He threw a glance at
Once the precautions were in place, Leylin finally spoke in a low voice: "I've already advanced to become a seventh-level mage..."
"What?... What did you say?"
Ernest's eyes went wide. The man who hadn't shown even a flicker of emotion moments ago was now completely flustered.
"If I recall correctly, it hasn't even been a year since you broke through to the sixth level?"
Ernest's face was twisted in an exaggerated expression, as though he wanted to cry yet simultaneously burst out laughing.
"By the Goddess, is what you're saying really true?" Ernest's face was nearly pressed against Leylin's nose.
"In the name of
As a mage, the price of offending the Goddess of the Weave was most likely never being able to use the Weave again for the rest of one's life, reduced to nothing but a cripple. The weight of such an oath was therefore immense, and it immediately convinced Ernest.
"Heavens... could you actually be the Goddess of the Weave's illegitimate son?"
This kind of progress utterly crushed Ernest. He himself was still only a ninth-level intermediate mage, and at this rate, Leylin would catch up within a year or two at most.
It was perfectly normal for a teacher to be surpassed by his student eventually. But being overtaken by a brat who wasn't even twenty? Ernest was so dejected at that moment he nearly retreated to a corner to draw circles on the wall.
On the other side, Baron Jonas—who had just been the butt of the joke—wore an awkward expression.
"Ernest, my friend, what does this mean? Why is it making you react like this?"
Suppressing a trace of embarrassment, Jonas—who didn't actually know all that much about mages—immediately asked.
"Oh! Forgive me! My friend!" Ernest's face flushed red, but it was swiftly replaced by an even greater fervor: "A seventh-level mage at fifteen years of age! As far as I know, within the past three hundred years, Leylin's talent ranks in the top one hundred!!"
At this point his expression turned solemn: "Don't underestimate that ranking. Many of those people went on to become Archmages, and a few even advanced to become Legends..."
"...Cough cough... to think..."
This level of revelation immediately stunned Baron Jonas, who stared at his son with utter disbelief filling his eyes.
"Although I haven't yet received official certification from the Mages' Guild, I can cast third-tier spells without any difficulty…"
Leylin looked at his mentor. "So, if this information were leaked during the negotiations, do you think it might force Marquis Louis to back down?"
A seventy to eighty percent chance of advancing to the rank of [Master] was more than enough to make the other party wary. After all, throughout the entire Kingdom of Danbres, there were precious few high-ranking mages who answered to the royal family.
If the Faolan family were known to possess such a prodigious mage, the likelihood of the other side making concessions was very high.
Of course, there was also the possibility that the Marquis might become cornered and desperate — seeking to nip the threat in the bud, sparing no effort to assassinate Leylin and eliminate the danger for good.
"Well… the probability of that is certainly considerable, but there are other possibilities as well. After all, talent and growth rate don't necessarily equate to actual strength…"
Ernest offered a word of caution.
"No! Absolutely not! This information must never get out — I'm issuing a gag order immediately!"
Baron Jonas understood at once. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he was not willing to risk Leylin falling in battle.
After all, with Leylin's talent, once properly cultivated, becoming a high-ranking mage was merely a matter of time. There was even hope for him to reach the realm of Legend!
Compared to that, what were the temporary losses they might suffer now?
Seeing both his father and his mentor so resolute, Leylin could only smile wryly and set the idea aside.
"Fine! However, I would like to retreat to seclusion outside the estate to devote myself to studying magic. I hope Father will grant me permission…"
"Seclusion?" Ernest scratched his head in confusion. Mages weren't ascetic monks — was it really necessary to give up luxury and comfort just to temper one's willpower?
But… looking at this student who had advanced to seventh-level mage at the age of fifteen, Ernest wisely chose to hold his tongue. After all, the boy's achievements spoke for themselves.
Perhaps it was precisely this approach that allowed him to achieve such terrifying speed of advancement?
Ernest stroked his chin, thinking that perhaps he, too, should pay more attention to this kind of self-discipline in the future.
"Well, if your mentor has no objections, then neither do I. But you must be careful about your safety — you are the future of our family! I would rather lose all of Faolan Island than lose you. Do you understand?"
Baron Jonas admonished him earnestly.
"I'll remember that!" Linley nodded. "There's one more thing! It's about the family's business operations!"
"Oh! It seems you're going to give me quite a few surprises today?"
Although Baron Jonas was already quite exhausted, he still rubbed the bridge of his nose and assumed a listening posture.
"I think the way our family runs the port — providing services in exchange for payment — needs to change!"
Linley's opening words were startling: "This recent incident has shown me that territory without the power to defend it is far too inviting for enemies to covet. And if we want to expand our strength, recruit more guards and professionals, we need a much larger source of revenue!"
"Easier said than done. But most of the maritime trade is already carved up by Marquis Louis's Bodi Archipelago. What could we possibly offer?"
Baron Jonas's face wore a bitter smile. Any noble would welcome a way to expand their territory's strength and increase their wealth — he had explored the possibilities long ago, but in the end, found nothing.
"If Linley is bringing this up, he must have an idea! We might as well hear him out!"
Ernest knew this student always planned before acting. He never spoke without preparation, so he listened with genuine interest.
"I've done some research. In this ocean trade, the three sectors with the largest volume and the most profit are: slaves, sea salt, and white sugar!"
A gleam seemed to flash through Linley's eyes. "Among these, the slave trade has always had a poor reputation, and it's firmly controlled by Marquis Louis — we can't touch it. So that leaves sea salt and white sugar as my choices!"
"Sea salt... and white sugar?"
Baron Jonas scratched his hair with some confusion. "But we're not like those southern spice and sugarcane islands. Those plants simply can't survive here..."
"No! For sugar, I only plan to purchase raw sugar and then process it into premium white sugar for resale. As for sea salt — I plan to use fish floss!"
"Fish floss?!"
"That's right! Mash the fish meat, dry it in the sun, and use preservation techniques to extend its shelf life. Since it has both salt and protein, it's sure to be popular with those inland commoners and adventurers!"
In truth, as someone who had transplanted from another world, it would be foolish not to use his wits and leverage the knowledge of his previous life for profit.
Although the laws of physics between the two worlds were certainly different in some ways, there were also plenty of similarities.
Worried about his family's strength and eager to expand their interests and provide himself with more support, Linley had naturally turned his mind to this area long ago.
Although he only vaguely remembered the specifics of refining white sugar and making fish floss, it didn't matter — he was a noble! All he needed to do was provide the concrete ideas, and there were plenty of people below who would put his plans into practice.
Although Linley had quite a few things stored in his memory, after testing them all one by one over the years, the only techniques that proved both capable of industrialization and compatible with the rules of the world of gods were these two.
As for the other techniques, they were either completely impractical or would cause massive disruption to the existing balance of power. Papermaking, for example, would certainly catch the attention of the Temple of Knowledge — he could even earn the divine favor of Oghma through it — but it would inevitably draw the hatred of other deities as well. Linley didn't dare take that risk.
The sugar refining technique and the fish floss were already the two with the least impact.
After Linley finished explaining the processes and his ideas, Baron Jonas sank into deep thought. Although he didn't understand these things, from the way Linley presented them, they seemed quite feasible. At the very least, Ernest beside them had his eyes practically gleaming, clearly seeing the enormous profits within.
"In that case, give it a try!"
After weighing it all, Baron Jonas finally agreed. After all, Linley had proven through his recent accomplishments that he wasn't the type to spout empty words. If that was the case, then why not let him try? At worst, it could serve as business training.
As a noble heir, you might not need to know how to run a business, but you absolutely could not be duped by merchants.
"Just be careful!" In the end, Baron Jonas still added a cautious reminder, not entirely at ease.
"Understood. Thank you, Father!"
Linley stood and bowed.
In truth, all he needed was the Baron's nominal approval. As for manpower and funding? That pirate chief Steve would surely be more than happy to provide both.
"Dinner is almost ready — let's head out together. Oh, and what about your cousin Isabelle?"
Only at the very end did the Baron seem to remember Isabelle.
"I... told her to leave..."
Linley's gaze flickered for an instant, but he answered without hesitation. On the matter of establishing a pirate fleet, he still didn't want the Baron to know.
"She's gone? Well, that's fine!"
Baron Jonas nodded and didn't press further, turning to leave with his hands clasped behind his back.
It was clear he had long harbored suspicions about the change in Isabelle's behavior. But at the time, circumstances had been dire, and he couldn't bring himself to discard a distant branch member who had worked so hard for the Farlan family for so long. He had never brought it up directly. Now that she had left on her own, it saved both sides the awkwardness.