I became a god through archaeology in the Wizarding World.

The meeting room in Plymouth Town Hall was shrouded in heavy velvet curtains, blocking out the sound of the relentless downpour outside.

The long, rectangular mahogany conference table was filled with people sitting on both sides.

On the left are high-ranking city guard officers in dark blue uniforms, led by General Hamilton, who is in charge of port defense. His weathered face is now clouded with gloom.

On the right are church clergy dressed in white robes with gold trim. Bishop Cecil of the Radiant Cathedral sits at the head of the table, his fingers gently stroking the emblem on his chest.

A faint smell of tobacco and a sense of unease filled the air.

In the center of the table was a transparent glass container containing a severed limb of a Deep One that was still twitching slightly.

Black, sticky fluid kept oozing from the cut of the severed limb, emitting a nauseating stench.

"Generals, the facts are clear."

Bishop Cecil's voice was gentle yet powerful, carrying a distinctive aria-like rhythm: "This filth cannot be cleansed by ordinary fire. Even if you sever their limbs, this power from the abyss will still try to corrupt all living things around them. Last night, three more soldiers went mad because of their improper handling of corpses, which is the best proof of that."

He gestured to the young pastor behind him.

The pastor stepped forward, opened the crystal bottle in his hand, and dripped a few drops of golden holy oil into a glass container.

With a sizzling sound, the black slime seemed to have met its nemesis and quickly subsided.

The convulsions of the severed limb stopped, and the unsettling chill dissipated.

"Only the Holy Light can fight against the Abyss." Bishop Cecil looked around. "The Church does not intend to interfere with the army's command. We simply hope to send accompanying priests to instruct the soldiers on the proper use of holy oil and to hold purification ceremonies after the battle to protect the souls of these valiant warriors."

General Hamilton frowned.

He did not doubt the effects of the holy oil, but he was well aware that once the army's command was accepted by the accompanying chaplain, the army's authority would become impure.

Every order could be subject to religious censorship, something no commander could tolerate.

But the soldiers' panic was also very real.

Just as Hamilton was about to compromise, the meeting room door was pushed open.

Rhodes walked in alone.

He was dressed in a neat black suit, carrying a metal briefcase, his leather shoes making a crisp sound on the floor.

"Sorry I'm late." Rhodes walked to the end of the conference table and placed his briefcase on it. "I was working on some technical details in the lab."

Bishop Cecil frowned slightly: "Advisor Rhodes, we are discussing a serious issue of purification. While alchemy can create explosions, it doesn't seem to be your specialty in the realm of souls and defilement."

"Everyone has their own expertise; Your Excellency is right."

Rod opened the briefcase. Inside, there were no complicated instruments, only a new type of thunderstorm dust ball painted silver-white, and a thick data report.

"But I believe the essence of purification is to remove harmful substances. As for whether the means are prayer or chemical reactions, the result is the most important thing."

Rhodes took out a document and handed it to General Hamilton.

"This is my analysis report on the bodily fluids of the Deep Ones' retinue. The so-called filth, in alchemy, manifests as a highly active negative energy biotoxin. It can indeed be transmitted through contact and affect the human nervous system."

"Since you also acknowledge its harm," Bishop Cecil interjected, "then you should understand that only holy oil..."

"The principle behind holy oil is neutralization," Rhodes interrupted the bishop, his tone flat. "Like using an alkali to neutralize an acid. It does work, but it's far too inefficient. On the battlefield, soldiers don't have time to oil every sword, nor do they have time to stop and pray after slaying a monster."

Rod picked up the silver-white sphere.

"My solution is more direct: complete physical annihilation."

"General, please allow me to demonstrate."

General Hamilton nodded.

Rhodes took out a pair of tweezers from his pocket, picked up a small piece of rotten flesh that had not yet been purified by the holy oil from the glass container, and put it into a small explosion-proof test box that came with the briefcase.

He then placed the purifying lightning bolt inside and closed the heavy, explosion-proof glass cover.

"This is an improved thunderstorm dust, which I call the purified type. In addition to the original lightning damage, I added high-purity magnesium powder, white phosphorus, and a special combustion accelerant."

Rhodes pressed the detonation switch connected to the outside of the test box.

There was no deafening explosion; the explosion-proof box was very well sealed.

But everyone present closed their eyes at that moment.

A blinding white light burst forth from inside the box, its brightness even surpassing that of the midday sun.

Then came rolling flames, not ordinary orange-red flames, but a chilling, deathly white.

The high temperature instantly filled the entire test space.

The light faded away after just three seconds.

Rod opened the vent valve of the explosion-proof box, and a burnt smell wafted out.

Everyone crowded closer to take a look.

The original piece of rotten flesh had completely disappeared, leaving not a trace, only a very thin layer of grayish-white powder at the bottom of the box.

"Three thousand degrees."

Rhodes gave a number.

"At the epicenter of the explosion, the instantaneous temperature can reach three thousand degrees. At this temperature, proteins will carbonize, bones will shatter, and as for the filth clinging to flesh and blood..." Rhodes looked at the stiff-faced Bishop Cecil, "I don't believe any negative energy can survive at such high temperatures. Without a carrier, the filth will naturally dissipate."

A glint of light flashed in General Hamilton's eyes.

This power not only kills the enemy but also destroys the evidence, effectively solving the post-war disposal problem at its root.

"But isn't that very costly?" a quartermaster asked.

"Compared to the five silver coins per bottle of holy oil, and the expenses of supporting the army chaplains," Rhodes said calmly, "the cost of the Purifying Lightning is only twenty percent higher than the regular version. Moreover, it solves both the combat and purification problems at once."

Bishop Cecil took a deep breath and regained his composure.

"Mr. Rhodes, your bombs are indeed incredibly powerful. But the battlefield isn't just about explosions; soldiers also need to engage in close-quarters combat. When they're splattered with monster blood, the intense heat won't save them. That's when the continuous protection provided by the Holy Oil is irreplaceable."

This is a tricky angle.

Bombs cannot be dropped at the feet of friendly forces; close combat remains unavoidable.

"So I prepared a second plan."

Rhodes took out a metal disc covered with runes from a hidden compartment in his briefcase; it was the outer casing of a shock mine.

On the surface of the disc, in addition to the original gravity runes, a golden sun-shaped symbol has appeared.

"The church's concerns are valid; soldiers do need protection. But I believe that this protection should not rely on temporary application of varnish and prayer, but should be standard equipment when weapons leave the factory."

Rod pointed to the golden symbol.

"This is industrialized enchantment."

"During the production process, we used sunflower extract mixed with trace amounts of silver powder to create this solidified radiant rune. Then, we immersed the entire outer shell in a specially made alchemical solution for 48 hours for passivation."

"This treatment gives the weapon itself anti-fouling properties. When a concussion mine is detonated, or when a soldier uses a standard-issue sword that has undergone the same treatment, the runes activate the material's own positive magnetic field, automatically repelling and neutralizing any negative energy it comes into contact with."

"No priest is needed, no prayer is needed, no oil is needed."

Rhodes looked at General Hamilton and threw out his final card.

"This is a passively activated, constant effect. As long as the weapon is still there, the purification will continue. We call it a 24/7 self-service purification system."

"As for the price..." Rod paused, "each weapon only requires an additional processing fee of fifty copper coins."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

The generals were calculating rapidly in their minds.

On one hand, there's expensive holy oil, complicated rituals, and priests who will reach into the army.

On one side are powerful incendiary bombs, cheap weapons with self-purification capabilities, and arms dealers who are completely subservient to them.

This is not a choice that requires hesitation at all.

"I think Advisor Rhodes's plan is very practical." General Hamilton broke the silence first. He looked at Bishop Cecil, his tone polite but his attitude firm. "Your Excellency, the fighting on the front lines is intense, and we need the most efficient means of killing. As for the solace of the souls, I think it can be done in the church after the war; there's no need to rush it."

Bishop Cecil's face darkened.

"Since the military has made its choice, the church respects your decision."

Bishop Cecil stood up and straightened his robe.

"I hope your industrial enchantments really work as well as you say. May God bless Plymouth."

After saying that, he turned and left with the priests, his back view appearing somewhat stiff.

The atmosphere in the meeting room immediately relaxed after the church personnel left.

"Rhodes, can you really mass-produce that kind of... Purifying Lightning?" General Hamilton asked impatiently.

"As long as there are enough raw materials." Rod closed his briefcase. "In addition, regarding the processing fee for those fifty copper coins, I hope the city hall can prepay thirty percent for expanding the production line."

"No problem." Hamilton waved his hand. "Logistics will contact you immediately. Also, we need two thousand of those swords that can resist filth."

Rhodes nodded, a very faint smile curving his lips.

The so-called radiant rune is actually just a simple glowing loop, combined with the psychological suggestion effect of sunflower extract.

However, when combined with the high-temperature clearing effect of the Purifying Lightning, the soldiers will attribute their survival to the weapons in their hands.

"It's a pleasure working with you, General."

Rod picked up his briefcase, turned around, and walked out of the smoke-filled conference room.