Chapter 218 - Self-Awareness That Transmigrators Should Have
Chapter 218: Self-Awareness That Transmigrators Should Have
Gawain looked at the blueprint and the information beside the blueprint for a long time, and his expression must have been excessively stern, so much so that Amber who was here to enjoy a show had been shocked. She looked at Gawain with dazed eyes and asked, “Why? Is there something wrong with this blueprint? Did Jenni make a wrong calculation?”
Gawain lifted his head and said something that wasn’t related at all, “I am not a genius.”
“Ha?” Amber was startled by this muddleheaded statement, and she instantly thought that Gawain was teasing her. “Are you intentionally looking down on others? If a monster-class person like you isn’t a genius, then how are ordinary people supposed to continue living? Of course, I am not included in the ‘ordinary people’. I’m a genius too. Don’t you know that I was chosen by the Goddess of the Night…?”
“I am just speaking what I feel.” Gawain didn’t bother about Amber’s remaining rambling. He gave off a smile that didn’t feel true as he responded before he turned around to look outside the window. He was looking at the night lamps that were gradually lighting up the territory.
He wasn’t a genius.
He wasn’t at the center of this world either.
He wasn’t able to create a magic industrialization out of nothing, and he wasn’t able to rely on himself to pull this world in the direction of the universe.
Gawain was aware of this since the beginning, and today, he had a deeper understanding of this point.
He knew that he was considered a special entity as compared to ordinary people. He could also admit that he wanted to do something significant and had the ambition to influence this era, but he knew that even if the era was changed, it was impossible for him to do it alone.
After carefully thinking of everything that happened along the way, Gawain was able to clearly determine his position and clearly realized the talent and wisdom that the natives of this world possessed.
The magic web originated from an unconventional rogue mage who was filled with talent. The Rebecca Crystals and rune trigger originated from a noble young lady who had wonderful ideas. The rune logic originated from a third-generation researcher who spent dozens of years to conclude an important rule. The first Magic Powered Engine was built by the territory’s craftsmen and technicians by their hammers. While the final assembly designs of the alchemy mass-production technology and the construction of the factory… were the result of months of hard work from Pittman and his apprentices, along with hundreds of workers, technicians, and craftsmen in the territory.
Just a moment ago, Patrick Pom from the Kant territory used just one hour to understand the concepts of regional agents, supply chain, and market feedback. He was then able to use this era’s practical situation to propose the sale of different classifications of goods.
And now, Jenni Perot had completed the final calculations for the rotor-type Magic Powered Engine, and before Gawain could even think of it, she had given this engine design an effective speed-adjustment proposal.
Gawain lowered his head and looked at the Cecil territory which was still lively and bustling with activities, even at night.
This was an era after a “dark period”, but it didn’t mean that a transmigrator would be at the center of this world. In this era and world, there were intelligent people hidden everywhere. Even those nobles who seemed to be ignorant and backward were also using their wisdom and power to maintain their ruling positions. Gawain felt that if he wanted to accomplish great things in this world, he would first have to remember to revere this world.
He had to value this world’s system and to recognize the intelligence of its natives. With this as a prerequisite, he would be able to plunder a reasonable amount of benefits that he deserved. And this should be the path of survival and development.
Gawain had a smile on his face as he looked at Amber who was curiously studying the blueprint on the table, although it didn’t seem like she could understand anything. “Say, if this land is filled with talents, what am I doing here?”
“What is wrong with you? Why are you saying such strange things?” Amber blinked her eyes and said, “Aren’t you talking nonsense? You are the feudal lord, and if you aren’t here, why are we all gathered here for?! We would have already packed our luggage and left… You wouldn’t possibly be planning to announce the disbandment of the gang right…?”
Gawain glared at the half-elf and said, “Can you not blindly use the words I teach you? It is called team, not gang!”
“…It has similar meanings. Aren’t they both four-letter words…?”
Gawain looked at this half-elf young lady helplessly, but he still had a smile.
It was true. The magic web was invented by the rogue mage; the alchemy reaction vessel was invented by the Pittman; the Rebecca Crystals and rune triggers were invented by Rebecca… There were plenty of things on the territory that weren’t invented by Gawain — at least, they weren’t created by him alone. However, his greatest value here wasn’t to personally invent these things; it was to lead the talented individuals and to allow them to exhibit the talent and wisdom that they originally possessed.
He didn’t have wisdom that was superior to the natives, but he had foresight and ideas that were superior. He had the knowledge from his previous life, from “Gawain Cecil”, and also the resolution and experiences as an ancient observer. He wasn’t able to create anything, but he knew what this land required.
He knew where the path would lead to, and this was the reason he was here and his function. In a grand scope, he could plan the territory’s future social order and its societal structure. On a smaller scale, he could describe a specific machine required on a technological route and let the technical personnel on the territory think of ways to achieve it.
Gawain suddenly laughed heartily. He felt that it didn’t matter what kind of cheat he possessed, he was certain about one point:
He was this world’s cheat… or, at least, Cecil territory’s cheat.
Oh, there was also that Mister Nicholas Egg who had just recovered from his cold. During the past two days, he had been thinking of a method to create the next-generation press machine in the mechanical research station.
Gawain’s sudden changes of emotions weren’t able to convey the proper message to Amber’s quick-witted but nonsense-filled brain. This half-elf young lady could only see Gawain in silence one moment before he suddenly started laughing. She felt all her hair standing on end and was planning to rush out to inform Heidi and Rebecca that their great-grandfather’s living dead period was coming to an end. As soon as she had this intention, the old dumpling in front of her had nodded to her and said, “Amber, tomorrow, you will act as my envoy and make a trip to Tanzan Town. Bring my handwritten letter and hand it to Viscount Andrew.”
“Why are you asking me to travel so far during winter…?” Amber pouted her lips and asked, “What for?”
“I wish to invite the Viscount to the territory as a guest. I want that mine owner to observe Cecil territory’s method of mining.”
“Oh… What?!” Amber was nodding before suddenly reacting in shock. She looked at Gawain with eyes as though she was looking at a spy in their internal department. “You wish to invite Viscount Andrew to visit the mines? Do you still remember what is over there?!”
“Of course, I remember. The Magic Powered Engines, the drainage pump, the ore-cart machine, and the newly installed crusher and filter machines.”
“You remember, and you will still allow an outsider to see them?!” Amber widened her eyes and said, “Those are the lifelines of the Cecil territory! Our territory was able to develop into this state in such a short period of time, all because of those machines. Aren’t you afraid that when Viscount Andrew sees them, he would be…”
“I hope that he will be tempted after seeing them, greatly tempted.” Gawain nodded. “Because I plan to sell the entire set of mining equipment to him.”
Amber: “?!”
“Our second-generation Magic Powered Engine is ready, and I wish to sell the first-generation engine.” Gawain knew what Amber was thinking, but he enjoyed teasing her. This headache-inducing half-elf would only look cuter during such dazed moments. “Furthermore, you said something wrong earlier. That the territory was able to develop to such a state in such a short period of time was partially due to the machines. But we have never relied on them entirely.”
He shook his head and said, “The Cecil territory’s true talent is something that outsiders will not be able to take away.”
Amber’s concern was obviously still around. “No matter what, if you sell something like the Magic Powered Engine to others… Are you not afraid that your neighbors will become stronger?”
“They will definitely become stronger as the Tanzan Mine’s excavation rate will be greatly increased.” Gawain nodded and said, “This will ensure that the Cecil territory will obtain more magic-conducting materials, and at a cheaper cost.”
Amber scratched her head. “Just like that? You have other reasons right?”
“Of course… Only by having a stronger partner would we have better benefits. I am never worried that others will become stronger. I simply have to make sure that my development speed is the fastest.”
Gawain let out a light sigh before speaking, “Most of the rulers in this world are walking on another path. They will do their best to make sure that everyone within their vision isn’t making progress. They don’t mind remaining in the same position for a long period of time as long as others aren’t making progress or constantly regressing. But there is a fatal problem with this… they are also able to suppress the people outside of their vision. Everything they do will only lead to a regional regress. Do you know the fact that a bad consequence has already appeared?”
“What bad consequence would that be?”
“Anzu Kingdom’s neighbor, the Typhon Empire has been constantly making military revolutions and societal advancements for the past few decades. They have built an army of military Beyonders and an assembly production of standardized military goods. While the nobles in Anzu Kingdom are in the process of regression, in the place where they cannot influence and cannot observe, there is a powerful and fearsome enemy that has already stood up…”
Amber gulped down her saliva. She was also an Anzu citizen, and she naturally knew about the increasing threat from the neighboring nation, the Typhon Empire. As a commoner, this was the first time she had heard such a direct observation and analysis. However, she still had a final doubt about Gawain’s decision. “Even if you sell the machines powered by the Magic Powered Engine to Viscount Andrew, he wouldn’t be able to use them either, right? Those machines would have to be driven by the magic web—”
Gawain was laughing even happier than before. “That is why I am also going to sell him the blueprints of the magic web to him too. If possible, I will dispatch a batch of technical personnel at a low cost to guide the Leslie Clan to complete the basic construction of the magic web.”
“You are also going to give him the magic web?!” Amber nearly jumped up as she exclaimed, “Do you know what he could do with the magic web?”
“Mining,” Gawain said indifferently. “Mining for the Cecil territory.”