Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 463: Slapping in the Face (Part )

"Hmm?" Harvey narrowed his eyes and asked doubtfully, "Not in compliance with regulations?"

Lawrence immediately realized that his words and tone had been somewhat offensive to such a powerful lord. He quickly explained, "Your Excellency is unfamiliar with the Federation's internal regulations and operating methods. According to regulations... in all cities and regions in the southern border countries where there are Federation branches... graduating apprentices from magic academies within those cities will be given priority for assessment and then assigned to other high-level magic academies for further study, depending on their circumstances."

This was the agreement reached between the Federation's founders and the Continental Wizard Council since the Federation was formally established over a hundred years ago. Regardless of whether the apprentice came from a magical family or an ordinary civilian, they all had the freedom to choose their destination. Compared to traditional and conservative wizard families... the younger generation of spellcasters clearly recognized and respected the Federation more. This became the key to the Federation's ability to attract talent and rise rapidly.

"This is a centuries-old practice and tradition," Lawrence's deputy couldn't help but step forward, speaking with a hint of arrogance. "Your Excellency, the City Lord, may not be aware that the majority of the teachers and researchers at Jinhui City's only two magic academies are from the Federation. They've also received long-term funding from Alayeh, enabling them to successfully complete their many valuable research experiments."

In short, every magical talent is cultivated with a large amount of money and precious magical materials. If people outside the Federation want to interfere, I am afraid that the academy will not agree.

Harvey chuckled, but didn't get angry. Instead, he turned to Mr. Fadun and asked, "If I remember correctly... the two magic academies in Jinhui City weren't founded by the Federation, right?"

Fadun spread his hands and replied awkwardly, "The Saint Valen Royal School of Magic...was founded by the first Grand Duke's court magic advisor at the beginning of his reign. Most of the spellcasters trained there have chosen to continue serving the royal court or the nobility."

He paused, then continued, "The Jinhui City Public Magic Academy...was founded over a hundred years ago by a renowned independent spellcaster, Master Theodoric. He was originally from Jinhui City, so after achieving success, it was only natural for him to strongly support the younger generation of his hometown."

After the outbreak of the plague in the royal capital, the church took the lead in joining forces with the nobles to attack the two magic academies. Most of the apprentices were expelled and dismissed, and many of the teachers and research wizards were arrested. Some of them fled to the neighboring country of Daeus through the route of the Federation.

Harvey nodded in understanding and looked at Lawrence. "In that case, the Federation and the upcoming Academy of Magical Sciences should compete fairly for talent... There's no such thing as a first-come, first-served monopoly!"

Lawrence suppressed his anger and said in a dry voice, "Your Excellency, Lord, with all due respect... Even in a fair competition, your Academy of Magical Sciences cannot possibly defeat the Federation. No matter where you recruit a group of independent spellcasters, their abilities and qualifications cannot surpass those of the orthodox wizards from the Federation!"

"Dean Arturo, what do you think?" Harvey turned sideways and asked a masked man standing behind him who was wrapped in a hooded cloak and was extremely tall.

Arturo bowed to Harvey, then stepped forward and lifted the hood covering his head, revealing a terrifying metal head covered with tiny inscriptions. His voice was also mixed with the harsh sound of mechanical parts rubbing against each other.

"Lord City Lord, the attitude of these colleagues from the Federation... I'm afraid they are a bit too arrogant. Admittedly... in the realm of elements and arcane energy, no one can currently match the Federation's achievements."

Arturo subconsciously raised his hand to stroke his beard, but as his palm reached mid-air, he suddenly realized that his metal chin was as smooth as a mirror. He immediately crossed his arms and continued, "But our Magical Academy does not intend to continue the traditional research path of the past. The branch established in Jinhui City will not offer elemental and arcane research courses, and will not directly compete with the Federation..."

Lawrence's young assistant couldn't help but sneer. "Elements and arcane are the two most glittering pearls in the crown of magical truth. If you don't offer research courses in these two areas, are you specializing in transfiguration, shadow, astrology, and force-based spellcasting? These unpopular disciplines naturally have theoretical flaws, and many researchers struggle to even advance to higher levels."

He wasn't intimidated by the strange metal-headed spellcaster before him. Many spellcasting schools possessed low-level puppet manipulation techniques, which only meant their true form was hiding among them, putting on a ridiculous, unseen presence. Arturo shook his head and said, "It's not the schools you mentioned. Our Academy of Magic... focuses on necromancy!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the Federation showed contemptuous looks and expressions.

Lawrence snorted coldly and turned to Harvey, saying, "Your Excellency, as a close partner, you shouldn't tease and insult us like this. What are you going to do by calling in a necromancer? Are you going to turn Jinhui City into a filthy dead zone filled with zombies and plague?"

Xavi didn't say anything, and two more people came out from behind him and stood side by side with Arturo.

The death energy fluctuations hidden in the bodies of these two people are obviously of high level, which is equivalent to telling everyone in the union in front of them that their identities are necromancers!
Even Fadun felt the situation was a bit awkward. He coughed and leaned close to Harvey's ear, "Isn't this... inappropriate?"

Harvey continued to smile without saying anything, and did not intend to explain anything.

Arturo said in a deep voice, "The tradition of Necromancers indulging in flesh magic and death energy is now a thing of the past. We have now recast the development path of the spellcasting faction and have a brand new way of research and advancement!"

Lauren was stunned for a long moment, unable to recover. Had this despicable necromancer's brain been gnawed by zombies? A recast spellcasting faction? A brand new path to advancement? With only two or three seemingly weaker undead spellcasters than the orthodox high-level, they dared to claim to have forged a brand new spellcasting faction?
His deputy was so angry he laughed out loud. He walked up to Arturo and the other two and said coldly, "You arrogant fellows! Your so-called brand-new spellcasting faction is probably just another crazy experiment in flesh-and-blood magic... Since you keep claiming so, why not prove it to us?"

Arturo turned to look at Harvey, who was watching from the sidelines, and received clear permission from his eyes. Then he turned around and completely lifted up his long black robe of the dean, revealing an alchemical body that was shining with magical inscriptions and metallic luster, and exuded a rich mechanical beauty.

He gently raised his arm, and a bright white spark flashed out, jumping wildly on the metal fingertips. The six flexible mechanical tentacles on Arturo's back unfolded at the same time, and the sharp front ends suddenly pierced into the ground, lifting Arturo's heavy body. Combined with the magic inscriptions that lit up all over the prosthesis, it looked mysterious, weird and intimidating.

"Young gentleman, how do you want me to prove it? Through a truth debate? Or do you want a direct magic duel?"

As soon as Arturo's threatening words came out, an extremely excited howl suddenly broke out from the people of the Federation.

"Miracle! It's not an ordinary wizard puppet... it's a soul forged! It's a true man-made god!"

A middle-aged man, clearly wearing the uniform of the Alchemical Exploration Society, stumbled out and fell to Arturo's feet with tears streaming down his face. His trembling hands caressed Arturo's thick mechanical lower limbs back and forth without a care.

"It...it's alive! It's not a controlled puppet, it's the art of life alchemy!"

(End of this chapter)