"Are you certain about the reliability of your source? And how many people are in the know of this news now?"
After seeing the two off, Lady Mandel turned her head and shifted her gaze back to Anvis, clearly puzzled.
"If it’s such an easily verifiable matter, what’s the point of making things up? As for how many people know about this news now..."
Snuggled into the sofa, Anvis glanced at the golden-haired, glamorous noblewoman and deftly poured himself another cup of tea.
"It shouldn’t be many. I received this message through a special mysterious object. Aside from you and me, maybe a few other High Rank Prophets might vaguely sense it."
"Is that so? In that case, why would you inform me of this news? Don’t tell me it’s just for the sake of those two youngsters."
Upon hearing Anvis’s words, skepticism rose in Lady Mandel’s heart.
"Regarding the reason for informing you about this news..."
Anvis shrugged, inconspicuously popped the last Crystal Nut from the Secret Silver Tray into his mouth, and then began to speak in an exaggerated tone.
"Dear Lady Mandel, aren’t we ’partners’ now? As partners, when there’s good news, naturally, you’re the first one I think of. How about it, are you moved?"
"...Heh, that’s really kind of the Mirror Man, Your Excellency."
Listening to Anvis’s utterly perfunctory answer, Lady Mandel’s purple eyes narrowed dangerously, and the scorn in her tone nearly solidified.
At the same time, it made her more vigilant.
Just as the Mirror Man had said, whether relics appear or not is easy to confirm, there was no need for him to deceive her about this. Meaning, in a few days, the Mivela Basin should indeed reveal ancient relics.
But beyond that, everything else mentioned by him needed to be question marked for authenticity.
Helros’ Unlimited Magic Book is a legendary and powerful Magic Book.
Its original creator was Isvelle Helros, a famous Ninth Rank Peak expert from the time of the Ancient Magic Empire, one of the nine Councilmen of the Ring Council, known as the Source of All Magic.
At the outset of its creation, to obtain a material with the growth potential to withstand his Strength, Helros tried many different materials before ultimately choosing his own skin as the main component.
Afterwards, using Rule Power as his ink, he recorded each of the Magic Spells he created himself into the book.
With each self-created Magic Spell recorded, the book’s power grew stronger.
After recording precisely ten thousand various, originally created Magic Spells of different factions, a vague Will formed within the substance of the book.
Under its influence, the book itself began to try to evolve new Magic Spells on its own through combinations and permutations.
Although most attempts failed, a few truly succeeded and added new Strength to the book.
Noticing this change, Helros embedded another of his creations, an observational Mysterious Object refined from the eyeball of a powerful, bizarre being—Heros Eye—into the cover of the book.
He placed this book into the Central Magic Tower of the Sky City, allowing Spellcasters to borrow it freely as they pleased.
Of course, this was not without cost. While you read the magical knowledge in this book, the book reads your inspiration in return.
With the inspirations of these Spellcasters, the Book Spirit’s power ascended rapidly. At the same time, more new Magic Spells were born.
As time went by, the number of Magic Spells recorded in this book gradually increased. Additionally, its Strength ascended swiftly during this process, even to a point that astonished Helros himself.
Since the base material used was skin from a Ninth Rank Peak being, the book’s potential for growth was virtually limitless.
With the power of this book, Helros defeated many enemies of the same Ninth Rank Peak Level. However, during the last encounter, facing a peculiar dark being from another realm, Helros was defeated and disappeared.
Correspondingly, this book also disappeared along with it.
All Spellcasters who knew of this part of history, including those of Ninth Rank, were trying every means to pinpoint the location of Helros’ death, as well as that legendary Magic Book.
Lady Mandel was no exception; she coveted the knowledge of the various Secret Techniques recorded within it.
It was said that merely possessing it could significantly enhance your Magic Power levels. And over prolonged possession, one might even gain some insight into the Strength of rules.
Lady Mandel asked herself honestly, if she had received news related to this, she would wish that fewer people knew the better; it would be best if everyone was oblivious, allowing her to secure it all for herself.
There are only two situations that would prompt her to willingly spread the news:
Either the relic hidden there was not Helros’ Unlimited Magic Book at all, or the dangers lurking within the relic were immensely great, inconceivable to the point.
She couldn’t take things out on her own and had to attract a multitude of cannon fodder to trigger the traps and dangers ahead, then reap the benefits like a fisherman watching from behind.
Thinking this, Lady Mandel couldn’t help but reveal a cold smile, believing she understood Anvis’ intentions.
"However, such a splendid treasure, aren’t you tempted, Mirror Man, sir?"
"Of course, I’m tempted, so after those two bring back the book, I will consider making a high offer to purchase it from you. How does one Gold Coin sound?"
With an ironic tone, Anvis lifted his teacup, drank up all the tea inside in one gulp, placed the delicate Elf porcelain cup back on the tray, and slowly rose to his feet.
"Ha, just kidding. We’ll discuss it when the time comes.
So, I shall take my leave today."
With that said, Anvis’ figure suddenly flickered and disappeared.
Staring at the direction in which Anvis vanished, Lady Mandel fell into contemplation.
Concerning Helros’ Unlimited Magic Book, whether the Mirror Man’s information was true or false, she could not possibly give up on it.
Merely letting those two youngsters retrieve it wasn’t safe enough, even if one of them had that kind of fate Trait, as fate wasn’t all-powerful. At the Ninth Rank level, fate could no longer fully bind them.
Perhaps, she could follow behind those two youngsters when the time comes, and act according to the situation.
Having made up her mind, Lady Mandel rubbed her temples, prepared to take a Crystal Nut, and enjoy her belated afternoon tea time.
Then, she finally noticed that the tea snacks she had prepared for herself had been completely devoured by some damned individual.
Her eyelid twitched, and Lady Mandel suddenly felt an itch in her teeth. Her gaze swept across the room and finally settled on a certain young man beneath her.
"Well, my adorable little pet, that’s enough. Next, how about we play a bit of role-playing?"
"Yes, you shall play that fellow who just couldn’t recognize his place..."
At this time, Landon and Frey had already returned to the headquarters of the Starfire Organization.
Although the matter seemed to have taken a twist, a Task arranged by someone of Eighth Rank couldn’t be anything ordinary.
Therefore, upon returning to the headquarters, Landon immediately took Frey to see his mentor, the Eighth Rank Deputy Commander of Starfire, Shute Galo, and recounted every single detail of his experiences.
"You’re saying, your companion’s brother is in the hands of that venomous snake? And the Mirror Man was also present at that time?"
After listening to Landon’s account, Galo frowned.