After signing the contract, Gano immediately processed the land grant for Richard.
Deep within the Lava Sea, a considerable expanse of ocean was designated as Richard's territory. The size of this land made Richard feel somewhat uneasy.
"Master, isn't this a bit too large?"
Gano, who was busy making notes on the Magic Book, glanced up at Richard before lowering his head again, continuing to write fervently.
"Advisor Richard, you have participated in too few wars and have a limited perspective. For both my mentor and my master, the greatest value of these resource-less lands in the Crimson Sun World is as a testing ground.
And they have more than one such testing ground.
So for them, as long as your territory doesn't obstruct their view and has no resources, it can be as large as you want.
Land is the least valuable thing."
Gano's voice was somewhat muffled, but to Richard, it sounded like a thunderclap.
Land... not valuable?
Richard felt an instinctive resistance to this statement, yet he had to admit that it was indeed true.
For Wizards, land is not valuable; what is valuable is the qualification to obtain land.
No matter how worthless the land in the Crimson Sun World is, ordinary Wizards cannot acquire it without making contributions in war.
Soon, Gano completed all the paperwork.
Richard took the land deed handed to him by Gano, signed his name on it, and then returned it to Gano.
"Very well, Advisor Richard, I am pleased to cooperate with you."
Gano took the deed, a hint of relief flashing across his face.
"Forgive me, but I have matters to attend to, so I won't invite you for a drink."
Richard nodded in understanding, and the two parted ways.
In Floating City, the shops of the military merchant association were still open; after all, the shops in Floating City didn't require rent. As long as Floating City didn't leave, these shops would earn money for every day they operated.
In the Nine Stars Merchant Association, the mechanical staff continued to greet customers with smiles. However, upon seeing Richard, it immediately reported to Bob in the back room.
Soon, Bob came out from the back room, looking quite rosy, clearly having had some good fortune.
"Richard, my brother, long time no see. Look at you, glowing with health; you must have struck it rich recently."
Richard stepped forward and embraced Bob, smiling as he replied:
"Bob, it's you who has struck it rich! I heard your association secured a Red Sun Crystal Iron Mine; that's quite a good find."
"Haha, just a small mine."
Bob, hearing Richard mention the mine, tried hard to suppress the pride on his face, but it still couldn't help but show.
There was no way around it; the Red Sun Crystal Iron Mine was originally the domain of those old merchant associations, but due to infighting among them, this small mine ended up being a bargain for the Nine Stars Merchant Association.
Because of this, Bob's status in the association had significantly risen.
Richard also heard that the president of the merchant association didn't have long to live and might be looking for a successor.
With Bob achieving such a great feat at this time, he would definitely catch the president's eye.
After some pleasantries, Richard began to discuss the main topic.
"Bob, your association should be in the business of Alchemy Machines, right?"
Bob was momentarily taken aback but then nodded: "Indeed, one of the main businesses of the Nine Stars Merchant Association is Alchemy Machines.
So, Richard, are you here to discuss business with me?"
Once the serious matter was on the table, they dropped the brotherly banter. Even brothers need to keep accounts clear, especially since they represented not just themselves but the associations behind them.
"Take a look at these parts."
Richard pulled out a handful of alchemical components from his pocket and handed them to Bob.
After receiving them, Bob carefully examined each part through the lens of his monocle.
"This part... is not Alchemy, or rather, it is not Wizard Alchemy." Bob set the parts down. "These things are made using the Dragon Alchemy you mentioned before, right?"
Richard snapped his fingers: "Exactly, it's Dragon Alchemy."
Bob set the parts aside and shook his head slightly: "I can't quite understand this; I need to consult a few masters in the association. Do you have more samples? Bring some more."
Upon hearing this, Richard took out a small box from his Magic Pocket.
"Everything in here consists of commonly used parts for Alchemy Machines; feel free to take it back and experiment."
Bob took the box, his expression becoming relaxed again.
"It seems my brother has found some good stuff in this Crimson Sun World. I looked into Dragon Alchemy; it's a niche subject even among Alchemist Wizards. For you to be able to trade these things, that's impressive."
Richard merely smiled at this and did not pursue the topic further.
One cannot reveal money-making ideas.
After chatting with Bob for a bit longer, Richard took his leave.
Before departing, Richard also took a few master-crafted Fire Lizard swords and knives from Bob.
Wizards had already set their sights on the tombs of the Fire Lizards, and many accompanying swords and knives had been unearthed, many of which were master-crafted.
The few he had in hand were among them.
[Material: Fire Lizard Scimitar]
[Refinement Technique: Dragon Alchemy (slightly incomplete)]
[Refinement Cost: 10 mental power]
[Refinement Information: Dragon Alchemy Tree - Pattern Diagram]
[Refinement Cost: 5 mental power]
"Slightly incomplete?"
Richard looked at the seemingly unremarkable scimitar in his hand, surprised that he could find such a treasure at this time.
Slightly incomplete meant that the Fire Lizard craftsman who forged this scimitar had poured nearly all his learned skills into it. If refined, Richard would essentially possess all the skills of this Fire Lizard craftsman.
"Refine."
The Fire Lizard scimitar vanished from Richard's hand for a moment, then reappeared. On the Miracle Furnace, a ball of white light representing skill was continuously leaping.
Richard devoured the white light representing skill, and his eyes suddenly flashed with countless illusions.
In an instant, Richard felt as if he had become a Fire Lizard, having been exposed to Alchemy since childhood. Throughout his growth, his elders and teachers constantly taught him Alchemy, and his own Alchemy skills rapidly advanced during this process.
Soon, his elders had nothing more to teach him, and he began to explore Alchemy on his own.
He didn't know how many years passed, but he transformed from a young boy into an old man. His exploration of Dragon Alchemy had reached an extraordinary level. Yet, an invisible barrier stood before him, and his Alchemy skills began to stagnate.
In the final moments of his life, he forged this scimitar, encapsulating all the skills he had acquired throughout his life, leaving with regrets.
"Ah, what a splendid life." Richard awoke from the illusion, reflecting with a hint of emotion.
Perhaps this Fire Lizard's life seemed incredibly dull to others, revolving solely around Alchemy, but in the eyes of Wizards, this Fire Lizard was essentially a Wizard in Fire Lizard's skin.
His thirst for knowledge in Alchemy perfectly aligned with the pursuits of Wizards.
"Touching the barrier of Alchemy, it seems Dragon Alchemy is not the technique of the pioneers, or rather, it should be a technique created for dragons by the pioneers."
Richard was certain that if it were the technique of the pioneers, this Fire Lizard would never have touched the boundary in its lifetime. Because even if it were a Wizard not as powerful as the pioneers, the vastness of Wizard Alchemy was not something a Fire Lizard that had not become a World Master could approach.
Perhaps this was also part of the reason why Wizards abandoned Dragon Alchemy back then.
Arriving at the mine, Richard released several agricultural experts from the Secret Realm and assigned them to Heskhan.
"These are all agricultural experts; they will manage all the farmland at the mine." Richard pointed to the few Fire Lizards beside him.
The agricultural experts looked at the familiar main continent and couldn't help but burst into tears.
Heskhan, upon hearing this, repeatedly agreed and immediately arranged for a few agricultural experts to go check on the farm.
Watching the weeping agricultural experts, Heskhan showed no empathy; instead, his face was filled with derision.
"What are you crying for! Cowards who lack the guts to die with Marshal Harash. You throw us on the main continent while you and your group hide overseas, you worthless scoundrels!"
Heskhan had no good feelings for these Fire Lizards involved in the Fire Seed Project.
His knowledge was limited, and he couldn't understand Richard's mention of preserving the fire seed, but he grasped a bit from Richard's words.
These cowardly scoundrels abandoned them and ran off to hide from Wizards overseas.
Hearing such things, regardless of how justified their reasons were, any Fire Lizard left on the continent would be filled with rage.
Why are you the fire seed while I am the discarded pawn?
It's not about having little but about having it unevenly.
Richard paid no mind to Heskhan's attitude, reminding him to work hard before returning to Floating City.
He was preparing to return to the Wizard world.
Now that he had a land grant, he could freely enter and exit the Crimson Sun World.
However, this was limited to himself. If he wanted to use the portal to transport goods, he still needed to pay a portion of the portal tax to the Great Wizard.
If he wanted to bring others in, he would also have to pay additional visitor and research taxes and submit an application to at least one academy.
After all, the Crimson Sun World was the private property of the Great Wizard, and it was not possible to let just anyone enter.
Moreover, he was still continuing a long-distance teleportation array for transportation between the mine and the New World. Otherwise, every time Richard went to the New World, he would have to fly across the vast Lava Sea with Ulysses.
Even if Richard didn't mind the trouble, Ulysses would protest.
In front of the portal, many Wizards were queuing to leave the Crimson Sun World. They were all smiling, having reaped considerable rewards, but behind them, many more Wizards were buried in this foreign land.
In this age of exploration, every Wizard is a navigator.
Countless Wizards risked their lives exploring new continents in the Astral World, hoping to find "gold" and "spices" in the new lands.
Countless Wizards became overnight millionaires, but ten times as many perished far from home.
Richard suddenly recalled a saying from his past life.
It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.
Soon, it was Richard's turn in the queue. Looking at the enormous portal before him, Richard took a step forward.
Then, his figure vanished from the Crimson Sun World.
(End of Chapter)