Chapter 2569: Great Power Strategy

Finally, Xia Duo experienced the Speaker Permission Level again. Just like before, he did not find any problems. The completion level of this Remote Conference System by Niya was unexpectedly high, so high that he could barely offer any new suggestions.

He could offer quite a few suggestions regarding some minor details, but Niya already knew about these; she just hadn't focused on them because she was in a rush to show him the prototype. Niya would certainly be able to fix them before heading to Seventon.

"Your performance this time really exceeded my expectations; this Remote Conference System is done very well! If you must have me offer suggestions, then I can only say: do a good job with the encryption. Additionally, when you go to Seventon, apply for patents—do so for both the implementation form and the spell details."

Hearing the first part of what Xia Duo said, Niya was still a bit embarrassed, but by the end, her attention was immediately drawn by the performance form patent Xia Duo mentioned, and she couldn't help but ask:

"I can understand applying for a patent for spell details, but how can one apply for a patent for the performance form? Others don't necessarily have to use our spells to implement this remote conference function."

"Of course you can! In my view, as long as there is a significant degree of unique innovation, one can apply for a patent. Although remote conferencing is not the first of its kind, we are the ones who standardized it, so it is also worthy of a patent opportunity," Xia Duo explained calmly.

In fact, the problem Niya raised did not exist at all on Earth. Let alone innovation in performance form, even changing a material or a new casing could be used to apply for a new patent.

Therefore, on Earth, patent applications were often filed in long strings to block others' paths as much as possible. Of course, from another perspective, applying for a patent also meant disclosure. Once the patent term expired, others could use it without cost. Even during the patent period, others could still conduct reverse research; it was just that they couldn't use it commercially.

So, on Earth, as long as one believed they could keep it secret, then of course one could choose not to apply for a patent.

To summarize, patents generally have two major benefits: one is to protect the creator's interests, and the other is to promote technological progress.

Of course, Netheril has developed for so many years that a large amount of knowledge has long since become public knowledge. It is just that in the past hundred years, the number of people registering patents has decreased, making it seem as if magic development has stagnated.

Therefore, no matter what those people say, as long as it is possible, what those people are actually doing is preventing latecomers from acquiring wealth and power.

The current Northland's situation is changing with each passing day. Ye Er Ken and Keman have already completed their centralization reforms, and the next step is naturally to seek further strength, just like Yinerfalang.

……

Rulers will instinctively shape the ideology of the entire society according to their own will. The more advanced the technology, the more solid the barriers of thought will become, because that is opposing the entire world.

This immediately made me think of Lawrence's plan. Perhaps there are already some results at this moment. The current stage is the most critical phase for shaping the Territory's culture, and I must focus on it to avoid an unstable foundation.

Therefore, for a considerable period of time, Xia Duo needs to take the path of leading or guiding Netheril, using the overall strength of Netheril to complete the construction of a true Great Power, thereby responding to future challenges.

Because in the eyes of those people, wealth and power have become the standards for measuring a person's status. Once latecomers possess wealth or power similar to theirs, they will naturally feel a loss of the sense of superiority derived from wealth and power.

After Niya left, Xia Duo also left the Laboratory, because Niya had told him before she left that quite a few Elf artists had recently arrived in the Territory.

……

Before long, Lawrence came running to the office where Xia Duo was. "I have kept the Lord waiting for a long time. I wonder what instructions the Lord has for me?"

That is the more polite way of putting it; to put it more bluntly, it is that some people would rather not have patent fees than hope for more people to acquire new knowledge and new technology, and they even place heavy restrictions on existing public knowledge.

As for why this is the case, the theft of the Nether Scroll can only be considered an inducement; the reality is that some vested interests want to block the path for latecomers. This is just like how the thing rich people want to do most is to prevent others from becoming rich, rather than bringing others along to get rich.

Even if ten more Floating Cities were built, there would still need to be people to operate them. The theory of weapon-only supremacy is undesirable, not to mention that Xia Duo himself opposes meaningless war.

Walking out of the Laboratory, Xia Duo teleported directly to the outside of the Cultural Center on the ground. After contacting Lawrence to confirm that the other party was still rehearsing, Xia Duo went to an office in the Cultural Center to wait patiently.

That is why Xia Duo could say without a shred of hesitation—I have arrived, and the people here are blessed.

Among them, two are even visiting the Floating City right now! Xia Duo calls this step the true Great Power strategy, but the newly developed Xia Ling has limited population after all. Even if birth rates are liberalized and new population is introduced, it will be very difficult to catch up with the various Elf nations for a considerable period of time.

"I heard that some Elf artists have recently arrived in the Territory?"

This way, whether dealing with the possible return of the Eastern World or the invasion from an Other Plane—which also only exists in probability—it will not be a loose sand.

Because from the moment the patent was born, all Mage Tower organizations in Netheril had already started paying fees. Once the Arcane Union and the patent owners received the money, they naturally would not care about anything else.

On the spot, from a more long-term perspective, Xia Duo naturally still hopes that the Xia Ling he directly controls can become a pole itself and lead the entire Plane.

But the decrease in registered patents is actually the result, not the cause. The root of everything is the conservative atmosphere in Netheril over the past hundred years.

On the issue of patents, Xia Duo has more confidence in the current new Council, but he is also worried that as the power structure stabilizes later, all parties will start to slack off. Therefore, he must inject his influence as much as possible while he can still influence things in the early stages.

Even without the incident of the Nether Scroll being stolen, those people would find other excuses, or even not bother to find an excuse at all.

Currently, Netheril's patents are only those directly related to Magic, and it is mandatory to collect patent fees from various Mage Tower organizations; it does not collect from individuals. As long as an individual has the ability to obtain new knowledge or new technology, the Arcane Union does not care at all.

Don't look at how his Floating City shakes the Northland and the South now; this is just like a single nuclear bomb. Others may be afraid, but once a full-scale war breaks out, his meager assets are simply not enough to fight.

Although it was a question, Xia Duo's tone was quite certain. It was not just because of Niya's notification; in fact, while waiting for Lawrence to come over, he had already confirmed the existence of those Elves.

It is conceivable that as long as thought does not progress, even if technology is advanced, it will only lead to greater exploitation, and it is exceptionally difficult to have ideological progress under even more advanced technology.

Fortunately, in this world and this era, it has not yet reached the point of complete rigidity, and with the addition of Xia Duo, the situation has gained a brand-new change.

If one looks even further into the future, by leading the Northland Alliance through Netheril, it is also possible to further integrate the entire Xilu, and even the full power of the Dong Bu Di Qu.