Room Number 14 on the thirteenth floor of the Arlingen Magic Tower.
Florence wore a light blue dress more in line with the style of Tria and Altor, fully displaying her excellent, fiery figure and her mature, alluring aura.
She sat across from the desk, her left hand propping up her chin as her long golden hair fell smoothly around her. She quietly listened to Lucian explain the general situation. When Lucian finished, the feather pen she held in her right hand unconsciously swayed left and right, then her crystalline green eyes turned toward Lucian, revealing a faint smile: "Evans, do you think this proposal could pass through the Affairs Committee? A proposal that increases costs and reduces income for most mid-to-high-level Archanists."
Florence neither agreed nor refused, but instead posed the question back to Lucian.
This left Lucian — who was relatively unfamiliar with her and didn't understand her style — uncertain of her actual stance. He could only organize his words and reply: "I think there's a reasonable chance it could pass. Because the costs can be spread across the final products, and quite a few of the gentlemen on the Affairs Committee should understand astrology — they could divine what changes might occur if things continue as they are. They also need to consider their own bloodline descendants. Finally, this is an opportunity to extend goodwill to the Druids and Elves, concerning the development of our entire Continental Magic Parliament."
"Quite eloquent," Florence said in a teasing tone, brushing back her long hair. Then her expression turned serious: "But excessive costs will affect sales, and sales will affect the wealth going into wizards' pockets. Wealth relates to their quality of life, purchasing materials, conducting magical experiments and rituals — I'm afraid no wizard would harm their own interests to pay for something that may or may not happen in the future."
"Even if astrology's divination reveals a very bad future, with numerous magical means to halt it and alternate dimensions to retreat to, I think most wizards would choose to deal with the consequences once they begin affecting them personally, rather than paying a large sum upfront as prevention. Not everyone has long-term vision — the vast majority can only see a few meters ahead. Especially when it involves their own interests."
"Evans, you possess the sharp thinking and extraordinary talent that most Archanists envy, but your grasp of human nature is still too naive. If the Affairs Committee forces regulations through to make wizards comply, what will be damaged is the authority of the Continental Magic Parliament and each Affairs Committee member's standing in the eyes of the wizards who support them."
Florence organized the documents in front of her and said seriously, "Your idea to simplify the 'Elemental Vortex' for pollution treatment has good reference value, but have you considered its costs?"
"Permanently inscribing that spell on your 'Elemental' ring cost enough to make Lord Morris's heart ache, and it can only be cast a few times per day. Even with the energy from the Water and Lightning Magic Tower at the alchemy workshop meeting the requirements — even simplifying it to fourth-rank or third-rank, even if it could provide pure elemental feedback like 'Elemental Dissolution' — it still couldn't fully offset the expenses. The costs would have to be spread across the final products, which brings us right back to the problem we just discussed."
Lucian had no way to refute this. Even using the 'Elemental Order' formation, because its ability and efficiency in breaking down alchemical substances were far inferior to 'Elemental Dissolution' and 'Elemental Vortex,' supplementary magic circles to enhance power and more energy would be needed to meet requirements. Moreover, many of the elements separated from pollutants weren't particularly valuable.
After thinking for a moment, Lucian looked at Florence with sincerity: "Lady Florence, the final cost increase isn't actually that much."
"I know, but for many wealthy people — even if they waste far more money than this amount, they still wouldn't want to see losses from increased costs."
Then Florence smiled and announced her decision: "Because this concerns cooperation with the Elves and Druids, I will bring this proposal before the Affairs Committee. But the outcome is not within my control, Evans. Don't get your hopes up too high."
The hidden meaning was quite clear: meeting with you was on account of your strong potential as an elemental Archanist, but bringing the proposal was due to the Continental Magic Parliament's cooperation with the Elven and Druid factions.
Though Lucian had high Archanist potential and might one day grow into a Legendary Wizard, that was merely possibility and hopeful expectation. At present, he was essentially only a Second-rank wizard and Fourth-level Archanist — in the eyes of a Grand Archanist's wife, just a rather promising young man, nowhere near important enough for her to exert her influence on his behalf.
"Thank you very much, Lady Florence." Lucian knew that getting Florence to submit the proposal was already quite good; his own influence was far too low.
Florence replied with a beautiful smile: "Then, as a proper gentleman, shouldn't you treat me to dinner as a token of gratitude?"
"Oh, of course." Lucian had originally wanted to postpone it to tomorrow, since he still planned to visit Lavendie in Lantart, hoping to influence the Elemental Will and the "Tower" organization's committee members through this Master who upheld Truth. But he had enough social experience to know that answering this way immediately after asking Florence for a favor would be practically asking to offend her. Behind her stood a Grand Archanist husband and a Ninth-rank teacher, and she herself was a high-level wizard of extreme combat prowess.
When Florence saw Lucian's slightly surprised and flustered response, she couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing delicately: "Evans, there's no need to be so nervous. I was actually joking — my husband Oliver Constantin is returning from an alternate dimension tonight, and we'll be having a lovely candlelit dinner."
This kind of mature married woman's manner of speaking was naturally more playful; she enjoyed teasing young gentlemen — there was nothing more to it.
…………
After learning from Lucian that Florence had agreed to submit the proposal, both Elestine and Exilion breathed a sigh of relief. Then, using the Elves' characteristic methods, they sent the message back to the Strup Forest, hoping to receive help from the Elven Royal Court and the Druid Elder Council.
Together with Lucian, they boarded the magic steam train to Lantart's Holm Royal Magic Tower to meet with Lavendie.
Lavendie wore a grey magical robe with the pattern of the periodic table of elements across his chest and abdomen — though the symbols within were different from those on Earth, carrying a mystical and profound quality.