Chapter 32: This Is So Joshua
Starfall Year 837, March 17th.
The situation on the Mycroft Continent changed daily. After all, there were thousands of factions and forces scattered across the world. No matter how intelligent or experienced an analyst might be, it was impossible to fully predict the shifting circumstances of every single power. But even so, certain changes over the past week had made everyone sense that something was off.
There was no need for analysts to explain things to the masses. Even illiterate commoners could feel a hint of tension from the price of daily food and the atmosphere within the cities.
First, it began with the Northern Empire, where the commotion was greatest—starting from March 10th, Year 37, an indescribable atmosphere had hung over the entire nation. According to reliable sources, on that very day, over 172 local gangs and 53 merchant guilds were completely obliterated by blazing fire from the sky. But astonishingly, that furious heavenly flame, falling like meteors, had precisely killed only the key operatives of these gangs and guilds. People like sweepers, kitchen helpers, and front-desk clerks mostly survived. Amid shock and disbelief, the atmosphere across the entire Herlamos Plain region of the Empire cleared up significantly. Though the local commoners appeared subdued, many had actually held several celebratory gatherings in their homes.
Beyond that, an unquantifiable but estimated number of over twenty nobles suddenly died, with even more vassals perishing. The deaths of heirs in certain major noble houses were too numerous to count. This chain reaction plunged their territories into several days of chaos, but imperial troops from the central royal court immediately moved into those lands, temporarily taking over local governance. Suddenly, the entire noble class of the Empire fell into great panic, suspecting the imperial family was about to move against them—but just as these people were about to gather and discuss what was happening, a large squad of Censors from the Noble Court arrived and imprisoned them all, awaiting trial.
The entire Northern Empire now appeared chaotic on the surface, but beneath the disorder, there was a hidden order, as if an invisible hand was controlling everything. The once-arrogant nobles and their lackeys suddenly became much more restrained. The gangs, big merchant guilds, and slave traders that had been rampant in villages and remote areas were almost entirely wiped out. Aside from a small number of commoners who feared the "heavenly fire" might fall on their heads, a large portion regarded it as a savior or even a god to worship. In the western swamp region, where gang activity had been most severe, a nonsensical "Heavenly Fire Temple" had already appeared.
Normally, such a large-scale crackdown on nobles and local criminal forces would have become a hot topic in other human settlements. Nobles would condemn it, small and medium forces would reject it, and major powers would consider how to emulate it. But at this moment, few people jumped up to steer the conversation, because the situation across the world was now extremely complex.
Due to the Northern Empire's large-scale construction of mana factories, the Eastern Plains immediately began to follow suit—as a gathering place for mages, the Eastern Plains had always been number one in technological prowess. Even the Northern Empire's mana factories had invited high-ranking mages from the Sky-Piercing White Tower to collaborate on the design. Now, seeing the leap in productivity brought by the widespread adoption of mana factories, both the Sky-Piercing White Tower and other mage organizations could no longer hold back. In the past few months, small and large mana factories had been built. With the Northern Empire as a precedent, they avoided taking detours.
But soon, the side effects of mana factories also appeared… In cities without Ultimate-rank experts, no one could promptly handle the air pollution caused by the factories. Magic crystal dust was inhaled by ordinary people, accumulating over time to cause terrible visceral fibrosis, or even crystallization. Land permeated with special mana also struggled to grow normal crops. Even if crops did grow, they were mostly colorful and obviously inedible.
The Empire's factories, such as those in the Northern Lands, were either built near cities with Ultimate-rank or even Legendary-rank experts, or in desolate snowy mountains and ice fields, where pollution wouldn't affect ordinary people. The Empire's largest industrial base cluster was even located on the uninhabited Eastern Barter Plateau. In this regard, the Eastern Plains, being a vast flatland, lacked sufficiently desolate areas for centralized construction. Their complex and tangled organizational relationships also prevented them from cooperating. So, led by the Sky-Piercing White Tower, the mage organizations temporarily shut down most factories and were urgently researching ways to reduce emissions.
The Eastern Plains were struggling with factory pollution, while the Western Mountain Kingdoms were now exploring the Abyss—three years had passed, and the war between the underground Bedrock Dwarves and the Dark Elves was gradually ending. The Bedrock Dwarves had successfully gained independence, occupying a corner of the underground cavity. The Dark Elves, having lost their lower-level workforce, fell into some chaos. The vast Dark Elf kingdom might split into several smaller states. But regardless of which side, both had established contact with the surface nations. The first explorer of the underground world, "Grand Duke Roman," was now cooperating with the Bedrock Dwarves. The two sides had signed a broad cooperation agreement. The ambitious grand duke, having obtained vast wealth from the underground world, was eager to crown himself.
Additionally, the Western Mountain Dwarf homeland and the Eternal Lake of the Far South Elves had each dispatched delegations led by three Ultimate-rank experts to the underground world. As kin, they wanted to reconnect with these long-lost brethren as soon as possible. Since the Dark Elves and Bedrock Dwarves were in a post-war weakened state, they naturally welcomed all goodwill. Both sides reached a consensus: the Bedrock Dwarves and Dark Elves, as branches of the two races, were incorporated into the larger family tree. In return, the Bedrock Dwarves received the "Divine Hammer Gandarlan," personally forged by the Dwarf God-Smith. Though called a hammer, it was actually a large industrial machine tool that could lay a solid foundation for the Bedrock Dwarves' construction.
The Dark Elves also received the "Wood of No Light," specially created by the Nature Mentor. This was a special Mother Tree of Life that could grow using the Dark Elves' fluorescent pools. In return, both the Elves and Dwarves obtained a portion of lost ancient heritage, along with various special underground creations, enriching their databases considerably.
In the Far South, the Far South Kingdom had finally stabilized. Though its territory and actual control area had shrunk by more than half, the royal family still existed. The old king abdicated, and a new king ascended. As the new ruler, the new king began attempting strategic cooperation with the merchant alliance, exploring and developing the Black Forest and distant seas. The cooperation was now in full swing.
As for the Church of the Seven Gods, it remained quite silent. Apart from sending another squad of paladins across the continent to eliminate rampaging monsters, there was no other action. But the Church of the Seven Gods had always been aloof from worldly affairs, so no one found it strange.
For commoners, things were indeed like this: the world was getting better. Though there were occasional abrupt and dangerous changes, they were not unadaptable. Whether it was mana factories, institutional changes, or the emergence of the underground world, these things couldn't immediately change their daily habits. But in a decade or so, they would gradually realize that these seemingly insignificant things were transforming the entire world.
For Transcendent beings with some strength, their perception was much more pronounced.
The entire world was on high alert.
This was the most intuitive feeling—whether in the Empire, the Eastern Plains, the Western Mountains, or the Far South, all major powers were making tense wartime preparations. Mid-rank mages of the Sky-Piercing White Tower thought they might be going to war with the Fishmen, while imperial ministers had repeatedly asked His Majesty the Emperor if he planned to fight back to the Western Mountains, after all, the origin of the Diamond family was there. Among the Elves, Dwarves, and other major races, there were also murmurs of confusion. They had no enemies. The last time such a high alert was declared was four or five years ago during the Dragon Calamity.
"Your Holiness… you have summoned us, the High Priests of the Seven Gods, back to the Holy Mountain. What exactly do you intend?"
Far South, Far Sea, Eda Grey Island, the Seven Sacred Mountains… But then, he shrugged nonchalantly: "In short, major powers around the world have made corresponding preparations. The Elves have settled their internal conflicts, and the Seven Sacred Mountains are planning a major project to prepare for war. Our core point is to ensure that the gods complete the seal within these ten days without interference."
"Or rather…"
At this point, Joshua snorted. He looked at the sky and said calmly: "How to crush these ill-intentioned fellows within these ten days."