A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 392 Let's Be Terrified

"Huh? Review? Who's going? Who's qualified?"

The discipline chief, his eyelids drooping, produced a document signed by the Imperial Army Special Forces Management Office. It required all teachers on the list to undergo security checks and to withdraw from the magic guild.

The first name on the list is Caroline.

"Recently, the number of mages from Valuwa on the battlefield has been gradually increasing. Considering the special nature of our academy, assessing the stance and safety of our teaching staff is a necessary measure during this special period." The new discipline chief recited his speech expressionlessly: "As for you, since you are from the Kingdom of Valuwa and your teacher is Master Kano..."

"According to intelligence, Archmage Cano now wields considerable influence in the kingdom beyond the realm of magic. We do not wish to make things difficult for you, but after careful consideration, congratulations on being placed at the top of the list."

"What if I don't accept?"

"The Empire respects every mage, and we will not make things difficult for you or force you. However, doing so would mean the end of your teaching career at our school."

Caroline's eyes welled up slightly: "When I first came here, I saw an inclusive campus where students of all social classes had the opportunity to learn magic. Although the foundation wasn't deep enough, the graduates would have unlimited potential."

"Now, you are mass-producing tools of war, sending those mediocre mages to the front lines to kill or be killed."

The discipline chief, a veteran of the battlefield, remained unmoved by Caroline's remarks: "Whether in the past, present, or future, the original mission of the Imperial Royal Magic Academy will never change, and all actions taken by the school serve that mission."

Caroline gritted her teeth and said, "I understand. I will submit my resignation."

"No need, you can leave anytime."

The office door slammed shut, then opened again. The dean entered, glancing at his former colleague as she passed by: "Caroline?"

The discipline chief sat calmly at his desk and crossed out the first target on the list: "Ms. Caroline has resigned. We need to trouble you to find a substitute teacher for the courses she taught."

"No need," the dean of academic affairs said casually. "We can allocate class time to courses that the Empire needs more right now, further shortening the training cycle for spellcasters."

In fact, the academy's suspicion of Caroline because of her position as teacher was not without basis or reason. Although Cano, as the chief of the Tower of Stars, always maintained neutrality, it seems that none of his students are easy to deal with.

The National Assembly, due to the defeat in the war, saw the previous cabinet collapse, along with the "radicals" who had previously held power, lose their support. However, the "royalists" realized they had miscalculated, as the more radical and fanatical "mountain faction" had taken their place.

Led by Maxim "The Rock," these members of the "Friends of Fraternity and Equality" club likened themselves to the stubborn rocks in Parliament, all the stones piled together to form a mountain that stands firm in times of crisis.

"Search, imprison, and quickly try bandits and traitors, and execute all traitors who collude with exiles and enemy states."

Merchants who hoard goods and speculate are treated like traitors. All strategic materials, especially grain and ammunition, are confiscated by the state and distributed by a special committee.

"Distribute weapons to all able-bodied citizens of Valuana, mobilize them to form the National Guard, call upon the formation of national defense militias throughout the country, gather them in Valuana, and incorporate them into the National Guard."

These are the three major principles that left the royalists completely bewildered. For them, each one had a reason to oppose it, but they couldn't explain their reasons to the public:

First of all, it was Charles XVI himself who secretly corresponded with exiled nobles and even the empire every day and night, hoping for the "descent of heavenly troops." This matter had long been rumored, and his courtiers and guards could testify that it was not a rumor, but a fact.

Secondly, the second principle is to cut off the lifeline of big merchants. They've been having a run of bad luck lately, is it easy to make a fortune? Now everything is under control, and they're even going to arrest those who hoard goods and speculate. How dare they do that!

Finally, since its establishment, the National Assembly has not significantly improved the situation in the Kingdom; in fact, it has worsened it. The respectable royalists fear that those less respectable "passive citizens," once armed, might become "overly emotional" and stage a dramatic reenactment.

The three principles complement each other. If the first two principles cannot be implemented, the current situation of the kingdom lacking food and being at a disadvantage in war cannot be changed. If the last principle, the formation of a new armed force belonging to the citizens to replace the old army, is not implemented, the resistance to the implementation of the first two principles will not be overcome.

However, in the outskirts of Valuana, black smoke was already rising from villages, and the rumble of cannons was approaching. Fewer and fewer representatives were persisting in their opposition, while the public's support for the "Mountain Faction" platform was growing louder.

The current point of contention is whether implementing the first two clauses would lead to wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, and whether innocent people would suffer blind and wrongful anger.

As the representative of the royalists drew to a close, he said: "Gentlemen, no matter how the situation becomes, we must ensure that public power is in the hands of active citizens, and that the power to safeguard civilization must be in the hands of civilization itself."

"In fact, as you all have witnessed, with the continued chaos in the local areas and the capital, the killings of the rich by passive citizens and sans-de-lis are on the verge of getting out of control. If they get their hands on weapons, any rational person can foresee what kind of tragedy will follow and will stop them at all costs to prevent them from creating more terror."

On his side of the stage, the delegates clapped, "Well said!" while the Mountain Faction retorted, "You're talking nonsense!"

"Quiet! Quiet! Now, Mr. Torr will speak!" The speaker noticed that a representative who rarely spoke had applied to speak and thought for a moment about his name.

The young man was met with a chorus of boos as he stood up, but he muttered something to himself and then snapped his fingers. Instead of a crisp sound, it produced a sharp, piercing crackling that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

"Magic!" "This kid's a mage!" Some of the "old representatives" suddenly remembered that this young man had represented the Magic Guild at the Level Three Conference and could be considered a "veteran" of the place. However, he seemed to be an ally of Rock, and during the time Maxim was inactive, this Mr. Thor wasn't particularly prominent either.

My senior brother came to refute the royalists' arguments, and he started with pure personal attacks: "That gentleman just now, and those who cheered for the representative's speech, are all cowards! Utter cowards! Enemies of the kingdom!"

"Our country is being ravaged by the enemy, our citizens are suffering from hunger and cold and facing the terror of the enemy, and you fantasize that your own people will inflict terror on you!"

"If we haven't participated in collusion or hoarded goods for profit, what is there to oppose? Regarding the program, we not only must do it, but we have no other choice but to do it."

"We demand the death penalty for anyone who refuses to serve or provide weapons. We demand proper instructions for citizens to lead all activities. We demand that people be sent to all departments to convey the instructions published here."

"Only by executing traitors can the living be spared less, and the sacrifices of the dead be worthwhile; only when the people are well-fed and clothed can they have the strength to live and the courage to resist the enemy. If there are still scoundrels making accusations, or potential traitors feeling afraid, let them talk."

"Let us be terrified so that the people may be spared this terror;"

"Let us be brave! Let us turn the alarm bell into a bugle call to charge the enemy! Forward, and forward again!"

He had never spoken like this before, his neck stiff and chest puffed out, and the spell he had cast on himself was working, making him look like a bright red rooster.

However, it was this somewhat comical image that won the favor of others. They did not see a cunning and slick politician, but a patriotic young man.

Seeing the centrists wavering, the royalists panicked. The quick-thinking ones immediately came up with a new tactic: "You're a mage! This is the Magic Guild in the Interfering Kingdom!"

Pascal immediately pulled out his badge and, in full view of everyone, shattered it with magic. He tossed up the shimmering ash and declared, "I resign from the magic guild and all mage organizations. I remain a citizen of Valois and am willing to give everything for my country!"

Not only him, but the Magic Guild headquarters in Valuwana was suddenly filled with mages, all of whom requested to cancel their identities in order to join the National Guard.

The Minister of the Interior was stunned to learn that the National Assembly had passed all the bills of the Mountain Faction today. In the court's view, the Mountain Faction were nothing more than shady characters sitting in parliament, wanting to smash everything in their path.

He hurriedly knocked on His Majesty's study, but there was no response.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?" The minister then realized that the guards were also gone. When he boldly barged in, he found only an empty study. On the table was a miniature model of a new type of execution device, along with hand-drawn blueprints by His Majesty, which read:

To the Chief of Guard

Since it could efficiently eliminate bandits, it was a good tool for stabilizing public morale. However, it must be pointed out that the bevel angle of the guillotine blade needed to be increased to ensure a clean and swift severing of the neck.

The minister went to the palace again, but it was empty.

(End of this chapter)