Chapter 171: High Treatment for Teachers
Hearing this, both women instinctively widened their eyes.
Their distinct faces displayed an unexpected charm.
They never imagined that the lord valued them so highly.
Even though they hadn't been in the territory for long, they were fully aware that, despite Bay Territory being tucked away in the eastern province, it was far from insignificant; hidden talents abounded.
Just having two Arcanists already put them ahead of 90% of the territories in the Netheril Empire.
Not to mention the legendary stories of the lord and the dragon, which they had personally witnessed.
In other territories, unruly and chaotic barbarian slaves defied commands.
Yet in Bay Territory, they were unusually obedient, eager to integrate into the community.
Some were even personally trained by the lord and turned into heavily armored infantry, entrusted with guarding the lord's manor.
And there were plenty of talents and professionals drawn by the high rewards.
The average age of recruits was getting younger.
It was clear that, as Bay Territory's fame grew, more people learned about it, making it increasingly attractive.
The lord's offer to let them freely choose personnel was a sign of enormous trust and delegation of power.
However, the two were puzzled by why the lord trusted them so much.
The reason was simple: since his Fate Specialization had reached divine rank, Matthew could see more through the data.
"Elio, Loyalty: 90."
"Felie, Loyalty: 80."
Matthew was curious why their loyalty was so high.
Especially in Felie's case—she was the heir to the Lunar Glimmer family, yet she had stayed so obediently in Bay Territory.
With Beelzebub's help, she had survived life-or-death crises and endured everything.
It made Matthew deeply reflective.
"It turns out that one's strength is the key. False luck only lasts for a short time."
However, the fact that Felie hadn't returned to her family and chose to stay in Bay Territory with such high loyalty left him quite satisfied.
Matthew wasn't one to pry. As long as loyalty was guaranteed, he was happy to reward and trust.
Some matters were better left untouched.
"Don't worry. Old John will help you pick people. As long as your reasons are sound, he'll support your decisions."
"Since you'll be facing additional risks, you'll receive new gear and supplies, along with better treatment."
"Also, come back tomorrow around this time to receive the weapons I've prepared for you."
With just a few words, Matthew dispelled their concerns.
Old John understood Matthew's unspoken meaning and took the still-stunned women back to the military camp.
There, they could access the records of all soldiers and professionals.
Matthew was naturally pleased that Elio and Felie had pledged themselves to his service.
However, he wouldn't show too much favoritism.
He employed the simplest method to manage talent—ensuring their loyalty.
Then, through better systems, he motivated them, minimizing the need for excessive management effort and time.
This way, he could focus more of his time and energy on enhancing his own strength.
Angela's rapid advancement had far exceeded her initial potential, further proving the importance of environment and experience.
This reinforced Matthew's determination to train more talents, as having a larger pool of talent would open up more opportunities in the future.
Glancing at his status panel, Matthew began calculating the gains and expenditures.
"The fate energy gathered during my month of sleep was entirely used to repair and reconstruct my soul, but the results were good."
"I'm currently gaining around 2,000 points of fate energy daily, just enough to match the number of adventurers."
"Daily expenses for reconstruction are roughly 1,000 points."
"The final modifications for the clay golems should take about another week."
"The next upgrade will require 20,000 points of fate energy, so I'll need to accumulate more steadily."
"Once the adventurer system stabilizes, it'll be time to start a new round of recruitment."
"But with the ruins of the Merman Castle in play, I won't have to wait long for that opportunity."
With these thoughts in mind, Matthew refocused his attention on the clay golems.
He still had many ideas to test out—time waited for no one.
May 3rd
The scorching sun rose, the heat of summer becoming more apparent.
After yesterday's upheaval, the atmosphere in Bay Town felt somewhat unusual.
Many were either paranoid or curious about the mysterious golems.
But their attention soon shifted when a crowd gathered around the bulletin board at the town gate.
As usual, someone stepped forward to explain the latest announcement.
"From today, Bay Town will officially begin construction on a vocational academy, expected to be completed within a month."
"To better train professionals, we're recruiting teachers skilled in various techniques, knowledge, and specializations."
"All teachers will be subject to a public examination."
"Upon passing, they'll become provisional teachers with a monthly salary of 10 gold coins."
"After six months, they'll become full-time teachers, with a salary of 20 gold coins per month."
"The more professionals they train and the stronger they are, the more rewards they'll earn."
"Additionally, full-time teachers will receive a permanent residence and 100 acres of land."
"Note: All teachers must continue learning and growing, with an annual assessment to determine whether their pay will increase or decrease."
After hearing this, everyone instinctively widened their eyes, seeing the gleam of gold reflected in each other's gaze.
Compared to the early days of Bay Town, the populace's labor capabilities and efficiency had improved significantly.
The average monthly wage had risen from 6 silver coins to 10.
With ongoing education in new skills and knowledge, wages were expected to increase further in the future.
But even so, the fact that teachers were paid in gold coins was enough to excite everyone.
For most ordinary people, becoming a professional seemed out of reach; becoming a reservist or full-fledged soldier was already pushing their limits.
Still, it didn't stop them from placing their hopes on the next generation, and it certainly didn't lessen their growing respect for teachers.
"Only the best can become teachers—that's how we'll nurture the finest students!"
Matthew's approach was simple but left Ralph the butler deeply impressed.
Watching the townsfolk eagerly spread the news, Ralph couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation:
"Will we attract the best talent?"
The Lord's Manor
Matthew withdrew his gaze from the construction site next door and hummed a tune as he headed to the resting room.
At this time each day, he would take time to personally tutor Liana.
His diligent little student, Liana.
She had given Matthew quite the pleasant surprise.
After just over a month, she was already on the verge of successfully casting a zero-circle spell.
It was clear that Liana took her studies very seriously.
She hadn't slacked off, even in Matthew's absence.
"As expected, those who achieve great things must put in effort beyond the reach of most."
Liana seemed to sense something and turned to see Matthew's tall figure. Her previously cold face blossomed into a radiant smile:
"Teacher, you're here!"