The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 213

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Return of an EX-Rank Mage Episode 213
Lin Zhiwei was among the sovereigns most adept at swiftly adapting to the currents of international affairs.
The paramount concern among Earth’s sovereigns of late was “cultivating connections with EX-rank Awakeners.”
How to forge more favorable relations—that was the diplomatic phrasing. In truth, it was: how to make a favorable impression on an EX-rank Awakener.
“China finds itself at a disadvantage as a latecomer.”
More disadvantaged than a mere latecomer, even.
The Shenyang incident and a cascade of unseemly events had tarnished China’s image considerably.
“Regarding artifact procurement for enhancing my appearance?”
“Procurement continues without interruption.”
Lin Zhiwei had grown considerably more beautiful.
In the age of Tower civilization, such transformation was possible.
For someone of Lin Zhiwei’s caliber, becoming more beautiful was achievable.
Of course, miracles that conjured something from nothing did not exist.
One could only enhance beauty that already existed to a certain degree.
Lin Zhiwei had always possessed a visage rivaling that of entertainment celebrities.
‘I never thought the day would come when I wouldn’t curse this appearance.’
Her “beautiful visage” had consistently overshadowed her capabilities as a sovereign.
For Lin Zhiwei, this was a fatal weakness.
But that was no longer the case.
To win the favor of an EX-rank Awakener, one would need to cultivate not mere beauty, but beauty itself elevated to an art form.
Thus, she had invested considerable effort in her appearance.
It had proven successful, yet the narrative had shifted.
“So beautiful appearance wasn’t the crucial factor after all.”
“….”
The heads of the Chinese Guild fell silent.
He was suppressing the puppets of magical civilization with overwhelming yet refined dominance, demonstrating his power.
“The EX-rank Awakener has no intention of being satisfied with merely Earth.”
Lin Zhiwei’s heart raced.
What sovereign wouldn’t dream of such a thing?
A leap beyond a mere “world” of Earth’s scale toward a “world” of cosmic proportions.
Wasn’t that the ideal vision for any sovereign?
‘Truly, a man worthy of admiration.’
Enough so that she would cast aside her usual pride and approach him using her beauty as a weapon.
Choi Kang-mok was a sovereign both wondrous and captivating.
“What truly matters to an EX-rank Awakener is ability, after all.”
Lin Zhiwei had consulted with China’s mages on this matter.
Regarding how extraordinarily difficult that “refined and overwhelming display of power” must be.
Their consensus was: “We don’t know precisely, but it must be tremendously taxing even for an EX-rank Awakener.”
Why would one engage in such arduous and seemingly unrewarding displays of power?
Because it granted greater advantage as an emperor.
And indirectly, she was sending a message to the lords of Earth.
-Listen. I will venture toward worlds beyond Earth. Who among you possesses the qualifications to walk alongside me?
It was the way EX-rank awakeners had always operated.
They cast their words carelessly, and only those who could discern the hidden meaning and align themselves accordingly could accompany the emperor of the new age.
“The emperor of the new age. A lord heading toward the cosmos needs a useful empress far more than a beautiful one.”
Though it would be even better if she were beautiful as well.
Lin Zhiwei had found another path to become a lord worthy of the emperor of the new age.
“I’ll interrogate those Arcsia bastards.”
No intelligence network within Earth could rival the Boddari Union.
No established trust relationships could match England’s.
England paled in comparison, let alone Saudi Arabia or the United States.
Even the Middle East, where a second Korea was located, held a slight advantage.
By Lin Zhiwei’s assessment, China’s current standing fell just below Italy.
It was hardly a favorable starting position.
“If I cannot compete on Earth’s intelligence alone, I must turn my gaze outward.”
Information gathering began—the kind that would cause human rights organizations to riot if they learned of it.
Through this, one crucial fact emerged.
“The Arsia Liberation Army had backing.”
They were merely the tail.
In truth, there were others.
“Right. I wondered why they were suppressed so easily.”
What surfaced was only the tip of the iceberg.
The true body lay beneath the surface.
“However, it seems human rights organizations have caught a whiff of something….”
Lin Zhiwei snorted dismissively.
“So what?”
Lin Zhiwei would thoroughly position herself as the right hand of the EX-rank awakener and Korea.
She would perform the “dirty work the emperor cannot do as emperor.”
The deeds of a “subordinate consumed by excessive loyalty”—acts the emperor never commanded.
Through such actions, she would seize the advantage of the new era.
That would become China’s competitive edge.
“So? Who’s the backing?”

* * *
Lin Zhiwei immediately sought out Choi Kang-mok.
She had also brought along some vitality elixirs that were good for the body.
‘He must have exhausted himself considerably with that display of power….’
China was a nation abundant in vitality elixirs and potions beneficial to the body.
She had scraped together rare elixirs for an EX-Rank Awakener.
‘No, does it even make sense to lodge an EX-Rank Awakener in a mere hotel?’
If this were China, she would have constructed an Imperial Palace for him.
Those Korean fellows. Their support is rather lacking compared to what I expected.
‘Perhaps it’s for the better.’
There would be opportunities to seize later.
After all, he would dominate the entire world anyway—what did ‘belonging to South Korea’ matter?
Eventually, that emperor would become ‘Earth’s own’.
‘It would be wonderful if the Chinese Guild became the right hand supporting the Earth Emperor.’
I sat across from Choi Kang-mok.
I wondered if I dared to sit, but since Choi Kang-mok seemed to prefer it, I settled in comfortably.
Every moment was a suffocating succession of political maneuvering.
“It’s merely a light gift.”
I gauged his reaction.
The EX-Rank Awakener showed not the slightest sign of fatigue.
That left Lin Zhiwei in admiration.
‘Despite such tremendous exertion!’
Outwardly, he appeared perfectly serene.
Even now, maintaining that display magic must be draining his stamina considerably.
‘Truly….’
Lin Zhiwei’s heart raced again.
Truly a captivating man.
“Why would you go to such lengths… Thank you.”
Choi Kang-mok laughed lightly.
Choi Kang-mok held Lin Zhiwei in high regard.
She acknowledged him as a mage and even procured rare elixirs for him—it was difficult not to like her.
Besides, wasn’t she the one who had even obtained a ‘grimoire’ for him?
However, Mayo seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
-[-_-]
-[-_-]
Red Cat, too, seemed to share Mayo’s sentiment, which was rare.
-Fragrant incense emanates from one who presumes to be a lord.
-Dangling about are artifacts adorned for beauty’s sake.
Meow.
Red Cat appeared thoroughly irritated.
—Why is she making such a fuss about being pretty?
But to Choi Kang-mok, Lin Zhiwei’s appearance hardly registered.
She had given him rare elixirs.
Could there be a potion among them that increases mental power?
‘Lin Zhiwei always gives me such wonderful gifts….’
Could it be another grimoire?
My heart raced at the thought.
As a Chinese warlord where rare treasures flowed abundantly, every meeting with Lin Zhiwei filled me with anticipation.
‘Come to think of it, shouldn’t I give her something in return?’
For a mage, there must be reciprocity—give and take.
Just as I was pondering what to offer Lin Zhiwei, she continued speaking.
“Behind the Arsia Liberation Army was the Neroph Dimension.”
“Neroph?”
I had never heard of it.
Seeing my expression, Lin Zhiwei smiled lightly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Pardon?”
“Neroph is the dimension of battle mages. It is an even higher dimension than Arsia.”
I nodded.
So that explained why it all seemed too simple.
“For a mage, there must be reciprocity—give and take.”
Should I send missiles?
But what should I send in return?
I wanted to send something bigger and more impressive.
Lin Zhiwei swallowed hard.
She interpreted Choi Kang-mok’s words as an imperial decree.
‘He’s asking if I know how to open a dimensional gate connecting to Neroph, isn’t he?’
This emperor demanded far more ability than she had anticipated.
She felt she had come too hastily.
“My apologies. I have not yet found a concrete method. Typically, dimensional connections are regulated automatically by the system….”
The connection between Brain and Earth.
The connection between Arsia and Earth.
Both were regulated systematically.
…Or so it was believed.
However, Choi Kang-mok knew of a certain anomaly.
‘The Arsia Imperial Palace mages deliberately connected Brain first, didn’t they?’
It felt like a scout operation.
They had sent in the Barbarian Warriors first to test the waters.
Lin Zhiwei quickly discerned Choi Kang-mok’s true thoughts.
“I will communicate further with the Arcsia Mages. Perhaps we can find a way.”
Give me just a little more time, Your Majesty.
I will uncover the truth, I assure you.
‘If I can just figure this out.’
I might finally rise to at least Saudi Arabia’s level, wouldn’t I?
After all, this Iron-Blooded Emperor values ability above all else!
Lin Zhiwei hurried back to China.
I needed to torture those Arcsia bastards further.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Screams echoed through the chamber.
An Arsia Liberation Army prisoner shrieked, tears streaming black down his face.
“Dimensional connection is absolutely not an easy task!”
It is determined by the system.
To interfere with it requires vast resources and forceful means.
“Moreover, forced connection from a Lower Dimension to a Higher Dimension is nearly impossible, I’m tell—Aaaahhhhh!”
Lin Zhiwei sat cross-legged before the battered liberation soldiers.
She pressed down firmly on one prisoner’s hand.
“Did I ask if it was difficult?”
I asked for the method, and he says it’s difficult.
From Lin Zhiwei’s perspective, that was a non-answer.
“What is the method?”
The prisoners fell silent.
Even in this state, they feared revealing the information.
They seemed to be watching for Neroph’s reaction.
“Only the first one to talk lives. Raise your hand.”
All the prisoners had blindfolds over their eyes.
There was no way to tell who raised their hand.
Still, no one raised theirs.
“Fine then. You. Speak. And kill all the rest.”
The prisoners trembled violently.
Which bastard betrayed us?
“You know I can’t just kill them, right?”
Brainwashing and hallucination abilities were deployed.
What the ‘Emperor of the New Era’ could never do, his ‘Right Arm’ was doing instead.
The prisoners screamed.
They had glimpsed their futures—slaughtered in the most horrific way imaginable.
With bodies and minds shattered, they could endure no longer.
Their fear of Neroph was overwhelmed by immediate terror.
“I-I will speak!”
“I will speak!”
Lin Zhiwei smiled wickedly.
If you’re going to tell me anyway, why drag it out like this?
“We need tools that can directly intervene in the settings.”
“What kind of tools?”
“It depends on the worldview. Based on the currently trending Open Source Worldview, we would need a pen and notebook. And I’ve heard that some kind of qualification to enter the open worldview is necessary!”
The prisoners rushed to spill their information.
“Alternatively, we could consider seeking help from a dimensional monster that directly intervenes in the settings.”
“O-of course, even if we mobilize every possible means, it’s never an easy task. We would need cooperation on a dimensional scale, at minimum on a continental scale.”
Lin Zhiwei found the information quite satisfactory.
The more difficult, the better.
The value of the information increases.
Time is also gained.
It seemed I had acquired time to prove China’s capabilities to the Emperor.
“It cannot be accomplished with merely enormous wealth. Only with tremendous fortune added to it can we barely….”
Good.
Now as the right arm, more….
“My Lord! His Majesty has opened a dimensional gate, it is said.”
Lin Zhiwei glared at the prisoners irritably.
“Did these bastards deceive me?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————