Chapter 227: No One Can Refuse Me

They circled around the tree and soon arrived at the center of the anomaly.

It was a huge pit.

"To get closer, it's best to summon your guardian spirits," the wizard advised.

Azir summoned a silver wolf spirit, and the boy behind him called forth a silver-white snow leopard.

The pit was nearly a hundred meters wide and bottomless. Its walls were covered with the same "death curses" seen earlier on the trees. Even the air was tinged with a terrifying decay energy, which was why the wizard had them summon their guardian spirits.

The luminance of the guardian spirits helped them resist the decay's erosion, allowing them to approach the pit.

Here, the scattered force of the death curse was almost unbearable. Even with the protection of the guardian spirits, they soon felt an overwhelming weakness.

"Your Highness, cough... we need to leave this place..." Azir said.

But the boy seemed deaf to his words, his eyes turning silver-white as if piercing through reality, glimpsing hidden pasts and futures.

"I see... darkness," the boy said. "Lightning, disease, storms, and death..."

"Black wings, horns on the head, armored in scales, Alexei called him the Horned God..."

"Crows, thousands of crows..."

"Terrible magical power... even the ancestral giants couldn't withstand a blow..."

"Black hair... black eyes... I saw his face..."

Suddenly, the boy cried out, snapping out of his trance.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?!" Azir was startled, even forgetting to hide the other's identity. "Are you hurt? The Grand Shaman always said you shouldn't commune with spirits too often, it consumes your life..."

"I saw him," the boy said. "I saw his face."

"What? Was it terrifying?"

"No," the boy shook his head. "He was handsome."

"..."

"I also tapped into a bit of his thoughts..." the boy seemed puzzled. "Azir, what's an antenna? Also, has something happened in the Muggle society?"

...

Next to the train, another wizard spoke, "Shaman Azir, we've checked, this is the Muggle president's train. Our two wizards, Vitali Pizhigood and Nigeniel Belinsky, were responsible for his protection. But they're both missing now."

"Vitali..." Azir frowned. He was a peer from his time at the Ancestral Tomb School, very formidable.

So he was on this train.

"What about the Muggle president?"

"He's fine. Some Muggle soldiers on the train are dead, and others are injured. They're all unconscious now, as if cursed."

"This can't be a coincidence," Azir said. "There's definitely a conspiracy. Did these Muggles see anything?"

"We interrogated a few of them. Most are somewhat confused. Some say they were attacked by many crows, others mention werewolves," the wizard explained. "The evidence of battle around the train suggests they're telling the truth, but their memories seem fragmented."

"What about the Muggle president? Did you question him?"

"He..." the wizard hesitated, "he seems to know nothing, but claims he experienced a revelation. He saw God."

...

"They've gone in."

Dozens of kilometers away, on the outskirts of Bryansk, the werewolf mercenary Radwan watched Chobagov's special train enter the city and then looked away.

"All clear here."

Then he turned to Murphy, asking doubtfully, "What about Chinayev? Just letting him go? How do we ensure he'll follow our orders?"

"The situation's blown up too big. The Soviet Ministry of Magic can't fail to notice. The train's too damaged to repair, and we can't revive those dead soldiers. The scene must remain as is," Murphy explained. "The Soviet wizards will investigate the train. Any substitute or other methods might be discovered. Then, following the trail, we might get exposed."

"As for how to make him obey... he's an Orthodox believer. Though not devout before, he's a zealot now."

"He'll believe he's received a divine mission to preserve Soviet unity."

"He'll do anything to achieve this goal."

"Of course, he'll continue receiving 'divine' guidance to fulfill his mission." 

Radwan had some guesses about Murphy's methods, which led to another question, "Then why didn't we start like this with him and Chobagov?"

"Because... they're both fools," Murphy sighed.

The Seed of Mind can change beliefs and thoughts, but it can't boost intelligence or reasoning. It's hard to turn a weak coward into a strong ruler or someone who only knows power struggles into a mature leader.

Therefore, Murphy had thought to replace them.

But now, under these circumstances, Chinayev had to stay.

Fortunately, he at least understood power struggles. At this stage, using him as a sharp weapon should suffice.

As for the future...

Despised by all and dying a martyr seemed a fitting end for a saint.

He would likely find it a fulfilling end.

Alas, with such a significant incident, the Soviet wizards would surely suspect it targeted the president.

The Seed of Mind is subtle, but there's no guarantee the Soviet wizards don't have some esoteric means of detection. Even if they don't, predicting their response is difficult.

Hopefully, most Soviet wizards are like Alexei, unconcerned with Muggle affairs.

Regardless, changes in Muggle society are likely to draw Soviet wizards' attention, no longer as stealthy as planned.

Looks like he'll have to deal more with the Soviet wizarding world.

Ah, why does every move he makes have to encounter so many obstacles?

...

"Your Highness, what do you think?" the boy asked Azir as they left the Muggle president's tent.

"He seems to be under a jinx or some control curse..."

"That's my thought," the boy said. "But I found no trace of magic. Did you find anything?"

Azir shook his head. "No. But if the one who cursed the Muggle president could kill the Grandmaster, nobody in Arkaim City would likely detect anything."

"So, a foreigner did this."

The boy pondered, raising his fair face to the clouds. "Erase the Muggles' memories, treat this as a simple accident. Also, don't tell Ivan or the Muggle president about this."

Azir looked puzzled. "Your Highness, that person who killed the Grandmaster might be planning something terrible for Muggle society. Do you intend to cover for him?"

The boy didn't answer, instead asking, "Azir, who do you think would win between me and Ivan?"

"What... Your Majesty..."

"Don't act as if it's your first time hearing this topic," the boy said harshly. "Ivan is my uncle, who governed for me in my youth and did well. I'm grateful for his contributions. But I'm fifteen now. I have the right to reclaim my position."

"Of course."

"But, I won't win," the boy said. "Even if the Grandmaster were alive and supported me, it would be the same. Ivan is smart and knows how to win hearts. The nobles of Arkaim are all tied to him; they won't side with me."

"So, you want to use external forces," Azir

 realized. "But it's too risky. You've seen their power, so evil..."

"But strong, right?"

Azir was speechless.

Such power to transform the forest... even the Grandmaster might not manage. If told the person was a true demon, he'd believe.

"But it's too risky. I know you want to escape Duke Ivan's control, but this is someone who killed the Grandmaster and cursed the Muggle president without hesitation. Cooperating with them is like serving yourself on a platter... Do you want to risk Arkaim being devoured?"

"Even if he wants Arkaim, so what? He's a man."

The young emperor, revealing her illusion, let her silvery hair cascade down. He—or rather, she—softened her features from stunningly handsome to breathtakingly beautiful.

"And I am a woman. A very beautiful woman."

The magical queen of the holy city of Arkaim declared with absolute confidence, "No one can refuse me."

Do you not want to see Russians? Fine. How about the White-Haired Empress?

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