Chapter 218 — The Self-Awareness a Transmigrator Ought to Have

"Oh... What?!" Amber had nodded halfway before she woke with a shudder, looking at Gao Song as though at an enemy spy who had infiltrated their own ranks. "You want to invite Viscount Andrew to tour the territory's mines? Do you still remember what's in there?!"

"Of course I remember. Magical-energy engines, drainage pumps, minecart hauling machines, and the crushers and screening machines recently put into service."

"You remember, and you still want to let an outsider see?!" Amber's eyes went wide. "These are the lifelines of the Cecil territory! The only reason this place of ours developed so far so fast is those machines—aren't you afraid that after Viscount Andrew sees them..."

"I hope that after he sees them, he'll be tempted—greatly tempted," Gao Yan nodded. "Because I intend to sell him the entire set of mining equipment."

Amber: "?!"

"Our second-generation magical-energy engine is already a reality, and what I mean to sell is the first generation," Gao Yu said. He knew what Amber was thinking, but he quite enjoyed the pleasure of teasing her—this troublesome half-elf only seemed cute when she was thus dumbstruck. "And one thing you said just now was wrong: machines played a part in the territory developing so fast in such a short time, but we by no means relied on them alone."

He shook his head: "The truly cheat-like part of the Cecil territory is something outsiders can't take away."

Amber's worry plainly had not abated: "But no matter what you say, selling something like a magical-energy engine to someone else... aren't you really worried that the neighbors will develop?"

"They will certainly develop—the mining efficiency of the Tanzan Mine will rise greatly," Gao Yan nodded. "And that will guarantee the Cecil territory more magical-conductive materials, at a lower price."

Amber scratched her hair: "That's it? You've got other reasons, haven't you?"

"Of course. Only a stronger partner can bring you greater benefit. I have never worried about others' development; I need only ensure that I am the one developing fastest, and that is enough."

Gao Dai got this far, then sighed softly: "Most rulers of this world walk another road. They do everything in their power to ensure that no one within their sight advances. They do not care how long they themselves have been marking time, so long as others are not advancing or are falling behind. But this has a fatal problem: they cannot ensure the suppression of those beyond their sight. All their doings can only bring about regional decline. Do you know? In fact, this bitter fruit has already appeared."

"Bitter fruit?"

"Ansu's neighbor, the Typhon Empire, has spent the past few decades in continuous military reform and social progress. They have achieved the regularization of supernatural-class professionals into standing armies and, to a degree, assembly-line production of military goods. While Ansu's nobles huddle together and slide backward, in places beyond their influence and beyond their sight, a powerful and terrifying rival has already risen to its feet..."

Amber swallowed hard. She was Ansu-born herself, and of course she knew the threat posed by the neighboring Typhon Empire was growing by the day, but as an ordinary commoner she had never before heard this kind of direct, clear-eyed analysis—and from Gao Yang's mouth, no less. Still, she had one last doubt about Gao Song's decision: "But even if you sell those magic-engine-driven machines to Viscount Andrew, he won't be able to use them, will he...? Those machines all need the magic net to run..."

Gao Rong only grew happier: "That's exactly why I'll sell him the blueprints for the magic net along with them. If possible, I'll even send a team of technicians at a low price to guide the Lesley territory through the basic construction of a magic net."

"You're giving him the magic net too?!" This time Amber nearly leapt out of her seat. "Do you have any idea how much he could do with a magic net?"

"Mining," Gao Ji said calmly. "Mining for the Cecil territory."