Ed sat on the edge of the bed with a slight frown:
"So the first round of selection for the Grand Foundry Master is based on your contributions to the Graycast Corridor as merchants and other staff members in your work capacity?"
Gray for a moment and said:
"That's right. Take me for example. The notary told me that if I could establish a stable trade channel with the Second Holy See within six months, passing the first round of selection would be a sure thing. If my wife wanted to participate, she would need to invent some truly useful new mechanical structures."
Ed nodded thoughtfully:
"That's not difficult. If the roads are clear, you could even do it now. If you'd like, I can even send some people to join your caravan. I don't think the difficulty of passing the test is high. If the corridor has no objections to the changes in your body, then we can now discuss the second round of selection. Do you have any news about the next round of selection?"
"No, but everyone suspects it's still related to contributions, only the scope of those contributions will be broader than the contributions within the job responsibilities of the first round of selection. After all, the reason the Grand Foundry Master was able to become Grand Foundry Master is because of his outstanding contributions in the field of machinery and for leading us to find a way to survive in the world of the Demonic Tide."
Ed nodded:
"If that's the case, it's not difficult."
He looked Gray up and down:
"Your current state is actually kind of like establishing your own school of thought, isn't it?"
"Me? I feel more like a lost soul, bewitched by some story..."
Gray's tone clearly lacked confidence.
"What kind of talk is that? Being able to modify yourself while controlling some mechanical components with your mind—isn't that much better than your old brass contraption?"
Gray nodded and then shook his head:
"The strong in the Graycast Corridor can actually do this too, and they can even manipulate mechanical structures and replace components out of thin air. You haven't seen it only because my rank is too low."
So that's how it is, there are even people with strong magnetic fields... Ed and asked:
"If founding a sect doesn't count, then wouldn't eradicating the Eternal Domain be considered a great achievement?"
Ed looked at Gray again, only to see the shocked expression Solidification on Gray's face, an expression that clearly said, "You really dare to think that way."
He smiled and joked:
"It was just a joke. After all, we're all part of the pan-order faction, so I have no reason to attack them. Besides, out of respect for Xilǐ'er, I actually have a pretty good impression of the Eternal Domain. Although it's a bit retro, it's still doing something."
"But if the Second Holy See can provide a large amount of food for the Graycast Corridor, giving you more confidence in the standoff, that would be a great achievement, wouldn't it?"
Gray was completely stunned. This was more than just a great achievement; it was an incredible accomplishment.
Leaving aside the utterly impossible task of destroying the Eternal Domain, the mere fact that it provides a stable supply of food is enough to make his competitors withdraw from the competition on the spot, handing over the position of Grand Foundry Master.
Although the area where the Graycast Corridor is located has a regular shape that is beneficial to machinery, it is not very good for crops. Therefore, people will more or less modify themselves to delay the accumulation of toxins caused by Aberration crops.
Furthermore, the extensive mining within the Graycast Corridor made even obtaining fresh food a luxury, which is one of the reasons why the Graycast Corridor maintained a good relationship with the nomads of the Wilderness of Chaos for so long.
They really are willing to sell meat!
If the unharvested grains Ed mentioned were indeed "massive," he might have been directly guaranteed a spot in the finals.
Thinking about this, even though Gray felt the chances of success were extremely slim, he still couldn't help but daydream... until he remembered something, which made him barely suppress his smirk:
"My lord, there is one more thing I need to tell you."
What is it?
"If you want to support my candidacy, then we must get the Antasia back."
"That is?"
"My mobile fortress."
"Oh, if I remember correctly... it should be on that riverbank about twenty kilometers to the east, right?"
"That's right, it's still on the other side of the river... and it's in a state of no power."
What is the power source of your fortress?
" Blood Corpse, the kind with all four limbs intact, at least fifty of them."
"Okay, I'll remember this. I'll send soldiers to do it if I have the chance. Once you're fully reborn, we can formulate a recapture plan."
Ed got up to leave, indicating that we should end our conversation there for today.
"As for our partnership, you don't really need to hide it too much. From your demeanor, I can tell that Graycast Corridor is quite open-minded. It's just lesbian campaign investment; it's not a big deal."
Amid Gray's excited expression, Ed left the room that had been used as a makeshift ward.
As soon as Ed stepped out of the ward, Little Green's voice echoed in his mind:
Why don't you tell him your real purpose?
Ed slowly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile:
What is the real purpose?
"Hey, you can fool others if you want, but we're all in this together. Do you think you can fool me?"
"What do you mean by deception? My 'real purpose' is simply to help my friend become Grand Foundry Master. What's wrong with that? If the Twin Kings were to implement some kind of electoral system, I would still support Xilǐ'er's candidacy."
"Okay, okay, then why don't you tell him your 'side purpose'?"
Hearing Little Green callously expose him, Ed chuckled.
"Because it sounds bad. I can't exactly say, 'I support you Grand Foundry Master because I'm after your house deed.' That would be saying my real purpose is to get the house deed, and my secondary purpose is to help him Grand Foundry Master. That would be too hurtful!"
So what are you going to say?
"Ahem, if everything goes smoothly, the plot should unfold like this: 'Thank you for your help. I have nothing to repay you with, so I'll give you this property deed.' Wouldn't that make helping him Grand Foundry Master the real purpose, and getting the property deed just a side effect?"
The disdainful voice of Little Green immediately echoed in my mind:
"So sinister, so scheming, so terrifying."
"What's the big deal? I just want to collect more Territory Secret Pact and let you devour them. It's better to do that than to shed blood unnecessarily. Besides, we already have enough enemies. It's normal to make some investments and win them over, right? If you're so Territory Secret Pact your plan succeeds!"
"Hey, hey, don't say that. Actually, what I just said was 'Great plan, great tactics, great cool'."
You know what I'm trying to say.
"Shut up."
"That's right, just shut up."