# Chapter 31: The Moving Stars
"Tap, tap."
Walking slowly, Joshua came to the side of the throne. He didn't say much, only gazed down at the earth together with Israel.
This was an altitude of twelve thousand meters above the surface. The observation platform had been fully extended, and the floating suspension wings designed by the old mage were absorbing elemental power from the surroundings to maintain stable levitation. Four rows of leaf-shaped wings forged from metal and crystal emitted a hazy, colorful glow. Further above was the thin atmosphere, where only aether elements drifted. Nostradamus also came to the warrior's side, and the three of them together watched the surface world, which had been stretched to its limits.
From here, one could overlook most of the empire. Forests, deserts, swamps, mountains, plains—this vast territory contained almost every type of ecological community. Even exposed lava zones could be found around the wind-eroded desert. And no matter where one looked, scattered dots of city lights could be seen. Intelligent life had lived on this land for thousands of years, tens of thousands of years, perhaps even more ancient than that. Billions of humans had multiplied and thrived on this continent, living their own lives.
"How insane."
Gazing at the world, Joshua spoke. He said, "A man a few decades old says he wants to oversee a quarter of humanity and vows to eradicate all oppression and evil... Who does he think he is?"
"Just as you said, it's merely a dream shared by a crazy old man and his teacher."
On the throne, Israel let out a low voice: "After clearing out the first batch of sinners, Teacher Nostradamus will implement compulsory education throughout the entire empire—and the schools will be built on the former mansions and lairs of those lords and dark figures. The imperial treasury will not take a single coin of their wealth; it will all be used for this purpose."
"Once Masters Baniel and William officially accept positions as advisors to our empire's special research institute and further simplify the materials and construction of the information terminal, it will become standard equipment for imperial citizens. Registering information at local governments after coming of age at sixteen will become a new rite of passage. The nobility will still exist, but their privileges will come from contributions. They can squander and indulge, as long as they have sufficient strength and merit."
"We won't carry out a massacre... We will maintain social stability."
Beside them, Nostradamus said softly: "Israel will only execute those who have committed crimes but escaped punishment. He won't interfere in ordinary civil and criminal cases—that's the work of law enforcement. And I will do my best to cultivate a large number of young people with correct values and worldviews... Israel can't sit on this throne forever. They will become the pillars of the new society."
The emperor and the old mage had planned for many years, but had always been trapped in the imperial capital, unable to act because they couldn't take the first step. But now, the opportunity had come. With information terminals and floating warships, their influence could cover the entire empire. These two knew that old societies were extremely difficult, even impossible, to change. So the two legendary experts used their power roughly, completely suppressing and destroying the old society, then building a new one from scratch.
And this process would only take thirty thirty-day months.
Utterly insane. At this speed, nowhere else could accomplish this except in a world of magic and swords, a world with legendary experts who could use their own strength to suppress millions of troops.
Joshua remained silent, and Israel on the throne slightly turned his head. He glanced at the warrior, and his serious expression shifted slightly.
The emperor said in a strange tone: "You smiled."
"Lord Radcliffe... you actually smiled."
As he spoke, the corners of Israel's mouth lifted. He first snorted, then laughed lowly: "You just said I was a madman—Joshua, you're even crazier than me!"
And beside him, Joshua was indeed smiling. He was smiling quite happily, naturally—not sarcastically, nor deliberately forced.
"Madmen aren't all bad people either."
He said this, the warrior slightly closing his eyes, his arms crossed over his chest: "Everyone dreams, and the things in dreams are strange and varied. But you two are among the few who want to realize the things in their dreams, and even rarer, the ones who can actually accomplish them."
Perhaps because of the arrogance of the interstellar era, in Joshua's original conception, the experts of the Mycroft World were powerful enough in strength, but in other aspects, they were merely people of a magical feudal era. But starting from the old pope's 'Do you understand light?' all the way to the Eastern Sea Sage's 'Essence-Spirit Conversion' and Galannod's 'Life Creation,' everything had greatly exceeded Joshua's expectations. And now, Israel and Nostradamus had joined forces, preparing to rebuild a new society, directly elevating an empire of the feudal lord era to the level of a modern civilized society.
Every legendary expert's philosophy surprised and delighted Joshua. Their vision was not bound by the era; instead, they had walked very, very far... They not only had dreams themselves but also hoped that others would have dreams—
Igor had spent his entire life maintaining the world's order, and with his strength, destroying the entire world would probably take only five minutes. Galannod could have ignored the elves and walked her own path of nature alone, but she still decided to step into the unknown together with her entire race. As for Nostradamus and Israel, needless to say—an emperor, an emperor's mentor, the head of the Royal Mage Association, both legendary experts. They were originally the greatest exploiters, the highest class, with no one able to oppress them. Yet these two still constantly thought about how to achieve true liberation for everyone.
"Listen, Israel, Nostradamus."
Opening his eyes, the smile on Joshua's face gradually faded, turning solemn. He turned to look at the two, the warrior speaking word by word, in the most serious tone: "I believe in your determination, and I don't think you'll be corrupted immediately... But one person cannot always be correct, and two people can also fall into confusion. The philosopher-king doesn't exist, nor does eternal justice. Just like the Earth Mother Goddess, even gods have selfish motives. The empire and its billions of subjects are not your playthings, toys for playing a game of 'totalitarian society.' So, if that day really comes—"
Here, Joshua paused, then said in a calm tone: "I will wake you up, if your dreams deviate from your original path."
"Heh... hahahaha, with those words, that's truly wonderful!"
Beside him, upon hearing Joshua's words, Israel truly burst into laughter. He had no more tears, nor would he clutch his stomach from difficulty breathing, but he still made this gesture, only because he had gained recognition.
—Like this, I can go all out.
—Even if mistakes occur, even if I stray onto a wrong path, there will be a sufficiently powerful friend to stop me. Joshua, this insurance of yours is truly unique in the world!
And Joshua also laughed. After the three had laughed for a long time, Israel and Nostradamus withdrew the smiles from their faces.
"You're right." The emperor looked at Joshua, nodding slightly, saying with satisfaction: "Lord Radcliffe, I cannot be 'just' forever. If one day I truly stray from my path, then please be sure to come and wake me up."
"This is precisely why we called you here."
...
Eastern Barter Plateau, Nostradamus and Joshua strolled through flowing rainbow-colored rain.
"The pollution is severe. High-intensity magical radiation will contaminate this land until nothing grows. Desertification is predictable, and even crystallization might occur."
Watching the mana machinery spewing rainbow-like magic crystal dust, Joshua glanced at the sewage flowing on the ground, then continued his leisurely pace: "I forgot that industrialization inevitably brings pollution."
"The special research institute has designed a special slime that can absorb this kind of specialized mixed mana. It should be ready for official use in about a month and a half."
Walking together with Joshua in the rain, Nostradamus stroked his beard, his gaze distant: "And Israel and I chose the Eastern Barter Plateau precisely because it's sparsely populated. Even if pollution is severe, it won't affect the densely populated plains for now."
"You're leaving him up there alone?"
"He's not a bomb that might go off at any moment. Let Israel calm down by himself for a while. He hasn't tamed his divinity yet."
The two casually chatted about various miscellaneous topics, ranging from the pirate king's treasure rumored to be spreading across the Far Eastern Islands to the intricate family relationships of some clan in the Western Mountains—an uncle marrying his niece, a daughter marrying her father, nothing strange. For the sake of bloodline purity, those sorcerer families never cared about ethics.
"The Sky-Piercing White Tower and I have done research. If you only want to ensure one hundred percent bloodline purity, cloning through necromantic techniques would suffice. There's no need for incest."
Nostradamus shook his head and commented: "Offspring born from inbreeding have a certain chance of being mentally deficient. In fact, the reason the Western Mountains are so chaotic is that few sorcerer families can continuously produce geniuses capable of unifying the continent."
"Speaking of which, I've always been curious. The dragon blood in the Diamond family is one thing, but where did those fairy bloodlines come from?"
Talking about bloodline issues, Joshua couldn't help but click his tongue a few times. But he also remembered that the Diamond family was originally part of the Western Mountains, only migrating north with their people at the beginning of the era, eventually becoming the rulers of this land: "I mean, love is certainly not limited by race, but the size..."
"You really think they have sex?"
Suddenly, Nostradamus opened his eyes wide in surprise. After all, he was an old man with no qualms about such topics. The old mage first held back, then still laughed: "So-called fairy bloodline only means they were possessed by a fairy. You know fairies are pure energy bodies, right? Their union is on the energy and soul level, which can greatly enhance both parties' combat power, achieving an effect where one plus one is greater than two."
"Those who have been possessed naturally have their souls and energy altered, becoming similar to fairies, thus achieving an effect akin to bloodline inheritance."
So it's that Valkyrie system! Joshua instantly understood what possession meant. In that case, it wasn't strange at all. Fairies were such a casual race, both in temperament and reproduction methods—truly simple and carefree. That being the case, the sixth prince, who was favored by fairies, might have completely inherited this possession-altered bloodline.
The two continued walking, leaving the range of the Apocalypse Base. Joshua stopped and said: "Alright, Master, you can stop here. I'll fly back myself."
"That's very far."
"Not for you and me—and occasionally enjoying the scenery isn't a bad choice."
However, just as Joshua was about to take a step and rise into the air, Nostradamus couldn't help but speak: "Wait."
Joshua turned to look at the old mage, saying nothing. His expression was calm, his gaze unrippled. No one could tell what he was thinking.
"Joshua... What do you think of Israel's and my choice?"
After hesitating for a moment, the old mage still straightforwardly asked this question: "You acknowledge Israel, but you only trust him. You haven't expressed your opinion on our plan... Whether right or wrong, you are truly a strong one. We hope to receive your advice."
"Opinion?"
Joshua blinked, confused for a moment, but soon gave his answer: "It doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter?!"
"Mm, it doesn't matter."
Joshua nodded, but Nostradamus found this answer hard to accept. He frowned, took a step forward, and asked with extreme seriousness: "Is this your answer? It doesn't matter? This concerns all the subjects of the Northern Empire, concerns the future of billions—morality, order, good and evil, right and wrong, everything is in it!"
"No, my 'doesn't matter' is not indifference."
Regarding the old mage's agitation, Joshua shook his head. He thought for a moment, then gave his answer: "Listen, Nostradamus, I don't care about humanity's future. Whether they live happily in a utopia or numbly in a dystopia, that is their own choice."
"In this regard, humanity should judge itself, or save itself. Whether they self-destruct or are reborn, I don't care."
Looking up at the high sky, the night was brilliant, countless stars twinkling in the light of the magical tide. The twin moons illuminated heaven and earth, casting a thin silver veil over the entire Eastern Barter Plateau. Joshua gazed at the stars. He could see that within the vast energy currents sweeping through the multiverse, five stars were changing their trajectories. They were slowly moving, drawing closer to the Mycroft World.
Gears were turning, rivers were flowing. Because of the earth's resentment, the stars moved their positions, simply because they wished to do so.
"The positions of good and evil, of justice or not, are meaningless to true enemies. Whether it's evil gods or abyss lords, none care whether humanity is totalitarian or democratic."
Watching the moving stars, silver light flickered in Joshua's eyes. He said softly: "For them, there is only destruction and being destroyed."
Nostradamus silently watched the warrior before him. For the first time, he felt that the person before him was so unfamiliar, yet so familiar. What was he thinking about? The old mage could no longer understand.
But in truth, the warrior's thoughts had always been simple.
"You are the emperor and his chancellor. You need to think about humanity's future, social stability, the endurance of systems... And I am just a warrior."
Joshua no longer gazed at the stars. He lowered his head, looking at Nostradamus, the warrior speaking in a gentle tone: "I am the enemy of all chaos and evil, their god of death, their destruction."
"That is all."