CHAPTER 205: THIS IS BAIT!

"Compromise on self-charging magic arrays and Magic Power Network, compromise on wireless transmission devices, then will we also have to compromise on subsequent Magic Conductors?" After a brief silence, the Gray Fort Emperor continued in a very drawn-out voice. "Textile Magic Conductors, mining Magic Conductors, magic weapons, and those new farming Magic Conductors—should we compromise on those too? Even if we compromise, will the Kingdom of Dawn sell them to us? Even if they sell to us, can subsequent maintenance keep up? Will they sell us the most advanced ones? If they sell now, what happens when relations become tense in the future?"

Question after question made the Gray Fort Prime Minister’s forehead break out in cold sweat. "But according to my observations, Roster seems very eager to sell his equipment, because his factory construction investments are enormous. If he can’t sell them, or if sales aren’t fast enough, it will actually put major pressure on his capital... Magic-tech industrialization seems to desperately crave the nourishment of commerce and trade."

"Yes, but just this alone isn’t enough to make me completely believe we can really achieve long-term cooperation... Prime Minister, let’s establish a Technology Association, the Gray Fort Technology Association. We also need to invite some clergy, nobles, ministers, and merchants with such intentions to join. We need to build the Gray Fort Church of Technology into a complex interest group. Only then will they have sufficient motivation to develop new Magic Conductors and possibly help us solve those troubles."

Listening to the Gray Fort Emperor’s words, the Gray Fort Prime Minister actually already understood that His Majesty had ultimately chosen compromise, but was unwilling to compromise. That’s right—which emperor of a major power could accept such compromise? Placing their lifeline in the hands of a country they’d always had friction with.

Clergy, nobles, ministers, merchants—clergy could pray to the God of Technology. God loves all people. Knowledge obtained from the gods was the part they could trust. Nobles, ministers, and merchants would make appropriate choices to earn more profits. Only they could hire large numbers of magicians to conduct research and development in this area, unlike the current Royal Mage Society.

How could the Gray Fort Emperor not know what those magicians were doing behind his back...

"Then our trade with the Kingdom of Dawn?" After a long silence, the Gray Fort Prime Minister continued.

"Proceed normally. Additionally, have the nobles most loyal to us agree to join the Golden Merchant Guild, become agents for larger regions, and establish a trade route spanning the entire Gray Fort Empire as much as possible. Whether Magic Conductors or druid potions, they can all be purchased through the Golden Merchant Guild..."

The Gray Fort Empire suffered heavy losses this time, but it also eased increasingly intense domestic conflicts. The Gray Fort Emperor obviously already saw that the development of magic-tech industry could, to some extent, transfer, ease, or delay conflicts. At the same time, it could make the country stronger. So he chose compromise, opening up part of his authority, beginning to merge, transform, and balance with the magic-tech industry system to some degree...

After talking with the Prime Minister for who knows how long, watching the Prime Minister’s departing back, the Gray Fort Emperor couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. "I wonder if this choice is good or bad."

Through Shadow, he knew far more information than people imagined. He knew that after magic-tech industrialization, the agricultural population would rapidly decrease. The slavery he once wanted to abolish could probably be implemented. But for thousands upon thousands of years, people’s way of life seemed like it would all change. Moreover, they were latecomers in this transformation...

But thinking of Roster territory’s changes, thinking of the Kingdom of Dawn’s Southern Territory changes, he became increasingly determined.

Technology Association, magic-tech industrialization—they must proceed!

If traditional magicians wanted to obstruct... A flash of ruthlessness passed through the Gray Fort Emperor’s eyes. Even at his age, he still didn’t lack the courage to wield the butcher’s knife.

In a small country not far from the Gray Fort Empire.

Lava General looked at a city not far from them, intense excitement flashing in his eyes. "Have most of the Church of War’s remnant forces entered this city?"

Recently, relying on Roster territory’s specially made magic equipment and the boost from the Tech War cleric system, they could be said to fight with invincible success. Until now, combat casualties were less than a hundred people, all from being accidentally injured or hurt by momentum when battling the enemy’s high-level combat power. In actual combat, no one got hurt. The power of long-range Magic Conductors made them unstoppable. The process of subduing seventeen countries went exceptionally smoothly.

Before them was the capital of the last country, also the gathering place of all Church of War remnant forces, and also the country with the richest mineral resources among these eighteen small countries. Precisely because of this, this steel fortress appeared before them.

"Once we take this city, all the important cities in this campaign will be taken. Those guys who still believe in the God of War will ultimately have no hiding place." A deputy looked at the steel fortress in the distance and finally couldn’t help but speak. "General, should we directly use the magic super cannon?"

Even looking across the entire continent, you probably couldn’t find a second fortress whose walls were cast from steel, plus with certain defensive array reinforcement, its defensive power was probably unique. But facing the magic super cannon, the deputy believed there was simply no defensive power at all. One shot wouldn’t work? Then two shots. It could always be solved.

The war was about to end.

However, unexpectedly, Lava General, who was always decisive and showed overwhelming strength throughout the entire ’war,’ smiled and said, "No, now is not the time to attack. Have people surround this place. Don’t let anyone out, but we also need to appear as if we’re helpless against this steel fortress."

"Huh?! Why?" The deputy instinctively asked, but after speaking, remembered it wasn’t his place to question orders and quickly shook his head. "Yes, I’ll give the order right away."

"This is bait." Lava General glanced at him, only said this lightly, then stopped talking.

Once this city was also breached, the last forces would almost impossibly form large-scale gatherings again. According to convention, these war believers would gradually form dark churches, causing destruction everywhere. Lava General understood this very well.

He wanted to attack their hearts, make the last war believers tear at each other, and hand over methods to find other war remnant forces, completely nipping this risk in the bud.

Just this one sentence made the deputy understand.

In the Goddess of Magic’s divine realm.

Ren suddenly seemed to sense something and paused.

"What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with going to see the dragons?"