NOVPUB
Chapter 309: 309
"Is that so?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with the weight of her power. "Because I find it strange that this boar—one imbued with magic—was felled by something that left no trace of magical interference. Only steam residue." Her eyes flashed as she emphasized the last two words.
The ratman felt a cold sweat form on his fur as the mage’s stare bore into him. His mind raced. He had to say something—anything—to divert her suspicion without giving himself away.
"I... I don’t know about any steam or magic," he replied, his voice shaking just enough to sound convincing. "I’m just a worker. All I had was this," he added, lifting the now-broken rake beside him as proof of his helplessness. "I couldn’t have done anything to that beast."
The mage stared at him for what felt like an eternity, her eyes narrowing as if she could sense there was more to the story. Then, after a tense pause, she slowly stood up.
"Perhaps you’re telling the truth," she said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. Her gaze flickered back to the ground, as if she could still feel the presence of something—or someone—below.
The mage waved her hand, gesturing for the Ratman to walk away. Watching his retreating back, she whispered to the guard captain, "Keep him under watch. I want to know where he goes and who he speaks to."
The captain, who had been smiling, adopted a cold expression as he stared at the Ratman before responding, "Understood."
Now alone, the female mage placed her green hand on the boar and smiled. "It seems those rodents have made some improvements." At the same time, a cold look appeared in her eyes. "To be able to disrupt the mana flow is a dangerous thing to possess, especially at this moment."
She released her staff, letting it float beside her as she sent a wave of light toward the boar, effortlessly lifting it. She then began walking away.
At a mage tower in the town, the female mage could be seen bowing and reporting to a mage who appeared the same age as her. It was the male goblin who had appeared after the commotion with Ikenga and Keles.
"I see," the male goblin said before ordering the female goblin, "Establish contact with the other mage towers. We need to discuss your findings."
The female goblin mage bowed deeply, her green skin gleaming in the faint light of the tower’s arcane torches. "As you command, Master Vellok," she replied, her voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of tension. She straightened and turned, her cloak billowing as she left the room.
Vellok watched her go, his sharp, goblin eyes narrowing as he leaned back in his ornate chair. His fingers drummed against the table in thought. The news was troubling—these ratpeople, once insignificant scavengers and tinkerers, had evidently developed technology capable of disrupting mana flow. That, combined with the steam residue found at the scene, indicated a dangerous escalation. If left unchecked, this could threaten not only their immediate control over the town but potentially unravel the delicate balance of power in the region.
He stood up, walking to the window of his chamber, which overlooked the sprawling city below. The citizens moved about, unaware of the subtle shift in the wind—of the undercurrents that now swirled with danger. Vellok knew what this meant: the ratpeople were no longer content to merely survive in the shadows. They are making moves of their own.
They see the current recurring chaos as their chance to act, or perhaps they were forced to act to save one of their own. Nonetheless, given our history with them, the fact that they possess such technology is unacceptable.
Vellok was brought out of his thoughts when the tower informed him that the call was ready. He teleported from where he was into a dark room, with mirrors floating all around.
From the mirrors, the other goblin tower masters began to appear. "You’ve all received the message. What do you have in mind?" Vellok asked.
Before anyone could respond, a familiar figure spoke up. Unlike the other mages, she had an air of regality about her. She was the one who had first observed Ikenga and Keles through her orb, only to be cut off shortly after.
"The emperor has also received news of the recent events. He views the rodents’ advancements as a good thing, as he has been troubled by how to deal with the invading demons and their endless armies."
"We have granted the rodents limited freedom to choose how they live underground. We are well aware of their ability to reproduce and expand, which we have allowed them to do all these years."
"Our planet’s underground network is now mostly occupied by them. His majesty believes it will be an honor for them to be conscripted into the war immediately. It would provide a good opportunity to observe their technological advancements and learn from them, to be better utilized in the prolonged war with the demons."
Vellok narrowed his eyes as the regal mage spoke, her words carrying the weight of the emperor’s decree. He stood silently for a moment, the dim light of the mirrored chamber reflecting off his contemplative expression. The other goblin tower masters watched him, some nodding in agreement with the mage’s proposal, while others seemed hesitant.
Finally, Vellok broke his silence. "The emperor’s will is, of course, absolute," he began, his tone carefully measured. "But we cannot overlook the risk that comes with allowing the ratpeople to develop unchecked. Their ability to reproduce and expand is unmatched, but so is their resourcefulness. If we conscript them into the war against the demons, we are arming a faction that, until recently, has been nothing more than scavengers."
The regal mage’s eyes gleamed with confidence. "We are not ’arming’ them. They have already armed themselves, Vellok. This is an opportunity for us to harness their ingenuity for our cause, to turn their tools into weapons we control. And should they prove too ambitious, we will remind them who holds true power. The emperor is not naive—he will not allow them to grow beyond his grasp."
Vellok’s gaze flicked from one mirror to another, the faces of the other goblin masters reflected in the floating glass. He could see that some were swayed by the regal mage’s argument, drawn to the potential advantage of using the ratpeople’s technology in the war. But he was less convinced.
"And what of their loyalty?" Vellok pressed, folding his arms across his chest. "They’ve kept to the shadows for so long, living in their subterranean cities, out of sight and out of mind. Now, they suddenly emerge with steam-powered technology capable of disrupting mana flows. They are not fools. They will know they are being used as expendable soldiers against the demon horde. What happens when they decide that they no longer wish to be pawns in our war?"
One of the other tower masters, a thin goblin with spectacles perched on his crooked nose, spoke up. "Vellok raises a valid concern. If we give them too much autonomy, they could become a threat after the war is over. We’ve kept them contained for a reason."
The regal mage’s gaze hardened. "Do not mistake containment for control. The emperor has no intention of letting the ratpeople rise unchecked. They will be conscripted, but under strict oversight. They will fight the demons because they have no other choice—either they contribute to the defense of this world, or they face annihilation from the demons themselves. And if they refuse, we will crush them before they can become a threat."
A murmur of agreement spread through the mirrored chamber, but Vellok still felt unease creeping into his thoughts. The regal mage was right about one thing—the ratpeople had no choice but to fight. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that their ingenuity, their sheer resourcefulness, would eventually become a problem. Technology was unpredictable, especially when wielded by a race that had nothing to lose.
"And what of the steam technology?" Vellok asked, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "If it can disrupt mana, it poses a danger not only to the demons but to us as well. We need to understand it before we use it. Has anyone been able to secure samples or schematics of what the ratpeople are working on?"
The regal mage smiled faintly, as though anticipating the question. "We are already working on it. I have agents embedded among their ranks, gathering intelligence as we speak. The emperor will not go into this blindly. We will know their technology inside and out before it is ever put to use."
Vellok nodded, though the unease still lingered in his gut. "Very well. I trust the emperor’s judgment, but we must remain vigilant. We are dealing with more than just simple creatures—these ratpeople are adapting faster than we expected."
The regal mage raised her chin slightly, her regal demeanor unshaken. "You worry too much, Vellok. The emperor has seen this coming for a long time. He will use their advancements to his advantage, and when the time comes, he will take what is needed and discard the rest."
