Chapter 116: Dior and Roger Appear Simultaneously?
The Military Department, the Left Chancellor’s luxurious grand office.
Instead of returning to the Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace, the Empress of Eternal Night had teleported here and overheard Margaret scolding her subordinates for their incompetence:
“I told you to cripple a junior mage, and yet you let him escape completely unharmed from such a simple task. Are you idiots? No, you are big idiots! Big idiots, big idiots, big idiots!”
This little demon’s voice was clear and pleasant, filled with emotion when she was scolding, and there was an inexplicably… pleasant feeling in her cadence.
The timid, fence-sitting nobles who had been intimidated at first were inspired by Margaret’s angry reprimand to fight back against the undead army. Margaret’s outstanding performance was inextricably linked to this.
Her subordinates outwardly lowered their heads, humbly accepting the lecture, but in reality, they were afraid of being seen by their leader and revealing their enjoyment.
As they worked longer, many had developed a strange symptom: they felt uncomfortable if they weren’t scolded by the Left Chancellor for at least one day.
It was a case of mutual enjoyment, with Margaret scolding to her heart’s content and the subordinates enjoying it to their heart’s content, and then the session ended.
Only then did the Empress of Eternal Night speak softly, “Mary, is the junior mage you wanted to cripple named Roger Charles?”
“Ah, Your Majesty, when did you arrive? Shall I make you some tea?” Margaret suddenly turned around, her little tail wagging, her hands excitedly fidgeting.
The Empress of Eternal Night snorted, “No need. Answer my question first.”
“This… Your Majesty, may I remain silent?” Margaret instantly felt guilty. She knew that Roger held an unusual position in the Empress of Eternal Night’s heart.
If she had quietly crippled him and found someone to take the blame, that would have been fine. But now not only had she failed to cripple him, but the Empress of Eternal Night had caught her red-handed.
The Empress of Eternal Night levitated her by her tail with the Mage Hand, saying, “Of course, you can, but the beating will proceed!”
Floating above the ground, Margaret wailed, “Your Majesty, I’ve been wronged! I’ve truly been wronged! Roger himself asked me to help test his skill’s strength!”
“Help test, up to a point, why cripple him?”
“I didn’t cripple him! Those big idiot subordinates couldn’t even break through a shield. It was just a slight depletion of Mental Power?”
“Right, a slight depletion of Mental Power…”
The Empress of Eternal Night grew angrier the more she thought about it. She conjured another Mage Hand and began rhythmically patting Margaret’s little backside, gradually increasing the pace.
Do you know how much effort I put into coaxing him to meditate and recover his Mental Power?
You have no idea! You have no idea how difficult it is for me!
You are no longer the Margaret who used to share my worries; you are a foolish demon blinded by jealousy!
However, the sensation of hitting a fool was getting better and better.
Margaret burst into tears.
Your Majesty, you are clearly no longer angry, so why are you still hitting me?
I’m dizzy, truly dizzy. If this continues, I’ll be separated into solids and liquids!
…
…
Icy Spring Manor.
Roger, the Shadow Puppet, began compiling the next issue of “Arcane Musings,” while “New Arcana” also started its topic selection.
There would be follow-up research from the previous issue’s papers, as well as new research content.
In this era where magic and technology were just beginning to collide, finding topics that would interest mages and spark debates was incredibly simple.
Even if Dean Hull’s invented voice recorder could not be publicly disclosed for the time being, it was believed that the Secret Society would soon find an invention completely unrelated to espionage, based on this idea, to prove that ordinary people could also wield magic with the help of tools.
Whether it was magic or technology, both should be tools for humans to solve problems. There was no inherent superiority or inferiority; one should simply use whichever was more convenient and cost-effective.
While the Shadow Puppet was busy with work, Roger’s main body returned to the Charles Manor to meditate and recover his Mental Power.
The Wax Nest had a higher concentration of Magic Elements, and although it couldn’t increase the recovery speed, it would make him feel more comfortable. Furthermore, his Magic Power accumulation speed was three times that of the outside world, and his passive growth while sleeping was twice as fast.
Moreover, Roger found that once he entered a meditative state, he no longer had to worry about it and could focus on what the Shadow Puppet needed to do, which greatly reduced the tedium of cultivation.
Here, he had to thank Joey’s sensible cooperation. Not only was the work on “New Arcana” handled perfectly, but the establishment of the Night Guard was also proceeding very smoothly.
The Empress of Eternal Night had provided ten legendary powerhouses, fifty Archmages, and outstanding recent graduates from the two major magical academies.
Roger, following the list, was recruiting powerhouses one by one. A small portion of them were still difficult to find, and a few had yet to mature, but they could also join the Night Guard for training.
The basic soldiers were elites drawn from the main combat legions. It was estimated that the first battalion of the Night Guard, with a total strength of one thousand men, would be filled within three days.
This was the mobilization capability of the Azurevine Empire in its early stages. Powerhouses emerged in droves, and the newcomers were also quite outstanding. Most importantly, continuous victories had made everyone daring to fight, and the young people were full of passion and willing to pledge loyalty to the wise and mighty Empress.
In contrast, the Empress of Eternal Night always felt that Roger was too difficult to control, with too many ideas of his own.
Fortunately, as the two interacted more, Roger’s realization grew, his recognition of the empire deepened, and he gradually became more proactive.
Sometimes, Roger couldn’t tell if it was the passage of time that made him develop feelings for this land, or if it was the accumulated sunk costs that made him unwilling to let it be destroyed by the Seven Gods, wanting to do his part to help it go further.
But ultimately, wasn’t the country getting better and better?
Roger believed that his actions would definitely help those in this world who, like him in the past, had nothing.
He would sever all those corrupt, outdated things that bound humanity. Even if the process would leave him covered in blood, once the wounds healed, we would go further with lighter burdens.
Time ticked by second by second, and night fell.
Roger walked to Joey’s office and forcibly pulled the diligently working young girl up, “Time to get off work!”
“There are still a few documents to finish…” Joey complained softly, but she still didn’t dare to defy Master Roger’s wishes and began tidying up her things to leave.
They had agreed to “go on a date” tonight.
Thinking of this, the energetic young girl also became happy. She tidied her desk and went to put on makeup.
Roger sat in the room, patiently waiting for the lady to appear, when suddenly his brow furrowed, remembering something.
His appearance and clothes shimmered slightly.
Soon, he transformed into the appearance of Dio Brando.
Because of the incident where Princess Half-Sky attempted a jailbreak today, even the Empress of Eternal Night had personally appeared, so Roger Charles’s involvement was widely known.
Therefore, his return to the Charles Manor was also known to many.
Furthermore, in the scenario of bidding farewell to Tasika, Roger’s script was “acting on his own and letting an important hostage escape,” which was ultimately a negative event.
At such a time, appearing in public with Roger’s face might attract the attention of some ill-informed individuals.
Although it was a collaborative performance, and the public announcement would try to downplay Roger’s presence, there were always some well-informed individuals who possessed “inside information.”
This mix of true and false information was actually intended for the Beastman Kingdom and other theocracies to increase the credibility of the jailbreak.
However, it was not impossible that some overzealous patriotic individuals, knowing part of the truth, would develop a prejudice against Roger and lecture him on loyalty and patriotism if they encountered him.
Especially with the backing of those nobles who were already dissatisfied with Roger’s prominence.
Although they had backed down last night, most of them likely still harbored resentment and would surely spread malicious gossip and badmouth him behind his back.
Roger wasn’t afraid of trouble, but he didn’t want to ruin his rare date with Joey because of such trash. So, after some thought, he decided to use Dio’s identity tonight.
Besides, Joey knew about both of his identities, and she shouldn’t be repulsed by dating him with this face.
Hmm, perhaps it would be even more of a surprise, considering she had originally thrown herself at “Lord Dio” like a moth to a flame.
Before he could wait any longer, Joey appeared, wearing a casual long dress with very light makeup. Her golden hair was casually draped over her shoulders, fully displaying the young girl’s purity and vitality.
Roger’s eyes lit up. It seemed like tonight he would be accompanying a beautiful junior classmate.
Joey was stunned when she saw “Dio,” but then she smiled shyly and gratefully, “You’ve put in a lot of thought, my lord.”
Clearly, she misunderstood, thinking that Roger had specifically dressed up as Dio to recreate their first meeting out of consideration for her first date.
Although the young girl accepted the excellence of Young Master Charles, the period of agonizing indecision when she chose this new commoner noble was also a radiant highlight of her life that would never fade.
A flash that gambled her future life, moving forward despite millions of obstacles, she now, in retrospect, admired her courage at that time.
Roger truly didn’t expect the girl to interpret it that way, and he felt guilty realizing it was indeed their first date.
He had indeed neglected her efforts a bit too much.
He couldn’t bear to shatter the beautiful world seen through the eyes of a love-struck person. He stood up, offered his arm for her to link, and kissed her cheek, “I’m sorry, this day has come too late.”
Joey’s eyes were full of bright smiles, and she said earnestly, “Neither early nor late. I want to be with you for a very, very long time, without rushing the moments.”
Roger’s heart trembled. He was familiar with her every small expression and knew she wasn’t making excuses for him but truly felt that way.
He didn’t say anything further. The two of them teleported directly to the high-end restaurant they had reserved for the evening.
Perhaps the taste here wasn’t as good as the kitchen of the Duke’s manor he had personally guided, but the happiness presented to the world had a different meaning for girls.
Even though their relationship was not yet blessed by anyone, Joey, blooming for love, was also qualified to enjoy the envy of the world.
Roger would make up for all the treatment a noble girl would receive when in love.
Meanwhile, the news of Dio’s reappearance in Aou had been observed by some.
…
…
The City of Mysteries, Harbor District.
The harbor district was a newly planned high-end residential and commercial area surrounding the Rose River port. Compared to the noble district south of the Star Han Palace, it was more favored by emerging magnates.
The streets and houses here were more fashionable and full of romantic charm. Compared to the grand manors of noble families, it felt much more relaxed.
A beautiful three-story building, nominally belonging to a new fishing tycoon, was actually an establishment arranged by the Sea Kingdom for their spies.
After discovering numerous suspicious points about Roger, Tutor Tianming, Shady Veronica, became more hesitant in her actions, switching to a protracted war and preparing more cautiously for a foolproof plan before making a move, to avoid the tragedy of acting hastily and gaining nothing, like Master Josda had been tricked.
As the war shifted to a protracted one, Crown Prince Shaq of the Sea Kingdom naturally was not satisfied with the environment of the inn over there and voluntarily offered this building.
Both in terms of comfort and concealment, it was more convenient for the actions of Tutor Tianming’s army, and Shady had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, the Sea Kingdom’s infiltration of coastal areas was even more thorough than that of the City of Mysteries. Therefore, tonight, they had reported their investigation into Dio Brando:
There was no such person in his supposed hometown, and even the family named Brando could not be found!
Upon seeing this investigation result, a glint like “There is only one truth” flashed in Shady’s eyes, and she chuckled,
“I knew this Dio was suspicious. He’s just an act put on by Roger and the Empress of Eternal Night. And once we figure out why this identity was fabricated, perhaps we can create an opportunity to easily capture Roger!”
Just as Shady was happily making breakthroughs in her preparatory work for capturing Roger, a subordinate of Tutor Tianming entered and reported, “Tutor, we’ve found traces of Dio Brando!”
He produced a magical projection, which captured precious footage of Roger having dinner with Joey at a restaurant.
Shady’s delicate eyebrows furrowed. Dio hadn’t appeared in Aou for a while. His sudden return now, did it signify an impending action by the Empress of Eternal Night?
Could she take advantage of the action to make some arrangements?
She felt she had found a direction.
Roger was heavily protected, but the selling point of Dio’s identity was that of a commoner cabinet minister, with significantly weaker surrounding forces.
Especially since his residence was in the commercial district, which had relatively weaker defensive forces, and there were no security measures in place. Perhaps it could be used as a target for an attack!
Once she confirmed that Roger and Dio were the same person, her thinking opened up considerably, and she had many…
Dozens of brand new ideas on how to seize the opportunity!
Shady tapped her fingers on the table, but out of her usual caution, she casually confirmed, “By the way, what is Roger doing now?”
According to her deduction, since Dio had appeared, Roger should be nowhere to be found right now!
Unexpectedly, her subordinate gave a very certain answer, “Roger is meditating at the Charles Manor.”
“I knew Roger wouldn’t show up… wait, what did you say? He’s at the Charles Manor?” Shady’s train of thought was suddenly interrupted, and she grabbed her subordinate’s collar, “Wake up! I’m asking about Roger Charles, where is he now? I need reliable information!”
The subordinate said with difficulty, “Reporting, Tutor. Our people are very certain that Roger Charles has not left the manor since returning and has been meditating. There are very obvious and unique magic fluctuations in the room.”
Shady released him. She didn’t doubt his loyalty, but she doubted the current situation. “Where is that Dio now?”
The subordinate contacted someone and asked, “He has already arrived at the opera house.”
So, Roger and Dio, are they not the same person?
Was her perfect deduction wrong?
Shady’s heart instantly became flustered.
Then, where did this Dio come from?
