Chapter 477 - 465: A Request
Augustus’s words were gentle, yet they acted like an invisible scalpel, peeling away all of Allen’s secrets and disguises layer by layer until they pressed against his Soul Core.
"How should I deal with you?"
This question carried no killing intent and no anger—only a strong being’s evaluation of the weak. The veins beneath Allen’s temples throbbed violently, but his Mechanical Mind suppressed the instinct to tremble in fear. He knew that even the slightest hint of unnecessary emotion right now could lead the evaluation’s result straight to "destruction."
"Originally, under the threat of the Heart Eaters, they could complete a generational turnover in twenty years," Augustus’s voice echoed throughout the flesh-filled space, as if stating the most ordinary experimental data. "Now, this cycle has been stretched to twenty-six years. There is even a trend of it lengthening further."
Allen understood. To a Moonlight Mage whose lifespan was measured in tens of thousands of years, the quality of life of the natives did not matter, nor did the shape of their civilization, or even their inherent Spirit Core talents. He only needed the most efficient genetic iteration to harvest the bloodline samples he desired. The peace Allen had brought extended the natives’ lifespans and lowered their mortality rate, which in turn meant the experimental cycle had been prolonged. From a rancher’s perspective, it was the equivalent of his livestock taking too long to be ready for slaughter.
"Yet, you are an official investigator of the Association, executing a mission I issued, and you haven’t broken any explicit rules." The pupil of the giant eye suspended in the air contracted slightly, as if performing some complex calculation. "Moreover, your Cyber Spirit Realm is indeed interesting. Not only did it stimulate Spirit Core evolution, but it also provided me with an entirely new experimental approach."
Allen’s heart nearly stopped. He understood Augustus’s underlying meaning: according to the rules, he shouldn’t be killed; according to his value, he still seemed useful.
"What if I just reboot the entire kingdom? No, that would be too much of a loss. But..." Augustus paused, "your presence has, after all, interfered with my core experimental process."
Just as Allen’s mind raced, trying to find a one-in-a-million chance to break this deadlock and say something, Augustus’s voice rang out again, delivering the final judgement.
"Therefore, your long-term stationing mission shall come to an end."
"Here it comes!" Allen thought, breathing a sigh of relief. "Is this the final decision? Letting me leave with my life intact?"
"However, considering the research value of your virtual system, as well as the unique interference you yourself have caused to my experiment as a ’sample’..." Augustus’s voice took on a trace of leniency. "...I will give you a final five years.
"In five years, you must take all your creations and leave the Aiselan Plane.
"You may use these five years to complete your experiments. I will not interfere. I will even have the Heart Eaters suspend their high-intensity activities to provide you with a relatively stable environment."
A flash of disbelief crossed Allen’s eyes. He had actually been given a five-year grace period! He knew this was by no means an act of mercy, but rather a top-tier researcher discovering an interesting "control group" and deciding to let the experiment run a little longer to see what different fruits it might bear. Five years, coupled with the three-times time dilation in Sword Art Online, meant he effectively had a fifteen-year window.
It was enough! Enough time for him to squeeze every last drop of soul data value from the Aiselan Kingdom’s fifty-three million natives, complete the final construction of the artificial soul, and make his final sprint for the [Consciousness Upload] Witchcraft!
"Thank you, President." Allen bowed deeply. His posture was humble, and his tone held not the slightest hint of reluctance or resentment. In front of a Moonlight Mage, any attempt to bargain would be foolish. Being able to survive and secure such precious time was already the best possible outcome.
"Hmm." Augustus seemed quite satisfied with Allen’s tact.
The massive eyeball slowly rotated, seemingly preparing to end the conversation. But just as Allen thought the dust had settled, that gentle voice spoke once more.
"According to the Association’s regulations, prematurely terminating a Wizard’s long-term mission constitutes a breach of contract by the issuer. Although the rules do not bind me, I personally do not like to break the games I have created."
Allen’s heart skipped a beat, unsure of what the other party was planning.
"Therefore, as compensation," Augustus continued, "I can grant you one simple request. But you must make it now. And the scope of the request must not exceed the Dawn Star Level."
As his voice faded, the entire Floating Island once again fell into a dead silence.
Allen’s breath hitched. One request? A promise from a Moonlight Grand Mage? This was an absolute godsend—a massive opportunity that would drive any Second-level Wizard mad! Knowledge? Resources? A powerful piece of equipment? A commercial license? Or perhaps the death of an enemy at the Dawn Star Level?
Countless thoughts flashed through Allen’s mind like lightning, only to be instantly extinguished. DSeek was operating frantically. Countless options were listed out, each marked with a different color indicating its risk level.
𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
He knew very well that this was not just compensation, but a test. If his request was too meager, it would make him seem narrow-minded and be a waste of the opportunity. If his request was too extravagant—exceeding the scope of the "Dawn Star Level" or touching upon the other party’s sensitive areas—it would be pure greed, a surefire way to get himself killed. He had only one chance. He had to make a request within a mere few seconds that maximized value, minimized risk, and would provide decisive help for his future path.
A bold idea surfaced in his mind.
Allen’s mind had never been clearer. He slowly raised his head, looking straight into that pitch-black pupil that reflected the birth and death of galaxies, and swallowed hard.
"I request... that you tell me how to become a Moonlight Mage."
The air froze. No, it was space itself that had been imbued with a physical weight, crushing down from all directions. Allen’s bones groaned faintly, and his newly relaxed muscles tensed to their absolute limits once more. Even the edges of his vision began to turn black.
"Allen Wesren." Augustus’s voice lost all warmth, like an iceberg frozen in absolute zero for billions of years. "You have crossed the line. ’How to become a Moonlight’ is knowledge at the Moonlight Level. It does not meet my conditions."
The pressure sharply intensified. Allen felt his vertebrae dislocating one by one. His soul felt as though it had been seized by a giant, invisible hand, on the verge of being crushed.
But he did not back down. He had already taken his seat at the gambling table and pushed his chips in. Backing down now was no different from outright surrender. He could see it now: at the foundational level of logic for this rancher who looked down upon all living beings, there was an almost paranoid adherence to "rules."
His only chance of survival lay within the word "rules."
"No, President. I have not crossed the line."
Enduring the immense pressure that was enough to crush a mountain range, Allen squeezed out every word through his gritted teeth. He forced himself to keep his head raised, staring straight into that giant pupil reflecting the birth and death of stars.
"I am confident that I can cross the threshold of the Morning Star."
These words were not born of arrogance, but were a calm statement—a conclusion with a probability of over 95%, derived from countless simulations.
"What I am asking for is not the secret of the ’Moonlight’."
Allen paused, buying a final second of breathing room for his logic while teetering on the edge of death.
"Instead, I am asking how a Wizard should continue to advance on the path of seeking truth after becoming a Morning Star Wizard... That is the most profound knowledge belonging to a Morning Star Wizard.
"But fundamentally, it still belongs to the realm of Dawn Star Level knowledge."