Now that he knew what he had to deal with, he promised that he would definitely attend the meeting. After all, Archmage Kabanbai had personally invited him. If he refused, he would not be giving him face.
Secondly, he was willing to participate because he was not fighting alone. Lin had always worked hard to maintain the harmony of the people, allowing him to have some support in the Holy City of Estali. For example, the big shots who had helped him solve a lot of problems.
Lu Zhou's relationship with these seniors wasn't limited to the fact that they came to his mathematics classes to pay for his tuition fees. Of course, it was not because they were willing to help him because of the hope for a deeper level of mathematics in the future.
If it was only because of this reason, they could pretend to be deaf and dumb when others put pressure on them, and when they finally reaped the benefits, they could just pretend to be deaf and dumb. This was because it was the easiest way to do it, the cost was the least, and the benefits were the most plentiful.
However, when someone beyond their power was worth doing a favor for, they would naturally help. Judging from Lin's personality, a debt of gratitude would eventually be repaid.
It was true that if he bravely rushed forward and cleared all obstacles in his way, there would also be people who would rely on him. However, strictly speaking, with a different way of life, there would be two different kinds of people who would be willing to help him.
At this time, instead of discussing which kind of help was more useful, it was better to ask what kind of life he wanted. Lin's choice was also very obvious.
As for the invitation to the Archmage's banquet in five days, Lin also told the others at dinner. He asked, "Does anyone want to go with me?"
For a big banquet like this, official Archmages had official Archmages' seats, apprentices had apprentices' seats, and even followers who were not Archmages had places to gather. It was not a problem for the three to walk around with each other. It was not like some small private banquets, where other than specific people, the reception was very casual.
As long as Lin had an invitation, he could bring a few people to the banquet. The organizers would do their best to entertain them. However, the Archmages still had a tacit understanding that there would be no more than ten people who were not Archmages. The more people who were at the same level as Mages, the better. That was why Lin asked if there was anyone who wanted to freeload the food and drinks.
However, from the looks of it, everyone looked exhausted and uninterested. It wasn't their fault. After all, everyone had been extremely busy during this period of time.
The Silver Bearded Dwarf's microscope business was undoubtedly a high-tech exclusive business. Not everyone could get their hands on it. And anyone who tried to reach out and use dirty methods to force the dwarves would be properly dealt with by the anxious customers.
But this didn't mean that the dwarves could be arrogant. The same pressure could change direction at any time and rush towards the dwarves. This was because Lin and the others could not afford to offend those big shots who were waiting to be exposed to the microscope.
Therefore, in the near future, as long as there were enough materials, the four dwarves would immerse themselves in their work except for eating, drinking, and going to the toilet. Even the previous incident where Freya and the others were not on the same page was treated as if it never happened. That desperation was enough to give a certain someone nightmares. It was as if he had returned to the time before he transmigrated, where he met his boss and entered a sweatshop …
Compared to the scene of the four silver-bearded dwarves working in full swing, it wasn't inferior at all. In fact, it could be said that what was even more exaggerated was the sanitary system business led by Uzov.
It started with someone using his own money to set up toilets in the Flaming Red Lips Inn and Kabambai Academy. The rapid changes in this business were unimaginable to others. And the challenges faced by Uzov and the craftsmen he worked with also came faster than expected. The reason was that the product was easy to use and the market was huge, but the production was not enough, and it seemed that the technical threshold was not high.
Some craftsmen from small workshops who were on good terms with the craftsmen who worked with Uzov came to him in private, hoping to get the manufacturing method and share some of the market demand.
The owners of the big workshops with people behind them also came to him one after another, and the moment they opened their mouths, they wanted to cooperate in all aspects. All kinds of conditions were listed clearly. In fact, it was almost the same as annexation. They were just short of kicking the original team away. And this kind of action seemed to be a magnanimous act in their mouths, and there was no lack of threats in their words.
Although people with discerning eyes could tell at a glance who was behind this new business, these local tyrants did not care. Because whether it was a certain mage who taught mathematics or that Lich who might have been the Devil King, they were not important enough in their eyes.
Even Grand Magus Kabambai, who had always taken care of Lin, would find it difficult to do anything about a follower's business. Especially when this thing had nothing to do with "magic," they would not meddle in other people's business.
Faced with this kind of situation where he just started and was faced with difficulties, of course, Uzov went to someone for help.
If it were a few years ago, someone might have chosen to hand over the thing, or find some big shots to invest in it, relying on their power to intimidate others. Of course, he would have to give away a lot of the profits, just to save himself some trouble. He was too lazy to spend too much time on these things. But today, he was not going to charge into the enemy lines. Uzov was there to do it for him. And what he wanted to hear was not the suggestion of admitting defeat.
The way to break out of this situation was also very simple. It was to unite the stragglers and fight against the big forces.
But there was no way to easily incorporate these people. They maintained the scale of the small workshops because they wanted to maintain their autonomy and not be oppressed by others. The economy of scale in the mysterious land had not yet developed, and the big workshops were actually still at the stage of oppressing people to gain a lot of profits.
It was like a landlord versus a tenant farmer, or a homesteader who owned a small piece of land. Unless they were really in a precarious situation, who would be willing to be a tenant farmer?
Even if they analyzed the interests of these people, by the time they figured it out, it might be too late. Those craftsmen who were willing to cooperate with Uzov had thought about it for a long time before they came to today's alliance.
However, the pressure of reality was already in front of them, and there was not much time to slowly persuade those small workshop owners. Therefore, Lin proposed to use the way that enterprises controlled the core technology and horizontal communication to contract most of the projects to small manufacturers to form a complete upstream and downstream supporting industrial chain.
Although this idea seemed very profound, it would take a class of economics to explain it to other people. In fact, the mysterious land had already been in place for a long time, and with just a hint, Uzov had figured it out. It was similar to the Adventurer's Guild, related to the release of missions, the rating of adventurers, and other systems.
Anyone who wanted to get a share of the sanitary equipment market in the Holy City of Estali had to join the 'Sanitary Equipment Technology Guild' headed by Uzov and others. The participating craftsmen would be given different levels and permissions based on past evaluations, the quality of construction, and the projects they were good at. These levels affected the work they could receive from the guild.
Those who wanted to make more money from this business would of course take more work; those who wanted to do their own things would of course take less work from the guild. That was to say, their profits depended on their own willingness and effort, not simply working for someone and being oppressed just to earn a meager salary. In this way, the autonomy was maintained.
What the Technology Guild paid was just the initial market expansion, and then divided some parts that had no technology to speak of. Anyone who saw it would know how to do it. The only difference was in the process of doing it well or badly. The only thing they had in their hands was the formula for the porcelain glaze.
In this way, most of the independent craftsmen in the Holy City were recruited. Not only did they have manpower, but they also formed a force that others could not underestimate.
In fact, it was all thanks to those arrogant workshop owners that the whole thing could be pushed forward so smoothly.
Uzov told those ordinary craftsmen, why should they join the Technology Guild? If they were alone, even if they learned the full set of manufacturing techniques, could they withstand the pressure of those big workshop owners and the people behind them? Even if they could withstand the pressure, how much could they do? How fast could they do it? If they wanted to do it alone, it was better to join forces.
And the alliance here was not to join forces under any one party, but to rely on their own craftsmanship to compete with others in the same industry. There was not too much to worry about, and for the time being, there was still more work than people, so there was no need to worry about not being able to get a job.
The organization and system of the Adventurer's Guild and the Mercenary's Guild had been in place for many years. Even if they had not been an adventurer and accepted a commission, they had experience in entrusting work to adventurers; even if they had not done either, at least they had a general understanding of what these organizations were doing. It was difficult to live in the Holy City without being involved with these people.
Because it was a system that everyone was familiar with, there was no need to go through too much teaching and explanation. Those who were willing to join could quickly get the hang of it, and in a very short time, it had become a large-scale organization. When those big workshops controlled by the big bosses realized that things were not going well, the Technology Guild had become an existence that could fight against them, and even suppress them.
At this point, the big workshop owners could only choose to stay out of this business, or join the Technology Guild and become a member.
There were some who wanted to turn the tables and join the Technology Guild, and then take over the whole guild, controlling the pricing and distribution rights, and benefiting their own people.
But all the members of the guild were not only managers, but also employees. Anyone with bad intentions would not be able to convince the masses. No matter how these people sweet-talked and formed cliques, they would always be guarded by the other small workshop owners and craftsmen, and it would be difficult for them to control the power of the guild.
Even if they wanted to fight and cause trouble … it could be said that everyone was more than willing to do so. Anyway, if there was a grudge, they would take revenge; if there was no grudge, they would practice their fists. None of the residents of the Holy City were afraid of fighting.
Of course, the main reason was that the pricing was discussed by all the members of the guild. The distribution was done in the form of missions, stating the requirements, time limit, and reward. The guild members could choose for themselves. Perhaps this was not the best and most efficient system, but at least it was a form that everyone could accept. Anyone who wanted to destroy this system would be rejected by everyone.
But this was also related to Uzov Gantia's way of handling things. He was very good at connecting the small workshop owners and craftsmen, making it difficult for the relatively large forces to divide and unite the small forces.
And in order to give everyone a place to gather, everyone bought a house as a stronghold for the guild. Uzov Gantia naturally became the first chairman.
And in order to allow the Technology Guild to operate smoothly, Uzov hired some clerks who knew how to write and calculate.
And when a group of stinky men gathered together, it was inevitable that they would want wine and meat. Therefore, this guild hall also operated a business of eating and drinking, just like a tavern.
But when Uzov realized what he was doing, he was speechless. When life took a big circle and returned to the starting point, it would always make people feel powerless.
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