Wizard: Building a Golem Legion From Zero

Chapter 478: Chapter 465: A Request

Augustus’s words were gentle, yet they were like an invisible scalpel, peeling away all of Allen’s secrets and pretenses layer by layer until the blade rested against his Soul Core.

So, what am I to do with you?

The question carried no killing intent, no trace of anger—only the assessment of the strong for the weak.

A vein in Allen’s temple throbbed violently, but his Mechanical Mind suppressed the fearful instinct to tremble.

’He knew that any unnecessary emotion now could cause the assessment to result in "termination."’

"Originally, under the threat of the Heart Eaters, they could complete a full generational turnover in twenty years."

Augustus’s voice echoed throughout the fleshy expanse, as if he were stating a perfectly ordinary piece of experimental data. "Now, that cycle has been stretched to twenty-six years. And it’s trending even longer."

Allen understood.

To a Moonlight Mage with a lifespan measured in tens of thousands of years, the quality of life for the natives didn’t matter. The shape of their civilization didn’t matter. Even their innate Spirit Core talent was irrelevant.

All he required was the most efficient genetic iteration to acquire the bloodline samples he desired.

The peace Allen had introduced extended the natives’ lifespans and lowered their mortality rate, which in turn lengthened the experimental cycle.

’From the rancher’s perspective, it’s as if his livestock are taking longer to be ready for market.’

"But you are an official investigator for the Association, carrying out a mission I issued, and you have not violated any explicit rules."

The giant eye floating in the void constricted its pupil, as if performing a complex calculation. "Furthermore, your Cyber Spirit Realm is indeed interesting. It not only stimulated Spirit Core evolution but also provided me with a completely new line of experimentation."

Allen’s heart nearly stopped.

’He understood Augustus’s underlying meaning—according to the rules, I shouldn’t kill you. And in terms of value, you still seem to be useful.’

"Rebooting the entire kingdom? No, that wouldn’t be cost-effective."

"But,"

"your existence has, in the end, interfered with the progress of my core experiment."

Just as Allen’s mind raced, searching for the slimmest possibility of a way out and thinking of something to say, Augustus’s voice rang out again, delivering his final Judgement.

"Therefore, your long-term assignment here will now come to an end."

’It’s here!’

Allen breathed a sigh of relief.

’Is that the final decision? I get to leave, and my life is spared?’

"However, considering the research value of that virtual system of yours, as well as the unique interference you have caused my experiment as a ’specimen’ yourself..."

Augustus’s voice took on a hint of magnanimity. "I will give you five more years."

"Five years from now, you must take all of your creations and leave the Aiselan Plane."

"You can use these five years to complete those experiments of yours. I will not interfere. In fact, I will even have the Heart Eaters suspend their high-intensity activities to provide you with a relatively stable environment."

A flicker of disbelief flashed in Allen’s eyes.

’He actually got a five-year grace period!’

’He knew this wasn’t mercy. It was a top-tier researcher who, upon discovering an interesting ’control group,’ had decided to let the experiment run a while longer to see what unusual fruit it might bear.’

’Five years, combined with the threefold time dilation in *Sword Art Online*, meant he had a fifteen-year window.’

’It was enough!’

’Enough time to extract the last dregs of soul data from the fifty-three million natives of the Aiselan Kingdom, complete the final construction of his artificial soul, and make the final push to perfect his [Consciousness Upload] Witchcraft!’

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

Allen bowed deeply, his posture humble, his tone betraying not a hint of unwillingness or resentment.

’In the presence of a Moonlight Mage, any attempt to bargain would be foolish.’

’Surviving and buying himself precious time was already the best possible outcome.’

"Hn." Augustus seemed quite satisfied with Allen’s good sense.

The enormous eye rotated slowly, seemingly ready to conclude their conversation.

But just as Allen thought the dust had settled, the gentle voice spoke once more.

"According to the Association’s regulations, prematurely terminating a Wizard’s long-term mission constitutes a breach of contract on the part of the issuer. Although the rules don’t bind me, I, personally, don’t enjoy breaking the rules of a game I created myself."

A chill went through Allen. He couldn’t figure out what Augustus was up to.

"Therefore, as compensation..."

"I can grant you one simple request."

"But you must make it now."

"And the scope of the request must not exceed the Morning Star Level."

As his voice faded, the entire Floating Island once again fell into a dead silence.

Allen’s breath caught in his throat.

’A request?’

’A promise from a Moonlight Grand Mage?’

’This was an absolute windfall, a massive opportunity that would drive any Second-level Wizard to madness!’

’Knowledge? Resources? A powerful piece of equipment?’

’A commercial license? Or the death of a Morning Star Level enemy?’

Countless thoughts flashed through Allen’s mind like lightning, only to be extinguished just as quickly.

DSeek was operating at a frantic pace, listing countless options and flagging them with different colored risk levels.

’He knew full well that this was both compensation and a test.’

’A request that was too small would make him seem shortsighted, a waste of an opportunity.’

’A request that was too high, one that exceeded the "Morning Star Level" scope or touched upon Augustus’s sensitive territories, would be seen as greed—a sure way to court death.’

’He had only one chance. Within a matter of seconds, he had to propose a request that maximized value, minimized risk, and would be decisively beneficial to his future.’

A daring idea surfaced in his mind.

Allen’s mind had never been so clear. He slowly raised his head to look directly into the inky-black pupil that reflected the birth and death of galaxies, his throat tightening as he swallowed.

"I request... that you tell me how to become a Moonlight Mage."

The air froze.

No, space itself had been imbued with a tangible weight, pressing in from all directions.

Allen’s bones groaned under the strain, and his recently relaxed muscles tensed to their limit once more. Even the edges of his vision began to darken.

"Allen Wesren."

Augustus’s voice was devoid of all warmth, like an iceberg frozen for eons at absolute zero.

"You have overstepped. ’How to become a Moonlight’ is Moonlight Level knowledge. That does not meet my condition."

The pressure intensified.

Allen felt his vertebrae being forced out of alignment one by one. His very soul felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, on the verge of being crushed.

But he did not back down.

’He was already at the gambling table, and his chips were on the line. Backing down now was no different from conceding defeat.’

’He had figured it out. At the core of this rancher who looked down upon all life was an almost paranoid adherence to ’rules.’’

’His only hope for survival lay within that single word: "rules."’

"No, Your Excellency. I have not overstepped."

Allen withstood the pressure, which felt heavy enough to crush a mountain, forcing each word out as if from between clenched teeth.

He forced himself to look up, to meet the direct gaze of the giant pupil that reflected the birth and death of stars.

"I am confident that I can cross the threshold to become a Morning Star Wizard."

This was not a boast but a calm declaration—a conclusion drawn from countless simulations, with a probability of success exceeding ninety-five percent.

"And what I’m asking for is not the secret of the ’Moonlight’ rank itself."

Allen paused, buying his line of reasoning a final second’s reprieve on the brink of death.

"It is about what a Wizard must do to continue advancing on the path of truth *after* becoming a Morning Star Wizard... That is the most profound knowledge belonging to a Morning Star Wizard."

"But in essence, it is still a product of Morning Star Level knowledge."

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