In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Chapter 97 Collect Donations For Marcus



Chapter 97 Collect Donations For Marcus

Miaomiao nodded approvingly. She herself was already engaged in such investments. As Marcus's elder sister figure, she felt proud of his newfound opportunities.

Under Michael's orders, soldiers began organizing the mages into lines.

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"As per the conditions I set yesterday, everyone who gathered here before we arrived will get a chance to ride Marcus to the new territory," Michael announced.

Scanning the crowd, he continued,

"Marcus can carry up to 150 people at once, but doing so would ruin the essence of what it means to ride a dragon, wouldn't it?"

The gathered mages nodded in agreement.

It wasn't just about riding a dragon; the mages were here to observe and conduct research.

"That's why the journey will require multiple trips," Michael explained. "However, given the sheer number of people gathered, some negotiation seems necessary." He shook his head in feigned exasperation, prompting an impatient mage to ask,

"What kind of negotiation? Can't we just do this on a first come, first served basis?"

Mages who had arrived late, knowing they would lose under such a rule, shouted their protests from all directions.

"How can we compete with those who camped here all night? That would be utterly unfair!"

Michael raised his hand to calm the crowd.

"I am a man of my word," he assured them. "All you need to do is provide a modest contribution for Marcus's efforts."

The crowd quieted, reassured that no one would be excluded from riding the dragon.

"As you know," Michael continued, "dragons love building nests. Therefore, we'll collect donations for Marcus's nest. 500 gold per person should suffice."

The mages, most of whom came from wealthy families and enjoyed substantial earnings even after becoming mages, found the suggestion reasonable.

"That sounds fair. Where do we pay the 500 gold?" one mage asked.

"Soldiers will come around with chests," Michael said. "Please deposit your 500 gold into the chests as they pass."

Soldiers moved through the crowd in pairs, carrying large chests. Masters of schools and 9th tier mages alike paid the same fee—500 gold each.

"What about the first ride?" a mage asked eagerly.

Michael paused before responding.

"For the first ride, I hope for significant research results. Isn't everyone here eager to study how the dragon spreads its wings or rides the wind?"

The master of the Aeromancy school nodded.

"Precisely. For us, who specialize in flight magic, observing a dragon's flight will lead to remarkable breakthroughs."

Not to be outdone, the master of the Celestial school interjected,

"It's also a rare opportunity to observe atmospheric flow from above. We of the Celestial school would like priority as well."

The master of the Aquamancy school, who had been first in line, protested,

"That's absurd! The first ride should be based on order of arrival."

Michael reassured him with a thoughtful suggestion.

"What if we prioritize masters and their assistants? After all, meaningful research is more likely to come from those at the master level."

The proposal received unanimous approval. No one minded if assistants or others came later.

"Masters, please bring one assistant and step forward," Michael instructed.

There were 40 masters present, each accompanied by an assistant, making a total of 80 people. This number allowed ample space for observation during the dragon's flight.

After successfully "selling" seats, Marcus took off. As the dragon ascended, the masters busily began their research, moving about the broad expanse of its back.

Michael watched the elderly masters with admiration. Their passion at their age was truly impressive.

One master approached him—Dionysus of the Aquamancy school.

"Thank you for this extraordinary experience. I am Dionysus, master of the Aquamancy school."

Michael regarded him curiously, prompting the older man to clear his throat.

"Well, about our contribution to the development of the new territory… If our school's skills aren't particularly needed, I'd like to offer financial support to make up for it."

Ah, Michael thought, he's worried that being deemed unhelpful will exclude his school from further opportunities. Smiling, Michael replied,

"You don't need to worry about that. The Aquamancy school will handle cleaning up the village—keeping it tidy and functional."

Dionysus froze momentarily, his expression betraying his disbelief. The great Aquamancy school reduced to cleaners? But he quickly recovered, realizing it would be his apprentices doing the work, not him.

"That's a relief. My apprentices came along, so while they're busy, I can focus on my research, right?"

"Of course," Michael said magnanimously. "Masters will only need to provide minimal assistance in times of war. In return, you'll receive dragon ichor under the same terms as the knights."

Dionysus brightened at this. The promise of dragon ichor was worth any inconvenience, even if "minimal assistance" left him slightly uneasy.

"I'd prefer ichor from a Sphinx dragon, if possible," Dionysus said.

Michael leaned toward Miaomiao, perched on his shoulder, and whispered. The feline's tail bristled as she glared at Dionysus.

[Think about it, Miaomiao. Dragon ichor regenerates. This is a golden opportunity to make a profit.]

After a moment of consideration, Miaomiao sighed.

[Fine. If living a luxurious life as a Sphinx means this, so be it. But make sure to invest the proceeds wisely.]

"Then let's finalize the agreement," Michael said, as Julian, his steward, presented a contract.

Dionysus eagerly pressed his seal onto the document before returning to his research, casting a greedy glance at Miaomiao.

Word spread quickly, and other masters approached to negotiate similar terms. By the time Michael was done, every master had signed a contract. He entrusted Julian with safeguarding the documents, confident they would secure the territory's safety and military contributions in times of need.

With Michael overseeing the contracts, half the credit for any contributions by knights or mages would ultimately go to him.

The flight to the new territory was brief. The masters disembarked reluctantly, shaking their heads at the missed opportunity for extended observation. They resolved to send their apprentices to begin work as soon as possible.

...

AN: I was planning to end the mass release here, but since I received so many reviews and feedback, I'll just give you everything I have right now.


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