Sovereign of the Ashes

“I’ll accept the secret mission you mentioned last time.”

Within the agreed-upon timeframe, Sein contacted Mayne.

Since this mission was highly anticipated by an overlord-level being, Sein naturally wanted to execute it flawlessly.

Human progress knew no bounds, and Sein also wanted to reach greater heights.

He could have chosen a more stable path, like that of Marcus, who, even at an older age, still had the chance to aim for Rank Six.

Yet, Sein preferred a faster, more aggressive path.

After all, he was not the kind of mage content with a quiet life.

“Haha, I knew you wouldn’t let my grandfather and the others down!” Mayne cheered.

“As for the mission details, I will go over them with you later. You should get ready to leave Magus World for a while, so make sure everything is arranged properly, especially your divine tower,” he added.

“So, I’ll really have to leave Magus World for a while, huh?” Sein nodded thoughtfully.

***

Shortly after, Mayne visited Sein again.

He did not discuss the specifics of the mission, but instead took him to Sky City.

Inside a large building in the deepest part of Sky City, Sein met Klopp, the knight overlord.

Mayne was already gone, and this was the first time Sein had ever set foot in this place.

Sky City served as the political and intellectual center of the Magus Civilization. In the past, high-ranking officials from across Magus World had often gathered here for meetings.

There were not just libraries, archives, and heavy industry laboratories in this city. Some hidden high-rises and areas protected with magic arrays had special purposes that even Sein did not know about.

“Sir Klopp, what mission do you have for me this time?” Sein asked respectfully.

Klopp chuckled and went over the mission details with him.

It turned out Sein was to infiltrate the Gallant Federation and conduct a subversion and rescue operation behind enemy lines.

Because the matter was so sensitive, Sein had to travel to Sky City in person to receive the assignment.

The place Sein needed to go was Nexon, located in the central region of the Gallant Federation.

It was an artificial, medium-sized mechanical planet.

Sein had long heard that the Gallant Federation possessed an “artificial planet” capable of supporting a complete ecosystem.

He never expected his next mission would send him to one.

“Nexon is a crucial robot production base within the Gallant Federation. Along the long shared border with our Magus Civilization, Nexon and the dozens of mechanical planets surrounding it supply a quarter of the lower-tier robots for the border of the Netherworld Star Domain. Hence, capturing this mechanical planet holds immense strategic value for our overall plan,” Klopp explained.

“Around Nexon, aside from a small contingent of Federation forces, the main force is divided into three parts.

“One is the Titanfangs, a mechanical legion led by a Rank Six robot who have gained self-awareness. It is our main target for recruitment. Your mission is to infiltrate Nexon and establish contact with Titanfang, their leader.

“The second is the mechanical legion led by another Rank Six robot, Skyhold. Its prestige and influence surpass Titanfang’s, but based on our observations, there’s still a high chance of recruiting it. Whether you choose to approach Skyhold will be up to you.

“The final force is the largest in Nexon—the robot legion with no self-awareness. They are completely loyal to the Gallant Federation, so you must be careful not to get detected by them. According to Titanfang, if the timing is right, it can infiltrate and take control of part of this legion’s chips, bending them to its will.

“Anyway, your primary mission is to recruit the Titanfangs. They might have reservations about joining our Magus Alliance, but if they truly want to break free from the Gallant Federation’s control, they’ll need our help.”

Klopp chuckled.

“There’s another optional secret task for you; failure is acceptable. Investigate whether there are any special Gallant Federation labs around Nexon, and why some robots, like Titanfang and Skyhold, have gained self-awareness.

“The signs of robot rebellion within the Gallant Federation have caught the interest of many mages in our world. Some say it’s caused by a peculiar virus, and if we can figure it out, it might prove useful in the Clash of Civilizations. Others believe that if we uncover the truth, we could use it to strengthen our soul control over our armies of enslaved creatures.

“But I believe these are secondary matters. Your main task is still to bring Titanfangs to our side. Make sure you have your priorities straight. If Nexon truly held any shocking secrets, the Gallant Federation would have acted long ago.

“Compared to certain soul overmages who harbor unrealistic fantasies of suddenly gaining control over all the robot legions of the Gallant Federation, I think it’s far more practical to focus on securing the loyalty of robots like Titanfangs who are actually willing to defect.”

Klopp shook his head, his words offering Sein a glimpse into his personality.

“For this infiltration mission, am I the only one being sent by the Magus Civilization?” Sein asked.

“Rank Five or higher beings stand out too much and would have a hard time completely slipping under the Gallant Federation’s radar, so the ones chosen for this mission are all Rank Four. You’re not the only one.

“But for various reasons, you’ll all depart at different times, and your infiltration routes into the Gallant Federation will also differ. I won’t tell you how many others there are or who they are.

“In any case, as long as you complete the mission and return alive, the Magus Alliance will grant you the promised rewards.

“I heard from Mayne that you asked about receiving a Golden Apple as a reward? If you succeed, I can give you either a Golden Apple or a world-class secret treasure of equal value,” Klopp surprisingly said.

The promise of such a generous reward made clear both the risks and the opportunities of this mission.

Klopp’s tempting offer did not sway Sein. While processing his words, he examined the blue light orb in his hand.

This orb was an important tool for the mission. Whether the Titanfangs could completely break free from the Gallant Federation’s command systems seemed deeply tied to it.

Of course, such a powerful tool, capable of freeing a Rank Six robot from control commands buried deep within its code, was undoubtedly the work of a Magus World soul overmage!

Even with the help of his Faceless Mask, Sein could not discern the light orb’s true nature.

It seemed to hold a special lumen elemental law within, along with countless occult arts and mechanical knowledge.