Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 45 (Part 2)
Fortunately, he didn’t need to write names.
According to the rules of the Special Forces Training Ground, the slave rod only had numbers. Rodin only needed to write numbers on the fake slave rod.
“Let’s start with them one by one.”
The status of the 1st batch was unknown, whether they were alive or dead. Although the committee received reports, there was no way for a trainee like him to know.
So he decided to forgo the 1st batch for now and also excluded the 2nd batch assigned to the field units. The remaining ones were from the 4th batch onwards.
“Number 109.”
He moved the iron he had placed in the corner bit by bit. Then, using the same method as making the key, he applied heat to melt and shape it into rods.
The shape itself was simple, making it easier to create than the key. He sequentially inscribed numbers and held them with Magic Hand to cool them.
“I’m getting used to this.”
On the first day, making 20 slave rod took the whole day. On the second day, he made 30.
Today, despite the time spent making the key, he managed to complete 35 fake slave rod.
“It’s frustrating.”
There were over 500 trainees in the Special Forces Training Ground. Even with the 1st and 2nd batches excluded, there were still many.
To replace all their slave rod, Rodin would have to make over 500 fake slave rod.
“When will I finish this?”
Moreover, he couldn’t indefinitely delay potion production. To meet the monthly delivery schedule, he would have to start potion production from tomorrow.
“The sun is about to set.”
By morning, the mana accumulation magic circle he had ‘printed’ had gathered enough mana. Rodin sat in the center of the magic circle and began his cultivation.
After running two cycles until sunset, he stood up. He used magic to erase the mana accumulation magic circle.
Night fell. He moved to the deep library by the lakeside and collected the fake slave rod he had made so far. He also pocketed the key he had crafted, modeled after Undine’s form.
“How many times will I have to repeat this?”
Leaving the deep library, he headed towards the central building. He woke the guards he had put to sleep earlier.
At the entrance to the basement storage.
Hidden by magic, it was invisible to ordinary people, but Rodin found the concealed door precisely as he had yesterday.
“Nothing has changed since yesterday.”
Everything looked exactly as it did yesterday. This meant it hadn’t been discovered.
Rodin drew out his mana like thread and instantly unlocked the three magical locks. Then, using the key he made during the day, he unlocked the remaining physical lock.
Click!
With a slight turn, the lock clicked open.
He grabbed the handle and gently pulled. The door opened smoothly.
“It seems they maintain it regularly.”
He entered and closed the door behind him. Darkness engulfed him.
“Light.”
He created a ball of light in the air. The light illuminated the surroundings brightly.
“Huh?”
There were small boxes filled with slave rod neatly stacked to the left.
On the surface of the boxes, numbers like 1-22, 23-56 were written. Naturally, there were boxes with slave rod from other batches, including the 3rd batch.
However, on the opposite side, there were neatly arranged books. Books were not something one would associate with the committee or instructors.
“First, let’s finish the task.”
He pulled out the box labeled 57-108. Inside, the slave rod were mixed up without regard to their numbers.
“As expected, everything is a mess.”
Rodin took all the slave rod except for the one labeled 108. He placed the fake slave rod he brought in the empty space, mixing them up just like the originals.
Next, he pulled out the box with the 4th batch’s slave rod. It was also disorganized.
“This is driving me crazy. If it were me, I couldn’t stand this mess.”
Rodin meticulously checked each slave stick in the box, identifying numbers from 109 to 143. It took nearly ten minutes.
He replaced them with the fake slave rod he had made earlier and closed the box. The unnecessary time spent made him feel frustrated.
“Phew, be patient.”
At least the primary objective of entering this place was achieved. Rodin’s gaze turned towards the books on the opposite side.
“What?”
What he thought were books were actually bound documents. The content was personal information about the trainees.
“It even contains information about my hometown.”
Instinctively, he looked for his own entry, number 108.
The name of his hometown, his parents’ occupations, his age upon entry, hair color, and eye color were recorded.
“I need to destroy this.”
It was personal information about himself. He didn’t want it left behind.
After a brief contemplation, he decided to remove only the information about himself for now. Since the sheets were loosely bound, it was easy to take them out.
“I’ll deal with the rest later.”
If he destroyed information about his peers as well, the bundle of documents would become noticeably thinner. Someone from the committee entering here might notice the change.
“Let’s call it a day.”
After opening the door and stepping out, he locked it with the key. Then, using his mana, he restored the magical locks he had temporarily disabled.
He left the central building and climbed Hamman Mountain. On the way up, he hid the real slave rod taken from the underground storage in a crevice of a large rock on the right.
For the past three days, he had been switching the real slave rod with the fake ones he made.
At least all the trainees from the 3rd batch and some from the 4th batch wouldn’t die at the committee’s whim.
“How long will I have to keep doing this?”
He felt frustrated. Ideally, he wanted to steal all the slave rod and hide them somewhere.
“Could I make all the trainees revolt against the committee?”
Logically, if all the trainees lost their slave rod, there would be no reason to follow the committee’s orders. They could run away in all directions or capture the committee members for revenge.
But people aren’t always logical. Especially young kids are more driven by emotions than logic.
Even without slave rod, the young ones would instinctively follow the instructors and committee’s orders.
Shouting “We don’t need to listen to the committee!” while holding the real slave rod would have the same result.
They were too accustomed to following orders from those in authority.
Of course, the older trainees from the 4th and 5th batches would be different. They could think logically and understand which choices benefited them.
“But I can’t save the older ones by sacrificing the younger ones.”
In the end, the only thing he could do was continue making and replacing fake slave rod.
“Let’s think positively. There’s still work to be done here.”
He hadn’t read all the books in the advanced library yet. There was still more to gain from this place.