Chapter 326
Chapter 326 Conspiracy
North Zhentarim, Ibis City.
Ibis City was the only public city within the Zhentarim area that was within the Northern Lands’ proximity. All merchant groups that wanted to make their way into the witch’s territory had to set off from here. As such, this city had the highest population of witches among the towns in the center of the Continent.
The Northern Lands were located in the very north of the continent. A vast forest over fifteen thousand kilometers in size stood between them and the center of the Continent. Communication and trade between the Zhentarim and the Northern Lands were particularly tricky due to this.
The Zhentarim and the Silver Union maintained contact with each other through their floating battleships. On the other hand, the Zhentarim and the witches did so through the use of the numerous merchant groups that trudged through the forest.
A tremendous number of adepts and apprentice adepts gathered in Ibis City to protect the merchants from the dangers of the woods. On the one hand, they were able to accumulate wealth by providing their services to the merchants; on the other, they could take the opportunity to refine their combat skills.
Both merchants and adepts benefitted from this arrangement, causing the trade route through the Black Forest to be one of the most lively places in the area!
Within Ibis City.
“Understood!”
“Is he mad or foolish? Does he truly believe he can train Alice to a level where she can beat Snowlotus? Snowlotus might be six months behind her at the moment, but…”
The lady in the smoke couldn’t help but frown in frustration at this moment.
The Moya brat’s act of sacrificing all her abilities in exchange for the talent to divine might not have seemed wise, but it caused an uncomfortable thought to sprout in the lady’s mind. Wasn’t the core power of the Witch of Fate their ability to divine?!
Giving up on all her offensive and defensive abilities would make her the weakest and most vulnerable candidate in the Battle of Fate. Was she so confident in surviving the brutal contest of life and death with only her art of divination?
If she died during the first round of selections, what was the point to strengthening her talent for fate to the fullest extent?
If…if she could survive this Battle of Fate, she might become one of the most influential Witches of Fate in the past thousands of years. But what was she going to rely on in order to survive?
The candidates would all be sent into the Tower of Fate during the Battle. No outsider or external force could help them. They needed to kill each other under such circumstances, all while avoiding the remaining traps, golems, and beasts hidden in the Tower.
How was a brat without any combat power to survive in such an environment? Any random golem beast would be able to tear her to pieces! Moreover, she had no offensive spells whatsoever. How was she supposed to obtain victory and beat her opponents this way?
Was she supposed to endure the enemy’s ferocious attacks, close the distance, and then stab the opponent to death with a dagger?
Of course, if the Sarubo Clan were willing to equip her with magic scrolls, potions, and wands, she would undoubtedly still possess some ability to fight! That said, such measures might be effective against apprentice adepts, but what use could they be when she faced against adept-level competitors?
Would the Sarubo Clan actually be willing to invest in her when her chances of surviving were so low?
The more the lady in the smoke thought about it, the less she understood the rationale behind their decision to protect Alice. She couldn’t see through the actual reason for Greem’s actions.
Could it really be because of love?
“Clan leader, what do you intend to have Snowlotus do?” Nina asked, “Should she emulate Alice, or… “
“It is completely impossible to have her give up all her abilities with her personality and her achievements so far. Moreover, the Battle of Fate has always been a bloody and cruel affair. Snowlotus would be hard-pressed to survive until the end if she gave up her powers.”
“Is it not possible, even if we got rid of all opponents that could threaten her?”
“We cannot accomplish such a feat!” The lady smiled bitterly, “Fate was always so hard to understand and manipulate. The best we can do is extinguish the most powerful and threatening of the competitors. It is far too difficult to kill every single one of them! Moreover, the other branches of witches have already started to express their dissatisfaction at my actions. They are already putting pressure on me. If we weren’t able to do it in the past few months, there is no way we will be able to accomplish it moving forward!”
“……” Witch Nina fell silent.
They had already publicly interfered in the revival of the Witches of Fate. In all seriousness, this was already going against the commandments left behind by the Witch Queen. If they had been more discreet in their methods, and left no evidence for the other branches to latch onto, then the other witch leaders wouldn’t have been able to do anything.
However, once those conservative old hags understood what was happening, things became a lot harder. They actively sheltered the remaining candidates that were under their protection. There wasn’t much else that the Witches of Deceit could do.
“Then what should I do?” Witch Nina asked.
“Give up on Alice first. I need you to go to the Moya’s area in the west of Zhentarim. There seems to be another candidate advancing at that place. Exterminate her first. I have already sent you the relevant information. Hurry and get it done!”
“Understood!” Nina was shocked to hear this news. She bowed respectfully and acknowledged the orders.
It seemed even fate itself had started to sense the urgency of the situation. So many troublesome individuals had begun to sprout out of nowhere.
Stand in our way? Then we will crush and kill until you submit!
A murderous aura hung on Nina’s face.