Chapter 383
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Noticing that Saleen did not respond, Aini got anxious . Then he said, "Saleen, we don't have to take this risk, this route wouldn't be revealed to any outsiders for the time being . You can control this route for at least five years, you don't have to spend so much effort securing it . "
"I know . Aini, if those magic beasts have gone insane, there must be something extraordinary though . Let's wait at a different location first, and we will return once those magic beasts revert to their normal selves . It will be good even if we only get to collect some bone fragments . "
Aini sighed, "There's no need to do this . This will be your territory for the time being, outsiders will not be able to interfere . There are materials all over this place which will cause others to go green with envy, there's no need to take any more risks . " Aini was sparing a thought for Saleen . Jola and Sika could not move in deep waters, and if anything went wrong, those two people would be in grave danger after all .
Saleen simply smiled in response, then said to Irene, "Go and rest for a few hours . We will dock at an island up ahead . "
"Mm . " Irene nodded in agreement . Earlier on, she was physically exhausted . Now that Saleen allowed her to rest, it was a dream come true . Irene wanted to rush back to her room and remove that filthy handkerchief .
Making sure that Irene had left, Saleen then said to Aini, "Aini, I think that Irene will not be able to detach herself from the Williams family given her current capabilities . If she cannot accomplish it eventually…"
Aini's eyes flashed with a decisive gaze, and he simply nodded . Aini and Irene were not good friends, he had too few friends among the four families . Thinking of this, Aini replied, "If Irene cannot make it, I will help you search for another suitable candidate . "
Aini was very clear about what Saleen required . Saleen wanted an example, an example who made it rich in their city . Only with such a temptation would infinite investments flow into his city .
In order to operate a city, the amount of money needed was by no means small . Even a small town would require hundreds of thousands of gold coins . The income tax received annually only amounted to a few thousand gold coins . Unless Saleen built a city like Alchemy City, he might as well not recruit anyone . He should just remain in the Frozen Sea to hunt .
Saleen's ambition did not just stop there . He wanted to expand the city to form a central zone in the north, so that many people would come forth to develop and make a living . Once this vision was achieved, the city would contain quality soldiers, thus attracting various experts . By then, even if the Holy See's army attacked, Saleen would be able to defend himself .
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Saleen's city would be like Alchemy City . Besides housing a huge number of mages, various families across the Qin Empire also had investments inside the city . The moment war broke out, these families would render assistance, helping Alchemy City to resist the enemy .
Building atop this foundation, Alchemy City also developed its own farmland . That way it was a self-sufficient in food supply . Alchemy City was analogous to an independent kingdom already . With this foundation, Alchemy City then proceeded to develop its maritime territory, controlling thousands of miles of water . Even the indomitable Cloudflow navy rarely disturbed the peace .
Clearly, Saleen's goal was to establish a nuclear city which was not inferior to Alchemy City . In that case, absorbing funds would be a bread-and-butter affair . Alchemy City also used various scarce resources as a bait in order to obtain astronomical capital from the ubiquitous tycoons across the mainland .
Saleen was jubilant when he learned that Aini could introduce a better candidate to him . Saleen did not really prefer working with a person such as Irene . Even though she had ambitions, Saleen and she were two different characters .
"Is the person you are recommending also from one of the four big families?"
"Yes, from the Rolande family . She might not be a direct descendant, but her father is very influential . Her father has done much business in Loulan . "
"Her?" In Qin language, there was a huge difference in the pronunciation of "her" and "him . "
"Relax, she won't be a haggard old lady," Aini joked . Saleen was not very astonished, women in Qin had a considerable standing in society . In Cloudflow, women were simply regarded as a tool for childbearing . In Tanggulasi, women were not even considered to be a tool . Of course, the only country with absolute gender equality was Sikeqinya . Women in Sikeqinya still led a hard life . They had to work just like the men, they even had to grow crops and hunt .
"The Rolande family seems to be in the agriculture and livestock business right?"
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"They are also involved in weapons and mining . They are small as they are oppressed by the other three families . "
"It's alright . I am just about to open up a wasteland, I will need their talents . " Immediately, Saleen had thought of a location for the Rolande family . Saleen would provide the castle and soldiers, while the Rolande family could supply the quality farmers and businessmen who ran food businesses . Saleen's soldiers would be responsible for protecting them, chasing away the magic beasts and bandits, and paving the way for the rest of the activities .
Even though the land in the north could only be utilized for one season, the soil was extremely fertile . The Rolande family could still make a profit . Saleen did not want a cut of the profits, he just wanted the Rolande family to sell the food back to him and supply the army with rations . Since Saleen was going to build six camps, the meals for sixty-thousand people were a pressing issue . He might have the confidence to establish a fleet, but purchasing food was a very troublesome affair . Various farmers were controlled by the nobles, and if one wanted to procure food, he would have to fork out a large sum of money .
"Aini, you know me best . " Saleen patted Aini's shoulder, but Aini simply smiled coldly .
"Humph, there's something wrong with Irene's brain, she will never accomplish great things . I believe the people around you have realized it… the previous time . " Aini was referring to the incident whereby Irene tried to instigate Saleen to kill the Pale Earth .
Saleen nodded, then Aini said, "She is a person without a bottom-line . For a selfish agenda, she is willing to anger the people around you . That is very unwise of her . She is poles apart from her mother . "
Saleen replied innocently, "I didn't want to do anything with her, after all…"
"I know, but if you tried something, she wouldn't be angry . "
Saleen blushed at the same time . He was never deft in the affairs of the heart . If Sika did not take the initiative, he would not have known any of this . Now that he understood, he would not go and mess around with Irene . From Saleen's perspective, trust was of utmost importance . He merely shared a working relationship with Irene . Without that contract, there would not even be any trust to begin with .
There were less and less magic beasts surrounding the alchemical boat . Almost all of the creatures nearby had been attracted by that anomaly on the seabed . The winged skeleton piloted the alchemical boat to a small island, then the ship was docked .
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"Master, should we advance farther north? I have discovered volcanic activity underground . In at most five-hundred miles north, there will be a volcano . Perhaps there are other magic beasts there suitable for capture?" the winged skeleton suggested to Saleen .
"This location is good . " In his heart, Saleen knew that the winged skeleton was reluctant to allow him to return . Even though it was dangerous up north, it was still safer than a brawl which involved hundreds of magic beasts .
"Saleen, shall we go up and take a look?" Jola was very eager . Onboard this ship, he was useless . Even those five low grade mages were more useful, at least they could help steer the ship . Jola might possess powerful offensive abilities, but he could not help Saleen at all .
"It seems that Banchajanna hasn't recovered," Aini reminded Saleen . Even though Aini was brave, he did not want to take unnecessary risks . Since this island was larger, magic beasts might be present . Without the company of Banchajanna, the offensive power of Saleen's team was greatly hampered .
After pondering for a while, Saleen said, "It's fine, those land magic beasts can't run faster than me . If we are losing, we will simply flee . "
Aini did not bother persuading further as he felt that it was very stuffy being underwater . The Pan's Turtle alchemical boat had an intricate design . During a battle, the magic array would not expel the exhaled gas, such an action would release many air bubbles which would attract unwanted trouble .
Since the ship was not huge, the air would feel kind of polluted after being underwater for a long duration . Even though the magic array was producing fresh air continuously, people still felt very uncomfortable . The best solution was to allow the ship to float up to the surface to exchange gases .
Originally, the Pan's Turtle alchemical boat was at a depth of a few dozen meters, suctioned onto an undersea cliff . After the winged skeleton received the order from Saleen, he floated the ship to the surface . Then, he steered the ship along the island, in search of a location for going ashore .
"Master is going up?" Nailisi ran from the rear cabin .
"Where is Banchajanna?"
"Attaching his tail," Nailisi replied with a giggle . "Finally it's time to go up . " Nailisi abhorred being underwater, even though she was safest among the rest underwater .
"How are your injuries?"
"It's fine, the muscle was pulled, but the bone wasn't broken," Nailisi answered .
Jola stuck out his tongue . In the face of such a powerful wave, Nailisi only pulled her muscle . "Her identity might be extraordinary, I must serve this lady properly" .
Saleen had peace of mind upon hearing that . He then instructed the winged skeleton to be ready to receive him anytime . Thereafter, he led the people out of the Pan's Turtle alchemical boat through the teleportation portal . The alchemical boat began the process of gaseous exchange . The magic array also started operating, repairing the damage to the machine .
The five people stood atop the Pan's Turtle alchemical boat inhaling the fresh air, feeling refreshed in that instant . The Pan's Turtle alchemical boat docked at the northern face of this island . The island was not snowcapped . Since the beach was filled with gravel, it portrayed a grayish appearance . The center of the island was raised, but it could not be considered a mountain yet . What made Saleen and the rest astounded was the presence of sparse vegetation .
"Strange, doesn't this place get frozen?"
"There might be volcanoes . " Saleen furrowed his brows . For things like a volcano, one would not be able to withstand the impact from an eruption no matter how strong they were . Even a grade-9 mage would be burned into ash if he got splashed with magma .
Saleen took a sniff, then said, "Don't worry, there are no volcanoes here . Let's go . "
Speaking, Saleen already cast the Quickcloud Spell, gliding towards the beach with Sika and Nailisi . Aini summoned his flesh spirits, and got transported ashore . Jola judged the distance between the alchemical boat and the shore, and then he leaped, covering over ten meters with this leap . Just as his feet came into contact with the water, a huge ripple appeared on the surface of the sea, spreading outwards . By then, Jola had already transformed into a gray shadow and charged onto the shore .
"Jola, not bad at all . If you can advance to a golden grand swordmaster, I will give you the sword spirit . " Seeing that Jola's actions were swift and clean, Saleen immediately made a wish .
"Really?" Jola was exhilarated, he was really tempted when he saw the sword spirit . He knew that the sword spirit was a natural adversary to the mages though . Now that Saleen made such a promise, Jola had a favorable impression of him . Even though this condition was slightly insurmountable, Jola knew that if he was diligent, it was not entirely impossible for him to become a golden grand swordmaster .