"Other regions, huh?"
Ren murmured, looking at the mortal world map nearby: "Gray Fort Empire? Teylir Emirates? Elf Kingdom? Dragon Island? Too bad the Goddess won't let us touch the Tulip Kingdom, otherwise we wouldn't need to worry about choices."
The Tulip Kingdom, known as the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Towers, the human nation with the most magicians. Legend said this country had a full 28 legendary magicians, countless high-level magicians, and mid-level magicians everywhere.
No doubt, this would be the perfect place to expand the Magic Net.
"No choice there. The Tulip Kingdom involves a very old deity. Not just the Goddess—pretty much all gods avoid that territory. Though it might also be because the Tulip Kingdom's just a small island off by itself, and no one wants to fight a god over so few believers..."
"You already told me that." Ren took a deep breath: "Then let's go with Gray Fort Empire and the Elf Kingdom. Dragon Island doesn't have our fanatics, the Teylir Emirates are too scattered for convenient expansion, and other small nations just don't have enough population... I just wonder if those elves with their 3,000-year lifespans will be interested in our Magic Net. They're supposedly a race that doesn't like change."
Gray Fort Empire bordered the Kingdom of Dawn and was the strongest human nation.
They even had organized magical legions.
The massive Gray Fort magical legions alone guaranteed Magic Net Rings would spread quickly.
By comparison, the elves were real wildcards... Long-lived, conservative, rigid, didn't like change.
The Magic Net's appearance might trigger strong resistance from them.
"Elves? Maybe the Magic Net's appearance will create some ripples in their never-changing world. They're just so bored—bored enough to talk to trees..."
"That's because they've mastered natural magic."
The book barely started speaking before returning Betty cut him off: "Seriously, Ren, you've shocked me again. Just like you said, the Kingdom of Dawn's ministers have been watching Heddy's little shop the whole time. Soon as magic bombs launched, they bought up a huge batch."
"Now the Kingdom of Dawn's two legendary magicians have led teams to start research. Won't be long before they understand the magic bomb principles, and your goal of spreading them will be achieved!"
Just as Ren was about to speak, Betty's voice came again: "But you got one thing wrong—the Kingdom of Dawn's king wasn't involved at all. The Hand of the King did it. Looks like... anyway, you were wrong!"
"Huh? The king wasn't involved? Maybe we just didn't catch it."
Ren couldn't help frowning.
Based on his memories of the Kingdom of Dawn's leadership, the king definitely should've appeared, but combined with the Magic Net discussions among magicians, it seemed the king really had vanished...
He'd once asked the Goddess of Magic about the specifics of his sacrifice, but never got an answer.
She just said the events back then involved many deities, not something mortals—even mortals who'd become holy spirits—could handle.
Learning the truth would very likely result in rule contamination.
But how could a mere mortal get mixed up with multiple deities?
Or maybe he was just a convenient tool?
And his father the king—what role did he play in all this? Why did he never appear again after that day?
Ren's thoughts spiraled, his expression growing serious.
"What're you thinking about? Why'd you suddenly look so serious? Even if the king didn't personally direct things, the Hand of the King's basically the same, right?"
Betty's voice snapped Ren back to reality.
"Nothing, just thinking about some other stuff." Ren shook his head, pushing the random thoughts away. After becoming a god, he'd have plenty of time to research these things—might even get answers directly from the Goddess of Magic.
"Since we've confirmed people will research magic bombs, we don't need to worry about that anymore. Now let's figure out how to spread Magic Net Rings to Gray Fort Empire! Gray Fort's way more valuable than Dawn!"
Gray Fort Empire's capital.
Countless buildings surrounded a gray, towering fortress standing atop the central mountain.
This was the empire's heart.
Though it was just a new palace built over a hundred years ago, it gave off a deep, steady feeling—like it had stood there for millennia!
A magician in black robes, refined bearing, looking about thirty with wise eyes, carried a book as he entered a magnificent palace.
Soon as he stepped inside, he focused on someone hiding in shadows nearby.
Confirming no threat, he spoke: "Your Majesty, I've come at your summons."
"Sit, Grand Magician Andrew." The Gray Fort Emperor nodded slightly. "As you can see, my shadow out there collected some information about the Dawn people and... the Goddess of Magic."
The moment Andrew heard "Goddess of Magic," his expression clearly changed.
Seeing this, the Gray Fort Emperor thought, "As expected, choosing him was the right call. Though he left the Royal Mage Society, it doesn't change that he's a believer of the Goddess of Magic, and a very young legendary at that—most likely to communicate with the Goddess of Magic! Even if he only converted to avoid an arranged marriage."
Thinking this, the Gray Fort Emperor waved his hand. The shadow seemed to get the signal, instantly appearing beside Andrew and handing over a ring.
"This is a magical device that's become popular in the Kingdom of Dawn recently, called a Magic Net Ring..."
A hoarse voice emerged from the shadow, quickly explaining everything they'd gathered about Magic Net Rings and the Magic Internet.
A divine gift from the Goddess of Magic?
Pray to the Goddess to send messages?
After brief conversation, Andrew understood why the Gray Fort Emperor had invited him here...
"Grand Magician Andrew, you're a convert of the Goddess of Magic. I believe you should easily determine whether this really is a divine gift from the Goddess of Magic. Now, it's yours."
"I am a convert of the Goddess of Magic, but I don't know who the God of Technology is, so I can't guarantee I'll sense anything."
After stating his disclaimer, Andrew took the ring without hesitation and began praying.
As a believer of the Goddess of Magic, this held no pressure whatsoever.
But after one round of prayer, the ring showed no reaction at all.
This made the Gray Fort Emperor frown, his gaze turning toward the shadow.
The moment he looked away, he caught Andrew's expression changing dramatically out of the corner of his eye. At the same time, a mysterious aura enveloped him!
A deity was responding to his prayer!
The God of Magic? Or the God of Technology?!