Chapter 2261: The Uniqueness of the Mulan

"Then do you know the direct reason why Mulan cannot produce craftsmen? They are all humans, so could there be any essential difference?" Xia Duo asked again.

This was actually a concern of his as well. Right now, Mulan simply could not become craftsmen of the Yimaska Creation Magic System. If they were unable to become Mages, then what use would it be for him to buy these people and take them back?

It might even be that due to interbreeding with Netherese or Langasi, those two groups would also be unable to produce Mages. If that were truly the case, then these Mulan could truly be called the common enemy of all magical civilizations!

Regarding this question, Jiamu also shook his head in great confusion, "As early as when the Mulan first appeared, the Empire's craftsmen discovered this phenomenon and attempted to solve it, but over a thousand years have passed, and this problem still exists."

"Is there really no explanation?"

"There are explanations, of course. There are two mainstream ones. One attributes this problem to the Lord of Craftsmen, His Majesty Koutan, who first discovered the Mulan, believing that he deliberately restricted the Mulan's talent to prevent them from staging a comeback and becoming the Empire's mainstream. This theory has a lot of traction, but the problem is that the current upper echelons of the Empire are actually quite willing to accept the Mulan; they do not wish to waste such a massive population."

"And the other explanation?"

"The other explanation involves the origin of the Mulan. The Mulan are not an indigenous race of the Main Plane, but were found by the great Lord of Craftsmen, His Majesty Koutan, from an Other Plane. Perhaps the difference in Planes makes them unable to produce craftsmen belonging to this Plane."

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"Is that so!"

Xia Duo was lost in thought. Although the second explanation Jiamu gave sounded very reasonable, it actually did not hold much water. Because he had been to an Other Plane—even if it was a non-habitable plane like the Blue Crystal Plane—he had never heard of the claim that different Planes had exclusive magic systems.

Furthermore, it is true that the Mulan came from an Other Plane, but Easterners also came from an Other Plane! Easterners are able to learn Elven Magic or Netheril Magic, which is enough to prove that it is not because of the Other Plane.

He felt that perhaps there was a problem with the Mulan themselves. Perhaps the so-called "finding them from an Other Plane" was not a fact at all; the fact might be that these Mulan are simply Psionic Creations!

In Xia Duo's impression, it seemed that only artificial beings or clones would have such huge defects that distinguish them from natural humans. Yimaska Creation Magic appears to be based on matter, which actually already includes a foundation of flesh and blood.

Perhaps the Mulan really are a type of artificial being!

Of course, there is another possibility: that the Yimaska upper echelons might not be as willing to accept the Mulan as Jiamu said. Although they know that making a bigger cake allows everyone to get a larger share, the appearance of new rent-seekers will inevitably compress the profit margins of the vested interests.

A person's sense of superiority is often not reflected by absolute values, but by comparison with others.

It is just like if everyone had one million; the actual feeling of superiority is the same as if everyone only had one dollar or zero. But if one person has one, although it is very little compared to the absolute value of one million, as long as everyone else has zero, then they possess absolute superiority.

Although Xia Duo is very repulsed by this way of thinking, it cannot be denied that before material wealth in a civilization reaches extreme abundance, this phenomenon is very difficult to avoid.

Putting it into the current situation of the Mulan, even if a few wise men in the Yimaska upper echelons see the benefits of accepting the Mulan, most vested interests may not necessarily have such awareness.

It is very difficult for an individual to contend against an entire class, so it is not hard to understand the situation of suppressing the Mulan.

But there is also a problem here: why only the Mulan? Shouldn't it be the suppression of all latecomers?

Just because the Mulan have the largest population?

In Xia Duo's view, the size of a population is very difficult to use as a reason for a race to be absolutely excluded. There should be some deeper reasons here that an outsider like him finds hard to understand.

Thinking of this, Xia Duo temporarily extinguished his intention to purchase a large number of Mulan slaves. At least until he determines that the Mulan can adapt to the Netheril Magic System, he is not prepared to purchase them in bulk.

While chatting, the group walked in front of a shop. Jiamu specifically stopped to introduce it to Xia Duo: "This is a display shop affiliated with the largest chamber of commerce in Yinnupulasi. It is enough to satisfy all of a guest's needs."

"Is that so?"

Through the storefront, Xia Duo could see figures occasionally flashing by inside. He immediately realized that the interior of this shop might not be the size it appeared from the outside at all, so he nodded in agreement.

Just after entering the shop, Xia Duo felt a lively atmosphere completely different from the outside. Rather than a shop, it was more like a shopping mall.

Although Mulan were still the majority inside, there were also quite a few strangely dressed Yimaska people wandering and roaming in front of various stalls.

"Xia Duo, there are a lot of people here!"

"Mm, I see."

Xia Duo looked around and saw upright poles marked with Yimaska characters. They should be things similar to mall signs or shop names on Earth, but unfortunately, he did not understand the Rushum Language here.

However, for some shops, he could guess a little just by looking at the products. So, he declined Jiamu's introduction, chose a direction himself, and then stopped in front of a shop.

"Tax Official Jiamu, help me ask what they are selling in here?"

"Does Mage Asuosi need a more detailed introduction? If you just want to know what goods are sold here, you can just ask me."

"Then tell me what those are?" Xia Duo pointed to the box-shaped items on the shelves inside the shop that clearly had observation holes, and asked Jiamu.

"That is a type of cooking tool unique to Yimaska, called a 【Baking Box】. It can be used to make food like bread or roasted meat."

"Is that so?"

Xia Duo tried his best to hide the embarrassment on his face, but privately, Niya was already laughing her head off via Sending. Just a moment ago, the two had made a bet. Niya guessed that it might be some kind of experimental instrument used by Yimaska craftsmen, but Xia Duo said it looked more like a storage-type insurance box, possibly used to preserve certain specific items.

As for the result, well, Niya's guess was closer.

In reality, Xia Duo had thought of things like ovens or microwaves, but he was paranoidly convinced that Yimaska, still in the classical era, could not possibly manufacture those things.

The embarrassment stemmed from this.

If it were just losing a bet, it wouldn't have gone this far.

"Are all of these here Baking Boxes?" Xia Duo asked again.

"You could say most of them are, but Baking Boxes also come in different types, such as those more focused on making bread, or those more focused on making meat."

"Do many people buy this kind of cooking tool?"

"A lot. Almost every household here in Yinnupulasi uses them."

"Can Mulan use them too?"

"Of course they can!"

Jiamu gave Xia Duo a strange look, "Actually, many of these utensils are designed for Mulan to use. Craftsmen are busy with their affairs and it is impossible for them to make food themselves!"