A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 108 Pierre

Jiang Shuzhou was quite surprised to learn that Atas was actually an alchemist.

However, according to Atas, this is quite normal within the Mage Alliance.

Some alchemists dislike management and would rather abandon their territories to pursue their own hobbies.

Atas pointed to the roaring train beneath his feet, his face beaming with pride.

"The train beneath my feet is the one I modified."

"Driving your own modified masterpiece every day, cruising around the mainland, doing deliveries and picking up passengers—don't you think that's what a comfortable life should be?"

"..."

Jiang Shuzhou couldn't imagine that his greatest hobby was playing games; perhaps now he should add learning magic and inventing to his list.

Letting him invent is fine, but as for making money by reselling?

Isn't that something your subordinates would do?

Personally handling goods is fine as an occasional experience, but doing it every day...

"Lord Atas, you are truly a remarkable man."

He is actually a god.

"Haha, I know a lot of people who say the same thing as you."

"That's good."

Although Atas's hobbies are somewhat difficult to judge, it must be said that Atas's knowledge far surpasses that of Jiang Shuzhou.

After learning that Jiang Shuzhou was going to take up his post in the North, the knowledgeable Atas gave him a lot of useful information.

The North is located in the north and has a variable climate.

The North is currently experiencing the dead of winter, with continuous blizzards having been falling for several days.

The racial composition of the North is also quite unique, mainly consisting of humans, orcs, and beastmen.

Beastmen are humanoid creatures with a high degree of animalization.

It could also be described as Fu Rui.

Orcs, on the other hand, only have beast-like ears and tails; their bodies remain human.

Some believe it is the product of alchemists' modifications, while others believe it is the offspring of humans and beasts.

None of this has been confirmed, and the alchemists have claimed that it has nothing to do with them.

As for whether it's true or not?

Who cares?

The geographical location of the North and its unique mix of races have created a fierce and warlike culture. Even a small matter can escalate into a life-or-death struggle in the North.

It seems that a moderate approach to governance is not feasible.

"But don't worry, blood and death will make these barbarians submit to you."

"Of course, there's also hunger; it's always like that in the North."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Silvermoon City, the jewel of the North, a land favored by the goddess of magic.

But that was all in the past.

The war left Silvermoon City riddled with holes; the once glorious city is now nothing but ruins.

The reconstruction of Silvermoon City has been indefinitely postponed, or perhaps the mages simply don't want to rebuild the city.

Today, this long-dead city still has one last place full of life.

That's the train station.

Dozens of lines and numerous trains stop here, and many mages and nobles also disembark.

They wanted to experience the war up close and witness the grand liberation.

And so, a market was formed entirely around the passengers who got off the train.

"My lord, please have mercy! I haven't eaten for days."

As soon as Jiang Shuzhou got out of the car, a ragged child came up to him, holding up a broken bowl.

This is a lie.

Although his clothes were worn out, he was not thin, and his eyes were bright and alert, showing no signs of numbness from prolonged hunger.

It looks fake at first glance.

Secondly, there were even gold coins in the child's bowl.

Are you trying to fool me?

Seeing that Jiang Shuzhou remained unmoved, the little beggar immediately realized that he had encountered a tough opponent. Without lingering, he went directly to find a young mage.

"He's a pitiful person."

The monk was indeed moved by compassion and casually tossed out five gold coins.

Do people actually believe that?

Shaking his head, Jiang Shuzhou didn't say anything. It was indeed easy to make money off mages.

He came here for two reasons: to enjoy the scenery and to find talented people.

Jiang Shuzhou now needs two more people to fully manage the territory.

First and foremost are the administrative officers responsible for paperwork and daily administration.

After all, Hayes can't always handle all the paperwork, can he?

Leaving aside the dangers of having control over both military and political affairs, even if Hayes signed a contract and remained loyal to Jiang Shuzhou.

Jiang Shuzhou didn't dare let Hayes take on all the responsibilities, mainly because the burden would become heavier as the territory developed.

If this continues, sooner or later Hayes will be unable to bear the burden and will completely collapse.

Secondly, there's the head of espionage.

This goes without saying; at this stage, Jiang Shuzhou doesn't have much need for espionage or counter-espionage.

But he needs someone who can do the dirty work.

Forget about Hayes; although he is loyal, he is too morally upright.

Dwarin didn't even need to think about it; Jiang Shuzhou would be crazy not to send a craftsman to do dirty work.

However, the intelligence chief can rest easy. Hayes's morals are still up to par, and besides, Jiang Shuzhou hasn't done anything too heinous.

This time, the main purpose was to find civil officials.

In the northeast corner of Yinyuecheng Station, there is a spontaneously formed job market.

A large number of disillusioned people, speculators, and self-proclaimed unappreciated talents gathered here, vigorously promoting themselves to every passing monk or nobleman.

Noisy and chaotic, filled with an atmosphere of both hope and despair.

Amidst all the noise, one person stood out as an oddity.

He didn't hawk his wares or flatter anyone; he simply held up a wooden sign in silence.

Pierre, only twenty-two years old, grew up in an orphanage and showed exceptional learning abilities from a young age.

At the time, everyone believed he was a natural candidate to become a monk.

Unfortunately, things are unpredictable. Pierre's elemental affinity was too low, so he was not eligible to study magic at the school on a government scholarship.

He couldn't afford to pay for it himself.

Having no other choice, Pierre could only attend a regular school, intending to become a civil servant in the future.

However, it turned out that he was not suited to be a civil servant.

What is the most important thing for a civil servant?

Is it about knowledge reserves? No.

Is it administrative ability? No, it isn't.

What is that?

It is the extraordinary class, it is power.

This is indeed the case.

Don't think that civil service jobs are easy. Working sixteen or seventeen hours a day is common. If you don't have some real skills, you won't live long.

Moreover, possessing a superhuman level can also enhance memory, making it easier to handle various tasks.

Of course, Pierre could choose to become a minor official, working his way up from the bottom. Perhaps after a decade or so, he could afford the breathing technique and then practice it for a few more years.

Once he reaches the extraordinary class, he will naturally rise through the ranks and become a civil official.

However, it was clear that Pierre was not willing to give up.

So he chose to take one last gamble.

He spent his last savings on a ticket to Silvermoon City, intending to find a mage there who would appreciate his talent.

To be honest, it was Pierre's uniqueness that caught Jiang Shuzhou's attention.

After all, when everyone around you is trying to sell themselves, a person standing at a distance, silently holding up a sign, stands out.

"You're the one, the one holding up the sign over there."

"Come here, I have something to ask you."

"Sir, is that me?"

Pierre was still somewhat incredulous, but soon joy filled his mind.

"Don't be too happy yet, I want to test your administrative abilities."

Jiang Shuzhou is not like those mages who think administrative ability is unimportant. His subordinates must have strong administrative abilities and be able to complete the various tasks he assigns in a timely manner.

"Then let me ask you, if a dispute arises within your territory, and both sides have conflicting accounts, how would you handle it?"

"I can……"

After several rounds of questions and answers, Jiang Shuzhou nodded in satisfaction.

He's a talented person.

He's the one.

"Sign the document, and you'll be mine from now on."

Jiang Shuzhou handed over a follower contract and said to Pierre.

Pierre looked at the follower's contract, his body trembling slightly with excitement.

He knew what it was.

Once signed, his body, mind, and even soul will be forever imprinted with the mark of the person before him, and there will be no possibility of betrayal.

This is a shackle, but also the ladder to heaven he has always dreamed of!

Without hesitation, Pierre signed his name.

"My lord, I..."

"Still calling me 'sir'?"

"My lord!"