Chapter 329 - 322: Admonition Before the Fireplace

Chapter 329: Chapter 322: Admonition Before the Fireplace

This day was destined to be the day of Dawn. Countless Akenis flooded the Chamber of Commerce Center, looking up and applying to join the Dawn Merchant Group. Long lines formed at the registration hall.

Those who had already applied waited anxiously for the merchant group’s review. Those still in line fretted that the day might end before they got their turn, as the Chamber of Commerce Center would then cease operations.

How many years had it been? In the hearts of many Akenis, perhaps in all of recorded Akenis history, there had never been a young magnate like Pipi, nor had there ever been a creator like Weike Wei.

Some Akenis were even preparing to apply for early graduation. As long as they could join the Dawn Merchant Group, they were ready to leave school immediately.

Two days later, as another seven-day cycle approached, the fourth issue of the *Business Opportunities Information Guide* was finally set for release. It was as exquisite as ever and, as always, in limited supply.

Of course, its supply was only "limited" relative to the public’s fervent anticipation. Compared to the first three issues, the print run for the fourth was unusually large.

Under Lord Pipi’s direction and with his support, Weike Wei had already purchased a third carving factory. These facilities, which used Magic Pattern technology and had originally produced Protective Talismans, were now all dedicated to manufacturing the exquisite *Business Opportunities Information Guide*.

But even with these efforts, production capacity was limited. Before the launch, they had only managed to produce 4,000 copies.

The publication’s shop had long since moved to a larger location, one now considered a sizable Magic Pattern shop within the city.

The staff consisted entirely of young Akenis, aside from a few slaves.

Late into the night, Weike Wei was still awake, working alongside the other Akenis in the shop.

The final beast-drawn cart of guides arrived from the carving factory. Everyone worked together to unload the shipment, quickly stacking the publications on the shelves near the sales window.

Weike Wei picked up a copy of the *Business Opportunities Information Guide* that felt as if it were fresh off the press. As his employees watched, he opened it to the first page.

Previous issues had featured a foreword on the first page, or perhaps a celebrity portrait with an introductory index. This time, however, it was an image—a strikingly realistic depiction of a contract.

At the very top of the depicted contract, which was shown unfurled, was a peculiar fireball emblem. It strongly resembled the Celestial Fire Star, and the sight of it evoked a burning sensation, as if it were radiating brilliant light.

Beneath the emblem was a short line of text.

"We will find ’It’! We swear in the name of Dawn!"

The word ’It’ was rendered using a special Magic Pattern, one that depicted a fantastically beautiful Treasure Pearl.

Below that was a simple contract format, ending with Pipi’s signature as the Commerce Group Leader.

From the back of that page to page five, the publication provided a detailed record of the speech given at the business achievement conference two days prior.

Weike Wei saw his own name mentioned in the text, followed by Lord Pipi’s pledge. Even now, his heart still surged with emotion.

Can the pledge of an Akenis be trusted?

Perhaps others’ could not, but countless Akenis were now willing to believe that Lord Pipi’s could be.

This was an emotion stirring within them, a hope in which they had placed their trust!

"This issue of the *Business Opportunities Information Guide* is going to drive everyone wild!"

Weike Wei remarked with a sigh. He then pulled eight copies from the stack and handed one to each of the employees present.

"Here, take these. I know our rule is that even we have to line up to buy a copy, but I have a feeling it’ll be nearly impossible to get one that way."

The eight employees were overcome with genuine gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord Weike Wei!!"

"Only you are worthy of being Lord Pipi’s confidant!!"

"Forgive my boldness for asking, but have you joined the Dawn Merchant Group?"

’Finally, my chance to show off,’ Weike Wei thought. He proudly puffed out his chest.

"The very moment Lord Pipi submitted the application to establish the group, he sent me an invitation. And I, of course, would not refuse him!"

As everyone looked at him with expressions that said, ’Of course,’ one of the employees spotted something through a crack in the shop door.

"Lord Weike Wei, people are already starting to line up outside!"

Outside the shop, Akenis were already lining up. The queue was growing longer at an accelerating pace.

Weike Wei looked at the guide in his hand, lost in thought.

"Looks like a lot of Akenis figured this issue would feature the speech. I wonder if our stock will even last until afternoon this time..."

The guide was destined to spread throughout Lobelica in a very short time.

「 」

At that very same moment, the great magnate Pipi was drifting into a dream.

He was in front of the same fireplace, on the same old sofas.

One side of his Mentor’s body was shrouded in shadow, the other illuminated by the flickering firelight from the hearth.

He seemed to be deep in thought. Pipi didn’t dare to disturb him.

After a long silence, Qin Xiaoxia—the man in the dream—finally spoke.

"You’ve channeled the suppressed indignation of the Akenis and reignited emotions that had long run dry. You have now become the idol leading them forward."

Pipi listened intently. He only spoke after his Mentor had finished. The bold confidence from his speech was gone, replaced by a palpable anxiety about the situation.

"Mentor, I feel the pressure mounting. The reaction from the Akenis has been far beyond what I anticipated. I’m afraid I won’t be able to fulfill my mission!"

’My Mentor always gives me encouragement and courage. This time won’t be an exception.’

The Mentor’s smile was as gentle as ever, his gaze filled with satisfaction and affection for his student.

"Pipi, the Akenis who roared in that hall, the ones who shed tears of sorrow over *Thoughts at the Time of Death*... what did you see in their eyes? In their actions?"

"Hope! I believe it is the Hope of the Akenis!"

The Mentor nodded in satisfaction, then gently shook his head.

"To the Akenis of the old era, dignity and emotion may have seemed worthless. But they are the most precious things one can possess. They are also the source of motivation and courage!"

"That emotion, that sorrow and anger... they might not even understand what it is they’re feeling, yet they are willing to believe in you without a second thought..."

"From that moment on, your vague mission to ’save the Akenis’ began to take a more concrete form. In my view, the problem has actually become simpler."

He stood up from the sofa and looked his student directly in the eye. Qin Xiaoxia extended his right hand from his sleeve, revealing the searing hot Dawn Seal.

"All you have to do is not betray their trust. Even at the last moment of your life, you must let them see you fall facing forward!"

"Behind every contract signed by the Dawn Merchant Group is not just a single Akenis of flesh and blood, but an ideal. Once that ideal is elevated, it becomes fearless!"

"And then, the momentum of the Akenis’s rebirth will be truly unstoppable!"

Slowly, Qin Xiaoxia bent his knees, bringing his eyes down to the same level as Pipi’s.

"I have paved the way for you. Now, I have one last question for you. Tell me, will you fail them?"

Pipi took several deep breaths. Then, he solemnly performed the Dawn Heart-Clasp Salute, his voice still trembling in the dream.

"Never!!"

"Good!"

The Mentor nodded slightly and strode toward the fireplace. Pipi knew the dream was about to end.

But just as he was about to step into the flames, the Mentor, now wreathed in fire, suddenly turned. His gaze was as scorching as the furnace itself.

"If you do betray them, then no matter what world you hide in, I will personally hunt you down and cleanse the sect!! You know I can do it..."

His voice, at first booming, dropped to a low whisper on the last words, fading away as the flames died down and vanished.

Pipi’s heart pounded in his chest. The terror in that final gaze was something he could barely withstand, even with a clear conscience.

The emotional turmoil jolted him awake.

"Whew... That wasn’t just a threat from my Mentor..."

Sleep was now impossible. Besides, with the constitution of a Magic Creature, he needed very little sleep anyway. He got out of bed and went back to reviewing the applications to join the merchant group.

The towering stacks on his desk were not something he could get through quickly. He had to carefully vet each Akenis. Of course, those whose faces he had already made a point to remember were given priority for admission.