Chapter 403: Chapter 178: The Omen of Change

Half a day after Anvis departed, two figures cloaked in magic robes silently appeared amid the skeletal ruins of a house that had been ‘burnt’ down.

Despite the word ‘flame’ in its name, Death Spirit Flames actually draw solely on negative energy and souls for fuel. Once the power stored in the ring was exhausted, the chilling flames died down.

“There’s a faint scent of Dark Crow here; although it’s light, there’s no mistake, he must have stopped here before. Those few were dealt with by some kind of illusion trap, and no other magic power traces were detected.”

The person standing on the left squatted down, picked up a handful of peculiarly pale-colored soil, and after conducting a magical check, concluded.

“The last direction of the scent seems to point towards the border of the Silver Moon Kingdom.”

“It seems he must not have lost all his strength, or at least he can still mobilize it in some way.”

Nodding in agreement, the mage on the right was not surprised by this.

“Even though he has lost his former strength, as long as his memories and knowledge remain, it’s impossible for him to completely lose the ability to resist.”

“Recruit more manpower to increase the intensity of the manhunt; under prolonged flight, his strength will inevitably be quickly depleted, and he won’t have time to set traps.”

“Let those low-ranked professionals die in their lines, depleting his last bit of strength, to avoid his final retaliation.”

With the manhunt plan set, the two spellcasters disappeared once again.

Meanwhile, the news of the item possessed by Dark Crow also made more people come to the Moen Kingdom, hoping to try their luck and see if they could find the target.

After all, according to the reward, finding that pendant would take care of most resources required for subsequent breakthroughs.

.….….

A few days later, at exactly two o’clock in the afternoon.

“Detecting that ‘Lucky Dragon’ airship is about to dock, please prepare Tower 28 for docking—”

With the soft voice of magic broadcasting, the clouds in the sky parted to both sides, and the huge spindle-shaped airship, like a cloud whale, slowly descended and docked at the corresponding tower, casting a cloud-like shadow over the bustling streets below.

The prominent Kawole Brothers Flying Commerce emblem, colored in silver blue, was emblazoned on both sides of the airship’s balloon, shining brightly under the afternoon sun.

With the cabin door raised by special magic, Anvis straightened his collar, carried his round-handled staff and suitcase, and got up. Along with many other passengers, he walked down from the airship and entered the waiting hall.

He was still playing the role of Travel Mage Vio, a visible and reasonable identity that often made things much easier.

Landon and Leia were still on their way, fighting small monsters. Although they had left early, since they were traveling by land and also had to avoid enemy hunting, they would still need about half a month to truly arrive in the Silver Moon Kingdom.

As described in all character biographies, the enemy always sends some subordinates that the protagonist group can just handle, for various reasons, allowing the protagonists to grow quickly.

Glancing at the large banner at the entrance of the hall that read, ‘Yiter Federation welcomes you!’ Anvis walked out of the Kawole Brothers Flying Commerce, took a flyer from a newspaper boy distributing them free to foreign travelers about the Mechanical network pilot, and casually strolled around Silver Moon City.

Last year’s New Moon, in order to secretly travel to that overseas island, he had briefly visited the Royal Capital of Loran Kingdom, and afterward, he had gone to Delas Port.

Compared to the bustle there, the Royal Capital, Silver Moon City of the Silver Moon Kingdom, was by no means inferior, with even a greater degree of mechanical integration.

On the streets, mechanical vehicles were already more numerous than regular magic carriages.

However, this prosperity was exchanged for the sacrifices of countless lower-class individuals.

In the past life, it was recognized that the catalyst for the second mechanical transformation was not the advancement of mechanical technology, but a breakthrough from the Necromancy School – the creation of the second generation high-intelligence undead framework.

Originally, as a supercity, Silver Moon City witnessed many unidentified corpses every day.

Since the rise of the Magic-guided Mechanical Industry, many discovered a new use for these bodies: transforming them into skeleton laborers to work in Mechanical Factories.

The cost and profit of using normal workers versus skeleton laborers are utterly disproportionate.

Because normal workers need rest, food, and a relatively comfortable working environment, and if they die accidentally, according to Federation law, their families have to be compensated.

Undead creatures require neither food nor rest, they don’t need wages, and when confined in small boxes, they can maintain a working state indefinitely.

Moreover, with magic properly maintained, one undead can work tirelessly for ten years, and with regular maintenance on their joints, their work span can even extend to fifteen to twenty years.

Although they are less efficient than living workers, they can work far longer hours.

Furthermore, due to the tireless nature of undead creatures, they can handle low-level repetitive tasks.

In Anvis’ memory, especially after the creation of the third generation high-intelligence undead framework, these tireless workers suddenly became popular among all Chambers of Commerce and Nobles.

As a result, people who once had stable jobs were massively unemployed, and unemployment meant loss of livelihood income.

These original workers were often the breadwinners and working-age labor force of the family.

When they lost their jobs and income, it was a devastating blow to a family.

Their fate awaited only was to resort to selling children.

Rich businessmen and minor Nobles were only too happy to see this, as they could buy decent servants and toys at a very low price.

This phenomenon became increasingly common, inevitably leading to instability among the lower classes of society.

Some high-positioned people could see the problem but had no good solutions.

The middle and small Nobles could see the underlying danger, but compared to the Gold Coins directly in front of them, they didn’t care, in their eyes, even if the sky fell, there were higher Nobles to bear it.

The fact was indeed so.

Using normal workers, the efficiency and productivity are less than that of skeleton laborers, but the total expenses are far greater. This results in those using skeleton labor having much lower costs than those not using them.

Therefore, they could sell the mechanical products at lower prices, gaining greater market competitiveness.

In Anvis’ vision of fate, the destiny overcasting this supercity has already subtly formed a vortex, chaotic and unpredictable, like a Witch’s alchemical crucible.

This phenomenon indicates, that for some time to come, this gigantic city will become the center stage, the eye of the storm.

However, it’s not only he who can see this; other several Eighth Rank Prophets who aren’t blind can basically notice the anomalies here as well.