Chapter 333: How Many Good Seedlings Do You Need?
"Mmm… delicious!"
The chubby little guy, called "Little Elephant" by Old Li, was happily devouring roasted meat, leaving Rebecca staring in amazement.
Beside him, Yaya, yawning, looked at Little Elephant with curiosity and murmured,
"Wow, he has such a big appetite!"
Yaya hadn't changed much, still looking adorable, and soon gave up wondering. She picked up a glistening, shiny pork knuckle and took a bite.
Eating together means being good friends!
Not mentioning the foodies who were feasting away in the dining hall.
Matthew was strolling with Old Li along the streets of Bay City.
The clean, orderly streets, patches of shade, and carefully placed flowers and greenery created a genuinely comfortable ambiance.
Old Li observed the bustling residents with interest and praised straightforwardly,
"It's not just brighter than Moonshine City; even Sableton isn't as clean as this."
"People still relieve themselves openly over there, saying they have the freedom, humph…"
"Marsu City in the Elven Kingdom of Kol comes close, but perhaps it's because the elves there are too lazy…"
"Too bad I haven't been back in years. I wonder how much Chang'an has changed."
"…"
Old Li chattered on as they walked, and Matthew easily kept up.
In terms of worldly knowledge, who could beat a player who hears all kinds of gossip daily?
Of course, Old Li was also curious as he noticed the friendly greetings exchanged between the residents and the guards, so he asked directly:
"Why aren't they afraid? Shouldn't soldiers maintain authority?"
Just then, a passing resident quickly saluted Matthew.
"Good day, Lord!"
"Greetings, Lord!"
"It's the Lord!"
"Quick, salute!"
"Hehe, I saw the Lord!"
"…"
Matthew waved to them, and seeing them leave satisfied, he smiled and answered:
"All the soldiers are their children, here to protect them. Why should they be afraid?"
"As for the soldiers, they just need to be fierce with enemies. Why not be friendly to their own people?"
Remembering various memories from the East, Old Li was momentarily stunned. Looking at Matthew's smiling face, he nodded thoughtfully,
"Ha, you're right, Lord!"
"Now, take a look—this is the Professional Training Academy, the future of Bay Territory."
Matthew smiled slightly, leading Old Li to the largest building in Bay City.
Old Li looked up at the sign, studying the familiar Eastern characters, and couldn't help but widen his eyes:
"Beautiful calligraphy!"
Arnold, waiting nearby, came over and openly sized up Old Li, having learned about his strength and identity. He spoke with pleasure:
"On behalf of Bay Territory Professional Training Academy's 23,572 official students, I welcome you."
"Additionally, 37,462 reserve students are undergoing phased rest and adjustment, and they'll join the academy within the next three months."
Seeing Old Li's astonished expression, Arnold felt a slight pride, then remembered the Lord's words and added:
"Among them, 3,872 have Druid talents. Some have excellent gifts, especially in perception."
"So many?"
Old Li's first reaction was disbelief. Could that many children have the talent for professions?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
"Ding, ding, ding!"
The crisp and cheerful school bell rang, and the students burst out of classrooms.
They happily played on the wide field.
Some practiced newly learned skills.
Some recited their recently acquired knowledge.
Some sparred with classmates.
Some exercised, using various equipment on the field—what a lively scene.
Old Li's sharp eyes lit up. In a quick glance, he spotted several promising seedlings.
Unlike other Druids, Old Li wasn't one to leave things to chance. Otherwise, he wouldn't have joined Bay Territory.
After all, he wanted to strengthen the Divine Punishment organization, realizing his ideals and ambitions.
Every child capable of becoming a professional has an unbreakable conviction.
Without it, they could never transcend the mundane and achieve the extraordinary!
Nodding confidently, Arnold looked at Matthew with reverence, excitedly saying:
"It's because the Lord has always ensured the children are well-nourished. They don't just eat their fill—they eat well every meal."
Reading between the lines, Old Li couldn't help but ask,
"So, are you supplementing the children's diets with magical plants and foods?"
Old Li had trained many Druid apprentices before, often struggling to ensure they got enough nutrition.
Otherwise, their physical growth would lag, preventing them from reaching their full potential.
If they grew too old, they'd never reach their original potential.
Even training just over ten Druid apprentices was exhausting for him.
Could Bay Territory truly support so many children at once?
Noticing Matthew's glance, Arnold didn't hide anything, answering in detail:
"Exactly. The children exercise a lot, so they must replenish with magical food, or it would harm their bodies."
"So, Bay Territory has adventurers specifically hunting magical creatures for the children's consumption."
"This costs 3,000 gold coins daily, and it's still rising."
"Fortunately, the Lord had foresight, establishing rules and standards for the adventurers' hunts. The supply of magical creatures is stable and secure."
"Unfortunately, the Lord still aims to mass breed magical creatures to ensure long-term stability…"
Listening to Arnold talk, Old Li asked about the adventurers' magical creature hunts, nodding occasionally.
After hearing Bay Territory's development policies and regulations for the Dark Forest,
Old Li's eyes sparkled with excitement as he stroked his white beard, muttering joyfully to himself:
"Marvelous! Why didn't I think of this?"
"Coming to Bay Territory was the right choice!"
Overjoyed, Old Li made no attempt to hide his excitement.
Watching the happy children, he eagerly asked,
"Can I pick a few students to teach?"
Arnold blinked, then shook his head and quickly replied:
"A few? That's not nearly enough! We've got at least 20 to 30 excellent seedlings, and those half-trained Druids can barely keep up…"
Blinking in confusion, Old Li found it hard to believe!
Didn't Bay Territory worry about this?