Maglido, the first magician of Ender Kingdom, who came from the Middle East, was it him again?
Rhine raised his eyebrows.
Before, Maglido had cooperated with the Eastern Witch to attack him.
Oz continued to narrate:
"That magician named Maglido claimed to be from the outside world. He visited me.
"Then, as a true magician, he immediately saw through my magic tricks and knew that I was just a charlatan.
"Maglido then loudly proclaimed in Emerald City that I was just a trickster who couldn't use magic. He also said that as a true magician, he had the right to overthrow me and take my place as king.
"Obviously, the people in the city didn't believe him and wanted to drive him out.
"But Maglido wasn't annoyed at all; he just said that in the future, he would investigate my origins, bring more evidence back to Emerald City, completely expose my deception, and then unite with witches from the East or West to depose me."
Rhine understood what had happened and said thoughtfully, "So, from then on, you forbade magicians from entering the city."
"That's right," Oz said dejectedly, "A true magician, as soon as he comes into contact with me, will easily discover that I am a trickster who cannot use magic."
"I know that Maglido; he is not a good person," Rhine said seriously.
He reminded him again:
"Maglido is now the chief magician of the Ender Empire. If he wanted to, by combining divination and Ender Kingdom's intelligence network, he could certainly find out that you used to be a magician and balloon pilot working for the Rose Kingdom circus. After all, you used to be quite famous in the Rose Kingdom."
Oz's face became even more unsightly:
"Really?
"I'm worried that Maglido will be back soon. Instead of waiting for him to expose me as a fraud, I might as well run away now!"
Rhine dissuaded him:
"But if you suddenly disappear, who will manage Emerald City, and who will be the new king? The people all like you, their kind king. I'm afraid not just anyone can replace you."
According to the original work, after Oz left, the Scarecrow would replace Oz as the new king.
The people of Emerald City missed their former king and were happy to be led by the smart Scarecrow.
But now, the Scarecrow and Dorothy haven't even reached Emerald City yet!
Oz hung his head:
"I don't know. But I don't have any other choice.
"Even if I stay here, I will be exposed by Maglido sooner or later!
"When the people of Emerald City find out I'm a fraud and that they've been deceived by me for so many years, they'll surely unleash all their anger on me!"
Looking at the dejected Oz, this charlatan who was loved by his people, Rhine felt a sense of emotion.
Rhine also harbored considerable resentment towards Ender Kingdom and the Empire's chief magician, Maglido, who had once attacked him.
He couldn't just stand by and watch that evil magician become the new king of this Green Field, dedicating this isolated pure land to the Emperor of Ender Kingdom!
Rhine gently patted Oz's shoulder and said to the worried old man:
"I do have a good way to help you escape your current predicament, maintain your image in the eyes of the people, and avoid being exposed by Maglido.
"Furthermore, from now on, you won't have to live in fear, no longer worrying that one day people will discover that the terrible and majestic Oz is actually a charlatan."
Oz looked up, gazing at Rhine with a bewildered expression: "Is there really such a method?"
Rhine nodded:
"Of course.
"However, my help is not free. You also need to do me a favor.
"I am hunting down an evil witch named Maleficent. She is currently in Oz Country and can block divination against herself. I hope you can deploy your Soldiers to find her as soon as possible!"
Oz quickly agreed, nodding like a chicken pecking rice:
"No problem, no problem! What are you talking about? How could I refuse your request!
"I will immediately notify my subordinates to find that witch throughout Oz Country."
In Oz Country's view, even if this Sage of Rose Kingdom was unwilling to help him with the Maglido matter, he couldn't refuse Rhine's request.
Just the fact that Rhine didn't proactively expose his identity had already moved Oz considerably.
Oz quickly pulled a rope, making a bell ring, which was his signal to summon close subordinates.
Rhine saw that Oz himself was hiding behind a screen, speaking with ventriloquism, disguising a burning fireball in the palace as himself.
As the close subordinate pushed the door open, he felt the intense heat radiating from it.
He only saw a burning, hot fireball speaking in the palace hall:
"Convey the command of the great Oz. There is an evil witch named Maleficent now in this land.
"Deploy the Soldiers to find her!"
The subordinate, while marveling at Oz's majesty and power, conveyed his command.
Rhine watched this scene, finding it slightly amusing.
Over the years, Oz had basically maintained his mystique in this way, hadn't he?
After sending off his subordinate, Oz led Rhine back to the small room they had been in.
He asked, "Your Excellency, you said earlier that you have a way to prevent me from being exposed by Maglido, and even from having to live in constant fear of being discovered in the future?"
Oz couldn't imagine what kind of method this would be.
"It's simple..."
Rhine revealed a kind smile:
"I'll teach you magic, that's all."
...
On the way to Emerald City.
Dorothy and Aurora, the two girls, were walking west, getting closer and closer to Emerald City.
Now, their group was much larger than when they started.
Several friends who also wanted to go to Emerald City to visit the Great Magician Oz had joined this group:
A Tin Woodman who longed for a heart and to marry the girl he loved;
A Scarecrow who wanted to become smart and have a brain;
A wooden man whose nose grew long when he lied, and who wanted to become a real boy;
And a Lion as timid as a mouse, who wanted to gain extraordinary courage.
"Why do I vaguely feel that among the new members of our group, one member is quite different from everyone else, like an extra?" Aurora said.
She hadn't read the original story, but she vaguely felt that something wasn't quite right.
As she spoke, Aurora couldn't help but glance behind her at Pinocchio, who was arguing with the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow about whose wish was better.
—The puppet, given life by his teacher and stranded with them in Oz Country, had now become a member of their group.