Chapter 1981 - 537: Sage Time

Roland City, the office of the city's only firefighting company, where Newcastle was sitting at the desk flipping through the Roland City newspaper.

His backer, Minister Wickton, eventually resolved the issue of the baker not being able to afford flour, but now the pressure had shifted to the mill master.

The dining knife was cutting deeper and deeper, gradually reaching the plate.

Anything beyond this was not something Baron Wickton could handle; he truly worried that this minister with three heads and six arms would cut his own fingers.

Probably... not likely.

At this moment, there was a knock at the office door.

He turned a page of the newspaper in his hand and said without lifting his head.

"Come in."

The door opened, and in came his spirited assistant, Ryan.

This usually hasty young man was different today; not only had he combed his hair neatly, but his back was straight as a rod.

"Sir, I've brought your letter."

"Just put it on the cabinet."

"Alright, um... there's one more thing."

"Hmm?"

"You previously asked me to find answers in the black market, and I think..." Ryan put down the documents, scratched his head, and said with a blushing face, "I might have found them."

At that moment when he heard this, Newcastle's heart trembled involuntarily. He lifted his head and looked at his assistant.

"What... answers."

There was fear in his heart, but also anticipation, though mostly it was confusion and bewilderment... because honestly, this matter had been so long ago, he almost forgot about it.

However, this Ryan young man clearly took it seriously. He looked seriously at his boss and earnestly recounted what he witnessed in Roland City that afternoon.

"There are too many devils among us. That girl... actually selling her body in the alley, no wonder I always felt Saint Sis was punishing us."

Newcastle looked at Ryan in surprise, until he confirmed that Ryan was serious.

He felt a sense of relief in his heart, mixed with a bit of amused frustration, and a bewildering feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Because there were just too many things to criticize.

Perhaps this was also one of Theodore's talents—he had taught the citizens of Roland City to laugh at funerals and cry at weddings, successfully confusing the audience so they couldn't tell who the real actors were.

And Newcastle was becoming more pessimistic about Mr. Bal's republic.

Although that stonemason lacked knowledge, he and his fellow workers clearly knew what they were missing and how to compensate for it.

And they had successfully found a priest who still had a conscience, who, regardless of whether he was up to no good, at least didn't report those poor fellows.

But Mr. Ryan, who was well educated at the Church School, completed a logical loop in his fantastical world.

Almost like... a madman.

"Alright, I'm glad you found the answer, although I don't think our Saint Sis is so idle... anything else?"

Ryan scratched his head again, blushing, and said.

"Um... could next month's salary be settled in silver pounds?"

Last night, that girl not only gave it to him for free but also had a heartfelt conversation with him for a long time, telling him that she was also compelled by circumstance, with two sick elders at home, a gambling brother, and a younger brother who wanted to attend Church School.

Ryan was instantly moved, feeling that as a knight, he should do something, at least save one person.

The tragedy of someone with chaotic logic lies mostly in this.

One moment he could clearly realize that the figure walking in the alley was a devil, and the next moment he sold out his ultimate judgment, mistaking the devil for an angel fallen to earth.

Even a con artist would feel they were betraying their profession if they didn't trick this guy.

"No problem."

Newcastle, however, didn't want to inquire further and agreed to Ryan's request in just a second. So much so that Ryan was a bit incredulous, thanking him twice before leaving the room.

Newcastle leaned back in his office chair, pressing his forefinger against the center of his brow, temporarily shelving his sympathy for the Ryan people, deciding to focus his energy on work.

Although the Ryan people were earnestly humorous, he couldn't truly risk his life joking with them...

...

[From today, all flour prices of mill masters in Roland City must follow the royal family's guided pricing, and independent price hikes are strictly forbidden.

——Roland City Times]

At Glanton Castle's City Hall, before the municipal staff officially moved into the estate, the royal family's summer hunting event was still ongoing.

This kind of large-scale event usually lasts half a month, with only a week gone by now.

Those who could hunt went to the royal hunting grounds, while those who couldn't usually waited in the manor for the hunters to return with their prey and for the "post-hunt banquet" to begin after losing face for the first two days.

That was the true vanity fair, where everyone had prepared drafts in their bellies and had a set prepared for both Your Majesty and Prince.

Horace was no different.

While passing the time before the banquet, he discovered that there was something cheaper here than in Thunder City, which was the newspaper from Roland City.

The price difference between the two was actually double!

But more than the astonishing price difference, Horace was surprised by the newspaper's content.

"Saint Sis above..."

He admitted his perspective was small, recklessly thinking of giving advice for Ryan's Your Majesty to save a salary by firing this guy.

Now, however, he felt that whoever came up with this genius idea must be one of the Grand Duke's people!

If so, not only should this genius not be fired, they should be given a separate account on Queen Street for their salary.