Change your luck? Change what kind of luck?
Gray was completely baffled by the notary's riddle, but at the notary's urging, he began to tell the story starting from the Dragonborn Village.
Because he had just told Nora the story a few hours earlier, he was speaking with great enthusiasm and emotion.
Meanwhile, two people beside the notary were writing furiously down every word Gray had said.
Ten minutes later, the notary looked at the records of the two people and clicked his tongue in amazement:
"Mr. Gray, have you ever considered becoming a bard inside a large fortress?"
Not yet.
"Well, I was just saying you seem to have a talent for it."
"Because I already told my family about it yesterday..."
The notary raised his head and twitched his eyebrows:
Do you have children?
"Not at the moment, only my wife."
The notary suddenly laughed, and said in a teasing tone, with a hint of sarcasm:
"Actually, I saw your report last night, but I didn't summon you then. I waited until this morning. Do you know why?"
Gray shook his head, while the notary continued:
"That's because I know that the merchants from small fortresses are usually quite... busy the night they return to the Graycast Corridor, well, you know what I mean."
"But it sounds like your family's entertainment methods are quite unique, which is quite unexpected."
Gray truly understood this time, but he didn't know how to respond.
If he truly learned anything from his master, the old man who died peacefully in his sleep, then the most important lesson must have been caution.
Therefore, for him, the most important thing was always ensuring the proper functioning of the Antasia and himself, and only secondly... everything else.
The notary seemed unconcerned about Gray's reaction; while checking the differences between the two records and his own memory, he casually asked:
How much do you know about the front lines?
Gray shook his head:
"Two months ago, the situation was at a stalemate; we haven't yet learned about the current situation."
The notary nodded and said:
"Yes, I think so too. Simply put, the Corridor and the Eternal Domain have entered a long-term stalemate. No one has any plans to take it any further. After all, we still have to deal with that mess in the east together, and it's not good to completely break off relations..."
"And as you know, even the most highly modified people need to eat, so your report is especially important."
"Furthermore, following your current route, that settlement is the last stop on each trade route, which gives us more room to purchase food... In short, if what you say is true, and you can establish a stable food trade relationship in about three round trips, which is about six months, then your merits should be enough to equip you with a medium-sized fortress."
"Of course, this is on the premise that the settlement can exist for more than six months and can produce food, which I have reservations about."
Gray's face immediately lit up with barely suppressed joy.
According to the regulations of the Graycast Corridor, the small fortress is a standard single-person fortress. One person not only has to buy and sell goods and keep accounts, but also protect the goods and drive the fortress. If anything breaks down, they also need to know some basic maintenance... It's like they have to break a person down and use them to their fullest potential.
By upgrading to a medium-sized fortress, the number of people it can support will increase to some extent. The fortress owner can freely configure the composition of the personnel, adding professional mechanics, repairmen, and accountants. Of course, they can also choose to... bring their families.
The Corridor never worries about merchants defecting, because the mechanical modifiers are destined to be unable to fully integrate into other forces, and there is no other place on this continent besides here that can produce parts with such high precision, nor is there any other place where the rules for their bodies to remain stable in the long term exist.
Therefore, once a person has undergone the first transformation, he will never be able to escape the Graycast Corridor for the rest of his life.
Looking at the merchants before him, full of hope for the future, the notary cleared his throat:
"Ahem, actually I haven't finished. There's one more thing that might be useful to you."
Gray snapped out of his reverie and looked at the notary. The man said:
"About a month ago, not long after you left last time, there was a news story that you apparently haven't heard of."
What is it?
Seeing the other person's complicated expression, Gray couldn't help but ask further.
"Let me confirm your age first."
Twenty-eight years old.
"Then this news is still useful to you."
Looking at Gray's large beard, the notary's lips twitched:
"The matter is that the Grand Foundry Master has decided to begin the selection process for its successor, and the results will be available within two years. One of the requirements for participating in the selection is that one must be under thirty years old."
What about the other conditions?
The notary replied:
"There are many things to consider, such as a clean family background and no criminal record... Of course, the most important thing is outstanding contributions to the Graycast Corridor, which is why I said this might be useful to you."
Gray felt his two mechanical hearts skip a beat for a moment.
A distant and unrealistic fantasy surfaced in his mind.
One of the world's most mysterious and powerful figures, the creator of the Graycast Corridor, the greatest mechanic in history, and the inventor of 80% of mechanical structures...
It is because of his existence that the Graycast Corridor has grown into one of the most stable forces on this continent during the past century of Demonic Tide.
It's not about being powerful, but about being stable.
In the unpredictable and chaotic Demonic Tide demonic forces, most powerful individuals and forces are merely fleeting phenomena, and to date, no more than ten have been able to maintain a stable and long-term existence. This is why the notary public questioned whether the new settlement of the Tree Worship Church could fulfill its promises.
Although the Graycast Corridor never deliberately promoted the greatness of the Grand Foundry Master, for these traveling merchants, a little comparison was enough to give them a clear understanding of the Grand Foundry Master's rule.
For nearly a century, the people living in the Graycast Corridor have become accustomed to this living environment and style.
And now, such a powerful figure is actually going to start the selection of a successor?
Isn't he some kind of immortal being who can live for thousands of years?
Doesn't he have any children of his own?
Or does he place more faith in so-called talent than in his own flesh and blood?
Gray was unaware of this, but he knew that if he completed his next task well, a connection would be established between him and the Supreme throne.
Even if it's only for a moment, even if the probability is only one in ten thousand.
Seeing the man in front of him lost in his fantasies, the notary revealed a contemptuous smile.
He waved his hand in front of Gray:
"Stop daydreaming. I can't stand it. A month and a half ago, everyone on the street was having this kind of pipe dream. Young people fantasized about becoming the next Grand Foundry Master, and old folks fantasized about their children becoming Grand Foundry Master. I've had enough! And now I've run into you again..."
"Feel sorry..."
"It's alright. Now I'll ask you questions and you answer. I've already explained the benefits, so don't try to hide anything."
"Clear."
"Now, describe the mental state and character of the civilians in that settlement in as much detail as possible."
Gray fell into thought, recalling the initial tense standoff between him and the three men due to a misunderstanding, and then thinking about what he had seen and heard near the castle, as well as the orderly and cheerful shopping process. He tentatively said:
"I think they're fairly kind..."