In Flannel Province, within the sewers of Frostwind Territory, lay a solitary mirror.
It looked like a makeup mirror used by a noblewoman.
The design was similar to a hand fan... Its lower end was a slender wooden handle, far cleaner than the part near the mirror’s surface. It seed it was originally ant to be inserted into sothing but was taken out on its own.
But if soone were to co here, they would probably notice sothing out of place imdiately.
——Because in these filthy sewers, the mirror alone was spotlessly clean.
Without warning, light burst forth from the surface of the mirror.
Like a curled fishing net slowly extending from underneath the water.
Brilliant golden interwoven light erupted from the mirror, casting upwards onto the ritual array that had long been carved above.
As the radiant golden light swept over the ritual array above in a certain rhythm, the array was sequentially activated——dazzling rainbow light cast down from above, blooming on the ground, imdiately flooding the sewer in light.
In the next mont, seven people erged from within the light.
They arrived at Frostwind Territory with incredible precision.
Which was also the sole Earl’s domain in the northern regions——the domain of Earl Yuri Frosthail.
If there had to be a single flaw...
It was that they hadn’t arrived at a "safe house," but instead, they had crawled into a sewer.
When Zoya heard he wanted to crawl into the sewer, she nearly threw a punch at him—how could you take a Grand Duke down into a sewer?
Of course, Jacob was still impassioned in his justification.
After all, he wasn’t a local native and struggled to find a safe house that was absolutely trustworthy. Positioning themselves in an unoccupied location risked discovery, while staying at soone’s ho carried the possibility of betrayal.
Thus, the sewer was the safest option.
Spacious, secure, inter-connected, and nobody would co in.
There was just a bit of a sll. And this small issue could be resolved with another ritual.
Ultimately, it was Annan who stopped Zoya, deciding they would infiltrate through the sewer...
Decorum be damned.
Practicality was far more essential...
"...To enable cross-boundary activation of a teleportation spell, ’light compensation’ is required, also commonly known as an auxiliary ritual of ’light replenishnt,’ which is the addition of a large amount of curse-imbued light to the spell. Sources like ’Dawn’ or ’Twilight’ would work, but for cross-boundary teleportation, the required light is almost impossible to gather in a single ’sunrise’ or ’sunset.’
"On top of this, the more objects being teleported, the heavier and larger they are, the more ’extra light’ is needed."
Jacob’s voice gradually beca clearer amidst the light, "Considering the weight and preservation, I can’t possibly carry a large amount of [Light-Sealed Ice Blocks] with . Therefore, I have no choice but to use the relatively pricier and harder to preserve [Radiant Oil]... Your Highness may have heard of it, it’s an essential component of the alchemical magnum opus of the Transmutation School—[Universal Solvent Azoth]."
He carefully sealed the vessel shut, looking quite heartbroken.
——The vessel was about the size of an old dry mom’s jar lid and quite flat.
It was like a tiny round tin for cooling oil.
To teleport the seven of them directly from the southwestern most corner of Flannel Province to Rahati Province in the northeast, about one-third of its contents had just been used.
Annan had no idea whether that was a lot or a little.
Watching Jacob’s distressed face, he could only smile helplessly, "I’ll reimburse you later, don’t worry."
"...That’s not necessary. I’ve heard that Lord Salvatore is a friend of Yours Highness, so why not just sell this box of [Radiant Oil] to him instead? He will definitely need it when he makes Azoth."
Jacob made an odd request.
But when you think about it, it actually makes sense.
After all, for ritualists, many things can be substituted with lower-grade materials, and even those substitutes can be replaced with their own lower-grade alternatives... It’s like how a junkyard tinkerer can cobble together a computer for just a few hundred dollars.
Asking them to spend a large budget on a top-of-the-line graphics card is sothing they’re likely unwilling to do—since the motherboard simply wouldn’t support it, and the power supply would be even less adequate.
It’s the sa for ritualists. Once they use an intensely cursed material like Radiant Oil, they can’t cheap out on the other materials either. While the ritual’s effect would be enhanced, they usually don’t need particularly great ritual effects... after all, they only have to use it once.
They are not, after all, believers performing rituals for their own gods. They are ritualists stealing the power of the gods... the so-called "cloud believers."
True believers might pick out so quality offerings out of faith, but ritualists definitely consider cost-effectiveness. They wouldn’t want to use high-level materials in their possession, which might just end up expiring while being saved for a rainy day.
It’s better to sell them to a conversion wizard.
"Azoth" is the highest-grade pre-conversion agent for conversion wizards and can also be used to replace any material for high-level conversions—alchemy, to be exact. It can be said to be a universal synthetic material.
Only at the silver-tier of conversion spells do they start to use Azoth. It’s not until gold-tier that there is a rigid need for Azoth.
But it seems Salvatore is about to inherit Heath Tower of Black.
Once he becos the Tower Master, then he will be a bona fide gold-tier. It might be a good idea to buy it and gift it to Salvatore as a present for long-lost friends. It’s valuable and practical; my senior would probably like it.
...Speaking of which.
What should I give to Kafney when I see her again...?
Annan pondered for a mont before deciding to set this question aside for now.
"When I get back, sell the remaining part, I’ll buy it at market price. Any other high-grade cursed materials you’re reluctant to use, you can sell to too," Annan said with a nod and in a grave voice.
"If you need to buy cursed materials or esoteric books, you can also go through the official procurent channels. I will have Zoya prepare a Winter’s Hand Reserve status for you."
Seeing as Jacob was quite useful...
Such a minor issue that could be solved in a single statent, I might as well take care of it for him.
He is currently the ritualist I know who is most proficient in transportation rituals. It’s said he’s also good at breaking barriers and delving into nightmares... These are abilities that occasionally co in handy.
—Knowing I’m short on people, he sent so talents my way.
Thanks, Uncle Crow.
To be safe, Annan still instructed in a low voice,
"Zoya, scan it."
"Mhm."
Zoya nodded, her pupils flashing a dim yellow, like the ethereal reflection of a clock. Then she brought her hands together in front of her, touching the tips of her fingers to form a pyramid shape in an instant.
The azure halo spread out like ripples on water once more.
Therefore, without chanting "Impending Intoxication," the range was much smaller this ti, with only a three-hundred-ter radius.
But this ti she activated the instant spell, "Prophet’s Vision." For the next few minutes, when she closed her eyes, she could see the scene five seconds into the future—paired with the guided spell, "Broad Area Perception," ensuring they wouldn’t be ambushed.
And not long after Zoya initiated her Broad Area Perception, she let out a small yelp.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her expression turning serious,
"Wait a second, Your Majesty... We need to move imdiately."
As the words left her mouth, a deep red brilliance swept over them—diverting around Annan as it passed him.
And it wasn’t until after Zoya finished speaking:
"...We’ve been scanned by another prophet wizard."
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