I Created Scientific Magic

Chapter 216: Chapter 203: The High Ground of Public Opinion Must Not Be Controlled by Others! (Please Subscribe)

For an entire afternoon and all evening, Lynn had been explaining the operational principles of various mechanical structures to a group of Alchemists, and he was bombarded with questions by Lydia, who seemed to have turned into ‘a hundred thousand whys’, making his head spin.

However, with everyone’s combined effort, by the dim light of the next morning, the blueprints for the first generation of magic internal combustion engines had already been drawn up. @@novelbin@@

Though they looked proper, Lynn wasn’t certain they would work, he could only let them build it first and slowly correct any issues.

In the following days, Lynn didn’t intervene anymore, he left the task of building the internal combustion engine to Philip and Darren, letting them slowly research, and told them to inform him once they had a prototype ready.

He devoted all his energy to compiling new textbooks and establishing a new newspaper!

The importance of public opinion was crystal clear to Lynn; it could directly determine what people saw, heard, and even thought every day!

The previous ruler of Yiyeta Harbor, Helram, didn’t care about this, and the council didn’t pay enough attention, but Lynn would not let others control the high ground of public opinion.

So, a few days later, a newspaper called “Magic Daily” quickly appeared in the most conspicuous places of every shop.

The thin, pale pages immediately caught everyone’s attention, and then they were captivated by the content.

The front page headline was about the tragedy in the southern district and the follow-up remediation plan, which, considering the stability of Yiyeta Harbor, didn’t mention Helram and instead blamed most of it on the Evil Mage, Merck.

However, this affair was indeed related to Merck, it wasn’t entirely defamation.

For the common people, what shocked them most was not this, but that the new City Lord of the harbor city, Yiyeta’s star of magic, was actually going to distribute compensation money to those poor people affected by the disaster—this was absolutely thunderous news.

Since when had those lofty Wizards cared about the poor? Some of the poor people in the southern districts were so moved by the compensation they received that they cried buckets of tears.

Mary was one of them; a Soul Consumption Formation had suddenly appeared in the southern district, abruptly claiming her husband’s life, leaving her with only her two young children.

The dark bread she had received earlier was already nearly gone, and Mary even considered going to the magic workshop to become a guinea pig for the Wizards’ Magic Potions. It was said that if one was lucky enough, not only would there be no side effects, but one could also gain far more strength than ordinary people.

Mary was well aware that the chances were slim. The number of people in the southern district who had deformed bodies due to the Wizard’s Magic Potions was not small, and without being desperate, few would joke about their own safety.

Fortunately, just as she was hesitating, she received the news about the distribution of compensation money, enough for those like her who had lost a key breadwinner to receive a full fifty silver coins!

If she economized, it could support her family for a year or two, and this made Mary extremely grateful. She then bit the bullet, spent five copper coins, and bought a copy of “Magic Daily,” asking the shopkeeper to read out the content for her, as she was illiterate.

Mary’s decision was undoubtedly the right one, as the newspaper also announced two important pieces of news.

The first was that several new paper mills, glassworks, and airship factories were constructed inside Yiyeta Harbor, recruiting a large number of workers, estimated around one thousand five hundred, not only providing room and board but also paying eight to fifteen silver coins a month, depending on the type of work.

Those who could do arithmetic and had experience as craftsmen were given priority.

In addition to this, the families of the victims who died in the southern district tragedy will also be given priority.

Upon seeing this, Mary’s eyes lit up. The announcement didn’t specify gender, only minimum and maximum age limits, and she definitely qualified.

To a wizard, eight silver coins were hardly worth mentioning, but for the average civilian, it wasn’t a small amount—it was enough to support a family of three, even allowing them to indulge in white bread every day, with an occasional egg.

The second item was that Yiyeta Academy was expanding its enrollment, and wizard apprentices and even official wizards willing to continue their studies could return to school.

Furthermore, the “Magic Daily” also mentioned that Yiyeta would establish a school for ordinary people in the future.

“A school for ordinary people who can’t do magic?” Mary could hardly believe her eyes when she saw this.

“Yes, that’s what Lord Orlando said. He talked about teaching math, chemistry, and physics,” the shopkeeper said confidently, having confirmed this several times with the wizard.

“But… what can we do after learning all these?” Mary asked, looking confused.

“According to Lord Orlando, the City Lord is in dire need of staff. These students can join real alchemy workshops and become assistants to the wizards… just like Lydia!” the shopkeeper explained patiently.

Lydia? Upon hearing this, Mary immediately became excited.

In Yiyeta Harbor, everyone knew of the halfling girl who used to hop around and create curious gadgets. She had now transformed into a trusted right-hand woman of the City Lord.

Along with her, those halflings who were usually looked down upon were now living exceptionally good lives, rumored to be earning several gold coins every month!

The power of a role model was indeed immense!

Mary quietly considered whether to send her two children to the academy.

The tuition for each person was ten silver coins, costing nearly half the compensation money for both.

But the thought of them becoming assistants to the wizards and not having to struggle for a living in the southern district like she had to made Mary grit her teeth and make up her mind.

As long as she could work in the workshop, her monthly income would be sufficient to sustain her two children’s daily expenses.

Mary thought again of her lost husband and silently prayed in her heart that life would gradually get better…

Among others reading the newspaper were wizards and many graduated apprentices from the harbor city, who showed differing attitudes towards Lynn’s reeducation plan. Some, unable to swallow their pride, flatly refused and even scoffed at it, but many wizards were contemplating it.

They all knew that the current headmaster of the academy, Lynn, was a prodigy in researching magic theory. Despite his young age, he had developed many novel and powerful spells.

Moreover, rumors had long circulated within the port city that he had ascended to the rank of a Great Wizard, resulting in a far greater number of reenrollment applications than Lynn had expected…