Chapter 553: So You Are Mr. Emperor
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"That over there is South Colson's industrial zone." Hobert pointed to the wilderness formed by the angel-level battle: "Currently, all industrial products in the South Colson area need to be imported, and even daily necessities are very expensive.
"So in my plan, the industrial zone will focus on producing daily necessities, and the first factory will start construction in May.
"I heard it's a tableware factory, because most people in the entire South Colson area are still using wooden bowls and wooden spoons, and many people have never seen metal tableware in their lives.
"To be honest, metal tableware is more durable, but considering local customs, ceramic tableware will definitely be produced. In the future, when everyone's quality of life improves, there will also be porcelain tableware."
Azik took a deep breath: "I have also met some officials, but to be honest, they all give me the feeling that they are just muddling through their days in their positions.
"You are different. You know your territory like the back of your hand, which is actually a remarkable thing."
Hobert thought to himself that it was only because the requirements for officials were too low now. In the territory under his rule, there would be absolutely no officials who held positions without doing any work!
Azik took a sip of wine: "Why does this wine have the flavor of the Backlund region?"
"That's right, this is exactly what I brought from Backlund." Hobert said with some embarrassment. He couldn't taste the so-called flavor and characteristics of the wine at all.
In his mouth, he always felt that the taste of wine was similar. He was too embarrassed to ask others what the difference was in the taste of wine. He just nodded to whatever others said.
At this time, the train came to the best viewing position again. Unlike the scenery Hobert saw when he entertained other guests before, the West Bank also became part of this beautiful scenery, because many places there already had vigorous vitality.
It's just that the vitality still has a forced element at this time. The local situation is special, and a thorough agricultural reform has not yet been carried out.
Hobert had previously discussed this matter with Conrad and others. A thorough land reform would not be carried out until the second half of this year, and it would be carried out in two batches. The area previously ruled by the Blood Sanctify Sect would be redistributed after the wheat harvest, and the area ruled by the Aurora Order would be redistributed after the autumn harvest.
All of this would be carried out after the current government demonstrated its new agricultural policy, which would be more conducive to carrying out the land redistribution work.
Next, Hobert introduced the construction of the hotel to Azik, as well as the construction of entertainment facilities on the hillside.
Most of those entertainment facilities are also open to ordinary tourists, including a live shooting experience range, a haunted house, a wonderland, and so on.
These projects, which are common in future amusement parks, are still very novel in this era.
In addition, Hobert plans to build a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a pirate ship in the next step.
At the same time, he also "invented" many board games. It is said that many nobles have gone crazy playing them, and many ordinary tourists have also gone to the entertainment center to experience them.
There are also indoor sports such as bowling and billiards. Especially billiards, which is basically exclusive to nobles and wealthy people at this time, but Hobert opened all these venues to ordinary tourists, allowing many people to experience it.
Outdoors, there are tennis, baseball, and golf courses, which have also been basically built.
At this time, the entertainment for the middle class is actually very scarce, because there are almost no public sports venues in this era. After coming to South Colson, many middle-class people will come to experience it, and this has attracted many repeat customers.
When the train started to go downhill, Hobert introduced the road hardening plan and the bridge and railway construction plan in the South Colson area.
Hobert plans to first build a bridge across the Taz River, and then build a railway and road connecting the east and west banks.
There must be hardened roads between towns.
The second step is to build another bridge, and the railway and wide road will form a loop around Full Moon Lake.
As for hardened roads, they must be built to every village.
Azik realized a problem: "These investments should be difficult to get a return on in the short term, right?"
Hobert drank the wine in his glass: "That's right. If it were a businessman, no one would ever come to the South Colson area to build bridges, railways, or roads."
Azik smiled: "The way you put it, I would almost think you are doing a charitable cause."
Hobert poured himself half a glass of wine again: "Mr. Azik, let me tell you a story.
"A place was hit by a drought, and the price of food doubled, but the officials in that place not only didn't try to lower the price of food, but also raised the price of food three times!"
Azik frowned: "This official wants to take the opportunity to make a fortune, right?"
Hobert smiled, and then poured another glass of wine for Azik: "Before long, many grain merchants who heard the news transported grain to the disaster area.
"As a result, there was too much grain, and the price quickly returned to par, or even below par."
Azik was slightly stunned, first feeling a little unbelievable, and then feeling that it was natural: "This is a competent official, and, and his actions are unheard of."
Hobert continued: "This is not over yet. He also started asking the rich to donate money to build some public facilities.
"And he carried out many entertainment activities, such as competitions with local customs, and lavish spending during festivals, etc."
Azik pondered for a while, and probably understood: "This is the same reason why you keep building roads and building things."
"That's right." Hobert smiled: "Only in that official's jurisdiction in the entire disaster area did no one starve to death, and there were no cases of farmers selling their fields or daughters.
"When I took over the entire South Colson area, it was almost like a disaster area: cut off from the entire world for half a century; almost no industry or commerce; farmers had no enthusiasm for production.
"Although the situation is a little better now, most people are still very poor, so I have to use some special means to stimulate people's enthusiasm for life."
Azik looked at Full Moon Lake, which occupied half of his vision, and then smiled at Hobert after a long while: "What you are doing now is great.
"I have become accustomed to looking at this world from the perspective of a Beyonder or a history professor. This perspective is making me more and more distant from this world, and even the real world has become a little unreal."
Azik said seriously: "This is wrong. If you have no emotion for the real world, then you will not have any emotional color when destroying this real world or harming the lives of ordinary people."
Hobert recalled those thoughts in the night market before: "Perhaps, the higher the sequence Beyonder, the more they should integrate into the lives of ordinary people.
"Sometimes I even think that the so-called 'acting method' is reminding Beyonders that no matter how powerful we are, we are all part of this world.
"We must integrate into this world so that our state can become more stable."
Azik pinched his chin and thought for a while: "Your idea is very unique, and it seems to make a lot of sense."
Hobert smiled. In fact, this idea has a bit of the concept of "harmony between man and nature". In his view, many underlying principles should be interconnected.
At the same time, he also knew that the concept of "harmony between man and nature" could not solve the madness problem of Beyonder characteristics, and could only be used as an acting direction for the "acting method".
Back at the train station, Azik expressed that he had not had enough of this trip and conversation, but Hobert had only thought of this stage, so he could only discuss it with Azik here.
Hobert's ideas are not very useful to himself at the moment, after all, he does not have to constantly fight against divinity now.
But he felt that these ideas should be very useful to Mr. Azik. Azik had said on the pirate admiral's ship that he seemed to have no emotion or warmth when he was acting as a "Death Consul".
In fact, this is very telling. At that time, Azik's divinity had the upper hand.
Later, Azik revived like an "Undying" and lost all his memories every once in a while. After he experienced different lives, his state may have been better.
So as long as he is willing to integrate more deeply into this society, will his state become better?
Hobert's carriage was already parked outside the station. After the two got into the carriage, they talked about Backlund again.
Azik smiled: "It's hard to imagine how brilliant Backlund will become in the future if it is handed over to you to manage."
"Not necessarily." Hobert smiled: "The power there is too complicated. Maybe I will be sent to prison by nobles and rich people a few days after I become the mayor of Backlund."
Not maybe, Hobert felt that it would definitely be like this.
He smiled again: "Making a wealthy place wealthier is nothing great.
"Making a poor place wealthy can show my skills."
While talking, the two arrived at the lord's mansion. Hobert asked the chef to make a Feynapotter-style meal, and then they chatted about Klein while drinking tea in the restaurant.
"The last time I saw him, he seemed more autistic." Hobert then remembered that he had originally wanted to take the time to catch up with Klein, but since the conversation on the banks of the Tussok River, he had not seen him again except for meeting him in the Tarot Club.
"He has too many things hidden in his heart." Azik smoked the cigar that Hobert had brought from the Sodela Palace a few days ago, and nodded in satisfaction with the taste of the cigar: "I really should invite him here to relax."
Hobert was too embarrassed to tell anyone that he had taken the cigar from the palace. As an earl, he still had to save face.
At this time, Dophis, as usual, came to urge Hobert to attend the ball.
Hobert finally found a reason this time: "Tell Earl Hudson that I have urgent matters today and can't go, or just tell him that I have an urgent task."
Dophis glanced at Azik sitting there, and a sense of oppression from a higher level came over him. He immediately understood that it might be the "Death" pathway saint that Hobert had met in Backlund.
Entertaining such a guest is indeed more important than attending a noble's ball: "I understand, I will convey your apologies to Earl Hudson."
Sitting back at the dining table, Azik: "If you have something to do…"
Hobert smiled bitterly and waved his hand: "Mr. Azik, let me tell you this, now I feel a little nauseous when I hear waltz music!
"I have attended more than a dozen balls in a row, and I have danced more in these ten days than I have in my entire life before."
Azik smiled: "I forgot, it's the social season now."
Fors also came to dinner. She felt that she hadn't had dinner with Hobert for a long time.
Azik expressed his apologies to Fors for not attending the wedding, while Hobert asked Fors to act as a junior when introducing them to each other.
The atmosphere at dinner was very harmonious. When Azik said goodbye, he said with emotion: "I just thought that I haven't had dinner with friends for a long time."
Hobert smiled: "You are welcome to come here more often to relax. I dare not say anything else, but there is still a hearty dinner.
"Well, by the way, when the date of the Tourism Festival is set, I will send you an invitation. Come and visit if you have time."
Azik agreed, said goodbye to Fors again, and then entered the spirit world and left.
When only Hobert and Fors were left in the restaurant, Hobert smiled: "Haven't we 'danced' at night for a long time?"
Fors smiled: "You're not tired of dancing after attending so many balls in a row?"
Hobert pinched Fors's butt: "It seems that the beautiful Countess has forgotten what is different about our 'dance'."
Fors opened his hand: "There are still serious matters that need to be dealt with.
"The level 2 sealed artifact and the Beyonder characteristic of the 'Interrogator' that I mentioned last time have been traded. You can take a look later."
Hobert has a rule in the auction house that the sealed artifacts and Beyonder characteristics that are received must be handed over to him for processing.
The reason he gave was to prevent the traded goods from having curses or mental residues that could cause mutation or loss of control.
In fact, he just wanted to see if he could seal the sealed artifacts again and shatter those Beyonder characteristics.
This can make the sealed artifacts more valuable and turn a Beyonder characteristic into several Beyonder characteristics.
But at this time, Hobert suddenly realized that he could no longer play dumb.
These two items were traded at the Tarot Meeting. Hobert also heard about the ability and negative effects of the sealed artifact at that time, and also knew that this sealed artifact was bought by Miss "Magician".
Now that this sealed artifact has come into Fors's hands, he can pretend not to know it now, but in the future, as Fors's spirituality becomes higher and higher, and with the characteristics of "Astrologer", she will be able to associate "Emperor" with Hobert sooner or later.
When Fors recalls Hobert's deception on this sealed artifact in the future, the two will definitely encounter a crisis of trust.
On the way back to Green Lawn Manor in the carriage, Hobert sighed in his heart. That was a situation he was very unwilling to see. Therefore, this secret could not be kept tonight.
So next, it was time to test his acting skills. When Fors introduced the ability of the "Life Toxin Bottle": "This sealed artifact can randomly create different toxins, which will diffuse around as soon as it is opened."
Hobert was visibly stunned and looked at Fors with some seriousness. At the same time, he controlled his gaze, appropriately displaying some confusion, as if he had heard such a description somewhere.
Fors didn't pay it much mind at this point and continued, "It takes effect in less than a minute, and then the symptoms get progressively worse…"
Fors clearly saw Hobert's expression gradually turn to surprise, which made her slightly stunned. "What's wrong?"
"Does its random toxin include itching, headache, vomiting, and… an aphrodisiac?" Hobert's expression changed just right, especially just now; his surprise was gradual.
But now he was less surprised, looking like he had everything under control.
This time it was Fors's turn to be surprised. "How… how did you know?"
She immediately had two guesses: one, that Hobert had seen this sealed artifact before, and two, that Hobert was a member of the Tarot Club.
Before she could think about it further, Hobert had already taken her hand and smiled. "There's something I've never told you, or rather, I never planned to tell anyone.
"Christian is actually my adoptive father. My biological father is called Rex Trunsoest."
"Trunsoest!" Fors exclaimed, immediately making related associations: a descendant of the Night Emperor, a favored one of the 'Creator,' knowledgeable. In the end, all the clues pointed to the fact that her husband was Mr. "Emperor"!
She re-examined Hobert, still feeling that his temperament was not quite the same as Mr. "Emperor's," but then she thought that changing his temperament might be Hobert's way of protecting himself when attending secret gatherings.
Hobert knew from Fors's expression that his acting was very successful; she didn't suspect him of hiding anything at all.
However, just in case, Hobert changed the subject. "Wouldn't it be even more exciting when we go 'dancing' again? I'll charge bravely like the 'Emperor.'"
Fors's cheeks flushed slightly. "Generals are the ones who charge bravely, right?"
Then she realized that Hobert was taking a risk by revealing his identity. After all, according to the rules of the Tarot Club, no one is allowed to actively reveal the secrets of the Tarot Club without the Fool's permission. Ms. "Hermit" was a lesson.
"Generals are also under the command of the Emperor!" Hobert picked Fors up in his arms. "Charge!"
Fors looked at Hobert with a smile, letting him carry her to the bed.
After a bout of passion, the two chatted in each other's arms as usual.
First, they discussed the recent construction problems of the territory, and then they talked about the recent income of the auction house.
After discussing these things, Hobert suddenly said, "If… I mean, if I look very cold in the future, or if I don't seem to have any emotions, be sure to spend more time with me and take me around the territory more."
Fors was stunned. "Do you… do you feel any discomfort?"
She thought that Hobert was showing signs of losing control.
"No, after becoming Sequence 4, I can clearly feel that my empathy has decreased," Hobert only told Fors his worries completely.
"At first, I didn't pay much attention to it, until I realized some time ago that I had become very indifferent to some issues, and my understanding of life seemed to be changing subtly.
"Like a few days ago, when I was carrying out a mission, even though it wasn't necessary to kill people to silence them, I unconsciously wanted to kill them to avoid future troubles."
Hobert finally sighed, "Losing reverence for life is a very terrible thing. I don't want to become like a stone statue in the future, without any emotion.
"In the afternoon, I also talked to Mr. Azik about this matter. We both agreed that feeling the warmth of the real world more often should be helpful in combating this indifference.
"What makes me more fortunate than Mr. Azik is that I can still feel warmth from my wife."
Fors hugged Hobert tightly. "Shall we not advance in sequence anymore?"
Hobert patted Fors's back. "If we lived in another era, I might at most be a Sequence 6."
He sighed. "But according to some information I've obtained, there may be a great change in the world in the near future.
"I must have the ability to protect the people and things I cherish."
Fors buried her face in Hobert's arms. "Hobert, I want to become stronger too. I want to protect you too."
Hobert touched Fors's hair and smiled. "I knew it. You will definitely be my last reliance in my inner world."
Originally, he didn't intend to talk to Fors about these things, but just today, he suddenly realized that some things don't cease to exist just because he doesn't talk about them.
Since the matter is right in front of him, it's better to let Fors be mentally prepared in advance.
...
In the following days, Hobert slacked off at work during the day and attended dances in Backlund at night.
On Saturday, Hobert came to the suburban manor again during working hours to inquire about the research progress of the laboratory.
It is now certain that the first tungsten light bulb will be launched before next Wednesday.
The production of wires has already had a mature process. After the parts ordered from the mechanical factory are delivered, a batch of machines for producing wires can be assembled.
As for the research on plastics, there is still no progress at all.
The research team formed by Gerna has also discovered that some additives are needed to change the shape of plastics.
However, they only have a general direction for what kind of additives to use, and they need to experiment many times to find the key.
Hobert suddenly realized that perhaps this research needed some luck.
Should I put up a statue of "The Fool" in the research institute? After all, he is the "King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck"!
Then Hobert thought that there is a "Fate Serpent" in Backlund now! I don't know if it has been born yet.
It is possible to entrust "The World" at the Tarot Gathering, and at worst, make some ice cream and send it to that little brat.
In the blink of an eye, it was Sunday night. After attending the dance, Hobert returned to the bedroom, and suddenly his spirituality sensed something, and he looked at the moon in the sky.
Its color is getting darker and darker, changing from crimson to blood red.
Today is the Blood Moon!
At this time, Hobert suddenly remembered that he and Fors had agreed to do an experiment!
So he quickly locked the door and entered the "Nation of Disorder".
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