The meeting had finally adjourned, and the room began to empty. But Circe, the Head of the Imperial Magic Department, remained seated, her eyes fixed on Alberto with a piercing gaze. Her military outfit, adorned with a maroon overcoat and gold bullion fringe, seemed to radiate an air of authority.
< | The Imperial Magic Department's job is to research various things and assist the Imperial military in battle when necessary. They are currently working together on the Science and Technology Department for developing special weapons for the Imperial Army so that the soldiers can fight against supernatural enemies.
However, there are very few people within the Imperial Magic Department. Alberto wants to summon more people for the Imperial Magic Department in the future. But the mages were very valuable. There was also a certain limit to how many he could summon. Also, Archmages like Circe are only available through Hero cards or mystery boxes. |>
Alberto, sensing her gaze, turned to face her. "Circe, do you have something to say?" he asked, his tone neutral, but with a hint of curiosity.
Circe's hands slammed down on the table, making a loud noise that echoed through the room. "My lord, have you forgotten your word?" she demanded, her voice laced with anger and disappointment.
Alberto's expression faltered, confusion etched on his face. "Excuse me, but what are you talking about?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Circe's finger jabbed at him, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Your Majesty, how could you forget it?" she shouted, her voice rising in indignation.
Carl, standing beside Alberto, stepped forward, his face pale with concern. "Lady Circe, correct your manners! You are speaking to the Emperor," he admonished, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his voice firm but respectful.
Alberto is a little nervous about Circe's change.
Hmm. What's going on? Has she turned against me?!
System, show me Circe's status.
Race: Human (Enhanced by Magic)
Hero Class: Legendary Sorceress
•Imperial Magic Department Head
Loyalty: 100% (To the Emperor, not necessarily to the Empire's ideals)
Strength: 36,000 /100,000 (Enhanced by magic)
Mana: 178,000 /200,000
Health: 78,000 /100,000 (Enhanced by magic)
Dexterity: S (Enhanced by magic)
Constitution: A (Enhanced by magic)
Black Flame: A unique spell that conjures black flames imbued with dark energy, capable of inflicting powerful magical damage and negating healing effects.
Shadow Warp: A teleportation spell that allows her to teleport instantly to any location within a certain radius.
Huh! Her Loyalty to me has not diminished. Hm...Why is she angry?...
Alberto raised a calming hand. "Carl, calm down. Circe, then what are you angry about?"
Circe's anger seemed to simmer down, replaced by a hint of sadness. "Majesty, you said we would go for a tour of the city. But it's been a long time since you said that," she said, her voice laced with a hint of longing.
Ah! So, it's the reason
Alberto's expression softened, "Oh! About that. But I was very busy. Also, we had a lot of work," he said, his voice apologetic.
Circe's eyes flashed with frustration. "But my lord, I want to explore the city with you. All your work is done today. Let's take a look outside," she said, her voice rising in passion.
Alberto thought for a while, his eyes locked on Circe's. "Okay," he said finally, a small smile playing on his lips.
Circe's face lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "Really!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
___________________________
They are walking down the corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls. The corridors were 15 meters wide, and the high ceilings seemed to stretch up to the sky.
Circe decides to talk about something to break the silence.
"Umm…Your Majesty, What plans do you have for the human villages to the East?" she said, her eyes darting to Alberto's face.
Alberto's expression was calm, but his voice was firm. "Huh! I discussed this with Marcus. We will give these tribes two choices: maybe they will become our citizens, and if they refuse, they will have to fight us." he said, his eyes scanning the corridor.
"Your Majesty, If they all decide to fight." Circe said with a smile, " Will you order everyone to be killed?"
Alberto stops for a while.
"It's not that we didn't give them a chance. Their future depends on their decisions."
Circe's eyes snapped up to Alberto's face, her expression curious. "Umm...Your Majesty, I need some test subjects for my research. Can I get some tribal people?"
Alberto took a step back, his brow furrowed in thought. "I understand your need for research," he said slowly, his voice tinged with concern. "But... we need to consider the ethical implications. These are sentient beings, not mere lab rats. We can't use them as test subjects?"
Circe's expression remained impassive. " It's right," she said, her voice cool and dismissive. "However, Their lives are insignificant compared to the potential benefits of my research. This is about the greater good. About securing the future of the Empire."
Alberto knew that arguing with Circe was a futile exercise.
" Could we utilize existing research data, or perhaps simulate the desired conditions through magical means?"
Circe's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze unwavering. "Such methods would be inefficient, imprecise, and ultimately ineffective," she stated, her tone leaving no room for argument. "The most accurate data, the most valuable insights, come from direct observation, from the study of live subjects."
As they walked, a few maids passed by them, their crisp white uniforms and aprons a stark contrast to the opulent decorations of the palace. They were young women, their faces smooth and unlined, their hair pulled back into neat buns. They wore white gloves and carried small baskets of linens and cleaning supplies.
One of the maids, a petite girl with a smattering of freckles across her nose, caught Alberto's eye. She curtsied deeply, her eyes cast down at the floor. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alberto nodded, his expression gracious. "Good day, Yara," he said, his voice warm.
The other maids followed Yara's lead, curtsying and greeting Alberto with soft voices Then they left. Circe watched them with a smile.
Alberto looked at Circe again "Circe, I know your research is very important to us. But using people in research... that's too much."
Alberto remembers some memories from his old life, where he heard about human experiment.
"But you can experiment on monsters. I heard our soldiers captured several trolls. I'm interested in their ability to regenerate."
"Huh! I get it," she said, her voice a low murmur,a hint of defeat
As they continued walking, Alberto's pace quickened, and Circe quickly followed him, her eyes fixed on his back. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the corridor.