Chapter 169 Disappearing Great Magician’s Magic Tower
Another year passed and it was another spring harvest.
Even with the help of the various agricultural magic machines, Banta City’s spring harvest efficiency had increased by countless times compared to before, all the countries of the Sines Continent treated the spring harvest as something important and it was the same in Banta City.
Count Sean had already long given orders to the large companies that when it was time for the spring and fall harvest, all the companies in the city had to give their workers a week off to let the workers return home to help with the harvest and planting.
So once it was time for the spring harvest, Banta City suddenly became peaceful.
Xu Yi and Still were slowly riding their bicycles down the streets of Banta City. When they experienced the cold environment around them, they couldn’t adapt to it.
“It really is strange. Banta City was much more peaceful just two years ago, but why can’t I get used to it now?” Still looked at the closed stores along the street and slightly knit her brows.
Xu Yi laughed, “That’s natural, you’re already used to the bustle of Banta City during these two years, so of course you can’t get used to how calm it is now. Based on this, Still, you should be someone who is used to living in a big city. Since it is like this, why did you come back from Anvilmar City back then?”
“There was no other choice, mom and dad aren’t home normally, so grandfather was alone in Banta City. I grew up with my grandfather, so I was afraid that he would be lonely in Banta City and came back to be with him.” Still replied while looking up at the sky above Banta City. From here, she could still vaguely see the Magic Tower not far away, “The Magic Tower is about to be torn down, I wonder if grandfather will feel sad.”
“Be careful!” Xu Yi suddenly reached out to grab the handle of Still’s bicycle, stopping her from accidentally falling into a ditch from being distracted, “I say, you just learned how to ride a bicycle, don’t be distracted. What would you do if you fell?” ｂ𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎ｌ.ｎｅｔ
Still gave an unyielding snort and forcefully stepped on the pedals as she began moving faster.
Xu Yi couldn’t help smiling as he shook his head before he quickly followed her.
“Since grandfather has already closed the Magic Tower, it’s good to tear it down. Otherwise, he will be distracted whenever he sees the Magic Tower. Don’t look at me, this is his decision, I wouldn’t seek my own death and suggest to him to tear down the Magic Tower.” Xu Yi looked up at the Magic Tower not far away and said in a somewhat sad voice, “Actually I hope that grandfather will keep it. I also suggested to the Lord City Lord to keep this Magic Tower as a landmark of Banta City, letting others come and see it after they come to Banta City.”
“Grandfather isn’t dead yet.” Still reprimanded before turning her bicycle and riding off in the direction of the Magic Tower.
The bicycle was naturally much faster than walking. They arrived in front of the Magic Tower in just a few minutes, but there was a familiar figure under the tower.
“Grandfather.” Still flew off her bicycle and threw herself into Great Magician Camilla’s embrace.
Xu Yi quickly reached out to grab Still’s bicycle before putting away the bikes and quickly walking over. He said to Great Magician Camilla with a smile, “Your excellency Great Magician, you…..”
Great Magician Camilla glared at Xu Yi, “What are you calling me? You’ll be marrying Still next month and you’re still calling me your excellency?”
“Hei, I’m used to it.” Xu Yi laughed and quickly changed his words, “Grandfather, why are you also here? Did you come for one final look?”
“Pretty much.” Great Magician Camilla looked up at the twenty meter tall Magic Tower and said with a sigh, “This Magic Tower was made the first year I became a Great Magician and now twenty years have passed. In the twenty years since becoming a Great Magician, I’ve spent most of my time here. Now that it’s being torn down, I’m a bit unwilling.”
“Don’t tear it down if you’re unwilling.” Still said in a sad voice, “Grandfather, with your position, no one will dare tear it down if you don’t want to tear it down.”
“The problem is that I want to tear it down.” Great Magician Camilla shook his head, “After being at the magic research facility for so long, I feel that the previous model of studying magic is over. For something like a Magic Tower, having other magicians slave under Great Magicians, this system should have been eliminated a long time ago. Since it’s like this, there’s no meaning in keeping this Magic Tower at all. Since it’s like this, why not tear it down and turn it into something meaningful, isn’t that right, Xu Yi?”
Xu Yi nodded with a faint smile, “That’s right, your…...Grandfather, I guarantee that the thing newly built in this place will give everyone a new understanding of magic.”
“Un, I believe you can do that.”
Great Magician Camilla looked up at the Magic Tower for a while, coming to the stairs in front of it and placing his hands on the stairs.
Xu Yi and Still sat down to his left and right.
Great Magician Camilla thought for a bit before suddenly saying, “Xu Yi, let me tell you some good news.”
“Un? What good news?”
“The Magicians Guild has finally announced the “magic patent”. According to this, magicians can apply for a patent for any magical discovery that they’ve made. This means that the thing that you’ve been hoping for for over a year has finally seen results.”
“Really?” Xu Yi was overjoyed, but he quickly asked, “Then did they talk about how to apply for a patent? And how will it be protected?”
“Yes. Speaking of this, it’s related to you.” Great Magician Camilla looked at Xu Yi, “The Magicians Guild will be acting on the recommendation in your proposal from before, they will be handling the fees paid for the magic patent in two different ways. One is to ask the Magicians Guild to evaluate it and charge a fee based on the evaluated grade, then the guild will offer different degrees of protection for different grades.”
“Two kinds? Then the second kind wouldn’t be to let the magicians set things themselves, right?” Xu Yi suddenly asked.
“Right. The second kind is letting the magicians set the fees, they can set it as high as they want. But the Magicians Guild will also be evaluating its grade and offer protection based on the grade.” Great Magician Camilla replied with a nod.
“Humph, those Magicians Guild fellows really are sly.” Still on the side gave a soft snort, “Xu Yi gave two methods and they actually used both. Grandfather, since they used Xu Yi’s suggestion, shouldn’t they give Xu Yi some reward?”
“What reward?” Great Magician Camilla glared at Still, “Having your suggestion accepted by the Magicians Guild is Xu Yi’s honour. He should be happy, why would he want a reward?”
Xu Yi gave a soft laugh, “Let’s forget the rewards. The Magicians Guild being able to pass the magic patent act is already the greatest reward for me. Like this, there are many things in our magic research facility that we can apply for patents for, it’ll be much easier from now on.”
Great Magician Camilla took a deep look at Xu Yi before slowly shaking his head and saying in a deep voice, “You can apply for patents with the normal things, but…..As for the most important things, don’t take them out.”
Xu YI was stunned. Seeing the serious look on Great Magician Camilla’s face, his heart trembled as he gave a nod.
Three days later, the Great Magician Camilla Magic Tower that had stood in Banta City for twenty years was shattered to pieces in front of countless citizens by Great Magician Camilla with a single giant fireball.
Seeing the over twenty meter tall Magic Tower collapse, the surrounding Banta City citizens were feeling a bit emotional and a bit unwilling.
The Lampuri Kingdom had a total of five Great Magicians and one was living in the small Banta City.
The Banta City citizens had always felt proud for Banta City. When facing the nearby Karma City and Saltan City citizens, they always had a sense of superiority.
They would see Great Magician Camilla’s Magic Tower whenever they looked up and people always felt secure.
This was because to normal people, being able to live in a city with a Great Magician made people feel secure.
Now that the Magic Tower was being torn down, although Great Magician Camilla would still be staying in Banta City, people felt like there was something missing.
Actually when it came to Great Magician Camilla’s decision, Count Sean had also opposed and tried dissuading him.
According to his ideas, even if this Magic Tower didn’t have a Great Magician, it could be kept as a symbol.
But Great Magician Camilla insisted on tearing it down, claiming that there would be a new building filled with magic that wasn’t built like a Magic Tower in the same place.
Count Sean couldn’t dissuade Great Magician Camilla, so he could only have the ?Banta Times? publicize this news. It was to remember the history of the Great Magician’s Magic Tower that stood in Banta City and to release the news that Great Magician Camilla said that there would be a new building filled with magic in the same place.
Once the ?Banta Times? released this news, everyone in Banta City was curious and expectant of this new building.
Two days after Great Magician Camilla’s Magic Tower was torn down, the Amrit Chamber of Commerce’s construction team came in and built a fence around this area, only hanging a large sign outside.
There was a clear line written on the sign.
“The Frestech Chamber of Commerce’s new concept modern magic building will be arriving in three months, please look forward to it.”
Seeing the words on this sign, the curious Banta City citizens were even more confused.
New concept modern magic building? What was this thing?
Moreover, how was this thing related to the Frestech Chamber of Commerce…...
Chapter 170 Count Sean is leaving
Because there were many agricultural magic machines, Banta City’s spring harvest was quickly finished this year.
In less than a week, all the farmland around Banta City had been harvested and replanted.
According to the stats of the City Lord Manor, after the spring harvest this year, Banta City had harvested six hundred and thirty thousand tons in grains, which was only sixty thousand tons higher compared to the fall harvest. However it was close to double last year’s spring harvest of three hundred and sixty thousand tons.
The reason it didn’t increase that much was because after a year of opening new farmland, Banta City’s farmland had all been opened. Other than improving their cultivation technology, there wasn’t much room for increase.
But this amount was still quite a lot.
Banta City was a small city and the amount of land it had in Lampuri Kingdom was quite small. But since the fall harvest last year, Banta City’s grain output had experienced explosive growth.
The fall harvest from the year before last had surpassed cities that had the same area as Banta City and even many cities that had even more area than Banta City.
As for last year’s spring harvest, the three hundred and sixty tons of wheat had placed them in the top rankings for cities that mainly cultivated wheat in the Lampuri Kingdom.
Then after last year’s fall harvest, Banta City had suddenly brought in five hundred and seventy thousand tons of wheat, becoming the city that harvested the most wheat in the Lampuri Kingdom. It attracted everyone’s attention and was even praised by the king and the agricultural department. The Frestech Chamber of Commerce that had the biggest contribution was given a commendation and chairman Xu was promoted to the title of baron, making him the only person in the Lampuri Kingdom who was both a noble and a merchant.
“It’s a pity, although the spring harvest this year had a decent increase, it wasn’t enough to promote your title again and make you a viscount.” Count Sean read the report in his hand as he said to Xu Yi with a smile, “Other than that, the harvest in the other cities has also greatly increased. Although the six hundred and thirty thousand in our Banta City is still at the top, it isn’t that much higher compared to the other cities.”
“The title doesn’t matter, I just hope that the agricultural magic machines that I developed can feed everyone in the kingdom. Now that the grain yield in the kingdom has greatly increased, I think that this goal should have been accomplished.” Xu Yi said with a faint smile.
“Un, it can be considered achieved.” Count Sean gave a nod, “According to the agricultural department’s report, not only can this year’s harvest satisfy the needs of everyone in the kingdom, there is even a large surplus. This is the first time that this has happened since our Lampuri Kingdom has been founded, his majesty is quite happy about this. If it wasn’t for the old nobles stopping him, he really was prepared to increase your title again.”
Speaking of this, Count Sean slightly knit his brows and a trace of dissatisfaction filled his voice.
“Those old fellows, they really are too stubborn. Solving the food problem of the citizens is a great merit, is there any merit that can compare to that? It’s just raising a title by another level yet they had to go against it, they really are ignorant.”
Xu Yi waved his hand with a smile, “Lord City Lord, there’s no need to be this angry. I don’t really care about my title, so it really doesn’t matter if it is increased or not. Anyway, my goal has been accomplished, so I am satisfied. Since the basic food and shelter problems have been solved for the citizens, the next step should be to increase the living standards of our citizens. If we can let the people of the city have the same standard of living as our Banta City citizens, not only guaranteeing their basic necessities, but also have extra income to buy stuff that increased their standard of living, that would be of great help to our Frestech Chamber of Commerce.”
“That isn’t easily achieved.” Count Sean slowly shook his head, “Our Banta City can develop this quickly because of the appearance of you and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce, driving the development of the entire city. Not only do all the citizens of Banta City have decent work, even the citizens of the other cities can find work, increasing their income. It is all because of your Frestech Chamber of Commerce creating many jobs in Banta City. Otherwise, Batna City wouldn’t have developed this quickly.”
Xu Yi quickly said with a modest smile, “Lord City Lord’s praise is too much. I was just doing what I wanted to do, the reason why Banta City could develop so quickly was because of your wise leadership.”
“Stop flattering me.” Count Sean taunted with a smile. He picked up a document and looked it over before a sad look appeared on his face, “Two years ago, Banta City’s income was only over a hundred thousand gold coins, but after two years, last year’s income was already close to a million gold coins, which was an increase of ten times. Now I’m holding the tax report for last month and Banta City in just a month has a tax income of five hundred and seventy thousand gold coins. According to this trend, this year’s tax income should be even higher than last year.”
“That is the result of Lord City Lord’s wise leadership.” Xu Yi said with a smile.
Count Sean glared at Xu Yi and said with snort, “Do you have to force me to praise you? Of the five hundred and seventy thousand from last month, just your Frestech Chamber of Commerce paid two hundred and eighty thousand, which is almost half of it. I think that there’s no need for two years, your Frestech Chamber of Commerce is already the biggest company in our Banta City.”
“How is that possible?” Xu Yi waved his hand, “Lord City Lord, you can’t randomly say things. Our Frestech Chamber of Commerce is just a small company, it could only arrive at this point because of the Lord City Lord’s support. Right now we’re still behind the established companies of the city, so the Lord City Lord still needs to support us.”
“If chairman Rank were to hear this, would you believe he would die from anger?” Count Sean looked at Xu Yi before suddenly looking out the window. After looking out in a daze for a while, he said with a sigh, “It’s a pity that even if I want to support you, I won’t be able to.”
Xu Yi was stunned, “Lord City Lord, what does that mean?”
Count Sean turned back to Xu Yi and said with a serious face, “I called you here today not just to praise you, rather it was to tell you in advance that in another two months, I will be leaving?”
“Leaving?” Xu Yi was stunned, “Where are you going?”
“According to the arrangement of the kingdom, I will be heading to Sowell City to take over as City Lord.” Count Sean replied.
“Sowell City?” Xu Yi thought about it and he remembered the details of the city. He immediately said in a happy voice, “Isn’t that the biggest city in the north? Lord City Lord, I have to congratulate you. Moreover, I remember that…..Sowell City seems to be the biggest piece of territory your family owns, right? That means that you can go all out in the place that supports you the most.”
Count Sean looked at Xu Yi for a while and after confirming that Xu Yi’s happy expression wasn’t fake, he couldn’t help saying with a sigh, “From my angle, this is indeed a good thing. The kingdom has sent me to Sowell City, that means my position in the kingdom has been secured and I can go even higher in the future. But Xu Yi, for you, this is not a good thing.”
“Is that so?” Xu Yi slightly knit his brows. After thinking for a bit, he asked, “Lord City Lord, who is taking over your post as Banta City’s City Lord?”
Count Sean paused for a bit before replying in a soft voice, “It’s Count Mannel Stagg.”
“Stagg?” Xu Yi’s eyes opened a bit wider.
“It seems like you understand what I mean.” Count Sean’s expression became more serious, “Xu Yi, I won’t waste words you don’t need to hear. You are an intelligent person, you should know the meaning of this surname.”
Xu Yi gave a heavy nod. After thinking for a bit, he asked Count Sean, “Lord City Lord, leaving here isn’t your original intention, right?”
“You are indeed an intelligent person.” Count Sean gave a slight nod as he revealed a bitter smile, “Even if it is me, there are times when I can’t do anything.”
Xu Yi silently thought for a bit before suddenly revealing a smile.
“Lord City Lord, I don’t think you need to worry about anything. No matter who becomes the City Lord, their most important goal is making Banta City stronger, right? Since everyone has the same goal, there is a chance of cooperating.”
Count Sean couldn’t help smiling as he said, “You want to cooperate with a count? I really have to say, you really have quite a bit of courage.”
Xu Yi laughed, “From my perspective as a merchant, everyone will have benefits that they want, so there is room to negotiate. Not to mention a count, even the king isn’t an exception.”
Count Sean shook his head, “Then I hope that you can have a happy cooperation with Count Mannel Stagg.”
Xu Yi discussed some work arrangements with Count Sean.
The Frestech Chamber of Commerce and the City Lord’s Manor had many projects, even the renovation project of Banta City was completely being handled by Xu Yi and the Frestech Chamber of Commerce. If Count Sean leaves, these projects might be greatly affected.
The new Count Mannel Stagg was from the Stagg Family, so he might not support Xu Yi as much as Count Sean did.
What Count Sean and Xu Yi wanted to do now was to finish everything within the next two months.
After discussing most of the details, it was already night time when Xu Yi left the City Lord’s Manor.
Looking at the stars in the night, Xu Yi thought for a bit before rushing home in his horse carriage. He began writing two letters, addressed to her highness Seveni and Viscount Leslie who was far away at the northern border.