Augmented Magic Crash Course Begins!

Philiers, Royal Palace

Council Hall

Having just received an urgent document from the Kingdom of Donagunov, the Prime Minister immediately rushed to the palace with it to report the latest developments of the Peace Negotiation Delegation to the King. Thinking about the matters mentioned in the document, the Prime Minister's heart was filled with a whirlwind of emotions—a mixture of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty. However, overall, happiness prevailed, which is why the Prime Minister dared to disturb His Majesty the King so late at night to report these matters.

Standing before the entrance to the council hall, the Prime Minister shivered uncontrollably in the cold night wind. Just as he was about to succumb to the chill, a servant emerged from the hall and draped a cloak over the Prime Minister. After helping him put on the cloak, the servant softly explained, "His Majesty was already asleep when you arrived, so you will have to wait a while before you can see him."

"Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency!"

After delivering the message, the attendant returned to the main hall, leaving only the Prime Minister to stand guard in the cold wind. Fortunately, Belmod was a man and didn't need to put on makeup, so the Prime Minister waited outside the hall for about fifteen minutes before being summoned into the council hall. Belmod sat upright on the throne, tightened her clothes, and asked in a languid tone, "Prime Minister, what important matter has brought you to request an audience so late at night?"

"Your Majesty, indeed, something significant has happened, and more than one thing at that."

Upon hearing the Prime Minister's words, Belmod immediately stood up from her chair and urged, "Prime Minister, stop wasting time and speak quickly!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Faced with Belmod's urging, the Prime Minister dared not delay any longer. He organized his thoughts and then said, "Your Majesty, this evening I received a report from the Western Border Army. The report said that the Western Border Army has completed the search and capture of the Rebel Army under Langu's command."

"Great! Now I can rest assured!"

"Your Majesty, according to the report, the rebellion was initiated by Langu on his own initiative, and his soldiers were unaware of the facts. Moreover, after Langu's death, most of the soldiers laid down their weapons and surrendered to the Western Border Army, without continuing to resist. Therefore, the acting commander of the Western Border Army, Division Commander Kurelle, believes that the ordinary soldiers should be pardoned and allowed to return to the Western Border Army."

No sooner had the Prime Minister finished speaking than Belmod said coldly, "Hmph! Is this Kurelle's idea, or Oddek's idea?"

The Prime Minister knew why Belmod was angry, but circumstances forced them to turn a blind eye to Sordil's underhanded tactics. So the Prime Minister advised, "Your Majesty, with the Western Continent's attack imminent and the beings in the Cuyis Tree Sea eyeing us covetously, we can only remain silent about the affairs of the Western Territory."

The thought of stumbling twice in the same way in different places made Belmod's face flush red with anger, and her chest heaved like waves. Seeing Belmod's change, the waiter standing to the side immediately stepped forward and gently tapped Belmod's back to calm him down.

After a long while, Belmod, having regained her composure, pointed at the Prime Minister and said, "Let's leave the matter of the Western Border Army as it is. You should report on the other matters now!"

"Your Majesty, besides reporting on the Western Border Army, I have another piece of good news to share with you tonight."

"Oh? What's the good news?"

"Your Majesty, shortly after the Western Border Army's report arrived, I received an urgent document from the Kingdom of Donagunov. Besides records of the Peace Negotiation Delegation's itinerary, the document also contains a sample peace treaty. Please review it, Your Majesty!"

After speaking, the Prime Minister took a document from his sleeve and presented it to the King for review. The attendant before Belmod took the document from the Prime Minister and respectfully presented it to Belmod. Belmod unfolded the document and read it carefully, a satisfied expression on her face, nodding occasionally in agreement.

Closing the document in her hand, Belmod said with satisfaction, "Judging from this alliance, the Kingdom of Donagunov is very sincere in this peace negotiation. However, the last two clauses of this alliance are a bit puzzling to me. Especially the last clause, in order to make up for the inadequate protection of the delegation, Queen Irene decided to impart her own Augmented Magic to General Oddek as compensation. What exactly is going on?"

"Your Majesty, please listen to me. The whole thing went like this, and then like this..."

After hearing the Prime Minister's description, Belmod slumped in her chair, laughing uncontrollably, completely losing her usual composure. Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Belmod said weakly, "Prime Minister, according to you, this last clause was entirely extorted from Irene by that fellow Oddek?"

The Prime Minister nodded, then said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty is right. The last clause of this alliance was indeed extorted by General Oddek, while the penultimate clause was proposed by Queen Irene. Moreover, this old minister suspects that the real reason General Oddek was willing to go to the Kingdom of Donagunov was precisely because of the last clause of the alliance."

"Oh? Does the Prime Minister mean... that matter concerning the Western Border Army wasn't Oddek's original intention, but rather something his subordinates suggested on their own?"

"Your Majesty, it is not impossible! Judging from General Oddek's behavior and the reports from the spies in the mission, General Oddek is so obsessed with magic that he doesn't even care about the daily affairs of the Western Border Army. How could he possibly make such a suggestion?"

"Yes! The Prime Minister is right! In that case, quickly send a message to the delegation and tell them to sign an alliance with the Kingdom of Donagunov immediately."

Upon hearing Belmod's order, the Prime Minister bowed in agreement. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask, "Your Majesty, after the treaty is signed, will General Oddek return to Philiers with the delegation, or...?"

Belmod smiled at the Prime Minister and said, "Since Queen Irene has requested a marriage alliance with Oddek, and Oddek also wants to learn Augmented Magic from Queen Irene, let him stay in Dragunov until the wedding takes place!"

"Yes!"

Dragunov, Royal Palace

Martial Arts Arena

After being streamlined and restored to a normal-sized 'mummy', Sordil now stands like a telephone pole in the center of the training ground, watching Teacher Irene's demonstration.

"Augmented Magic is actually using magic to change the internal structure of things, so that a certain attribute of them can surpass the original level, just like this stick."

Irene shook the wooden stick in her hand, then used it to hit Sordil.

"Bang"

"Oh!"

The wooden dummy cried out in pain after being struck. Then, Teacher Irene took out an iron rod and struck the dummy again, eliciting another cry of pain. After the dummy finished crying out, Teacher Irene said earnestly, "How was it? Which one hurt more?"

Sordil, pinned to the ground and unable to move, said pitifully, "Teacher, I'm in more pain!"

Irene shook her head and said to Sordil with disappointment, "It seems you didn't understand what I meant. In that case, I'll have to try again!"

"No way?"

"What do you mean, 'not'? This time, you'll really get a taste of it!"

"Ah!"

"Oh!"