Faster, Soluman Copperbeard, Mr. Victor, Francois, Leila, Ingrid, Evelyn, Martin, and even Michael and the Bard had returned to Star-Moon Bay for the time being.
In short, every friend still in Star-Moon Bay was gathered around the round table. The last time they had all been together like this was... last time.
"But why are you here too?" Annan asked, puzzled by the sight of Martin sitting between Faster and Copperbeard.
"I was asleep when I saw the boss arrive, so I followed him."
"Could you tell Aunt Susan I'd like lamb stew with peas for dinner?"
"Okay."
Martin left in high spirits. Annan turned to the others and shared two ideas he had come up with in Breeze City. The first was to give every resident of Star-Moon Bay Common Tongue Proficiency.
"It should cost around two thousand Gold Coins. If you can find a way to save some money, even better."
"Why?" Copper asked what everyone was wondering.
Annan repeated what he had told Olmedo: a worker without knowledge was just a worker, but a worker with knowledge had limitless possibilities—apart from becoming a professional.
Mr. Victor's displeasure was plain to see.
"Once the school is built, we could get much the same result in a few months. Why spend so much money?" Ingrid's distress over the cost was just as obvious.
"Because time is scarcer for us than two thousand Gold Coins."
If Annan wanted, he could go to a banquet in Breeze City right now, take the hands of the noblewomen and young ladies there, and plead with them until he had sold a dozen or so Magic Stones. In a few months, Betar City would be the same. By then, his two Magic Films would have spread to other towns as well, followed by Bountiful