"What if I fulfill my part, but then you fail to deliver?" Moli listened and asked rather sharply.
Facing Richard directly, Moli spoke: "Whether it’s the developnt of territory that satisfies or the opportunity to reclaim the Sika Kingdom Royal Family’s legitimacy, there are considerable uncertainties. Who knows what things will be like in ten years? How do you guarantee I won’t suffer losses?"
Richard pursed his lips, thought for a mont, and said, "If you’re worried about that, we can add another condition: over ten years, if you accomplish everything I ask of you, but I fail to provide you with a satisfying territory or cannot give you more than a fifty percent chance to reclaim the Sika Royal Family’s legitimacy, then Shalin will be your territory. That way, developing Shalin ans developing your own territory. Will that do?"
Moli listened, opened her mouth but remained silent, with eyebrows lowered in deep thought.
After pondering for a few minutes, Moli bit her lip and made a decision. She looked at Richard seriously and said, "If you’re earnest, then I can agree to your terms and cooperate with you—exchange ten years of service for my own territory and a chance to reclaim the Sika Royal Family’s legitimacy.
However, there’s one point I must declare: Serving you doesn’t an I’m your subordinate. I will fulfill all your legitimate needs, but aside from that, you cannot force to do aningless things. And you cannot limit what I choose to do."
"Agreed." Richard nodded, "Conversely, I won’t force you to do aningless things, nor will I limit what you choose to do. Regarding the developnt of Shalin, you have considerable freedom to adjust as you see fit. But the premise is that my needs must be fulfilled."
"Deal," Moli said solemnly.
With a wave of her hand, a parchnt scroll flew out from her sleeve, inscribed with complex characters.
Richard glanced at it and noticed the text had so similarities with the Balta text, allowing him to vaguely understand its aning: both parties must abide by the above-detailed contract... If violated, the soul will plunge into hell...
Moli briefly displayed the scroll, then rolled it up again, holding onto one end of it and said, "I painstakingly obtained this prediction contract scroll from the ruins of an Ancient Wizard Civilization. As long as you and I hold this scroll and repeat our promises, it creates a special binding force. If either party breaks the promise, the soul will suffer tornt from mysterious forces, lasting a lifeti."
Moli paused, raised her fine eyebrows, and said to Richard, "Of course, if you doubt my words or think this contract scroll is one-sidedly advantageous for , I can cast another Prediction Magic—the Tosco Truth Spell— to verify my words."
"No need," Richard made a dismissive gesture, "I can sign this contract with you. However, before signing, I feel obliged to remind you, even if signed, this contract doesn’t bind as much as you think. Right now, I can already think of at least three ways to break this contract, and if I invest ti and effort, I have a great likelihood of success. So, rather than relying on a contract, you might as well trust my integrity—after all, have I ever broken my word to you?"
Moli listened, and her expression changed slightly. Given what she knew of Richard, she understood that if he said it, it wasn’t just talk; Richard truly had the ability to breach the contract without punishnt. But to serve Shalin for ten years based solely on a verbal promise didn’t give her peace of mind.
After pondering for a while, Moli said, "Indeed, you’ve never broken a promise. Still, I wish to sign this contract with you—a little more assurance is always good. Moreover, you ntioned you rely have ideas, and ti and effort are needed to break the contract successfully. I reckon, for soone who values ti as much as you do, if you really break the contract and have to waste ti cracking it, it’s a punishnt in itself, isn’t it?"
"Alright, as you wish." Richard didn’t blabber anymore and reached out to grasp the other end of the scroll, uttered the promise, forming a magically binding contract with Moli.
After Moli retracted the contract scroll, she looked at Richard, her long eyelashes fluttering, and asked, "Can you now state your requirents, so I know what to do in the future?"
"Alright, let start," Richard said, "but my requirents are sowhat nurous, be prepared."
"I’ve been expecting this; go ahead."
"Alright." Richard spoke without hesitation, saying seriously, "Firstly, Shalin needs developnt, and developnt requires a healthy system. The Efficiency Departnt is at the top of this system, responsible for all administrative operations, but besides establishing the Efficiency Departnt, there must be more departnts for cooperation and checks and balances. Next, under the Efficiency Departnt, you need to establish a series of detailed departnts to bolster it. In my vision, these departnts include:
The Security Departnt, responsible for security, law enforcent, etc.;
The Etiquette Departnt, handling interactions and communication with surrounding territories, the Soma Alliance, and the Sika Kingdom;
The Law Departnt, issuing administrative decrees and punishing those who violate them;
The Trade Departnt, overseeing comrcial developnt and managent;
The Road Departnt, focusing on road construction within Shalin;
The Finance Departnt, responsible for tax collection, fund allocation, and other monetary matters;
The Inspection Departnt, supervising various Shalin institutions...
..."
After speaking at length, pausing briefly for Moli to morize and digest, Richard continued, "Second point. Shalin’s developnt needs not only a healthy system but also a large number of people—many high-quality individuals, so strive to attract elite groups. I have a list at hand, which I’ll give you later, and you need to invite them to settle in Shalin. Besides those on the list, you also need to diligently recruit others of value to co.
You should understand, in this world, wizards are crucial, strong resource mobilizers, so the more wizards attracted to Shalin, the faster Shalin can develop. As for attracting these wizards... you can tell them, Shalin lacks money, food, beauty, and other pleasures, but it possesses the most profound spell knowledge of this world, even containing knowledge lost by Ancient Wizard Civilizations. If they wish to explore the world of magic, to advance themselves, then they should co to Shalin, where they’ll find a suitable position.
Of course, those we want to attract aren’t limited to wizards. They can also be skilled craftsn, trained warriors, intelligent and eager young people, even experienced farrs... In short, elites from various fields...
After expressing the second point, giving Moli ti to digest, Richard continued to the third point.
"Third point. You must understand..."
Then the fourth point, the fifth point...
Richard spoke for a very long ti before finishing.
Moli managed to rember most of it, nodded deeply while furrowing her brows, and said, "Alright, I will find ways to fulfill all your requirents. However, for any omissions, you’d better remind ; after all, the tasks you’ve set are many, and I can’t guarantee I won’t miss any."
"Alright, I will," Richard said.
"Then we’re set. Oh, right." Finishing the main discussion, Moli, seemingly recalling sothing, finally had a chance to ask a small question, pointed quickly toward the buildings below, and quickly asked Richard, "By the way, what is this place used for? During city construction, significant resources were committed, but it’s been left idle since completion. There should be an explanation, right?"
"Explanation, there will be," Richard said softly, "As long as you try to attract many people from outside Shalin, once they arrive, you’ll know what this place is for."
Moli: "..." To her, Richard’s response was essentially no answer.
Still, she understood if Richard didn’t want to explain, pressing further would be futile, so she simply said, "Alright, then I’ll start by attracting people here."
"Hmm." Richard nodded in satisfaction.
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)