Chapter 332: Money if Needed, Land if Needed
Demigod Druid—Old Li!
Of course, this Old Li.
Is not yet the one Matthew remembers, who merged agricultural knowledge from two worlds.
He developed over ten new high-yielding crops like rice, wheat, and sorghum.
He also researched various fertilizers, planting, and care techniques.
He not only greatly increased this world's food production but even inspired advancements in the real world.
The latter achieved significant progress in agricultural research.
As a result, nearly all players protected him without hesitation, preventing any danger from reaching him.
Before Matthew's transmigration, Old Li seemed to have surpassed the demigod peak, stepping into true godhood!
Of course, just as no player considered these so-called gods as true gods.
The god-leveled Old Li still kept his old habits, constantly researching better and higher-yield crops.
Matthew's heart swelled with excitement—if Bay Territory could get this powerhouse to join.
The farmland transformation and Misty Swamp development plans could be accelerated by at least 30%!
Noticing Matthew's gaze, Old Li caught sight of those familiar dark eyes and responded with a slight air of reservation:
"My name is Old Li. Thank you, Lord Matthew, for offering your help; otherwise, I truly wouldn't know how to deal with these filthy orcs..."
Old Li's politeness made Matthew's heart race.
Luckily, he'd learned to control his emotions, opening with pleasant words:
"I just happened to be here; with you presiding, everything is sure to go smoothly!"
Hearing Matthew's praise, Old Li couldn't help but smile broadly, continuing the polite exchange.
Their brief conversation seemed to quickly improve their rapport, leaving Rebecca confused.
The Lord's eagerness to recruit talent was well-known, so his behavior was unsurprising.
But Rebecca knew exactly what her master was like.
Toward any outsider, he was typically indifferent, whether they were spellcasters or lords, showing little interest in conversation.
Yet now?
Her master was chatting happily with Lord Matthew?
Something was off!
Really off!
In truth, Old Li wasn't as "stubborn" as Rebecca imagined; he was always welcoming to those he could relate to.
Of course, Matthew's words were especially pleasing.
"My territory is currently reclaiming wilderness with a new farmland transformation plan..."
"My territory plans to develop and utilize Misty Swamp, building a cycle of mudfish, snakehead fish, and swamp crocodile farming..."
"My territory has constructed a large-scale Druid greenhouse, with future plans for expansion..."
"Many young children in my territory show Druid talents but lack a good teacher..."
"Our territory sincerely welcomes all kinds of talent."
"For any grandmaster-level expert who comes to our territory, we offer a 50,000 gold settling fund and over 200,000 gold in research funding..."
Matthew's words were full of a clear implication, "Come to our territory, and you'll have full support."
If Old Li was interested by the initial statements,
the solid gold offer quickly won him over.
Struggling financially and resource-starved, Old Li immediately began employing unexpected conversational charm, talking further with Matthew.
Rebecca's head spun as she watched, especially seeing the smile forming on her Lord's face, filling her with respect:
"Lord Matthew truly is incredible, even getting along with my master..."
"It took me one or two months, yet I couldn't even convince him..."
Before Rebecca could figure out the underlying reasons, Leon, now relaxed, patted her head and praised:
"Smart thinking, reaching out for help so quickly."
Blushing, Rebecca decided to be truthful and whispered to her brother:
"Master always calls for backup when there's trouble, so I learned from him."
Glancing at Old Li, happily chatting with the Lord, Leon sensed his profound aura and teased her:
"Remember this, whenever there's danger, call for backup."
"Even if you can handle it, always ensure there's a safety net."
Rebecca chuckled and confidently nodded:
"Of course, Master's 36 escape techniques—I've mastered them well..."
Thirty-six escape techniques?
Impressive...
Just as Matthew and Old Li had begun to wrap up their probing conversation,
a dozen small figures floated over.
They joyfully surrounded Matthew as Rebecca watched in astonishment.
"Wow, I smell something familiar."
"He has a special scent."
"Sniffing it makes me feel smarter..."
"Yes, that's the smell!"
"..."
Alongside the little tree spirits was a round little chubby creature.
Wide-eyed, he bit his finger and patted his chubby belly, saying:
"Hmm, I remember now!"
He darted to Old Li's ear and excitedly whispered something.
Initially indifferent, Old Li quickly grew serious and delighted.
He looked at the smiling Matthew, considering what he'd heard, and tentatively asked:
"Lord Matthew, does your territory have any unique plants?"
Smiling inwardly, Matthew readily nodded:
"Unique plants? I'm not sure, but there is a small tree spirit with a special twig..."
The chubby creature nodded excitedly, and Old Li, surprised at Matthew's openness, seized the opportunity:
"Old Li here is very interested in Bay Territory; I wonder if I could stay for some time?"
Seeing his plan succeed, Matthew smiled broadly and patted his chest, promising:
"If you're willing to come to Bay Territory, I promise everyone here."
"Money, land, people—whatever you need!"
Looking at the sturdy Bay Territory soldiers behind Matthew, Old Li nodded happily, pleased.
Meanwhile, the chubby creature grew anxious, pointing at the massive Great Oak as if to say:
"What about me? You're not leaving me here, right?"
With a slight smile, Matthew casually produced a small teleportation array, setting it up on the ground, showcasing his opulent style.
It's just a quick teleportation trip!
Nothing to worry about!