Chapter 291: Knowledge is Wealth, Starting a Business

Descending from the canopy of the World Tree through their own respective means, the group arrived at the location of the gravity well that was currently hauling the Iron King upward, and stepped inside.

The gravity magic provided an upward force within this zone, precisely 1.2 times the weight of those who entered, with fine-tuned adjustments ensuring that once the travelers reached a certain speed, their ascent would stabilize in time.

The very guarantee that kept the entire sky fortress afloat was a massive gravity-magic array, a gargantuan anti-gravity apparatus that allowed the mechanical city to overcome its own unimaginable mass.

Wang Yu and his companions, along with other elves who had earned the qualifications to enter the Sky Mechanical City, rose through the gravity conduit toward the metropolis above.

As an entity with cooperative ties to the elves of Liaheim, Icarus took this opportunity to introduce the group to some of the rules of the city.

"This aerial metropolis is even more staggering than what you can glimpse right now. Its true greatness lies not merely in this mountain-sized alchemical construct, but in the knowledge it carries. Knowledge is wealth—this is a universal truth everywhere in the Sky Mechanical City."

"Common currencies like gold coins, accepted in most kingdoms, are useless here. The city’s reserves of ordinary metal materials exceed your imagination; even gold, a material common to both alchemy and magic-tech, is virtually worthless."

As he spoke, Icarus used his mental energy to communicate with an exquisite bracelet on his right wrist. A spatial ripple occurred, and a dozen cards crafted from an unknown crystal appeared in his hand.

"While some rare, high-level alchemical materials might appreciate in value here, it is better to keep such things to yourselves for now. You will understand why later."

"Therefore, 'trading knowledge for wealth' is more suitable for you all. These are universal identity cards. Once we ascend, you can use them to access the Magic Net; they will serve as your identification within the city from now on."

"This card represents the basic 'Citizen' status. If you are confident in your abilities, you may consider testing for higher ranks such as 'Scholar,' 'Mentor,' or 'Professor.' These statuses will grant you many benefits within the Sky Mechanical City."

Taking the card handed to him by Icarus, Wang Yu expanded his Chariot Force to scan it briefly.

He discovered that the tiny card integrated a complex array of magic circles. Having some understanding of array theory, he observed many miniaturized patterns etched into the interior.

"It’s a bit like a microchip. It’s not that other places couldn't make it, but to turn even an identity tag into a magic-tech device—the Sky Mechanical City is truly the most technologically advanced place in this world."

"Just inject a bit of mana and communicate with it using your mental energy," Icarus instructed.

Avia helped Wang Yu, who could not use magic, to activate his card. Then, both connected their mental energy to the array within the card designed for such an interface, successfully activating it.

The crystal card glowed, and a number appeared on its surface: "100," with the word "Citizen" written in the common tongue beside it.

Wang Yu sensed a thin thread of mana connecting the card to the city above—this must be the so-called "Magic Net."

"Will this thing be used to monitor our privacy?" Wang Yu asked the girl, whose knowledge of array theory was quite profound; he remained somewhat wary of such things.

"While it’s no problem to use this card for positioning, it’s impossible to use it for direct privacy surveillance. For a mage, the fluctuations of a magic connection are quite obvious; the administrators of the Magic Net wouldn't choose a method that would incite conflict."

Avia observed the card for a moment, having essentially grasped the principles of the arrays running within it.

"You can think of the number on this as the universal currency used by the mechanical floating city. It’s much like the magic crystal cards used by various merchant guilds; you can use it to pay for goods anywhere in the city."

"There are many ways to earn money: assisting in research at the various institutes, becoming a teacher at the academies, or producing outstanding research results and handing them over to the various societies for payment. You can even submit them directly to the Central Council, the governing body of the Sky Mechanical City, to receive rewards."

As Icarus explained the functions of the identity cards, their ascent neared its end. Buildings began to appear outside the exit of the gravity conduit, and the head of the Iron King’s massive frame had already emerged.

"Rumble, click."

The group arrived at the top of the conduit, and the hatch beneath their feet slowly closed, forming a flat, solid floor.

This place was an open plaza. Several other gravity wells like this one existed nearby, and alchemical golems were busy transporting crates of materials from the wells into the city not far away.

"Every time the Sky Mechanical City reaches a docking point, besides bringing on new citizens, it must also replenish its alchemical supplies."

"If the new citizens are the indispensable fresh blood, then these alchemical materials are the power that sustains the flow of both the old and new blood."

Icarus gestured for the group to follow him while briefly introducing the surroundings.

Following Icarus, Wang Yu examined the sights of the aerial metropolis. The buildings were numerous, diverse, and varied in style, but overall, they gave him a sense of extreme advancement.

Walking among these structures, one could easily discern that the layout followed a clear plan—entirely different from the human kingdoms where shops and residences were jumbled together, or taverns were attached to weapon smithies.

The overall layout of the buildings formed a rough ring, centered around a high tower visible from a great distance. At the top of this tower floated a massive orb of light, with countless materialized runes and magic-tech circuits rotating ceaselessly around it.

At this moment, Avia shared her Perfect Fractal Lens with Wang Yu, allowing him to witness the spectacular scene created by the orb atop the tower.

Overwhelming threads of mana were projected by the orb across the entire city, connecting directly to nodes—similar to mana junctions—carried by alchemical machines suspended in the air.

These nodes then dispersed the threads even further in all directions, connecting to the buildings throughout the city.

The entire metropolis was shrouded in these web-like mana threads; this was one of the most important components of the Sky Mechanical City: the Magic Net. Most facilities were linked to these ubiquitous mana channels.

Walking through the streets formed by the buildings, Wang Yu noticed that the architecture here already possessed many characteristics of buildings on Earth.

For instance, there were residential complexes similar to apartment blocks and multi-story duplex units. Although the architectural styles were vastly different, such layouts were extremely rare in the kingdoms on the ground.

The layout of these houses, where transcendents lived in such close proximity, suggested at least one thing: the public security here was excellent—good enough for these transcendents to lower their guard against one another.

Passing through the residential area into the commercial district closer to the center, Wang Yu witnessed another unique aspect of the aerial city.

The types of shops were largely fixed within the same block; if it was an alchemical supply store, the surrounding shops were of the same kind.

Unlike the noisy, chaotic commercial streets of human kingdoms filled with hawking, or the slightly empty feeling brought by the peaceful mindset of the elves, this place was different.

There were many races coming and going—elves, humans, dwarves—making it prosperous and bustling. Yet, most had a clear purpose and headed straight for their destinations. Merchants did not deliberately shout to sell, and customers did not wander aimlessly.

While orderly, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of busyness that Wang Yu found palpable.

Without stopping to watch closely, Wang Yu’s group prioritized following Icarus to report to the Truth Supervisory Society, which maintained friendly relations with the elves of Liaheim.

The Truth Supervisory Society was a well-established member among the many societies in the Sky Mechanical City, primarily engaged in historical research and the creation and optimization of new magic.

Its location was in the ring just inside the commercial district, an area prepared for various societies and academies.

Upon entering this area, Wang Yu found the atmosphere even livelier—or rather, more intense—than the commercial district outside.

He had expected a quiet, scholarly atmosphere like the street where the Stevenson Academy was located, but as soon as he entered, he heard an old man shouting at the top of his lungs.

"It is absolutely your experimental data that is wrong! I have been calculating my theoretical values for five or six years, running the simulations no less than three thousand times! How could there be a problem? If we can't verify the correctness of our theory soon, we’re going to be kicked out of the Origin Society! Are you even capable of anything?"

Looking toward the sound, it came from a cafe-like shop by the roadside.

An old man with gray hair and sunken eyes sat by the window, holding a scroll of paper filled with data, shouting sternly at a disheveled young man across from him, who also looked quite exhausted.

"Damn it, it’s because the experimental equipment you provided is too shoddy! I can't ignore the interference from the mana and the void; I’ve had to push through it regardless. It’s inevitable that errors would appear, understand?"

"You harsh old man, you’re only able to find me to help you continue your research. I have plenty of time, but you—an old man with one foot in the grave—are still dreaming of producing research results that the Central Council will accept?"

"If you keep nagging me like this, I’m quitting! Go find someone else willing to help you perfect your theory!"

The young man, seemingly provoked, slammed the table and stood up, pointing at the old man’s nose and roaring.

"Alright... alright, my fault. I’ll go apply for more funding from the Society and see if I can get you a better set of equipment."

The old man was stunned by the outburst, and after a brief pause, his momentum waned. Clearly, as the young man had said, this theory was far too important to him.

Passersby seemed accustomed to such scenes; even though they were shouting loudly, no one stopped to watch.

"It’s quite normal," Icarus remarked. "Perhaps their ability doesn't match what they want to study, or they have the ability but lack the funding to complete the verification. There are many such people in the Sky Mechanical City."

"Like them—a theoretical scholar and an experimental operator—they’ve barely managed to scrape together a partnership, and it’s inherently difficult for them to produce results."

"Yet to abandon it would mean the loss of all investment, leaving them no choice but to press on; they are unlikely to reach a total impasse, for the scholar has no time left to pivot his research, and the experimenter lacks the means to find a better partner."

Icarus offered the group following him a brief sketch of the pair by the roadside, noting that in this enclave of scholars, a tavern was a necessity far more pressing than in the world outside.

To vent the pressure, to negotiate terms—these were essential, for research is never a matter of merely burying one's head in the sand until a breakthrough emerges.

"The Sky Mechanical City is a temple of knowledge, yet not everyone finds their place within it; how far one ascends depends entirely on one's own talent and fortune."

"But you lot should be fine; your gifts are surely not lacking, and we at the Truth Oversight Committee will offer some patronage, so you need not end up like those who rode their fathers' coattails to the city, only to produce nothing and be forced into the lowliest of mechanical labor just to survive."

Wang Yu felt nothing amiss regarding the "cruelty" of the Sky Mechanical City once its luster had faded; wherever there are people, there is competition, and hierarchies will always find a way to manifest, regardless of technological advancement—this was no utopia, after all.

Leading the group to the entrance of a spacious building, he was greeted with polite nods from those passing by, confirming that this was indeed the headquarters of the Truth Oversight Committee.

"Lancer, the newcomers I brought are here; see that their lodgings are assigned."

Stepping into the grand hall, Icarus spoke with the middle-aged man at the front desk, and upon receiving the keys, he distributed them to the group.

"These are the keys to your quarters, each marked with its corresponding number; I shall not escort you there myself."

"Now, would you have an interest in joining our Truth Oversight Committee? Researching historical texts or assisting in new theoretical studies can both be quite lucrative; the compensation may not be the highest, but for newcomers such as yourselves, it is a fitting start."

Icarus extended the invitation, though it was more of a helping hand, for without the Committee's support, they would likely find no path to income in this place.

The group had no objections; the elves chose to join, while Wang Yu’s party of four,

after a brief consultation, had Aivia pose a question to Icarus.

"Mr. Icarus, does the Sky Mechanical City permit one to earn money by processing alchemical materials for others?"

Icarus pondered this for a moment, his expression shifting to one of inquiry as he replied.

"The city allows any transaction between consenting parties, so what you propose is certainly permitted, but the pay for such work is quite meager. Is this truly how you intend to earn your keep?"

"Well, for low-grade materials, I imagine you are correct, but what of the processing of high-grade materials?"

Aivia confirmed her intent and countered with another question.

"High-grade materials would indeed fetch a handsome reward, but without the proper equipment, it is impossible to perform. Are you capable of such work?"

Raising an eyebrow, Icarus struggled to grasp the girl's intent; surely they lacked the necessary conditions to profit from such specialized labor?

Zieg and Aivia exchanged a glance with Wang Yu, and the girl nodded.

With a fellow like Wang Yu around, it was not necessarily impossible.

They had certain plans for the Sky Mechanical City, and the first step of their plan was to launch a venture, and the first step of that venture was to secure the startup capital.