Chapter 756: Deadline Completion and the Arrival of the Northern Fleet

Horst Research Lab

With his mind set on the mass production of various Magic Items in the Tower of Time, Xia Duo stopped by on his way back to his residence to check on the progress Horst and the others had made regarding the mass production plans during this period.

"You only finished the mass production plan for the 【Warning Amulet】?"

Xia Duo looked at everyone in the research lab with an expressionless face; the number of people had increased quite a bit compared to his last visit, but the results had little to do with the headcount.

He asked Horst, "This 【Warning Amulet】 wouldn't happen to be the kind that uses the Everlasting Magic technology from the Tilake Research Lab, would it?"

"Uh—"

Horst gritted his teeth and nodded, "Yes, it is."

"..."

Xia Duo was speechless on the spot; it had been over ten days and they hadn't even come up with a single mass production plan! What was the point of having so many people!

The so-called mass production plan for the 【Warning Amulet】 should actually be considered the achievement of the Tilake Research Lab; from the very beginning of the research, Xia Duo's instructions were aimed at mass production.

And Tilake and the others had done a great job, with very detailed records for every process, and they had even created a preliminary prototype of a mass production plan.

If it hadn't been for Xia Duo's temporary order for them to research the Everlasting Magic version of the New Communication Magic Artifact, they would likely have completed the mass production of the 【Warning Amulet】 long ago.

Now this plan had actually become the property of the Horst Research Lab, and he didn't know when they had developed such an unspoken understanding.

Of course, Xia Duo was happy to see this; after all, they both belonged to the Tower of Time, and if they could minimize unnecessary duplicate research as much as possible, that would certainly be good.

But the problem was, it had been over ten days—did Horst really have absolutely no results?

Under the gaze of Xia Duo, which was gradually turning stern, Horst bit the bullet and said, "Besides this, there is also the mass production of Magic Scrolls, which we have already completely finished."

"Stop!"

Xia Duo hurriedly interrupted Horst; did Magic Scrolls really need an entire research lab to study how to mass-produce them? Was his Magic Scroll Printing Machine a fake?

"Dien, you tell me, tell me what problems you have encountered in the Horst Research Lab during this period!"

"There are roughly two problems. One is that apart from those of us who came from the Tilake Research Lab, everyone else is very resistant to discussion and unwilling to share any ideas. What is called 'joint research' is almost only discussed by the few of us."

There was clearly emotion in Dien's eyes as he continued, "The other is the Material Department. Researching mass production plans still requires consuming materials. Although the Material Department hasn't refused, repeatedly submitting applications is also a waste of time."

"Anything else?"

"That's all for now."

"Very well!"

Xia Duo turned his gaze to the others, scanning these Intermediate Rank or low-rank Mages one by one, then said: "Those who are unwilling to participate in the mass production plan research can leave now!"

As it turned out, no one left. Xia Duo was not surprised by this; even if they really had any thoughts, they wouldn't express them in this situation—it was just a tacit understanding between them.

He continued: "I will transfer more people from the Tilake Research Lab, and I will also talk to Saixili to have her prepare the relevant materials for you in advance. But Horst, within three days, I need to see the first real mass production plan!"

"This—" Horst hesitated.

Xia Duo was displeased and asked again: "Just one question: can you do it?"

"Yes!"

Xia Duo looked at Dien with surprise; it was he who had just spoken. As for Horst, after Dien spoke, he immediately agreed as well.

"I suggest you form an emergency task force and concentrate your superior strength to complete the plan as soon as possible!"

After saying this, Xia Duo left directly without waiting for Horst's reply.

Two days later, Xia Duo received news that the fleet from Seventon had arrived at the Savile Territory. Along with the fleet, besides the appraisers from the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce, there were also Xia Duo's 1,000-plus new subjects.

Out of consideration for avoiding the Wide Grand Arcanist, Xia Duo did not show up to receive them, but instead had Sein Town Mayor arrange for people to board the ships for inspection, and then return to Daxia Territory together for the handover.

As for that appraiser, Xia Duo sent an invitation to Manager Saituosi of the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce, asking him to bring the appraiser to the Tower of Time to discuss the specific details of the transaction.

And he had already made preparations on his side; whether it was the Communication Magic Artifact samples or the negotiators Dailike and Aiboke, everything was in a state of readiness.

Niya's Study.

Xia Duo and Niya sat by the window, casting their gaze outside; outside the window was the desolate scene of the Savile Port.

Because the Drow War had caused the border trade between Netheril and Konnifila to be temporarily suspended, the Savile Territory, as the transit point closest to Konnifila City, was now also a scene of desolation.

But neither Xia Duo nor Niya had the ability to interfere with the Drow War, and what they really wanted to see was not that desolate scene, but the seven or eight ships in the port.

On them were Xia Duo's 1,000-plus subjects. According to Beilaila, behind this fleet, there were also some individual ships heading to Nan Jing.

However, Beilaila's influence in Seventon was limited; if she were to force a connection, it would inevitably consume a large amount of favors and money. Plus, it was not easy to control ships with different ownerships, and the journey would take several months, which carried significant risks.

Xia Duo did not ask Beilaila to contact them again. The seven or eight ships he currently saw in the projection from the window of Niya's Study were the only batch of unplanned transported subjects.

As for the planned ones, Beilaila's own fleet would send a batch of about 700 people in early November, and the hired fleet she had contacted earliest, which had a contract, would have a batch of about 1,000-plus people in mid-November.

Finally, there was the fleet organized by local chambers of commerce in Savile such as Hans, which would transport about 500 new subjects back in late November.

Afterwards, the various fleets could still be used, but it was already too late for this year; the ships he could use now would not be able to return to Seventon this year.

It was indeed possible to summon new subjects in advance in Seventon; one only needed to notify the Seven Cities Council one month in advance.

But the problem was, once they were fully summoned, they had to be transported away immediately; they did not provide temporary care services there, which was why one had to act according to one's ability and only summon the number that could be transported.

If they provided temporary care services there, things would be much simpler; he could completely have them summon tens or hundreds of thousands of people at once.

Afterwards, whether they were transported back slowly over several years or transported when he needed people, it would be very convenient.

But reality made it impossible for him to operate that way.

Based on the current situation, Xia Duo estimated that by the end of this year, the number of his subjects would reach about 7,000 to 8,000, and after that, it was unlikely that there would be such rapid growth as this year.

Watching the seven or eight ships slowly sail out of Savile Port and head south, Xia Duo withdrew his gaze, picked up the teacup on the table between him and Niya, took a sip, and then said:

"The people from the Ming Shui Chamber of Commerce are coming. The appraiser they are sending this time is very likely an Advanced Rank Mage."