I Created Scientific Magic

To please the lower-level citizens and undermine the foundation of the Church, the Wizard Council employed those impoverished citizens at a high price using the wealth they plundered. Then, they used the novel alchemical creations produced by them to exchange for high profits to maintain the status quo.

It must be said that the wizards were quite generous with their money, and this method was indeed very clever!

In just one year, the capital's citizens' inherent fear of the smoke-billowing workshops had turned into eagerness, and even pride, in working for the wizards!

However, there was a problem: as the citizens' savings increased, they were no longer willing to endure hunger. The black pack flour that used to sell out was now not even touched by the roadside dogs...

It's known that this had once been the staple food of the poor.

To cut costs, merchants would usually add some sawdust and grass to it—it was difficult to chew but could fill the stomach...

And now, in the capital, even the lowest of miners did not hesitate to buy a delicious piece of white bread.

This also caused the consumption of food to increase several times. The newly conquered eastern territories of the kingdom had a population of millions, and feeding so many mouths was not an easy task.

The grain convoys that came and went were enough to prove that the Council's food supplies were already insufficient.

At this time, if they started purchasing large amounts of wheat, they could destabilize the entire kingdom's grain trade, further reducing the already insufficient market supply and pushing prices up.

The poor with extra money would also start hoarding out of fear, creating a chain reaction!

"Now the kingdom under the wizards' rule is like a castle that is robust on the outside but crumbling inside. Just one fierce kick from us, and it will collapse loudly!" Marquis Mortan said resolutely.

After a series of analyses, the nobles present showed expressions of shock and awe.

This ruthless strategy could only be described as merciless!

"But the Empire, on the other hand..." Ske hesitated for a moment, as if the wizards could negotiate food through trade with the Empire, everything they were doing would be pointless.

"Don't worry, not a single grain will come from that direction!" Marquis Mortan assured.

The nobles present were not fools; they immediately realized that Marquis Mortan had gathered them here today surely at the Church's command.

However, this actually relieved everyone, as they were most adept at playing both sides to extract benefits. Currently, the Wizard's influence was dominant, having rallied a large number of the poor, and with their own strength, they had no room to resist.

"Marquis Mortan, your plan is indeed good, but what if those wizards directly attack us?" Viscount Ske said hesitantly.

The wizards, wielding powerful magic, would not care about any kingdom laws. If they angered this group, it wasn't impossible for them to come straight over and annihilate them all.

"We don't need to do it ourselves!" Mortan naturally had a plan ready, having their own trading groups buy up the grain and raise the prices—it was enough. What they needed to do was use their own financial resources and influence to add fuel to the fire from behind!

Moreover, the wizard's main forces were currently within the Empire's border, constantly facing fierce battles with the Church's punitive forces. If they completely turned against these nobles, the whole kingdom was at risk of overthrow!

With Mortan's explanations, Heerde and others put aside their doubts.

Thus, they need not confront those fierce wizards head-on.

Whether to force the wizards to concede using food as a bargaining chip or to completely stir chaos in the kingdom and revert to the former nobility and Church joint governance, they would decide the course!

Under the threat to their interests and the temptation to regain control of the kingdom, the nobles in the secret chamber made up their minds, ready to unite to show the economically clueless wizards the true power and wisdom of the nobility!

…

Late at night, the nobles who had come to the meeting left Marquis Mortan's castle through the secret passage, their demeanor completely transformed from their previously worried faces to one full of fighting spirit, showing excitement and exhilaration, as if they had already seen the dawn of victory!

Amidst them, Jeff maintained a superficial smile, but his heart was plunged into deep worry.

As a minor Baron, although Jeff had his own small fiefdom, thanks to his adaptable and clever mind, he was not greatly affected under the wizard's rule, and had even benefited considerably.

For instance, three months ago he had leased out the mining and farming rights of his domain along with twenty thousand serfs, yielding nearly a thousand Imperial Gold Coins per year in rent—far more than he had ever earned from painstakingly managing his lands!

Jeff had no grand ambitions; collecting rents, dabbling in novel and interesting Witchcraft creations, seeking a few beautiful maids, and contributing to the growth of his family was his life's ideal!

Most crucially, he was not optimistic about Marquis Mortan's so-called extermination strategy. Jeff was very aware that driving large numbers of impoverished people into workshops was not about neglecting the land but because farming simply didn't need so many hands!

Previously, he had returned to his own domain and witnessed something called the "Farming Machine."

This alchemical creation was terrifying: controlled by just one or two people, it could easily cultivate dozens of acres of land!

Therefore, the Wizard Council wasn't as short of food as Mortan and others had anticipated…

However, Jeff knew his influence was minimal, and reporting the kingdom's nobles' clandestine conspiracy without sufficient evidence would likely not be taken seriously.

After pondering for a moment, Jeff quickly thought of his own lord!

As His Majesty's most capable right-hand man, one who had supported King Hattar's accession to the throne, known privately among many nobles as the Wizard's lackey, Duke Gard!

He was the highest-ranking person Jeff could contact at the moment.

Thinking it over, Jeff no longer hesitated and left the Marquis's castle, heading overnight to Duke Gard's residence in the capital.

After informing the guard, he quickly gained an audience.

Stepping slowly into the spacious inner chamber, Jeff waited for a while. The robed Duke Gard soon entered with a few guards.

"Please forgive my disturbance of your rest, Duke," Jeff said, bowing respectfully.

"Let's hear it, sir. What brings you here so late? Is there something important you need to report?" asked Duke Gard, his tone a bit impatient.

"My lord, it concerns Marquis Mortan..." Jeff truthfully reported. He recounted, in full detail, how Mortan had covertly summoned over forty kingdom nobles that night to conspire in buying up large quantities of food to artificially create a famine.

After hearing Jeff's account, Duke Gard pondered for a while, "You've done very well, sir. I will report this matter truthfully to His Majesty King Hattar."

Jeff didn't dare take credit, but before he could demur, Duke Gard asked again.

"How many people have you told about this?"

"Only you, my lord!" Jeff hurriedly replied.

"Very good, very good indeed!" Gard nodded in satisfaction. He then had an attendant bring over a bag of gold as a reward for relaying the message. "If this matter proves true, you will certainly receive a fitting commendation!"

Jeff joyfully received it; the bag was heavy, containing at least two hundred Imperial Gold Coins.

"You may go and rest now," Gard motioned with his hand.

As Jeff turned and secured the bag full of gold, a faint unease unexplainably crept into his heart, persisting until he was about to step out of the chamber. Only then did he suddenly realize that after hearing his narrative, the Duke's demeanor was perhaps too calm, his face showing not a hint of surprise from start to finish.

Almost as if he had already known the news...

Jeff's unease grew stronger, and as he crossed the threshold, this unease turned into a profound sense of danger.

Almost instinctively, Jeff's right hand reached for the hilt of his sword, but faster were the guards with their Crossbow Arrows!

Sharp arrows pierced through Jeff's chest, arm, and leg in an instant, followed by a long sword that cleaved through the air. Amidst spraying blood, Jeff's round head was chopped off, his eyes wide with incomprehension…

Gard dropped the blood-stained sword and looked indifferently at the surrounding guards. He spoke.

"Clean up the body, and tell Mortan to be more careful next time not to let such people slip in."