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

am essentially saving that person's life.

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

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

advantage of a True Mage might bring

is happy working for

Whirlwind looked

the weak and

that I am exploiting poor and naïve people, giving them

end, it's up

or am I a greedy businessman that

the answer, two

I never force anyone, and everyone working for me is doing so

they are generating the resources

that answer

nodded as several thoughts

method to becoming more powerful very objectively without

a bit skeptical regarding Duke Whirlwind's

had met plenty of nice managers in his past life. They were

there was profit to be made, Shang had

even worse, the managers continued smiling and asked Shang not to

feared that Duke Whirlwind might be one of

logical and objective explanation

on Earth that described the cause and

Karma.

many 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 the

simply the term

to live, person B might directly be impacted in the

what would most likely happen if person B

be more inclined

Why?

B had helped person A in the

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

later, person A would

Person B hadn't

about likelihood, and it wasn't

had helped them before, and there were also saints that were willing to

in general, this was how

This was Karma.

was just cause and effect when it

helping weaker people so that

to this mindset with two contradicting