Chapter 141: The Speech

Chapter 141: The Speech

Clairement’s pointed remark drew a flicker of admiration in Yu Sheng'an’s eyes.

“She will agree.”

Yu Sheng'an’s tone was calm, yet brimming with confidence.

Ever since he had offered Source Essence as an incentive to win people over, the results had been astonishingly effective.

Through the Contract Godhood, he could clearly see a surge in user numbers within the Kaman Union.

Even in the Bayer Empire and the Edith Empire, user counts were rising noticeably.

Upon closer inspection, it became evident that these users appeared in clusters.

Clearly, someone was systematically spreading—or controlling—them.

In reality, once these users logged into [Conquest], almost all of them banded together to join a particular mercenary group, charging into beastmen tribes and slaughtering wildly for merit points.

This surge of users brought Yu Sheng'an a steady stream of Source Essence.

And what he paid out was merely a fraction of that essence.

Truly, business models determined competitiveness!

Just a little sweetness was enough to make powerful figures willingly work for him. Could there be a better model than this?

With so many turncoats within other nations, was the spread of the internet even a problem anymore?

Yu Sheng'an would bet that it wouldn’t be long before this matter reached a semi-public state in those countries.

The privileged who had tasted the benefits would surely organize even more people to participate.

Once participation grew, secrecy would inevitably collapse.

By then, Yu Sheng'an would love to see how those gods would react.

Would they resort to bloody suppression?

Or would they offer Source Essence as compensation?

If it were the former, Yu Sheng'an could conveniently wage war under the pretense of “protecting Believers,” striking from within and without.

If it were the latter, he refused to believe that the old gods, who forced their followers into rituals and prayers, could match his business model—where users willingly offered up their Source Essence.

Once their expenditures outpaced their income, those old gods would inevitably collapse.

Under such circumstances, trading “no proselytizing” for the establishment of Interconnected Bank branches—or even the right to spread Internet Divine Technique—would be effortless!

Yu Sheng'an looked forward to that day.

Clairement, observing Yu Sheng'an’s composed demeanor, felt her heart surge with emotion. She pressed a hand to her chest and bowed.

“Clairement is willing to dedicate everything to the Internet God!”

Yu Sheng'an nodded. “Then the preparations for this matter will be left to you! Especially in staffing—prioritize recruiting people from the Kaman Union as bank clerks. It’ll ease their resistance. For other specifics, draft a plan and present it to me.”

He couldn’t be bothered to write the proposal himself!

After all, he now had a capable team. What was the point of keeping them idle?

Once Clairement submitted her plan, he’d review it and fill in any gaps.

“Understood!”

Clairement responded firmly, her face alight with enthusiasm.

After discussing a few more matters, Yu Sheng'an gestured for tea, signaling the end of their meeting.

As Clairement took her leave, she couldn’t resist asking, “Lord Ajef, I heard you’ll be delivering a speech at the Felix Magic Academy’s opening ceremony. Is that true?”

Yu Sheng'an nodded. “Yes.”

Clairement’s joy only grew. “Wonderful! To hear your teachings once again—it would be my greatest honor!”

Yu Sheng'an smiled and said, "Then don't cover your eyes when the time comes."

"Huh?"

Clairement froze in surprise.

……

And it wasn’t just Clairement who was looking forward to Yu Sheng'an’s speech.

In fact, nearly all the magic apprentices and freshmen of the Felix Magic Academy were eagerly anticipating this address!

Especially for Xi Ze—on the night before the opening ceremony, he couldn’t sleep at all!

He didn’t even bother logging into [Conquest], just lying foolishly in his dorm at Felix, his mind racing with wild thoughts.

Unlike the privileged magic apprentices of previous years who enjoyed private dormitories, this year’s expanded enrollment left the academy short on space.

With a wave of the dean’s hand, the welfare of magic apprentices was halved.

Private dorms became shared quarters—four to a room!

Of course, those with money could choose to live off-campus.

Xi Ze, obviously, had no such luxury and opted to stay in the academy.

When the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, he could no longer contain his excitement. Manipulating the high-level magic earth puppet that Archmage Parker had "loaned" him, he transformed it into flowing sand, encasing his body like an exoskeleton.

With the support of the magic puppet, he rose from his bed like an ordinary person and began preparing for the day.

"Hmm? Up so early?"

A roommate from the neighboring bed stirred at the noise, blinking groggily.

Before Xi Ze could answer, another roommate across the room bolted upright.

"Is today the opening ceremony?"

"Yeah, did you forget?"

"Damn! What time is it? Hurry, hurry—we need to grab a good spot!"

With that exclamation, the roommate scrambled out of bed in a frenzy.

His outburst set the entire dormitory abuzz.

By the time they stepped outside, the entire dormitory district was already alive with commotion.

Countless magic apprentices surged toward Felix Brilliance Square like a tidal wave.

After all, Ajef was currently the only living legendary mage in the Keville Empire to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

But compared to his groundbreaking confirmation that "Thunder Magic can be converted into Light Magic," it was his legendary exploits that truly cemented his status as an idol for countless magic apprentices!

Let it be known—he was the only battle-hardened mage who, during the assault of the Five Evil Gods, followed the Internet God, summoning an endless demonic army to besiege Sparda and returned victorious.

That single battle alone was enough to crown him a legend!

And that’s not even mentioning his mastery of Wood Spirit Magic!

Or the formidable productive forces displayed by the Dragon Factory!

No wonder he became the Internet God’s spokesperson—only a mage of such unparalleled strength could be worthy of following the Internet God!

By the time Xi Ze arrived at Felix Brilliance Square, the area was already lined with tiered circular steps.

—A makeshift grandstand, conjured overnight by Earth Magic practitioners.

The frontmost rings were cordoned off by guards, reserved for the empire’s nobility.

The rows immediately behind were quickly claimed by early-arriving magic apprentices.

Xi Ze was still relatively early, securing a spot in the middle section.

Those who came later weren’t so lucky—forced to squeeze into the back.

The scene was chaotic beyond measure!

Shouts, calls, arguments, and excited chatter created a deafening roar.

The early spring breeze was warm and gentle.

Bathed in the spring breeze, Xi Ze gazed at the vibrant scene around him, still feeling as though he were living in a dream—unreal and illusory.

He, a paralyzed boy destined to rot in the countryside, who might have perished after his parents' death, now sat in the stands of the Empire's finest Magic Academy. Could anything be more surreal?

He didn’t know why Lord Ajef had shown him such special kindness.

Was it because he had noticed him during the Sparda Battle?

But no matter the reason, he was deeply grateful to Lord Ajef.

He longed to thank him in person.

Time crept by in anticipation.

The morning sun rose.

The Empire's nobility took their seats one by one.

Dean Dandell stepped onto the stage and declared the opening ceremony begun.

Xi Ze’s heart hung suspended until the moment Lord Ajef, announced by Dandell, stepped onto the podium. Only then did it slowly settle amidst the thunderous cheers—only to surge with even greater excitement.