System vs Rebirth

Chapter 1459: Nardt’s Method

”Wagener Group is recruiting workers.”

”Mana Group is recruiting workers.”

The people were crowding in the city plaza of their city. The same recruitment had been spread around the kingdom.

”Are they recruiting workers?”

”Really?”

”Yeah. It looks like theyʼre taking on the governmentʼs project.”

”Governmentʼs project? What kind of project are you talking about?”

”I heard the rumors. Itʼs something related to the road.”

”Road? Are you saying…”

”Yeah. It looks like the government has finally decided to join hands with the Ardagan family. At this rate, we will be able to have trains too.”

”Wow, thatʼs going to be exciting.”

”I want to apply!”

The situation was observed carefully by a lot of parties.

”So, weʼll be using merchants to build the roads…” Wendy squinted her eyes.

”Yes, Your Highness. The merchant groups have been weakened severely due to the past conflict. They arenʼt able to get the popular technology, trains, so they become less popular.

”However, they are still able to survive solely because the three great merchants following Marquis Ardagan can only cover the entire north and a part of the central area.

”In other words, the west, the east, and the remaining part of the central are still within their control, but the competition is fierce because theyʼre eating barely what remains. Besides, the massive construction is in the north, so the economy is booming over there, unlike the rest of the area.

”Thatʼs why the agreement with the marquis will be able to revitalize the economy of the kingdom.

”Weʼll build the roads. In exchange, the merchants can take advantage of the trains as well. Even those three merchants barely have enough supplies for their current influence, so it wonʼt be possible to stop these merchants.

”In the merchantsʼ eyes, itʼs like the royal family managed to negotiate with the marquis. In exchange for pardoning their rudeness in the past as well as giving them the right to utilize trains, they will have to help the royal family to build roads.

”Those merchants should have figured out this is their last chance. If they donʼt take it, they wonʼt receive that right. So, they must be scraping everything they have to build this road.

”We have created a lot of plans regarding the routes themselves. The merchants will build in their respective areas, and they will set up the foundations there, which will allow them to finally survive. They might even be able to go beyond what they used to have.

”The people will also be happy because they are able to utilize the passenger trains, and the goods will decrease in price.

”As you probably already know, the price has increased so much due to the conflict with the Ardagan family.

”By making this one right, the people will finally realize that the royal family has just done something right. And if you continue this way, the trust in the royal family will be restored.

”This way, everyone will be happy.”

Wendy listened carefully. What he meant by ”everyone” was everyone, literally. Wendy couldnʼt help but say, ”Everyone… doesnʼt that mean the western lords will receive the same benefits by using the royal family?”

”This one doesnʼt dare.” Marquis Nardt shook his head. That was indeed true. Marquis Nardt used the royal family to get what he wanted.

After all, Noelʼs road had reached the west, but it was only a portion of the west. But with this project, the road would be built to every corner, which meant the western lords could get the road by using the royal family.

Wendy wanted to berate him, but as expected, Marquis Nardt had speculated she couldnʼt do it.

Marquis Nardt was talented enough to help the current government. Besides, he knew how to please everyone, so Wendy chose to allow him to use the royal family.

Right now, the royal family was at its lowest point, so there was no other choice but to accept this proposal.

To become the queen, she had to invite this wolf into her home. Whether she would die because of the wolf or tame that wolf depended entirely on her.

”Hmph.” Wendy ultimately turned around and chose to leave.

…

Ardagan family.

Noel received information regarding the movement of the merchants.

”It looks like theyʼre using the merchants…” Rose frowned.

”Should we deal with them, Master?” Tristan asked.

”No. If we continue to push the merchants into the corner, sooner or later, they will riot.

”Although we will be able to win, the current queen is not as foolish as her father. When that time comes, we might not be able to escape unscathed either.

”At the same time, freezing these merchants is the same as freezing the entire kingdom. Without money circulating around, the kingdom will be weakened. The people in those territories will turn against us, which is not something I want to have.

”However, after all this, the merchants should have known that they shouldnʼt annoy me. As long as they understand their boundaries, they can enjoy the treatment.

”Once the economy is restored, we will become richer as well. Thatʼs why thereʼs no need to interfere right now.”

Tristan nodded in understanding before thanking him for the guidance. Meanwhile, Rose noticed a problem. ”How about those three great merchants?”

”Matthew will definitely agree with the current situation. If thereʼs no competition, there wonʼt be any new inventions. Right now, we create new technologies simply because we have the method, but without the competition, we will soon slow down, thinking that we have all the time in the world to create one.

”Zephyr can be ignored. Heʼs a pushover. Besides, heʼs happy enough right now, so we will just inform him and he wonʼt say a thing.

”As for Melissa, tell her I wonʼt do anything. Melissa might be ambitious, but sheʼs not a fool.

”She should be able to see the reason for my decision. This will be an opportunity for her to finally join hands with other groups to create an even more powerful merchant group.

”But if she crosses the line, I will act accordingly.”

”Understood.”