Edward sat on his throne with a few screens floating before him. Since the new update of the library and the Empire entering the Age of Magic, he has been busy in the past month. He had to fuse the two continents from Black Clover with the Pangean Continent.
He had to settle all the people previously living in that continent–especially the ones from the Eastern Continent. Luckily, his clone helped immensely with the process. He also had to settle all the people he plundered from his voyage, which involved sending many people to different planets and even star systems.
He had to set up the Magic Knights from the Western Continents. They were a group of extremely talented individuals, and they were loyal to him. However, they had little loyalty or sense of belonging to the Empire. This is why he fused their continents with Earth since the magic knights were duty-bound individuals who swore to protect their homes. After a few months of adapting, they will be the Empire's most elite legion.
He had to place the new races, like dwarves and elves. Luckily, the Empire was now a hot pot of different races, cultures, and ethnicities. He only had an issue placing two races: the demons and gods from Konosuba.
The demons feed on human desires and are uncontrollable wildcards; they cannot live with the citizens. They would most likely stay in their own dimension. As for the gods, they cannot be called as such to prevent social and political issues. So, the official name of their race is the Spark Race.
With the help of Cronai, Edward fused the Black Clover and Konosuba World. The Black Clover world became a unique dimension that can grant people magical power after entering. Each individual can receive as much mana as a noble or as little as Chris.
Luckily, it did not matter. With the bloodline research and Karma System of the Konosuba World, every citizen is guaranteed to become a Tier 3 Arcanist with enough effort. However, to go beyond that will require them to risk their lives.
One of the problems he has to deal with is the sudden increase of people with magical power. When Aura Training became mandatory for everyone, there was a long period of chaos with people abusing their power.
Fortunately, the Empire learned from its mistakes. Before the announcement, the Auror Force drastically increased as many people were chosen to use the two dimensions before the public. Their existence was to deal with the possible upcoming chaos.
Of course, new systems were implemented to prevent Auror Department from having too much power and becoming corrupt.
Another department that was drastically increased was the Medicine Department; the government wanted to prepare for the increase in magical-related injuries.
While reviewing the documents, someone walked inside the room. "How did it go?" he asked without raising his head.
"We've rooted all the Underworld members," reported Grindelwald, the commander of the Ghost Squad. In recent years, Guzznad has corrupted many members of the Empire, resulting in the creation of the terrorist organization named Underworld.
Through divination, the Empire has rooted many of them. But they would sprout out again. It was until recently that Luna–with the help of Ichika, Yami's sister and also known as the Divine Maiden–divine all the members. They used the Tier 10 Floating City to boost their abilities to get everyone.
Then, the Ghost Squad cleaned up every member–from lowly businessmen to politicians and even two Tower Masters.
"Do you think they will sprout again?" asked Edward.
"Definitely. Guzznad won't give up so easily."
"We just have to be more proactive on the clean-up process." He had faith in his Divination Department–especially with the addition of Ichika, someone as talented as a Seer.
"Is there something else?" asked Edward.
"Yes. I think it's time for the Ghost Squad to be decentralized. We need a separate branch focus on spying and assassination."
Edward moved his eyes from the screen before him, looking at Grindelwald oddly. It was the first time he met someone asking to reduce the power they controlled.
"Don't look at me like this," replied the former first-generation Dark Lord. "I'm only looking out for the Empire." His dream has always been the prosperity of wizards. And now that his dream had been accomplished, he did not want anything to come to ruin it. As such, the Empire must be as mighty as possible.
"You may be correct." Divination was not always the answer. And having a group under him focused directly on assassination would make things easier; he could use many shadow tactics. The Ghost Squad can then concentrate on pure military power.
"I will take that into mind." Grindelwald nodded before sending him the report and leaving. Edward supervised everything.
"Master, I think we find why Chris is a lynchpin."
"Oh, let me see." Edward read the idea Chris submitted, and his eyes lit up.
"Go invite him to dinner."
Edward waited for his guest in front of a table. He did not use the usual big table for family dinners or the long table to receive foreign visitors. It was a small one so that they could be face-to-face in a conversation.
"Welcome," said Edward as Chris walked into the room.
"Your Majesty," Chris wanted to bow properly, but Edward stopped him.
"You can be at ease," reassured Edward before they sat down, ate, and chatted.
"You seem confused and even hesitant," said Edward.
"I am."
"What's on your mind? Ask anything, and I'll answer."
"My idea. I don't think it warrants all of this," said Chris looking at all the luxury surrounding him. The current him could sense the magic emanating from every brick of this palace.
"Your idea is more valuable than you think," commented Edward. "There has been an issue between Battle and Scholar Arcanist for quite some type. Without research, experiments, and innovation, it is a hundred times more difficult for Battle Arcanists to improve their Soul Strength and reach a higher Tier. It is harder for them to expand their magic core to contain more mana and more difficult for them to condense their mana into liquid and solid.
"On average, Battle Arcarnists have a higher Willpower than Scholars. Your research can allow them to use their Willpower to compensate for the gap. From now on, the playing field will be leveled."
Chris did not think so far about his research. But his original intention was to make up for his lack of talent: to use his Willpower to do the things his soul could not do.
"And I can tell you this is not the only benefit your research can bring," added Edward. "I've recently discovered Willpower is critical to the Arcane Path: it is the thing that will make us both equals to the Gods and even surpass them."
Chris trembled as he realized the scope of what he had gotten involved with. However, he tried really hard to control himself.
"There is currently no universal way to train Willpower. I'm hoping that you will create such a method."
Chris remembered his test and how the tester was shocked by his Willpower of 2. He took a deep breath to calm down.
"I think you're overestimating my capabilities."
"You're underestimating your value," countered Edward before explaining to him the existence of lynchpins and all the others. Chris was once again shocked as he never thought there was anything special about him.
"Wait, is that why Cruz contacted me 15 years ago?"
"Yes. A terrorist organization was suspicious of your lynchpin identity and wanted to steer you to another destiny." Edward did not tell him they had tried to kill him a few times in the past months, but the Ghost Squad secretly protected him.
"So, what happens now?" asked Chris after processing all this information.
"I will give you all the resources you need for your research."
"Including a Dragon Potion?" he asked rather swiftly.
"Yes, a Level 5 potion is a must. I can even grant you the level 6 one if you succeed."
"There is a sixth level?"
"It's an open secret, but there is a sixth level brewed from a Dragon King Heart."
Chris sat in a daze without knowing what to do. Then, tears began to fall from his eyes, making him embarrassed.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm sorry, your majesty," Chris said, wiping the tears. "I've spent decades saving for a Level 3 Potion, hoping to change my fate and pursue my dream. But now, an even better one is granted to me.
"My life has changed so much in the past month that I feel overwhelmed."
Edward sighed before patting his shoulder: "One of the flaws of a meritocracy system is that it values the gifted to the point of harming ordinary people. I've tried to make things fair and give everyone an opportunity. But even I cannot create a perfect system."
"I was not blaming you; No, I would never." Chris understood this truth. In the Empire, if you are talented, many opportunities await you. However, if you are ordinary, the only way to change your fate is through hard work and long years of unrelenting efforts. Because he understood this truth, he saved money for so many years for the potion.
The two chatted for a few hours before Chris left. He had much to do, mostly attending school, as his magical knowledge was probably on par with a 4th-year student at Hogwarts; he had a long way to go.