Chapter 1789 Merits
The Magus Alliance officer proceeded to explain the predicament surrounding the Earth faction. It had a restriction imposed by the Nephilim faction, one that prevented any changes to its leadership without express authorization from the Nephilim, the main faction overseeing it. As he listened to the details, he couldn't help but feel that their options were severely limited.
"It's not an uncommon practice for a subsidiary faction to have such restrictions placed upon it," the Magus Alliance officer reiterated, emphasizing that this was a standard arrangement in the complex hierarchy of magus factions.
Julian, though somewhat prepared for this outcome, had harbored a glimmer of hope that there might be some avenue for negotiation or appeal. He imagined the possibility of a formal request process or perhaps a designated liaison within the Magus Alliance who could facilitate discussions with the Nephilim faction.
However, the officer's response was unequivocal: "No." The only conceivable path to changing leadership was Julian's demise, which would then permit the appointment of a temporary leader. The officer's tone was devoid of sympathy or flexibility, reflecting the hierarchical rigidity of the magus world.
Julian, with a determined expression, pressed further in a last-ditch effort to find an alternative solution. He believed that even as a Grade 5 faction, the Nephilim should be subject to some oversight by the Magus Alliance. Yet, his insistence seemed to amuse the Magus Alliance officer, who responded with a condescending "Seriously, you're just a small faction from the lower realm world," the officer remarked in a hushed tone. "You haven't even been around for a decade. What you're attempting to do is rather laughable."
Julian couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness at the officer's dismissive attitude. In this magus universe, power and influence were paramount, and the Earth faction was an insignificant player by comparison.
Emery, sensing Julian's frustration and disappointment, stepped in with a calming presence. "It's okay," he reassured Julian. "We can discuss this with Jinkan later. Considering how much she owes me, helping us out with this matter is the least she can do."
With Julian's business concluded, Emery stepped forward to address the Magus Alliance staff. He spoke with a calm determination.
"I'm here to inquire about permits for new magus entering the magus world," Emery began.
The staff member, seemingly less enthusiastic about Emery's request, made an educated guess. "Let me guess, someone from the lower world?" He sighed heavily before continuing, "Unless you possess permission from your main faction or the planet's designated caretaker, you can't obtain the permit."
Emery's response was unexpectedly composed. He replied, "Well, that's fortunate because we are the caretakers of the planet."
The staff member's confusion was palpable. The Earth faction was undeniably a young faction, and it was highly unusual for such a faction to hold the position of planet caretaker.
"Please check it," Emery requested.
Upon closer examination, the staff confirmed the surprising truth. The Earth faction was indeed just recently listed as the temporary caretaker of the planet. While this revelation took the officer aback, it also reflected positively on the Earth faction's standing in the magus universe.
The staff member proceeded to provide information on the cost of permits for unassigned magus from the lower realm. The price for these permits was set at 5,000 merits. To Emery's surprise, the price was even higher for those below the magus level, amounting to 10,000 merits. It was a substantial cost to be paid for lower realm worlds seeking to establish a shortcut to access the magus universe.
Emery couldn't help but reflect on the privilege of being selected to join the Magus Academy. The opportunity it presented, as well as the support from the Earth faction, was truly remarkable given the exorbitant price of these permits.
The weight of the situation bore down on Emery as he looked at the alliance merit balance:
[Alliance Merit 25,200]
At first glance, it seemed like a substantial amount, and for a moment, he felt a glimmer of hope that they could secure permits for several individuals. However, their optimism was short-lived, swiftly dispelled by the alliance officer's revelation.
The officer explained that the merit count represented the cumulative contributions of faction members throughout their history. It was not an unspent pool of merits waiting to be used. The data illuminated the stark reality: Thrax had expended a significant portion of their merits—10,000, to be precise—for his own permit, and Chumo had used 5,000 merits for his stay in the magus world instead of returning to Earth. These transactions left the faction with only 10,200 merits available for future endeavors.
The news of Chumo receiving his permit was indeed a cause for celebration, bringing smiles to Emery and Julian's faces. However, they quickly recognized that this also meant they had limited resources to work with.
The officer offered a glimmer of hope. "You can still purchase permits for a person or two people," he informed them.
Emery's mind immediately turned to Morgana, someone whose potential in the magus universe was evident. Yet, he understood that if he wanted to bring more individuals into this world, he needed to accumulate more merits.
Emery had a clear vision of those he wished to sponsor—the Fey sisters who would receive benefits from having access to the magus world, there was also the Brittania queen who said her wishes before he left. Additionally, Julian had his list of Centurion candidates, individuals he had encountered on their travels, each possessing exceptional talents that deserved the chance to shine in this new realm.
The alliance officer offered a practical solution to their merit shortage, explaining, "Well, you can always acquire more merits by contributing to the alliance, completing tasks, and achieving objectives."
Emery contemplated his options, aware that he possessed something of value that could be exchanged for merits. He hesitated for a moment before reaching into a box he had brought with him. With a sense of gravity, he revealed its contents to the officer.
"I have dark elves' spirit souls here that I'm willing to trade for permits," Emery stated.
The officer, while unimpressed at first, inquired about the quantity. "Alright, 100 merits for crescent magus, 500 for half moon and 2500 for full moon. how many do you have? Two? Three?"
Emery opened the box, revealing its contents: a collection of 28 dark elves' souls neatly arranged within. Among them were 4 full moon souls, 13 half-moon souls, and 11 crescent moon souls.
The sight left the magus officer utterly stunned, his jaw dropping in shock. It was an extraordinarily rare sight, as the conventional means of accumulating merits usually involved years of dedicated service to the Magus Alliance. To casually possess such a substantial collection of dark elves' souls was nothing short of astonishing.
The magus officer's initial hesitation escalated to the point where he felt the need to summon his superior to examine the dark elves' spirit souls. Several magus guards were also called in to ensure the situation remained under control, turning the scene into a small commotion within the alliance headquarters.
With a curious yet cautious tone, the officer inquired, "May I ask where you obtained so many dark elves' spirit souls?"
Emery had no intention of concealing the truth and replied matter-of-factly, "Dark Elves Demon's Pit."
As the words left Emery's lips, a wave of incredulity washed over the Magus alliance officers. Some couldn't help but chuckle at the audacity of the claim, considering the Demon's Pit an impenetrable prison for dark elves. However, the senior officer's expression turned pale as he realized the significance of Emery's statement.
The senior officer, his face now visibly pale. He was one of the select few who had been privy to the reports about this shocking incident that had unfolded merely two weeks ago. It was a tale of a daring prison break, a feat once considered impossible. Several humans had orchestrated a daring escape from the notorious "Demon's Pit," a place that had earned its fearsome reputation as an unassailable prison for dark elves.
The daring escapees had left a trail of destruction in their wake, exacting a heavy toll on the elven prison guards who had been unfortunate enough to cross their path.
The senior officer cleared his throat, his demeanor shifting to a mix of awe and apprehension.
"May I ask your name, sir?" he inquired, his voice laced with a newfound respect and curiosity.
"Emery... Emery Ambrose,"
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