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."

money into the futures of people weaker than me so that they one day return

I am essentially saving that person's

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

incorruptible, loyal, and powerful. They handle all my

anyone, and I am not burning them into nothingness like coal. Taking advantage of a True

is happy working for me, they will

Whirlwind looked at

person that gives to the weak and gives them the opportunity

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

it's up to your

the defenseless, or am I a

answer, two

everyone working for me is doing

resources I need to work towards my

that answer

as several thoughts went through his

powerful very objectively without trying to sound like some

a bit skeptical regarding Duke Whirlwind's

his past life. They

when there was profit to be made,

worse, the managers continued smiling and

Duke Whirlwind

and objective explanation was

the cause and effect of

Karma.

people thought of Karma as a religious thing. They thought that Karma was some rule the Gods had made to punish the wicked and reward

Karma was simply the term to describe how

tight spot and needed a place to live, person B might directly be impacted

what would most likely happen if person B got into trouble in

would be more

Why?

person A in the past, and they

person B threw person A away because they thought that associating with person A was of no more

into trouble later, person A would very likely not help

should they? Person B hadn't

about

had helped them before, and there were also saints

in general, this was

This was Karma.

cause and effect when

weaker people so that they would one day

to this mindset