The Golem Mage Chapter 1125: Beginning Of Another Journey 2

[Status]

Town Level: 1 (0/5)

Population: 534

Faith Level: 10

Army: -

Stone: -

Wood: -

Ore: -

[As the city's lord, the destruction of the City Heart will revoke your lord status and all associated privileges. The City Heart is your access point to various city-related functions.]

Minutes after the merging of his lord token and the cube concluded, Alec's hand was finally released.

His token, however, remained within the cube, and in response, this status interface materialized before Alec, appending itself to his existing system tabs.

He betrayed no surprise at the sight, for during the merging process, the magic cube—now identified as the City Heart—had been continuously feeding him critical information.

This data, vital for governing the city, finally illuminated the old man's words: all the answers Alec sought would indeed be revealed upon his arrival at the city.

Gazing at the cube, Alec no longer perceived it as a mere inanimate object but recognized it as a sophisticated, AI-like system intricately linked to him in ways he barely grasped.

He had anticipated a limited connection to the City Heart, functioning much like a castle butler. Yet, due to his system's intervention in its programming, their bond had unexpectedly intensified, making the cube feel akin to a close companion.

Amongst the revelations provided by the cube, Alec learned he could access diverse platforms, including the Player Market, the Origin Stimulus World, and the Lords Leaderboard.

While he intended to process the remaining information gradually, he had already mastered the fundamental aspects of rulership, thanks to his City Heart.

“My lord.”

The Tier 2 elder, accompanied by other elders, entered the throne room. He bowed deeply, extending his hands in a gesture of respect toward Alec.

“Speak,” Alec commanded swiftly. He was already aware of the elder's approach, as the cube had alerted him before their entry, marking the extent of his current mental energy coverage.

_ _

Back on the island, the assessment of most mages had concluded, and the head recruiters were engaged in conversation.

Some were even placing bets on which region's new recruits would be the first to advance their town to Level 2.

Amidst their discussions, the old man, overlooked since the conversation began, knitted his brows.

“Perhaps it’s time for me to depart. Duty calls. I’ve already recruited all the F-grade mages I need,” the old man announced.

They nonchalantly waved him off. However, the instant he stepped through his spatial portal, whispers and gossip erupted amongst them.

“What pressing matters could a recruiter from the Wilderness Region possibly have?” one of them scoffed.

The majority presumed his departure stemmed from envy of their reported successes and his own lack of comparable achievements.

Nevertheless, the old man remained utterly indifferent to their speculations.

The moment he passed through the spatial portal, he found himself in a throne room far more magnificent than Alec's or even the Red High Orc's.

The combined grandeur of their throne rooms could not compare to the sheer majesty of the one he now occupied.

With each step he took, his stooped posture straightened, his form underwent a dramatic transformation, and his worn walking stick morphed into an elegant cane, adorned with black and gold accents.

Knights in full plate armor stood sentinel throughout the hall. As he advanced, they offered a subtle bow.

He proceeded directly to the cube situated at the heart of his throne room. With a mere flick of his left hand, the cube ascended slightly. From its base, a beam of light projected downwards, unfurling a holographic map that spanned the entirety of the Wilderness.

Furthermore, miniature, stylized icons representing the current lords were superimposed over their respective territories. However, his hasty return was solely motivated by Alec.

His gaze fixed upon Alec's diminutive icon, a chuckle escaped his lips.

“Such a cunning young man.”

Unlike the other human lords, Alec's representation was deliberately obscured. While Alec's general features were discernible, the old man couldn't help but ponder the cause of this peculiar anonymization.

The reason behind this occurrence was straightforward; he had lost his pathway back into Alec’s City Heart, and a nagging suspicion that he had been correct about Alec’s capacity to circumvent the system all along began to surface.

When Alec was initially assessed as an F-rank potential mage, this individual had been directly observing him, yet not even a flicker of shock or disbelief had crossed Alec’s features.

In truth, Alec’s demeanor afterward suggested a complete indifference to the assigned grade.

The only logical explanation for a mage to behave in such a manner was if they possessed an inner certainty of their own superiority—either by discovering a method to fool the system or by developing a profound self-assurance that rendered such assessments meaningless.

Regardless of the truth, a powerful intuition told him that Alec was poised to deliver the long-awaited amusement he had been yearning for.

However, he was convinced that, just as Alec had outsmarted the grading system, he had also devised a means to sever the City Heart network’s surveillance capabilities.

It was not as if he could simply approach Alec and demand an explanation for how he managed to expel him, the master spy.

Therefore, he maintained his composure, recognizing that Alec remained connected to his territories as a subordinate lord.

“Alec Gordons, do not fail to impress me now that you have captured my undivided attention.”

_ _

“My lord, we extend our most humble welcome. I merely wish to request that you first survey your newly acquired territory and subsequently inform me of your decision, whether to remain or depart.”

“And I assure you, this is not meant as an offense. I simply need to ascertain your intentions so that I may communicate them to the other inhabitants, ensuring they do not harbor excessive expectations of your continued presence,” the elder stated, his voice laced with an earnest attempt to convey humility.

Even as he spoke, beads of sweat traced paths down his forehead, his palpable fear evident as he desperately tried to articulate his position with utmost deference.

Upon hearing the elder's words, all Alec could do was lift an eyebrow in bewilderment.