Chapter 13: Persuasion Gone Awry

Dundar’s words reminded Yu Sheng’an of the early days of Blue Star’s Industrial Revolution, where workers destroyed factory machines.

Although Dundar kept talking about resources, chaos, and war, deep down, he was no different from those workers who hated machines during the early Industrial Revolution.

Of course, his perspective was much broader. What he wanted was the stability of the Empire.

“Are you worried that once everyone starts practicing Magic, no one will farm or hunt anymore? That everyone will pursue magical cultivation, causing chaos in the Empire?”

“Isn’t that so?” Dundar countered.

Yu Sheng’an smiled. Now that he had found the root of the issue, it would be much easier to solve.

“You’re not wrong. Once the Internet spreads throughout the Empire, nine out of ten farmers will abandon their fields, especially the young ones! They’ll find all kinds of ways to earn points, exchange them for higher-level magical knowledge, and more advanced mage courses. They’ll scramble to make money to buy the resources needed for magical cultivation.”

“During this process, some of them will become mercenaries, lackeys of nobles, disciples of mages, and might even form violent gangs, using tricks and deceit to get what they want.”

“Another group will join the Empire’s army under its generous benefits! By then, the Kewell Empire will be a land dominated by power! Those who wield absolute force will become kings.”

Yu Sheng’an casually predicted the future of the Kewell Empire. Dundar’s forehead veins bulged with agitation as he listened.

Zimor, the God of Magic, and Besse, also a God of Magic, who were hidden in the shadows, exchanged looks. They both saw the raging fury in each other’s eyes!

“But by that time, the Kewell Empire will have grown into a presence that even the Five Prime Gods will fear!”

“They’ll feed an entire nation of people with just a tenth of their population because every single one of their farmers practices Magic and Battle Qi. They might not be particularly strong, but they are sturdy and resilient.”

“Their farmers can summon wind and rain to irrigate fields during droughts, reshape river courses and build dikes during floods, use dark magic to repel insects during plagues, and release light magic at night to patrol their melon fields, killing pesky field mice. They might even drive the undead to help them till the land.”

“Wild beasts and magical creatures emerging from forests will become their snacks. They’ll no longer need to queue for water because a simple water magic spell will fill their barrels. They won’t need to chop wood hard for the winter because they’ll use fire magic.”

“One person could do the work of ten in the past. The noble lords would no longer dare to bully them easily, because who knows if these ‘lowly farmers’ might possess the strength to kill a man in five steps using magic and Battle Qi!”

“Oh, by the way, their sons, who have left home to work, will keep in touch regularly through the Internet, sending some good things back home; their friend lists will be full of urban vegetable merchants. Whoever offers the highest price gets their produce.”

“The Kewell Empire will have an official website on the Internet. What’s an official website? It’s an empire-exclusive site certified by the Internet God! When a major figure of the Empire dies, when someone advances to become an Archmage, a law is amended, or a noble oppresses a commoner, they could know instantly.”

“The minor officials who used to abuse power would no longer dare to misinterpret laws or oppress the people. Even the lowest commoner could appeal to the monarch or the Gods of Magic on the Empire’s official website, and no one could stop them! If the noble monarch feels inclined to check on things, heads would roll, and many small officials would tremble in fear.”

“The Kewell Empire would discover that governing becomes more convenient. They could detect any issue at a glance, issue decrees at any moment, and the Gods of Magic would be a sword of Damocles hanging over countless officials!”

“The Kewell Empire would also realize that vast territories, once inaccessible to humans, are now part of their domain! These areas are rich in resources. As soon as the high and mighty magisters issue a task, hundreds or even thousands of mercenaries would rush in to search.”

“These poor mercenaries wouldn’t know that the ores and gems they tiredly collected would be casually processed by magisters into magical items and sold back to them at ten or even a hundred times the price.”

“The reputation of the Kewell Empire would rise. Even refugees from surrounding nations would hear of it and desperately try to flee into the Empire to live a better life!”

“Years down the road, a great magister might even emerge from among the commoners! This event would shake countless citizens of the Empire, who would see him as a role model! But the Empire would be troubled—why? Because all the lands have already been bestowed, and this great magister doesn’t belong to any faction. Who’s willing to give him land?”

“No worries. The Empire would suddenly realize how weak neighboring nations were. So they might just draw a circle on the map and, before they realize it, this land, which includes their neighbor’s territory, would be given to the great magister. ‘This land has always belonged to the Kewell Empire. Now, it’s yours.’”

“The great magister upstart would be furious, feeling that the Empire had deceived him. But, having no other choice, he would accept the reality. He would need the Empire’s resources and also require the Empire’s strength to deter the Gods of Magic from other countries! So, he would have to comply, rooting himself in his land, expanding it for future generations, and the Empire’s territory would grow even larger.”

As Yu Sheng’an continued his narration, Dundar’s hands began to tremble.

He looked at Yu Sheng’an with a horrified expression, his face a complex mix of greed, fear, longing, and inner struggle…

“Oh, and by the way, as online courses progress, Felix Magic Academy would find that the online magic tutors are nothing but incompetent Teachers misleading students. They would then launch their own online courses, offering free basic magic lessons.”

“Felix Magic Academy, with its thousand-year-old heritage, would prove its magic instructors’ profound and genuine expertise! Countless citizens would be deeply impressed and take pride in entering Felix Magic Academy!”

“Even magical prodigies from distant lands would be drawn in, traveling thousands of miles to study, and when these foreigners return to their home nations after finishing their studies, they would continue to look to Felix Magic Academy for guidance. The Kewell Empire’s invisible influence would grow exponentially…”

“Enough!” Dundar suddenly lost control and shouted, interrupting Yu Sheng’an’s description. His pupils dilated as he looked at Yu Sheng’an, his voice trembling, “You’re nothing short of a God of Deceit!”

Yu Sheng’an smiled faintly. “Did I say anything wrong?”

“If everything you said is true, the Kewell Empire will become your mission field and a spring of prime energy!”

“Dear Lord Dundar, everything comes with a price. If you want the benefits without paying the price, I suggest you sleep on it—dreams have everything you desire.”

“You—”

“Accept the reality willingly, and I’ll help you. If not, then the Kewell Empire can only become a land of chaos. I’ll give you three days to consider; after that, the opportunity will be gone.”

Yu Sheng’an stood up and walked out.

At this moment, he realized that the tavern was just as before; no one had left, not even Desowa or Dorothy.

As he walked past her, Dorothy bit her lip and stopped him, saying, “I apologize! I was rude and careless earlier and offended you. Please forgive my rudeness and show mercy!”

Yu Sheng’an stopped in his tracks. Looking at Dorothy’s fragile demeanor, he asked seriously, “Did you have a murderous intent earlier?”