Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World

TL: Etude

As the sun neared the western mountains, the remaining rays painted Lakeheart Town in a golden hue. Smoke curled up from the chimneys of many homes, signaling the start of evening meals.

Inside an office on the west side of the lord’s mansion, Ladi Sertia finished her day’s work. She carefully placed various documents and scrolls into a cabinet, meticulously locking the doors and windows before heading out. Paul had gone to inspect Port Fran, so she did not bid him farewell.

Originally, she was merely Paul’s political and economic advisor for Horn Bay, a rather leisurely job. However, after Paul initiated the “New Life Movement,” entrusting her with the task of spreading hygiene knowledge, her workload increased significantly. When the head of the Department of Education, “Betty,” left, the responsibility of education also fell on her shoulders. These changes made her increasingly busy. After all, she was now the most knowledgeable person by Paul’s side.

Before leaving, “Betty” had devised a comprehensive and detailed plan for educational development. The first phase involved establishing enough schools in large towns across Alda, Baylding, and Emden, allowing children from ordinary families to receive education at a minimal cost. The second phase planned to radiate educational resources from these towns to the surrounding rural areas.

However, just the first phase alone would require an investment of hundreds of thousands of silver coins, causing discontent among many officials in the Administration Council. They believed in the development of public education but viewed such a huge expenditure as wasteful.

Despite being influenced by Paul, these old officials from the Grayman family were the most enlightened in the Northwest Bay area. But they were also accustomed to hardship. If Paul’s father was still in charge four or five years ago, spending hundreds of thousands of silver coins just to teach commoners’ children to read would have led to a dramatic protest at the lord’s mansion. Back then, the lord’s own income (including various taxes and land revenues) would only amount to a few thousand silver coins after yearly expenses, and during disaster years, it would deplete several years’ savings.

With Paul’s ascension, the long-troubled pirates were eradicated, trade routes to the south were opened, and various lucrative new industries were established. The tax revenues from Baylding’s Earldom were also incorporated into the Administration Council. Finally, Emden, relatively affluent compared to other territories in the Northwest Bay, fell under Lakeheart Town’s control. As a result, Alda’s financial income rose dramatically, growing exponentially each year.

But the lord’s spending also increased exponentially. Apart from building schools, there was a need to expand the administrative system, maintain a professional army, construct roads and water conservatories, build public toilets and bathhouses, shelter refugees, and offer high salaries to recruit those arrogant experts from Crystal Shine.

As a scholar, Ladi fully supported Betty’s educational plan but was also acutely aware of the conservative bureaucrats’ opposition to it. Fortunately, their objections were negligible under Lord Grayman’s support.

She walked out of the lord’s mansion, strolled south along the central street of the lake island area, and reached the large bridge connecting the island to the south shore. A short walk past the bridge would take her to the Flying Dragon Pavilion, the restaurant her family ran.

In recent years, as the residents of Lakeheart Town began to accumulate some savings, they sought to improve their material quality of life. Consequently, her mother Cierra’s restaurant, specializing in Horn Bay cuisine, had been thriving since its opening. Considering the increasing number of Horn Bay people moving to live in Port Fran to the west, they were planning to open a branch there.

It was dinner time, likely the busiest period for her mother and sister, Lisa. Deciding not to add to their burden, Ladi didn’t approach the main entrance but instead turned into a side alley leading to the restaurant’s backyard.

“Have I become too comfortable with peaceful days? It’s only now that I’ve realized…”@@novelbin@@

She muttered self-mockingly as she reached the corner of the alley and abruptly turned around.

A cloaked figure who had been following her also stopped. They were the only two people in the alley.

“It seems your vigilance from your years as an adventurer hasn’t completely worn off,” said the follower, revealing herself to be a woman.

“You are… Who exactly?” Ladi asked pointedly, her tone cold. The fact that the stranger mentioned “adventurer” indicated she knew Ladi’s identity. This wasn’t a straightforward visit, and most likely involved something clandestine.

Ladi discreetly prepared to call for the police. Indeed, calling the police seemed the best option. On one hand, the officers under Russ Hayden, head of the Department of Public Safety, were highly trustworthy, having maintained excellent public order in Lakeheart Town. She had just passed a patrol on the main street. On the other hand, she didn’t want to personally intervene and reveal her hidden identity.

“I am not an enemy. Do you remember my face?” the cloaked figure asked, pulling down her hood to reveal herself.

An acquaintance? Ladi scrutinized the woman’s face, searching her memory.

The woman smiled slightly, a trace of seductiveness in her expression. “Let me remind you, the gathering in the year 1988 of the holy calendar… Remember now? The Azure Witch.”

Ladi was startled. The person knew her nickname in the caster circle.

“You are… Acitini?”

The name surfaced in her mind.

…

In the Sertia family’s backyard, Ladi and Seviya sat opposite each other across a stone table, with only a sliver of twilight remaining in the sky.

“You caused quite a stir in Fort Ness,” Ladi said. She had already heard about a witch named Acitini who had broken out of jail in Horn Bay during Cecil’s routine briefing. She was astounded by the woman’s audacity, but at the time, due to fuzzy memory, she hadn’t connected the incident to an old acquaintance. Ȓ𝘈ℕÖ𝐁Ё𝘴

“Heh, actually, I too wanted to hide away and live a leisurely life,” Seviya said, narrowing her eyes.

The hint of accusation in her words pained Ladi. “Hmph! I don’t feel I owe any obligation to other casters.”

“True, you’ve always been a loner, so it’s normal for you to lack empathy for your kind. Even though you’re one of the most powerful casters in Horn Bay…”

Ladi frowned, her tone becoming hostile. “Enough! Did you come to the Northwest Bay just to mock me?”

“Of course not!”

Seviya stood up, smiling. She was so brazen in front of Ladi because she had already figured out her temperament. While still in Horn Bay, in her search for allies against the Church, she had tried to find the mysterious and powerful Azure Witch, known only by reputation. She gathered various information about her but couldn’t locate the witch herself. Instead, she found her former adventuring companions and learned more about her. However, regarding the witch’s whereabouts, her companions remained tight-lipped, refusing to disclose any information.

Yes, that’s it, provoke her sense of guilt.

Thinking thus, Seviya stepped closer to Ladi and leaned in to whisper in her ear:

“I’ve heard from the locals that the lord here trusts you a lot?”

Her voice was soft and melodious, yet carried an indescribable undertone.

“The Church’s influence here isn’t strong. Are you interested…”

A sharp gleam flickered in Seviya’s eyes.

“…in making this lord submit to the great power of magic?”