Sailorpes looked at the dejected Xiao Xun. "Don't worry, since you were able to come to this world, it means you must possess great energy within you, you just haven't discovered it yet."
Xiao Xun kicked the straw on the ground. "Your Majesty, please don't comfort me. If I could really use magic, why was there no reaction in that temple today? I wish I had even a little dark magic, at least then others wouldn't dare to provoke me."
"How can you have such a mindset? How about this! There's a national library in the city center. You can find sixty percent of the books in this world there, and there are countless magic books. Why don't you go to the library, perhaps you'll have an unexpected harvest."
Better than nothing, Xiao Xun agreed. "Alright then!"
The library would be inconvenient for the Queen to visit, so she sent her captain of the guard to accompany him.
After explaining his identity and purpose to the curator, he was warmly received.
"May I ask which school of magic Lord Swain wishes to peruse?"
Facing the curator's enthusiastic inquiry, Xiao Xun shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Do you have the most beginner, beginner-level magic practice books? Preferably children's basic textbooks."
The curator looked at the accompanying captain of the guard in confusion, and the captain was equally clueless.
Seeing the two unsure how to answer, Xiao Xun asked, "Don't you teach magic from a young age here?"
Although the curator didn't understand why the Marquis would ask such a simplistic question, he patiently explained due to Xiao Xun's status, "Magic is just magic, there are no levels. It depends on one's talent. Those with high talent wield greater magical power, while those with lower talent have less power, and some cannot master it at all."
Xiao Xun understood. This magic only had cultivation methods, not mental cultivation.
Mental cultivation had to be understood through oneself, while cultivation methods were a technique based on mental cultivation. It was like knowing why one plus one equals two, then you naturally know two plus two equals four, and four plus four equals eight.
He took a deep breath. "Where are the children's books?"
The curator offered to take him, but Xiao Xun declined and also asked the captain of the guard to return to the castle, as he wanted to wander alone. He went to the so-called children's literature section, which was mostly fairy tales. The storytelling here was much more potent than elsewhere. The most famous were the 'Ant Village' fairy tales, which generally told stories of monsters slaughtering villages, and then a young hero overcoming immense hardship to finally defeat them.
Xiao Xun browsed through a few stories, frowning. "Is this really suitable for children?"
"Is it not good for children to know the harshness of this world from an early age?"
A man wearing a monocle approached Xiao Xun. His eye sockets were deep, his nose pointed, and his voice was somewhat effeminate, as if someone were pinching his throat. It would be a shame if he weren't reading imperial edicts to the Queen.
Xiao Xun looked at him. "And you are?"
He adjusted his clothes. "I am the renowned fairy tale author, Otis Pen. This year's bestselling author, ranked tenth."
Upon hearing that the other person was an author, Xiao Xun extended his hand for a handshake. To his surprise, the other person arrogantly raised his head. "My hand can only be held by nobles, and only while wearing white velvet gloves."
Xiao Xun withdrew his hand upon hearing this. "Apologies for the intrusion."
After looking around, apart from fairy tales with and without illustrations, there were some books with mind-numbingly low intelligence. Of course, not all of them were beneath Xiao Xun's notice.
From two books, "History Omniscient" and "Chronicles of the Nation," he gained a general understanding of the continent, its countries, races, and the events that had transpired between them.
Xiao Xun only skimmed through them, as he really disliked reading history books, especially history that had nothing to do with him. It was like playing a game and fast-forwarding through the opening animations, prologues, and NPC monologues. Xiao Xun didn't want to understand the plot; he just wanted to enjoy the ride.
By the time he finished these books, it was nearly dark. He quickly headed out, because while missing dinner was fine, getting back would be a huge problem.
Fortunately, the captain of the guard was still waiting for him at the entrance. From a distance, he saluted. "Lord Swain, you've finished."
Xiao Xun knew he was being addressed. He really couldn't figure out why people here spoke with the same accent as him, yet their names were so Westernized. Was it for the sound? He didn't understand what was so pleasant about it.
However, as the captain called out, a sharp voice shouted from the side, "Look at what I've done, I didn't recognize you, my esteemed Marquis."
It was Otis Pen. He wore a smile, as if greeting a long-lost friend, and extended his hand.
Xiao Xun pointed at him. "Stay put. There is only one person whose hand I will allow to touch mine, and that is our great Queen."
With that, he left the national library with the captain of the guard, leaving Otis Pen looking embarrassed.
But Xiao Xun didn't know that offending anyone was better than offending an author, because you never knew what kind of character you would become in their works, especially a fairy tale author.
Although this country had entered the age of electricity, it had not discovered petroleum, so there were no gasoline-powered cars. However, they had something better: magic stones.
Cars powered by magic stones not only ran fast but were also low-carbon, environmentally friendly, had a long lifespan, and eliminated the hassle of refueling. A normal magic stone could power a three-ton car for tens of thousands of kilometers at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
Of course, the heavier the vehicle, the shorter the distance it could travel, but this applied only to ordinary magic stones. There were more advanced magic stones that greatly extended the cruising range.
Sitting in the magic car, Xiao Xun thought, "If I could bring these magic stones to that world, it would surely spark an energy revolution."
He returned to the castle just in time for dinner. After eating food that looked rich but tasted bland.
Sailorpes, despite her elegant demeanor, struggled with every bite. She wished Xiao Xun would just take over the kitchen.
The first time he ate, Xiao Xun felt like he had to snatch his food, after all, how long could a violin piece be? But now, he wished the violin would finish playing quickly so he could end this banquet.
Finally, when the violinist played the last note and bowed thankfully, everyone stopped their actions. Even if they were chewing food, they had to wait for Queen Sailorpes to leave before they could spit it out or swallow it.
Back in the bedroom, Sailorpes looked at Xiao Xun. "Do you know? Ever since I visited that world, I feel like I'm never full when I return."
"No wonder you have such a good figure. If you were always full in every world, then..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Sailorpes' murderous gaze, causing Xiao Xun to swallow his words. At this moment, his identity was a subject of the Queen. Even if he returned to that world, he would have to respectfully address Sailorpes as: CEO Mu.