"The City of Magic will face a calamity?"

Viktor took the words of the phantom mage to heart.

He pondered briefly, or more accurately, he was recalling the game's storyline.

In the future, the City of Mages had once suffered a severe attack.

It was an exclusive special mission for mage players; players of other classes couldn't join.

The reason was that a powerful sealed magical beast was about to break through its seal in the City of Mages and reappear in the world.

— The 'Dark Archmage' Exodia.

He was originally a mage, but due to his obsession with pursuing power, he injected powerful magic into every meridian of his body to make his physiology transcend human limits.

Exodia did indeed become stronger, but the consequences were also obvious.

Due to the magical backlash, he eventually lost his sanity.

His body also transformed into a giant with three heads.

With three heads, he had three consciousnesses.

His thoughts constantly clashed, and his mind was in utter chaos.

The endless magic gushing from his body naturally led to countless disasters.

This was why he was sealed in the City of Mages.

The seal of the Dark Mage was gradually loosening. According to observations from the City of Mages, his target was the city's primary source of magic.

Hyjal.

It was Endymion's first source of magic, also the foundation of Endymion, storing enough magic to flood the world.

It was said to be the first great tree planted by the gods.

Its vast magical power was what kept the sky city floating in the air, and also made Endymion warm as spring all year round, with a pleasant climate.

If Hyjal were attacked and destroyed, the entire island's magic supply would be completely lost, and the floating island would rapidly fall to the ground.

This would be a devastating blow to any country.

If it fell into the ocean, it would raise thousand-foot waves, swallowing half the countries. That would truly be a catastrophe for all living beings.

Viktor thought for a moment, then leaned back in his chair.

He appeared very calm, even confident.

"You're talking about Hyjal?"

The mage in the phantom was stunned for a moment, taking a while to recover before saying with a bitter smile:

"Lord Viktor, how... how much do you actually know?"

Viktor's tone was full of strategic confidence as he slowly said:

"Not much, but enough."

"So, you must have heard about the Demon War and decided to come find me, Mr. Heim."

Viktor was also very clear about the man appearing in the envelope before him.

Heim Horn, rumored to be a phantom mage on the continent.

As a member of the Magic Council, he didn't belong to any country, nor did he have any political stance. He was merely a fourth-tier powerhouse managing the City of Mages.

Phantom Mage, as the name suggests, specialized in illusions and teleportation, but what was most envied was his unique phantom magic — 'Phantom Clone'.

The phantoms could copy Heim's movements, and naturally, they could also copy Heim's magic.

However, each time a phantom appeared, it would weaken the magic released by the original body.

But when each bullet becomes a dense forest, it can instantly penetrate a building.

Heim immediately became serious and slowly said to Viktor:

"To recognize my identity just from the magic, Lord Viktor, you continue to surprise me."

His identity wasn't something that needed to be hidden; in fact, he was quite famous as a council member in the City of Mages.

What surprised him was that Viktor recognized him just by seeing the magic, something even some well-experienced mages would find difficult to notice.

Before he could say anything more, Viktor clasped his hands together.

"So, why should I agree to help you? I don't have any sense of belonging to Endymion."

Heim Horn immediately became anxious. He didn't care if he would reveal more of Endymion's secrets and quickly explained to Viktor:

"Hyjal is Endymion's last line of defense. If Endymion falls..."

"It will lead to the destruction of the country and the collapse of the continent," Viktor finished for him.

At this, Heim Horn swallowed hard.

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He only saw Viktor smiling mischievously:

"What does that have to do with me?"

Heim fell completely silent at this.

He thoroughly remembered what kind of existence the person in front of him was.

He wouldn't be morally bound by some grand cause.

"Lord Viktor, we, the Mage Council, have agreed to your request..."

"That was the payment for inviting me to join the council," Viktor said coldly.

These were what he deserved.

And if you want my help?

"What you're talking about, that's a separate price."

The old mage felt thoroughly angry at Viktor's attempt to exploit the situation.

"Viktor, what makes you so greedy?"

He placed his hands on the table, tapping lightly.

"I have a sister. She's a merchant."

"I don't care how difficult your situation is, but if you want my help? Bring me my benefits."

The old mage was silent for a long time, finally giving up. He sighed heavily.

"Viktor, what... what do you want?"

"A position as a council member."

The old mage's angry voice rang out. "That's impossible!"

"There can only be twelve council members at most. Your qualifications are not enough to become a member of the Mage Council!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a raging fire suddenly ignited behind Viktor. The heat made even the air begin to tremble.

The flames were like an angry male lion, instantly climbing onto Viktor's body. The warning voice from its mouth was incredibly deep.

Vega stood on his shoulder, and no one noticed that its eyes had gained a tinge of azure.

Even though he was on the other side of the envelope, Heim Horn felt a vast sea-like magical power, as if it would completely engulf him.

The scorching flames even made him feel a burning sensation.

Such a level of magical intensity made Heim's heart suddenly tremble.

He hadn't misjudged this person.

At this moment, Viktor's voice gradually rose.

"Mr. Heim, remember, in this negotiation, you are the one asking for my help."

"No position available for a council member? I don't mind killing a fourth-tier mage."

Viktor smiled, a somewhat creepy smile.

Heim Horn was once again silent for a long time. He began to wonder if inviting Viktor into the Mage Council was really the right choice.

But since he had thrown out the bait to lure the tiger, it was too late to persuade the tiger to go back.

He could only say with a stiff upper lip.

"The council member position, I can't decide alone."

"Viktor, your aggressiveness gives me reason to suspect that you are declaring war on the Mage Council."

The lowest standard for a member of the Mage Council was to be among the best of the fourth-tier mages, and to be a person of high prestige in a region.

If it really came to a fight, he didn't believe Viktor alone could challenge the Mage Council.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Heim, I might have frightened you."

"Well then, tomorrow, I will visit the council. We can discuss the details then."

Viktor pulled out the invitation from the envelope, which contained the coordinates of Endymion.

He tapped the table with his finger, and the flames rose again, burning the letter to ashes. The dust flew out the window with the breeze, also incinerating Heim's phantom.

Vega took this opportunity to disconnect from Viktor, asking very puzzledly:

"I don't quite understand. Weren't you chatting quite pleasantly before? I thought this matter was going to be settled through peaceful negotiations."

"Why suddenly make it seem like you're going to war with them?"

Vega didn't understand. Even if Viktor was confident, he had never been so reckless before.

And this time... it was as if he deliberately wanted to provoke the other party.

He even specifically asked it to build a magic link midway.

Viktor flipped through the invitation in his hand.

The coordinates clearly recorded Endymion's current location.

As a floating sky city, Endymion was constantly moving in the sky, changing position at any time.

He began to explain.

"Those who can become council members usually have high moral standards, like Rachel Azure."

This old principal was one of the council members. As a person of the Empire, without a noble status, he built a magic academy with his own efforts, selflessly serving the country.

He dedicated his life's work to his academy.

Although this morality had some ambiguities, and Rachel Azure couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be any corrupt elements among the teachers and students in his academy.

But at least he could say he had a clear conscience about his own morals.

"So, no matter how fiercely I rant, the Mage Council won't go to war with me, because the power I've displayed will make them need me very much."

The Mage Council was an organization full of a sense of justice. If it could be classified as an alignment, it would definitely be Lawful Good.

Chaotic individuals like Viktor naturally wouldn't qualify to join the council.

So in the two negotiations, Viktor consecutively demonstrated his value.

Moreover, those words he just said were merely talk.

As long as Viktor didn't take action first, these mages had no reason to attack him.

Can't a person even rant a bit?

"You still haven't answered my question, why deliberately provoke them?"

Vega was still puzzled, and then heard Viktor explain calmly.

"To make them think I really need that council member position."

They would think that Viktor wanted to become a council member by any means necessary. This way, the Mage Council would believe they could restrain Viktor.

Because in their eyes, Viktor now had a need.

And with a need, all negotiations would be easier.

These mages could very well sacrifice a council member position to Viktor. This way, in their eyes, Viktor, who became a council member, would need to maintain this position and thus obey the Mage Council.

"Perhaps these old mages are secretly rejoicing, thinking they can exchange just one council member position for a disaster-level mage who can defeat both calamities and demons, right?"

Viktor smiled, his laughter full of calculation.

"I still don't understand, what benefit is there for you in becoming a council member?"

"Although becoming a council member is already a good benefit, as you think, I indeed didn't take this position seriously."

Viktor shrugged, saying calmly.

"The [Hyjal] of the City of Mages is what I need."

Only council members have the right to access that core of the Magic City, and only Viktor knew what it really was.

Strictly speaking, it was indeed a great tree planted by the gods.

However, it was stolen by the mages of the past.

The source core of the Wood Calamity, Druja.