Chapter 1094: Price Decline Impact, Respecting the Old and Cherishing the Young

On this day, Xia Duo arrived in Seventon early. After inquiring with Councilor Bulundesi and learning that Kangjienio had set aside an entire day specifically for him, he immediately proposed a visit.

To this, Bulundesi replied quickly: "Lord Xia Duo, the President is in his study. He asked me to tell you that you may come over at any time."

Accompanying this message was the location of the President's study within the Arcane Union Headquarters. After receiving the message, Xia Duo hurried over immediately.

Although it was morning, there were quite a few Mages coming and going along the path from the Arcane Union Headquarters Library to the President's study, and this time, Xia Duo experienced unprecedented treatment.

When there were people ahead, they would often step aside and bow respectfully before he even got close. Xia Duo knew that his image was hardly a secret after the Princess Ascension Ceremony, but he did not think everyone would recognize him.

He guessed that either Bulundesi had given a heads-up in advance, or the Ioun Stone atop his head was announcing his identity from afar.

Xia Duo had not seen many people in Seventon wearing an Ioun Stone on their heads, and those who did were always at formal occasions; it was almost never the case in ordinary situations.

An Ioun Stone was undoubtedly a symbol of status; it represented that the wearer was at least a High Mage with a deep background, and in most cases, an Archmage or a Senior Arcanist.

After slightly sensing the two Ioun Stones moving irregularly above his head, Xia Duo was still more inclined to believe the Ioun Stone was the more likely reason.

Generally speaking, the identity of a High Mage was considered a secret; unless the person involved needed it, no one would deliberately publicize it, let alone include their image.

As far as Xia Duo knew, even when the Seven Towers had spread his reputation for the Princess Ascension Ceremony, they had not used any image materials, just his name and deeds.

Most of the people who knew him had only seen him on some public occasion.

As a Councilor of the Arcane Union, it was even less likely that Bulundesi would be so tactless as to spread his image materials to many people.

Of course, it was also possible that he had only mentioned some other characteristics, such as the Crimson Robe, the Pioneer Scepter, or the Ioun Stone.

Xia Duo did not overthink it. He passed through the Library and arrived at the administrative office area of the Union Headquarters, where the people and affairs were much busier.

Unlike the noisy busyness of the Trade District outside, and distinct from the idle state of ordinary offices, it was truly busy here, and in a silent state, handling various matters quickly and methodically.

This was also Xia Duo's first time here, so he couldn't help but take a few extra looks. With his keen eyesight, he happened to see a document in front of the Secret Text Deacon (an internal rank of the Union) closest to him—

It read: "Investigation into the Continued Price Decline of Magic Net Background Communication Artifacts"!

Just seeing that line of text gave Xia Duo a bad feeling. Of course, it wasn't that the Arcane Union's investigation would be unfavorable to him, but that the "continued price decline of communication artifacts" would inevitably affect the profits of the Tower of Time.

With the communication prices continuing to fall and an investigation report already existing on the matter, it shouldn't be fake, but no news had come over from the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce yet.

He didn't know if they were insensitive to the market or simply didn't care about products that weren't their own.

Perhaps a price war was next, and a more long-term impact than a price war was that other Magic Items might also drop in price as a result.

Of course, before that, division of labor in production might become an open secret that various Mage Tower organizations see but do not speak of.

With technological progress and increased output, rising raw material prices were also almost foreseeable.

There was no macro-control of modern society here in Netheril. Perhaps the Arcane Union would manage it a little, but it had no law enforcement authority, and what it could do was very limited.

In this situation, perhaps a batch of Mage Towers unable to adapt to the new situation would go bankrupt, though this was generally a good thing.

This would force various Mage Tower organizations to make technological progress; if they didn't progress, they would go bankrupt. Or they would expand outward, whether to the Sub-plane or new territories of the Main Plane.

If technology was difficult to advance, then controlling resources would become the best choice for compressing costs.

Perhaps Mithril Refining Technology would also "be born" at the right time, and the demand for talent would further increase; perhaps this was the beginning of popularizing basic Magic Knowledge!

For a moment, Xia Duo associated many things, and even his footsteps subconsciously slowed down quite a bit.

Just then, a young man wearing a Deacon's robe came jogging out from the inner room, stopped in front of Xia Duo, and carefully cleared the path ahead, saying respectfully:

"Lord Xia Duo, the President asked me to take you to his study!"

"Oh, alright!"

Xia Duo put away his wandering thoughts, and thinking of the things he had prepared before coming, his heart immediately settled down a bit.

……

Under the guidance of the young Deacon, Xia Duo soon arrived outside Kangjienio's study. At this point, the young Deacon took his leave, leaving only Xia Duo, who took a deep breath and walked in.

A rather plain, or even simple, study!

This was Xia Duo's first impression of this study, and in contrast, Kangjienio, sitting behind a dark brown desk, appeared even more prominent.

Although his appearance was old, his spirit was quite vigorous, and his movements looked very agile, without any of the stiffness of an ordinary elderly person.

Of course, calling a Great Arcanist who was nearly 500 years old an old man felt inappropriate to Xia Duo no matter how he thought about it.

Perhaps many young people today wouldn't even live as long as this "old man"!

"Master Kangjienio!"

Xia Duo bowed respectfully. Even if he didn't bow for the other's strength, identity, status, or prestige, the other's age of nearly 500 years alone was worth this bow from a junior who had always held the philosophy of respecting the old and cherishing the young.

Hearing Xia Duo's voice, Kangjienio did not put on any airs of an elder or a superior. He put down the documents and volumes he was organizing and stood up to greet him:

"Sit!"

He pointed to a chair near the study door, signaling for Xia Duo to sit and talk. Xia Duo hesitated for a moment, but Kangjienio had already walked from behind the desk to his side, and while sitting in another chair by the door, he said again:

"Sit down. I don't have so many polite formalities here; just consider it a meeting and chat between friends."

Kangjienio's words were sincere, and there was no sign of any acting, so Xia Duo did not pretend to decline further and accepted it accordingly.

After sitting down, Xia Duo did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Master, my visit this time is mainly to seek some guidance from you regarding Magic, regarding Netheril, and regarding the Elf."

To this, Kangjienio did not show any surprised expression; his long life was enough for him to have seen all kinds of people and all sorts of situations.