A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 532 Grip the Scepter Tightly

Rorschach ended his Arcane Vision and turned to ask Andre beside him, "How's your casting status?"

Andrei tried starting with the simplest little tricks and succeeded on the first try: "It takes some getting used to, but it's okay."

Luo Xia was very satisfied with the result and breathed a sigh of relief: "Now our safe zone is planned."

Andrei was also pleased: "This way, the factory won't be under any fatal threat!"

"Who said that?" Rorschach's face hardened. "What if I stuffed high explosives into a coal truck? And the simplest way is to bribe someone in the factory to tighten any boiler valve or loosen the bolts securing the ladle."

The most powerful hacking techniques are always social engineering. Rorschach reminded Andrei: "Remember to remind the security personnel not to let their guard down just because there are new security measures here. Unexpected methods and accidents can always happen."

"I will convey it." After making a note, Andrei couldn't help but ask again, "Do you really not have high hopes for the National Salvation League?"

"Before I speak, could you please tell me why I'm so concerned about Mr. Pavel and his allies?"

After careful consideration, Andrei replied, "Because...they are of noble birth, yet they still consider the country and its people so much. They could simply enjoy everything they were born with, but they are willing to take risks. I can't help but wonder, if Valois had had such a group of enlightened nobles when it was still a kingdom, would my family's fate have been different?"

He suddenly remembered something: "Ah, I didn't mean to say anything bad about Byrne, thank you."

"I know, it's just that they miss their hometown a bit." Rorschach waved his hand and said to the only true student, "First of all, don't forget the cause and effect relationship. It was the huge changes in Valois that gave these young nobles a new awareness."

"Furthermore, I don't have a high opinion of them because they are neither discreet nor flamboyant enough."

"Take Pavel, for example. He came to me rashly, a complete stranger. His judgment of me was based solely on hearsay and indirect information. If all the so-called allies are like him, then the actions of the alliance are no different from ostentatious displays."

"They are not flamboyant enough because they only operate within a small group of nobles. Their ideas are not widely known or accepted by the general public. Most people still dream of advancing through military merit, and the old power of the empire remains strong."

"So they're destined to fail?"

"These people think they've learned from the lessons of the previous Imperial Army officers, but in essence, they're no different. They're all operating in the air. Back then, they were in the Valuwana club, and they even knew how to run magazines and tabloids, help the poor with their cases, and make contact with soldiers."

As Rorschach reminisced about his time at the Tower of Stars, Andre realized that his hometown was actually rife with undercurrents. Back then, he... well, all he knew was studying and helping his parents with chores.

"If we remain inactive, I dare say the alliance will most likely be crushed."

"The minor military nobles who have been suppressed by Wilhelm II will certainly step up their game. These people are holding back their anger. Do you think they will help the Alliance rebuild the empire and abolish their own manors, or will they use the heads of these noble sons to prove their loyalty to His Majesty?"

Andrei felt that his teacher's expression was particularly cunning and his words were sinister. However, it was not hard to guess that the two empires had conflicting positions among the dynamic groups.

Finally, Rorschach put away his staff. For some reason, Andrei instantly felt the eerie and sinister atmosphere surrounding the archmage vanish. He looked at the steel mill and said, "So, we need foreign support!"

The agreement he represented, secretly signed with the Republic of Valois, was nearing completion; the National Guard had indeed performed admirably, fulfilling two conditions. Now, with the facade of the Salvation Alliance, they could raise an even more impressive banner.

"We have two important things to do next."

"First, we must make final preparations and mobilizations to be ready to participate in the war at any time; second, we must prepare for the construction of the second starship."

The first task is to prepare the four Bain legions, which have been completely re-equipped, for battle.

Secondly, due to the smooth launch of the prototype starship, and Rorschach's relay of Hercules' warning to the Senate, the construction of the next formal model was put on the agenda. It was only natural that the special district, which currently has the most concentrated industry and the largest number of spellcasters, would undertake the construction. Just like the first one launched from the Tower of Stars, mages from other places would come to provide support.

Hearing about these matters gave Andrei a headache. He only needed to coordinate, supervise implementation, follow up, and work overtime. It was much more difficult for someone like Rorschach, who was responsible for making decisions and talking, to consider these things.

Foreseeing another day spent relying on energy potions to keep his days going for 20 hours straight, Andrei's voice trembled: "So you still want to support the National Salvation Alliance?"

"Although I'm not optimistic about it rationally, my intuition tells me that some nobleman's son is definitely involved. So even if it's impossible, I'll still help them do it."

Rorschach had never learned of or heard of the Salvation League from anyone other than Pavel, but he was 99 percent certain that Richard the Good would endorse its ideals and participate in it.

Inside the palace, there was no magic to keep it as warm as springtime as in previous years, but Wilhelm II was still quite satisfied; his aversion to magic had now reached an almost obsessive level.

In the emperor's eyes, magic, instead of saving the late emperor's life, almost cost him his life.

Yes, the previous emperor has passed away. Due to the somewhat pessimistic situation in the empire, on the advice of the new prime minister, the empire has silenced all mouths of mouth. Although the upper echelons of society are aware of the situation and the common people are speculating and spreading rumors, there will be absolutely no related reports in the newspapers.

The "lonely emperor," wrapped in a thick velvet robe, actually concealed his physical imperfections and made the young emperor appear even more majestic and imposing. His right hand gripped the scepter tightly, while his defective left hand rested securely on the armrest of the throne.

Today's meeting is coming to an end. He has had in-depth discussions with the Marshal about the next strategic deployment, and has sent away the Prime Minister and Finance Minister who came to complain about being poor. Now it's time for the second to last meeting.

The person who came in was in charge of intelligence. It is said that when the late emperor was alive, there were two departments that checked and balanced each other: one had spellcasters, and the other was specifically used to deal with spellcasters. Wilhelm II thought this was a good idea and he wanted to carry on the good tradition.

The current intelligence chief handed over a list: "Your Majesty, we have noticed that many illegal groups are active within the country, one of which..."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"This is a partial list; please review it yourself."

The emperor took the list from the servant, his eyes widening instantly. He immediately spotted Major General Richard's name. Not only him, but also many other scions of prominent families appeared on the list.

"What do you think this group wants to do?"

"To plot a rebellion."

"You idiot, you fool!" The emperor wanted nothing more than to smash the heads of those who had submitted the list with his scepter.

"Can't you see their surnames? To put it bluntly, the empire belongs to me and them. Who would plot against me? Fools, can't you tell the difference between true and false intelligence? Or is it that if I want to give them important positions, someone will jump out and try to sabotage me?"

(End of this chapter)