Chapter 1138: The Power of the People, A Gift

A luncheon, where both host and guest were delighted.

In the afternoon, Xia Duo accompanied Saide on another tour of Linshui Village, from Altar Square northward to the first phase of the residential area, the Canteen, and then to the brick kilns built along the Linshui River.

Upon arriving here, Saide subconsciously slowed his pace. After observing the work scenes near two kilns in succession, he finally could not help but ask:

"Lord Xia Duo, I have been to many territories, but I have never seen any territory like Daxia Territory where the residents are so active and busy, yet busy without being chaotic, filled with a sense of order. In such order, I seem to see an incomparably powerful force gestating. May I ask what exactly is going on here?"

Following Saide's gaze, Xia Duo saw the residents continuously adding brick blanks near the kilns, as well as more residents behind them transporting brick blanks from the drying yard in the east via wheelbarrows.

There was no numbness on anyone's face; there was only an infinite expectation for a better life in the future, and the light of hope flickered in everyone's eyes.

Seeing such a scene, even though Xia Duo could see it often, he could not help but be moved. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly:

"Actually, it is very simple. I gave them food, clothing, tools, and shelter, organized them, and gave them hope."

"Consultant Saide, you said you have been to many territories, so please tell me, have you ever seen those lords give their residents hope? Or is it that they just treat them as dispensable private property?"

"This—"

Saide was speechless for a moment, but still said in disbelief, "It's that simple?"

"Of course it is not that simple." Xia Duo shook his head.

He pointed to the residents working not far away and asked Saide a seemingly unrelated question: "Consultant Saide, do you guess there is a future Archmage among those people?"

"A future Archmage?"

Saide did not understand why Xia Duo would suddenly ask such a question, but he still thought about it seriously before answering: "I don't think there will be an Archmage among those people; even a low-level Mage is unlikely."

"What if I keep them by my side and teach them personally?" Xia Duo continued to ask.

"Teach them personally?"

Saide glanced at the dozens of residents over there and subconsciously shook his head, but then he realized, "Lord Xia Duo, are you saying it is our contempt for ordinary people? And the conservatism regarding the spread of Knowledge?"

"Something like that!"

Subsequently, Xia Duo asked back in an unusually calm tone: "If these people could have access to basic Magic knowledge from a young age, and then receive universal and sufficient training after growing up, do you still think there wouldn't be a few Archmages among them?"

"This, this—" Saide was speechless again. He sighed softly, his expression very complicated, "Lord Xia Duo, this idea of yours is really—"

"Is it radical? Or delusional? Or perhaps there is some possibility?" Xia Duo asked back again.

"There is such a possibility!"

Saide agreed with this possibility, but he still had a complicated view of this model. At this moment, he finally understood what kind of "hope" Xia Duo was talking about when he said he "gave the residents hope"!

No wonder these residents were working so hard!

Thinking of this, Saide recalled a phenomenon he had ignored while visiting the residential area just now, which was—Daxia Territory had infants, young adults, and the elderly, but it was the only place without those children approaching adulthood!

"Lord Xia Duo, have you already started to Popularize Magic Education within the territory?"

Xia Duo did not answer this question directly but gave a rather profound smile. However, Saide understood immediately; he even linked the Tower of Time's massive output of Magic Items to this kind of popular education.

If there weren't so many new Mages, how could there be such a high output?

After all, the past output of the Tower of Time was no secret.

Thinking back to the five-year procurement agreement just signed, Saide became even more certain of this speculation. If there weren't so many new Mages, why would they need so many magic materials?

……

Leaving the brick kilns, Saide took a detour to visit two residential areas and the scene of Daxia residents leveling the land south of the Tower of Time.

"Lord Xia Duo, thank you for your hospitality. This trip to Nan Jing was truly worthwhile. If possible, I would like to stay here for a few more days."

When saying this, Saide's face clearly showed reluctance. This expression was not entirely acted; he really liked the food here.

Although Xia Duo's real age might not be as great as Saide's, if one counted his incarnations in the Projection Plane, his age would head straight toward a millennium.

Especially Drow Brandon in the 【Projection Plane: Underdark】, the experience of hundreds of years of scheming and mutual deception gave Xia Duo a great harvest.

And in 【Projection Plane: Cormanthor Birth】, the knowledge and experience injected by the 【Sword of Ruling】 High Mage were not just about Magic, but also about Elf traditions, governance, combat, and so on.

Although Elves and Drow are very different from humans, as sentient beings, it is not difficult to find empathy in simple emotions.

In Xia Duo's view, Saide's outpouring of true feelings was at least seventy or eighty percent sincere. Although there were still differences in their views on some issues, it did not prevent Xia Duo from feeling happy about it at this moment.

Especially since this person would be his strategic partner for a long time to come.

"Then stay for a few more days. Is there any urgent matter in Seventon that you must handle personally?"

Compared to Saide's sincerity, Xia Duo's words seemed much more formulaic. Although this was true, he had already made plans to postpone the land-grant ceremony when he said this.

He prepared to use the land-grant-related decrees as a starting point at the land-grant ceremony to build the territory's Order Cycle. Having an extra Senior Arcanist present would be somewhat inconvenient.

However, Saide did not stay but stated he would return: "The president is waiting for me to go back and report! I will definitely stay for a few more days next time I come!"

"Daxia Territory welcomes Consultant Saide's arrival at any time!"

Regarding this, Xia Duo did not try to persuade him too much. The relationship between Spellcasters is inherently relatively thin. If the Tower of Time and the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce had not already become strategic partners, he would not even have asked him to stay.

Before sending Saide to the Teleportation Array, Xia Duo also gave him a copy of 【Great Xia Gourmet Recipes】. The 【Recipes】 recorded the production methods for various kitchenware, tableware, and food.

This would allow Saide to have the opportunity to continue tasting Daxia delicacies after returning to Seventon.

"Thank you for the generous gift, Lord Xia Duo. I will have people try it after I return. When Lord Xia Duo goes to the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce next time, you should be able to taste the food of your hometown!"

Xia Duo nodded, "I look forward to it!"

"Farewell!"

"Farewell!"