Lowland Republic, Antwerp City.

Bang!

The tavern's wooden door was suddenly pushed open, and a disheveled figure rushed in, waving an order sheet in hand.

Without waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior, he shouted urgently:

"Mr. Jamie, quick! Quick! Are there any tulip bulbs left? The Sak Empire has placed a large order!"

The middle-aged merchant, who was in the corner of the tavern drinking with a few companions, quickly put down his wine glass upon seeing the newcomer:

"Ah, it's Mr. Fitch. I have four hundred kilograms of ordinary varieties harvested in September, and ten heads of rare ones. Price..."

Currently, tulip transactions in the market mainly include two types: ordinary varieties and rare ones.

Ordinary varieties are priced by weight, while rare ones are priced by head. The price difference between them is larger than between copper fuer and Golden Lion coins.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Fitch, who rushed in, didn't even listen to the price and directly waved his hand:

"I'll take them all! Where's the goods? Deliver them immediately!"

With business coming in, there was no time for drinking. The tulip merchant named Jamie hastily threw down his wine glass and rushed out with the other party.

The remaining merchants from the Tulip Guild continued to drink and chat.

"Another deal sealed. It's a pity! Tulip prices have been continuously rising recently, but most of the stock we had has already been sold.

Moreover, the cultivation cycle for both rare and ordinary varieties is too long. Even if the market prices keep rising, the short-term supply is limited."

"If I had known the market trend earlier, I would have paid a premium to purchase more in September."

"Alas! Who wouldn't agree!"

Those present were experts, well aware that tulips only have two reproduction methods: by seed and by rootstock.

If propagated by seed, it takes 7-12 years to obtain ideal bulbs. In the bulk tulip market, it's never the flowers traded but the bulbs, which are easier to store and transport.

Bulb propagation is somewhat simpler.

Tulip bulbs are like onions; as long as they're planted in the ground, vibrant flowers will bloom around April or May each year, but the flowering period lasts only about ten days.

Come each September, the tulip's roots will grow new bulbs, which at most double in size from when planted. If priced by weight, their value also doubles.

Hence, new merchandise won't enter the market till next September, to meet the clients' ever-growing tulip demands.

"Hey! Fellows, I have an idea to share with you."

Suddenly, one of the tulip merchants spoke up, and seeing others looking over, he mysteriously said:

"Everyone, the biggest challenge we currently face is the imbalance between tulip supply and demand.

However, if we market 'next year's output'—note, it's 'next September's output'—using 'guild standard trade contracts'...

And clearly stipulate that the bulbs must be delivered at current prices upon harvest, won't that be the best of both worlds?"

The others initially seemed puzzled, not understanding how trade could happen with goods still in the ground, but once they slowly grasped the idea, their eyes lit up.

Excitedly, they unconsciously lowered their voices:

"This could work, seconded!"

"Seconded!"

"...."

Though they hadn't conceptualized it yet, the world's first "futures contract" was destined to emerge freshly.

One thought to heaven, another to hell, oh, great "Master of Gold" bless us!

...

Saint Aiven City Center Cathedral, now renamed "Saint Aiven Cathedral."

A separate chapel was filled with students of various ages. A professor in a black uniform tapped the blackboard:

"Let's review the fundamentals of economics we learned last class. Can someone tell us what factors determine the price of a commodity?"

Hmm, Mr. Osmon, who raised his hand highest, please speak up."

A young man with short brown hair stood up excitedly, speaking eloquently under the spotlight:

"There are four main factors that determine price. First is cost, which sets the price floor; second is supply and demand—the more demand, the less supply, the higher the price;

Third is the information environment of the buyers and sellers—the more information buyers have, the better deals they can find; fourth is efficiency. The fewer intermediaries involved..."

Construction of the "Galliot National University" located in the outskirts was still ongoing, but adhering to the Grand Duke's quick-action ethos, the enrollment for the first batch of students had long been completed.

The faculty overcame hardware difficulties and borrowed some rooms from the "Black Iron Cross Church" cathedral to serve as classrooms, starting teaching work ahead of schedule.

Currently positioned as the highest academic institution of the duchy, the "National University" has established seven faculty categories: Liberal Arts (including Literature, History, Philosophy, Art), Law, Finance and Economics, Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Forestry, and Medicine.

Among them, Science and Technology, Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Finance and Economics are the main disciplines, integrating production, learning, and research.

Moreover, the National University has already been included in the preparatory list of the Pan Continent organization "Red Maple Academy Alliance," where according to the alliance tradition, some outstanding talents have the chance to be introduced to the Extraordinary Path apart from the regular disciplines.

Although in the New Continent, Extraordinary Power is far less mysterious compared to the relatively peaceful Old Continent, it is still a force most ordinary people dream of throughout their lives, due to both knowledge and resources.

Additionally.

Although the "National University" has been established for a short time, its faculty strength ranks among the top across various states.

Art, History, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Forestry, and Medicine are all traditional advantageous fields of the witches, and the witches from the "Truth Gate School" participating in employment in the duchy are very much like a fish in water.

Even though the school's conditions need improvement, the witches never imagined they'd be able to enter and exit the cathedral of the True God openly, greeted with smiles by each holy professional; the spiritual joy is as rewarding as the material salary.

Wizards from the "Mechanical Immortality School" provided substantial support for "Engineering." Even if you eliminate the extraordinary part, the remainder represents cutting-edge content of this era.

Dr. Taylor from the "Vesalian School," Master of Magic Potions Leon, and Aiven's students from the "Life Tree School" have profound attainments in the fields of medicine or agriculture and forestry.

Even in the field of finance and economics, Aiven once captured the top heirs of the leading capitalists of the Ilya Kingdom.

The grand finale is Aiven himself acting as both Great Wizard and Grand Duke serving as the principal, whose vision extends beyond the era.

The "Galliot National University" already has the foundation to become a world-class university.

Of course.

While improving the quality of the population, the pursuit of quantity has not been abandoned. The performance assessment of "Mother of Water" Melro since August of last year in Sea Origin Calendar 190 has achieved a brilliant goal of a net population growth of 5% by August of this year.

Along with the government's macro guidance during this process, the male-dominated Nimansite people and the female-dominated Atrean people are rapidly merging.

The duchy is moving towards the grand blueprint of a single subject nationality.

Aiven also appointed Count Milan Snite with a new designation, as the son-in-law of the Hurons, acting as the duchy's Minister of Ethnic Integration and Chief Astrologer.

Simultaneously, thanks to the continuous propagation of "Tree of Rest" throughout the inland regions, they have entirely turned the continent's interior into an Absolute Spirit state, prohibiting the birth of Spirit Bodies.

Coupled with the werewolves' determined hunt for existing spirit ghosts, perhaps in less than half a year, the duchy's "Westward Plan" can officially commence.

Aside from the inherent "Black Sea Coast Region," "Broken Star Sea Coast Zone," and the Elbert Mountain Range rich in gold mines.

Additionally, the southern bank of the central Six Great Lakes "Upper Itasca River Valley District," the downstream of central rivers to the southern coastline "Lower Itasca River Valley District," and the "Midwestern Great Plains Region" beyond the main basin of the Itasca River can begin the first phase of development.

Starting from the most livable areas in each region, leveraging point-to-area principles to fully unlock the potential of this land.

By then, don't say a 5% population growth rate; even 10%, 15% would have ample space for settlement.

Moreover.

With the victory in international wars, the international status of tulip and duchy steadily rising, a massive influx of investments and personnel is continuously flowing into the duchy worldwide.

After firmly grasping the unshakable field of people's livelihood, Aiven began pursuing free market openness in other economic areas.

He knows very well that to prevent the country's economy from becoming stagnant, it is necessary to exercise everyone's subjective initiative, maintaining the basic rules of promotion for the capable and declining for the mediocre.

And these students being taught are one of his assurances to maintain established rules and his own governing power, or perhaps they are the royal faction closely united around Aiven, this monarch.

Every student is an extension of his ruling power. When scattered across different industries in the future, they will further infiltrate his authority into the duchy's grassroots. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The continental nation "Galliot Duchy," seemingly has already become one of the most potential development and competitive emerging countries of this era.

As national construction continues to advance steadily, time swiftly moved to the spring of Sea Origin Calendar 192.

White Swan Castle.

"That's it. Those things clearly originating from ancient civilization almost block the entire outer space. If we don't break through their defenses, we're not leaving Herag Star.

The most crucial part is, we don't even know which ancient civilization they originated from? What is their intent in locking down the planet? Are they still under control?... "

Aiven sat across from Jelos, who had finally accompanied Stephanie back from Phaletis. Between them on the table was a fist-sized, seemingly wooden "walnut" peculiar object.

It's the very "Purifier" core brought back from space.

Aiven knew this should be some kind of control device similar to a "chip," but interpreting it isn't easy without reference information.

However, Jelos, who had been frowning since seeing this item, pinched his forehead and slowly said:

"This thing... I might know where it comes from."

Snap—!

While speaking, Jelos snapped his fingers, and the [Witchcraft Garden: Uruk Great Temple] opened.

"I might have not told you, the Third Era 'Muriyan Civilization' among ancient civilizations, was best at bio-tech!"