Fifth Hundred and Sixtieth Chapter: Unveiling Secrets

Just as he was pondering which kind of fire-starting tool would be easier to manufacture, a guard walked in, "Your Majesty, the envoy from the Northern Lands wishes to see you."

Only a day has passed… Roland was slightly surprised. Didn't they plan to wait for the Duke to send back a message, but instead intend to directly reject his request?

"Take them to the reception hall," he instructed after a moment of silence, "Also, notify Carter to seal off the Foreign Affairs Building and temporarily prohibit members of the envoy from leaving."

"Yes."

Since the other party couldn't agree with the policies he was bound to promote, he had no choice but to keep them here.

…

When Roland entered the reception hall on the first floor, he noticed that the seating arrangement across the long table had changed. The woman who was supposed to be Cole's assistant was sitting in the seat of honor, while Cole was holding a notebook and sitting in the secondary seat.

"Your Majesty, greetings. I am Edith Kant, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Eternal Night City, and Cole's older sister." The woman stood up and performed a standard noble salute. "This isn't our first meeting. Last time, Cole forgot to introduce my identity. Please forgive him."

"Calvin's daughter?" Roland was stunned at first, then became interested. "So you are the leader of the envoy?"

"That's right," she said, placing a hand on her chest. "My father has entrusted me with full responsibility for this mission, and has also given me the Duke's seal."

In this era, it wasn't unheard of for women to participate in politics, but it was very rare, let alone a young and beautiful woman. From Edith's expression, it was clear that she wasn't dealing with superiors for the first time. Her words and actions were impeccable. As for concealing her identity, Roland realized that this was a little trick to attract the negotiator's attention, and she wasn't deliberately hiding it, but using the disguise of being female to lead people into a misunderstanding. It wasn't exactly deception, and most nobles would see it as a matter of taste. It must be said that this trick was indeed effective.

"In other words, you can make decisions on behalf of your father?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. To be precise, he will listen to my opinions."

What a confident answer, Roland thought, looking at Cole, who was scratching his head and trying to offer advice. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright… Miss Edith, what is the purpose of your visit?"

Roland thought she would politely express that she couldn't accept such conditions, or take other more "interesting" methods to persuade him to withdraw the new laws, but he didn't expect her to take out a notebook from her backpack and place it open on the table - it was the propaganda booklet he had written.

"I have some questions I would like to ask you," Edith said directly. "You say that the reason why the enfeoffed nobles will be eliminated sooner or later is the continuous expansion of central power, but without the assistance of the nobles, what methods do you have to ensure effective management of the vast kingdom?"

This…she wants to discuss current affairs with me?

Looking at her sincere eyes, Roland realized that she was serious.

It had been a long time since he had heard such an interesting question.

"The people, and the progress of technology," he replied after a long silence.

"You mean those freemen? And what is technological progress?"

"That's right. A management team trained by the City Hall, paid for by the City Hall, with administrative expenses covered by the City Hall, and with personnel and supporting facilities provided by the City Hall does not require the managers themselves to have strong assets or abundant manpower, so whether they are nobles or not is not important." Roland began to elaborate on the proper form of a centralized government, as well as the channels for ordinary people to be promoted. After that, he talked about the practical significance of technology in controlling territory. This lecture lasted for half an hour.

"How do you plan to prevent administrative officials far from the capital from engaging in corruption?"

"After Graycastle is unified, how should trade in various places be distributed?"

"Can productivity really be used as a standard for measuring policies?"

"…"

The more she asked, the more Edith's eyes sparkled. It wasn't until nearly noon that she breathed a sigh of relief. "So that's how it is. You really didn't just write that opening statement casually."

Roland also took a satisfied sip of tea. As a person with no expertise in this field, his political reserves were probably only enough to talk about this much.

"Thank you for your answers. I didn't expect you to tell me these things in such detail."

"The most basic requirement of a City Hall in a new era is to publicize policies. Everyone must clearly understand the content of the new policies so that their implementation will not be strange and varied."

Edith nodded and changed the subject. "Can you provide the Northern Lands with steam engine production equipment and personnel?"

"Personnel are not available at the moment, because Neverwinter City is also short of them, but you can send people to learn. The prerequisite is that the Northern nobles give up their enfeoffment rights and abide by the management of the City Hall."

"Can the construction technology of paddle steamers also be taught?"

"Of course. As long as you pay gold royals, these are not problems. However, without the help of witches, it will be difficult for you to move the entire production line to the north in a short period of time."

"Your candor surprises me, Your Majesty," she said after thinking for a while. "But I don't understand one thing. According to your plan, as long as you wait another ten years, you can easily annex the entire Graycastle. At that time, promoting new policies will be effortless, and you won't need to care about our opinions. Why are you so eager?"

Roland fell silent. After a long time, he said, "Do you really want to know the answer?"

Edith probably didn't expect him to answer so seriously, and she also became solemn. "Yes."

"Then come with me," he said, getting up. "I'll show you something."

…

Stepping into the courtyard covered with trees, Roland led Edith into the wooden shed in the center of the olive grove.

A demon with its limbs cut off lay flat on a long table, surrounded by various bottles and jars. Agatha was making the final preparations for extracting blood.

"God above, what is this?" Edith exclaimed in disbelief, but Roland noticed that her face only showed shock, not fear.

"I should put a lock on this shed and have Leaves surround the yard so that not a drop of water can leak out," Agatha frowned. "Don't tell me you plan to let a mortal participate in the making of a sigil. If I was fusing God's Stone, it would probably have failed."

"Of course not… It'll be done soon," Roland coughed twice and turned to introduce Edith. "The alien creature in front of you is the legendary demon. They haunt the north of the Impassable Mountain Range and are the greatest enemy that mankind will face - the war between the two races has nothing to do with territory and wealth, but decides who can continue. The losers will be completely destroyed."

"Demons? A war to determine continuation?" she murmured involuntarily.

"That's right. This is a long story, and it is a secret hidden by the Church. It can even be traced back to thousands of years ago. People in the past called it - the 'War of Divine Will'."