Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Chapter 562 Universal Consolation Prize

Cassandra stood alone in her private observation room.

Outside the window is the dazzling night view of Dawn Harbor, with countless magical lights adorning the outline of this ancient city like stars.

On ordinary days, such beautiful scenery always brings her inner peace and contentment.

But tonight is different.

Her gaze wasn't directed out the window, but rather fixed intently on two items on the table:
A music box playing a gentle lullaby, and a "harmony butterfly" slowly flapping its wings.

The melody emanating from the music box is like sweet spring dew, with each note containing pure care and warmth.

That was a work that Ron had poured his heart and soul into, representing his sincerest blessings for Eve.

Meanwhile, the "Harmony Butterfly" dances gracefully in the air, each flap of its wings activating the symphony of runes sealed within it.

It was an epic tale about the art of colonial administration, showcasing Ron's profound insights into strategic thinking.

Two gifts, one gentle and one firm, one sentimental and one logical.

They perfectly illustrate the complexity of Ron's character:
It possesses both a gentle, humane brilliance and a calm, rational mind.

In the month following Yutel's departure, Cassandra gazed at the two works countless times.

For the first time, she began to think that perhaps that slow and harmonious path of "construction" did indeed have value that she had previously overlooked.

Perhaps, the pinnacle of power cannot be reached only through conquest.

It was a feeling that was almost unfamiliar.

For her, who was used to cold-blooded calculation, this tranquility, mixed with sadness and warmth, brought a long-lost sense of security.

However, this fragile tranquility was destined to be short-lived.

The communication crystal suddenly lit up with a blinding red light, and the runes for emergency calls flashed wildly in the air.

"Tower Master! Major breakthrough!"

Cedric's voice came from the crystal, filled with barely suppressed ecstasy:

"The final result of Project Kaleidoscope! I must let you witness this historic moment!"

Cassandra frowned.

She had initially wanted to refuse this ill-timed summons.

These past few days, she has desperately needed more time to sort out her thoughts.

But the almost manic excitement in Cedric's tone made her realize the seriousness of the situation.

"I'll be there soon."

..............................

Cedric's top-secret laboratory is located in the deepest part of the Crystal Spire, surrounded by layers of magic arrays and completely isolated from the outside world.

When Cassandra pushed open the door, she immediately sensed an ominous atmosphere in the air.

"You've come at the perfect time!"

Cedric excitedly greeted him, his eyes burning with the fervent zeal of a scientist discovering the truth:
"After countless trials and improvements, we have finally found the breakthrough! Look!"

He led Cassandra to a huge one-way observation window.

Through this special crystal, she could see the completely isolated experimental area below.

Several Vitals were being held there.

Cassandra recognized them.

These were the most tenacious soldiers captured during the war, who had shown almost fanatical resistance during interrogations.

However, at this moment, they...

She frowned.

These once proud Vital warriors now huddle in the corners of their cells, emitting silly, idiotic laughs at the air.

Their bodies were extremely weak, their muscles were severely atrophied, and their skin was sickly pale.

What's most chilling is the abnormal "happiness" on their faces.

It wasn't a forced smile masking pain, but a pure and eternal sense of satisfaction from the depths of the soul.

They were immersed in a blissful world that only they could perceive, completely oblivious to everything in reality.

Even as their bodies slowly deteriorated, their spirits seemed to be in a state of blissful paradise.

Did you see that?

Cedric excitedly pointed to the scene below, completely oblivious to the gloom on Cassandra's face:

"By studying the brainwave data of these 'volunteers,' I have finally cracked the core code of the Vital people's mental structure!"

"The new generation of cognitive viruses has completely transcended the simple concept of 'happiness'."

It can accurately identify a target's deepest desires and then create a completely personalized virtual experience for them!

His voice grew increasingly agitated:
"For individuals who crave power, it will make them the absolute rulers of the virtual world;
For individuals who yearn for love, it creates the perfect partner for them;

For individuals who crave knowledge, it makes them feel as if they possess the ultimate truth of the universe!

"This is a true 'master key'! No matter how strong the opponent's will or how complex their mind, it can find the most suitable 'keyhole' and then completely conquer them!"

Cedric turned to face Cassandra, his eyes filled with madness:
"Now, we can make the entire Vital civilization willingly become our most loyal servants without losing a single one of our own soldiers! This is a perfect victory! An absolute conquest!"

However, Cassandra did not feel any joy of victory.

She stared at the "happy" shells below, and a chilling fear rose from the depths of her soul.

What she saw was no longer the fate of the enemy.

What she saw was a mirror.

A mirror that reflects the ultimate fate of the "loser," a mirror of unparalleled cruelty.

Those Vital warriors were once proud, powerful, and idealistic beings.

They fought to protect their civilization and died to uphold their beliefs.

But now...

If she fails, if one day the enemy stands in the victor's position, will Eve... become like that too?
Will they also be stripped of their will and thoughts, turning into a "happy" doll that can only smile foolishly at the air?
This thought slithered through her mind like a venomous snake, bringing a deeper fear with each turn of her body.

Death? Death is actually a kind gesture.

What is truly terrifying is this kind of "compassion" that is more cruel than death.

Let the losers slowly rot in false bliss until they completely lose themselves.

Just then, the timer she had set deep in her consciousness emitted a faint but clear warning sound.

That's a reminder of the expiration date of the [Star Conquest Card].

The deadline for her to complete the conquest of the Vital civilization was fast approaching, and the final death line was imminent.

The urgency of reality and the extreme fear of the consequences of failure collided like two enormous forces deep within her heart.

That nascent "warmth" and "humanity" were gradually crushed under this double impact.

Cassandra's purple eyes turned cold and sharp again.

She slowly turned around, her back to the observation window displaying the hellish scene, and began a brutal inner monologue:

"Warmth is a luxury; only the victors deserve it."

"But victory alone is not enough; I must also be prepared for defeat."

"Ron..."

The name surfaced in her mind like a star suddenly shining brightly:

“He has great potential, his skills are growing rapidly, and more importantly—Eve has a natural affinity for him.”

"This is not just a simple teacher-student relationship, but a strong emotional bond that I can carefully cultivate and utilize."

She remembered the light in Eve's eyes every time she mentioned Ron, her daughter's cherishing of the music box, and the subtle yet genuine interaction between the two of them.

"If I fail on the battlefield in the future."

A powerful, neutral wizard who possesses ancient knowledge and has a close relationship with Eve would be the best choice to protect her and ensure the continuation of my bloodline.

The outline of the plan began to take shape in her mind:

"A marriage alliance. Eve and Ron must be bound together more deeply through some means."

"In this way, whether my conquest plan succeeds or fails, I can ensure that the most important things are preserved."

"If I succeed, I will have everything, and Ron will become my most valuable asset."

Even if we fail, my bloodline and legacy will continue through their union.

This double-insurance strategy allowed her to regain her inner balance.

Warmth and compassion can be part of a strategy, but they should never be a weakness.

"Cedric."

She suddenly spoke, her voice turning icy cold again:

“Your Kaleidoscope Project is very valuable; keep it up. But I need you to add a new research direction.”

"Which direction, Tower Master?"

Cedric was still basking in the excitement of presenting his findings. "The research focused on how to precisely control the scope and depth of the virus's effects."

A dangerous glint flashed in Cassandra's eyes:

“I need a version that can influence the target ‘moderately’.”

It's not about turning them into useless people, but about enabling them to develop a stronger... positive feeling towards specific people or things while maintaining basic rationality.

These words sent a chill down Cedric's spine.

But as a subordinate, he simply nodded silently.

“I understand, Tower Master.”

Precise emotional modulation is indeed a direction worth exploring further.

Cassandra turned and left, satisfied.

Behind her, the "happy" prisoners in the observation window were still grinning foolishly at the void.

………………

In the cabin late at night, candlelight flickered, casting dappled shadows.

Cassandra stood alone before the ancient altar of flesh and blood, her amethyst eyes burning with an unprecedented fire of determination.

The dark red veins on the altar were writhing weakly, like a bunch of lazy snakes that had just awakened and were not yet fully awake.

They sensed the change in their owner's emotions and instinctively began to shrink back, awaiting the upcoming "feeding".

Cassandra raised her right hand expressionlessly.

The blood, imbued with the terrifying power of the great wizard, dripped slowly.

Each drop was as hot as lava, emitting a slight hissing sound the moment it touched the altar.

"Ancestors."

Her voice was solemn and cold, like a judge reading a death sentence:

"The time has come, and the fall of the enemy leader is just around the corner."

I am about to launch my final offensive, to bring a glorious victory for your bloodline and for wizarding civilization.

The blood was greedily absorbed by the altar, and the veins began to throb excitedly.

Based on past experience, the altar should display some kind of prophetic scene at this time, or convey the profound and unfathomable will of the ancestors.

But this time...

"I am here seeking your final 'acquiescence'."

As soon as he finished speaking, the altar suddenly began to glow.

But this is by no means a sacred and solemn radiance; rather, it is a cheap, constantly flashing, multicolored neon light.

The colors—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—are as gaudy and garish as a night market vendor's signboard, accompanied by a dizzying strobe effect.

Immediately afterwards, a bizarre electronic synthesized music emanated from the altar.

The music was neither sacred nor eerie; it was full of a plastic feel and a cheap commercial vibe, like background music in some third-rate shopping mall.

The monotonous melody loops endlessly, with each note pushing the listener to their limits.

Cassandra frowned, unable to comprehend the utterly absurd scene before her.

Just then, a polite, emotionless female voice clearly rang out from the altar:
"Hello, welcome to the 'Absurd Country' customer service hotline."

Your prayers are of utmost importance to us, and we will do our utmost to provide you with the most professional oracle consultation services.

The mechanical female voice paused for a moment, as if flipping through some instruction manual:

"Currently, all deities are either dealing with other cosmic-level matters or undertaking philosophical 'system maintenance'."

Please do not hang up. Your request will be forwarded to the next available, less important person as soon as possible, according to its importance.

As soon as he finished speaking, that annoying promotional music started playing again.

The volume is much louder than before; it's almost enough to shatter eardrums.

"……what?"

Cassandra suspected that there was something wrong with her hearing.

She is a great wizard, one of the leaders of wizarding civilization, and a descendant of the direct bloodline of the King of Absurdity.

And now, she's being treated like... an ordinary customer calling the customer service hotline?
"Connect with my ancestor—His Holiness Saint Hector!"

She coldly shouted at the altar, and the great wizard's oppressive aura swept through the entire cabin like a tsunami.

The walls began to tremble, and the magical elements in the air were stirred up by this terrifying power and scattered wildly.

Even the most stable devices started to hum.

However, the mechanical female voice sounded again, its tone still completely calm, as if her anger were merely a gentle breeze across the water:
"Your emotional fluctuations have exceeded the normal threshold."

For a better prayer experience, we suggest you first take a deep breath, or contemplate why the universe is so full of suffering.

To listen to the main menu again, please silently repeat 'listen again' in your mind.

If you wish to complain about the quality of this service, please spit on the altar.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The feeling of being treated like a three-year-old child, this blatant mockery, ignited all the anger deep within her.

Cassandra's sanity completely collapsed.

She gathered terrifying purple magic power and slammed her palm down on the core of the altar.

They attempted to forcibly "connect" this damned "hotline" using absolute violence.

boom!
The altar trembled violently.

The colorful lights flashed wildly, and the annoying music turned into ear-piercing electrical noise.

The entire cabin teetered on the brink of collapse under the impact of this force.

The runes on the wall were flickering erratically, as if they might collapse completely at any moment.

Just as Cassandra thought her "technical modification" had taken effect, the flesh in the center of the altar suddenly began to writhe.

Then, with a "poof," as if the launch mechanism of some cheap toy had been triggered, it spat out a... glittering gold coin.

The gold coin traced an arc in the air.

It landed on the floor with a crisp tinkling sound, then rolled gurglingly to Cassandra's feet.

The mechanical female voice sounded one last time, its tone even carrying a hint of cheerful congratulations on winning the prize:

"Congratulations! You have become the 999th, 999th, 999th person to pray in this divine realm!"
As a special reward, I'm awarding one 'Universal Consolation Prize' gold coin!
This gold coin has no practical function other than being shiny.

But please believe that it carries our sincerest blessings.

Have a nice day, goodbye!

After he finished speaking, all the light and sound from the altar vanished, plunging the altar into complete silence.

It was as if all that conversation had just happened was a bizarre dream, something that had never actually occurred.

Cassandra stood there, staring intently at the ordinary gold coin at her feet, which, apart from reflecting light, showed no magical fluctuations whatsoever.

She was angry at first.

Anger surged within his chest like magma, and he wished he could burn the entire cabin to the ground.

Immediately, a chill more biting than the dead of winter crept up from the base of my spine and shot straight to my brain.

She suddenly understood.

This is not simply a matter of being "busy," nor is it a technical malfunction.

This is the highest level of "ignoring" and "playing with".

In the eyes of that ancestor who transcended all common sense, the life-or-death battle she faced was perhaps less interesting than a boring street joke.

Her bloodline, her devout prayers, her strategic decisions that would determine the fate of countless lives…

From that perspective, they only deserve a mechanical "customer service reply" and a worthless "consolation prize".

Cassandra bent down abruptly to pick up the gold coin, her five fingers gripping it tightly like steel pincers.

The so-called "universal consolation prize" turned to dust in her palm.

Golden fragments spilled from between her fingers, like her shattered trust at this moment.

"Good...very good."

She muttered to herself, her voice as cold and piercing as the wind from the depths of hell.

The last vestige of warmth in his eyes vanished completely, leaving only the monarch's coldness and decisiveness.

"Since you've chosen to be a spectator, then I'll become the sole protagonist of this drama."

She turned and walked toward the cabin door.

The altar of flesh and blood behind him stood silently in the darkness.

Those blood vessels had long since stopped pulsating, limp like earthworms that had died completely.

(End of this chapter)