Xu Yi kept busy with matters concerning the Malo Empire and the coming surge in demand for household magic machinery as midsummer approached, while patiently awaiting the Mages' Guild Headquarters' response to his proposal.
But roughly half a month after he returned to the Stantin Duchy, someone came back before any reply arrived from the Mages' Guild Headquarters.
"Hey, Leslie, you've gotten a lot darker again. Looks like the sunshine on that southern island is even stronger than out on the Endless Sea?"
Xu Yi looked with some amusement at Leslie, whose exposed skin had all turned bronze, leaving no trace of an aristocrat's pale complexion. Ever since I put this guy in charge of the Guard Fleet, he's been heading down the road to becoming a rough-and-ready brute, with no turning back.
Leslie grinned, his teeth looking all the whiter against his much darker skin.
"The sunshine in that damned place really is strong, but thanks to that, I've noticed that all the crops there grow much faster than on the Sains Continent. According to the islanders, they can harvest grain three times a year, even four. So the people on that island never have to worry about going hungry."
"Yes, of course." Xu Yi nodded in understanding.
It was obvious enough.
In terms of latitude, the Sains Continent was clearly in this planet's northern hemisphere, and the Stantin Duchy was already at a very low latitude.
That large island lay several hundred kilometers farther south, so it was probably extremely close to the planet's equator, if not right on it.
Under those geographical conditions, it was hardly surprising that the island's crops could yield three or even four harvests a year.
"So, Leslie, have you made up your mind?" Xu Yi asked. "Are you willing-or rather, able-to take