Water Mage in the Flame Realm

"Not yet," Dean Charlie said, "Within the next two days, the specific departure date will be set, and we will notify you then. Most likely, we will depart in two weeks."

"Half a month..." Andrew nodded, pondering silently.

According to the original plan, after breaking through to Tier Four, he could take his time and patiently work on the "Magic Production Line." There was no need to rush.

But now it seems that he must settle this Magic Production Line business within this half-month before departing for the Royal Court.

Jin, who knew Andrew best, observed his expression and realized something, somewhat surprised, "Why, Andrew, do you have another collaboration project in mind, some new ideas?"

This remark made everyone slightly numb, thinking it couldn't be possible, right? Could there really be another surprise in business collaboration after the huge surprise of reaching Tier Four?

Andrew seemed a bit embarrassed and nodded, "Yes, I have some new ideas that I want to try before we set off for the Royal Court..."

"..."

Madam Yi Lian, who had remained stoic, suddenly smiled and said, "Alright, the issue of the vacancy caused by Orleans' injury is settled. I will not participate in the business collaboration discussions." After speaking, she left the conference hall with Susan.

Dean Charlie also quickly left. He was primarily responsible for the details of the Royal Court negotiations, and now that Andrew was confirmed to replace Orleans, much of the follow-up preparation work could proceed.

Jin and most of the other high-level members of the Commerce Association stayed on site, looking at Andrew.

Though no one said anything specific, Andrew could feel that the high-level members of the Commerce Association, who had only been "polite" to him over the past ten weeks, now had a new "respect" in their gaze towards him.

This was respect towards a strong individual.

Even though Andrew's current combat power and strength were still far behind the high-level members.

But the fact that he reached Tier Four at such a young age carries great significance—or rather potential—behind it.

"Indeed, true respect can only be earned through hard power," Andrew thought, "Compared to my contribution to the 'Fire Creation Plan,' it seems the high-level members of the Commerce Association value my reaching Tier Four more?"

This, in turn, made Andrew pay more attention to the significance of reaching Tier Four. Previously, he thought: breaking through is just breaking through, nothing particularly grand.

Jin took a deep breath, looked over, and said solemnly, "Regarding the collaboration project, Andrew, what new ideas do you have? We are all ears."

Andrew did not hold back and spoke about the Magic Production Line.

The high-level members, instead of being shocked, immediately confirmed the feasibility of the Magic Production Line and began discussing it seriously with Andrew.

Barbara was present and did not leave, nor did she speak.

She just sat quietly on the side, listening calmly.

She herself was unaware that while watching Andrew seriously participate in the meeting and talk eloquently, a smile naturally appeared on her face.

This world is very dangerous, and negotiating with the Royal Court is no easy task.

But for the first time, Barbara felt: with Andrew by her side to face it, she feared nothing.

Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

Facts proved that establishing Magic Production Lines with Tier Four magic "Elemental Solidification" as the cornerstone, allowing Magic Puppets to replace himself, to continue producing a large volume of facial masks, Snickers, and other products for the Warm Fire Commerce Association (and truly mass-producing)—

was not only feasible but proceeded much more smoothly than expected!

Originally, Ran Ivan had gone to procure Magic Materials, intending to take his time.

But once the high-level members of the Commerce Association learned about Andrew's idea, the entire resources of the Warm Fire Commerce Association began to officially tilt towards Andrew.

Not to mention the Magic Materials, various existing puppet schematics, Magic Puppet production masters, Elemental Life series experts, technical staff, etc., all worked around the clock to serve Andrew, with Andrew as the core, actively advancing the new plan to build the "Magic Production Line."

After two weeks, the production lines for Magic Facial Masks, Lip Balm, Eye Drops, Snickers, and a newly developed medicine to alleviate and extend the life of patients with lung burns outside the Inner Sea Desert were all successfully established!

The degree of smoothness, scale, and production capacity after the formation of the production lines left even Andrew, who came up with the idea, astonished.

"Andrew, regarding your development of this new medicine, it can't really cure lung burn, can it?" As an academic ace, Leia also participated in the project, and she made significant contributions to the development and improvement of the new medicine.

"Yes, it can only alleviate, not cure," Andrew nodded, "To completely cure, one must go to the Wildfire Territory for the second stage of recuperation, and when I get a chance to return to the Wildfire Territory, I'll personally help all patients thoroughly cure their burn issues."

Outside the Inner Sea Desert, there were also a large number of lung burn patients.

In fact, the number of patients outside the desert far exceeded the number inside the desert.

The desert has the unique "Deep Sea Giant Cactus," which when cooked into soup, can help patients extend their lives.

Deep Sea Giant Cactus cannot exist outside the desert.

"I've actually wanted to do this for a long time — completely solve the world's lung injury problem," Andrew thought, "Now that my voice in the Warm Fire Commerce Association has been further elevated, it's just the right time to do it."

The solution basically involves three steps —

The first stage is to mass-produce the new medicine I've developed on the production line, and first stabilize the condition of the patients outside the desert, extending their lives.

The second stage involves arranging for the patients to stay and recuperate in the hospital of Wildfire Territory. After all, fresh 'Deep Sea Giant Cactus' meat used as the main ingredient in concocted soups there can further alleviate their symptoms and prolong their lives.

The third stage is for me to personally step in for a cure.

"Oh, it seems like another major project," Leia stuck out her tongue and pushed her thick glasses up, "I'll go help you with the arrangements."

"Thank you for the trouble," Andrew said.

Business cooperation is complex. Most of the time, I provide the ideas and products, while the execution relies on the massive machine that is the Warm Fire Commerce Association.

"By the way..." Leia, who was hopping away to arrange specific matters, suddenly turned her head and said, "I can't help much with the Royal Court negotiations. I can only support you from the rear. It's almost time to depart, Andrew, take a break these couple of days, don't worry too much about the production line."

Andrew thought it over and nodded with a smile, "Alright, I will."

Leia then bounced away to get busy again.

Heeding Leia's advice, Andrew calmed his mind, returned to his studio, and planned to summarize all affairs from the past two weeks before temporarily putting aside business cooperation, focusing entirely on the impending Royal Court negotiations.

After earnestly sorting and summarizing for an hour, Andrew looked at the data summaries and reports in front of him and suddenly felt a strange sensation —

Over the past two weeks, I've been focused, only focused, on the magic production line.

Yet, in focusing on the production line's construction, I've seemingly, in a certain sense, completed a deep integration with all the territories under the governance of the Warm Fire Commerce Association.

Mass-produced goods at the start of the production phase were sold to various cities and places through the commerce association's channels, just like fresh blood being delivered everywhere.

In return, every day, a large amount of Fire Extinguishing Value converges towards Warm Fire City from everywhere, ultimately concentrating on a point at Andrew's brow with the 'Water God Mark'.

This forms a cycle.

A virtuous pattern.

In the future, I only need to conduct regular maintenance on the production line and further optimize the production line after advancing in tier. Moreover, when new products are available, building new production lines imitatively to gourds, then my influence over the territories governed by the Warm Fire Commerce Association will steadily increase.

The Fire Extinguishing Value received as feedback will also rise together.

"This is different from my relationship with Wildfire Territory," Andrew reflected carefully.

The relationship between me and Wildfire Territory is a complete lord-to-territory relationship, more deeply connected and tighter. By the way, An Ya brought news these days, that the population restlessness issue in Wildfire Territory is completely resolved, and the next step will steadily move towards returning the favor, support, and driving the entire Inner Sea Desert.

As for the vast distributed land governed by the Warm Fire Commerce Association, although not as tightly connected as Wildfire Territory, Andrew gradually begins to feel an 'inseparable connection between himself and the territories under the commerce association's governance'.

This feeling has a practical and concrete significance.

That is: the upper limit of the multiplication of magic power amplification as a Water Magic Lord has further increased because of this! Moreover, Andrew vaguely feels that this time, not only has the magic power amplification changed, but some new changes are also starting to arise.

"So it seems, although I'm not the leader of the Warm Fire Commerce Association, through the form of business cooperation, I've had a practical influence on the territories under the commerce association's governance, thus becoming a member of its high level in a practical sense?" Andrew thought.

Gradually, a realization surged in his heart: after securing Wildfire Territory as his base of operations, now, in the vast lands governed by the Warm Fire Commerce Association, I have 'secured' them through business cooperation!

It turns out being a lord doesn't necessarily require conquest and occupation, those are very outdated habitual thoughts.

The key to being a lord is what one can achieve for the people within a region. That's all there is to it.

"The Warm Fire Commerce Association controls the entire East of the Flame Realm, so now, unconsciously, do I already have such a wide range of influence, able to do good for so many people?" Andrew found it somewhat incredible, yet felt the weighty responsibility all the more.

Next step —

On one hand, focus on Wildfire Territory as the base, continuing to advance the 'reverse transfer' to the entire Inner Sea Desert, a commitment that must persist.

On the other hand: "It is indeed time to look beyond to the regions outside the east of the Flame Realm!" As Andrew thought this, his gaze naturally turned towards the window, "The Western Magic Guild, and next, the Northern Royal Court I'm about to visit."

At this moment, Andrew increasingly felt the difference between being a Magic Lord and a traditional mage.

If it were a traditional Water Mage, then next, Andrew would only have the feeling of 'going to the Royal Court as an individual'.

But now, as a Water Magic Lord, Andrew feels more like he is representing Wildfire Territory, representing Warm Fire City, representing the vast lands under the control of the Warm Fire Commerce Association in the East of this world, going to the Royal Court!

While individually representing, at the same time, the people in the vast lands in the East are the firmest and most reliable backing for him!

This sense of personal and collective being independently separate, yet also inseparably supportive of each other, is where the true value of the journey of being a Magic Lord lies? Andrew couldn't help but fall into deep thought.