Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 1097: Chapter 1096: This Is Way Faster Than Robbing

Tourism Industry.

To be honest, this topic is a bit beyond Melita’s expertise—probably beyond the expertise of most of the Dragonkin in Talronde.

The once glorious and mighty Talronde was advanced in everything, and the bored dragons had turned almost all entertainment activities into art, but the term "tourism" was never related to their lives: externally, Talronde was completely closed off, with strict policies under the Great Shield prohibiting all visitors. Internally, Talronde had been stagnant for a million years, and with society stagnating, so too the daily lives of a large number of lower-ranked Dragonkin had come to a halt. Coupled with the abuse of Enhancers, the extreme development of virtual entertainment, and extreme sports replacing traditional entertainment, the concept of tourism had long vanished among the Dragonkin. For a "Working Dragon" like Melita, born under corporate orders, it was even more so...

But this doesn’t stop her from understanding the concept Gawain is talking about; she’s just filled with doubts about the feasibility of it all: "Is that it then? Just bring people from Loren to Talronde, ensure their protection, and they’ll willingly pay?"

"That’s the most basic part, but if you truly intend to make it a major project, doing just the basics is not enough," Gawain smiled, suddenly becoming highly interested in the matter—this was not just an opportunity to bond with the Dragonkin and further explore Talronde’s secrets. If operated properly, it would be the first time Loren Continent established exchanges with other continents—inconceivably laying down the foundations and advancing numerous fields left untouched. "You should establish supportive services in all aspects, like setting up various levels of travel agents in Loren Continent. This shouldn’t be unfamiliar to you—Mithril Vault has some foundation in this aspect. Additionally, you should establish suitable ’tourist routes’ in Loren Continent and try to extract profits from them as much as possible. You can also develop some value-added services..."

Gawain deliberately spoke in broad terms, which indeed further piqued Melita’s interest. The blue dragon lady immediately leaned closer: "So, what about the specifics?"

"First, there are many types of people interested in a mysterious land like Talronde. This includes citizens with modest savings and curiosity, adventurers with a spirit of exploration, scholars interested in dragon culture and exotic knowledge, as well as aristocrats with wealth who have all kinds of quirky ideas. You need to classify these people into different levels of service, such as economic groups, premium groups, luxury groups, and then add cultural study groups, exotic exploration groups and the like. Actually, the places you take them to are mostly similar, since there are just a few safe zones over there, but when promoting, you need to differentiate them. You have to make each tier attractive enough, yet convey different levels of experience. Then establish various grade inns and hostels, ensuring that every penny spent feels worthwhile...

"Then comes the tourist routes. Most of the area over there is wasteland, so you certainly can’t just throw guests into the wasteland. You need to map out areas that are safe enough but appear attractive, like already explored factory ruins, urban ruins, or battlefield remains in the wild—perhaps you see no value in those ruins, but trust me, everything that happened on that land is worth knowing about, and those who travel all those miles to Talronde want to learn about what lies behind those ruins.

"Finally, there’s the matter of value-added services. Wealthy individuals traveling all the way to Talronde would feel it’s a waste to just go see the sights—after all, similar experiences can be had with Magic Illusions and memory implants. You must make sure these people feel their journey is worth it, which means coming up with projects that can’t be replicated. For example, you can run ’Wasteland Survival Experiences’ or ’Simulated Talronde Folkways’..."

As Gawain was still talking, Melita couldn’t help but interrupt, "Wasteland survival experience? Doesn’t that sound... dangerous?"

"Ahem, it’s not as you imagine," Gawain cleared his throat twice, forming ideas quickly in his mind, "You definitely can’t really take people into the wasteland for extreme survival, but you could have them partake in activities available only in those areas, in safer spots. Like giving them tools to experience disassembling and recycling dragon architecture, showing them how to filter clean water from polluted water, or getting hands-on with your production machinery..."

The more Melita listened, the more astonished she became, finally interrupting again, "Wait, you’re asking them to work for us—and then charge them?"

"...It’s an experience project," Gawain paused for two seconds and said with a serious face, "And you should give them souvenirs afterwards—like picking an item from the products they helped produce, packaging it nicely. If there’s excess production that you don’t use, you can put it in the stores along the tourist routes and sell it back to other tour groups..."

Melita felt her jaw dropping, so she couldn’t help but ask, "And the so-called simulated Talronde folkways..."

"Those glorious scenes of Old Talronde certainly no longer exist, and you won’t be able to recreate them anytime soon—but the tourists don’t know that. Set up distinctive food, housing, social, and entertainment scenes. If you have the resources, establish more experience zones, claim it’s to let guests ’experience a day in the life of a dragon.’... In any case, your history spans over a million years. I’ve asked before. Over such a long period, you’ve reshaped even the continent’s landforms and the survival modes of your tribes multiple times, so no matter how fantastical the experiences you design are, there’s surely a counterpart in that million-year history—it’s not deceitful to say it...

"You can place this project in the luxury group; charging more should be fine. Participants are mostly aristocrats and wealthy merchants. For them, ’experiencing a dragon’s life’ is even more thrilling than when you inject Enhancers."

Melita’s expression had become somewhat blank: "If you have any more ideas, just share..."

"Indeed, there are still some," Gawain thought for a moment, nodded and said, "For example, you could further refine the tourist projects for different types of people.

"For those interested in Talronde culture, like scholars, you can set up exhibition halls, academic museums or facilities like that, organize and display your collected relics from the ruins, giving simple introductions to their functions and telling one or two related stories. For this knowledge, scholars might even be willing to stay there for a few weeks or more;

"For aristocrats wanting excitement, to show off yet unable to really tread into danger, you can custom design thrilling projects, like flying them over lava lakes or through storm clouds—we all know these things are risk-free for dragons and their protected passengers, but for those who have never experienced it, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Provide memory-capturing services for these projects, documenting the ’valiant postures’ of clients while they challenge themselves—charge for printed memories, sell memory crystals separately, and offer paid mail services...

"Yes, paid mail service could also be a crucial revenue stream—a dragon personally delivering someone’s ’adventure proof’ from the sky to the human world, validating a heroic story before others... Do you know how much the aristocrats would be willing to pay for this moment of boasting? Especially those remaining in Cecil and Typhon, stripped of many privileges, now confined to their family castles reminiscing past glories...

"Of course, this project is likely not sustainable in the long run, as the mysteriousness of dragons to ordinary people declines with more frequent interactions with Loren Continent... but this will take at least ten or even decades."

Melita listened with wide eyes. As soon as Gawain paused, she couldn’t help but ask, "And then?"

"Then... you might also consider some more special projects. Let me give an example: if Talronde opens up, it will certainly attract a lot of adventurers’ interest. Nowadays in Loren Continent, aside from the core wastelands, most lands are claimed, and with the rising trade activities across the continent and the gradual start of major developments in various countries, unexplored areas will become fewer and fewer. Moreover, with the formalization of various security companies and regional defenses, the traditional survival space for adventurers will inevitably be rapidly compressed. In such circumstances, Talronde will become fertile ground for adventurers facing unemployment."

"You can open up some quotas for these adventurers. Their strength might be weak compared to dragons, but their numbers are large, they are full of fighting spirit, and since they have survived in a fiercely competitive environment until now, most of them are quite capable. Set an admission threshold for them, allow adventurers who pass assessments to go to areas they can handle. Aren’t you troubled by the rampant elemental creatures and wandering wraiths in certain areas, continually draining the energy of the rebuilding teams? Let the adventurers deal with those things. Trust me, as long as they’re appropriately distributed and not sent into the depths of the wastelands, just performing some low-intensity clearing tasks in marginal areas, these adventurers from Loren Continent are absolutely professional."

"This way, more dragons will definitely be freed from trivial patrol tasks around the camps – those weaker elemental creatures shouldn’t have consumed so much of the dragons’ energy; they’re excessively affecting your rebuilding progress."

When Gawain spoke here, his expression became more serious. He knew that the matter behind this is not just a matter of "economic benefits" – a land sealed for millions of years is about to open its doors, and no matter what form it connects with Loren Continent, the impact behind these connections is destined to be profound, warranting serious consideration.

Melita listened seriously to Gawain’s words. Initially, there was some doubt in her expression, but as the contemplation deepened, her doubt quickly faded. Upon realizing the feasibility of this matter, she lifted her head: "This is indeed a good idea... everyone can benefit. I think even Speaker Andar might not mind providing appropriate remuneration for those adventurers..."

"Provide what remuneration," Gawain immediately waved his hand, "You should charge them."

Melita: "...Ah?"

"The travel cost to Talronde, registration fee, and the hunting permit processing fee for specific areas," Gawain said as if it were obvious, "Moreover, your hunting permits should be graded – adventurers who just passed the assessment can only patrol and hunt in areas near the camps, only issuing them elementary hunting permits. After proving their strength and accumulating enough experience, they can be given more advanced credentials so they can venture into deeper areas. Anyway, you need to ensure proper supervision and patrol to prevent some reckless adventurers from diving into danger zones and getting killed – this is also being responsible for their lives..."

Melita: "...Then why would those adventurers accept such conditions?"

"Their hunting spoils belong to them," Gawain shrugged, "You probably have no concept of these relatively ’bottom-tier’ matters – do you know that in Loren Continent, elemental creatures and mana spiritual bodies, which have now become rampant in Talronde, are rare and highly valuable prey?"

Melita: "..."

After this, Gawain shared more ideas with Melita – mostly thoughts that had suddenly popped into his mind at this moment. He spoke for a long time, until darkness thickened outside the window, and large patches of light illuminated the town, only then did those superficial ideas gradually form a systematic framework.

Melita’s expression had become somewhat wooden.

Once Gawain’s explanation finally came to an end, the blue dragon lady couldn’t help but stare into Gawain’s eyes, and after a while finally broke the silence: "...The world says dragons are greedy, obsessed with treasure, skilled in plundering wealth and accumulating valuables..."

"Don’t say it like that, most of that was made up by you guys when you came to the human world to travel and wrote novels," Gawain immediately waved his hand, "The world didn’t say that."

"...Alright, let’s not discuss these little details," Melita coughed twice, "What I’m trying to say is – indeed, Dragonkin are keen on collecting treasures, good at accumulating wealth, but now I suddenly feel you are more dragon-like than us Dragonkin..."

Gawain thought carefully, and the more he thought, the less right it seemed: "Why does that sound like an insult?"

"That’s a heartfelt compliment," Melita said sincerely, "Your ideas truly surprised me."

"So what’s your assessment?" Gawain asked, "How do you find my plans?"

Melita thoughtfully lowered her head, only after a while did she softly say: "I once did write stories about evil dragons coming to the human world to plunder wealth. Some of my kin are also keen to fabricate ’villain-themed novels’ in this aspect, but now I realize robbery isn’t the quickest way to make money... your ideas are even tougher than robbing."

Gawain: "...I still feel like you’re insulting me."

"It’s truly a compliment, and it’s heartfelt," Melita laughed, and that laughter carried a sudden sense of relaxation and joy, "I must thank you, thank you for your suggestions... Talronde has a sophisticated civilization, but my kin have been raised into ’infants’ by Omega. After leaving Omega, we found ourselves lacking even basic survival skills and experience in external communication. Without your suggestions... I really don’t know how we can take the first step toward revitalization."