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

in prison due to the corrupt influence of a powerful family isn't costing me much, but I am essentially saving that person's life. At the current moment, the resources I spent on that person are far greater than they are

and resources to fully realize their potential, their help and loyalty will pay

incorruptible, loyal, and powerful. They handle all my lands with dedication, and

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

is happy working for me, they

looked at

that gives to the weak and gives them the

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

it's

that helps the defenseless, or am I a greedy businessman that exploits the

two things

never force anyone, and everyone working for

are generating the resources I need to work

that answer

thoughts went through

to becoming more powerful very objectively without trying to sound like some kind

been a bit skeptical

plenty of nice managers in his past life. They were friendly, helped him,

profit to be made, Shang had been

managers continued smiling and

Whirlwind might

logical and objective explanation was

Earth that described the cause and effect

Karma.

many people thought of Karma as a religious thing. They thought that Karma was some rule the

term to describe

and needed a place to live,

B helped person A, what would most likely happen if

A would be more inclined

Why?

the

person A was

B got into trouble later, person A would

Person B hadn't

course, this was all about

with throwing someone away that had helped them before, and there were

this was how

This was Karma.

and effect when it came to interacting with other

Whirlwind was helping weaker people so that

refer to