Chapter 0002: Budding

Chris, who had not rested well, stretched lazily and, yawning continuously, opened his mouth to command: "Come in! ... ... What is it?"

This is a typical case of shifting contradictions. The Arant Empire is similar to a comprador, as it offloads its tax obligations onto the surrounding small countries and lords, thereby alleviating its own pressure and even reaping some benefits

Strid did not respond to his colleagues, but instead shook his head anxiously, indicating his stance

General Vagrong entered Chris's chamber with his longsword at his waist and reported, "The parts you requested have all been completed by the blacksmiths"

His three subordinates indeed possess some abilities, and soon they made Chris aware of all the assets at his disposal

Alright! Now let us witness the marvels of industrial civilization together!" Chris moved his shoulders and neck, rubbing his wrists as he walked over to the pile of parts.

Chris nodded and let Vagrong leave, then he casually had a bit of dinner before locking himself in the study again, staying up until the candles burned out, and only then did he return to the bedroom to rest

"Alright." Chris shrugged, feeling a sense of resigned acceptance. Now he could only plan slowly and cautiously explore the developments.

As a lord, Alanthir Chris commands a formidable cavalry force of 300 men, along with a garrison of approximately 1,000 city defenders

The city of Selis is situated on a major transportation route, and it is home to many small workshops. The agricultural production is also relatively good, with an annual income of approximately 1,000 gold coins

Good news is not absent: since dragons can be killed by mortals, it seems they are not invincible. If Chris really manages to create an anti-aircraft gun, it is likely that slaying dragons would not be a difficult task

Sigh... If the divine truly cared for this land, how could it allow this place to become a forbidden realm of magic, subjecting us to such torment?" Deans sighed with a sense of loneliness as he watched Chris's distant figure fade away

Chris did not hear the discussions of his subordinates as he walked down the corridor, and under the guidance of Wageron, he arrived at the door of his office. Two guards stood at the entrance, clearly indicating that during his unconsciousness, the rules within the castle had not been disrupted.

How many soldiers does this lord actually have, how many properties are under his name, and what extent of power does he possess... Please explain it to me in detail." After glancing at the steak in front of him, Chris found himself even less inclined to eat, and thus quickly entered a state of work.

Because there is no magical aura, it is not suitable for wizards to reside and practice here. Those powerful magical empires look down on this place, only allowing us to manage it and pay taxes, indirectly ruling over us. Deans added: The Arant Empire is a powerful mortal empire nearby

What made Chris somewhat displeased was the complexity of the noble attire in this world. He felt quite irritated while getting dressed and had to rely on the attendants for assistance. After much effort, he finally managed to step outside, and only then did his expression improve somewhat

Why are we being taxed? Do you know the reason?" Chris pondered for a moment and then asked Deans.

Although the craftsmen only received the blueprints last night and are unaware of the exact purpose of the items they are creating, they are still diligently working to produce the components for which they are responsible. After all, this is an order from the lord, and it is said that it can also be used for tax deductions and even rewards

Unfortunately, just as he was getting intimate with the quilt, someone outside suddenly announced, forcing him to abandon the tender moment and return to the harshness of reality

Soon, he began to rummage through his mind for some design blueprints from the Industrial Revolution period, and started to write and draw on the blueprints with a quill pen

Another major source of revenue is tolls, which yield an annual surplus of approximately 100 gold coins. However, increasing tolls carries risks; if our tolls are too high, the number of passing merchants and travelers will decrease, and the income will not significantly increase, Dean said

From any perspective, before the tax was imposed, the city of Selis was a pleasant place. Unfortunately, now that Chris has just arrived, the good days have come to an end

"Who says that increasing production capacity necessarily requires a large workforce?" Chris once again wore a confident smile on his face—he had far more solutions in this regard than the people before him, because in another world, a car production line does not need many workers.

Vagron took the blueprint and immediately nodded in agreement, saying: "My lord, I will go right away! We have the best craftsmen, and they can create the finest armor!"

As the sun set behind the western mountains, the light began to dim. Vagrong knocked on Lord Chris's door, making him aware of the passage of time, prompting him to temporarily cease his drawing.

So soon? That's wonderful! At that moment, Kristen was completely awake, scratching his head as he jumped out of bed and began to put on his clothes

The room filled with books gives it a charming atmosphere, and the large glass windows behind me let in more sunlight, making this place much brighter than the interior of the castle

The knowledge in his mind may not yet be applicable to matters such as the Dragon-Slaying Competition, but improving some productivity to simplify the work of carpenters would undoubtedly be a matter of ease.

Do you think ... ... the adults are really okay now?" At this point, Deans asked Stride beside him with a hint of guilt.

It seems that we can only find a way to improve these specialties for now; increasing production capacity might be a good idea. Chris made up his mind and spoke to the several vassals in front of him

Having said that, he took the lead and walked out, while Vageron, feeling somewhat uneasy, hurriedly followed, seemingly afraid that the somewhat deranged Chris might once again contemplate taking his own life.

At this moment, Chris had to confront the harsh reality, diverting his gaze from the exquisitely crafted dragon-slaying mural: "Does the Arant Empire have dragons?"

As noon approached the next day, Chris had yet to open his eyes. Having only fallen asleep in the latter half of the night, he planned to engage in a romantic affair with his blanket today

I can draw some parts, and if our blacksmith can manufacture these parts, it will make the remaining work much simpler. He stood up from the dining table, eager to try, and said: "When I was unconscious, I heard the divine instructions given to me! God has shown me the way, and under God's protection, Selis will become the most magnificent city in this world"

The other party clenched his fist and placed it on his chest to salute Chris, who then pushed the door and entered his room. The furnishings inside were more luxurious than Chris had imagined, indicating that the previous owner of this place had a good understanding of life.

Compared to the clearly defined specialized processing bases of later generations, the craftsmen in the factories here still work together in a chaotic and disorganized manner

Indeed, we are all mere mortals abandoned by the divine... I have been aware of this since I was two years old." Stride sighed in agreement.

Next to the blacksmith's shop is the carpenter's workshop, separated by a water channel for fire prevention purposes. Everywhere is bustling with activity, and the sound of sawing wood in the carpenter's workshop rises and falls.

Have enough candles sent here, as I will need them in the evening. Also, find a few more candle holders; one is simply not enough" Chris stretched, glanced at the setting sun, and then gave a series of instructions to the servant who had followed Waggon in.

Of course, even the weakest magical empire can easily crush mortal nations—they have dragon knights, they have magicians... we are simply no match for them. As if it were prearranged, Stride was the third to speak, introducing: "Your grandfather was granted the title of Lord of Celis City for his meritorious service in a battle against the invasion of wild giant dragons."

He has a head of black hair, which, according to the servant, is a hereditary trait passed down from the Ailanshill family. Chris is very fond of his current well-proportioned figure and also greatly appreciates his handsome face—last night he looked in the mirror, and this face can truly be described as impeccably handsome

"Not at all," Vagrong replied. "The Arant Empire, along with the surrounding kingdoms and numerous noble castles, is a realm of 'mortals.' There is no trace of magic here, nor any magical creatures."

If dragons truly exist in this world, then there must certainly be other strange and peculiar things, such as other monsters, magic, and, furthermore, races beyond humanity

I will prepare some things here; just come find me at dinner time. Chris pushed Guvalong out the door and then closed the door.

The blueprints from the period before and after the Industrial Revolution were not particularly sophisticated, and Chris had to add annotations for others to understand these components

Deans gave a wry smile and replied, "My lord, the Arant Empire also has to pay taxes to the more powerful magical empire to the west. As for why the prices have increased, whether they rise or not depends entirely on the mood of those wizards"

Do we have any specialties? Chris, who found no good solutions for cost-cutting, turned his attention to revenue generation.

Our craftsmen are limited; whether they are carpenters or carpenter apprentices, they are already working tirelessly. Stride seems to be the person in charge of this matter, and he began to explain: "It is the same over at the iron ore site. If we conscript more civilians, it will affect agricultural production, and discontent will spread, causing the freemen in the territory to migrate away"

Chris forced a grim smile, concealing his shock: it seemed that his understanding of common sense was of no use in this world

We have a very special metal called Huijian, which is very hard and lightweight, making it an excellent material for crafting weapons. " Stride replied, "Additionally, we have a carpentry workshop where we can produce some furniture of good quality, which is quite favored by the nobility.

In this situation, it is difficult to say whether the golden finger in his mind is as powerful as imagined

Once the attendant left the study, Chris rolled up the thick stack of blueprints on the table and handed it to Wageron: "Wageron! You must personally go to the workshop, find the craftsmen, and have them manufacture these parts! Do it as quickly as possible, and once they are completed, I will reward you!"

If more profitable methods can be found, paying the heavy tax of 1,000 gold coins would no longer be a difficult task

Chris nodded, having gained some understanding of the current situation. The issues that needed to be resolved were actually not many, at least not in his view.