Sword God in a World of Magic

Shang hesitated for a moment.

"What is your goal, and what approach are you using to get closer to it?" Shang asked.

Duke Whirlwind's eyes shone for a short moment.

This was a very personal question, and Shang had directly asked Duke Whirlwind about his personal philosophy when it came to becoming more powerful.

One could say that Shang had asked for the secret of becoming as powerful as a Duke. After all, Duke Whirlwind's approach had obviously worked out very well, and knowing how he operated could very likely pay off in a big way.

"Those are two questions," Duke Whirlwind commented.

"There is only one question mark at the end," Shang answered.

Duke Whirlwind remained silent for a bit.

"Alright, I'll answer your question, and the reason why I am answering this question has to do with the answer," Duke Whirlwind said.

Shang nodded and listened to the Duke.

"As for the first question, my goal is to become an Archmage and to have my own Kingdom," Duke Whirlwind said.

Shang wasn't surprised by the answer.

"And as to how I'm trying to achieve it, investment and efficiency," Duke Whirlwind said.

"I can spend 24 hours per day working on my Magic, but that would only be the effort of one High Mage at a time. I can continually grow more powerful by working on my Magic, but without resources, I might not have enough time to become an Archmage."

"However, if I have access to rare and powerful materials, advanced studies, esoteric concepts, and plenty of teachers, I can grow many times faster than if I were on my own."

"But all of these things require wealth. Without wealth, I can't access these things. That's where the investment aspect comes into play."

"I don't have many hours in the day to myself, but the few hours I have are more profitable than several days of working on myself without pause."

"And how did I gain the wealth necessary to become this efficient?"

"Other people."

"I burn through millions of gold each day just to accelerate my growth. If I were on my own, I would never be able to pay such a large sum of money."

"So, I invest, not into corporations or resources, but into people."

"Every person has something they are good at, but many of those people never get the chance to realize their potential."

"Poverty, suppression, enemies, there are many things that will kill talent in its infancy."

a big chunk of my money into the futures of people weaker than me so that they

family isn't costing me much, but I am essentially saving that person's

resources to fully realize their potential, their help and loyalty will pay far more than I have invested

all my lands with dedication, and

burning them into nothingness like coal. Taking advantage of a True Mage might bring immense profits in the short-term, but these profits will

for me, they will

Whirlwind looked

a kind person that gives to the weak

cynical person can say that I am exploiting poor and naïve people, giving them something negligible for me but

it's up to your

the defenseless, or am I a greedy businessman that exploits

two

anyone, and everyone working for

generating the resources I need to

answer

thoughts went through

becoming more powerful very objectively without trying to sound

had always been a bit

past life. They were friendly, helped him, and encouraged

when there was profit to be made, Shang had been

the managers continued smiling and asked Shang not to take

that Duke Whirlwind might be one

the logical and objective explanation was

a concept on Earth that described the cause and effect of what Duke Whirlwind was

Karma.

that Karma was some rule the Gods had made to punish the wicked and reward

the term

a place to live, person B might directly be

B helped person A, what would most likely happen if person

more inclined

Why?

the past,

because they thought that associating with person A was of no more value to them since person A had become homeless now, things would be

trouble later, person A would very likely not help

Person

about likelihood, and it

and there were also saints

general, this was how

This was Karma.

was just cause and effect when it came

that they would one day help him in

enough, one could refer to this