Chapter 111 Apologies
Seeing Xu Yi walk into the main hall, Viscount Leslie revealed a bright smile to him.
“Xu Yi, congratulations on officially becoming a Fifth Grade Magician.”
Xu Yi was surprised, “How did you find out this quickly?”
Although Xu Yi didn’t doubt the power of the Stagg Family behind Viscount Leslie in Anvilmar City, it hadn’t been that long since the Fifth Grade exam had ended. Viscount Leslie had already received news on this, it was a bit too surprising.
‘A person who has never taken the Magicians Guild exam before, but passed the Fifth Grade Exam on his first time. If I don’t even know about this news, I might as well not come to Anvilmar City anymore.” Viscount Leslie said with a bit of pride.
“Oh? Is me passing the Fifth Grade Magician exam that rare of a matter?” Xu Yi couldn’t help revealing a smile.
“Of course. You have to know that there were many people who looked down on you before, but now they have no choice but to pay attention to you because of this piece of news.”
Xu Yi was a bit confused, “Lord Viscount, although Fifth Grade Magicians aren’t everywhere, they aren’t that lacking, right? I think that just in our Lampuri Kingdom, there should be over a thousand Fifth Grade Magicians, so how special can I be? Comparing it, I think my magic machines are more attractive to people. Not to mention that I was summoned by the king two days ago because of the agricultural magic machines, it should be right that this matter attracted more attention.”
Viscount Leslie shook his head, “You don’t understand people’s hearts at all. They thought that you were just a small merchant that invented something novel that caught his majesty’s interest, that’s why you were summoned. As for the major impact that these agricultural magic machines have, these people don’t know about it at all and disdain learning about it. Compared to this, a magician with great talent is something they pay more attention to.”
Xu Yi was silent for a bit before suddenly saying, “Among those people, does it include Lord Viscount’s father, Lord Duke Stagg?”
Viscount Leslie took a deep look at Xu Yi, “Although lord father knows more than those fellows, but Xu Yi…...it’s far from enough.”
“Is it because me and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have enough influence, so it can’t enter his eyes?” Xu Yi asked with a smile.
Viscount Leslie gave a slight nod, “It’s generally this meaning. Although lord father is a bit interested in you because you were summoned by his majesty, it’s far from having him care about and placing importance on you. So……” Viscount Leslie spread his hands and said in a helpless and pitiful voice, “I’m very sorry. Although I’ve worked very hard, lord father doesn’t have the intention to meet you.”
Xu Yi shrugged his shoulders and said in an uncaring voice, “Lord Viscount, you don’t need to apologize. I’m very clear that with my identity and status, having the Lord Duke care and place importance on me is impossible. This is nothing, the Frestech Chamber of Commerce and I have a lot of space to develop, so there will be a chance to meet the Lord Duke in the future.”
“You really do always have confidence.” Viscount Leslie said with a smile.
“That’s one of my advantages.” Xu Yi accepted this praise without any hesitation before asking, “But Lord Viscount, I’m very curious. Why hasn’t Hannes come see me in so many days? Could it be that after he came back to Anvilmar City, he wouldn’t recognize an old friend from Banta City anymore?”
Viscount Leslie gave a helpless smile, “You finally couldn’t help asking about this. Let me tell you, according to some news I received yesterday, as soon as that fellow Hannas returned home, he was locked up and can’t go out for a month. So even if he wanted to see you, it’s impossible.”
“Locked up?” Xu Yi was surprised, “Why?”
“Of course it’s to punish him for staying in Banta City for too long, even missing the arranged time to return home.”
Xu Yi was a bit speechless, “He isn’t a child, why would he be punished for this?”
Viscount Leslie shrugged his shoulders, “There’s no other way, his family is like this.”
“No wonder Hannas had a strange expression when mentioning his father.”
After chatting about a few more things concerning Hannas, Viscount Leslie took out a letter to give to Xu Yi.
“I need to stay in Anvilmar City for some time. You’re going back tomorrow, so help me take this letter back to Brunei.”
Xu Yii took the letter and Viscount Leslie gave him a thick paper bag that he didn’t know what was contained within.
“It’s some documents, also give them to Brunei.” Viscount Leslie thought for a bit before saying, “I might need to stay in Anvilmar City for a rather long time, so if you need anything, you can just go talk to Brunei.”
Xu Yi knit his brows, “Lord Viscount, forgive me for being blunt. Although Butler Brunei is loyal to you, he is rather stubborn as a person and isn’t as flexible as you. It’s fine if it was a normal matter, but if it was something special for example some large actions for the company, I’m worried…...Ke, forgive me for being direct, but I’m worried he will delay these matters.”
Viscount Leslie couldn’t help smiling, “You kid, you actually have this much opinion about Brunei. Relax, I’ve said before that I wouldn’t take part in the developmental decisions for the company, so you can just do whatever you want to do. As for the matter of the land, I’ve written about it in the letter and I believe you won’t be disappointed.”
Xu Yi put the letter and bag away with a smile, “Then I can be assured. Lord Viscount, you truly are wise, you have prepared everything.”
Viscount Leslie ridiculed him before standing up, “Alright, we’ll leave it like this. I have something to do tomorrow, so I won’t send you off when you leave.”
Xu Yi shook his head, “I’m not a little girl, would I die from something like this?”
Viscount Leslie laughed before walking out the door.
When he had one foot past the door, Viscount Leslie suddenly stopped. After pausing for a bit, he slowly turned to Xu Yi and his expression became very complicated, like he was struggling with something in his heart.
After hesitating for a while, he finally gave a sigh before saying in a soft voice, “Xu Yi, as for the matter in the palace, I should apologize to you.”
Xu Yi looked at Viscount Leslie in surprise. Countless thoughts passed by in his mind before he gave a smile, “Lord Viscount, you make this sound too serious. Actually Viscount Harvey was right, as a chess piece, I should have the awareness of a chess piece. There is no need for you to apologize.”
Viscount Leslie looked at Xu Yi in a daze and his eyes couldn’t hide the shock he felt.
After that, Viscount Leslie’s expression calmed down again and he gave a nod to Xu Yi. He didn’t say anything else as he left without turning back.
Seeing him disappear around the corner, Xu Yi covered his face and revealed a smile of self ridicule.
“Actually if there was no other choice, who would want to be a chess piece?”
Two days later, Xu Yi returned to the Banta City he had been away for ten days.
This time he didn’t come back alone, but compared to when he left Banta City, the people who were traveling with him had changed.
The ones with him when he left were Viscount Leslie and Baron Hannas, but now that he was back, those two fellows remained in Anvilmar City. The one who came back with Xu Yi, other than Sancheli who Xu Yi had picked up on the way, there were also the ten low level magicians he had enticed to come to Banta City to check out the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, which included Erwin, Rooney, and Bob.
The highest of these magicians was only Second Grade. The youngest was Rooney who was nineteen this year and the oldest was Isaac Fowler who was forty seven this year.
If it said that there was still hope for the three young people of Erwin’s group to become powerful Great Magicians, then for someone like Isaac Fowler who was still a Second Grade Magician at his age, it was close to impossible for him to become a powerful Great Magician.
So when Xu Yi talked to them and mentioned the wages he offered, it was very easily to entice them.
Other than these people who would become staff members of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce without any unexpected accidents, there was also a very special person who came with Xu Yi.
“Young miss Seveni, have you prepared a place to live during this time?” Xu Yi looked at Seveni who sat opposite of him and asked with a faint smile, “If you haven’t, perhaps I can help you find a suitable place?”
Seveni was still wearing the agricultural department’s uniform. She didn’t have any makeup on her face and she didn’t look that outstanding with a first glance, but the more one looked at her, the more they were attracted by the intelligent look she had that wasn’t commonly seen in women of the Sines Continent.
Hearing Xu Yi’s question, Seveni revealed a gentle smile and shook her head, “Many thanks to chairman Xu’s goodwill, but I will be seeing Count Sean soon. As for your question, I think Count Sean should have made preparations, so there is no need to trouble chairman Xu.”
Xu Yi gave a slight nod, “The preparations of Lord City Lord are better than mine. Then young miss Seveni, you…...how are you planning to inspect our Frestech Chamber of Commerce?”
According to the instructions of the king, Seveni was representing the king and the agricultural department to monitor and inspect the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, to ensure there wouldn’t be any problem in terms of quality for the agricultural magic machines made for the agricultural department. At the same time, she would be studying the farmland transformation and the farmers participating in the Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s farmer support plan, to see how to implement this plan across the kingdom.
Based on this work, Seveni would have to stay in Banta City until at least the spring harvest of next year.
It was already December and there were still around five months before next year’s spring harvest.
Thinking that Seveni would be staying in Banta City for this long, while representing the king to inspect his company’s work, Xu Yi felt a bit awkward.
But the agricultural department representing the king was the largest customer of the Frestech Chamber of Commerce and this customer had the king’s imperial edict, so Xu Yi couldn’t show any discontent at all. He had to do his best to show his passion and welcome them.
“Chairman Xu’s words are too heavy, I am not inspecting your Frestech Chamber of Commerce, rather I am just observing with a learning attitude.” Seveni said with a faint smile, “Actually I’m very curious towards the Frestech Chamber of Commerce you’ve built. Chairman Xu, what made you think to study magic machines?”
Xu Yi paused for a second before answering in an awkward voice, “Young miss Seveni, this is a long story.”
Seveni still had the same faint smile, “It doesn’t matter, we have much time together in the future. I’m very happy to slowly listen to chairman Xu’s stories.”
The carriage stopped at this time and Xu Yi opened the curtain to take a look, seeing that the carriage was already at the entrance of the City Lord’s Manor. He jumped out of the carriage and reached his hand out to support Seveni down.
“If you really want to hear it, I can slowly tell you in the future.” Xu Yi said with a faint smile, “As for today, you must be tired from the long journey, so I hope that you will have happy dreams first.”
“Many thanks for your blessings.” Seveni gave the normal curtsy of a noblewoman before heading to the doors of the City Lord’s Manor.
Count Sean had already received the news and was at the door waiting. Seeing Seveni walk over, he immediately came forward with a wide smile.
Seeing the exaggerated smile on Count Sean’s face, there were a few doubts in Xu Yi’s heart.
Even if Seveni was here to inspect Banta City on behalf of the agricultural department, did Count Sean need to act this polite?
But this thought only appeared in Xu Yi’s mind for a second before he threw it to the back of his head.
After getting in the carriage again, he gave an order to the driver and the cavalcade headed to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce outside the city.
Chapter 112 Shabby Frestech Chamber of Commerce
After leaving Banta City for ten days, when he came back, Xu Yi found that the new workshop that didn’t even have a finished foundation when he left was already taking form. There were many workers busily working there, making it a lively scene.
And the workshops beside the construction site were also filled with all kinds of noise. It was clear that the two workshops were filled with people bustling around with their work.
Xu Yi had just jumped out of the horse carriage when Wayne Riley of the Amrit Chamber of Commerce directing the construction saw him and immediately came to welcome him with a wide smile.
“Chairman Xu, you’re finally back!” Manager Riley looked at the people coming down from the horse carriages before pointing at the half finished wall of the new workshop behind him and asking, “Look, look, is our construction fast enough?”
Xu Yi nodded, “It is fast, but is the quality good with how fast it is?”
Manager Riley revealed an insulted expression and said in a dissatisfied voice, “Chairman Xu, you are looking down on us too much. Your project was handed to us by our chairman, how could we not ensure the quality? From beginning to end, to guarantee that the workers didn’t make a single mistake, I’ve been here watching them the entire time.”
Xu Yi patted his shoulder, “Since there’s manager Riley’s promise, then I can feel assured. Then let me ask you, how long do you think it’ll take before this new workshop is finished? How long will it be before we can start using it?”
Manager Riley thought about it, “If nothing unexpected happens, it should be finished in half a month. As for when it can be used…...that is hard to say. It is already winter and it’s getting cold, so it’s not easy for the walls to dry, so it’ll take a while.”
“It’ll still take a while?” Xu Yi knit his brows, “If I wanted to start using it within the month, do you think it is possible?”
“This month? You’re this rushed?” Seeing Xu Yi’s serious expression, manager Riley thought about it before nodding, “If chairman Xu is truly in a rush, I can think of a way to have the walls dry faster. But this will affect the entire building and its lifespan will be shortened.”
Xu Yi revealed a faint smile, “No matter how short it is, it shouldn’t break within three years, right?”
Manager Riley’s face turned red, “Chairman Xu, are you kidding? The houses constructed by this Riley, how could they collapse in three years? Not to mention three years, even if it was thirty years, I can promise there will be no problems!”
Xu Yi laughed and said while shaking his head, “There’s no need for thirty years, there isn’t even a need to mention three years because I have more plans for this place soon. This workshop might be rebuilt in less than three years.”
Manager Riley looked at Xu Yi in a daze.
Since he was only planning to use it for three years, why did Xu Yi request for the quality of the workshop to be this high?
Could it be that the Frestech Chamber of Commerce had too much money and not enough places to spend it?
“Manager Riler, I still have to ask you for something else. I might not have time during this period, so I’ll have to trouble you to help me pass on a message when you see chairman Cruise. I have something to discuss with him, so I’ll have to trouble him to contact me when he has time so we can set a meeting.” Xu Yi added.
Manager Riley gave a nod in response.
Xu Yi gave a few more requests to manager Riley before heading over to the curious magicians who were looking over the two workshops.
“Everyone, as you can see, these are the two workshops of our Frestech Chamber of Commerce. Although they seem rather simple, there are all kinds of magic machines that are produced from these two factories. Right now the two factories can make magic machines worth over ten thousand gold coins for our Frestech Chamber of Commerce, creating large profits for our company, which can be said to be the basis of our Frestech Chamber of Commerce. If these two factories were destroyed by others, perhaps I might even have anything to eat anymore.”
Xu Yi gave two laughs, but he found that the magicians didn’t have any smiles on their faces. Rather they all had frowns on their faces, as if they weren’t satisfied with what they were seeing.
The reason why they agreed to Xu Yi’s suggestion and came to Banta City with him was because of how fantastic Xu Yi had made the Frestech Chamber of Commerce sound. Who would have thought that when they saw the real scene, this Frestech Chamber of Commerce would only be two small factories like this.
A company of this scale, what future did they have?
Xu Yi rolled his eyes as he could easily guess what everyone was thinking. He didn’t say anything else as he called to everyone and led them to the household magic machine workshop.
The magicians hesitated a bit before following him.
After all, they had come all this way, they had to at least take a look before making their decisions.
When everyone entered the workshop, they were instantly shocked by what they saw.
The area inside was less than a thousand square meters, but it was actually filled with people. With a rough estimate, there were around two hundred people.
Not a single one of these two hundred people were idle, they were all busying themselves, not stopping for an instant.
What attracted everyone’s attention the most were the several dozen strange looking iron lumps placed in each corner.
As the workers by them operated these machines, these iron lumps made large sounds before the various iron components the workers placed in took another appearance.
As soon as these components were made, they were immediately delivered to another worker. These workers didn’t stop and they skillfully assembled these components together before sending them to the next group of workers.
The next group of workers made some dazzling movements and after these components were assembled, they took another appearance.
The components were assembled bit by bit and after the last group of workers screwed in some strange nails, these components took on the shape of a rectangular box.
“This…..seems to be that Magic Air Conditioner thing?” A magician suddenly pointed at the iron box and spoke in an uncertain voice.
“Magic Air Conditioner? What is that?” The surrounding people instantly asked.
“The night before leaving Anvilmar City, I was a guest at Viscount Lance’s house. He had some people install some thing in the room and said he had bought something new called the Magic Air Conditioner.” That magician explained, “It’s really strange talking about it. The room had been very cold back then, but after Viscount Lance put a Magic Crystal into the Magic Air Conditioner and pressed the switch, the Magic Air Conditioner began to blow out warm air. Not long passed before the room became warm and I didn’t even need to wear my coat in the end. If I had to say it, the effect of this Magic Air Conditioner is even better than the large scale Flame Array!”
“It can’t be, right?” Another magician couldn’t help refuting him, “Laying a large scale Flame Array costs all that money and this thing has an even better effect than the large scale Flame Array, so it should cost even more, right?”
The other magician shook his head, “It’s not considered expensive. I heard Viscount Lance say that his Magic Air Conditioner only cost him thirty five gold coins. The most important thing is that this thing consumes very little Magic Crystals. The night I stayed at Viscount Lance’s house, this thing stayed on just with a single Magic Crystal, it didn’t need to be changed at all.”
“It can’t be, right?” The others were even more shocked, “Isn’t this thing more powerful than a large scale Flame Array?”
“That’s right, I heard Viscount Lance say that it not only blew out warm wind, it also blew out cold wind, so it could also be used in summer.” Sensing everyone’s shocked gaze, that magician was filled with satisfaction and began to explain in an even more complacent manner about what happened in Viscount Lance’s house.
Xu Yi on the side couldn’t help revealing a strange smile.
“Thirty five gold coins? This Victor, he really knows how to raise the price.”
When Victor discussed this with Xu Yi, Victor had said that he would set the Magic Air Conditioner at a fixed price of thirty gold coins. Who would have thought that when he heard it from this magician, the price would have actually been raised!
But Xu Yi didn’t care whether he raised the price or not. In the end, Victor was buying at a fixed price of twenty five gold coins per unit, so if Victor can sell it at a higher price, that was his skills.
Seeing the magicians discussing among themselves, Xu Yi ignored them and moved over to Heinz who had already given him countless looks.
“Hey, Xu Yi, these fellows all seem like magicians. Could it be that you pulled them over from Anvilmar City?” Seeing Xu Yi come over, Heinz immediately asked this in a low voice.
“Un, I just don’t know how many of them will stay behind.” Xu Yi said with a nod.
“Let me see. One…..Two…..A total of thirteen people, it’s too little even if they all stay.” Heinz was a bit disappointed.
“The amount isn’t important, the important part is making them stay.” Xu Yi smiled and wasn’t as disappointed at Heinz, “Even if only a single magician stays in the end to work at our Frestech Chamber of Commerce, that is a major breakthrough because this is a large significance. There will be a second or third if there is a first and then there will be even more.”
Heinz carefully looked over the magicians talking in loud voices and knit his brows, but his disappointment didn’t disappear at all.
“These fellows all seem like Primary Grade and Second Grade Magicians? What use can they be? Their magic isn’t that much stronger than the students.”
Xu Yi couldn’t help rolling his eyes, “You think those high grade magicians will agree to come to a small company like ours without any fame at all? Let me tell you, to trick them here, I already spent quite a bit of effort. Alright, our company isn’t even the number one company in Banta City, we don’t need to set our requirements that high. Although these people have normal magic strength, at least they aren’t like students where they need to spend most of their time on studying. Moreover, they have more experience drawing Magic Arrays, so they are more efficient than students.”
Hearing Xu YI’s explanation, Heinz finally revealed a faint smile.
“Un, that’s right. The students are too unstable, I can’t be assured just relying on them. If we can hire more magicians to replace the students in the future, it would be worth it to give them higher wages. That’s right, what wage did you give them to begin with?”
Xu Yi crossed his fingers together, “The lowest is ten gold coins per month and how much will be decided by their production.”
[TL Note: Ten in Chinese is 十, so that’s how he crossed his fingers.]
Heinz was shocked, “It can’t be, right? It’s only ten gold coins a month, these noble magicians were willing to follow you like this?”
Xi Yi shrugged his shoulders, “There’s no other way, magicians are people too, they also need to eat.”