Finally, it was time for Michael to embark on this new chapter of his life. His parents, Beretta, Sebastian, and the rest of the maids and butlers all gathered at the entrance, watching as Michael packed the last of his belongings into his automobile.
He didn't have much baggage. He just needed some clothes and some snacks to eat along the way. Most of the space was used to store extra fuel for the trip.
"Be careful with your journey, Young Master! We're rooting for you!" Beretta and the rest of the maids wiped a tear from their eyes as they looked at the Young Master.
They couldn't believe that he was leaving the nest so soon.
Their lives became infinitely more interesting and comfortable ever since Michael came into their lives. Although it was unfortunate they couldn't join him in his journey today, they hoped that they would be able to do it someday.
"When you come back, I'll be able to beat you at chess, Young Master." Sebastian and the rest of the butlers bowed towards him.
"Unlikely!" Michael joked back, making Sebastian laugh.
"Son, I know you'll do great out there! I'll miss you," his father said, hugging Michael.
"What do you mean? He'll be right here with us at all times!" Lylia said, pointing at Michael Too. "But…just a part of him will go…even so…I'll miss that…"
Finally, she acknowledged the real Michael and gave him a big hug.
Michael bid a teary goodbye to his parents and everyone else.
He hopped onto his automobile and started the engine. If he continued to stay here, he would probably get a lot more emotional than he wanted.
So, he quickly drove the carriage away from the Vanderbilt estate with nothing but a map to lead him to the Parched Lands.
…
…
…
If Michael used a horse-drawn carriage, the whole trip would have taken more than a month with multiple stop-bys.
But with the automobile, it would only take him about fifteen days to reach his destination without having to visit any nearby villages or cities.
He would have arrived much sooner, but there wasn't exactly any smooth highway that led his car directly toward the Parched Lands.
The days passed until the luscious green and forest scenery slowly tapered off, replaced by hard, dry ground with barely a blade of grass growing in its midst.
[This is the optimal place to build your house.] ChatJK2 said.
Michael was smack dab in the middle of the Parched Lands. He wasn't in the very deep end, but he also wasn't too near the other civilizations that bordered around the uninhabited territory.
This was the perfect place because there was still some greenery and forestry on one side and a desolate desert on the other. He had the best of both worlds.
He could plant some crops to sustain himself and still be near enough to the oil depository that the Parched Lands was so famous for.
With his hands on his waist and a can-do attitude, Michael was ready to begin.
Well then ChatJK2, let's start building, shall we?
The four elemental mana burst out from Michael's cores and flowed to the veins in his hand, making his body glow four different colors.
Suddenly, multiple trees on the forest side of his territory were uprooted from the ground and slowly floated towards his side.
Then, visible wind gusts that resembled a blade suddenly appeared in the air, slicing the trees into a uniform block with perfect accuracy.
Mounds of rock emerged from the ground, creating a large foundation for his eventual house.
Only mages could understand the complexity of what Michael was doing right now. Not only was he casting spells with different elemental mana, but he was also casting them at the same time with absolute ease!
Michael had increased his mastery over 1-star and 2-star magic so much that he could simply think about what he wanted to achieve, and the mana in his body automatically moved the way he wanted them to move.
And with the help of ChatJK2, he simply had to watch as his new house got built using magic!
It took less than half a day to finally construct his little cabin in the middle of nowhere, made out of both stone and wood. Since he made it from scratch, Michael used modern architecture and style to make him feel even more at home.
The house wasn't too large like his parents' mansion, just enough for a two-story family home that was popular back in his previous life.
The kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, and the bedroom were made out of simple materials, but exuded casual elegance. His house looked like one of those summer house cottages that rich millionaires had back in his previous life.
Now that the basics were done, his next order of business was the most exciting part for him.
He wanted to power his house with electricity!
He constructed a new home with electricity already in mind. He created the electrical system along with the plumbing system in the very structure of the house itself.
Now, he just needed an energy source to connect them to.
Of course, he already had a plan in mind for that. He was going to build a Steam Turbine!
The principle was simple. He just had to heat water, which would turn into steam. That steam would then travel through pipes and cause the turbine blades to spin rapidly, which would be converted into electrical energy through a generator.
ChatJK2 handled all the specifics and the main blueprint for the plans, while Michael was in charge of procuring the materials for the large project.
Not only that, he also had to find an oil deposit where he could dig up for fuel.
So, on the second day of moving into the Parched Lands, Michael journeyed deeper into the desolated parts of the territory in search of a place that was rich in Earth mana.
But as he journeyed through the desert-like environment of the Parched Lands, he suddenly heard a notification from ChatJK2.
[Superior Golden Nose skill activated.]
[There is a high likelihood that you will encounter individuals with high talent.]