"What a strange tale."
Serie said with an undisguised, mocking smile: "This is what happens when you try to control the uncontrollable. Prepare yourselves. The fog will only spread. Assume for now that demons are behind this and prepare for a punitive expedition."
"Yes, we are already organizing an advance scouting party, but it will take a long time of repeated confirmations."
Barke's words, both spoken and unspoken, conveyed a refusal to let the Association inquire further: "You only need to help us with the research."
Understanding his meaning, Serie snorted coldly. She had seen humanity's self-destructive acts many times and couldn't be bothered to persuade them. The Empire wouldn't relax its control until things fermented for a while and they paid the price.
She said with regret, "My apologies, Frieren, I'll have to return to my hometown next time. This research is more pressing; after all, the headquarters has the most resources."
"Alright."
The silver-haired girl nodded and replied, "Flamme and I will head back first for a bit."
Leaving it to the brain trust led by the Founder of Magic was sufficient, not to mention the Empire's geniuses were advancing the research in parallel.
Her precious apprentice was homesick. Besides, after discussing the insights gained on barrier and sealing magic during this period, Frieren hoped to return to the Lands Between as soon as possible to test them.
Only her homeland was the most suitable place for her slumber. This was both to protect her kin and because the defensive systems there were comprehensive.
And there was a hidden factor: the scarcity of powerful individuals. If some major incident were to erupt in the Magic City, a place teeming with experts, it would surely disrupt her slumber, which would be terrible.
To be honest, not counting Serie, whom she was just getting to know, the only person she trusted here was Flamme. The ratio compared to those she didn't trust was overwhelmingly lopsided.
In contrast, everyone in Elf Town was aware of Frieren's situation. With the protection of Miliardel and the Water Mirror Demon, it was an iron fortress.
"Since you have both decided on your itinerary, it means you've agreed. We will provide the relevant materials."
Barke breathed a sigh of relief. A good start was crucial for a negotiation, and so far, it had gone smoothly.
A gift and a successful agreement could pave the way for greater cooperation. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Zanne hand a thick stack of documents to her deputy, Carol.
Serie said meaningfully, "Next, it's time to discuss the cooperation between the Association and the Empire. Let's look at our terms first."
He then distributed copies to the other two accompanying officials.
They were undoubtedly detailed terms, covering the joint training of mages, joint research, the joint establishment of branches, and most importantly, continuously reinforcing the front lines against the demons.
The clauses were clear and interlinked, appearing to have considered every aspect, leaving no loopholes.
Very professional. How could a great Association lack corresponding administrative talent?
In a way, it was also a hint to the Empire not to think about setting traps in the terms. They were not lacking in professional knowledge; the intellectual reserves of the academically rich Magic City were not to be underestimated.
"Overall, it's good, but there's little discussion on the budget for funding. Is the Association interested in accepting investment from the Empire?"
The question Barke raised was also the negotiating room left by the drafters. All clever people knew that accepting funds meant sacrificing a portion of independence and inevitably being influenced.
But it was unrealistic to expect to operate on their own forever, even if they could. To be honest, in terms of funds alone, Miliardel had plenty, enough to support the Association.
But the Empire implied another meaning: as long as you accept our investment, we will open doors for you. Otherwise, there will be many "inconveniences."
This was not a threat, but a transaction of social resources.
Hearing this, Frieren and Serie exchanged a glance. The former spoke first: "The Association accepts donations from many alumni anyway, so there's nothing wrong with this. Cooperating with the Empire is a win-win situation."
"I agree. However, we can take measures to turn a profit when necessary. The Association was built from scratch; it has never relied solely on money."
If they wanted to make a profit, there were countless methods, such as the simplest and most direct one: selling lessons.
Knowledge is the greatest wealth, and the two presidents were not lacking in knowledge. Their very existence served as the role of a mainstay.
"We understand that your organization is not exactly flush with cash, and you have the money-burning project of building a new branch. The Empire's participation can alleviate the situation."
"Please rest assured, we will not demand unreasonable rights."
Barke didn't expect to achieve any control through funding; he just hoped to close the distance. To put it bluntly, even if the Association went bankrupt tomorrow from a lack of funds, countless wealthy mages would revive it.
The power behind this nameplate was too immense, so much so that the Empire was unwilling to test its limits. The political cost and strategic gains were simply not proportional.
Not to mention that elven genius of commerce could definitely turn the Association's financial crisis around, without spending a single coin, even.
Miliardel's recent plan of "issuing bonds on elven credit" applied to the Association would be the same logic: "building the Association on debt" would surely get a massive response.
That tycoon's logic was: why spend money when you can issue bonds?
Whether for Elf Town or the Magic Association, the credit of both was supported by the fundamental nature of world order: Violence.
Since the beginning of human records, Serie and Frieren have never failed. The latter's debut in the age of civilization is the most verifiable, with a record of brilliant military achievements and invincibility. The confidence formed around them cannot be underestimated.
So Barke was here on behalf of the Empire to establish contact; money was not the issue.
"By the way, Frieren, I remember you have a clever friend who knows finance well. Have her invest too, to counterbalance the Empire's influence."
He almost spat out a mouthful of water. What a blunt way to speak.
The silver-haired girl shook her head and said, "I also trust Miliardel's mind, but her intervention could easily steer the Association uncontrollably towards becoming a for-profit institution, which doesn't align with our philosophy."
"But I can tell her the idea. Perhaps she can think of other ways to offer support."
Serie nodded.
"Having Miliardel as our backup support is probably more effective than direct investment. Don't you think that makes sense, Lord Court Mage?"
"The Empire always welcomes competitors. Competition makes us improve."
He replied with a platitude but lacked confidence, because the deeper the negotiations went, the more he felt the profound depth of the elves' foundation.
How much weight lies beneath the iceberg on the sea's surface? You'll never know without feeling it. He hadn't expected them to have accumulated such power unknowingly.
No wonder the demons' meticulously planned decapitation strike had come to naught. They must not be underestimated.
Barke proceeded with the negotiations with the utmost reverence.
Seeing this, Serie and Frieren exchanged a glance. Their perception at this level was highly sensitive to emotions, almost on par with mind reading.
This kid was bluffed, completely unaware that the elven race was once a scattered mess, and their development over the past few thousand years was practically for nothing.
But they were more than happy to continue their psychological games with the upper hand.
On the third day after the negotiations began.
This event, surging with undercurrents, finally reached its conclusion. In the end, both sides chose to conclude in the lecture hall where the curse research topic had been presented. The entire high command of the Association and the envoy delegation gathered together.
Numerous mages, wealthy merchants, and officials from surrounding countries also witnessed the event, filling the hall to capacity.
Just a few days ago, this place had hosted the most groundbreaking academic class in human history, and today it had once again become the main stage for a historical moment.
"Please bear witness, the Empire will cooperate with the Association to popularize magic."
On the stage, Barke and Serie shook hands and nodded. At the same time, they held up the signed document together for all to see.
What seemed like a simple summary was, in fact, the result of countless verbal battles, a balance of interests painstakingly found at the last moment. It was finally over.
Clap, clap, clap!
Frieren, Flamme, Zanne, and others at the side immediately began to applaud, leading the entire venue into a wave of applause. They were especially happy that the work was over.
After all, dealing with Empire officials was no easy task, a daily brainstorm of overt and covert clashes no less intense than a magical battle.
The people below were happy that a potential conflict had been resolved. The two most powerful military entities in the human camp, the Empire and the Association, sharing a common enemy, had decided to reinvest heavily in the demon front line. It was undoubtedly a laudable story.
What was important now was cooperation. They were relieved that the two behemoths hadn't become enemies, but had instead moved towards close cooperation.
"Thank you all for your help." Serie, for once, was more talkative, speaking her mind directly: "It is your support that has laid the foundation for our unity."
The applause grew more enthusiastic. The witnesses were honored to be part of it.
Both the president and the court mage understood that the true tide of affairs lay in the hearts of the people. When people were united in their decision to resist the demons, there would be no irreconcilable conflicts. Everyone was satisfied with this result:
"To think I would witness history here again. It is truly an honor."
"I believe in the exemplary effect of today's event. No matter what, the conflict with the demons should be the top priority."
"We will fight until the age of humanity arrives."
"The demons are the ones who should be worried now. They now directly face the Association and the Empire. But why didn't that schemer, the All-Knowing, try to sow discord?"
"Schlacht is just a coward who hides his face. He doesn't dare to confront us directly."
"They're still licking their wounds. The losses inflicted by the vice-president last time have forced them to lie low. Now is a good chance."
"Let's retake the lost lands."
People firmly believed the future was a broad path. Although the demons had brought countless wounds, today a great tide had finally formed to resist them completely. It wouldn't be long; perhaps they could witness victory in their lifetime.
Suddenly, Serie on the stage took Frieren's hand, pulling her out from the line, and patted her on the shoulder, announcing loudly: "I especially want to thank the vice-president for her contributions. Recruiting you was the most correct decision I've ever made."
She wanted to push this outstanding junior completely into the spotlight.
Although a hint of weary refusal flashed in the silver-haired girl's eyes, Serie smiled radiantly and pulled her to her side without taking no for an answer. "Since you said you want to help the elven race develop, that of course includes this rare opportunity."
"From the Battle of the Northern Fortress to stopping the demon grand army from entering the central regions... From the journey to the Labyrinth Kingdom to quelling the demon infiltrators and mobilizing the central nations... From the breakout battle at Elf Town to killing the Seven Sages of Bone squad... And now you have contributed your wisdom to these negotiations. Frieren, you have not been absent from these magnificent events, which means your strength was indispensable. We all thank you."
The applause was thunderous, even deeper than before, and mixed with countless cheers.
Frieren hadn't expected Serie's praise to be so high, nor that everyone would be so approving, even offering words of blessing. It was evident that everyone in the Association, and even the outsiders, understood the weight of her achievements.
She could only offer repeated thanks, bringing the meeting to a close amidst the lively atmosphere.
In the afternoon.
After sharing a meal, the Empire's special envoy delegation departed in a hurry. After all, Boletaria, where the incident occurred, still needed them to be present.
Barke only had time to say, "I'm truly fated to a life of toil," before waving goodbye. A line of carriages was seen quickly leaving from the central avenue of the Magic City.
Their farewell signified the absolute end.
The two presidents stood on the steps of the headquarters' main hall, looking down and watching the troublesome guests leave. It was dusk, and the slanting sunlight cast a golden veil over the mountain ridges. Following the central axis of the fountain avenue, one could see colorful clouds flying.
Starlight faintly appeared, ready to burst forth in the prelude to nightfall. The wind was cool, sweeping away the frustration of the past few days.
"What are your plans now? Are you leaving?" Serie asked.
"Yes, I'm going back to the town to rest for a while. But be sure to tell me if anything happens. I actually have a premonition: perhaps we are about to witness the birth of a demonic kingdom."
"You're right. My prophecies aren't as good as a natural-born all-knower's, but I can at least predict that the situation is dire."
Frieren was about to speak but was interrupted by her: "Also, I foresee that your slumber this time will be very important. I won't disturb you. Focusing on your own affairs is also a contribution."
"I'll leave it to you."
There was no need for polite refusals. With the skills of the Founder of Magic and the Empire's mages, researching the majority of it would be no problem.
She had been away long enough and should return to the Lands Between. This time, she would strive to sort out the situation in the Land of Shadow. During this period, she had already adapted to all her fused powers, enough to set out once more.
"By the way, when you get to the elven village, tell them I'll be back later."
"Are you mentally preparing yourself?"
"I just don't want to be angered by that group of hidebound fools from back then. I hope the world's largest elven settlement can be a bit more presentable."
"You won't be disappointed. Besides, I estimate there are very few elves left who know you."
"They're all dead."
The cold, emotionless reply made Frieren take a breath, but it was already a great step for Serie to move on from her awkwardness. Normally, nothing could persuade the Founder of Magic.
It wouldn't be too late to return to her hometown after the matter of Boletaria was resolved.
"Master, I've packed all the luggage."
Footsteps came from behind. It was Flamme, smiling and waving her hand. The red-haired girl was very satisfied with this trip.
"You forgot one thing: the plan for building the new branch." Zanne, who had hurried over, handed her a document, saying, "Since the Empire has given us a large sum of money, let's use it well and extend the Association's influence out of the central region and into the southern continent."
"Alright."
"When did we have such a plan?" Serie's eyes widened in confusion.
"Master, you don't read the daily routine reports at all, do you."
"It doesn't matter. This is a good thing. I'll leave it to you two."
In the early morning.
A crowd of mages, including many commoners, gathered at the main gate of the Magic City. All of them had woken up early to see them off. Their admired vice-president was about to leave; how could they not see her off in person?
Although they had only spent a short time together, everyone had already seen Frieren's virtue and talent, so they all came spontaneously.
Beside the carriage, Flamme had loaded all the luggage. Then she grabbed the reins, sat down, and said, "Master, everything is ready."
Hearing this, the silver-haired girl waved her hand and said, "It's not like we're never coming back. We're just going back for a little while. There's no need to trouble everyone to see us off. We will travel quickly on our way back."
"You must visit often."
"That's what they say, but the president said she would rest for a while and then didn't leave the house for two years. We thought she was in seclusion, but it turned out she was just reading."
"Perhaps when Lady Frieren returns, many things here will be different again."
"That's right, the Magic City has plans for expansion, after all."
"And it's thanks to you and the president's battle that the surrounding area was cleared. Now the city's expansion will be much easier..."
"Farewell, everyone."
Unconsciously, people started chatting. Frieren responded with a faint smile and a farewell, then waved her hand and boarded the carriage. The horse neighed and reared, and the carriage creaked as it slowly began to move.
It had a long road ahead, from the northern territories near the demons all the way to the central region. Even with the master and apprentice's abundant magic, it was difficult to easily attempt a cross-continental flight. Besides, the experience of the journey itself was part of the journey.
The people responded with their goodbyes.
In Frieren's vision, the crowd at the city gate grew smaller, but everything remained clear in her perception.
Serie stood on the long flight of stairs in the academy district, with an unobstructed view from high above. Sensing the mental energy, she nodded with a slight smile. Then she turned and walked away, leaving only the silhouette of her long golden hair dancing in the wind.
She had important matters to attend to; they could talk properly next time.
The high-altitude terrain of the Magic City made the carriage seem smaller and smaller. This was a city on a mountain that Frieren hadn't observed carefully when she arrived.
She had been in a hurry then, mostly flying, and hadn't noticed the green land guarded by mountains and surrounded by streams, now even more open after being repaired by life magic following the great battle. The azure sky and the dirt path stretched out together, leading into a forest filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers.
"...Speaking of which, this will probably be the furthest journey the two of us have taken together, Master."
Suddenly, it occurred to Flamme, her eyes shining.
"Yes."
"Is that all? We can play with magic on the way, draw pictures to record the places we pass, or ask about local legends, like adventurers or bards."
"It's on the way anyway. As you like. We have plenty of time."
"That's wonderful! Coming to the Magic City was so great, and even the journey back is this happy."
The red-haired girl broke into a brilliant smile, urging the horse on even faster.
Frieren lay back with her hands behind her head, gazing up at the sky. A few wild geese cried out above the clouds. It was the season for migratory birds to return home, heading for lands where winter yields to spring.
"That's right. A journey is always worth remembering."
***
Elf Town, Bank Headquarters.
Sitting at her desk, Miliardel carefully opened a letter. The signature was clearly from Minus, expressing gratitude and stating she would return to thank them in person.
It seemed the little episode with the Empire had been resolved. Their compromise was not unexpected, but she hadn't thought it would go so smoothly. The contingency plans for off-the-board moves weren't needed.
She had originally prepared to mobilize more connections, funds, and other forces to influence the Empire's decision, but a little effort was all it took before Frieren handled it. Sending her childhood friend was the right move.
"Your Excellency, the detailed report on the negotiations at the Association headquarters has arrived, including a rubbing of the agreement document. It's all here."
An elven assistant brought over a thick stack of paper.
"Looks quite detailed. Worth the effort I spent to get it."
Theoretically, Miliardel could have waited for the master and apprentice to return and ask them directly, which would be most effective, but she just wanted to test her intelligence-gathering capabilities. Cross-referencing was always best.
And she was certain Frieren wouldn't remember the specific details of the agreement, while she now held a rubbing in her hands.
The short-haired elf held the folder in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, savoring it as she read line by line, carefully checking for any possible traps. It turned out the Magic Association was quite serious in its work. There were no loopholes; it was seamless.
"But for this kind of information to be leaked so easily, it's really like a sieve."
Miliardel scoffed at the Empire's secrecy.
In contrast, the bank's underground vaults were built in separate, non-interfering sections. The craftsmen had even been subjected to memory interference, and no blueprints or guard rotation schedules existed. They refused any written records.
Everything was stored in their minds. After all, elven memory is long and reliable, and everyone only knew a part of it. Only she and Frieren knew all the secrets.
As for mental magic? That would be asking for death.
"In my opinion, the Empire does not yet have the foundation to contend for hegemony. At the very least, not without pushing out the demons and reclaiming the lost lands."
"What do you all think?"
The others present often traveled on business and were well-informed, their perspectives no less sharp than those of Empire officials.
"As long as the great tide of resisting the demons does not change, the conditions for the Empire's expansion are not ripe. Even if they successfully conquered the Magic Association, they would still have to go to the front lines."
"Right. Assuming they succeeded, they would still need to establish their authority on the battlefield."
"Otherwise, a single setback after over-expansion could easily lead to fragmentation."
"According to their plans, they need to simultaneously investigate the fog tide incident in Boletaria and retake the lost northern human territories. Can the Empire sustain a war on two fronts?"
"Its size is sufficient to handle it."
"Because the Empire is certain that the Association will stand on the front lines against the demons. When necessary, they can ask the Mages of the Mythical Era to intervene..."
Their assessment was similar to Miliardel's. Ultimately, the main conflict was with the demons.
Perhaps the Empire's intention from the start was to make a lot of noise to gain some small advantages, slowly building its influence bit by bit. If considered that way, then it made a small profit.
Whether that was the plan or not, it was worthy of being the greatest human nation. She didn't believe the Empire lacked such clever politicians. They were probably just cooperating with an ambitious king to test the waters. Never mind.
"How these guys calculated things at the beginning isn't important. The key is that we must strategically position ourselves in the Empire, extend our business there, make as much contact as possible, and seize the first-mover advantage."
"We can't just make money from small countries; they're too poor. We need to make the Empire's money."
Miliardel looked forward to Frieren's return. With the Association's current influence, cooperating with the bank was a perfect fit.
_____
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