This small metal fragment was passed among the High Priests for observation and finally ended up in Ruoqiebeien's hand at the Institute for Magic Development.
"This is said to be a fragment produced when Clementine was developing a new magic. According to Gelos's description, the original object looked very much like a cup made of Mithril. I also had this fragment appraised, and it is indeed a Mithril fragment," Raymond continued to explain.
"Mithril, huh…" Ruoqiebeien already knew it was a Mithril fragment the moment he received it.
After all, he dealt with such materials all the time. Mithril, as a metal with strong resistance to magic and good hardness, was something he, as the head of the magic development institution, was naturally very familiar with.
"May I ask a question? Did Gelos mention what Clementine named the magic she developed?" Ruoqiebeien asked. As a magic developer, the naming of new magic could largely indicate its effect and purpose.
"It was mentioned. Clementine seems to have called it 'Internal Detonation'… and it's reportedly still in the development stage," Raymond said.
"De… development stage?" Ruoqiebeien's face instantly changed, and the others naturally noticed.
"Is there a problem, Lord Ruoqiebeien?" Raymond asked on behalf of everyone.
"The characteristic of Mithril is its magical resistance, which ordinary metals do not possess, combined with good hardness. Therefore, Mithril is often used as the primary material for high-grade armor or weapons. Normal magic, to overcome the magical resistance of Mithril armor, usually relies on other additional effects caused by the magic, such as fire explosion. The fire explosion magic effect itself cannot cause any damage to Mithril equipment, but the high heat generated will still act on the Mithril equipment itself, so the person equipped with Mithril equipment will still be burned to death by the fire explosion magic," Ruoqiebeien explained to the others why he was so surprised.
"However… a magic that directly destroys Mithril from its internal structure, this is the first time I've seen it," Ruoqiebeien said, holding the Mithril fragment between his fingers and raising it for everyone to see.
"To have such irregular destruction patterns, this kind of damage cannot be caused by external magical factors alone. The magic Clementine developed is exactly as she named it; it directly uses magic to act on the internal structure of Mithril, directly destroying its structure, which is why it shattered like this," Ruoqiebeien continued.
Almost everyone present was a high-ranking Magic Caster or warrior, and they all understood how strong the magical resistance of Mithril equipment was.
Yet, a magic that directly acts on and destroys the internal structure of metal, capable of damaging even Mithril to this extent, and it's still an unfinished version—if she completes it, how powerful would that magic be!
"One more thing that surprises me is that such terrifying magic was supposedly developed by her alone," Ruoqiebeien continued.
Developing magic is not something one person can just casually do. The Institute for Magic Development under his jurisdiction has several hundred subordinates in total. Yet, with the combined efforts of these hundreds of people, it might take years or even decades to develop a safe and usable magic. However, Clementine was developing magic all by herself.
"Speaking of which, I recall that Dark Scripture Jeros's first report, during his first encounter with her in the Wu Da Forest, mentioned that she used magic he had never seen before. Could it all be magic she developed herself?" Dominic, who had been silent, said.
"The last time she fought against the Black Scripture, she was able to use teleportation within an anti-teleportation barrier. It's likely her self-developed teleportation magic," Xi Neiding also recalled her instantaneous movement within the anti-teleportation barrier during her battle with the Black Scripture earlier, and some of the ice-type magic she used that time was also unprecedented.
"Fortunately… she is on our side now," Benice said with lingering fear, probably recalling how she alone had beaten all six members of the Black Scripture squad.
"But no matter what, she is still Ainz Ooal Gown's daughter! That cannot be denied! One day, that fellow will regain his memories and become our enemy!" Dominic said, clearly displeased.
"Not necessarily. Even if she returns to normal, she might not necessarily become our enemy," Xi Neiding said.
"Hmm? Lord Xi Neiding? What do you mean?" Raymond was very curious why Lord Xi Neiding, the most respected among the Six Scriptures, would say such a thing.
"Originally, I intended to present this to you after organizing it, but since it's been brought up… I'll reveal a little. The Water-Light Scripture has encountered a former Adventurers' squad in Karn Village, near E-Rantel, and obtained very important information from them," Xi Neiding said.
"Important information?" Not only Raymond, but everyone else's curiosity was piqued by Xi Neiding.
"Yes, the Adventurers' squad living in seclusion in Karn Village is the squad that was once hired by the Empire to invade Ainz Ooal Gown's lair, and successfully returned alive!" Xi Neiding continued.
"Wh-… This is a major discovery! Why haven't they been invited to Theocracy?!" Raymond's face lit up with joy, and he continued to ask.
"They cannot leave because they are all cursed and cannot leave the sphere of influence of E-Rantel," Xi Neiding continued.
"Cursed? What exactly happened?" Everyone else was very curious. How did a curse suddenly appear?
"Don't rush! Let me explain slowly." Xi Neiding then recounted the entire story of how that squad encountered Clementine, how they met with disaster, and how they were saved by Clementine.
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