine only sent out a Cardinal…
F*ck, why did they make it so grand…?
When he saw the invitation letters, the first thought that came to Lin Li's mind was not to be overwhelmed by an unexpected favor. It was the exact opposite. Lin Li was so frightened that he broke out in a sweat immediately. He did not think that this was because he was so well-known that even the Brilliance Shrine of the Ledin Kingdom that was so faraway knew about him. He did not believe that he was so shocking a personage in the Felan Kingdom that even the Archbishop from the faraway Ledin Kingdom would have to bow his head to the ground. This Archbishop Martin coming to the Breezy Plains would not simply be there to attend the Inauguration Ceremony. It was just that Lin Li, for the time being, still did not know the other reason. However, it had better not be for Norfeller or Ujfalusi, these two fellas. Otherwise, something big was going to happen during this Inauguration Ceremony.
Herza had always done his job without leaving out a single detail. This thick stack of invitation letters—whether their addressees should be invited or not—represented people that had already been invited. Lin Li flipped through it for a long while, but could not think of anything that had to be changed. The only concern was that a few of the Breezy Plains guests were missing.
"Oh, yes, Mr Herza. Is there no need to invite the castellans of the Breezy Plains?"
"They are still not worthy…"
That was what Herza said…
The President's Inauguration Ceremony was no small matter. To put it in Herza'z words, this time the Supreme Council had taken it seriously like never before. Not only had they invited all of those they could, even the Supreme Council itself sent an Arbitrator to host the President's Inauguration Ceremony!
Herza could also be considered a sly old fox that never let his feelings show, but when he spoke about the Arbitrator, he could not help but show some excitement on his face.
The Supreme Council had a total of three Arbitrators. They directed the Supreme Council together, and decided the fates of the thousands of mages in Anril. All of them had experienced the battle that happened 1300 years ago. They even battled alongside the God of Mages, Geresco, before. They were living legends, the creators of miracles!
The three Arbitrators of the Supreme Council were universally accepted by Anril as the three strongest mages. In this world, there was not a single mage that dared to challenge their dignity. There was also not a single mage that dared to question their orders. They were living gods in the world of magic!
As to how strong these three living gods were, there was nobody that could clearly describe it now. People only knew that these three Arbitrators had already transcended the Legendary-realm in the battle 1300 years ago. After 1300 years, their true strength could only be properly judged by a true god…
As to what sort of realm was above the Legendary-realm, even Lin Li only had a superficial knowledge of it. He had faintly heard about it from Andoine. Once mages transcended the Legendary-realm, they would take a final step and enter the true Sanctuary-realm.
It was a realm that was omnipotent, a realm where rules could be changed or created according to one's will. With just a short incantation, one could create a cataclysmic power…
However, even Andoine's understanding of the Sanctuary-realm's power was only at the imaginative level. The gap between the Legendary- and Sanctuary-realm was almost infinite. It could be overcome with a sudden epiphany, or it could end with spending the rest of your life without the last step ever taken.
Thinking about the fact that he would have a chance to meet an Arbitrator in a few days, even Lin Li could not help but feel somewhat excited.
However, Lin Li quickly did not have the time to be excited anymore. It was because he was so busy that he almost died in the next few days…
After the guest list was settled, Lin Li was completely swamped. The Breezy Plains Guild of Magic started from scratch, so how could it be an easy task to steer it? Lin Li, as the president, faced the issues that required his decision in short succession.
The first thing, without a doubt, was the tower that had just been completed. Before going to Ruins of Syer Town to rescue people, the Master of Inscription, Moke, had asked Lin Li what sort of mageweaths needed to be inscribed on the insides of the tower, and Lin Li's answer back then was rather simple: ten Wards of Bad Luck. As of now, the ten Wards of Bad Luck had already been inscribed. As to what to do after inscribing, Moke insisted on waiting for Lin Li to decide it…
No sooner had the dawn of the second day broken than Moke knocked on Lin Li's door. The expression of this Master Moke was filled with unconcealed disdain. Moke looked down upon this guild president that had been appointed by the Supreme Council. Not only was it because he had some resentment towards the Jarrosus Guild of Magic, but also mostly because this youngster was really disappointing.
To be appointed a guild president at a tender age was a once-in-a-blue-moon chance for any mage. Furthermore, this place was the Breezy Plains. It was the Supreme Council's focus of development for hundreds of years. Whoever could become the president of the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic would also take over a position that played a decisive role in the Supreme Council. Furthermore, there was a high chance to be like Andoine and Rosen, and become a powerful contender for the seat of an Arbitrator…
If it was any other mage that got such an opportunity, they would be grateful towards the Supreme Council while desperately researching magic and making decisions for the guild. However, with this young mage called Felic, it had become another thing. Ever since coming to the Breezy Plains, it could be said that Moke had seen everything. Let's see… in these two months, what has this Felic done? The first month was still acceptable. Although this guy was not hardworking, he was still staying indoors. But when it was the second month, the true nature of this guy appeared. He went to Doland every day, and even got acquainted with sc.u.m like Roman. It was even worse these few days. He knew that the president inauguration ceremony is round the corner, and he still insists on going out with others, causing the completed work on the tower to wait for his settlement, unable to conclude. Moke really could not understand why the Supreme Council would choose such a lazy good-for-nothing to assume the role of president of the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic.
The thing that Moke could not tolerate was that this fella actually dared to doubt his professional standards!
He was a Master of Inscription. If you were to search the whole of Anril, there would only be a few Inscribers that were more professional than himself. Yet, this fella's request for him was only ten Wards of Bad Luck. Wasn't this implying that he was looking down on Moke?
Moke had never received such humiliation ever since he'd become a Master of Inscription!
"Hmph, I really want to see what you can do with these ten Wards of Bad Luck…"
After Moke entered the room, he was not courteous with Lin Li at all. He just went to straight to point. "President Felic, I have already inscribed for you the ten Wards of Bad Luck that you wanted. I'm wondering if there is anything else that you want, President Felic?"
Chapter 347 - Psionic Crystal
"Why is it so fast…" Lin Li softly mumbled. Honestly, Moke's visit had surprised him. He had actually thought of going to Doland to visit Basel, that old con man, while he had the time today. That old con man had actually agreed to help him recruit a batch of strong mages. He was very cunning, so if Lin Li did not go over to press him, who knew when he would go back on his word…
Oh yes, this old con himself as well. This fella was a genuine Legendary-mage. If he could be pulled into the Guild of Magic, Lin Li would not have to worry about anyone being a threat to himself for at least one and a half years.
Hence, Lin Li called for Norfeller and Ujfalusi early in the morning, preparing to bring them to Doland's library again.
Who knew that his door would be blocked by Moke before he could even wash up…
"President Felic, do you want to take a look now?" Moke's expression was not looking good. To make a Master of Inscription inscribe ten Wards of Bad Luck was a very humiliating thing. Moke did not think that after forcing himself to inscribe it, Lin Li would actually say "why is it so fast". Wasn't this clearly doubting his professional standards?
Moke held it in again and again before he finally suppressed the urge to let loose and curse. It was just that when he spoke again, his tone was clearly stiffer.
"Let's go take a look, then…" It was a pity. Lin Li was having a headache now, wondering when he would have the time to go to Doland. That batch of mages under the Breezy Plains was the only power that he could rely on for support. If this thing was going to be messed up, his days in the Breezy Plains would no longer be peaceful.
It was also why he did not even realize that Moke's tone had become stiffer. Naturally, given Lin Li's nature, even if he noticed it, he would not bother about. No one was bound to each other by ties, so why should he try to curry favor with him? What, he said he was a Master of Inscription? F*ck, Lin Li was a Guru of Inscription…
Lin Li was wrecking his brains while walking out of Black Clouds Town. When he stood at the entrance of the town, he could already see some of the outline of the tower. The tall and rugged tower was covered in magical runes. Under the early morning sunlight, it emitted a mysterious yet solemn aura. A short Herza was standing at the main entrance of the tower, chatting with a few of the engineers while raising his head and looking over at the town's entrance.
"Morning, Mr Herza."
"Morning, Mage Felic… Oh, no, no, no, it should be President Felic now…"
Herza greeted both of them with a face of smiles. He made jokes while introducing the engineers beside him to Lin Li. These engineers were all sent over by the Supreme Council. At least 20 towers out of the 24 Guilds of Magic in the Felan Kingdom were made by them. Although their magical power was not strong, they still received courteous reception from the presidents of the bigger guilds no matter where they went.
Naturally, Lin Li was no exception. He was rather courteous towards these engineers. Of course, such courtesy was not only because of the other party's identity. It was mostly because they had completed all of his requests. When the construction of the tower had just begun, Herza asked Lin Li if he had any requests for the structure of the tower. Back then, Lin Li did not think much about it. He just requested for several things right off the bat. When he thought about it again, he suddenly realized that those requests were rather harsh.
Initially, he thought that these engineers would shout and curse, but who knew that when the tower was slowly completed, Lin Li would suddenly realize that those requests had been meticulously carried out by these engineers. It was also why Lin Li still felt embarrassed until now…
Actually, this was not weird at all…
The engineers sent by the Supreme Council this time were all people that were devoted to the field of construction. Their character was rather weird by nature. When they heard of those requests, the first thought that appeared in the minds of these engin
eers was not "this fella is trying to take me for a ride", but "this fella actually had the guts!".
People that were brave had always been able to leave a good impression on them. Furthermore, the current Lin Li was definitely worthy of being described as a promising young mage no matter which perspective he was viewed from. The most distinguished young mage out of all the 24 Guilds of Magic and the victor of the finals in the Aurora Square already had the powers of the Archmage level at such a young age. Currently, he was being appointed as the president of the Breezy Plains Guild of Magic. This was the youngest president of any Guild of Magic in the past 1300 years. Furthermore, he had a unique understanding of architecture. Naturally, the engineers were happy to deal with such a person.
Herza only casually gave a few words of introduction, and everyone started chatting very passionately. That harmonious atmosphere was similar to that between old friends that had not met for a long while. As for Moke, who was at the side, he could not help mumbling, "When did this fella turn into a social butterfly? Why is he able to converse with these temperamental and stubborn engineers immediately after meeting them for the first time?"
Actually, this was not weird. Although Lin Li was not proficient in architecture, as the saying went, "I have seen enough to manage on my own". For Lin Li who was proficient in the five arts of survival, it was not difficult to converse with these engineers. The knowledge in his brain was sufficient for him to deal with the current circ.u.mstances. He could even use the foundation of his five arts of survival and give out some suggestions that would light up the eyes of the engineers…
Anyway, no matter what Moke mumbled, Lin Li had indeed built up friendship with the engineers within a short time. One of the engineers called Luke even made a promise on the spot—if the tower of the Breezy Plains needed any modifications in the future, he would be willing to help out at any time.
