Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 582 Recommending Talented Individuals
Absolutely not!

Aghanim shook his head, his denial swift and resolute:
"I have no right to interfere in your future path; it is unwise to meddle in other people's ways."

"Oh."

The monk remained noncommittal, continuing to look at the other party and wait for an explanation.

"You are not alone on the path of seeking truth in another new world."

"You'd be happy to let them experience and absorb the wisdom of that plane, wouldn't you?"

"Just new knowledge?"

Zhang Yuan was somewhat suspicious:

"Of course I don't mind them learning and improving, whether it's knowledge or secret techniques."

In the end, he'll just be a Palu to himself anyway—that's what the unscrupulous boss thought to himself.

But if it's just for knowledge, why go to such lengths?
"Have you forgotten that they're still locked up in the Mad Moon? This is at least a chance for them to get some fresh air."

Aghanim noticed the young man's confusion:
"Moreover, as I told you before, power is no ordinary thing. The power of the Ruins has both made us and bound us."

"Integrating the power of the Faerûn plane into this world is not impossible, but in the end, we can't avoid one problem: the Mad Moon!"

"The radiance of the Mad Moon has tainted everything. Even if the arcane magic under the magic network system is reproduced in the world of ruins, it will never escape the fate of being twisted and entangled."

"So the core rules I've mastered are the key to breaking the deadlock?"

Zhang Yuan roughly understood the other party's scheme.

"indeed so."

The old demigod readily admitted:
“The elements of both worlds converge in you, this special visitor. We dare not gamble on whether such a miracle can be repeated.”

"So you're betting that I'll end up going in the direction you expect me to?"

"It's not gambling, it's trust."

"I believe that the fruits of our world will still shine brightly in another world, and that their brilliance will sparkle like a jewel even in a different dimension."

"The new forces embedded in the old order are like a rose blooming in the rainforest; they may not outshine all others, but they have a unique charm."

Aghalim continued:

"If we were in each other's shoes, I couldn't refuse this gift."

"Stepping onto high and distant lands, overlooking the world's scenery, one always hopes to see exotic landscapes."

"The further one goes within an established power system, the more one understands the value of 'exceptions'."

"So, as a spellcaster and seeker of knowledge, would you let rare treasures lie dormant in the earth's veins without excavating them? Would you stand idly by while strange rainbows streak across the sky?"

That's a good question. No, it's not possible.

Honestly, even disregarding the considerable combat power brought by summoning chess pieces, Master Zhang is still an extraordinary and esteemed mage, and it is no exaggeration to call him a talent of Sword Bay.

However, it will be difficult to maintain the generational advantage over peers of the same level.

More importantly, how could he be so foolish as to deliberately bypass his own cheat code to explore the way forward?

Having been in Faerûn for several years, he has traveled all over the Sword Coast and experienced the splendor of swords and magic in the world of Dragon City, but he has never overlooked the scenery of the Ruins World reflected in the chess piece window.

Both have their strengths and it's difficult to say which is better.

Compared to the complex and vast magical network, the spells of the heroes in the ruins world are somewhat simple and straightforward, yet they directly address the essence of the rules.

Setting aside those skills that bear a strong personal imprint, their ability rules are not impossible to replicate; the small throw earlier is a case in point.

Imagine if the Grim Reaper's Scythe and Ryan's Death Finger were introduced into necromancy; or if the Evocation specialization were used to cast Flame Burning or Frozen Domain; or even if the ultimate spell of Time Barrier were deconstructed through the methods of schools of transformation and conjuration... It has to be admitted that Aghanim, no, it should be said that this possible future that Zhang Yuan himself depicted is one that he cannot resist and has no way to refuse.

It's not a conspiracy, or even an open scheme; it's simply revealing the inevitable journey ahead, making denial and self-deception meaningless.

"you're right,"

Zhang Yuan readily nodded in agreement, then asked:
“However, the consciousness projections summoned to Faerûn are already able to cast various spells, and even master the source of power and domain abilities. Don’t they have a more direct understanding of the differences and integration between the rules of the two worlds than I do?”

"Of course not,"

The old demigod carefully considered his words before slowly speaking:
"How should I put it? The core of the rules you carry is like a black box of magic. The transformation and realization of the summoned's abilities is almost a natural process. They can't even notice the differences, let alone investigate the underlying principles."

"Knowing what it is, but not why it is so?"

"indeed so."

After all that research, the heavy responsibility still fell on my shoulders; there truly is no shortcut…

Zhang Yuan thought this, but didn't say it aloud.

Many spellcasters reach the end of the road and can't even see the road ahead. To expect to ride in a sedan chair when you're already on a broad road is like taking advantage and then complaining.

"But you are not alone on this road,"

Aghanim raised his fists and waved them as if to cheer himself on:

"I've heard that you've achieved quite a bit with the wisdom and skill of the Keane craftsmen, that's excellent."

"The same principle applies to magic; there are no mediocre talents among those who are conscripted into the battlefield of the ruins."

"I have no doubt about their talent, and they are quite interested in it. It's just that due to the limited number of slots and time available, it will take some time to see what happens. Their future is promising."

"That is indeed a problem,"

Aghanim's furrowed brow could trap a fly:

"Given the limited opportunities, it is imperative to identify a more suitable candidate,"

"In terms of talent, no one is necessarily worse than another. However, their areas of expertise are different, which is both a gift and a constraint of the rules."

"That makes sense. Lina is a master of fire, Lily is good at ice, and Nevinmore is a master of shadow and soul. The problem is that the arcane school is not divided according to energy attributes."

Zhang Yuan sighed somewhat helplessly, "Dark Sage and Fearblade, on the other hand, have the potential to become top masters of illusion magic."

"The Oracle's achievements in divination are promising, and the elven dragon Pak should be adept at enchanting spells."

"None of the above are areas of expertise for me. Their growth can indeed fill the gaps in my knowledge in these areas, but..."

"What you need is a researcher with broad knowledge, a talent for learning, and the ability to integrate knowledge, like the supplicant Carl."

The old demigod kindly offered a suggestion.

"Nine-ring spell? Who knows when that will be?"

Zhang Yuan shook his head repeatedly.

"That would be a bit tricky,"

Aghanim looked thoughtful, then feigned consideration, saying, "We can only choose suitable candidates from the units we can summon at this stage, hmm..."

"Please speak frankly, sir. When recommending worthy individuals, one need not avoid favoritism."

The mage immediately understood what the old man meant and stated clearly:
“I think Mr. Labick is a perfect fit for the job.”

Thank you to Baiye Pan and reader 150912084549641 for your monthly ticket support!