Surviving The Fourth Calamity-Chapter 1473 - 51: Mages Don’t Think So

As Hill fought for the amount of pleasure he could gain in the future, the Alchemists excavating the Golden Cloud Orchid Pool had to pause their steps.

Although equipped with gear that could isolate the air, the workload was truly overwhelming for these Alchemists, who had lived in luxury for a long time.

However, to avoid causing the soil to mutate again due to the release of magic, Finch did not allow anyone to use spells to move the earth, which had been dug five meters deep without an end in sight.

When Count Stelter and Finch bickered, they could shift their attention... As members of the Basia City Alchemist Association, the relationship with the Stelter Family had always been bad, so seeing their enemy’s misfortune brought them some joy.

However, mental joy could not offset the pain of bending over to dig the earth... Unaccustomed to such labor, they did not know how to use their strength efficiently, and thus truly exerted themselves with every shovel. After persisting for a day and a night, most of them couldn’t hold on when they saw the hot sun the next day.

After all, there were only a dozen or so of them.

In fact, Count Stelter had noticed the slowing actions of these Alchemists by the morning. However, at that time, Ellie was busy running between the castle and Grand Mage Belfran’s residence and had to help facilitate communications and deliveries for Prince Alexis... He didn’t want Finch to cause trouble in between.

Count Stelter also did not want the Alchemist Association to take the opportunity to improve relations with Great Sage Belfran... Their interactions could not be controlled by the Stelter Family, but at the very least, Finch should not stand in front of Ellie.

If previously Great Sage Belfran was just a backup option for their family, he had become their only option with the exposure of the Silk Spider incident.

He even wrote to Ditte as soon as the incident occurred... Although it wasn’t necessary for Ditte to immediately withdraw from the border forces, he had to be prepared for this at any moment.

First, Ditte needed to secure proof of withdrawal to Basia City for garrison duty... A young person inheriting a noble title with military merits must have military service experience, otherwise, if the Stelter offspring wanted to join the army in the future, they would have to start from scratch.

Connections must be maintained in every generation; no one cares how the children of others live.

Without such stringent requirements, Danboro’s army would not be so formidable.

Fortunately, Ditte, who had followed him from a young age, had time and experience that proved his capability, and the younger generation of other families acknowledged his status, so his early return wasn’t too damaging.

After all, due to Count Stelter’s decision, Ditte lost the qualification to compete for the leadership position in the next army hierarchy.

So, although Ditte’s return would still harm his future to some extent, it wasn’t severe enough to completely sever the Stelter Family’s prospects in the military. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

As long as the successor isn’t the Second Prince.

Count Stelter thought of this matter and found it laughable... After the exposure of the Silk Spider incident, the ones in the most difficult position were not the perpetrators but those like them, the victims.

He even had to exaggerate the harm suffered by the great families in his letter, urging his eldest son to swiftly retreat at the slightest sign of trouble... To prevent Ditte, who loved military life and was brave in blood and fire, from giving up the idea of returning home due to a fleeting sense of luck.

The Count understood very well that someone like the Second Prince, with a narrow-minded nature... when everyone knew he secretly harmed the Stelter Family over a trivial matter, he would only choose to root them out completely.

That way, he wouldn’t have to constantly worry about a great family plotting against him from behind.

A typical ’I can scheme against you, but you shouldn’t resist; even knowing the truth is your fault’ mentality of a villain.

When the Stelter Family wasn’t outsmarted and even found out who was scheming against them, the Second Prince would not rest until they were dead.

And Ditte, who was always in areas with combat missions, was the best target... Lind had already been crippled, and the future of the Stelter Family rested on Ditte, and Ellie.

Fortunately, with Ellie, the Stelter Family was not entirely defeated.

Count Stelter stood outside the ever-expanding hole that had spread to the other side’s Hyacinth Flower Pond, his face calm as he asked the displeased Finch, who was fiercely demanding the Alchemists to exert more effort: "Is this Alchemy equipment that isolates the air only usable by yourselves?

If it requires magic power to sustain, the Stelter Family still has a team of Magical Swordsmen that can use it.

It isn’t something that requires such secrecy, is it?"

Finch looked at his face with a puzzled expression and then suddenly stepped back a few steps: "Damn it, wasn’t all the flowers dug up? Is there a bigger issue with this earth?"

Count Stelter curiously glanced at him: "Are you affected again?"

Finch frowned, took a small bottle from his storage ring, and sprayed himself with ice water.

Then he looked at the watchful Count and said: "This is Pure Water, it can immediately relieve various toxins, and for atmospheres that just affect emotions, it’s almost instantly effective.

This is a very expensive material; only a Great Sage can bypass Triton’s blockade to open a gap to the Elemental Sea, and each session only lasts half an hour.

If it’s for Lind, you don’t have to spend that money.

Once he leaves the Silk Spider and this cursed place, he will gradually recover on his own.

And, I believe in no more than three years, we should find a way to remove this influence.

Of course, if you insist on squandering your wealth, that’s your problem... In any case, we’re not selling it, as we barely have enough for ourselves!"

Count Stelter hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the lady’s chamber atop the castle before asking again: "So... how much does it cost?

I might try asking Great Sage Belfran... Though aloof, he isn’t cruel, and if it’s to save someone, he might be willing to help a little."

Finch seemed a little surprised: "I thought you would give up on Lind... After all, as a father, you’ve already done what you could!

Which great noble would do so much for their second son?

Your Ditte has become the most desired elder brother among all undisinherited noble youth in Danboro!

Does the Stelter Family still have money?

"No, can your eldest son still tolerate this? Such a good first son, you don’t want him anymore?"

Count Stelter shook his head: "Ditte will understand me... If Lind still does this when he regains his senses, then abandoning him is only natural.

However... there’s still half a chance that he will return to his former self, right?

Ultimately, we can’t let all those past efforts go to waste!"

Finch looked at him with the eyes of a madman: "Pure Water is priced by the drop, the market price is 500 gold per drop.

You need to buy at least 100 drops for it to be effective.

But the people who have Pure Water basically won’t accept gold coins."

Then his expression suddenly became serious, and he spoke coldly: "What about your magical swordsmen squad?

What are you stalling for?

Are we doing the job just for ourselves?"

Count Stelter knew that Finch had completely regained his composure from his fluctuating emotions, and was once again the President Finch who opposed the Stelter Family.

"Joshua!" Count Stelter called out loudly behind him... The window of his study was pushed open, and a disheveled head protruded.

"I’m here! What do you want me to do?"

"Bring a team of magical swordsmen to help the mages!"

"Yes!"

Joshua quickly led twelve fully armed magical swordsmen over, nimbly replacing the exhausted alchemists who didn’t want to move.

"Where’s your steward Ted?" Finch looked at Joshua directing his subordinates, asking calmly.

"The castle needs cleaning." Count Stelter’s voice was equally calm.

However, hidden beneath this calmness, is endless bloodshed.

"Prince Alexis and the respected Great Sage seem to have made contact." Finch turned to look at him, "You seem to treat him quite well, so well that it almost makes me think you’ve chosen a side."

"He’s only twenty, and his mother’s family has no one to guide him." Count Stelter said softly, "However, he... ha~ I don’t believe you can’t see his role in this matter.

It’s never wrong to have a good attitude."

"The Danboro Royal Family always produces such figures." Finch stared ahead, his expression solemn, "On the contrary, the current King seems somewhat aberrant."

"The Second Prince’s familiarity with Crystal Fruit and Silk Spiders almost made me think he discovered them himself." Count Stelter sneered.

"My father already knows about this." Finch said very seriously, "He went directly to the Great Sage Ismael."

"Hmm?"

"If there’s anyone who doesn’t want to see the Danboro Royal Family become what it is now... it’s certainly only Ismael.

The one in the Royal Palace will only trust Ismael."

Count Stelter looked at him in shock: "What?

Are they planning to directly search the palace?"

"The existence of the Danboro Royal Family is still very necessary." Finch said expressionlessly, "We are just resisting, not planning to destroy them.

At least the reason cannot be related to our Alchemist Association.

The flourishing of Spider Silk comes from us, so we can only handle it ourselves.

At the very least, let the nobles know that Silk Spiders are dangerous and need to be sealed first.

However, which noble will sever their own economic lifeline before seeing the real truth?

Only the reality that even the King is victimized can make them vigilant."

"What about the Spider Master?"

"He is about to become a powerful Great Sage, the Alchemist Association can only take back what they said."

"Hmm?" Count Stelter suddenly reacted, "So,... at most the King announces he’s an unwelcome guest to Danboro, and everything else remains the same?"

"Well, not necessarily, doesn’t the Danboro Royal Family also have their own Great Sage?"

"This world... truly is crazy."

"It’s already good enough, at least the King still dares to expel him.

Crystalline Weapons, although not easily used, are not unusable either."

"So... the world you wholeheartedly want to return to, is truly disgusting?"

"The mages don’t think so."