Hook, Line, and Sinker

Dendall's words reminded Yu Sheng'an of the early days of Blue Star's Industrial Revolution, when workers smashed and burned factory machinery.

Though Dendall kept talking about resources, chaos, and war, at heart, he was no different from those workers who had loathed and hated machines at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Of course, his perspective was loftier. What he wanted was the Empire's stability.

"Are you worried that once everyone starts cultivating Magic, no one will farm or hunt anymore? That everyone will pursue magical advancement and plunge the Empire into internal chaos?"

"Isn't that so?" Dendall countered.

Yu Sheng'an smiled. Having found the crux of the matter, it would be much easier to resolve.

"You guessed right. Once the Internet spreads across the country, nine out of ten farmers in the Empire will choose to leave the land, especially the young ones! They will do everything they can to earn Points, exchange them for higher-level magical knowledge and more advanced mage courses, and find ways to buy the resources needed to cultivate Magic."

"In the process, they will become mercenaries, nobles' lackeys, mages' disciples, or even form violent organizations, resorting to robbery, deception, and fraud without hesitation."

"Some will also join the Imperial army, drawn by the Empire's generous benefits! By then, the Kevil Empire will become a nation where strength reigns supreme! Those who wield absolute violence will become kings."

Yu Sheng'an casually extrapolated the Kevil Empire's future development, making the veins on Dendall's forehead throb violently.

Magic God Zimor and Magic God Bethany, hidden in the shadows, exchanged glances. Each saw towering fury in the other's eyes!

"But at that point, the Kevil Empire will also become an existence that even the churches of the Five Great Gods must fear!"

"With farmers accounting for one-tenth of the total population, they will feed the entire nation, because every one of those farmers cultivates Magic and Battle Qi. Though they may not be powerful, they will be strong and robust."

"Their farmers can summon wind and rain during droughts to irrigate Farmland; during floods, they can alter river courses and build walls and dams. During insect plagues, they can cast dark Magic to drive away insects. At Night, they can cast Inch Light to patrol melon fields and kill the hateful field mice. They can even command Necromancy to help them dig the earth and reclaim wasteland."

"The wild beasts and magical beasts charging out of the Forest will become their snacks. They will no longer need to queue for water, because a casually cast Water Magic spell can fill a water jar. Nor will they need to work themselves to the bone chopping and storing firewood for winter, because they know Fire Magic."

"One person can accomplish the workload of ten people from the past. Noble lords will no longer dare bully them so easily, because no one knows whether these lowly Farmers possess the Magic and Battle Qi to spill blood five paces away when driven to fury!"

"Oh, right. Their sons who went out to make a living can contact them every day through the Internet and mail them good things. Their friends lists will be filled with vegetable buyers from the cities. Whoever offers the highest price gets their vegetables and fruit."

"The Kevil Empire will establish an Official Website on the Internet. What is an Official Website? It is a website exclusive to the Empire and certified by the God of the Internet! Whenever some important figure in the Empire dies, someone advances to become a Great Mage, a law is amended, or a noble oppresses commoners again, they will know at once."

"Those petty officials who throw their weight around will no longer dare interpret the code of law as they please, much less oppress commoners. Even the lowliest commoner can appeal for justice to the monarch or the Magic God through the Empire Official Website. No one can stop them! Should the noble monarch occasionally take an interest and look into it, a batch of heads will roll, and countless petty officials will tremble in fear."

"The Kevil Empire will be surprised to discover that the Empire has become much easier to govern. Wherever a situation arises, they will learn of it in the blink of an eye. Orders can be issued at any time, and the Magic God will become the Sword of Damocles hanging over countless officials' heads!"

"The Kevil Empire will also suddenly discover that vast dangerous Forest regions, once inaccessible to humans, have begun to fall within the Empire's territory! They produce abundant resources. So long as the lofty Archmages issue a task, hundreds or thousands of mercenaries will immediately rush in to search."

"These pitiful mercenaries will have no idea that the ores and gemstones they painstakingly find can be casually processed by an Archmage into magical items, then sold back to them at ten or even a hundred times the price."

"The Kevil Empire's prestige will grow greater and greater. Even refugees from nearby regions will hear of it and desperately try to flee into the Empire for a better life!"

"Years later, a Grand Archmage will actually emerge from among the commoners! The matter will shake countless Imperial citizens, and innumerable citizens will take him as their role model! But the Empire will be troubled. Why? All the territories have already been granted out, and this Grand Archmage belongs to no faction. Who would be willing to grant him a territory?"

"No matter. The Empire will suddenly discover how weak its neighboring country is. They will simply draw a circle on the map, accidentally enclosing the neighboring country's land, then tell that commoner Grand Archmage that this territory has belonged to our Kevil Empire since ancient times, and now it is yours."

"The commoner Grand Archmage will be furious, believing the Empire has deceived him, but he will have no choice. He needs the Empire's resources and needs the Empire to deter the enemy nation's Magic God! So he can only accept the order. For resources, for the glory of his family for generations to come, he will take root in that territory and begin reclaiming land and expanding its borders. The Empire's territory will grow ever larger."

As Yu Sheng'an spoke, Dendall's hands began to tremble.

He stared at Yu Sheng'an with terror on his face, his expression complicated beyond measure—greed, fear, longing, struggle...

"Oh, right. As Online Courses continue, Felix Magic Academy will discover that the Magic Mentors teaching online are nothing but half-baked frauds misleading their students. They will promptly launch their own Online Courses and teach foundational Magic courses for free."

"Felix Magic Academy truly deserves to be a sacred land of Magic with a thousand years of heritage. Its Magic Mentors' mastery of Magic is so profound and pure! They will deeply impress countless citizens, and these people will take pride in entering Felix Magic Academy!"

"Even magical geniuses from distant lands will be drawn here, traveling thousands of miles to study. After these foreigners complete their studies and return home, they will look to Felix Magic Academy for guidance. The Kevil Empire's invisible influence will become ever greater..."

"Enough!" Dendall shouted in loss of composure, interrupting Yu Sheng'an's description. His pupils dilated as he stared at Yu Sheng'an, his voice trembling. "You are simply the God of Bewitchment!"

Yu Sheng'an smiled faintly. "Was I wrong?"

"If everything truly unfolds as you say, the Kevil Empire will become your Missionary Zone, your Spring of Source Essence!"

"Dear Lord Dendall, everything has a price. If you want the benefits without paying the price, then I advise you to wash up and go to sleep. You can have anything you want in your dreams."

"You—"

"Accept reality willingly, and I will give you a hand. Otherwise, the Kevil Empire can only become a land of chaos. I will give you three days to consider it. After that, the offer expires."

Yu Sheng'an stood and walked outside.

Only then did he realize that the tavern was just as it had been before. No one had left, including Desova and Dorothy.

When she saw him approaching, Dorothy gritted her teeth and stopped him. "I'm sorry! I was reckless and presumptuous earlier, and I offended you. Please be magnanimous and forgive me!"

Yu Sheng'an stopped. Looking at Dorothy's delicate, fragile appearance, he asked seriously, "Earlier, you intended to kill me, didn't you?"