Chapter 362: Discussion

"It is getting a bit late now; why not go down the mountain tomorrow?"

Thinking of something, Feng Xing said from the side.

Kainsi smiled: "No matter, it won't take much time anyway."

To him, those below were all just laborers with no profit to be made; he would take a quick look, and that would be giving Prince Lin His Highness face.

The two traveled light and headed down the mountain.

Along the way, Kainsi's face wore a smile: "I didn't expect this trip to have such a harvest."

He had originally thought it was just a small, trivial matter, and he had only been willing to come to Tieshi Mountain in person for the sake of Dong Zhengxuan.

"For the triennial assessment, you might obtain a very high score, sir," Feng Xing said from the side.

The Huiteng Chamber of Commerce would assess the stewards below every three years, distributing resources and promoting those with excellent performance based on the results of the assessment.

The next assessment would be in the autumn of next year.

In every previous assessment, Kainsi had almost always been at the bottom.

This time, there was hope of entering the top ranks.

"Therefore, the matters here must be handled well for me.

The stronghold at the foot of the mountain has no profit; our goods can be cheaper, and we can concede more profit." Kainsi spoke; he made this arrangement to show goodwill to Prince Lin.

"Understood."

The two chatted as they walked, slowly arriving at Iron Stone Town at the foot of the mountain.

Kainsi stopped his steps; the small town before his eyes exceeded his expectations.

"This road surface... is quite clean."

Kainsi was somewhat surprised.

Ordinary countryside simply did not have neat, large roads.

The roads were almost all mud pits, mixed with the excrement of various livestock; it could be said that it was extremely difficult to find a place to step.

The road before his eyes, however, completely changed Kainsi's view.

"Prince Lin His Highness truly loves the people as his own children; he even paved a large road for these laborers," Feng Xing chimed in from the side.

"It's not just that simple; this road surface is very clean, which means someone is sent to clean and sweep it every day," Kainsi sighed.

To someone like Kainsi, these laborers could be said to be the lowest of the low.

Granting them a mouthful of food to eat was already a heaven-sent favor.

"May I ask if you are Lord Kainsi? I am Languang, a person of Iron Stone Town, ordered to take you on a tour of the small town." Just then, Languang walked out, his face wearing a cautious expression.

"One of His Highness the Prince's people?" A kind smile appeared on Kainsi's face, "No need to be cautious, just take me around for a stroll."

Languang was flattered.

One must know, he was previously just an ordinary laborer who had to look at the faces of those snakeheads to eat.

Yet, the boss of the boss of the boss of those snakeheads... he didn't know how many bosses were above, and that was Kainsi.

Now that he could see Kainsi, and Kainsi treated him with this attitude, he felt somewhat bewildered.

"How many people are there in Iron Stone Town?" Kainsi asked.

Population count was an important factor in business.

Languang did not hesitate at all and blurted out: "Iron Stone Town has a total of 2,713 households, with a total of 5,312 people.

Today, another 141 people arrived who have not yet been registered."

"So many people?" Kainsi was somewhat surprised.

He knew that there were nearly 3,000 laborers here.

As it turned out, there were over 5,000 people living here.

Moreover, this Languang knew it so clearly, with the numbers specific to households and people, down to the single digit; this was terrifying.

One must know, Kainsi had been to many large cities, and the administrative officials in those cities did not even know clearly how many households were in the alleys and streets of their own jurisdictions.

And most importantly, there were actually over 5,000 people who had come.

"How could there be over 5,000 people?" Kainsi could not help but ask.

"The environment here is good, and Prince Lin His Highness is very good to everyone, so many people have brought their families here." Mentioning this, Languang's face was full of smiles.

Laborers who performed well would all be allocated a house.

The first batch of 1,000 people who came had almost all been allocated a house one after another, only the size of the houses differed.

Most of those people had brought their families here.

Rather than struggling to survive in the slums, it was better to come here and live even better.

"So that's how it is." Kainsi was slightly surprised, and his admiration for Prince Lin's character grew even more in his heart.

This kind of Superior who was generous to his subordinates would always command respect.

"Is there anything else Lord Kainsi needs to know?" Languang asked from the side.

Kainsi pondered: "No, that is enough.

The sky is not late anymore; it will be dark soon, we should head back."

"Please rest assured, Lord Kainsi, we have a tavern here; you can spend the night here.

Moreover, there are street lamps here, so there is no need to fear the darkness."

"Street lamps?" Kainsi was slightly stunned.

"These are the street lamps; they light up at a unified time every night," Languang said, pointing to the pillars on the side of the road.

Kainsi looked up, a curious expression appearing on his face.

And at this moment, the street lamps lit up; the light was very strong, and the field of vision became clear.

"Is this... a spell?" Feng Xing frowned, feeling somewhat curious.

Kainsi was also slightly stunned: "His Highness the Prince is truly generous; to use magic, and yet only for lighting."

He naturally felt that the principle behind these streetlights was the use of some kind of magic.

In certain churches, they would also do this.

In the homes of some nobles, there were also similar lamps.

In the noble district, some were also installed.

However, this was the first time he had seen them on a street where Commoners lived.

His evaluation of this place rose in his heart.

Prince Lin was willing to spend such a high price to install streetlights here; it seemed Prince Lin valued this place highly, and he could no longer treat the people in the town as mere Ordinary laborers.

……

Koya City.

At a round table, seventeen nobles sat together.

At the head of the table was none other than Count Kaixiu.

"Count Kaixiu, I am afraid I cannot agree to your proposal.

The Teru Family has been rooted in Koya City for seventy years and has already grown accustomed to life here." At this moment, a bearded noble stood up, possessing a rugged aura.

Other nobles also chimed in at this time.

"That's right, we are living just fine here."

"If you want to move, you can go yourselves."

Of course, more nobles remained silent, not expressing an opinion.

Count Kaixiu reached out his hand to signal for quiet, and the people in the room stopped arguing.

"I am not forcing anyone; I am merely asking for your opinions.

Nowadays, His Highness Prince Lin is building a city outside the city.

I have discussed it with Dong Zhengxuan, and we are both willing to move to the new city and reside there.

I came to ask for your opinions, not to force anyone."

Once these words were spoken, the nobles in the room were shocked.

"Count Kaixiu has already decided to move outside the city?"

"So sudden."

These nobles were surprised, and immediately felt a huge sense of joy.

After all, Count Kaixiu could be considered the number one noble in Koya City today.

If he moved away, his businesses and his operations would be carved up by them; this was a huge profit.

Of course, they also did not understand why Count Kaixiu was willing to move.

In their eyes, His Highness Prince Lin was unknown and obscure.

And the new city was just talk; who knew if Prince Lin could really build it?

Even if it were built, it would take decades of operation and development to reach the scale Koya City had today.

In their view, moving to the new city was absolutely unreliable.

"I think highly of Prince Lin, and I have already chosen to pledge my loyalty to Prince Lin." Count Kaixiu smiled, "His Highness the Prince is not as simple as he appears."

He revealed a little bit.

Immediately, it stirred up another ripple.

"Is there anyone among you willing to go to the new city with me?"

Count Kaixiu asked this time.

Among the nobles present, a few were somewhat conflicted.

After all, Count Kaixiu had actually pledged loyalty to His Highness Prince Lin, which shocked them.

Count Kaixiu was a Count, and with Morei dead, he was the undisputed Overlord of Koya City.

For such a person to choose to pledge loyalty to Prince Lin, it was not simple at all.

"Luofei, are you willing?" Count Kaixiu looked at a middle-aged man.

This middle-aged man came from a fallen noble family, was relatively close to him, and also cared much about Prince Lin.

His daughter had been sent to Shivana to be an assistant.

It was precisely because of this relationship that this fallen noble had been doing quite well in Koya City recently.

"Apologies... Count... my mother is elderly and not fit for travel, so..." Luofei chose to refuse, his face full of guilt.

"No matter." Count Kaixiu did not say anything, though he felt some disdain for Luofei in his heart.

"What about you all?" He looked at the others.

The other nobles looked at each other; most of them had expressions of retreat on their faces, clearly unwilling to go.

However, one Pangzi stood up: "Count Kaixiu, this matter is of great importance; could you give me three days to consider?"

"Me too." Five more nobles stood up; it was clear they were also somewhat moved.

As for the remaining nobles, they did not speak.

They were too lazy to even consider it.

"No problem." Count Kaixiu smiled.

……

On Tieshi Mountain.

Lin Chao looked at some letters in front of him, his gaze calm.

"Shizi families, five are willing to come to Iron Stone City... that is enough; Kaixiu has done well."

After the nobles finished their meeting that day, quite a few nobles came to Tieshi Mountain in person to inspect the new city.

This was the final result.

Regarding the arrival of the nobles, Lin Chao naturally had no reason to refuse.

The new city certainly could not consist only of players and Commoners; nobles were also a part of the ecosystem.

At the very least, they had money.

Moreover, only when nobles came here to settle would they attract Commoners to come over.

After all, since those masters had all come, it was nothing for them to come here as well.

"However, Jianlong'er said he wants to build a new church for the Wealth Church in the new city... This matter, I cannot agree to."

Lin Chao refused this matter directly.

The new city was his base of operations; he did not welcome the arrival of other gods.

After all, he was a person who intended to ascend to a God Position, so he naturally would not share faith with the Wealth Church.

"Population... what the new city lacks most right now is population." Lin Chao sighed.

Population was a difficult problem.

It was impossible for the new city to be filled only with players.

"Take it slow, no rush, there will always be a way." Lin Chao muttered to himself, not feeling very urgent.

If the new city demonstrated powerful strength or a very good reputation, it would naturally attract many professionals to come.

This required time to brew.

"Nowadays, the most important thing is..."

Lin Chao frowned.

In half a month, it would be the birthday of the king of the Shaya Kingdom.

As the Nine Prince, Lin Chao naturally needed to return to the Royal Capital to offer birthday greetings to the king.

That was, after all, his cheap father.

Although there was fundamentally no affection between the two.

"It just so happens that, taking advantage of this opportunity, I can see which of my brothers or sisters... plotted against me."

Someone had bribed Morei to deal with him; Lin Chao had kept this matter in mind the whole time.

However, he had been busy with other things before, so he had not dealt with it.

Now that he was returning to the Royal Capital, he naturally had to handle this matter.

Lin Chao would naturally not be soft-hearted toward anyone who dared to scheme against him.

Lin Chao thought for a moment and left the room.

Not long after, he appeared by a small stream.

By the stream, a burly figure was closing his eyes to rest.

That figure sensed something and opened his eyes.

"Greetings, Master Manager."

Lin Chao nodded: "Heiniu, I am preparing to go to Wangcheng this time, which will take about a week. Are you willing to follow me?"

Heiniu looked at Lin Chao without any hesitation: "I am willing to serve Master Manager."

Lin Chao nodded in satisfaction and smiled: "By the way, this time, you might have the opportunity... to witness true Divine Power, power coming from a god."

A flash of brilliance and excitement immediately crossed Heiniu's eyes.

At this moment, he and Lin Chao shared a common wish, which was to attain godhood.

Although he was currently only a High-level Professional and still some distance away from being Legendary.

Yet, his heart for attaining godhood was no weaker than Lin Chao's.

After all, he was still thinking that after attaining godhood, he would personally go to the Abyss to retrieve Norma's soul and subsequently resurrect Norma.

"Many thanks, Master Manager." Heiniu was incomparably excited.

"By the way, you can find a few players, ones who are obedient and don't cause trouble, to follow me to Wangcheng." Lin Chao gave instructions again.

The more manpower, the better, of course; he could not do everything by himself.

"As you command." Heiniu nodded.

After Lin Chao finished giving instructions, his figure disappeared.

Heiniu stood by the stream, not knowing what he was pondering.

Not long after, a figure appeared; it was Shengtian.

"Going to Wangcheng? I'm quite interested."

Heiniu had notified Shengtian about this matter.

Among the players nowadays, Lin Chao had already built a Communicator for them through the Manager System; even if they were far apart, they could communicate through the Communicator, just as if they were in a game.

"Group Leader, you say... if I believe in a god, can I save Norma?" Heiniu could not help but ask.

Attaining godhood felt very distant and powerless to Heiniu as well.

Believing in a god might be an option.

"Rather than believing in a god, I think it's better to believe in the Manager." Shengtian chuckled, "Do you think those gods are as mysterious as the Manager?"

Heiniu was silent for a long time before answering: "No."

After all, if this were a game, the Manager would be the true Master of this game.

If this were reality, then... bringing this group of players here and bestowing upon them various special abilities... that was even more terrifying and difficult to comprehend.

"Heiniu, don't be anxious. Nowadays, quite a few of our people have already entered this game.

Rest assured, we will cooperate with you and strive to help you, assisting you in becoming a god." Shengtian said softly.

"Many thanks." Heiniu cast aside the thoughts of seeking help from the gods he had just had.

It was just that his figure still remained somewhat desolate.

Thanks to 【Hui Mou Jian You Xiang】 for the thousand-coin reward! Thanks to 【Hui Xiao De Ying Zi】 and 【Chun Meng Wu Hen】 for their rewards!

(End of this chapter)