Chapter 80 - 76: The Lord Governor’s Opinion
Aevernan was momentarily taken aback upon encountering Governor Rostov.
Rostov was surprised to see the normally composed Minister of the Department of Roads so flustered. What could cause such a seasoned politician to lose his composure?
"Don’t worry, take your time," Rostov gestured to Aevernan to calm his emotions. Politicians, after all, must maintain control in times of confusion.
Seeing the young Aevernan agitated, Rostov sighed inwardly. The young were always short on patience, wearing their thoughts on their faces—a sign of immaturity that would be tempered with time.
Aevernan took a deep breath, regaining his usual composure as the Minister of the Department of Roads. During his relatively short career in the Luona City Administrative Office, he had learned to speak clearly when necessary, and hold his silence when it was not.
"Lord Governor, we have received feedback regarding the exploration of Guru Mountain and the Black Crow organization, an issue discussed in our last meeting," the now collected Minister said with due reverence, a stark contrast to his demeanor before.
"That’s unexpected. Your contact seems to be quite efficient," admitted Rostov, who hadn’t anticipated Aevernan’s reporting on this matter. Aevernan’s panic had made his heart flutter, as he had prepared himself for complaints about new obstacles in the railway construction. The last time Rostov witnessed Aevernan’s emotional loss of control was when the Department of Roads’ steam railway construction had been disrupted by local carriage unions.
Besides the recurring rail construction issues, Rostov couldn’t think of anything else that might unsettle this gifted young politician. The steam railway project had been a persistent difficulty for many years. Despite initial support from the Emperor, the Imperial Capital Xinbal was a great distance from Luona, and the Imperial Guardian Army stationed in the surrounding areas was reluctant to confront local merchants. Looking back, Aevernan had certainly borne significant pressure.
Nonetheless, the young man possessed a certain resilience. Although fraught with friction and resistance, the steam railway was eventually constructed. The moment gem dealers realized that the steam train cut the travel time to Imperial Capital Xinbal by half compared to carriages, they immediately shifted their support. Only the obstinate carriage unions held out, desperately clinging to their fading dominance.
The young can indeed bring pleasant surprises...