Chapter 34: 14. The Way to Survive: Change (Part One)
Translator: 549690339
"The old fellow is just trying to give you a hard time, sir."
"Ah, I know."
"The assignment he gave is absolutely impossible to complete under normal circumstances!"
"Well... it's indeed impossible for ordinary people under ordinary circumstances."
"Can we kill (bite) that old thing?"
With righteous indignation on their faces, the subordinates' eyes were filled with unusually excited anticipation as they stared intently at the pair of thin lips, waiting for a death sentence.
The rosy lips curved into a faint arc, and the mocking tone delivered an unexpected response:
"You are indeed too idle, aren't you?"
How to deal with Old Emir - in whatever form - was Li Lin's prerogative. Nidhogg and Wali's suggestions had already overstepped their boundaries, and questioning their superior's judgment was always a forbidden action.
Li Lin didn't use harsh words; a single sentence was enough to sober up both subordinates' minds temporarily.
As a joke-like reminder, it worked well, and the Black Dragon and the assassins closed their mouths.
That the subordinates displayed a combative attitude was a good sign, at least indicating a sense of belonging to the leader and the interest group. As for whether they were genuinely devoted to the creed of loyalty for practicing "death for the master's insult"...
Nidhogg might be, but Wali was more suspect of harboring selfish vengeance.
An emotionless killer is an excellent killing machine but that doesn't mean he is as emotionless as Li Lin. Surrounded by strange and even aggressive stares at all times, the only people who could maintain their usual mental state were either exceptionally tolerant and magnanimous, nitwits who were happy-go-lucky, or those whose mental states no longer belonged to the "normal people" category. These types simply ignored external, trivial provocations.
Wali was not a big shot with a big heart, nor was his nerves particularly thick-skinned. He was always sober, both in his daily life and at work, and the surrounding rejection and oppressive atmosphere would inevitably affect him.
The assassin was angry, just like the Black Dragon.
Perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration - the rage of humans and the Dragon Clan could hardly be of equal weight.
Nidhogg's throat had been feeling torn apart lately, the oppressive atmosphere making even breathing sparks. Only the fresh blood from someone who had insulted his master could suppress the Black Dragon's irritation and dryness in his senses.
As long... as the lord permitted it.
"Worrying about petty rivalries and giving up on the long-term perspective? I don't want to hear such an absurd proposal again."
There was no permission, but the cold condemnation actually pleased Nidhogg.
A ruler with a global perspective knew the priorities of the matter. Higher-ups may, at times, consider the emotions of their subordinates, but the overall situation was always the top priority.
At this moment, Li Lin was not in the desolate land of Niflheim to enjoy the scenery, quarrel with someone or listen to his subordinates profess their loyalty in this unique atmosphere. The allegiance of the elves and a starting point as a solid foundation were the real focus.
Indeed, Lord Li Lin was the true ruler of the world, the master of our kind.
Understanding the implications of Li Lin's words, Nidhogg was left with only genuine joy and admiration.
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Everything had to start from scratch.
Reclaiming land, increasing food production, expanding population, improving defense, broadening the scope of activities...
Each one was an essential matter that could not be taken lightly. To do any of these well, one thing was indispensable.
- Money.
The evil money;
The omnipotent money;
Having decided to start from the industry, the lack of initial investment was doomed to fail. Projects could not proceed without follow-up funds promptly in place to support it until it yielded profits.
In the database, there was an axiom that the accumulation of primitive capital was a "thing dripping with blood and dirt from head to toe, from every pore." For now, there was no need to delve into the issue of ethics and morality. Nor had it reached the point where, like early Western colonizers, plundering was necessary to solve the problem of launch capital for trade.
There were many ways to make money. Barbaric and forceful ways included robbing houses and starting a family, while those with so-called noble blood relied on rent collection, setting up checkpoints, and lending money to prosper. The first was not considered, and the second was not their turn.
They just needed to choose a new way to solve the problem.
Since ancient times, the most profitable industries were never the ones everyone rushed to do. Discovering an unnoticed, unthought-of industry with broad prospect and potential was a money-making industry. Being able to do so to the extent that only you could do it, and others could not, would yield the most substantial profits.
"Essentials" and "Monopoly" - producing the former and achieving the latter means endless profits.
Soon, the first step would be completed.
"Are you sure... the thing you made... can... um... make a profit?"
The unfamiliar vocabulary demonstrates anxiety towards the unknown, and the girl's voice behind him is not as resolute and decisive as before, causing the listener to feel shaken.
"There's no need to doubt it! Li Lin's decisions are always correct."
Nidhogg, who usually gets along well with Brynhild, always responds with childlike enthusiasm, but his sensitive nerves are triggered by Brynhild's questioning, and he inadvertently gives a harsh response.
Brynhild can't help but feel flustered by the interruption and, being an Ancient Species transformed into a human form, her authority doesn't allow the Wisdom Species to argue, so she can only bow her head and bite her lower lip.
"That's rude, Nidhogg. You should be polite when speaking to a lady, especially since Miss Brynhild is just showing concern. Don't let your emotions drive away the friends who care about you."
The brotherly tone of voice immediately calms the Black Dragon down. Nidhogg realizes that his words were too harsh, and with the opportunity given by Li Lin, he wouldn't be so foolish as to not take advantage of it to calm down.
"I was really out of line just now. I apologize, Miss Brynhild."
"No, there's also a problem with the way I spoke. I should have noticed."
An elegant and natural bow and response. With his Dragon's memory, Nidhogg's performance in ceremonial matters is nearly impeccable. On the other hand, while the dragons are proud and care about their appearances, they are not arrogant and disrespectful. Combined with their inherent restraint and Li Lin's guidance, they have long lost their untamed taste from the wilderness, and they look more like well-mannered gentlemen compared to the shallow aristocratic human sons. As for Brynhild, she already has strict upbringing, and the elf's innate obsession with order and etiquette makes her appearance and manners close to perfection.
"Even if it's presumptuous of me, I would still like to ask, will this really work?"
Looking at the clover-covered slope at her feet and the mudbrick house at the foot of the mountain, which was still belching black smoke and heat from its chimney the day before, she shifts her gaze to the other side where the distant slope has been cleared and arranged in a staircase-like, clearly-layered shape, each level with tightly-fitted stone walls on the vertical face.
Seeing these unfamiliar objects, Brynhild bluntly raises her doubts.
"What exactly are you up to?"
When Li Lin unfolds his Blade Wings and begins repairing the wasteland, the elves are shocked to see that he is not human for the first time. As the dust settles and the strange-looking slope appears before their eyes, shock turns to incredulous laughter and eventually the question Brynhild voices.
If the young man with black hair could solve the difficult request from the Emil Clan Leader to help them cultivate these two pieces of wasteland, with just an oddly shaped "staircase", then his inevitable failure was unavoidable.
As the mudbrick house was being constructed, seeing Li Lin repeatedly digging, washing, and settling down the soil on the other slope, their shaking heads were at their peak.
"Eccentric";
"Delusional";
"Wildly imaginative";
"Did his brain break?";
Curious looks turned into sneers, and doubts became insults. Gradually, even the elves who were watching the excitement disappeared. Spring is the busy season for farming, and the villagers don't have much free time to waste, their days are filled with endless tasks, and they just don't have the energy to watch what appears to be a doomed act to the end.
And so, they each focused on their own concerns until seven days ago, when Nidhogg transformed into a dragon and, in the form of a dragon, soared into the sky above the valley, scattering a large number of strange light yellow granules (see note). After that, he used his Dragon Breath to burn the particles floating in the air, and the misty sky began to rain, the downpour lasting until midnight. The next morning, when the villagers stepped out of their homes, they were greeted by the long-lost sunlight, and their astonished expressions lasted for an entire day.
"How did you manage to do such a thing?"
Brynhild, who is aware of Li Lin's abilities, can't help but be surprised and can only ask this question, because this is truly a miracle.
Using magic in other places may be considered a "violation of nature" by the Church, and the process of hiring high-ranking magicians is complicated and costly, but in theory and existing examples, there aren't many obstacles.
Li Lin stands on the land of Niflheim, where the barrenness and poverty are not only in the land but also in the Mana.
In the outside world, the standard Mana concentration is set at 10 as a reference point, while the concentration in the valley is only around 0.5~1, making it a true vacuum of Mana.
Such land has no value for conquest – with this understanding, human armies don't bother to harass this small village. The cost of deploying an army for combat can't be offset by stealing a few bags of shriveled wheat and oats.
Li Lin was able to create artificial rain in this desolate and ignored valley and disperse the thick fog. Even though the actual executor was Nidhogg, someone had actually seen Li Lin making those light yellow granules. Elves couldn't figure out the mystery behind it.
In the end, the elves settled their curiosity with the explanation that it was a kind of "alchemy" and, half-believing and half-doubting, they were unable to distinguish the truth from the ambiguous explanation and decided to drop the matter. Then, once again, they focused their attention on the wasteland managed by Li Lin and the tent where he lived.
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Footnote: Silver iodide (AgI) is a compound of iodine and silver, yellow powder (558 degrees ~), decomposes in light and absorbs a large amount of heat, first turning gray then black, insoluble in water and ammonia water, used as a photographic agent and as a nucleus for artificial rainfall.
PS: First of all, I am happy to announce that this book has successfully signed an A-grade contract and will officially be published in a few days. Unfortunately, I have also caught a cold and have keratitis, which means I can hardly open my eyes. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I will have to postpone the next update until tomorrow morning, depending on the situation. I hope all the readers who like this book will help to promote it and spread the word about the work you consider to be a good read, thank you.
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