Mage Adam-Chapter 400

The division into one hundred regions was only the roughest of categorizations. The Academy Continent covered more than one billion square kilometers, with an ordinary population exceeding forty billion. Both figures were far too vast—merely a hundred regions could never allow for effective governance.

“I simply want to let those hiding in the shadows know—the Council has arrived.” Facing the questioning gazes of Aisha and the other high-ranking figures, Adam gave this explanation.

Character shapes one’s way of acting. Adam’s temperament made it impossible for him to indulge in empty courtesies, or to advance step by step, conquering one city or province at a time.

He believed the Council and the Archmages of True Spirit would not wish to see him carry out his mission in such a fashion. That would not only be slow and inefficient, but would also cheapen the Council’s prestige, signaling weakness and compromise.

Adam needed to be uncompromising. Just as Wendy had said, he had to be ready to stand as a solitary ruler.

Still, this was only in one sense—becoming such a figure was an inevitable choice as power and status grew. Fence-sitters were always despised; once conflict sharpened, they would be the first target for elimination from both sides.

Aisha spoke: “Actually, those members of the free factions still have no idea how exactly the Council intends to lay out its plans on the Academy Continent. All they know is that the Council has decided to spread the training of mages, but the concrete details—especially the points you mentioned to Lord Croft—remain unknown to them.”

Adam nodded. That was a favorable condition. Using this gap in time, he could establish the initial framework—laying down a firm foundation and rules.

Once the foundation was in place, their schemes would have to be carried out within Adam’s rules. Otherwise, they would be openly resisting the Council. Of course, this would also mean that in the future, they would be more likely to resort to underhanded methods.

Guardian Avril reassured him: “Don’t worry. Among the four of us, at least two will remain by your side at all times. Under the protection of two Guardians, no mage exists within the Super Dimensional rank capable of killing you instantly.”

In other words, if a True Spirit intervened, they could do nothing—but Adam wasn’t overly concerned. Unless the free faction was ready for an all-out break, they would not go that far.

Adam asked a resident mage of the Academy Continent: “How did you calculate the population?”

The mage respectfully answered: “My lord, we had no better method. We only estimated the average number of people within a unit of land, then extrapolated across the total area.”

“Too crude.”

In the plan to spread education, precise population numbers were crucial. In fact, all data related to population was important—male, female, single, married, every age bracket—all had to be summarized in detail.

Adam understood the mages’ difficulty. After thinking, he asked: “Which regions of the Academy Continent are under the Council’s direct control?”

He decided to bring the first-generation communicator—a product already long obsolete—into the Academy Continent. He aimed for one per person, networked together, recording every individual’s information, serving as both registry and identification.

With several generations of technological progress, the first-generation communicator’s production cost had been driven to the minimum. One factory, with two or three full production lines, could produce hundreds of thousands of low-end units daily—devices with only communication and recording functions. The cost of a thousand units wasn’t even one low-grade energy stone. Such costs posed no burden for the Council.

After the mages marked out the controlled areas, Adam said to his people: “Draft an application and budget. I want to spread identification across the Academy Continent in the shortest time. I’ll need funding from the Council and the assistance of the Seventh Holy Tower.”

Then he asked: “Do you have statistics on the distribution of magical beasts across the continent?”

“Find them. Drive them into designated habitats. In these early stages, development requires the direct labor of countless ordinary people. I don’t want to see the work delayed because of magical beasts.”

The mages nodded.

The initial projects would be roads and new cities. These would be built by the hands of ordinary people themselves—making it easier for them to develop a sense of belonging, easing the fear of a new environment, and reducing the growing internal tensions. ɽа₦Ǒ𝔟Ê𝓢

After a series of daily directives, Adam pointed to the very center of the map: “Here, establish a City of the Academy. In the future, it will be the heart of the Academy Continent. Model it after the cities of the Holy Towers.”

As expected, the free factions and the great financial groups were utterly confounded by Adam’s baffling moves.

They had thought that after taking office as Deputy Minister, Adam’s first concern would be the ongoing wars. Once Adam became entangled in such matters, unless he slaughtered every last ordinary person among the supported forces, he would inevitably have to negotiate with the financiers. At that point, they could naturally press for terms favorable to themselves—cutting a large slice of the great cake of the Academy Continent, which for now yielded no immediate profits, but was crucial for future expansion.

Yet all they saw were the Guardians and Holy Tower mages strolling past them leisurely, passing over every great battlefield without interference. Even when they discovered free mages hidden in the shadows, they showed no intention of questioning them.

Where there’s abnormality, there’s something amiss. Mages lacked the phrase, but the meaning was the same.

This bizarre behavior unsettled them. Some still clung to their own approach, while others began seeking opportunities, searching for connections, trying to get close to the Deputy Minister who had risen like a comet.

Two months later, in the center of the City of the Academy, in a towering, snow-white spire that seemed to pierce the heavens, Adam met his first guests since taking office.

Mage Victor—and William.

“Adam…” William, upon smoothly meeting Adam, felt countless words stuck in his throat, unsaid. Once comrades, they now walked utterly different paths—in strength, in entourage, in destiny.

“Now I should address you as Lord Adam. It is an honor to see you.”

Adam gestured toward the seat, indicating for him to sit. “Sit. Just call me Adam.”

This acquaintance from his apprentice days was now a Second-Rank Mage. Not fast, not slow—but utterly incomparable to Adam.

Indeed, if not for the faction he represented, and for having once known Adam, he wouldn’t even have the qualifications to meet him.

Adam’s relationship with him had never been especially close. There was no small talk to be had. Adam asked bluntly: “Speak. What brings you here? Which consortium, which faction do you represent?”

William lowered his head, silent for a long time. He knew Adam was still Adam, yet he himself was no longer the one from the laboratory. He wanted better prospects—for himself, his family, his survival.

“I represent the Duncan Consortium of the Third Holy Tower. I’ve come to learn what you truly intend to do on the Academy Continent.”

The author’s note:

Not feeling well today, so I won’t work overtime—consider it a day off. I even sneak in rest on legal holidays. Regarding this section, I feel it’s necessary to write it, though some readers may dislike it. Unlike the Qianyuan Realm arc, this part can’t be skipped. A thousand readers have a thousand Hamlets; my book can’t compare to Hamlet, of course, but the principle’s the same~~~ Above all, the real reason is if I revise the outline again, it’ll collapse entirely. So please, dear readers, don’t drop the book here~~~ I’ll make use of Divine Summoning again~~~