Mage? Magic Engineer!

Outside the Royal Palace, the Guards watched as the mob lit their torches. Incredibly, a few mule carts then arrived, laden with light beer and bread, which were distributed in an orderly fashion to those on the front lines of the standoff.

The Guards and the Governor from the City Hall witnessed this bizarre scene, finding it utterly unbelievable. ’Shouldn’t these miscreants be fighting over the supplies? How can they be so organized? One group eats while another keeps watch, and they’re even passing around food and drink. This ’mob’... they’re not chaotic in the slightest!’

’Don’t tell me they’re professional rebels?’

For a moment, a relative peace settled between the two sides again. The Guards’ stomachs and throats rumbled in turn.

Once the mule carts had left and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, one of the leaders kicked an empty keg high into the air. This was the signal, and the shouting immediately resumed. "We want to see the King!" "Get that old coward out here!" "Or let us in!" Clearly, the well-fed mob now had more energy to yell.

’They finish eating and get right back to it. They’re not just professionals; they have a strong work ethic!’

The Captain of the Guard could take it no longer. He carefully approached the Governor and whispered, "They’re toying with us! Just give the word, and we’ll open fire and put down these miscreants!"

The Governor had no intention of taking responsibility. He had a vague feeling there was more to these "professional players" than met the eye. Besides, given the current tone of the press, if he dared order his men to open fire tonight, he’d be plastered all over tomorrow’s front pages and viciously criticized.

If people were actually killed, in the Governor’s eyes, it would be his own career on the line.

Therefore, he insisted on waiting for an order from the King. As he dragged things out, the patience of both sides wore thinner and thinner, bringing them to the brink of violence and loss of control.

"Let us in!" "Get out of the way!"

Just as the noise from both sides reached a crescendo, the world suddenly fell silent. The thousands of people before the Royal Palace couldn’t comprehend what was happening. They panicked at first, thinking they’d gone deaf, but the dazed expressions on the faces around them quickly told them they weren’t the only ones who had been plunged into absolute silence.

CRACKLE. A soft pop announced that everyone’s hearing had returned. Then, a massive Magic Light Ball floated over from the Royal Palace, illuminating the grounds as brightly as day. Once everyone’s eyes adjusted to the sudden light, they saw His Majesty the King standing beneath the orb.

He was expressionless and stood alone—or so it seemed to the common people, who couldn’t see the three invisible Red Robed Mages floating at his side.

Like a puppet, His Majesty, King Albert, took out a hastily drafted document and, to the astonishment of the Guards and the chief Governor, began to read. The King confessed that his past erroneous decisions had soured relations between Bayern and the Empire, leading to the current economic blockade. Furthermore, his previous autocratic rule had prevented the Bayern Kingdom from following the correct path...

"When one observes the great powers of the world, one sees they all rely on collective wisdom and effort. They invite representatives from all walks of life to deliberate on national affairs, and only then do they achieve stability, prosperity, and development. The unfortunate events of today have made me realize a profound truth: the era when the Kingdom was the private property of the Nobility, ruled by the absolute will of the Monarch, is over.

"After broadly listening to all opinions, I have decided to accept the Empire’s reform proposal. We shall hold new elections for representatives to the Empire Council, establish a publicly elected Senate, and codify these changes into the laws of the Bayern Kingdom. I will personally visit the Imperial Capital to repair our relationship with the Empire, making it my solemn duty to ensure the welfare of my people..."

This "Self-Blame Edict" had been written in a hurry, and with its sincerity highly questionable, the wording was rather awkward. But that didn’t stop the crowd from being utterly stunned. Their anger dissipated into thin air. Some people even squeezed out a few tears and began to clap.

A strange wave of applause suddenly echoed before the Royal Palace. Bathed in the unsettling glow of the massive Magic Light Ball, the King’s face was ashen.

Feuerbach watched it all with a frown. Using the Communication Skill, he said gravely, "Rorschach Mage, you have coerced and manipulated the Monarch of a nation. This sets a terrible precedent, the first of its kind since the Era of Silence."

"Is that so? But even without me to speed things up, the Ludwig Clan’s rule wouldn’t have lasted long." Rorschach spoke bluntly, making no effort to avoid the subject in front of Ouyeni, who was of the Royal Family. "His Majesty Albert’s throne is a reef caught between two great ocean currents, destined to be battered by both the Empire and the Republic.

"Compared to a world-shattering collapse where he or his successor is violently thrown from the throne, we’re simply giving him a nudge, allowing him to settle into a comfortable life as an idle noble. In an age where commoners don’t eat if they don’t work, and don’t live if they don’t fight, he’ll still be able to watch operas and reminisce about his glory days of absolute power.

"Oh, and he’ll get to enjoy the ultra-luxury car gifted by the Special Zone..."

Feuerbach thought Rorschach was being quite harsh, but he couldn’t argue. Rorschach, however, wasn’t finished. "Besides, I’m not trying to create a puppet. Bayern is divided into three. The only part I can influence is the Special Zone. As for the future of the entire Kingdom, I will respect the will of the people."

He would strike ruthlessly at obstacles like the Guilds and the Nobility that got in his way, but when it came to the common people, Rorschach was willing to go with the flow, trading benefits for popular support.

"Hmph. And once you have Bayern in your grasp, will you then ’respect’ the fates of the Empire and Valois?" Feuerbach sneered. His greatest concern wasn’t the present; it was that Rorschach was too young! He did everything so quickly—so quickly that everyone had let their guard down, allowing him to grow and act with such audacity to get where he was today.

"If that day ever comes, and you still think I’m in the wrong, then let the Aurora Elder Council, the Owl Arbitration Court, and that... whatchamacallit... Brotherhood all come at me at once. Call up all the ’Righteous Great Mages’ and have them jump me," Rorschach said nonchalantly. He was far more interested in whether the extras Valon hired were giving a convincing performance.

’Yes, the incitement is working perfectly. Tonight is a banquet of victory, a banquet of unity...’

Feuerbach finally said with a sigh, "...I just hope the history books don’t remember me as an accomplice to you and your master."

"You’re developing quite a sense of humor. We’re clearly partners."

This brought them back to business. The head of the Tower of Secret Techniques composed himself. "Elizabeth Mage, although you have temporarily left the Tower of Secret Techniques, as a Great Mage and a reserve member of the Aurora Elder Council, there is an important project that requires your aid. It will lay the foundation for a future transcontinental Magic Guild..."

’How did a single meal lead to one major issue after another?’ Elizabeth Ouyeni and the other two Great Mages relocated to the Guild in Munich to discuss the matter in detail. After relaying Kano’s vision, Feuerbach explained, "The Tower of Secret Techniques and Master Rorschach’s Magic Tower will collaborate to jointly monitor the Second Branch of the Transformation System on the Tree of Truth."

The types of Casting that each of the thirteen Magic Towers are responsible for monitoring have already been designated. Rorschach added, "Casting that involves the ’Spell Cloud’ system will be reflected on the Tree of Truth synchronously. However, the Caster’s information will likely be intermediated through the Spell Cloud, making it more difficult for the Elder Council to observe. Therefore, our side will periodically report the activation of high-risk nodes to the Elder Council."

If nodes involving Necromancy or other risks—such as "Withering," "Corruption," or "Polarization"—are activated, the Tower Spirit will record the data, and Rorschach will report it to the Elder Council.

"You... how far along are you?" Elizabeth had thought Rorschach was audacious enough, but it turned out that the seemingly stable Feuerbach was also trying to monitor all Casting activity in the world. ’No, wait... this is a move by the entire upper echelon of the Elder Council...’

"Er... at present, only Master Kano has successfully reached the Original Layer and observed the legendary Tree of Truth."

"In other words, you haven’t even finished the first step." Rorschach was very optimistic. "But I’m confident that with the 13+1 Magic Towers working together, we’ll turn this concept into reality very soon. Our part of the project can begin immediately, right now."

Elizabeth felt a chill run down her spine, but she accepted Feuerbach’s invitation nonetheless. She couldn’t even imagine what the outside world—the world of Mages—would have turned into if she had stayed in the Wertzburg palace a moment longer.