The Chaos Federation had completely seized control of Kregi City. Under the command of the Dark Dragon King, nine true dragons, five thousand super soldiers, and an additional thirty thousand ground forces had successfully taken over this baronial city with nearly a million inhabitants.
The entire baronial lineage had been wiped out. A figure from a prominent but distant branch of the Kregi family assumed the role of the new lord, leading the remnants of the Kregi family to pledge allegiance to the Demon King. The former lord was killed, and the new lord surrendered. The entire baronial family had betrayed the empire. Faced with the ruthless and brutal methods of the Dark Dragon King, what choice did the residents of Kregi City have left? Resisting to the end would inevitably result in the entire city being reduced to ashes. Therefore, the citizens quickly pledged their allegiance to the Demon King.
Among these surrendered citizens was a renowned merchant named Old York. Old York was a well-known businessman in the Kregi region. The trading guild he founded was one of the largest in the area, primarily engaged in the trade of salt, iron, and medicinal herbs.
In fact, when the news of the great battle in Kolo arrived and the disastrous defeat of the empire's army was confirmed, many well-informed major trading guilds and prominent merchants hurriedly packed their valuables and fled, even abandoning significant assets without hesitation.
Old York had the opportunity and time to escape as well. However, he chose not to. Pushing eighty years old, he had risen from the status of a peasant boy to become a tycoon worth nearly a hundred million. He had spent his entire life in the Kregi region. Now in his old age, he was tired of the hustle and bustle. He owned high-quality salt mines, iron mines, and plantations that could not be moved. Instead of fleeing, he decided to voluntarily offer them to the Demon King.
He had done some research. The Demon King in the Kolo region did noy employ a scorched earth strategy of pillaging, plundering, and burning everything to the ground. Instead, he stabilized the cities, provided supplies, and repaired the urban areas. This indicated that this Demon King was not only far-sighted but also ambitious.
The main city of Kregi was the central hub in the southern borderlands of the Thunder Empire. If the Demon King had ambitions for a grand conquest, he would not wipe out the people here, let alone turn this place into a wasteland. So staying put seemed to be the safe choice. And as it turned out, he was right.
What Old York had not anticipated was that after the Demon King breached the city, he merely looted the official wealth and resources, eliminating suspicious groups related to the Hero Guild and slave traders. Ordinary merchants and common folk, surprisingly, faced no looting. Old York's salt and iron mines, as well as his plantations, still belonged to him after a simple registration and verification process. He could continue his business without interruption. On the other hand, the fleeing merchant guilds had their immovable properties such as houses, shops, mines, and fields confiscated.
Old York was deeply shocked. As the capital city of Kregi, the people and merchants here were quite affluent. A casual raid by the Demon King or forcing the citizens to surrender their wealth in exchange for their lives would have yielded hundreds of millions in universal gold coins, not a trifling sum. As the victor, as the conqueror, such actions would have been entirely expected. The fact that the Demon King refrained from these actions could only mean one thing: he had grander ambitions. This Demon King's scope of goal was even larger than Old York had imagined.
Next, something even more unbelievable happened. Just as the Demon King officially accepted the surrender of the humans, an immense power enveloped the entire city, including Old York. He could feel his aged body rejuvenate, as if he had regained the vitality of his youth. This power... was divine magic! It was the divine magic bestowed by the Goddess of Nature and the Goddess of War! Old York realized that the Demon King was far from simple. Otherwise, how could both his territory and his people receive blessings from two goddesses simultaneously?
However, at that moment, his granddaughter, Daphne, came running back. "Grandpa, it's amazing! The Demon King has summoned a magical tower that can grant anyone magical abilities and magical knowledge!"
"That's impossible!" Old York clearly did not believe it. "Only one in a hundred individuals have the magical talent, and magic training is incredibly difficult. Even the Demon King can't easily bestow such powers!"
Speaking of which, Old York had been quite successful in life, transforming from a peasant's son into a wealthy merchant. Yet, he always had a lingering regret. Despite his financial success, he could not change his inherently humble lineage and poor magical aptitude. He deeply admired magicians and had spent vast sums trying various methods, such as using potions to enhance talents or experimenting with unique training techniques. Unfortunately, all his efforts had been in vain. His aptitude was simply too poor. Neither he nor his children or grandchildren possessed magical talent. It was undoubtedly York's biggest regret.
Now, in the twilight of his life, he had long given up hope of ever becoming a magician. What he desired most was to find highly talented mages or warriors for his third generation to marry, preventing his descendants from continuing this tragic legacy. Yet, his granddaughter ran up to him, claiming that the Demon King had created a magical tower that could instantly bestow magical abilities and knowledge. This seemed utterly impossible, like a fantasy from a different world!
Old York spoke with deep concern, "It's precisely because I've tried it myself that I understand better than anyone. Turning someone without any aptitude into a noble magician is no less difficult than turning a piece of dung in a pit into gold."
"Daphne, I know you, like me back then, feel discontented about not being able to practice magic. But this is the harsh reality. There are methods in this world to completely reverse and improve one's physique, but even with our family's abilities, those methods are incredibly hard to obtain. You need to learn to accept reality!"
Before Old York could finish speaking, Daphne interrupted, "Grandpa, it's true. I've already tried it!" Daphne chanted a spell proficiently, and a ball of magical flames instantly ignited in her palm.
Old York was utterly stunned. "This... this... this..."
His dream of becoming a magician for decades had miraculously come true through his granddaughter? He found it hard to believe. "Is this really magic you're casting?"
"Of course! And that's not all," Daphne said. "I can also cast Wind Blade, Earth Spikes, and Rock Hurl now!" She demonstrated several more spells, her techniques incredibly skilled. She did not even seem like a newcomer to magic but rather a seasoned veteran.
It appeared Daphne had not only gained magical abilities but also experience and skills!
Now, Old York had no choice but to believe. Excitedly, he asked, "It's unbelievable. How did the Demon King do this? What kind of price does it require? Is it the soul or life?"
Clearly, this kind of power could not just come out of thin air. Even if it required sacrificing the soul or a portion of one's life, as long as it was not too much, it would be worth it!
Daphne: "Not the soul! Not even life! Just money will do!" She explained, "This Level 1 mage advancement cost me 1,500 standard gold coins. The more money you spend, the stronger the power you can be endowed with."
1,500 of the standard currency?
While it might sound like a lot, it was not as much as one might think. In this world where copper and silver were not used as currency, gold was the only universal currency. 1,500 standard gold coins were not a fortune. An ordinary imperial family could save up that amount in five years by living frugally.
What could this amount of money do? Perhaps it would not even cover the price of a slightly better-quality potion!
Old York immediately rushed to the scene with his eight sons, five daughters, and dozens of grandchildren in a specially arranged carriage. At this moment, a crowd had gathered in the city square. A tower imbued with magical and mystical energy stood tall among them.
Daphne pointed to the tower and said, "Grandpa, this is it. As long as you pay, anyone can use it, anyone can become an outstanding mage. This is a gift from the Demon King to us!"
This tower was no ordinary tower; it was the newly constructed Level 5 Mage Job Advancement Tower. It was restricted for human use only, available to anyone over the age of fifteen who could afford the fee. Calculated in Demon King gold, the conversion fees were as follows:
- Level 1 Elite Mage: Job advancement fee of 50 gold. Charge of 150 standard gold coins!
- Level 2 Elite Mage: Job advancement fee of 500 gold. Charge of 2,000 standard gold coins!
- Level 3 Elite Mage: Job advancement fee of 2,500 gold. Charge of 10,000 standard gold coins!
- Level 4 Elite Mage: Job advancement fee of 8,000 gold. Charge of 50,000 standard gold coins!
- Level 5 Elite Mage: Job advancement fee of 20,000 gold. Charge of 200,000 standard gold coins!
Seeing the prices and the actual results, Old York was so excited that he almost fainted. Even for the highest tier, a Level 5 Elite Mage, one would only need 2 million standard gold coins. While this was undoubtedly an astronomical sum for an average person, for Old York, it was manageable. He was willing to do whatever it took, even if it meant selling the last bit of their belongings. Not just for himself, but for Daphne and future generations. What exceptional value!
Meanwhile, Old York had also realized just how miraculous the Demon King's methods were. Similar methods did exist in the world, such as specific legacies, special baptisms, and church miracles, all of which could grant extraordinary powers to ordinary people. However, the cost was usually astronomical, making it a distant dream for commoners like Old York.
Now, the Demon King was offering such an opportunity at an unbelievably low price. Even for an average family, saving for five or eight years could add a Level 1 mage to their household. Having a mage made earning money much easier. With more savings, they could further transform into Level 2 mages at the Advancement Tower. These human mages who transformed at the tower would be deeply bound to the Demon King because their power came from him. If the Demon King vanished, so would their powers. For individuals like Old York, losing this power was more painful than death. Therefore, they would fight to maintain the Demon King's interests and defend the Chaos Federation's territories.
This Mage Job Advancement Tower served multiple purposes. Firstly, it increased the number of human mages, significantly boosting the strength of human territories. Secondly, it allowed the Demon King to amass wealth rapidly and exploit the riches of the human world in a reliable manner. These individuals willingly gave their money to the Demon King and felt gratitude toward him. Thirdly, it deepened the foundation of his rule and support. The tower could even be opened to humans in other regions, creating a network of mages who had transformed. They would undoubtedly stand by the Demon King, becoming guides for his future army.
In essence, this tower accomplished three goals with one stroke. It not only bolstered the strength of human mages but also ensured a steady flow of wealth into the Demon King's coffers. Furthermore, it solidified his support base, potentially paving the way for the Advancement Tower to open up to other regions, creating a loyal cadre of mages who would support the Demon King's cause.
The Mage Job Advancement Tower, just finished being constructed for a day, had already become the talk of the town. People lined up in front of the tower, eager to experience the transformation process. The Great Demon King was present at the scene, disguised in a cloak; no one could recognize him. Watching the bustling activity, he felt extremely satisfied and pleased.
After a rough calculation, within less than a day, the net profit in Demon King gold was 12.4 million! Judging by this trend, the popularity showed no signs of waning. It was bound to remain in high demand for the foreseeable future.
Job Advancement Tower? It was more like a Money-Making Tower! Forget about forceful pillaging; that was too crude. The Great Demon King was now not only consolidating the wealth and gold of the human world through legal means but also strengthening his rule in the new territories, winning the hearts of the people, and enhancing his power.
This was perfect. The potential market for job advancement was enormous! With a controlled population of six to seven million, the majority of humans, about eighty to ninety percent, were mediocre. They were all potential customers! They would work tirelessly to earn money for the Demon King in their quest for power. What was this called? This was the equivalent of sheep willingly walking into the slaughterhouse, willingly offering themselves to be harvested! And afterwards, they would protect the Demon King and defend the Chaos Federation!
Aside from the Advancement Tower, Zhang Nu possessed a plethora of other blueprints. Most of them were intended for human territories. Apart from several magical defense towers, there were also several functional buildings. While they might not surpass the Advancement Tower, each had its own purpose. Zhang Nu believed they were capable of significant value and impact. They could further solidify the federation's control over human cities, ensuring complete submission from the region's population, numbering in the tens of millions!"