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."

my money into the futures of people weaker than me so that

much, but I am

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

loyal, and powerful. They handle all my lands with dedication, and they are happy to

nothingness like coal. Taking advantage of a True Mage might bring immense profits in the

working for me, they will

Whirlwind looked

that I am a kind person that gives to the

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

the end, it's up to

helps the defenseless, or am I a

the answer, two

anyone, and everyone working for me

are generating the resources I need to work towards my

answer

as several thoughts went through

more powerful very

been a bit skeptical

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

was profit to be made, Shang had

worse, the managers continued smiling and asked Shang not

feared that Duke Whirlwind might be one of these

the logical and objective explanation

described the cause and effect

Karma.

a religious thing. They thought that Karma was some rule the Gods had made to punish

was simply the term to describe how

and needed a place to live, person B might

most likely happen if person B got into trouble in the

A would be more inclined to help person

Why?

B had helped person A in the past, and they would want to

thought that associating with person A was of no more value to them since person A

B got into trouble later, person

Person

about likelihood, and it

throwing someone away that had helped them before, and

general, this was how

This was Karma.

effect when it came to

so that they would one day help him

refer to this mindset with two