In the conference hall, as Aurora's voice faded, Viscount Finn's face instantly darkened.
The leader of the magic research team also pulled back his smile, his expression turning awkward.
After all, the point of Viscount Finn's question wasn't whether elemental planes existed or not!
What he cared about was how to solve the current issue with the Black and White Hand!
It was like someone asking an economics expert how to make and save money when the economy was bad,
only for the expert to snap back with something like, “How do you even know the economy is bad? You don't know anything, so don't go jumping to conclusions about the economic situation based on unfounded theories!”
That wasn't answering the question; it was questioning the questioner with a sense of superiority.
It seemed like a display of erudition, but in reality, it was just mean-spirited condescension.
Sensing the increasingly awkward atmosphere in the conference hall, the magic research team leader quickly forced a couple of laughs and stepped forward to smooth things over:
“Haha, haha... Aurora is just suffering from an occupational hazard common to mages. She didn't mean anything by it, please forgive her!”
With that, the magic research team leader apologized repeatedly with a strained smile.
Seeing the team leader take this stance, and considering he had traveled all the way from the imperial capital to Stormveil City, Viscount Finn treated him as a guest.
In the end, he didn't say much, merely withdrawing his gaze from Aurora with a calm expression.
“My wording was indeed not rigorous enough...” Viscount Finn said indifferently.
“However, I believe the focus of our discussion right now should still be on how to track and locate the Black and White Hand.”
Beside him, Bishop Miles also nodded slightly and said, “I have dealt with these cultists from the Black and White Hand. Every time they appear, they cause immense destruction to the Heron Empire.”
“I believe we must make haste and find the Black and White Hand quickly to stop them before they achieve their goal!”
Seeing both of them offer a way out, the magic research team leader breathed a sigh of relief and followed up:
“Yes, our main challenge at the moment is how to track those cultists. As long as we can find them, their strength is absolutely nothing to fear before us...”
“Isn't that simple?” Just as the magic research team leader finished speaking, another voice chimed in. It was Aurora again.
Aurora stood up from her seat, tilted her head up, and said:
“Since the Black and White Hand summoned a fire elemental creation, can't we just use element-tracking magic to trace its path and find them?”
Her tone carried a sense of obviousness, as if to say, How could you guys not think of such a simple method?
“Aurora!” The magic research team leader's brow furrowed tightly. He barked in a low voice:
“Don't think things are that simple!”
“There is an Alchemy Guild in the city. When they perform alchemy, they also need to summon fire elemental creations for assistance. Casting element-tracking magic will only lead to the Alchemy Guild! It won't help us find those cultists!”
Hearing this, Aurora gave a disdainful smile and said:
“That's because the one you cast, Captain, is just ordinary element-tracking magic.”
“If you don't want the tracking results to point to the Alchemy Guild, it's actually very simple. Just don't cast Bronze-rank element-tracking magic, but cast Advanced Element-Tracking Magic instead.”
Pausing, Aurora's gaze swept over everyone in the conference hall. Seeing that all eyes were on her, she slowly spoke:
“Advanced Element-Tracking Magic can adjust the tracking frequency of the magic, allowing it to precisely lock onto the elemental fluctuations one wants to track.”
“Oh... I just remembered. Advanced Element-Tracking Magic is a Gold-rank magic. You probably haven't mastered it, Captain. And there shouldn't be any Gold-rank mages in the city either...”
Pausing deliberately once more, Aurora continued:
“'Wherever it appears, it shall be tracked...' This is a line recorded in the model theory of Advanced Element-Tracking Magic.”
“Coincidentally, Teacher Katishia—the Diamond-rank mage my father hired for me—once demonstrated Advanced Element-Tracking Magic to me, and she even taught it to me.”
“So... if you let me go to the manor, I should be able to cast this Gold-rank Advanced Element-Tracking Magic to find the trail of the Black and White Hand.”
Aurora's long-winded speech echoed in the conference hall, leaving everyone dumbfounded and giving them goosebumps.
“What... is... she... doing?” Standing next to Leon, Alicia tilted her head, completely unable to understand what Aurora was talking about.
If she wanted to cast Advanced Element-Tracking Magic, she could have just said she knew the spell.
Why did she have to make such a long speech, stop deliberately halfway through, sweep her gaze over everyone, and only then start speaking again?
It was as if she forgot how to speak halfway through and had to pause for a second.
“That's the Whisper of Jiahao. Don't listen to it; it'll rot your brain.”
Leon was so cringed that he didn't even know how to hold his mouth. He covered Alicia's ears so she wouldn't be corrupted by Aurora's words.
Good lord... No, by the God of Sacred Light!
Pretentious, she was simply too pretentious—absolutely soaring pretentiousness!
Leon couldn't understand how a noble lady from a marquis's family could flex like this.
And... she didn't even realize how pretentious she was being.
Seeing Aurora with her head slightly raised and her eyes closed in deep contemplation, Leon felt like his toes could curl enough to dig out a three-bedroom apartment...
In the conference hall, Viscount Finn, who had been looking slightly irritated and dissatisfied with Aurora, suddenly smiled.
He let go of his previous feelings of offense and anger.
Getting angry at Aurora... Viscount Finn felt there was simply no need.
Viscount Finn let out a breath, exhaling his lingering irritation along with it, and then said:
“Lady Aurora, I know you have mastered Advanced Element-Tracking Magic, but...”
“Mages in the city have already tried casting it. Advanced Element-Tracking Magic cannot track the trail of that fire elemental creation at all.”
“After completing the ritual, the members of the Black and White Hand completely masked the elemental fluctuations.”
Hearing this, the slight curve of Aurora's lips instantly froze. “How is that possible!”
She looked at Viscount Finn and asked in disbelief:
“My Lord Viscount Finn, are you sure?!”
“Of course I am sure,” Viscount Finn replied.
“If even Advanced Element-Tracking Magic couldn't find any trace of the Black and White Hand, leaving us with absolutely no options, why else would I call this meeting to consult all of you?”
Refusing to give up, Aurora asked again:
“My Lord Viscount Finn, are you sure they cast Advanced Element-Tracking Magic? That is a Gold-rank spell. Its magic model is...”
Before Aurora could finish, Viscount Finn cut her off directly, saying:
“As you said, I do not understand magic theory.”
“However, I still understand the common script and common tongue. Whether it was the 'Magic Circle Model of Advanced Element-Tracking Magic' in the spellbook or the mages who set up the magic circle, they all assured me that it was indeed Advanced Element-Tracking Magic.”
“If you doubt it, I can have someone take you to the manor where the sacrificial ritual took place and let you cast Advanced Element-Tracking Magic to test it yourself. Perhaps your magic will work and bring us good news then?”
“...” Aurora fell completely silent.
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