Chapter 316: If it were earlier

Cassandra walked slowly toward the podium, each step taken with extreme composure.

The podium, constructed from otherworldly materials, glowed faintly beneath her feet, as if responding to the terrifying energy contained within her body.

The "Time Crystals" embedded in the edges of the podium began to flicker rhythmically, perfectly synchronized with the frequency of her heartbeat.

When she stood still, the entire "Star Fall Hall" fell into a deathly silence.

Thousands of wizards held their breath; a sense of tension bordering on suffocation permeated the air.

Luo En activated "Hermit's Insight," carefully observing the subtle reactions of the crowd below.

Excitement flickered in the eyes of the young wizards, like hungry beasts having caught the scent of blood;

while the veteran scholars wore expressions of worry, their tightly clenched fists exposing their inner unease.

What caught his attention most was the change in the observation station's formation.

Those members who had long suffered from abyssal erosion were, at this moment, actually displaying a kind of morbid excitement.

"It seems my previous conjecture was correct." Luo En analyzed this abnormal phenomenon in his mind:

"The aftereffects of abyssal erosion have caused them to resonate with a certain specific energy fluctuation on Cassandra?"

"Fellow colleagues."

Cassandra's voice echoed through the hall, the gentle tone forming a sharp contrast with the conqueror's might she had just displayed:

"The spoils I just showed are merely the tip of the iceberg of our true potential."

Her purple eyes swept over the crowd below.

"To ensure the smooth progress of the conquest, the School Alliance will implement a series of new management systems."

The announcement of the first policy immediately caused an uproar:

"Mandatory Conscription System: All wizards who have reached the Moon-Illumination stage or higher are obligated to participate in extra-dimensional conquest operations. This is no longer a personal choice, but a civilizational responsibility."

Fierce discussions erupted below, many traditionalist wizards showing expressions of displeasure.

But Cassandra did not give them a chance to raise objections, continuing to announce:

"Of course, considering the different areas of expertise of various wizards, the conscription system will adopt flexible execution methods."

She unfolded the policy manual, within which detailed classification instructions appeared:

"Combat-type wizards will participate directly in frontline operations, enjoying the highest priority in the distribution of spoils;

Research-type wizards can choose rear-guard support, responsible for the analysis and application of otherworldly technologies;

Management-type wizards will be responsible for the governance and resource development of conquered regions."

This meticulous division of labor clearly eased the worries of many, especially those scholar-type wizards who were not adept at combat.

Cassandra continued to explain:

"Considering the long-term development needs of the schools, we will retain a certain proportion of researchers to focus on traditional teaching work, ensuring that knowledge inheritance is not interrupted."

The second policy was equally attention-grabbing:

"War Merit Evaluation System: Traditional academic contributions will be calculated in parallel with conquest contributions. The contribution value of publishing a top-tier paper will be equivalent to the war merit value of successfully conquering a small civilization."

She displayed a complex scoring table:

"This system is not meant to devalue the worth of academic research, but to fairly evaluate all forms of contribution.

After all, whether it is discovering new spell principles or opening up new resource sources for the schools, both are contributions to the progress of civilization."

The third policy involved the most core interest distribution:

"Unified Management of Otherworldly Resources: All resources obtained from conquest operations will be managed and distributed uniformly by the Conquest Faction, but usage rights will be opened to all members based on contribution levels."

This explanation eliminated the worries of many research-type wizards:

"Members participating in the conquest will indeed gain priority distribution rights, but these resources will not be monopolized.

Any wizard can obtain opportunities for research and use through application, only the priority order will differ."

The final policy was the most controversial:

"Management System for Otherworldly Sentient Beings:

We will establish a comprehensive classification and management system for otherworldly beings, ensuring that every sentient being can exert its value in the most suitable position."

She deliberately avoided using radical terms like "enslavement," adopting a more euphemistic expression:

"Those otherworldly beings who demonstrate a cooperative attitude in battle will gain the status of 'Protected Citizens,' enjoying basic survival rights and development opportunities.

While those who resist to the end will be classified as 'Labor Resources,' contributing their strength to the construction of the School Alliance."

The most surprising part was her arrangement for marginalized wizards:

"For those wizards who cannot participate in conquest operations and are not suited for high-end research, we will provide ample teaching and management positions."

She displayed a detailed social division of labor chart:

"Elderly wizards can focus on teaching in safe environments, cultivating the next generation;

wizards in poor physical condition can engage in logistics management work;

even those wizards with weaker strength can serve in grassroots management positions in safe planes that have already been completely conquered."

The brilliance of this policy framework lay in the fact that it almost blocked all possible reasons for opposition:

Scholars worried about being forced into battle had the choice of research-type participation;

traditionalists worried about academic value being devalued saw that academic contributions were still valued;

ordinary wizards worried about resources being monopolized gained opportunities for fair use;

even those marginalized wizards who could not adapt to the new era were properly arranged for.

Whispering began to emerge below, and an old man wearing traditional scholar robes cleared his throat:

"Grand Wizard Cassandra, forgive my bluntness, but our 'Defensive Strategy' has ensured the continuation of wizard civilization to this day.

I have learned about some otherworldly civilizations that chose radical expansion; most of them have already disappeared in the long river of history."

This old man was named Edgar Blake, one of the theoretical researchers at the Crystal Spire.

His voice trembled, but his tone carried an unquestionable firmness.

Cassandra turned toward him:

"Researcher Edgar has raised a very good question. Indeed, the conservative strategy has allowed us to survive until now; this is an undeniable achievement."

She waved her right hand lightly, and a massive multi-dimensional map projection immediately appeared in the air.

"However, Researcher Edgar, do you think 'survival' and 'prosperity' are the same thing?"

The map began to display the development trajectory of wizard civilization over the past several eras; it was a slow and steady upward curve.

Then, the projection displayed a comparison of the development speeds of other known civilizations.

"Look at this red line; this is the development trajectory of our wizard civilization. Stable, predictable, reassuring."

Cassandra's finger traced the blue curve representing wizard civilization in the air:

"And these are the development data of other civilizations I have encountered during otherworldly conquests."

Dozens of curves of different colors appeared in the projection, most of which showed steep upward trends.

Some civilizations' development speeds were ten times that of wizard civilization, some even a hundred times.

Professor Edgar's face turned pale:

"But... but rapid development often means instability, means greater risks..."

"You are right."

Cassandra nodded in agreement, but then her tone shifted:

"But Professor Edgar, have you ever thought about one question?

When the strength of other civilizations has already exceeded ours by too much, does our 'stability' still have meaning?

If a civilization far stronger than us decides to conquer us, our tens of thousands of years of accumulation might be nothing more than a joke in front of them."

Just then, a young female wizard suddenly questioned aloud:

"But Grand Wizard Cassandra, conquest means conflict, means death.

The spoils and policies you showed are indeed impressive, but what is the cost?

Perhaps we ourselves will become the next victims? Everyone is far less powerful than you."

Luo En carefully observed the questioner's micro-expressions and magical power fluctuations.

To his surprise, this female wizard's emotional state was abnormally calm.

Although her words carried a questioning tone, her heartbeat frequency, magical flow, and even pupil reaction all displayed a calmness bordering on transcendence.

"This does not look like the physiological reaction of someone truly angry or worried..."

Luo En noted this anomaly in his mind and began to pay attention to the states of other questioners.

Facing this sharp question, Cassandra's expression became serious:

"Mentor Liana, your question touches upon the core controversy of the conquest policy.

I will not evade this question, because honesty is the foundation of our discussion."

Her purple eyes were filled with deep pain:

"Yes, lives are indeed lost during the conquest process, and in the early explorations, the vast majority were likely our own."

Cassandra's voice became somewhat shaky:

"But Mentor Liana, I would like you to consider another question.

In the years we have developed 'peacefully,' how many wizards have died in the abyss?

And how many scholars could not be saved because of a lack of sufficiently advanced treatment technology?"

She waved her hand to display a set of shocking statistical data:

"Since the Fourth Era, wizards who died in abyssal exploration: 2,847.

Researchers who died in experimental accidents: 1,923.

Scholars who died from various terminal illnesses and aftereffects of erosion: 4,651.

This does not even include those who suffered permanent disability due to magical overload, spiritual pollution, etc." Mentor Liana's expression underwent a subtle change, but Luo En noticed her physiological reaction remained abnormally stable.

"These deaths are the cost of our 'peace policy'."

Cassandra continued:

"If we had obtained the life-reprogramming technology of the 'Decoding Civilization' a thousand years earlier, those scholars who died of terminal illnesses would still be alive today.

If we had mastered the time-manipulation arts of the 'Harvester Civilization' five hundred years earlier, those accidents in abyssal exploration could have been reversed."

Her voice became even more agitated:

"Mentor Liana, please tell me, which is more appropriate: letting 2,847 wizards die slowly in the abyss, or sacrificing 200 warriors in a rapid conquest to obtain life-saving technology?"

This comparison caused the hall to fall into silence.

The power of numbers is cruel; it transformed abstract controversy into concrete life comparisons.

But Luo En keenly sensed that the magical fluctuations of the few "questioners" in the front row displayed a subtle coordination.

Although they were playing different roles, their energy frequencies had a certain similar resonant characteristic.

"These people are very likely arranged in advance..."

He became vigilant in his heart and began to observe the design of the entire speech more carefully.

Cassandra continued to unfold her argument:

"I know some people worry that conquest will change our essence.

This worry is reasonable; I have also had the same trouble before."

Her expression became complex and profound:

"But in the process of otherworldly conquest, I saw a more cruel truth. In this universe, there are no true 'bystanders'."

The projection changed again, showing several dim nodes marked as "Extinct Civilizations."

These nodes no longer glowed, leaving only gray shadows, like tombstones in the universe.

"The 'Peace Alliance' of the Fourth Quadrant, a civilization collective with peace and cooperation as its core philosophy."

Cassandra's voice became like a eulogy:

"They established a perfect democratic system, where every decision had to go through countless discussions and votes.

They believed that war was a symbol of barbarism and force was a manifestation of ignorance."

The final moments of this alliance appeared in the projection:

Beautiful crystal cities collapsed instantly under the encirclement of twisting tentacles, countless lives disappearing in despair.

"When the 'Shamblers' invaded, they were still arguing about whether the entire civilization should flee.

By the time the meeting ended, the entire alliance had been completely incorporated into the 'domain' of that ancient existence.

Hundreds of nations, trillions of lives, disappeared in the long river of history because of excessive 'democracy'."

A middle-aged wizard below asked with a trembling voice:

"But... but we can obtain knowledge through exchange; why must we choose war?"

The emotional reaction of this questioner appeared more real; Luo En could feel his true fear and confusion.

Cassandra turned toward him, understanding in her eyes:

"Mentor Harvis, your idea is completely correct in an ideal state.

Diplomacy and negotiation are indeed more civilized ways to obtain knowledge, and I would also prefer to choose this method."

She paused, then her tone became heavy:

"But the problem is, Mentor Harvis, when the other party is not willing to talk to you as equals at all, does your diplomacy still have any effect?"

The projection showed the scene of another civilization's destruction:

"The 'Scholar Republic' of the Seventh Quadrant, focused on the accumulation and research of knowledge; their library collected the wisdom crystallization of a hundred centuries.

When the 'Mechanical Federation' launched an attack, they sent their most excellent diplomats, carrying the most precious knowledge as bargaining chips."

In the scene, a group of scholars wearing gorgeous robes stood before the mechanical legion, holding shining knowledge crystals in their hands.

"What was the Mechanical Federation's response?"

Cassandra's voice took on a tone of irony:

"They killed all the diplomats, took away the knowledge crystals, and then continued the attack.

Because in their logic, when you can obtain everything through conquest, why use exchange to get only half?"

Once this example came out, Mentor Harvis opened his mouth, but ultimately did not say any words of rebuttal.

"This is the reality we face."

Cassandra continued:

"In this cruel universe, only civilizations strong enough have the qualification to talk about morality and diplomacy.

The kindness of the weak is often just a joke in the eyes of the strong."

She paused, then swept her gaze over everyone in the hall:

"In this situation, conquest is not greed, but self-defense.

It is not to satisfy the desire for power, but should be to obtain the ability to protect those we love."

This personalized argument clearly generated a strong emotional resonance.

Cassandra's wording when giving examples was extremely clever.

She consistently avoided mentioning specific atrocities during the conquest process, shifting the focus to "rejected requests" and "unfair exchange conditions."

This rhetorical technique made conquest behavior look like a forced self-defensive reaction, rather than active aggression.

"There is one more important point."

Cassandra continued her argument, shifting to the governance costs of conquest:

"We are not trying to become pure destroyers, but to become integrators."

The projection showed the current situation of the conquered civilizations under her governance:

Neat cities, orderly production, various ethnic groups working in their respective suitable positions.

Although there were clear hierarchical differences, the scene looked relatively harmonious.

"Look, how are these former 'enemies' living now?

They have stable food supplies, suitable job positions, and basic security guarantees.

Their knowledge and culture have been preserved and developed."

She specifically pointed to some details in the scene:

"Here is the artisan district of the former 'Crystal Civilization'; they continue to make traditional artworks, only now they have better materials and tools.

Over there are the technicians of the 'Mechanical Federation'; they have developed more advanced equipment with our support."

"Conquest does not mean destruction, but means optimization."

Cassandra's voice was full of confidence:

"We integrate the advantages of different civilizations to create a more efficient, more powerful comprehensive system."

But Luo En's "Extraordinary Identification" allowed him to see some subtle details in the scene.

At the edges of the scene, some huge monitoring devices and armed guards were vaguely visible, implying that this "harmony" was maintained through force.

"The Grand Wizard's rhetorical skills are indeed superb."

Luo En analyzed calmly in his heart:

"She packaged conquest as salvation, described enslavement as integration, and portrayed coercion as cooperation.

But the most brilliant part is that the examples she provided might be partially true, which makes the lies more believable."

Warm applause erupted below.

Just as the applause began to rise, Luo En noticed some subtle details.

Yuteer's void projection flickered slightly below the podium; that unstable light revealed the old professor's inner unease.

The tacit understanding established between them allowed Luo En to read this signal: Keep your own thinking!

Cassandra, as if she hadn't seen it, began to display detailed risk analysis charts on her own:

"This is the conquest strategy framework we have formulated, whose core principles are 'progressive expansion' and 'safety margin control'."

The chart showed a cautious and systematic plan:

"We will not rashly attack civilizations beyond our capability, nor will we launch operations on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Every conquest operation will undergo detailed strength assessment and risk calculation."

She pointed to an important indicator in the chart:

"The safety standard we have set is: the success probability of any conquest operation must exceed 85%, and the casualty rate must be controlled below 15%.

Only targets meeting these conditions will be included in the conquest plan."

Cassandra's tone became more confidential, as if revealing important intelligence:

"Our intelligence network has conducted in-depth investigations into surrounding civilizations.

After analysis, we found that most powerful civilizations are in their own development bottleneck periods, or are facing internal conflicts."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 317 =====