Chapter 524: Costs and Arrangements

Pure strength is certainly inferior to magic in terms of versatility, but if one speaks only of the magnitude of power, strength that reaches a certain level can also threaten a Mage.

Not to mention that one can also be armed with a full set of Magic Equipment.

Yes, Xia Duo had already planned to train Xiao En to be a commander of the 【Spell Breakers】; of course, in Xia Duo's plan, Spell Breakers also need to master a certain amount of magic power themselves.

……

A small room actually doesn't have much to pack; it's basically just a few sets of clothes, some tableware, and those coins hidden in the wooden box under the floor.

Very quickly, Padike's family had everything packed and ready.

Looking at the three's uneasy faces, Xia Duo offered a few words of comfort, though that only made them even more uneasy, which left Xia Duo feeling a bit between laughter and tears.

Previously, saying Padike couldn't afford to raise Xiao En wasn't actually that serious; as long as Xiao En displayed his strength, he could support himself even by carrying bags at the docks.

Of course, he could also rely on others; Xiao En had not awakened spellcasting abilities and would not be treated as a Spellcaster, just an ordinary person with slightly greater strength, and even if there were benefits, they wouldn't be better than what he had with Xia Duo.

Perhaps, there was even a possibility of ending up as a sacrifice for some Mage's bloodline experiments.

Xia Duo did not place much importance on bloodlines; having one is certainly good, but if not, he wouldn't force it. In a magic world, after all, conducting magic research is the proper path.

It is just like on Earth, where technology is all the rage; the gap in talent between people is far less than the improvement brought by high technology.

No matter how strong one's power is, can it be stronger than an excavator? No matter how fast one's speed is, can it be faster than an airplane or rocket? No matter how strong one's mental calculation is, can it be stronger than a supercomputer?

The rational use of external objects is the fundamental reason why intelligent life is "intelligent."

It is so on Earth, and it is equally so in the magic world.

……

On the way back, Niya quietly sent a message to ask Xia Duo, "You aren't planning to take them through the Teleportation Array to return to the Tower of Time, are you?"

"That is exactly the plan."

"Is it worth it for just a Bloodline User who doesn't even have spellcasting abilities?"

The cost of using a Teleportation Array is not small; the Tower of Time also has a Teleportation Array, and even without considering the premium when opened to the public, the maintenance cost for just a single use is at least several hundred Gold Coins. This kind of cost can be considered high even for a Mage.

It is just an ordinary Bloodline User; Niya felt that even a Bloodline Sorcerer wouldn't be worth such high regard, as possessing spellcasting abilities and becoming a Mage are two completely different things.

Mages are forged by Knowledge, while a Bloodline Sorcerer's spellcasting ability comes from their bloodline; it is a good starting point, true, but whether they can become a Mage is another matter entirely!

In Niya's heart, she actually didn't think much of Bloodline Sorcerers; after all, being famous as a Bloodline Sorcerer actually means they are not prominent on the path of a Mage, as those who are truly capable never show off spellcasting abilities derived from their bloodline.

Becoming an Arcanist—this achievement, derived from the acquired learning of an ordinary person—is the most commendable achievement of Netheril.

Xia Duo did not know what Niya was thinking, but he did not need to measure this matter by the values held by the Netherese. Currently, Daxia Territory is not only short of people but even more short of talent; he could still afford the two or three thousand Gold Coins for the Teleportation Array.

Of course, he was also unwilling to use the Teleportation Array to transport ordinary people.

……

Very soon, the Arcane Union arrived.

Although the Arcane Union does not forbid ordinary people from entering, who among true ordinary people would come here for no reason? Padike's family of three looked curiously at the scene inside the Arcane Union, while also staying close behind Xia Duo, fearing they would be accused by others.

Xia Duo did not head to the Teleportation Room immediately; on the way, he contacted the Tower Spirit to apply for the use of the Teleportation Array. Since the Snow Melting Competition had already begun, the Teleportation Array was not considered busy, though due to frequent use earlier, there was still a queue.

However, compared to the queues of dozens before, this time there were only two people ahead.

Taking advantage of this time, Xia Duo went to submit the information that he had successfully advanced to an Arcanist, raising his membership level in the Arcane Union from the original Level 2 to Level 4, and from Level 4 onwards, there is no longer a need to pay membership fees.

Of course, if one wants to use the services of the Arcane Union, one must definitely pay extra, such as for the Teleportation Array that was about to be used.

For a Level 4 Member, it is 2500 Gold Coins per use, not a single cent less, and even if one is teleporting to the Arcane Union's Teleportation Array as a destination, there is still a fee, though this fee is only half of that for teleporting out.

Just from the Teleportation Array alone, the Arcane Union has no idea how much money it has made!

……

Before long, the Tower Spirit's notification arrived. Upon reaching the Teleportation Room, Xia Duo saw that Niya was neither entering nor leaving, so he couldn't help but ask, "Niya, are you coming back to the Tower of Time with us?"

"No, I still need to organize the gains from watching the competition today after I return to Giles Tower later. You should come over as soon as you finish sending them back; don't miss tomorrow's competition."

"Mm."

Xia Duo nodded, stepped onto the Teleportation Array, and then beckoned to Padike's family of three, "Stand over here!"

At the same time, he entered the Access Key for the Tower of Time's Teleportation Array, and once the three of them stood over, Xia Duo decisively activated the Teleportation Array.

……

Upon arriving at the Tower of Time, it was not yet late. Xia Duo took Padike's family and teleported back to Linshui Village. First, Laidun arranged a place for them to stay, and then he discussed the future arrangements for this family with Laidun.

Although Xia Duo planned to train Xiao En to be a commander of the 【Spell Breakers】, right now, let alone 【Spell Breakers】, there were not even many people in the Territory who could use Magic Items.

Therefore, there was no need to make any special arrangements for now.

"For the family I just brought back, Xiao En will attend classes with the children of the Territory, but there is one thing to note: Xiao En will have great strength, so you must teach him well, both in the use of his strength and in how to get along with the other children."

"Yes, My Lord!"

"As for the couple, Padike and his wife, follow the previous method: assign them to a Working Group and treat them normally, but don't let anyone bully them. The composition of the residents in the Territory is complex now; complete the background checks as soon as possible and organize their information into Document files!"

This time, Xia Duo had only returned temporarily; he still had to go to Seventon later.

Additionally, conducting background checks on the residents was actually a task he had assigned before he advanced to an Arcanist, and there should be some results by now.

Sure enough, when Xia Duo mentioned this matter, Laidun immediately replied, "My Lord, the information and backgrounds of the residents have been mostly organized. Would you like to see them now, My Lord?"

"I won't look at them now; I have to leave again in a moment. I will look at them when I return next time!"

Laidun, of course, had no objections to this.