Chapter 2902: Security Costs, Stable Financial Resources

Xia Duo's proposal to establish a Public Computing Resource Pool certainly had his own selfish motives, but his selfishness would not hinder the interests of the Northland Alliance, which was the real reason he could speak so eloquently here—

A clear conscience.

……

And after Xia Duo finished answering the two security protection plans, Osmantus indeed continued to ask about the costs of these two plans, to which Xia Duo became a bit more cunning:

"The number of Gateway Magic Tools is determined by the scale and quantity of the small-scale networks. Here, I suggest setting the scale at 50 to 100 accessors. This way, if 10,000 Spellcasters connect, at most only 200 sets of Gateway Magic Tools would be needed."

"These 200 sets of Gateway Magic Tools, if purchased from the Tower of Time, would only cost a total of 400,000 Cormanthor Gold Coins."

Actually, when mentioning this figure, Xia Duo found it hard to say, because not long ago the Tower of Time had just earned over 10 million from the Third Generation Communication Artifact, and that was in just one week (there would be no such efficiency afterward).

But because the Gateway Magic Tools of the Spirit Thought Network require the use of quasi-Spirit Material, they should actually be considered consumables rather than equipment that can be maintained for a long time.

In other words, 400,000 is just the cost for one usage cycle. In the future, as long as the Public Computing Resource Pool wants to be maintained, it will regularly purchase Gateway Magic Tools from the Tower of Time. This is a long-term and stable source of income.

……

A set of Gateway Magic Tools at 2,000 Gold Coins has an actual cost of around 1,000 Gold Coins, slightly less. If it were to facilitate the Northland Alliance in establishing the Public Computing Resource Pool, I would actually be willing to double it several times over. Since it's coming out of the public account anyway, why not fleece them?

Users cannot actually just purchase the "Consciousness Projection Carrier" component, which is around 1,000 Gold Coins. If they are unwilling to spend that money frequently, they can only choose direct Reality consciousness connection, or simply not use it.

Seeing that Xia Shao had even stated the specific quotes and service life of the relevant Magic Artifacts, even Osmantus, who still harbored doubts, couldn't help but gain a bit more confidence.

This is also unavoidable. Although the material cost of the Special Connector is not high, the manufacturing cost is relatively high, requiring high-level Mages, whereas the Gateway Magic Tool is not.

For the Tower of Time, half of this is pure profit. That is to say, if the Northland Alliance builds the Public Computing Resource Pool and the number of accessors reaches 10,000, the Tower of Time could have a pure income of 180,000 Gold Coins per month just from the Gateway Magic Tools.

"Does Consultant Xia Shao have any opinions?"

As for the service life of the Gateway Magic Tool, it is related to the flow of consciousness information passing through the gateway; high traffic means a shorter service life, and low traffic means a longer service life.

"The Gateway Magic Tool still needs to be perfected. I hope that by then, the Tower of Time's Gateway Magic Tools will be unanimously recognized by the Mages of all countries for their outstanding performance."

If it is a Public Computing Resource Pool established by the Northland Alliance, the usage might be more frequent, meaning the traffic will be higher. Estimating based on 10,000 accessors, one might need to replace about 150 sets a month!

Of course, this type of special connector is also considered a consumable, but because its essence is a combination of "Consciousness Projection Carrier + Special Connector," the latter is easily damaged, while the former is not.

Considering the settlement currency is Cormanthor Gold Coins, the actual income is actually higher. (A Gateway Magic Tool costing 1,000 Nether Gold Coins per set is sold to the Northland Alliance for 2,000 Cormanthor Gold Coins.)

"You're welcome. As the creator of the Spirit Thought Network and as a researcher with a need for computing resources, I very much hope that this Public Computing Resource Pool can be built."

Hearing Xia Shao say this, the five representatives were moved. Tiao, as a Netherese, took the initiative to ask: "Does it not exist now?"

According to the actual usage in the Tower of Time, for a thousand people with a 70% Level 3 Perception depth connection state, about ten sets need to be replaced every month.

And besides the Gateway Magic Tools, the Special Connector is the same story. The quote Xia Shao gave was 2,000 Gold Coins per piece, but the actual cost is over 1,000 Gold Coins, even higher than the Gateway which is two pieces per set.

Reducing performance while ensuring it passes the Northland Alliance's tests as much as possible is really not an easy thing!

In fact, with the existence of the Gateway Magic Tool, such protection is already enough for ordinary users; there is not much need to equip the "Consciousness Projection Carrier" component.

……

Based on Xia Shao's quote to the representatives, this quantity is about 300,000 Cormanthor Gold Coins, which is about 360,000 Nether Gold Coins.

"Thank you, Consultant Xia Shao, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions. Regarding whether to establish the Public Computing Resource Pool, we will consider it carefully. Thank you again. Once there is news, we will have someone notify Consultant Xia Shao."

……

I have too many things to do on hand now, and I don't really have much energy to manage this matter.

When walking to the door, Xia Shao added one more thing, "Actually, discussing back and forth is not as good as experiencing it once. After this temporary recruitment ends, I can provide the Alliance with a batch of Gateway Magic Tools and Special Connectors for experimentation."

Subsequently, the representatives of the five countries and Elder Dewen of Evereska asked some more questions, and the meeting was officially concluded.

Xia Shao was not making excuses. Although the Tower of Time is already using gateways as an important protection measure for the Spirit Thought Network, it is mostly used in conjunction with the brain-computer, and a version for separate commercial sale does not yet exist.

……

Moreover, this thing might not be finished in a day or two. It must be after defeating the Demon Descendants' current probing and attacks that there will be time to get the commercial Gateway Magic Tool done.

The representatives had not yet left, and Xia Shao immediately reflected on this situation, "The temporarily recruited Spellcasters are hard to sustain. It has only been two days and they are already a bit restless. It is still uncertain how long the Demon Descendants will continue to probe. I think it is necessary to consider the arrangements for these Mages."

According to Xia Shao's calculations, the "Consciousness Projection Carrier" component of the Spirit Thought Network connector can only be used for about one or two months. This is the total time. Considering that no one will keep the connection state all the time, the actual service life will exceed two months.

"First, of course, the Alliance must come forward to appease and stabilize the emotions of these Mages. Secondly, we can consider forming a standing team of high-spec Mages so that we don't have to recruit them temporarily every time."

After speaking, Xia Shao did not give the representatives time to react and turned to leave. It was enough for him to start the topic of forming a standing Mage team; the real decisions would be made by the high-level officials of each country. At most, he could advocate for it at the Seven Cities Council.

On the way back from the conference room to the Xiu Xi Shi, Xia Shao suddenly remembered that the action team was restless due to the repeated probing of the Demon Descendants. After contacting Tiao, he turned back again.