Mage Manual

Chapter 1633 - 1200: The Visitors Bear No Goodwill

Overall, Hanna is quite satisfied with this young witch. When she held supreme power and enjoyed her blessings, countless people envied her and regarded her as an enemy, naturally, there were also many who admired her as an idol, and Hapi was among the latter.

Originally, Hapi was just an ordinary staff member who joined the Government Establishment Bureau through exams, but Hanna noticed this young girl whose eyes were filled with admiration for her. Step by step, she gave Hapi opportunities to earn merits, and Hapi never disappointed her appreciation, always completing tasks perfectly, even accurately gauging Hanna’s intentions and ’unofficially’ doing some dirty work she couldn’t handle herself. Hence, she was promoted to the thirteenth witch of the bureau, surpassing a background from a medium family and an unpopular side branch.

Naturally, Hanna considered the possibility of Hapi’s deception, but what did it matter even if she was pretending? In this world, where are there so many capable and upright people? If Hapi truly was a ruthless pretender, bending over backward to please and approach Hanna, it would mean she placed her fate in Hanna’s hands, so why would Hanna be uneasy?

As long as she was comfortable and efficient to use, she would be a good subordinate. Moreover, Hanna was preparing to target the financial consortium, currently needing a sharp blade devoid of empathy, and Hapi, who obediently followed her orders unconditionally as a ’claw’, was far more practical than anything else.

Hanna specifically let Hapi see the evidence against the City of Citi family to test her capacity as a blade, and the result left Hanna very satisfied. Although Hapi always had a distant relationship with her father, after becoming the thirteenth witch, her father repeatedly tried to fix their relationship, trying to bring her back into the family’s embrace.

Hapi took on the task of punishing her family without hesitation, representing that she had no intention of returning to the family, focusing wholeheartedly on placing her life and future entirely on the Government Establishment Bureau of Witches. This was the blade Hanna needed, one still sheathed but could slice through the stubbornness of the Gospel.

"Chief Witch."

"Chief."

Hanna arrived at the banquet hall, where everyone nodded and greeted her as she passed. This was a buffet-style banquet where guests moved freely, not a formal visiting occasion, but Blood Moon’s envoys couldn’t formally visit either. As the first state exchange between the two countries, only the Empress had the qualification to receive them, but now the Empress, for some unspeakable reasons, was unable to appear, so the meeting of the two countries’ high-level personnel was changed to this type of informal format.

She immediately noticed the three Blood Moonians in the center of the hall, two men and one woman, among them a petite young man dragging a large snow-white tail was obviously from the Moon Shadow Clan, while the ape-armed, narrow-waisted Beastman youth and aloof Elf woman both had blood-colored eyes, nothing could better highlight their Blood Saint Clan identity.

"Chief, please allow me to introduce you."

Hanna’s mother, the second witch of the bureau, Qinna said, "This is Merda, deputy director of the Sin of Blood and diplomatic ambassador, business counselor Dou and bishop Hilfan of the Supreme Church."

"Hello, chief witch!" The Werewolf youth waved vigorously, saying crisply, "I’m Hilfan, just call me Hil!"

Elf Merda and Beastman Dou nodded slightly, among them Merda had a distant expression warning off strangers, while Dou forcibly squeezed out a terrifying smile. Hanna wasn’t surprised; after all, the past thousand years had seen no diplomatic affairs across countries, and now everyone was hurriedly thrown into the role, whereas the true core institutions of the Kingdom of Blood Moon were the research institute and church. The Sin of Blood institute was one of the four major institutes, and the Deputy Director’s role as envoy wasn’t because of her strong diplomatic skills, but because she had the most qualification for temporary decision-making.

"Welcome to the Gospel, I am the chief witch Hanna Doran." Hanna looked at them and raised her eyebrows, "I hope you find the Gospel captivating."

"Certainly, the Gospel is a very fascinating kingdom." Dou said hoarsely, "We also warmly welcome the chief witch to visit the Kingdom of Blood Moon."

"I will definitely visit; I have several friends from the Kingdom of Blood Moon, and I’ve always been curious about what kind of soil can cultivate such splendid souls."

"The friends you’re speaking of." Merda suddenly asked, "Are you referring to Ash Heath?"

The hall instantly fell silent, as if the temperature dropped a few degrees. Since the union of five countries, this name had become taboo under everyone’s mutual agreement; no one discussed the earthly legend who topped the weaving festival a year ago.

"...Not only him." Hanna said with implication, "Why, is he also a friend of yours? It seems you care quite a bit about him."

Merda said to herself, "Half a month ago, the Stars issued an order, Demigod Mage Ash and his clan suffered severe injuries, cursed and bound, undoubtedly recuperating hidden within the five countries; those providing effective information will receive the Divine blessing and may even achieve Supreme protection, stepping into the Divine Domain, joining the rank of Angels."

Hanna’s expression was somewhat subtle, "I thought you’d temporarily adhere to Blood Moon beliefs..."

"To the Blood Saints, belief is a ladder upward; to the Moon Shadow, it is a rule for conduct. As long as the new belief provides a direction forward for the Blood Saints and guidance for the Moon Shadow to act virtuously, Blood Moon or Dazzling Star makes no difference to us." Merda stated, "Moreover, survival of the fittest is a natural and social principle, since the Extreme Master of Blood Moon abandoned us, why should we cling to the dimming Blood Moon?"

Among the four countries, Blood Moon is probably the quickest to accept Dazzling Star’s rule, followed by the Gospel, then Earth Abyss, with Paradise resisting the most fiercely; reportedly, there have been several incidents of mages collectively committing suicide in loyalty to the country. Although the ruling classes of Gospel and Earth Abyss aren’t as devout, they are somewhat wary that the Divine Lords might retaliate against them someday; would their quick surrender be punished? Thus, even while accepting Dazzling Star’s rule, they try to preserve remnants of the old Divine Lords.

Only Blood Moon accepts the presence of the Stars with almost no psychological burden, as if welcoming with open arms. The reason, naturally, is that Blood Moon’s mages are opportunists—not that mages from other countries aren’t greedy, but the desires of Gospel, Earth Abyss, Paradise mages usually involve family legacy, eternal glory, etc.; simply put, they have vulnerabilities.

But in the highly atomized Kingdom of Blood Moon, every Blood Moon mage stands alone, without family, offspring, or concern for the future; the entire society is shrouded in a ’live for the moment’ and ’lost in dreams’ atmosphere, yet social competition remains exceptionally fierce, selfishness almost engraved as a fundamental logic in their souls, thus even the favor-clan Blood Saint Moon Shadow has no loyalty to the Extreme Master of Blood Moon.

Every Blood Saint of the Blood Saint Clan fought their way through a single-log bridge to obtain a spot in the institute, finally becoming part of the Blood Saint Clan, naturally believing this was all their own effort. Incidentally, a subtle side effect of the Blood Saint Clan is generating lethal amounts of love. In distant history, Blood Saints often loved their family members too deeply, frequently standing against the world, willing to fight endlessly for their siblings against any power. But in contemporary times, Blood Saints have no families or kin, their lethal amount of love can only soak themselves, resulting inevitably in a narcissistic pride common among them.

The Moon Shadow Clan, however, isn’t selfish, but their natural kindness leaves them without self-interest; as long as an option benefits everyone, they’re willing to accept it. Their minds can’t contemplate the complex nature of belief wars; they only need to know the Supreme Church must honor Dazzling Star to continue operating and caring for the people, so they immediately shattered the statue of the Extreme Master of Blood Moon and welcomed the Supreme Star to lead the Church.

"I wonder if the Gospel has adhered to the decree to search nationwide," Merda said, "according to our Prophet Mage’s prediction, Ash Heath is very likely hidden in the Kingdom of Gospel now, given the Gospel’s cultural climate suits seclusion, not to mention you, chief witch, are his old friend... perhaps you’ve hidden him in the Imperial Palace now."

"Very amusing joke." Hanna squinted her eyes, "I am a member of the Dazzling Star’s noble under the Stars’ Blessing, Ash Heath is a wanted person proclaimed by the Stars to the world, why would I violate the supreme principle of ’protecting the Stars’ interests’ and shelter a fugitive?"

"I also think that’s impossible." Merda said, "But it seems you haven’t taken this decree seriously and didn’t search nationwide for traces of Ash Heath."

"The affairs of our country are busy, with other plans." Hanna said softly, "There’s no need for the envoy to fret."

Not only were her words impolite, but Hanna’s face was also distinctly darkening, her eyes chillingly intense as if ready to shatter the atmosphere with a cup at any second. The surrounding guests were silent as winter, second witch Qinna and third witch Yvalin stepped back to the sides, signaling the Royal Secret Guard to seal the hall.

"So we have a proposition." Merda’s emotional intelligence seemed so low she couldn’t understand Hanna’s expression, "Why don’t our two countries collaborate to search for Ash Heath’s traces together, striving for Dazzling Star’s reward collectively, what do you think?"

Hanna was almost amused in her fury, "In our Gospel Mages’ kingdom, what can you Blood Moonians help us with?"

"Help very, very much." Merda gently clapped her hands, "For example..."

"Three Legendary Mages are ready at any time."

In an instant, hundreds of bats stormed into the banquet hall, invisible ultrasonic fields enveloped every corner, the guests were stimulated till their blood pulsed and spirits soared. Amid the bat storm, three Blood Saints quietly arrived, unrestrainedly spreading four Void Wings, the unruly Legendary pressure overawed the entire scene!