[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware-":3,"chapter-just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-168":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Just Became a Mage, and My Skills Got Self-Aware? What the Hell?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2356778,4610,"Chapter 168","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>At the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far across the other side of the Earth, across the ocean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near the waters of Beautiful Country, a private island shrouded in dense vegetation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a secret private estate of the Adams family, the supreme rulers of Beautiful Country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The island had no modern skyscrapers; instead, it was filled with luxurious medieval Gothic castles, radiating a chilling, oppressive atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large transport aircraft bearing the Imperial Mark of Yingguo descended from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cargo door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man from Yingguo, dressed in a crisp suit with slicked-back hair, stepped down from the plane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Watanabe Junichi, Yingguo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, a squad of fully armed Yingguo soldiers escorted a group of people down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were dozens of young girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some wore school uniforms, others casual clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But without exception, their hands were locked in cold handcuffs, their eyes filled with despair and numbness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea breeze blew through them; they shivered in the cold, daring not to cry out loudly, like lambs awaiting slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not far away, several extended black luxury sedans had been waiting for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors opened, and a white middle-aged man, flanked by bodyguards, slowly approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Carter Adams, one of the core high-ranking members of the Adams family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, my dear Minister Watanabe, welcome, welcome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter’s words sounded warm, yet his expression radiated condescending arrogance, as if he were looking at a dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Respected Lord Carter! To meet you again is my honor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi hurried forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed deeply, his demeanor abjectly humble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter’s gaze passed over Watanabe and landed on the trembling girls behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, his brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I recall correctly, your Yingguo last supplied one hundred and fifty toys. What? Do you now think the protection of the Adams family has become so cheap?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the anger in Carter’s words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi trembled violently, sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no no! Lord Carter, please let me explain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We originally carefully selected two hundred of the finest girls from across the Empire to offer to you and the family elders!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe swallowed hard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you know, the sea monsters on the ocean are simply too numerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We had terrible luck this time—two 90-level Deep Sea Bosses attacked in succession!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two transport aircraft carrying the ‘cargo’ were lost. These are all we managed to save at the cost of our lives…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Watanabe’s explanation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter’s expression softened slightly—only slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, the oceans had always been a human forbidden zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even superpowers found transoceanic travel extremely dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter sneered arrogantly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time I’ll let it slide, but remember: your Yingguo owes the Adams family a quota. Next time you deliver tribute, you must make it up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this merciless rebuke, Watanabe Junichi felt a flash of humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, the esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yingguo, had been so powerful at home—yet here, he was scolded like a dog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he dared not resist in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Yes! Lord Carter, rest assured—the next delivery will be fully made up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi bowed deeply again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Watanabe so compliant, Carter nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casually changed the subject:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I heard your Yingguo’s current ‘Oni Corps’ is quite formidable—they’ve seized three team dungeon records from Longguo at once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this mention, Watanabe Junichi instinctively straightened his back a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face lit up with pride and excitement:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Lord Carter! This year’s Oni Corps is the strongest in the history of the Great Yingguo Empire!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve discovered a completely new method to break the dungeon mechanics. Even if Longguo had a hundred years, they could never reclaim those records.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, well done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter offered a perfunctory compliment, a cold smile curling at his lips:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoever makes Longguo suffer, the Adams family is more than happy to see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, idly adding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ve found this new method to break the mechanics, next time you deliver your tribute, include a full report of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Watanabe Junichi’s heart clenched tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the blood and sweat of the Empire’s prodigies—thousands of iterations, day and night!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, with just a careless word, he was expected to hand it all over?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing Carter’s cold, superior gaze,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi could only swallow his bitterness and reluctantly lower his head:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… Lord Carter, I’ll have my people prepare it immediately upon my return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter was satisfied with Watanabe’s attitude:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything that strikes at Longguo deserves reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Going forward, every time you break one of Longguo’s remaining dungeon records…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can petition the higher-ups to grant your Yingguo a reduction in next year’s resource tax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi nearly collapsed to his knees in excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Lord Carter! Thank you, Adams family, for your grace!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t thank me yet—this is still nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter stepped forward, lowering his voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that in the upcoming 30-level World Arena, your Yingguo has been matched against Longguo in the same battlefield zone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter sneered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watanabe, if your ‘Oni Corps’ can annihilate Longguo’s current ‘Dragon Order Class’ in the World Arena…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I guarantee, on behalf of the Adams family’s high council, that your Yingguo’s resource tax will be waived for three full months!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And in addition, I’ll provide you with three exclusive weapons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three months of tax exemption!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three exclusive weapons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi’s heart pounded wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem! Absolutely no problem!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi puffed out his chest, swearing solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their current Oni Corps was actually far better at killing people than fighting monsters!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Carter, wait for good news!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The strength of our Oni Corps is unmatched in the Empire’s history!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What Dragon Order Class? Before our Great Yingguo Empire’s Oni Corps, they’re nothing but lambs awaiting slaughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Carter threw his head back and laughed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached out and roughly ruffled Watanabe’s hair. “Good! I love this confident dog-like attitude of yours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watanabe Junichi could only force an awkward smile, letting Carter rub his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laughing, Carter’s gaze swept again over the Yingguo girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He licked his lips, revealing a grotesque, lecherous grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A twisted, perverse desire within him was fully ignited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you've come all this way, Lord Watanabe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carter turned his head and extended an invitation to Watanabe Junichi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did well today—you truly shamed Longguo. I grant you the privilege of joining me to enjoy the little trinkets you've paid as tribute.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Watanabe Junichi immediately wore a fawning smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is my honor, Lord Carter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1107,"2026-06-21T04:41:49.398Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","41182eb6d3fe22561622dd0042fcef30cfe6a1013a940d0186c38c403e809c0a","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-169","just-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--chapter-167",374,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fjust-became-a-mage-and-my-skills-got-self-aware--cover.jpg"]