Lord of the Myriad Worlds

Chapter 522: Founding Shares (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Shen Chao-Su Xiao 3/10)

"Hathaway, do you have anything else to add?"

Li Wei asked again.

"No, it's basically just those three points. Actually, upgrading a Tier-2 Mage Tower doesn't require asking for help. Have you forgotten? We still have a Four-Star Flame Magic Core in our hands. This is one of the most important materials for upgrading. However, a Mage Tower can also use a dual-core or tri-core setup, though that would obviously be too extravagant."

"I understand."

Li Wei nodded. That Four-Star Flame Magic Core was obtained from the purple card dropped by that 4th-Tier Mage last time, but no one knew that he still had three Five-Star Magic Cores in his hands: a Blazing Magic Core, a Frost Magic Core, and a Necrotic Magic Core. He just hadn't found the opportunity to use them yet. It turned out they could also be used on the Mage Tower.

This matter was indeed worth considering.

Next, Li Wei looked towards Zhao Qingshan. He was currently the chief logistics steward of the territory and a minor expert in internal affairs. He and his Twelve Monkeys were not only adept at construction but also methodical and well-organized in managing internal affairs and logistics.

"Zhao Qingshan, what do you want to say?"

"To reply to the Lord, I don't understand magic, nor am I skilled in warfare. However, I do feel that we must acquire this magic for Frost-to-Flame Conversion. Additionally, we must also master the manufacturing of Mana Storage Cards. The former can effectively help us resist the erosion of Frost Mana, while the latter can solidify our Strategic Mana Reserves."

"Furthermore, I'd like to say something that might sound like a ridiculous layman's remark. Given the current turmoil on the Ascension Continent, with both enemy and allied sides recklessly manipulating and controlling Nature Magic, are we certain there won't be a backlash in the future? Are we certain this won't lead to mana becoming polluted and uncontrollable, making it harder to acquire mana and eventually forming a Mana Desert?""I believe logically speaking, there is a certain possibility of this happening, because a power cannot be limitlessly and endlessly strengthened. Once it reaches a critical point, it will definitely reverse. To be honest, I am truly very afraid. Therefore, I don't understand anything about vying for hegemony over the world, but we must protect ourselves well. As long as we are still alive in the end, and still have a large reserve of pure mana, then even if we don't win, we still win."

Tucker then spoke up, "Brother Qingshan is very insightful. Unfortunately, strategic-level technology like the Mana Resource Card, which can store and compress mana, is typically only mastered by the royal family or existences at the Duke level. We can only purchase them. Of course, if we could have two Tier-2 Mage Towers, it wouldn't be a problem to store twenty thousand units of Standard Magic Power at one time."

"If it were a Tier-3 Mage Tower, a single one could store one hundred thousand units of Standard Magic Power."

"Of course, I am just saying this. A Tier-3 Mage Tower requires at least three Five-Star Magic Cores, giving it the ability to process three types of mana simultaneously. That is simply too difficult."

"Zhao Qingshan, continue."

Li Wei spoke calmly.

"Yes, My Lord. I will first speak about logistics. In terms of food reserves currently, there is no pressure regarding ordinary food. As long as the semi-annual logistical support is not interrupted, ordinary food and One-Star Food can be sufficiently supplied."

"As for food of Two-Star and above, based on our harvest in the Whispering Forest and our experience with the food supply during this period, I suggest we only provide one meal of Three-Star Food per day. This way, we can at least last for another year. After all, we have too many people now, nearly five thousand."

"In addition, I feel that when the conditions are right, we need to raise the level of the Culinary Division from 4-Star Chefs to 5-Star Chefs. Their accumulation in this area is already sufficient. The higher the level, the better they can process higher-quality ingredients. This way, there can be more combinations. For example, using a small amount of Four-Star Food, combined with a lot of One-Star Food and a massive amount of ordinary food, can produce Three-Star Ingredients."

"Also, regarding the blacksmiths. Based on our massive blacksmithing operations currently, we already have over fifty blacksmiths who can be promoted to five-star."

"Lastly, I have one more suggestion. When we resupply resources in three months, we need more commoners, especially young people. We need to train apprentices. Whether they are Culinary Apprentices, Blacksmith Apprentices, Mason Apprentices, or Tailor Apprentices, this is extremely important."

"Of course, it's best to maintain the population around six thousand. This is the optimal maximum population that Liwei Keep can currently support. Furthermore, the mountains will soon be snow-blocked, and coupled with the rampage of Frost Mana, most of us will probably be trapped within Liwei Keep, unable to go out."

"Oh, one more thing. Facing the invasion of extreme cold weather, respected Sir Tucker, I would like to know if Liwei Keep's outer defense system will be affected, and whether we need to pull back?"

"There is no need to pull back. Once we upgrade one Mage Tower to Tier-2 and master the ability to convert between frost and flame mana, the entire valley where Liwei Keep is located will be as warm as spring. At least, in theory, it should be."

So, after all that talk, they still needed a Mage Tower, and they still needed to upgrade it.

Li Wei thought for a moment, then said to Hathaway, "For now, you and Tucker will be responsible for upgrading one Mage Tower to Tier-2 first. Just use that Four-Star Flame Magic Core. Heating is our primary objective. After that, you must also research the magic for Frost-to-Flame Conversion. Just in case I am unable to purchase it through other channels, we cannot be at our wits' end."

"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. As for the other aspects, everyone should mind their own business and do their parts well!"

Li Wei waved his hand to conclude the meeting, but he kept Hathaway, Tucker, Li Yue, Zhao Xuanxuan, Thomas, He Yibo, and A Su behind. Casually activating a 5-Star Heaven-Veiling Card, he spoke indifferently, "There is a matter I need to discuss with you all, especially Li Yue, Hathaway, Xuanxuan, and Thomas. Second Aunt isn't here, but I think I can represent her. Specifically, I plan to take out 3% of the Founding Shares and give 1% to each of the three of them. This way, not only will they enjoy better returns, but even if they fall in battle, they can receive decent resurrection bonuses. What do you all think?"

Hearing these words, Hathaway, Li Yue, and Zhao Xuanxuan were slightly surprised, but He Yibo immediately said, "I implore the Lord to retract this order. We are newly arrived and have not made any contributions. We are already lowly, so such a generous reward is absolutely inappropriate. This will only chill the hearts of those loyal subordinates who have followed you for years!"

"Indeed, I implore the Lord to reconsider. For the three of us to be taken in by the Lord and Madam is already a divine stroke of luck. In this life, we wish for nothing more than to offer our loyal service to the Lord and Madam, and to devote ourselves entirely until death. Therefore, this absolutely cannot be done, absolutely cannot!"

Tucker also shouted, his eyes brimming with hot tears, sounding incomparably sincere. He looked very much like he would bash his head to death right there if Li Wei dared to allocate the shares to him.

"Yes, My Lord, this matter is inappropriate. If, a hundred years from now, you become a Duke or establish a Kingdom, and you allocate 1% of the Founding Shares to us then, that would be reasonable. Allocating it now will easily spark controversy. Please reconsider, My Lord," A Su also advised.

But Li Wei simply shook his head. That wasn't how things were calculated.

Among all the veterans who had followed him, had he ever mistreated anyone?

Pick out any one of them at random, and he had bestowed the grace of remaking them upon them. It wasn't that he hadn't given rewards; rather, he had given too many.

You couldn't say that just because a capable newcomer arrived, the veterans had to follow the newcomer in getting another wave of benefits.

Hathaway, Li Yue, Zhao Xuanxuan, Thomas, and Second Aunt—these were the most outstanding individuals among the veterans. Each of them could take charge of their own field independently, and coupled with their long-standing companionship, Li Wei had not been stingy, giving them 5% of the Founding Shares!

Javier, Seth, Jocelyn, Duan Bowen, Zhao Qingshan, Chekhov, Liu Huan—weren't the benefits he had given to the cream of the crop among these veterans already generous enough?

He had handed out 5-Star Warhorses, and he had granted the positions of Centurion and Thousand-man Commander. If they wanted even higher or more, it had to match their capabilities, didn't it?

The Guard Legion, who were all once abandoned refugees—he had single-handedly rescued them, single-handedly trained them, and single-handedly changed their destinies. How much had Li Wei invested to cultivate them from the most terrible old farmers?

He had never mistreated anyone.

Therefore, no one could complain that he was giving too much to newcomers and too little to themselves.

Li Wei was considering this for the sake of the development of the entire team.

You couldn't use this to accuse him of being fickle-hearted.

As for He Yibo, after Ah Qing had been missing for a century, he was still able to train two thousand Heavy Infantry and five hundred Heavy Cavalry. Didn't this level of self-control and troop-training ability deserve better conditions to win him over?

A Su had trained five hundred archers on his own, and next, he could form the Ranger Legion.

Tucker was straight up a Rank 3 Caster.

Such talents—must he cater to the feelings of the veterans just because they were newcomers?

If so, then it could only be said that Li Wei had raised them all into giant babies!

"This matter is not difficult. Just take out 3% from my Founding Shares and distribute it to the three of them," Thomas, who had always lacked a strong presence, suddenly spoke up. "Boss Li, I've recently learned some new knowledge, a new principle, and that is dissolving military power over wine!"

Good heavens, Thomas, you're looking more and more like a Master.

"You're such a show-off, aren't you? Li Wei, my 5% of the Founding Shares is actually too much. I am also willing to voluntarily take out 3%. It's not about what we're going to do, but that in the future, we need to absorb more capable talents to join us, and incidentally consolidate the old core team. Of course, Hathaway and Sister Yue don't need to do this. You two have the Royal Consort configuration. I'm a straight talker, no offense meant!"

Zhao Xuanxuan also laughed, truly carefree and thoughtless!

Hathaway then glanced at Li Yue, and then looked at Li Wei, "If I truly don't offer 3% of the Founding Shares, will you subject me to moral hijacking, Li Wei?"

"What are you thinking? Just hold onto your own shares. And you, Xuanxuan, stop causing a ruckus and being sarcastic and cynical. You talk too much!"

Li Wei waved his hand speechlessly. "Thomas, you don't need to take any out either. What do you mean 'dissolving military power over wine'? In the future, are you also going to pull a 'cooking the hound once the hare is caught'? It's not a big deal. The five of you are the greatest contributors to the establishment of the Blazing Territory. Anyone else is just talking nonsense, but you are the only ones I absolutely cannot let down."

"Don't worry, I will provide this three percent for He Yibo, A Su, and Tucker. I am simply buying horse bones for a fortune. I am using this method to demonstrate my utmost sincerity when the territory is in need of talent. As for the future, if there are still talents worth winning over, it couldn't possibly be one percent; it would have to be zero point one percent."

"Let's do it this way."

After speaking, Li Wei thought for a moment, but in the end, he still couldn't bear to bring out that Five-Star Blazing Magic Core and Five-Star Frost Magic Core. These were important materials capable of crafting War Banners.

However, that Necrotic Magic Core could be brought out. It was beneficial for resurrection.

"Tucker, you are now one of our own. So, I am giving you this Necrotic Magic Core. From now on, Mark is under your management, and you will also upgrade a Mage Tower. As for the specifics, handle it as you see fit."