Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems - Chapter 704

Chapter 701 Four Different Ways of Conquest

The Silent Dimension.

Inside the white ducal manor of Duke Brissennott, the young and pale-faced Duke carefully instructed his butler to present factory property deeds to Wizard Smith and the young priestess.

Duke Brissennott coughed weakly, his eyes gleaming. “These are the properties I can donate to you. These properties house approximately one hundred thousand displaced workers.”

“Their farmland has been requisitioned, so they can only work in the factories; they can be of use to you. But my esteemed master, can my illness truly be cured?”

The frail duke removed his exquisite handkerchief from his face, revealing blood coughed up on it.

The duke was clearly suffering from a terminal illness, an incurable disease in this world.

In this situation, no amount of power or wealth mattered.

Wizard Smith didn’t even look at the property deeds, but casually tossed them to the priestess, then said, “One hundred thousand isn’t enough, I need more. I need 1.5 million! And that’s just the minimum.”

Duke Brissonnot looked at Wizard Smith eagerly: “I can find a way to meet your demands, but you must allow me to live.”

Wizard Smith’s eyes were contemptuous. “Of course, it’s simple. You just need to have your body captured by my meteoric power and become my servant race.”

“That’s simple.”

…

A week later, Locke, along with his priestess, the gunslinger, and the cultists, appeared in the capital.

Locke sat leisurely on a stool in his villa, reading a newspaper under the bright sunlight.

The newspapers in this world were merely the emperor’s mouthpiece.

The newspaper carried two pieces of information: first, a province had rebelled, and the empire was going to suppress the rebellious province with all its might.

And the rebellious province was the one where Wizard Edgar was located.

Edgar seemed to have gone directly to the governor’s palace of that province, taken control of that province, and confronted the empire head-on, directly seizing this world by force.

Secondly, the Emperor announced an additional supervisory examination this year and expanded the powers of the supervisory system, adding at least seventeen crucial rights.

Locke looked at the seventeen rights listed in the newspaper; one right, hidden among the others, was the right to rearm.

What was the right to rearm?

The description was vague.

But Locke surmised that this so-called right to rearm was the Emperor’s right to grant them access to the true power system of this world.

“This oversight system is quite interesting,” Locke said. “The oversight exam collects talented and lucky people from this plane. Because those who can achieve high scores in the exam are either talented or lucky.” “An exam to collect

the talents of this world. These people are all part of the total magical pressure flowing within the Emperor’s mental network.” Locke said, “I didn’t expect that the natives would have such a power system.”

“Did the Emperor come up with this himself?”

“It’s a good system, but firstly, it lacks a foundation. If I were to modify it, it could be made much better, especially in terms of spell models.”

“Right now, this system is like a tree without roots. Secondly, too many personal opinions have been added to this system. However, I can learn from the parts that I think are good.” Locke pondered, “Perhaps this is not the Emperor’s original creation, but something he just used.”

Locke looked at the contents of the newspaper, and he could also feel the chaos of magical pressure in this world.

Because Edgar had revealed his hand, it had provoked the Emperor’s strong suppression and all-out attack.

It started as a rebellion in one province, which the emperor forcefully suppressed. Edgar then moved to other provinces, instigating rebellions, which were also suppressed by the emperor.

Now, he’s back in the same rebellious province, launching another rebellion.

Locke’s eyes were strange. “Edgar, what are you thinking? Your total magic pressure is constantly decreasing, meaning you’re walking a tightrope. Why put yourself in this predicament at the very beginning of the game?”

“At the start of the game, the emperor clearly had the highest total magic pressure. But as long as time drags on, the emperor’s magic pressure will decrease.”

“Why did you directly attack the emperor from the start?”

That’s right, for some reason, Locke clearly sensed that the emperor’s mental network system’s magic pressure was constantly decreasing.

It was only because another supervisory examination was held to recruit talented people from all over the world to join the mental network system as supervisors that the emperor’s total magic pressure had barely increased.

This might be related to the end of the world.

Locke and the other contestants, having just entered this world, are currently focused on quickly developing their ultimate magic and avoiding elimination at the start. Therefore, their main energy is concentrated on battling the Emperor.

Undoubtedly, the Emperor’s native mental network has become a common obstacle for all four contestants.

No matter who they are or what they want to do, they are constantly hampered by the Emperor’s presence.

If it weren’t for the Emperor’s mental network, Locke wouldn’t need to hide his ultimate magic and could have his moon appear directly in the sky.

“No matter what, we must eliminate the Emperor’s threat first,” Locke thought.

At this moment, in the room where Locke was, many people from the capital city who had just been recruited into the cult he founded were studying the scriptures.

The priestess and other original followers were instructing them, while the gunslinger leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a rough knocking sounded at the door.

“Open the door, the inspector is here to investigate.”

Soon, an inspector in a scarlet double-breasted wool coat kicked open the door. He clearly possessed a power similar to that of the psychic magic school, with flashes of azure energy occasionally appearing in his eyes.

The inspector swept his gaze viciously across the house. “Who’s in charge here? How dare you proselytize in the capital? Are you insane?”

“You’ve reportedly recruited thousands of people in the capital within a week.”

“Who gave you permission to do this?”

The inspector looked at the young priestess, whose limbs were clearly stiff.

The followers looked at the inspector with terror. Acting first and reporting later—that’s what made the inspectors.

Inspectors wielded absolute power in this world.

Locke stood up, put down his newspaper, and looked calmly at the inspector. “Preaching? We’re not?”

The inspector glared at Locke. “Not? Then what are you doing here with so many people?”

Locke nodded. “These are the leaders. They’re learning here, then going elsewhere to tell other people.”

Anger flashed in the inspector’s eyes, and he slammed his hand on the table. “What did you say!”

“Arrogance! I’ll bring you to justice today. How dare you preach in front of me, the inspector!”

The inspector raised a flintlock pistol tucked into his belt.

Locke looked at him calmly. “I told you, I didn’t proselytize,”

the inspector said angrily, pointing at the books in the hands of the believers. “You’re still trying to deny it. Then what are those books?”

Locke made one of the believers open a book and read the first page. The man, his face contorted with madness and excitement, exclaimed, “The book says that His Majesty the Emperor invented the steam engine, liberating our productive forces, which is why we can enjoy so many industrial products today!”

“The book says that His Majesty the Emperor invented the electric light, which is why we have light at night. The book says that His Majesty the Emperor invented the bicycle…”

The believers were increasingly fervent in their worship. This world already had a serious tendency towards emperor worship.

Moreover, the Emperor deliberately allowed the people to worship him, and even actively and secretly cultivated groups that cult his personality.

Therefore, people in this world generally worshipped the emperor.

At this moment, the believers’ eyes were all shining brightly. “His Majesty the Emperor invented everything in this world. We are all loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!”

The believers stood up from their stools and shouted in unison, “Loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Loyal! Sincere!”

The believers raised their scriptures. “His Majesty the Emperor has done so many good deeds that we had no idea before. We used to blame him for leaving us hungry and cold, forcing us to sleep on the streets. Now we realize how foolish we were.”

“His Majesty the Emperor is building a future where everyone can live well and see green mountains and clear waters.”

The believers shouted in unison, “Loyalty!”

Locke calmly looked at the inspector, whose face flushed red. Under the suspicious gazes of the crowd, the inspector quickly raised his right hand and shouted, “Loyalty!”

The inspector seemed unconvinced and checked their books, confirming that they were full of personality cults about the Emperor, although many absurd things were attributed to him.

The inspector finally relaxed, and his gaze towards Locke and the others softened with respect. He said gently, “So that’s how it is. You’re not proselytizing, you’re spreading the truth.”

“Society is always tolerant of truth and justice. Just be rational. While His Majesty the Emperor is undoubtedly great, you shouldn’t disrupt traffic.”

“Yesterday, your march in the streets disrupted traffic, so someone reported you.”

The priestess quickly replied, “Yes, Inspector.”

The inspector thought for a moment and said, “Let me join this great cause. I also feel that society’s worship of His Majesty the Emperor is far too insufficient. I also want to introduce some of my friends to join…”

After

the inspector left, the gunslinger looked at Locke with suspicion and asked, “What exactly do you want to do? Did you enter this world just to help the Emperor consolidate his rule?”

Locke sat in his chair, flipping through the book about this world in his hands. “Although it seems that way, our reach is incredibly fast. In just one week, at least hundreds of thousands of people have read our book, and the inspectors, without the Emperor’s orders, dare not make things difficult for us; instead, they can only help us openly and secretly.”

“And the Emperor is fighting on the front lines, he simply doesn’t have the energy to focus on the rear.”

Locke laughed, “No, he probably doesn’t dare to interfere with me now, and even thinks he’s quite lucky.”

Gunslinger looked puzzled.

…

At this moment, in the rebellious province of the Silent Plane, wherever the emperor went became the imperial palace.

In this newly relocated imperial palace within the rebellious province, the emperor sat on the Iron Throne, his entire body shrouded in steel armor, crimson light emanating from the eye sockets of his helmet.

In an angry voice, he questioned the high-ranking inspector before him, “Why is the rebellion still not over?”

The high-ranking inspector bowed to the emperor. “Your Majesty, the rebellion was quickly suppressed; it was just a rabble. But the source of the rebellion has slipped away to various provinces, gathering another mob. After we suppressed them, they actually returned to this province.”

“We have already killed many traitors. Your Majesty, please give our inspectors some more time…”

“Those rebels are nothing but chickens and dogs; they are no match for our inspectors. Especially after you granted them the ability to learn power.”

The senior inspector commander told the emperor, “Your Majesty, our strength remains overwhelmingly powerful. I have already laid a net across the province, plus the third-tier gene-lock inspectors you nurtured with your mental network.”

“This time, we will definitely completely suppress the rebellion.”

At this moment, the sky over the entire Silent Plane suddenly turned black, as if a dark world had descended, and everyone could not see their own hand in front of their face.

Then, the next moment, a meteor streaked from the sky and fell to the earth.

With a ‘bang,’

the meteor hurtled towards the capital, crashing into the palace. In an instant, the palace was razed to the ground, and the earth trembled.

Then came the second meteor, and the third…

As the number of those who prayed for the stars increased and the prayer incantation was completed, the sky of this world finally welcomed comet planes from the astral plane.

With the arrival of these three comet-like micro-planes, the overall magical pressure of this world actually increased, which ironically reduced the emperor’s control and suppression over it.

The world’s will, long suppressed by the emperor, began to stir, showing signs of revival and awakening.

The emperor, encased in his armor, raised his right hand. “Power from beyond the heavens? I don’t need it.”

“Another traitor.”

At this moment, a mental network centered on the capital expanded, forming a vast net in the heavens, temporarily halting the falling stars.

Furthermore, the emperor had seized upon the prayers’ weaknesses and used a mental shockwave in that direction.

With a deafening roar, a factory belonging to the Star Worshippers collapsed under the psychic blast, killing countless ordinary workers.

Meanwhile, in a nearby restaurant, Wizard Smith and the nobles and business tycoons he had cultivated were enjoying a lavish dinner.

Wizard Smith opened a plate of baked lobster tails, picked up his knife and fork, and said, “Thank you all for your cooperation. But I need many, many more people…”

“This number isn’t enough,”

the nobles and business tycoons he had won over nodded obsequiously.

Wizard Smith, smugly pleased with himself, enjoyed his meal. “Unexpectedly, this competition is going more smoothly than I thought. Among the four contestants, the total magical pressure of my ultimate magic is increasing dramatically every day. Edgar and Georgina’s ultimate magic is decreasing daily. And Locke’s progress is completely unchanged.”

“Locke, I told you long ago you’d regret lending me the Apocalypse Stone, helping me to perfect and upgrade my ultimate magic one last time. Now, with the help of these natives, I just need to complete the construction of my ultimate magic.”

“I’ve won this competition. That emperor is such a hindrance; without him, everything would be much smoother.”

While enjoying his meal, Wizard Smith heard the natives of this world suddenly run over to report that inspectors were about to storm into the venue to investigate them.

The nobles present, especially the most powerful Duke Brissonnott, immediately darkened their faces. “Inspectors, didn’t you notice I’m having dinner with you gentlemen?”

“Tell the inspectors not to disturb us.”

“Too late.” An inspector kicked open the door, coldly eyeing the group of nobles and business tycoons. “Without His Majesty the Emperor’s order, how dare you gather here so openly? What do you intend to do?”

The inspector raised his musket and fired a shot at the dining table. The porcelain plate, struck by the bullet, shattered instantly,

scattering pieces all over the floor.

Screams erupted all around.

Wizard Smith wiped his mouth with a napkin, a flash of displeasure in his eyes. “Kill him. He’s just a dog of the native emperor. I believe you can keep the news of his death a secret.”

The inspector’s gaze was arrogant, and he immediately pointed his musket at Wizard Smith. “What did you say?”

The next moment, a nobleman’s henchman suddenly approached stealthily and plunged a knife into his throat, blood gushing out.

Wizard Smith smiled: “Now you’re all in the same boat.”

…

Meanwhile, Georgina the Witch’s charity was thriving.

Because the clothes were being distributed for free, and could protect against the cold and damp, residents of all the provinces of the empire were vying to join the charity and receive the free clothes.

In a short time, various charitable organizations spread across the provinces.

The inspectors’ attempts to investigate these organizations sparked conflict, resulting in the death of one inspector within one of the organizations. This quickly escalated into a conflict between the inspectors and the common people under the charitable organizations.

Suddenly, the previously oppressive zombie society under the emperor’s rule was engulfed in rebellion.

Problems that had been forcibly suppressed were now exposed by the external shock.

Meanwhile, in the rebellious provinces, the emperor looked back at his mental network. Due to the empire’s instability, the total magical pressure within his network had begun to decrease.

He had to return to suppress the rebellion; the charitable organizations, the force that summoned the stars, and the forces openly rebelling now all needed to be dealt with.

However, he discovered that a force was helping to stabilize his mental network, which was steadily decreasing its magical pressure.

What was it?

The emperor ordered his men to inquire, and they confirmed that several quasi-religious groups promoting his personality cult had emerged in the capital.

Clearly, it was the appearance of these groups that had stabilized the continuous decline in the total magical pressure within his mental network.

Beneath his cold armor, the emperor let out a chilling laugh. “Those traitors always think I’m all alone, but they don’t understand how this world, this country, works.”

“Order an investigation, declare war, and treat any suspicious individuals as traitors.”

“Kill without mercy.”

“I will destroy the Charity Society, I will destroy those who summon the stars, and of course, the traitors must be killed. But those loyal to me will be rewarded. Issue my order to reward groups spreading my faith within the capital and to provide them with funds to consolidate their worship of me and spread it to all major cities in the country.”

“Hurry,” the Emperor commanded.

The Senior Inspector General replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

After he left, the Emperor, beneath his cold armor, uttered a chilling statement. “I am the world, I am civilization, I am the nation.”

“I will not allow anyone who betrays me to exist.”

He raised his right hand, and a storm of mental lightning swept across the rebellious province, instantly killing countless mortals.

Since mortals cannot comprehend mental lightning storms, to others, these people appeared to have died suddenly.

The Emperor no longer cared about harming ordinary people, so in an instant, he killed everyone in that area.

At the same time, inspectors rushed into the area, searching for any survivors to completely annihilate them.

This plan was known as the Regional Annihilation Plan.

The Emperor’s answer to the rebellion was to ensure that not a single living creature survived in this region!

Three days later, the rebellious provinces were littered with corpses.

The senior inspector returned to the Emperor’s court to report the situation.

The Emperor said, “Well done. The rebellion is finally over, and we can go back. At the same time, immediately cut off the food supply to the three provinces where the charitable organizations are most active, and disguise all the food in those provinces as commodities and send it out of those three provinces.”

“As for those who summoned the stars…”

a senior inspector said, “My men have found out that those people may be related to the powerful and influential in our country. Will Your Majesty pardon them because they are powerful and influential?”

The Emperor said, “In this world, only I am powerful and influential. The others are just parasites that I haven’t found a reason to eliminate yet.”

“Order them to be arrested as traitors and their property confiscated.” The

row of inspectors in front of him immediately marched in step, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

In an instant, the Emperor’s inspectors seized the opportunity to suppress the rebellion in all directions.

Whether it was Wizard Smith, Witch Georgina, or Wizard Edgar, they all saw the Emperor as an obstacle.

Only Locke, enjoying the meticulous hospitality of the high-ranking inspectors in the capital, thought the Emperor was truly kind.

Not only had he helped him bring at least a third of the empire into his order in a short time, but he had also been entertained by high-ranking officials and even offered him an official position, making him a high-ranking inspector as well.

A high-ranking inspector commander respectfully said to Locke, “The Emperor says you have done well recently. Now, you are to be granted the position of Inspector General of the Inspectorate.”

Locke asked curiously, “Is this a high-ranking position?”

The high-ranking inspector commander shook his head slightly and said, “Very high. Extremely high. Originally, it would require multiple rounds of examinations and a rigorous selection process to obtain this position. But His Majesty the Emperor, to reward your contributions, has directly given you this position, sir.”

“The Inspector General is one of the highest-ranking officials in the Inspectorate system. There are only two officials of the same rank in the entire Inspectorate system.”

Locke nodded slightly; it was probably an honorary position, very high in rank but without real power.

It was a common kind of honorary title with empty promises.

But I genuinely needed this thing.

(End of Chapter)