Chapter 328 — Good News From All Sides

"Buying is worse than stealing, and stealing is worse than failing to steal..." Amber mused. It was rare for her to grasp at once Gaoyang's true purpose in using such a troublesome method to leak the technique to the great and petty nobles of the southern lands. Of course, this also had to do with her rich experience in the world of thieves. "With this, they went through quite some trouble to get the technique, so they'll have even fewer misgivings. I expect it won't be long before they start laying arcane nets on a large scale across their own domains."

"Even if they don't need mining machinery, the arcane net can power their castles, power the mage towers on their lands, power the magical traps and other defensive installations at forts everywhere... In this world where magic is everywhere, the arcane net itself is something of very broad applicability," Gaoyang nodded. "But by my estimate, at least a third of the nobles will need mining machinery. There's no small amount of mining in the southern lands... Send word to Viscount Andrew to clear out his docks. I expect that very soon a great many sneaky guests will be scurrying to his domain to purchase arcane engines."

"Actually, we could do this business ourselves..." Amber pursed her lips. "That way we'd save the middleman's cut..."

"Not for now. Cecil Territory's near-limitless supply of cheap alchemical potions is already shocking enough, and for the time being I don't intend to draw that kind of attention anywhere else," Gaoyang shook his head. "All the various rumors released so far hint vaguely that Cecil Territory's production capacity has hit a bottleneck, and that the new mining machinery is manufactured in Tamsang Town. Since that's the case, I'll keep putting that message out, and let the great and petty nobles of the southern lands underestimate Cecil Territory's production potential—only then will they not be frightened off."

Amber waved a hand. "And it can make them let down their guard, right? I get it, I get it."

Gaoyang was quite pleased with the half-elf lady's progress during this period. He nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly said, "First, keep watch for me on the side, I..."

Before Gaoyang could finish, Amber cut in. "You're going to 'meditate' again?"

"Correct."

This time, the half-elf said nothing superfluous. She gave a crisp nod. "Fine. I'll keep watch for you."

Gaolan slowly let his mind go blank, but just as he was about to sink into the dream, Amber's voice drifted to him faintly from beside him: "But let me say this first—when you can talk again, you have to tell me before anyone else!"

"Don't worry. I won't forget."

After a brief spell of darkness and dizziness, Gaoyang appeared in that endless space of azure waters and blue skies.

The old mage Daniel stood before him and bowed low with great reverence.

"My lord, I have not failed your will. I am already the highest person in charge of the Ever-Sleeper 'Information Security and Network Architecture' project, and I will also take on the task of building the first-generation database."

Gaoyang blinked.

The old man worked fast!

Faster than any turncoat on his own territory!

Uh... if he didn't reel this line in soon enough in the future, this old mage might just end up becoming the Pope...