Chapter 321: Chapter 317: Helping Them Maintain Their Dignity
The merchants’ protest was quickly submitted to Perfikot.
Looking at the protest letter delivered, Perfikot felt an impulse to laugh out of anger.
"Do these guys really think the Northern Territory can’t do without them? Or do they believe they can influence the entire Empire’s decisions?" Perfikot casually tossed the protest letter aside and then called in Captain William Richard of the White Bear Knight Order.
"Count, you called for me?" Captain William saluted Perfikot before asking about the purpose of his summons.
"Because I previously hanged a disrespectful merchant, now the merchants coming from the New Continent to invest in the Northern Territory have united to try to pressure me." Perfikot explained to Captain William what happened and then looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze: "I’m assigning this matter to you, and I need a satisfactory result."
Hearing Perfikot’s order, Captain William was initially startled but quickly felt a sense of delighted surprise.
As the captain of the White Bear Knight Order, Captain William hoped to build his reputation, as he initially thought he would be essentially ’exiled’ to the Northern Territory for retirement.
But unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better; he not only avoided retirement but surpassed many peers in the Empire to become a Steam Knight.
Moreover, even the White Bear Knight Order, due to Perfikot, became one of the few full Steam Knight Orders in the Empire, instantly elevating his position as captain to a very high level.
Therefore, Captain William’s loyalty to Perfikot naturally surged, becoming a staunch loyalist, akin to the knights’ allegiance to their lords in the past.
Under such circumstances, Captain William naturally yearned to fulfill his duties as a knight for the lord he vowed loyalty to, bringing her victory and glory.
However, the Northern Territory’s conquest only required two flag brigades to settle all the opposition, and in the seventeen-day war, Perfikot directly used thermobaric bombs to demolish everything. There was no need for him as captain to personally intervene; at most, dispatching a single flag brigade of Steam Knights could handle all issues.
Even the kind of feat like dragon slaying, enough to boast about for a lifetime, he didn’t get one emblem to decorate his shield.
This left Captain William frustrated, feeling a sense of suppressed talent with no outlet.
Yet, as a knight’s loyalty and faith, along with his self-restraint as a soldier, he continued diligently fulfilling his duties, seriously completing every task, instead of complaining about his unutilized talents.
And now, the chance he awaited finally arrived; Perfikot entrusted him with a task to prove his capabilities.
Feeling he could finally unleash his abilities, Captain William swept away his previous frustration and was invigorated.
Nevertheless, Captain William cautiously inquired of Perfikot: "Count, to what extent should I act?"
"To what extent? Just make sure they stop voicing opposition." After thinking for a moment, Perfikot replied indifferently: "Without the New Continent’s merchants, there are still those from the Empire’s homeland. Even if they don’t invest, I can still get sufficient support for the Northern Territory’s construction from the Imperial Center and the nobles.
Even further, if necessary, I can personally finance the Northern Territory’s industrial development without issue.
So the merchants aren’t necessary for the Northern Territory, understand?
The merchants aren’t important to me, neither is their money, but their silent protest is very important."
Upon hearing Perfikot’s words, Captain William immediately understood, nodding solemnly: "Please rest assured, I will bring two flag brigades of Steam Knights to handle this matter."
Two flag brigades of Steam Knights are enough to flatten the still-under-construction industrial center.
Without a doubt, the implication was to use force without hesitation to completely quell this incident.
Captain William’s words were a form of probing towards Perfikot and an attempt to demonstrate his desire for achievements and recognition, hoping to catch Perfikot’s attention.
Although this matter could be easily resolved, he must execute it beautifully, in line with Perfikot’s intentions, to leave enough impression on Perfikot, thereby gaining more significant use rather than merely being a captain without much presence.
That’s why he escalated a matter originally solvable by a rhetorically skilled civilian officer to deploying Steam Knights.
To Perfikot, this was a non-critical matter; she might handle it similarly if dealing with it herself.
Thus, she nodded in satisfaction and reminded Captain William: "If they wish to appear dignified, then let them be dignified; if they don’t, help them appear dignified."
"Understood." Captain William knew he had steadied his position.
However, just as he turned to leave Perfikot’s lab, she reminded him again: "Don’t bother with the workers; they still have to continue working for the Northern Territory."
"Yes!" Captain William understood who this matter should target this time.
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The happenings in the Northern Territory were quickly relayed back to the Empire’s homeland, and the Imperial Center in Langton soon learned of the event.
During the meeting hosted by Eldest Princess Annie, the matter was also brought up for discussion on how the Imperial Center should approach it.
Though from any perspective, Perfikot could handle it on her own, Eldest Princess Annie still felt somewhat uneasy about the matter.
However, raising it in the meeting for discussion didn’t elicit any objections from others, and among all attendees, the military first firmly expressed support for Perfikot, even suggesting sending a battleship from the Navy to back her in the Northern Territory.
"Regarding military deterrence, Count Brandelis holds a Steam Knight Order, an elite regiment, and several Flying Airships; if she chooses to use them, she can easily clear the dissenting merchants." Duke Gloucester then dismissed the military’s proposal, pointing out the key issue: "What Count Brandelis needs more now is legal and economic support. We should pass a law in the Empire prohibiting child labor to provide Count Brandelis with legal grounds, and we should speed up the transfer of the Empire’s homeland industrial sectors to the Northern Territory."