"Perhaps Master Qi and the Flying Boat's owner both understood this principle, but felt they could pocket the difference by squeezing people harder, so the increased consumption didn't matter."
"For many factions, the Flying Boat's consumption was covered by communal funds and could be reimbursed, so it didn't have to count toward their costs. Fattening private pockets at the public's expense was standard practice."
Faced with such a design, Li Chen could not tell whether the person behind it was clever or foolish. Even as a Puppet Dao Master, he could not pass judgment on this.
There were many such things in the world. Without seeing through the tangled interests and emotions behind them, there was no way to judge.
"You lazy bones! Haven't you eaten your fill? Wake up and get moving!"
Seeing these people working listlessly like wooden puppets, the helmsman flared up again and shouted abuse at them.
However, perhaps even he understood that these were empty words, for he soon quieted down on his own.
"These worthless slaves!" the helmsman said resentfully. "We feed them well every day, and all they do is slack off. What a pack of worthless wretches!"
Li Chen could not be bothered with his barking. Looking across the room, he said, "It seems rather hot in here."
"You have a keen eye, Young Master Hu," the helmsman said. "This place was originally supposed to be an inspection room reserved for the Power Core, close to the Spirit Essence Furnace. You see, running the Furnace and melting down iron inevitably generates heat. Although magic arrays and restrictions provide cooling, it still takes some time to dissipate."
"No wonder," Li Chen said. "These slave workers are tired and thirsty too."
"There's no need to pity them," the helmsman said. "Most of them have