Chapter 330: Expansion

Early the next morning, the members of the Alchemical Society packed their bags. Before departing, they made a special trip to bid Ansu farewell.

"We in the Alchemical Society will remember what happened yesterday," Alvin stood before Ansu, his tone sincere. "If the opportunity arises in the future, we will certainly repay this immense kindness!"

Ansu waved his hand, indicating it was no big deal, and then asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

Alvin replied truthfully, "We intend to smuggle ourselves out of the Novalon Empire. We'll procure a sailing ship from the Kingdom of Lenaya at the southernmost tip, bypass the waters under the Empire's jurisdiction, and head for the City of a Thousand Stars."

When he spoke, his voice carried an undisguised longing, as if everything would be fine as long as they reached that mysterious magic academy.

Upon hearing this, Ansu's brow furrowed immediately.

"The City of a Thousand Stars - Radial?" His tone was filled with blatant disapproval. "To be honest, that place isn't exactly a good destination right now."

Alvin was stunned, clearly not expecting such a response.

The City of a Thousand Stars—it was the legendary holy site belonging only to mages, a pure hall of knowledge.

There was no Church of Holy Light, no nobility, and no Magic Prohibition Decree. It was the Promised Land passed down through generations of mages.

Yet, the mysterious and powerful mage before him wore an expression of disdain, even disgust.

"Lord Ansu, why do you say that?" Alvin couldn't help but press.

Ansu didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Under the thousand-year influence of that false god, the God of Clamor and Filth, the current magic academy is left with nothing but madmen and megalomaniacs. Have you seen how insane those with the mana plague are? The mages currently in the academy are in a far worse state."

"False god?" The expression on Alvin's face gradually turned solemn.

The several mages from the Alchemical Society behind him also looked at each other, unsure for a moment whether to believe him.

"...Then," Alvin hesitated, "in your opinion, Lord Ansu, where would be a better place for us to go?"

Ansu had been waiting for those exact words.

He smiled and replied, "The Magic Mutual Aid Association, of course."

He was prepared to poach this group.

As soon as the name was mentioned, Alvin and the others were taken aback. They had clearly heard of the 'Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association.'

It was a magic organization that had recently risen to fame, with the mission of protecting persecuted casters. Its headquarters was in Norvigel in the North, and it was said to have gathered a significant number of people in a short time. They had even started advertising as far as the South...

Ansu watched the contemplative expressions of Alvin and his group, silently calculating in his heart.

Although the Alchemical Society was a relatively loose organization, its members were spread throughout the East and South. In terms of scale, it was several times larger than the Magic Mutual Aid Association. If he could pull them all over... his strength would undoubtedly expand greatly.

Of course, he wasn't just obsessed with poaching from his rivals; he truly was doing it for their own good. If this group from the Alchemical Society really took a boat to the City of a Thousand Stars, few would likely return alive.

"To tell you the truth," Ansu explained to everyone with a smile, "I am the President of the Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association, Ansu Morris."

The atmosphere in the room fell silent for a moment.

As Ansu spoke, his gaze slowly shifted to the other side of the room. Celia was sitting at the table studying ancient texts, having no time to acknowledge the group at all.

He continued his self-introduction, "Additionally, I have another name, 'Hermit,' and she is 'Ash.' Perhaps you have heard these two names before; we are the two credited authors of 《The Solution to Magic Pollution》."

If the silence just now was due to suspicion, then now, it was pure shock.

"You... the two of you are actually..."

Alvin's gaze moved back and forth between the two of them, filled with disbelief.

"The Masters Ash and Hermit who created and promoted safe magic, saved the entire magic system... and set the magic world ablaze?"

"The two masters are actually so young!?"

Ansu nodded slightly, his smile remaining calm.

Celia put down the magic book in her hand. Her gaze slowly drifted to Ansu's face, which was feigning composure. Her lips twitched as she suppressed a smile.

Others might not see it, but only she knew that Ansu actually quite enjoyed being revered. He had even shared that secret thrill with her in private before...

But when facing outsiders, he immediately adopted what he called 'aura,' putting on an air of indifference.

When it came down to it, he was really just a big boy.

Quite cute, actually.

After Ansu revealed his identity, the members of the Alchemical Society still harbored a few doubts.

After all, this mysterious Mr. Ansu seemed to have been approaching them with some sort of agenda from the very beginning...

Ansu offered no further explanation. He raised his right hand, palm upward. Then, a pure magical radiance slowly condensed in his palm, and the profound structure of a ring flashed momentarily.

That was the 'Ring of Pure Protection,' recognized as the theoretical peak of the contemporary magic world, and it was the most primal version without any redundant information.

No further explanation was needed.

Alvin's face turned serious, and he bowed his head slightly with deep respect.

His companions behind him followed suit.

"Master Hermit, Master Ash, we pay our respects to you both."

It was only right to follow the saviors of the magic world.

...

After the members of the Alchemical Society left, Ansu immediately called for David.

Since Alvin and the others were willing to cooperate with his future actions, he decided to expand the operations of the Magic Mutual Aid Association to the South. Therefore, there were many matters that needed to be delegated to his subordinates.

As Ansu spoke, David listened intently, his pen flying across a small notebook.

"Elder Hermit..." Halfway through, he suddenly raised a practical question. "Since we are going to integrate the personnel of the Alchemical Society and establish a new branch in the South, should this branch be called the 'Southern Magic Mutual Aid Association'?"

"That works," Ansu nodded, then added, "However, once the integration is truly complete, we can change it to a more formal name."

"What name?" David asked curiously.

Ansu gazed at the faint outline of the village in the morning mist in the distance and thought for a moment.

"Simply call it the Continental Magic Association."

David was stunned.

After realizing the weight of that name, he felt an indescribable surge of excitement in his chest.

The Continental Magic Association.

The scope of this name was no longer at the level of mages huddling together for warmth; it was more like a banner.

Since the decline of magic in the Third Era, there should have long been a unified official magic organization for the entire continent.

"Understood!" David nodded heavily and then turned to leave.

Once David had left, the room fell silent.

Celia slowly put down her magic book and looked up at Ansu. "Are you planning to get involved in the matters of Viscount Lorick and the Southern aristocrats?"

Ansu nodded and sat down across from her. "Besides managing our own faction, various signs indicate that the City of a Thousand Stars has become a new ally for Barcas. Their focus is on the South, so we must be on our guard."

Celia blinked, her eyelashes fluttering slightly in the morning light. "You think there are demon forces involved behind this? That Barcas has also intervened in the war between the Loyalist faction and the Aristocrat faction?"

"It would be stranger if Barcas didn't intervene," Ansu fell into thought. "After all, regardless of whether the Royal Capital wins or the South wins, the Empire's chaos and division are inevitable... Only when the human world falls into war will the demon army have a chance to make a comeback."

He had a vague premonition that this time, they might truly have to face this demon leader and major villain head-on.

...