Mazik's father was an old Gnome with a stooped back.
Honestly speaking, it was already beyond Locke's expectations that he could survive the plane's suppression and arrive in the Magus World alive.
In terms of appearance alone, outsiders would only think that they were a pair of goblin grandfather and grandson when they stood next to each other. However, who would know that Mazik's father was actually Locke's closest goblin companion since he was young?
Seeing that the little goblin had brought Locke here, a smile immediately appeared on Mazik's wrinkled face.
"Oh, it's little Harold! Since you're here, help me look after the shop for a while. I have something to talk to Locke about … "Mazik's father then took out an intricately made mechanical chicken from under the dark counter and tossed it into the little goblin's arms. He nodded at Locke, and the two of them entered the warehouse at the back of the shop.
The warehouse was cramped and dark. There were tall metal shelves everywhere, and on them were all sorts of strange objects of unknown uses.
Mazik's father didn't light up the lamp either. He just stood in the dark, silently watching this childhood friend of his who was now completely different from him.
Green-skinned goblins only had a basic lifespan of thirty to forty years. Even if they took good care of themselves, they wouldn't live past sixty.
However, ever since Locke had successfully advanced to Grade 1 in the Magus World, with the nourishment of the Mana Set Meal and the magical aura, his lifespan had far exceeded the limits of a normal goblin's lifespan. If there were no accidents, Locke could live for at least another 120 years.
Although this lifespan was much less than that of a human Magus, it was still shocking compared to most of his companions.
Hence, this pair of childhood friends who had played together since they were young now stood together. One was in the prime of his youth, like a seven or eight-year-old goblin, while the other was doddering, like an old coffin that was about to be buried.
The difference in their appearances made the two Gnomes sigh endlessly!
"Did the princess ask you to come?" Locke's eyes shone in the dark.
"How … How did you know?" Mazik's father opened his mouth wide in shock. His shocked expression was genuine.
"Hah … If it was Lord Tichole or Lord Kirby who sent you here, they wouldn't have made it so secretive …" Ever since he had advanced to a Magical Machinist, the explosive increase in his Spiritual Power had also caused Locke's mind and thoughts to be completely different from before. "After thinking about it, probably only Her Highness would put in so much effort!"
After spending a great deal of effort, Mazik's father finally recovered from the shock.
The young "handsome" gnome in front of it was both familiar and strange!
What was familiar was that youthful face, but what was unfamiliar was that meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth.
Mazik's father calmed himself down and finally asked that question.
"Loke, Her Royal Highness asked me to ask you something. Do you … still think of yourself as a goblin?"
Locke closed his eyes in the dark and pondered for a full fifteen minutes before opening them again.
"I have green skin and goblin blood flows in my body. Of course I'm a goblin! This is an irrefutable fact! "
"As long as you still think of yourself as a goblin …" Mazik's father secretly heaved a sigh of relief. "Her Royal Highness wants you to join the Magic Association!"
What was supposed to come had finally come!
Locke sighed and sank into deep thought once more.
Over the years, as large numbers of gnomes integrated into the Crimson Family, many gnome organizations had appeared in the Blazing Flame Monarch, White Tower, and various other gnome residences.
Things like 'King of Steam', 'Magic Machinery Research Association', 'Gnome Friendship Association', 'Greenpeace' … Some organizations wanted to return to the past, wanting the gnomes to return to the great era of steam. Some organizations purely wanted to gather the gnomes together to prevent them from being bullied by other races …
However, the most famous one was probably the Mystics Association established by Goblin Princess Vanessa!
When she first established the Magic Association, Princess Vanessa had called for the gathering of all the gnomes who had extraordinary powers. They would conduct in-depth research and grasp great magic, allowing the gnome faction to become glorious and powerful once more.
It sounded like a beautiful idea, and it was an ideal worthy of admiration.
However, it was a pity that there were not many who responded!
Even the mighty goblin war god Lord Tigula did not join the Magic Association, much less a new Magus like Locke. The great gnome sage Lord Kabi had even rejected Princess Vanessa's invitation.
This had caused quite a commotion and discussion amongst the gnomes.
Some said that it was a power struggle between the gnome bosses. Others said that Princess Vanessa's ambition was too great, and no one dared to get close to her …
Whatever the case, the Magic Association was successfully established in the White Tower under Princess Vanessa's strong request.
Locke had heard from some sources that Princess Vanessa was trying to get close to Dean Gonga, wanting to pull the gnome engineers from the magical alloy laboratory into the Magic Association.
This confirmed Locke's suspicions.
Princess Vanessa had not given up on the glory and glory of the Gnome Empire. She wanted to seek a certain degree of independence and freedom. And the one she wanted to emulate the most was probably the brain monster Gaz 'luwe in the Lance Plane!
Magic Association … Princess Vanessa had probably placed all her hopes on magic energy. She thought that as long as the gnomes grasped magic energy, they would be able to break free from the control of Magi and truly become independent.
As a narrow-minded and short-sighted gnome, it was understandable for him to have such delusions and thoughts. However, as a newly advanced gnome, Locke's way of thinking and vision was completely different from other gnomes.
What was magic energy?
It was a mystical power that filled up the entire plane!
Humans had relied on magic energy to give birth to Magi and develop the great Magus civilization.
The World of Gods relied on the power of faith to give birth to gods of all sizes, and from there they ruled over a region.
Strong races in the universe like the Titans relied on their compatibility with magic energy to dominate the entire multiverse.
So many races and worlds had relied on magic energy to become strong. Logically speaking, the gnomes should be able to do the same.
It was a pity that the Gnome Plane was a rare plane with low magic energy!
The environment there was not enough to support a system of magic energy users. Hence, the Gnome Plane had embarked on a different path of development — steam machinery.
It was a pity that compared to magic energy, steam machinery was too weak.
That was why in an 'accidental' Magus invasion, the entire Goblin Plane became the Crimson Family's subsidiary, and many Goblins became slaves and servants of the Crimson Family.
The entire plane's resources were at the mercy of others, and the entire population was at the mercy of others … While such a life was bitter, it was a fate that the Gnome Plane could not escape.
Locke had come to the Magus World, read many books, and grasped powerful and mystical powers. Looking back at his own world and country, he felt a sense of pity for its misfortune and anger at its lack of ambition!
The gnomes were not a powerful race to begin with. Now that they had encountered a world with low magic energy, they appeared to be 'weak' as a whole. They had gathered the essence and strength of the entire plane, yet they could not resist the invasion of a small Magus family in the Magus World. What was there to complain about?
From another perspective, if the Gnome Plane was a high-magic plane, with the innate weakness of the gnomes, would they still be able to use steam machinery to rule over the plane?
Looking at it from another perspective, Magus Meryl of the Crimson Family was a rare moderate among the Magi community. The policies and methods she implemented in the Gnome Plane were so gentle that even Locke felt that they were too 'indulgent'. If it were any other Magus family, they would not have given the gnomes so much freedom and authority!
Out of all the goblins that Locke had come into contact with, they had no idea that Meryl, whom they feared like a tiger and revered like a god, was just an insignificant grade-1 witch in the Crimson Family. Above her, there was the terrifying rank 2 Insect Lich Bliss, the mysterious rank 2 Witch Alice, as well as the unimaginably powerful rank 3 Legendary Wizard Grimm and the Blood Queen Mary.
The idea of rebelling against the Crimson Family's rule was undoubtedly very dangerous. It could even drag the entire gnome camp into a bottomless abyss!
Princess Vanessa, on the other hand, had grasped the power of magic for the first time. The vanity of her power had inflated her ego, and she could no longer see the huge gap in power between the gnomes and the Magi.
Rebel … How could they rebel … Magic?
The Magi had researched magic for tens of thousands of years. Did the gnomes dare to claim that they could surpass them with just a few decades of research? The stakes of this gamble were far too high … If things went wrong, the entire goblin plane would be wiped out.
If they failed to rebel, they would be branded as traitors by the Magi. All the gnomes would have to pay a heavy price for that.
The thought of losing his current life, of being branded as a slave, and being sent to the dark and damp mines made Locke's heart beat uncontrollably.
"Locke … Locke … Will … Will you join us?" Father Mazik asked timidly.
"I will!" Locke suddenly smiled, and a warm smile appeared on his face again. "Mazik, you are my best friend after all. Even if I don't help others, I will definitely help you!"
"That's good … That's good …" Mazik, who had been on tenterhooks, finally heaved a sigh of relief. "Shall I arrange for you to meet the secret envoy of the princess now?"
"There's no rush. I still need to complete a few missions in the Black Forest tomorrow. I'll be back in about four days. It won't be too late to meet the secret envoy then! "
"Alright, I'll get the secret envoy to wait for you here for a few days. You must go and come back soon!"
"Don't worry, I will definitely come back. We are all gnomes, and gnomes will definitely help gnomes! "
"Yes, gnomes will definitely help gnomes!"
"That's right, Mazik, you should remodel your gnome shop! The shop's entrance is so low and small. One look and you can tell that it doesn't serve outsiders, and it will easily arouse suspicion … "
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