Chapter 38 Beware of Humans

"What are the territorial taxes like?"

Flora asked again.

Lin An replied, "I previously promised Miss Wang of Shun Kingdom that there would be no tax on farming, including vegetables, fruits, and personal handicrafts. I think that in the future, the island's tax revenue will mainly come from trade in goods brought about by tourism."

Flora remained noncommittal.

Lin An continued, "I have a rudimentary idea right now: islands, with their technology that surpasses Earth's era and their tourism industry that spans the world, can certainly make a lot of money. If I wanted to make money, I could easily make hundreds of billions."

But this money comes from Earth. The island's inhabitants and I cannot seize too much of the fruits of Earth's labor. If we want to exchange it for Earth goods, we must rely on our own labor or other forms of value.

After they finished speaking, the two elves were both deep in thought. Their tall figures walked along the muddy shore, creating a unique kind of beauty.

"Mr. Lin An".

Flora turned to him and smiled, "I have a feeling you will become a great man."

Lin An expressed his shame.

Amberley said, "I think Lin An, your idea is very good. This spaceship is very powerful, and we need to use its power with great restraint and remain clear-headed and rational."

Lin An looked at her; the elfin girl's appearance was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Flora smiled, then suddenly asked, "Mr. Lin An, have you ever heard of the right of first night?"

"...What?"

Lin An didn't react for a moment. The appearance of elves is very deceptive, especially Amberlie and Flora. They have nothing to do with seductive and decadent; they have a pure and refreshing temperament.

Flora laughed and said, "The right of first night, it is said, is a practice where human nobles, in order to demonstrate the power of their lords, order young girls in their territory to serve them."

"..."

Lin An looked at her, then at Amberley, and saw that the pure and holy elven girl was somewhat shy, clearly uncomfortable with these matters.

He said, "First of all, I am not a lord, but merely the owner of the island. Secondly, the earth has shed its former ignorance and barbarity, and such a thing is impossible to happen again. Finally, my moral compass would not allow me to do such a thing."

After a pause, Lin An laughed and said, "Even though I have an alien spaceship and the power to rule the world, I won't do that. It's too much trouble."

"Does Mr. Lin An have the power to rule over eight billion people?"

Flora expressed surprise.

Lin An smiled. Alien spaceships could absolutely crush modern technology, which was why he dared to sleep in front of global satellites.

Flora apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Lin An. I've heard it said that humans are more terrifying than dragons overflowing with love."

"What do you mean?"

Lin An turned his head and saw that Amberly's porcelain-like face was slightly flushed, and Flora was also blushing. She said, "In our world, when dragons have a desire to reproduce, they often do many incomprehensible things, which is why many races with dragon blood have been left on the continent."

Flora laughed and said, "Humans also have desires just as strong as dragons, so I think that when discussing the future of the island with Mr. Lin An, not discussing desires is tantamount to not really understanding you."

Lin An then felt somewhat at ease and smiled, "I understand your concerns. Elves are a beautiful and elegant race, and to be honest, I'm also attracted to them, but—"

"Is Mr. Lin An interested in me?"

Flora interrupted him, asking with a slight smile, not at all shy.

"certainly!"

Lin An nodded and praised her beauty.

Flora smiled shyly, "Thank you for your compliment, but unfortunately I am already a thousand years old, which is considered old among elves."

Lin An said, "If you're considered old, then there aren't many young girls on Earth."

Amberlie barely spoke the whole time, and just glanced at him.

Flora gazed at the distant sea and said softly, "Human emotions are intense, something elves lack, especially in love. This is why many elves fall in love with humans. It's not that elves simply like intense emotions, but rather that they've experienced this unfamiliar feeling and are willing to embrace it."

Lin An nodded. In modern terms, long-lived and short-lived species have many different ideas.

But he always felt that Flora was implying something.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "I am an adult among humans, and of course I also yearn for love, but it's not about falling in love with someone just because they're pretty. Rather, I'd like to pursue a spiritual connection, a tacit understanding between us that doesn't need to be spoken. It's about mutual affection."

Amberley finally spoke: "Love makes people happy? I feel happy when I'm with my friends, is that love? I'm afraid not."

Lin An smiled, wanting to say that he didn't understand either, but seeing her beautiful face, he swallowed his words.

Flora recalled the scene of Lil and Lin An sitting in front of the cabin door.

She knew of men and women who fell in love at first sight.

"Young Master Lin!!"

Just then, a girl's voice came from afar; it was Wang Wanxiu.

Lin An walked back with the two women and introduced the thousand-year-old Flora to Wang Wanxiu.

Wang Wanxiu has become numb to the ages of elves; almost every elf is older than her, so she just treats them with the respect due to a junior.

"Did Miss Wang experience war?" Flora looked at her, nodded and sighed, "Every few years, humans try to enter the Frosty Mist Forest to escape. I've been there a few times, and they suffer from famine just like Miss Wang. The suffering brought by war is the same in every world."

"Perhaps there is no paradise in the world," Flora said, looking at Amberley.

The elves have always been searching for a home free from conflict.

Lil looked at Lin An, as if to say that this was the paradise she considered.

But now is not the time to talk about these things.

Wang Wanxiu reported to Lin Anbing: "Yesterday afternoon, my father, brother and others told the people about the young master and the island without any concealment, and also said that there were demons, elves and other people living on the island."

"How is the public's reaction?" Lin An asked.

Unless forced into a corner, anyone would be wary of an unfamiliar world, especially one with legendary monsters on the island.

Wang Wanxiu was a little embarrassed and said in a low voice, "Many people are arguing and questioning, afraid that monsters and spirits will eat them. However, more people are willing to come to the island to work for the young master. They don't ask for three taels of silver a month, but only hope to have enough to eat and wait until the war is over before deciding whether to go back."

Lin An nodded and said, "As expected. You don't need to persuade those who don't want to come. Let them decide for themselves, and let them go back or stay in the future."

"Very well, as you wish, young master."

Wang Wanxiu said softly, "I can tell that Young Master Lin doesn't care about the coming and going of ten or twenty thousand people. Whether they come or not is a matter of fate."

"There's one more thing," she added.

"Speak," Lin An said with a smile, telling her not to hesitate.

"Prefect Li Boyi of the city wishes to see the young master, and my father asked me to convey his message."

"oh."

Lin An thought for a moment and said, "It's best for the boss to show up once when recruiting. How about this, I'll go to your place in a couple of days and have this Prefect Li come over then."

Wang Wanxiu was surprised, and felt a little ashamed. Her family was now living under the tree, and she really couldn't afford to entertain Young Master Lin...

But then she saw that the young master also lived on a barren island, just like her.

Wang Wanxiu smiled and said, "Alright, I'll go back and tell my father, and he can send someone to inform the prefect."