[I forgot to mention I retcon something in the chapter labeled Primordial Runes (II). Odin acquired Primordial Runes at Tier 10, not 12.]
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"How long has passed?" asked Edward.
"72 years," replied Morgana.
"So long?" Edward did not feel the passage of time because he was engrossed in his research.
"What about outside?"
"There are two weeks left before the Bone Council meeting."
"I see. Then, we must deal with the situation."
Edward left his room as he went to check on the Empire. Only two weeks had passed since he punished Guzznad, but his news was still a hot topic across the entire galaxy.
Meanwhile, the recuperation effort of the war had ended, and the government focused on properly governing the large territory, ensuring that all the new races and species were integrated without any issue.
The number of Arcanists in the Empire is rising every day. With the Black Clover Dimension, no matter how magically inept a race is, they can acquire mana after stepping into it.
Then, they only need to kill creatures in the Konosuba Dimension and raise their mana, soul power, and magical state to Tier 3.
Then, with such a large population of magical users, the development of magic and technology in the Empire will further accelerate.
Edward finished reviewing the things he needed to pay attention to during his brief absence. Besides the fact that the elves began to show terrifying talents after being cloned, nothing is noteworthy.
"Any news on the Savant Race?"
"No, these people are very good at anti-Divination," replied Luna, feeling a little frustrated.
"Hermione heard some news in the Abyss and went to check it. However, she sent news a few days ago that it was nothing but rumors. However, she did learn of another clue and was pursuing it.
"We have found the archives, relics, and tombs of many ancient races in this galaxy," said Rowena. "I hope we can find some information. However, we are still deciphering many things."
"I see. Well, as long as there is some progress. Anyway, we still have 50 years."
"That's not really a lot of time," added Olivier. "Although it's still better than nothing."
If Cronai had not intervened, the Guardians probably would have immediately come to arrest Edward, forcing them to fight back and have no choice but to run away. In the worst-case scenario, many people might have died in the process.
"Are you leaving?" asked Rowena.
"Yes, I need to make a short voyage and get something from another world."
"Do you want someone to go with you?"
"No need. This time, I'm truly going for a short voyage. I will be back in no time."
Time was of the essence, and Edward did not have the desire to spend a lot of time in another world, let alone waste resources to buy another Time Dilation Artifact from the Akashic Record.
Edward chatted with his family briefly before taking one of the Tier 9 floating cities and leaving. Netheril is still needed to keep the fog around the Milky Way and isolate it from the outside.
He was extremely careful while navigating into the Void this time around. He hoped his luck would not be as terrible as the last time and accidentally met another powerful creature.
As fate would have, Edward did not encounter any trouble. He soon reached his destination and entered the world. In the process, he entered a blockade that required subtle manipulation before reaching his destination.
Then, he immediately sent probes to check the environment and rules of the sect.
"It's not as bad as I anticipated," muttered Edward. Although this world was mainly technology-based, magic still existed, so his powers would not be completely sealed and require great time to adapt.
"Have you found our target?" asked Edward.
"Yes, I've found a few."
"Good. Capture 10 of them. Choose one with variety so we can compare."
"As you wish."
A few minutes later, Edward walked into a room in the city with ten captured individuals, all elderly men in lab coats, blue shirts, and green pants.
"Rick Sanchez, it's a pleasure to meet you," said Edward.
"Bastard, since you know who I am, you should know the consequences of kidnapping me?" yelled one of the Ricks.
"I'm very well aware of what you're capable of," nodded Edward before snapping his hand and sealing their mouths.
"Do you scan his memories?"
"Yes."
"I'm guessing the process was not simple?"
"You're right. This man's mind was a labyrinth, full of protections and traps. It's almost as bad as you," said Morgana.
"As long as we get the information we want."
"True."
"Scan their brain composition and Life Code. Having the genetic information of such a smart man will benefit us immensely."
Morgana nodded while Edward walked into another room. A screen floated before him with a formula. Without hesitation, he began to make what was on the blueprint.
Soon, Edward created a gun powered by a green fluid.
"What an ingenious method to achieve interdimensional travel," he commented on the technological marvel of this gun. He pointed at a wall and fired it.
He walked through the portal and teleported to another dimension. Edward acquired the coordinates of many places from the Portal Guns of the captured Rick.
So, he tested the coordinates, traveling to a few dimensions, parallel timelines, and places in the universe.
"After I changed the formula, I can use this technology to replace the Warp Portals of the Empire."
Warp Portals are being constructed daily for the Empire's newly conquered territory, linking everybody together. In the future, any Earthling can instantly travel to the farthest end of the galaxy with these portals.
However, Warp Portals are expensive and require Arcanists efficient in Space Magic to install. However, with Rick's Portal Gun, he can create new and cheaper portals with the same and even better effect.
"Furthermore, I can begin my Omniverse Gate Project."
After almost dying in the Void, Edward has been planning to create a gate that can travel from one universe to another without entering the Void. By then, he only needs to buy the coordinate from the Akashic Record and use his Omniverse Gate to travel to wherever he desires.
Sadly, such technology was too advanced for him. Now, with this Portal Gun, he saw the hope of accomplishing it.
After finishing the test, Edward returned to the city.
"How is it?"
"Besides the slight difference between these two, the rest were the same."
Two of the Ricks grew in dimensions where humans had frog and lizard appearances, so their genetic makeup was not the same.
"The only question now is whether the rest are different from Rick C-137."
The show Rick and Morty followed the adventure of Rick C-137. So far, it showed that he was unique amongst all his counterpart variants. Edward wanted to know whether his Life Code would be different from the rest.
"Alright. Let's proceed with the plan."
Edward turned himself into Rick, while Morgana created a body that resembled Mortay. Then, they teleported to the Citadel, where the Council of Ricks was located.
Edward's objective was the Citadel. Rick C-137 used the Citadel to create the Central Finite Curve, which is a wall around Infinity. Rick used technology to isolate a piece of the Multiverse, banding countless timelines together. In other words, he created a smaller Multiverse inside the larger Multiverse.
And in that small multiverse, every variation of himself is the smartest person alive.
Edward's goal is to get his hands on the Citadel's technology and build a wall around his timeline, isolating it from his other variants.