Chapter 144: The Awakened Pawn

“Serve me for twenty years, we can sign a contract, just like an employment contract with the Dragon Factory. When the contract ends, we can part ways or continue fulfilling it.”

Yu Sheng’an tempted.

Twenty years was neither long nor short for the lifespan of an Archmage. The cost was bearable, even quite lenient.

For Yu Sheng’an, twenty years was just a guise. Once aboard his ship, he doubted they’d want to disembark.

Because he was generous!

Because he knew what win-win meant.

“Twenty years? Are you serious?” Darnell looked half doubting.

“Of course.”

“May I ask, sir, how sure are you about ‘increasing my advancement chance by thirty percent’?”

“Source Essence! Is one million standard units of Source Essence enough?”

Darnell’s pupils suddenly enlarged.

Indeed, Ajef was a follower of the Internet God, certainly not lacking in resources like Source Essence.

If he had a massive amount of Source Essence for support, it would not only enhance the quality and strength of his soul but also greatly increase his control over magic.

The probability of breaking through the Archmage realm could increase by thirty percent!

“Alright!”

After a brief hesitation, Darnell gritted his teeth and agreed—he had no way out.

This was a decisive person… Yu Sheng’an thought, raising his hand to conjure a contract.

Darnell carefully examined the employment contract, ensured there were no traps in the text, and then formally signed it using his soul power.

As he signed it, the employment contract immediately became effective, turning into three streams of light.

Two entered the bodies of those involved, while one vanished into the void, returning to Yu Sheng’an’s Divine Spark.

“I’ve added your account, light magic knowledge and Source Essence will be sent soon! Keep up the good work, I have high hopes for you!”

Yu Sheng’an patted Darnell’s shoulder with an ancient air and then turned to leave.

“Wait, you know my Soul ID Number?”

“Of course.”

Darnell, bewildered, was about to ask how the Source Essence would be sent over?

“Ding Dong!”

A phantom sound rang in his ear.

It was the notification sound from the Internet social.

He opened the Internet, astonished to find a new contact appearing in his list—Ajef.

At this moment, Ajef sent him a document.

Darnell opened the document, after a glance, he held his breath, his pupils dilating!

—The document recorded a vast amount of light magic knowledge.

At the same time, a surge of Source Essence suddenly reversed from the Internet Divine Magic, continuously flowing into his aging and declining body, nourishing his already powerful soul.

For a moment, even someone as experienced as Darnell couldn’t help but tremble.

The Archmage is within reach!

The Archmage is within reach!

……

……

As Darnell was exhilarated by the Archmage being within arm’s length;

In an inconspicuous territory in the Karman United Republic, Lord Budma Baron also shrank his pupils, seeing hope in expanding his territory.

“You mean it’s true? Someone’s really willing to send goods over?”

Budma Baron looked at the dark arts wizard before him, shocked and a hint of suspicion flickering deep in his eyes.

“Of course, Lord Budma!”

Raymond, cloaked in a black robe, spoke with a hoarse, enticing voice.

The dark arts wizard in Budma Baron’s eyes was none other than Raymond, the sole member Yu Sheng’an casually established in the Redemption Group.

Raymond had become a dark arts wizard!

Of course, only in others’ eyes.

After summoning demons to massacre the village that sentenced him and his companions to the stake, he fled deep into the Karman United Republic.

The divided rule of the Karman United Republic’s nobles made it extremely closed.

Alone, he encountered numerous predatory threats.

Slave catchers, guilds, bandits, mercenaries, even noble private troops, countless people wanted to capture him.

With no reason.

Or rather, these groups could easily transform into another group, making endless excuses to capture him.

During this process, to stay alive, he had to repeatedly communicate with demons, summoning them to fight.

Gradually, he caught the attention of some mages and even nobles.

In the various chases, he continuously traded “Internet secrets” for survival.

Finally, he was recruited by Budma Baron.

Budma Baron’s territory was impoverished, having to offer tribute to the Grand Lord for protection, leading to a harsh life for the people, with frequent rebellions and defections.

Budma Baron’s recruiting was straightforward—using his power to kill all bandits within the territory, intimidating the people.

Redmond was tired of fleeing.

He also needed time to recuperate.

So he agreed to Budma Baron’s recruitment.

Soon, he demonstrated power that surprised and intimidated Budma!

—Under a squad of undead demons, the bandits within Budma’s territory were easily crushed.

Alone, he was like a one-man army, eliminating all bandits in just a few days.

He wiped them out! Not scattering them, only for them to regroup after a few days.

Seeing the piles of heads, Budma Baron was thrilled but also regretful.

Summoning gods was easy, sending them away was hard.

What if this person clung to his territory, demanding exorbitant compensation?

Unexpectedly, before he could worry about this, Raymond’s peaceful cultivation gradually reassured him.

Raymond seemed like a traditional mage, hiding in his private residence daily, studying magic, ignoring outside affairs, not even making many harsh demands.

It was then that Budma Baron learned about the Internet’s existence.

He experienced delight for a time.

However, he soon grew frustrated.

The Internet indeed shared knowledge and magic, but neither Battle Qi nor magic could be mastered overnight.

Commoners, given the knowledge, had low expectations, merely wanting to fill their bellies, so their goals were easily achieved.

But he was different; he was a noble lord.

His goal was greater power and more expansive territory.

If possible, he even wished to gain a duchy title, upgrading his land to a grand duchy!

Thus, the Internet’s benefits were difficult to satisfy him.

Yet the Internet still brought notable changes to his territory.

Through the Internet, he obtained a set of basic magic and Battle Qi knowledge, swiftly training a group of loyal guards.

Though these guards weren’t highly skilled, many could only cast a small fireball.

This was still impressive to the inexperienced guards, making them grateful and willing to follow him to the death.

Additionally, it was more than enough to intimidate the lowly populace.

Besides this, he broadened his horizons, learning much about managing territory. With a mix of toughness and flexibility, the frequency of rebellion and defection significantly reduced.

If only his territory weren’t so far from the Kewell Empire, with high trading costs, he could even cheaply purchase Kewell Empire’s grain to strengthen his private army.

Sadly, too many conditions hindered his territory’s development.

Fortunately, the recently opened Khazad-dûm instance in the [Conquest Sub-Dimension] on the Internet, as well as the online Source Essence product, provided a new path.

—He could completely use his power to form a mercenary group in [Conquest], to plunder wealth or exchange for Source Essence.

Though this meant exposing the Internet’s secrets to his people, he still gritted his teeth and proceeded under the temptation of profit.

Indeed, the Internet God was generous.

He exchanged for ample Source Essence, boosting the quality of his soul, and his magic learning efficiency noticeably improved.

His only frustration was that the wealth he looted in Khazad-dûm couldn’t be cashed out.

Because his territory—or rather, the entire Karman United Republic—lacked an Internet Bank branch.

He could see the wealth increasing in his private account, but it was useless.

At this moment, the dark arts wizard Redmond suddenly approached, claiming he could help him spend the money in his Internet Bank account.

“Who are these merchants? I want to speak with them personally.”

Budma Baron said gravely, ultimately still distrustful of Redmond.

“No problem, by the way, you’re acquainted with the owner of this caravan.”

“Acquainted? Who?”

“Master Tony.”

After Raymond spoke, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He, this despicable blasphemer yet redeemed penitent, was finally remembered by God again.

No, the great Internet God wouldn’t care for his humblest believer.

But someone remembered him!

A few days ago, Lord Ajef suddenly contacted him, assigning him a secret task—to open the commercial network in the Karman United Republic.

He didn’t know what this task, clearly benefiting the Karman United Republic’s nobles of all sizes, truly meant.

But he knew it was time for his loyalty.