Enemies Are All Nourishment for My Fungi

"You're right, you can't get through. The Cross-border Transmission Platform has a special activation method designed to prevent you from activating it and invading our world."

"That's truly unfortunate, but I've still found a way. All I need to do is smash your Transmission Platform to pieces."

"That's impossible! While raw materials can be crushed, the Transmission Platform made from mixed materials is exceptionally sturdy. It's indestructible!"

"Then how do you think I'm able to open the Transmission Port with my bare hands? Your Transmission Platform is quite the delicious delicacy."

Dipul's face turned pale, unwilling to speak.

"Don't stay silent. Let's continue. Your spies have been sneaking around the Fusion Zone observing us these years, witnessing the infrastructure we've built within, right?"

"Yes, and to be honest, we're very envious of your technology and craftsmen. Other countries with similar capabilities have been devastated, leaving few usable resources and craftsmen, who have all perished. It's been decades without recovery, yet you have bounced back so well, without any loss of craftsmen."

Ye Nai found this unsurprising. Although she only had a high school education, she had learned from the history books that before the war, Dahua Country's industrial products were supplying the world, and the number of skilled workers across various levels was the highest globally. Even if the war claimed hundreds of millions of lives, the remaining population could still sustain the industrial capabilities left.

However, she didn't share these thoughts with Dipul; he wouldn't understand. Instead, she picked up on the implication behind his words.

"It sounds like you're quite afraid of us?"

"Yes, the initial surprise attack failed to wipe you out, and in a protracted war, we couldn't afford the losses. As the conflict dragged on, you grew stronger, naturally making us wary."

"So, after years of observation, you've taken new actions? I have noticed your Selsa vanguard teams emerging in several Fusion Zones, attacking our warriors. I've personally encountered them. Are you planning to reignite the flames of war, sending small groups to harass and test our response?"

"That's not the intention of my father, but someone else is responsible."

"What do you mean by that? Trying to shirk responsibility? After countless battles, you're now refusing to acknowledge them?"

"It's truly not the intention of my father and me. We are the United Kingdom, other Dukes have authority too."

"What? Is that what the United Kingdom means? Those Dukes are like Lords? Is the territory pieced together like a puzzle?"

"Yes, my father is the ruler of a nation; he can command the kingdom's army, while those Dukes can only control their domain's private armies. You mentioned seeing small groups in the Fusion Zones again; it's definitely their doing, unrelated to us. Given Selsa's current national strength, we can't afford to fight on multiple fronts. You're aware our border is unstable."

"What's the story with those Dukes? Write down their names."

Dipul cooperatively turned to the next page of a blank paper, filling half a page.

"Just these four Dukes are like Lords? How do you reach their territories? The Transmission Platform in the Royal Palace's basement doesn't have their locations."

"They have their own private Transmission Platforms."

"Inside the Royal Capital inner city?"

Ye Nai quickly recalled why she hadn't discovered any Transmission Platforms left out when copying the Royal Capital inner city.

"They're not in the inner city, but in the outer city."

"Huh?"

Ye Nai breathed a sigh of relief for not overlooking anything, but tension returned swiftly; she needed to go back and copy it again, preventing the commoners from destroying the Transmission Platform.

"Where is the Transmission Platform?"

"Inside their own business firms."

"Do you know the addresses? Write them all down, clearly stating the directions of southeast, northwest, etc. Don't make me ask question by question, or I'll lose patience, and you'll end up a dried corpse here."

"No, no, I wouldn't dare, I'll write it down, right away."

Dipul quickly wrote down several addresses on the new page.

"These are major business firms managed by them for their personal gain. The stores are large; you would know just by asking."

"Such major business firms aren't easily stormed by civilians fighting to rob things?"

"No, even if chaos erupts in the Royal Capital, civilians wouldn't dare rush in. Their business firms are personal domains; rushing in means death, and no one would be held accountable for it. That's their privilege."

"I see. So, is the Transmission Platform solid? Is it easy to damage?"

"Definitely not. The Transmission Platform can't be smashed, and it's difficult to scratch off the Transmission Witch Patterns on it, requiring specialized alchemy tools."

"Alright, back to the main topic, take me to get the supplies."

Dipul slowly stood up, looked around, hesitated slightly.

Ye Nai noticed he wanted to say something but was hesitant, giving him a lead.

"What are you thinking? Lead the way."

"Um, the journey is a bit far."

"Far? How did you transport supplies before? While you mentioned there are few Space Wizards, surely transporting large supplies via Transmission Platforms wasn't done manually one trip at a time, right? How much manpower would that require? Is there another storage tool like a Space Bag or Space Ring? Could they be alchemical creations engraved with storage-related Witch Patterns on special materials using alchemy? If Space Wizards truly have deep understanding and research in Space Magic, crafting such items wouldn't be difficult, right? After all, they even created Witch Patterns connecting two worlds through Transmission Platforms; storage is simpler, isn't it?"

Ye Nai spoke while scanning Dipul's body.

"Are you wearing such an item? Is it a ring or a belt?"

As Ye Nai spoke, Dipul stepped back one pace at a time. All of a sudden, he subconsciously covered his right hand with his left, then quickly withdrew his hand, revealing a large gem ring on each of his right hand's middle and ring fingers.

"Are those two rings the items? Can they be made directly into gemstone jewelry? Are Wizards' handicraft skills so strong?"

"This..."

Ye Nai reached out her hand without hesitation.

"Remember your identity as a captive? I don't search your body as I plan to hand you over intact, but now I realize I was wrong; I still lack knowledge, completely unaware of such valuable items on you."

"These are my personal items."

"I'll keep the rings and return the items, don't force me to snatch them, it won't be dignified."

"Even if I give them to you, you can't use them. These items recognize their owner."

"Recognize their owner? Can an artificial creation recognize its owner?"

"Yes, ordinary people can perform blood-drip recognition to then use it normally."

With Dipul's explanation, Ye Nai's interest grew.

She wanted even more to dismantle the rings to see how it was constructed as an artificial creation.