Chapter 1787 - 497: The Train Enters the Hero's Nation (Part 2)

So he actually saved a big sum of money?

"... Go ahead." Mr. Horace tried to maintain an imposing demeanor without anger, suppressing his excitement as he sternly ordered, "Rent the warehouse next door, we need to expand production... We can't let our competitors earn this money!"

Elsey nodded enthusiastically.

"Alright, boss! By the way, could you find me an assistant? Even an apprentice would do! You see, I'm handling accounting work and helping you with business deals, it's really hard to manage everything—"

"Hire two." Mr. Horace waved his hand, after spending big money, he wasn't too concerned about this little expense.

"Yes, sir!"

Elsey excitedly ran out the door and respectfully closed it behind him.

Watching the figure disappear at the doorway of the office, Mr. Horace couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

He found himself surrounded by so many smart people, even smarter than him, leaving him as the boss momentarily bewildered about how he made his fortune?

In any case, letting this guy be an accountant really undersells his talent.

Perhaps he should make him the factory manager.

Leaning against the creaky office chair, Mr. Horace gazed at the dusty ceiling, contemplating the future of this factory seriously for the first time.

While expanding overseas markets and searching where to make money next, Horace Textile Factory always needed someone to manage it.

Perhaps, he could try expanding the factory's management team appropriately...

...

A week after the resolution to expand Parliament was proclaimed, the "generous" Mr. Horace ultimately didn't close his factory.

Just like his textile workers, who despite complaining about leaving, mostly ended up staying.

In this mediocre era, a manager with some morals was far better than those without.

No matter what he thought internally, he indeed was the first to offer silver pounds as a salary, making him a "good man".

The same applies to Mr. Horace in his distress.

When he laid out the map, pondering where to go, he eventually sighed and closed the map.

Nowhere along the Northeast Shore of Vortex Sea was more suitable for running a factory than the Campbell Duchy.

More open places lacked people, places with more people weren't open; even if he intended to relocate his factory, where could he move it?

This world ultimately belonged to Saint Sith and the Emperor, unless he moved the factory to Hell, Campbell Lords were inevitable like pre-dinner bread.

Moreover, the "Sixth Bill" wasn't immediately passed; Duke Edward merely expanded the Parliament's scale, making previously unnegotiable topics negotiable.

What truly unnerved Mr. Horace were those lawmakers vying for citizens' support, who, selling their souls to demons, were using their eloquence to promise unreachable benefits from Thunder City.

Thunder City's newspapers were no exception, nor were those loudly chattering in taverns, teahouses, and restaurants... Overnight, they seemed to become the masters of this Duchy.

The Duke's wallet had never been so devoted to public affairs, as livestock from farms attempted to negotiate with those shearing sheep and milking cows.

Is this right?

Mr. Horace couldn't help but worry that once these bumpkins tasted benefits, it might lead the flourishing Campbell Duchy down a path of no return...

Interestingly, Mr. Horace's concern wasn't unique, as many influential bankers and large factory owners in Thunder City shared similar worries.

However, they were unlike a miser who hesitated for hours to buy a new outfit; their intelligence and initiative were intact.

These fox-like cunning individuals wouldn't sit at home lamenting; they leaped into action, searching for suitable candidates or striving to become city councilors themselves.

Edward's expansion of Parliament didn't signify brandishing a Slaughter Knife at the wealthy, but merely increased the cost of buying poor souls.

Originally, they needed only to buy off guild leaders or those families that monopolized guilds for centuries to win, yet now guilds' prominence was further diminished, and they had to buy off more people.

Perhaps the original version of the "Sixth Bill" still couldn't pass, as many aspects were too advanced for this era.

But even a compromised amendment would bring some warmth to the slums just emerging from winter.

If Erin's governance program was the continuation of ancient feudal law under the Holy Light's guidance, embodying the most nurturing aspect of Charismatic leadership—namely, a Lord's duty to protect his people from starvation and cold.

Then Edward led his people to a colder, more realistic land with his iron fist—

Going forward, Campbell people will no longer fantasize about the master's mercy but will seek new social relations and orders in civilization's game.

Everyone can be a Priest.

Or a Lord.

In the spring of Aus Calendar 1054, humanistic thoughts emerged for the first time along the Northeast Shore of the Vortex Sea, something the "Mechanical God" forgot to bring to his people.

In these days of melting ice and snow, Duke Edward Campbell, full of ambition, and newly promoted "Junior Sergeant" Laman, were both pondering the Duchy's future.