"I am still only a step away from you, but in an attosecond, it's a chasm even light cannot cross," Murphy continued. "Magic appears miraculous to Muggles, but it is conceivable. Yet what Muggle technology can achieve is beyond the imagination of wizards."
"They can manipulate an atom, even an electron, with such precision it's like carving a city model on the tip of a needle or a cosmic giant with eyeballs as big as this planet performing limb amputation on the ant on my hand."
Murphy, saying this, let an ant crawl onto his palm and showed it to the Empress.
"At such a microscopic observation scale, the disturbance caused by magic can no longer be hidden."
"The exposure of magic is inevitable."
"Within fifty years, Muggles will surely discover wizards if we maintain our current state."
The Empress gazed at the ant in Murphy's hand, imagining a giant with eyes as large as planets, whose hands capable of holding thousands of worlds, holding a tiny surgical knife, smaller than her finger, performing surgery on an ant.
The immense contrast between the large and the small made her dizzy for a moment, but also helped her grasp Murphy's point.
"If Muggles really can achieve such feats, it indeed seems impossible to me."
"The collapse of the Statute of Secrecy is just a matter of time. In fact, this trend is already showing signs. We established connections with Muggle leaders because we alone can no longer completely conceal the existence of the wizarding world."
"The exponential growth of technology is an unstoppable trend. Unless we start now to interfere with Muggle technological progress, stopping their development, or reducing their population to a level that cannot threaten us, establishing a world where wizards rule over Muggles, we can only adapt to this trend."
"And it's already too late to start now. You may have heard of Grindelwald. That era might have been the last chance to stop the explosion of Muggle technology. But now, that opportunity has been missed."
"Imagine, if we continue to adhere to that ancient law from three hundred years ago, desperately hiding our existence, what will happen when Muggles discover us in a few decades?"
"By then, Muggles will have unimaginable power. Even if our race possesses magic, we won't have any advantage. At best, we will be enslaved, corralled, and used as subjects for magical research."
"The more likely outcome is that we will resist this fate and then be annihilated."
The Empress looked at him somewhat shocked, "So, are you trying to save the world?"
"No, that's just incidental. As I said, my only purpose is to explore magic."
Sofia pondered for a long while, then said, "What you have told me is something I've never heard before. I lack understanding of the Muggle world, but it seems very plausible. Assuming what you say is correct, why did you choose the Soviet Union? You are clearly British."
"Britain won't work. Firstly, it lacks military strength, making it easy to manipulate. Secondly, its industrial capacity isn't sufficient to be self-sufficient. And its system isn't centralized enough to focus resources."
"The Soviet Union is most suitable."
"So, you intend to rule the Soviet Muggle society?" the Empress asked.
"You misunderstand, Your Majesty. I have no interest in ruling anyone."
"I just need more people to participate in the construction of scientific magic projects. Scientists are a priority, but besides that, a market capable of digesting this massive industry is needed, as well as a force to protect it."
"I wanted to work through the Soviet president because it's the most convenient and feasible plan."
"At the same time, what I do will inevitably benefit the Soviet people. I don't need to forcibly reverse anything, just a stable and safe environment to develop my enterprise."
"So, this is just your interest, but you want billions of Soviet Muggles to work for it," the Empress challenged.
"That's why I'm fortunate, Your Majesty. My interest coincides with the benefit of the Soviet people and the trend of the future world. Advancing towards my interest while doing something for those billions of Muggles and for world peace, why not?"
"You think you can change the world?"
"I already am," Murphy replied.
"You're a madman, Mr. Murphy."
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."
The Empress watched him for a long while before looking away, "But my family has always been easily attracted by madmen."
Sofia stood up, facing Lake Ladoga.
After a while, she said, "I now understand your ambition."
"Very crazy, but I see your sincerity."
"Soviet Union is my territory."
"Even if my power only extends to the wizarding world. Any wizard who wants to do anything within Soviet borders must have my permission."
"Of course." Murphy bowed slightly. "That's why I am here."
"To get my permission, you need to do something for me," the Empress said.
"Whatever you command."
"Kill Ivan Frederick for me."
"I thought
you just wanted to take back your power," Murphy said. "Isn't the Grand Duke your uncle?"
"He's a traitor, betraying his sister's trust and his monarch."
"Is that your only reason for wanting him dead?" Murphy asked.
If that were the case, Murphy might reassess the value of cooperating with this Empress. An emotional ruler is not a good partner.
"His mother Margaret's family holds great power in Arkaim. Without Ivan's death, they won't submit to me. Killing Ivan is the least bloody solution."
Murphy looked at the fifteen-year-old girl in front of him. Her silver hair was neatly done, and her sharp blue eyes, bright as morning stars, held a will capable of traversing mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
This girl is crazy enough.
But interesting.
"Do you have a plan? Or do you expect me to sneak in and start a massacre?"
"Protecting Ivan are two powerful shamans, one of them is the former royal guard captain, Sofi Christian, Ivan's half-brother, and the other is 'Earth's Song,' Felipe Carlos, Ivan's cousin and the current rotational shaman of the ancestral tombs."
"I will find a way to distract Felipe and have Lady Yaga stop him for you. But Sofi is always by Ivan's side. He is very strong, rumored to be the most formidable combat mage. You'll need to breach his guard to kill Ivan."
Murphy nodded, "One question. I heard Arkaim is isolated from the outside world. How do I get in?"
"To continue the royal bloodline, Arkaim still maintains intermarriage with other European wizarding families. Although we haven't interacted with the British for centuries, you can still... enter as a matrimonial delegation."
"…A proposal?"
"I'll turn 16 next month, legally an adult by Arkaim law. Ivan wants me to marry his son Ras, so he can continue as regent. But as Empress, I have the right to choose my own husband. So, half a month ago, Arkaim invited several ancient wizarding families from Europe."
The Empress handed a lavish letter to Murphy, bearing the double-headed eagle and totems of a bear, deer, wolf, and wild boar.
"The Darkholms are hardly an ancient wizarding family…" Murphy said.
The Empress glanced at him, "It's just a means to enter the city. I'm not asking you to marry me."
Murphy breathed a sigh of relief, "Then I'm relieved."
Sofia's gaze seemed to sharpen for a moment, "The next steps will be communicated to you. You may leave now."
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT