Above the mage!

Chapter 618 The Fosse Music Hall
"The North?!"

After a brief silence, Eli and Jaber exclaimed in almost unison.

A look of utter disbelief crossed their faces, as if they had heard something unbelievable.

They considered all sorts of answers, but none included the option of the North.

What is the North?
It was a primitive, backward, desolate, cold, isolated, and extremely xenophobic place.

In the eyes of all outsiders, the North is an abandoned land.

It is far from the center of civilization, shrouded in biting cold winds and swirling snow, with a thick layer of frozen soil covering the ground, making it difficult for even the most drought-resistant pasture grasses to survive.

There were no exquisite manors, no bustling towns, and not even a handful of decent houses.

Only scattered temporary camps and the barely surviving Iceborn tribes remain on the wasteland.

This place, by all accounts, seems completely unrelated to the transformative new soil that Gaode (the map service provider) described.

In the North, there isn't even a furnace, so how can a breathing furnace be put to good use?
The two people's reactions were exactly what Gao De had expected.

Because what he said at this moment, without exaggeration, was no different from his previous life's "Go to Myanmar."

Let alone a smart person, any normal person wouldn't easily believe it.

Gao De did not immediately refute, but instead took out the Sea Sentinel badge that represented his identity and showed it to the two of them.

The rank of warrant officer is immediately apparent.

This is no longer just a Sea Sentinel Mage, but an officer-level Sea Sentinel with certain authority, far beyond the reach of ordinary junior military mages.

“With my status, I wouldn’t lie to you,” Gao De said, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable air of authority.

"Besides, from a normal perspective, neither of you has any value that would make me waste my time deceiving you."

“What’s the point of me, a sea sentinel warrant officer, going to all this trouble to lure a down-on-his-luck alchemist like you to the North?” He fixed his gaze on Jabil.

Gaode's target has always been Jabbar.

Because Jaber was the inventor of the gas stove, Eli was ultimately just a shrewd businessman who wanted to make a comeback.

The North doesn't need shrewd businessmen for the time being, and Eli doesn't want to go there either; his heart is set on rebuilding his family business.

“I’ve been to the North, more than once, so everything I’m saying is based on my own experience,” Gao De said, his voice calm and resolute.

"The North is completely different from what it used to be. Change is happening in that land, and even the conditions there are not what you think."

Gao De looked around, nodded, and said affirmatively, "At least, the environment there will be much better than your current environment."

"Of course, I think you don't care much about the environment. What you really value is whether you can get genuine recognition and affirmation, whether your talent can be seen, rather than being dismissed as a crooked path and discarded like trash as a craftsman's toy."

Gao De's words seemed to strike Jabbar's heartstrings precisely.

Jaber paused slightly, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to start.

He looked down at his hands, which were covered in grease and calluses.

Those hands had assembled countless parts, drawn countless blueprints, and quietly clenched their fists after countless rejections.

After a long while, under Gao De's sharp gaze, he nodded heavily, a hint of undisguised emotion flashing in his eyes.

“Then go to the North. The North, like the Holy Empire, values ​​talent immensely. But unlike the Holy Empire, the North will see your value more clearly. Also, the North is not an enemy of the Plantagenet Dynasty,” Gao De said with a smile.

"The North has never had any friction with the dynasty, let alone war. Going to the North is not considered treason. At most, it's just leaving a place that can't accept you and going to a new place that can."

"Furthermore, while the Holy Empire certainly prioritizes merit, it is, after all, a powerful empire where classes already exist and interest groups are deeply entrenched."

"An outsider like you, with no background or mentor, even if you bring the breathing furnace there, do you really think you'll get the result you want? I doubt it."

"Perhaps the Gas Furnace will gain fame, but whether its creator will credit you is another matter entirely," Gao De said meaningfully.

“But the North is a completely nascent land, a true newborn region.” His gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Jabir, as if trying to shatter the last vestiges of his hesitation.

"Do you really want to waste your time in this small workshop? With your talent, you should be standing on a broader stage, receiving the recognition and support you deserve, and having a constant stream of resources to improve your inventions." "Instead of being stuck in this dilapidated room, worrying about a piece of titanium silver alloy, feeling frustrated by someone's sarcastic remark, remaining unknown until you are completely forgotten by the times."

These words struck Jabbar's heart like a heavy hammer.

“I know this is a difficult decision. After all, you have preconceived notions about the North. Even if I am a military mage, it is difficult to change your mind in just a few words.” Seeing that his expression softened, Gao De’s tone became gentler.

"I can only assure you, in my capacity as a warrant officer of the Plantagenet dynasty's sea sentinels, that every word I have said about the North is true."

“You don’t need to rush to make a decision,” Gao De said, glancing at the sky outside the window.

"As a Sea Sentinel Mage, the reason I am in Forth County is for the Gym Challenge. I will come back to you after the Gym Challenge is over, and you can give me an answer then."

"But whatever you ultimately choose, I'm willing to buy the prototype and basic blueprints of your breathing furnace. You name the price; as long as it's reasonable, I'll agree."

"This is both a recognition of your talent and a small token of my personal appreciation."

After Gao De finished speaking slowly and deliberately, he turned his gaze to Eli, who was standing silently to the side.

Eli's expression was complex, a mixture of disappointment, relief, and a barely perceptible hint of joy.

He knew in his heart that Gao De's words made perfect sense, and that his idea of ​​making a comeback by relying on the breathing furnace was indeed no longer feasible. Continuing to entangle himself would probably only bring about his death.

"Your idea of ​​making a comeback by relying on the gas furnace is probably not going to work, but I have some businesses that need someone with a business mind and good management skills."

I believe you have the ability, but my business is just starting out, and everything has to be built from scratch. If you don't mind, you can consider it.

"Similarly, you can give me your answer after I finish the challenge at my art school."

After Gao De finished speaking, without giving the two of them any more time to think or respond, he nodded slightly as a farewell, then turned and left the small room.

As he said, the art museum challenge is what he's really doing right now.

The Frost Magic Hall is located in the very center of the Magic District.

As Gao De's carriage rounded a bend, the Fossil Museum came into view.

Even with Gao De's composure, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Along the way, he had already obtained two gym badges and seen the unique gyms of the two counties.

But the unique features of the Fossil Museum still attract considerable attention.

It is not a towering tower or an imposing palace, but a huge circular building that lies low to the ground yet occupies an astonishing area.

Unlike the Sorrento Museum, which uses the mountain terrain to flaunt a rugged sense of power, this museum is nestled in the bustling city center with an almost humble yet incredibly confident demeanor.

The exterior walls of the Fossil Museum are made of a special matte dark gold mineral that is not dazzling in the sunlight, but rather has a restrained and calm luster, like an ancient gold coin polished by time.

Seven equidistant, bright, and pristine rings encircle the wall horizontally, as if marking this "giant coin" with an unalterable mark.

The building is relatively low overall, but its diameter appears to be much larger than that of the Solon Gymnasium, indicating that its interior space is incredibly spacious.

What's even more striking is the boundary between the building and its surroundings.

A silent waterway, about thirty meters wide, clearly separates the art museum from the rest of the square.

The canal water was crystal clear, yet smooth as a mirror, without a single ripple.

Twelve simple stone bridges with metal railings are erected at equal intervals over the canal.

The most amazing thing is the top of this building.

A huge dome made of completely transparent magic crystals enveloped the entire circular building.

Through the crystal, one can clearly see thousands of uniformly sized, slowly and regularly rotating miniature cubes suspended inside the dome.

They are not static, but rather, guided by some invisible force, they move along complex trajectories, like a constantly rotating starry sky full of geometric beauty.

This is the Foss Museum.

(End of this chapter)