Kennard paused in surprise. "What are we betting on?"
"Whether the Rulson Kingdom will place an order for Magic Locomotives with our guild this time." Xu Yi pointed at a Medium Cargo Magic Locomotive that had just passed them on the road. "I only mean Cargo Magic Locomotives like that one. Mana Sedans like the one we're riding in don't count."
Kennard frowned, thought for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. "No, I won't take that bet. I've thought it through. The Rulson Kingdom probably won't keep ordering Magic Locomotives from us. They're far more likely to propose a joint venture to build a factory that produces them."
Xu Yi laughed and nodded approvingly at Kennard.
"See? If you can figure that out, so can the Rulson Kingdom. Compared with buying Magic Locomotives directly from our guild, setting up a joint-venture factory with us and learning the manufacturing technology from us would clearly benefit them more."
"Then... Mr. President, do you intend to agree?" Kennard asked, then immediately laughed. "No, I shouldn't have asked that. You'll definitely agree, Mr. President, because that's what you've always done."
"No, you've guessed wrong. This time, I won't agree." Xu Yi slowly shook his head.
Kennard was taken aback again. "Why? Mr. President, haven't you always wanted more people to take part in researching and developing Magic Machinery, and to join the magic industry? Have you changed your mind?"
"My thinking has never changed. It's just that Magic Locomotives are very different from the various kinds of Magic Machinery our guild produced before," Xu Yi said.
"Different how?" Kennard asked, puzzled.
"In their technological complexity," Xu Yi said. "I was willing to transfer the technology for household magic machinery so readily before not only because of my ideals, but also because