CHAPTER 21: DIVINE SUMMONS

Time ticked by second after second.

Neither the Gray Fort Emperor nor the shadow dared make another sound.

They just waited quietly.

Waiting for that divine aura around Grand Magician Andrew to fade.

About three minutes later, Andrew’s eyes suddenly widened: "Your Majesty, no need to test it—this is definitely a divine gift. It’s an extraordinary creation forged by the Goddess of Magic and the God of Technology, a miraculous product that can connect the entire world!"

"Grand Magician Andrew, just now was...?"

The Gray Fort Emperor showed an ’I knew it’ expression but still asked.

"It was the Goddess!" Andrew’s face filled with reverence: "She has tasked me with conducting a ceremony to bring the Magic Net miracle here!"

Hiss—

Even though he was prepared, the Gray Fort Emperor couldn’t help but gasp: "Lord Andrew, what preparations do we need for the ceremony? I’ll have the Royal Mage Society and the Magician Legions assist you however needed."

It really was a deity!

The legendary Goddess of Magic, who supposedly never responded to believers, had actually given a response.

Miracle ceremonies—even the common churches rarely held such events!

This sudden news left him feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

At the same time, he was overjoyed.

Magic Net Rings that could let spellcasters anywhere communicate freely, instantly sending messages no matter the distance—this was incredibly important for an empire!

Communication between the palace and provinces, between the palace and borders, was often quite difficult. Even the fastest griffin messengers might need several days, and regular messengers could easily take months.

In case of war or other events, there was no way to react in time—local authorities had to make their own decisions.

This seriously weakened imperial power!

But if they had such magic... you could say the Magic Net’s appearance would speed up the entire empire’s operations, directly affecting his centralized control over the empire!

Even as emperor of Gray Fort Empire, humanity’s strongest nation, learning this news made his heart pound wildly.

Having reached high office, enacted reforms, standardized management of supernatural professions, accomplished what countless kings and human ancestors throughout history couldn’t do, turning Gray Fort into an empire—he thought nothing in this world could move him anymore. Yet now he was very excited, extremely excited!

Nobody understood the huge benefits of such magical creations better than he did!

Gray Fort Empire truly lived up to being humanity’s pinnacle nation.

The imperial capital gathered far more spellcasters than the Kingdom of Dawn.

Under the Gray Fort Emperor’s orders, massive numbers of spellcasters assembled in under three quarters of an hour. With spells like ’Stone to Mud,’ ’Mud to Stone,’ ’Reduce Weight,’ and ’Shape’ enhancing their work, they built an altar and road leading to it on the hill outside the capital’s east gate in half a day.

Countless believers, converts, and casual believers of the Goddess gathered together, while cartloads of refined iron piled up like mountains!

"The Goddess actually responded to Grand Magician Andrew!"

"Before this, people said Grand Magician Andrew only converted to avoid marriage and inheritance rights—ridiculous!"

"I wonder when my prayers will get the Goddess’s response! I have so many mysteries I want the Goddess to answer."

"It’ll definitely happen this time! Grand Magician Andrew said the Goddess will grant us many of these miracles called Magic Net Rings. She’s sure to notice us!"

"I heard lots of people in the Kingdom of Dawn are already using them. Wonder what kind of miracle these Magic Net Rings really are!"

The believers, ready and waiting for prayer time, gathered in small groups, finding familiar faces and discussing what would happen next...

The normally aloof magicians had all become devout in this atmosphere.

"Finally looking a bit godlike."

Ren watched the projected scene, sighing: "Finding this many spellcaster believers in the Kingdom of Dawn wouldn’t be easy, and fanatics are almost nonexistent."

"In Gray Fort Empire, anyone who becomes a magician—even apprentices—can collect stipends from the Royal Mage Society. Those willing to join the Magician Legions get generous salaries even if they can’t become low-level magicians. In this environment, countless people want to become magicians. Those praying to the Goddess for magical talent, wanting to change their lives—who knows how many there are. How could the Kingdom of Dawn compare? Even the elves..."

Maybe because of the mortal realm projection, Betty seemed quite excited, talking with a bit of the book’s rambling style.

"Doll, during the prayer ceremony, don’t forget to tell them to distribute these Magic Net Rings quickly and activate them fast—don’t hoard them."

Ren gave instructions but kept his attention on the ’TV.’

"Don’t worry! But giving them miraculous items like Magic Net Rings—would they really hoard them? Shouldn’t they activate and use them as soon as possible?"

"Regular magicians definitely would, but believers might not." After Ren’s casual comment, he added: "Plus without divine instructions, the higher-ranked ones would definitely hoard some for their trusted subordinates or whatever, or their king might intercept them..."

"Right, we need to worry about the king intercepting them. How about you also tell them when the second miracle will come? Otherwise I’m worried they still won’t spread quickly."

To recover his normal body as soon as possible, learn more truth quickly, and make the divine realm more stable, Ren was racking his brains thinking of ways to expand the user base.

Betty stared at Ren blankly, "Hard to understand you humans’ behavior—why are you like hamsters?"

Ren shook his head slightly: "Instead of complaining, come watch them work with me. Spellcasters really are convenient—such a long road, such a big altar, and they finished it so quickly."

"What’s there to watch? It’s just constantly casting low-level spells. Your magic bombs... wait, Ren, I take back what I said before. Your magic bombs can’t replicate all magic."

The doll seemed to think of something and immediately shouted excitedly.

"I know. Any spell requiring mental control can’t be done with magic bombs, like the magic they’re using to build roads now." Ren said somewhat helplessly: "You made the magic bombs—you’re just figuring this out now?"

Spells like flame vortex could attack immediately when thrown—magic bombs naturally had no requirements for users.

But something like energy hand, controlling it to grab things—how could that work without mental power?!

Even ’Stone to Mud,’ ’Mud to Stone,’ ’Reduce Weight,’ ’Shape’ all faced similar problems.

Unless you wanted to create large-scale swamps.

But Ren wasn’t thinking about improving this—no need.

Better to spend that time wondering if magic firearms might be possible...