After helping his sister gather the scattered fragments, Ouyang Tao tucked them away to reassemble later. By then, Ouyang Xue’s mood had gradually improved, and the siblings headed back to school together.

News of their acceptance into Augustus College had already spread through town. Crowds gathered at the school to congratulate them, eager to catch a glimpse of the seaside town’s once-in-a-century prodigy mage.

The moment Ouyang Xue appeared, people swarmed around her. A flicker of panic crossed her face as she instinctively turned to seek help: "Brother, I... I..." Her voice trailed off. "Huh?"

Ouyang Tao had vanished without a trace.

Five or six kilometers from the school lay the town’s lifeline—the Shipyard Forge, source of three-quarters of its annual tax revenue. Massive and fully equipped, its cranes and dry docks were visible from afar. With four slipways and two giant dry docks, it built everything from hundred-ton river barges to ten-thousand-ton ocean freighters—even warships. It was hard to believe such heavy industry existed in a remote coastal town.

Yet the shipyard’s true marvel wasn’t its scale. It was Ouyang Tao.

He hadn’t joined the celebrations. He knew the fuss at school was all for his sister—not him. Besides, he had urgent work to do.

Clocking in, he changed into work clothes, snapped on a safety helmet, and clipped his "Chief Engineer" badge to his chest. Slipping a metallic glove onto his left hand, he strode out of the locker room. Workers called out warmly as he passed:

"Yo, Tao! Early today!"

"Yeah, heh."

"Heard you and your sister got in—congrats!"

"Just luck, really. Heh."

"The boss is waiting at Slipway Four. Practically crying, ha!"

"Better hurry then."

Sure enough, mountains of materials awaited him at Slipway Four.

"Ouyang! Thank the stars you’re here!" The shipyard boss—a middle-aged man in a suit, belly straining against his buttons—rushed over. "This order’s urgent. They’ll send inspectors in three hours!"

"What ship?" Ouyang Tao held out his hand. A worker immediately placed blueprints and specs in his palm.

"Two five-thousand-ton barges. Half-day delivery. Triple pay. Can you handle it?" The boss waggled three fingers before his eyes.

Ouyang Tao studied the diagrams silently, memorizing every detail. "Enough materials?"

"Plenty!"

"Leave it to me."

"Clear the area! Ouyang’s starting!" The boss shooed workers away.

Eyes closed, Ouyang Tao visualized the barge’s structure. Mana surged from his body into the raw materials. Magic Arrays flickered above the piles like miniature factories—melting, refining, shaping parts. Above his left palm, a luminous orb woven from countless arrays pulsed as the central control hub. His right hand guided the construction through it.

At the slipway’s ends, two massive Magic Arrays emerged, gliding toward each other. A keel materialized between them. Prefabricated parts teleported onto the frame, welding and assembling in flashes of light. Within minutes, a complete barge stood ready.

Ouyang Tao could finish in minutes what normally took two months—yet he couldn’t even cast a simple fireball. He was the "dumb giant" who defied magic’s rules.

He didn’t mind. *Everyone has strengths and sacrifices*, he thought.

After launching the first barge, he built the second. This was his job—and his lifeline to fund his sister’s education. The boss would pay handsomely.

"Final checks done. Should be fine." He wiped his brow. "Boss, I’ll head to the other workshops now."

As Chief Engineer, he handled designs, technical breakthroughs, and emergency orders. The role granted him full access to the shipyard’s facilities—perfect for side projects to save for Augustus College’s tuition deposits.

"Wait, Ouyang! Come chat a moment." Today, the boss insisted, dragging him to his office.

On the third floor, the boss shut the door and drew the curtains. "Sit, sit! Drink?" His tone was uncharacteristically deferential—Ouyang Tao was the shipyard’s golden goose.

After small talk, he leaned in: "Heard about Augustus College. Congratulations!"

"Just luck. My sister earned it," Ouyang Tao replied, already guessing the request.

"But when you leave... this shipyard loses half its strength! We were about to bid for military contracts next year..." The boss’s voice trembled with anxiety.

Ouyang Tao smiled. "I’ll still have three months of holidays each year to help out."

The boss’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

"You’ve supported us for years. And with tuition coming up..."

"Ah! Yes! Expenses add up!" The boss suddenly thrust an envelope into his hands. "A little gift. For your success."

"Thanks." Ouyang Tao pocketed it without hesitation. "Back to work now."

"Of course, of course..."

As Ouyang Tao left, workers exchanged quiet sighs.

"Poor kid. Boss tricked him again."

"Can’t watch. A few hundred silver coins and he’s satisfied."

"Kind hearts get walked on..."

Everyone knew the boss exploited him. Some had warned Ouyang Tao, but he’d just smile and say, "Doesn’t matter."

Money meant nothing to him. Only his sister’s future did.