Vol. 1 - Ch. 41 - Factory, Activate!
"Lord, we wonder what commands you have for us?"
Several townspeople stood uneasily in front of Lynn.
They had merely been passing through the center of town when, for some unknown reason, they were called over by this mysterious new lord.
Looking at the crowd, who were full of confusion and a hint of unease, Lynn revealed a smile he had always considered to be amiable:
"Hehehe...
Do you thirst for wealth?
Do you want to earn money?
Do you long for warmth and abundance?
Come with me, I can give it all to you!"
"A... a demon is whispering!"
The most cowardly townsperson was scared out of his wits and ran away on the spot.
Although the other townspeople did not flee, their complexions were pale, each one whiter than the last.
They did not know what Lynn wanted them to do, but they had heard that some Milanese nobles would use wealth as bait to make commoners participate in inhumane so-called hunger games for their own amusement.
(ED: Hunger Games is a trilogy, the last one who stands wins.)
This was one of the "good reputations" that was just as famous as the martial prowess and bellicose nature of Milanese nobles.
(ED: Bellicose- aggressive, warlike, and eager to fight or argue)
Despite being afraid, they worried even more about bringing anger upon their families, so in the end, they could only brace themselves and follow a puzzled-looking Lynn to an open space located between Blackstone Town and Reinhardt Castle.
Strangely, at some unknown point, a large wooden single-story house had actually appeared here.
Moreover, its appearance was extremely rugged, as if many logs had grown on their own into outer walls that were spliced and assembled, turning into such a house.
Looking at that unsettling house, the townspeople swallowed their saliva, but still continued to walk inside.
And inside was already piled up like a mountain.
Those were a vast pile of products Elysia had been forced to work overtime to burn in order to repay her "slackness over the past few days".
At this moment, this black-and-white small mountain was radiating residual heat, and occasionally unextinguished sparks would crack and pop.
"We... we've arrived..."
The leading townsperson looked at that pile of coke piled up like skeletons, his legs giving out as he nearly knelt.
It was over. Was this the rumored "fire-execution game"?
First burn people into coal, and then have the living people count the charcoal pieces?
This new lord looked gentle and refined; who could have thought his heart was actually so twisted!
"This is the wealth I shall bestow upon you."
Lynn did not notice the expressions of the crowd behind him, which looked like they were mourning their parents.
He walked to that pile of charcoal, picked up a piece of charcoal with whitish patterns like he was stroking a lover, and drool flowed from the corner of his mouth:
"Look at them! They are already very beautiful! But they are not beautiful enough!
Do you know what true beauty is?"
Looking at the fanatical Lynn, the townspeople trembled, their eyes completely filled with the dread one has when looking at a madman.
"True beauty lies in comparison! Not in the essence!
Just like the black and white on these charcoals! It can only be produced through contrast!"
Lynn turned around, clapped the black ash off his hands, pointed at this pile of charcoal, and issued his first command:
"Now, I want you to perform a class division on these treasures."
"Cl... Class?"
"That's right! Just as people are divided into different social strata, charcoal must also be divided into high and low, noble and base!"
Lynn fished out several metal frames and wooden boxes from his tunic and laid them out in front of the crowd.
The metal frames were rubbed out by Theodore, while the wooden boxes full of raw wood flavor were produced on the spot by Flora's magic.
"Listen carefully, I will only say this once. This concerns your wages today, and even more so, the GDP of Blackstone Fief!"
Lynn picked up a piece of charcoal with the fullest shape, his gaze becoming sharp:
"The first grade, we shall call 'Special Grade Noble Charcoal'."
He took out a hexagon mold polished from fine steel:
"You must use a file to carefully grind the charcoal until it can fit perfectly into this mold!
The surface must be polished; it must be as bright as a mirror!
Finally, bind them according to a hexagonal honeycomb structure, and pack them into this premium wooden box!"
The townspeople opened their mouths wide. Polishing... charcoal? And putting it in boxes?
Did this lord plan to eat charcoal as food?
"The second grade, 'Premium High-Class Charcoal'."
Lynn picked up a slightly inferior piece:
"It also needs to be ground, but if cracks or missing corners appear, there is no need to throw them away; bind them together.
Although there are flaws, this is called 'natural flawed beauty', and it is perfect to sell to those rich fools who pretend to be cultured."
"The third grade, 'Medium Grade Economical Charcoal'."
Lynn casually grabbed a handful:
"No grinding needed, as long as the shape is slightly regular, roughly cylindrical or long strips, it will do."
"The fourth grade, 'Original Plain Charcoal'."
He pointed at those misshapen, ugly charcoals:
"Smash those that are too big, make do with those that are too small. As long as it can burn, it's fine. Pack them into burlap sacks."
"Finally..."
Lynn looked at the debris and the ground-down powder on the floor:
"The fifth grade 'Crushed Charcoal'! Remember! Not a single speck of dust is allowed to be wasted! Sweep it all up and collect it!"
"Do you understand?"
The scene was dead silent.
The townspeople looked at each other.
No whips? No fire executions? No killing each other?
Only... making them grind these black pieces of wood a bit brighter?
"Um... Lord..."
A townsperson tremblingly raised his hand:
"If we don't do it well... will we be killed?"
"Huh? Killed?"
Lynn looked at him as if looking at an idiot, and then revealed an extremely disgusted expression:
"Why kill you? Disposing of corpses is very troublesome. Unless I feed them to you, I'd still have to dig holes.
However, if you don't do it well, there is indeed a punishment, a very severe punishment!"
Speaking up to here, Lynn revealed a devil-like smile:
"If you don't do it well, your money will be deducted! Do you understand!"
Money?
So he actually gave money?
Looking at the completely bewildered townspeople, Lynn fiercely drove them to huddle by the charcoal pile and begin working:
"Hurry up! Time is money! Efficiency is life!"
Just as that, the secondary charcoal manual processing factory officially began operations.
To ensure they could run three shifts, Lynn had even brought over the lamps at home that he had been reluctant to use.
Watching the townspeople, who had transformed into workers, gradually become skillful with the movements of their hands, continuously producing charcoal of various grades, he gratifiedly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.
So beautiful, he had finally seen once again a scene of the labor force playing to its own value.
Aside from this, the original White Charcoal was only priced at five copper coins, but once they transformed into Special Grade Noble Charcoal, Lynn had actually set the selling price at one gold coin per box.
If things continued like this, in just two months, he would be able to pay off his debts.
And after another year, the net profits produced would be enough to buy Blackstone Fief.
If it really turned out this way, then he wouldn't tell Elysia for now.
After all, as long as he didn't tell her, then she wouldn't know whether the mortgage agreement was void or not.
This was not fraud, but rather to protect her; after all, the more one knew, the worse it was. This was a truth he had only just realized.
Furthermore, enthusiasm was very important; what if he couldn't boss her around in the future.
With benevolent thoughts, Lynn returned to the castle fully content, and then headed to the attic.
It had been so many days, his catch-up sleep should be finished by now, right?
"How about it, Mr. Griffin? Is there anything you wish to say to me?"