In the Royal Capital of Cape, Lilith was pruning the garden of Nora’s palace.
If it weren’t for the Queen’s modesty, Lilith just wanted to throw a military-style punch and shout in exhilaration.
The specific administrative affairs could be delegated to Nora, while the overall direction of policy could be conveyed through those bards to Brother.
The only responsibility Lilith currently had was concerning the tax bureau for the Northern Border. As long as she held the tax bureau firmly in her grasp, Lilith could ensure her position remained unshaken.
Balance? That’s something to worry about when one lacks strength.
However, Lilith couldn’t completely slack off; some matters still required her personal approval, such as the initiatives for cooperation with the Northern Border.
At this moment, a guard rushed in, kneeling and shouting, “Your Majesty, there is news from the Northern Border!”
Hearing it was news from the Northern Border, Lilith scolded, “What a fuss! Speak, what specifically is the news?”
“Your Majesty, the people of the Northern Border want to come and build railroads for us.”
After saying that, the guard handed over the specific letter.
Upon hearing this, Nora furrowed her brows without waiting for Lilith to finish reading the letter. The railroad concept had been previously discussed with Lilith, and materials were prepared, but they were seized by the Northern Border.
Moreover, Nora had heard a bit about that Iron Beast from the Northern Border, which played an important role in the battle at Golden Ear Plains.
Although the Northern Border had started making civilian Iron Beasts, once the Kingdom’s transportation fell into the hands of the Northern Border, they would be free to move around the Royal Capital. From the perspective of the Chancellor, this was something Nora could not accept.
Letting the Royal Capital work closely with the Northern Border could fool the commoners, but the nobles were well aware that the Northern Border had effectively become independent. As it stood, the Northern Border was nothing more than an independent nation squatting at the Kingdom’s northern territories—how could they allow another country to take control of their transportation?
Normally, that would indeed be the case, but the current situation was not normal.
Lilith casually flipped through the letter and said, “We will fully support the Northern Border and arrange for a batch of citizens in the Royal Capital, who are on lower salaries or struggling to find work but are physically healthy, to work there.”
Nora received this decision with a face full of questions and began reading the letter.
Since Your Majesty returned from the Northern Border, things had felt somewhat off. While cooperating with the Northern Border was a good thing, it didn’t seem necessary to go to such lengths.
Would those citizens from the Royal Capital who go to work for the Northern Border really return?
While it did boost employment, that employment was just moving outside the Royal Capital.
Nora didn’t understand, but she was deeply shocked.
However, the reasons in the letter were indeed hard to refuse; the obelisk project was a major undertaking, requiring a number of experts and so-called engineers from the Northern Border, as well as materials that needed to be transported to the Royal Capital. This would entail a significant expense, and building the railroad would save quite a bit of money.
Nora wanted to argue that the railroad should be constructed by the Royal Capital, after all, Your Majesty now had the funds. Yet, the specifications for the railroad that the Iron Beasts required were completely held by the other party, and thus, it could only be built by the Northern Border.
Finally, Nora sighed deeply. Compared to Lilith, who had already resolved to support Brother and became carefree, Nora’s feelings were far more complex and painful. After all, the burdens of the Royal Capital and the three borders were all resting on her shoulders.
“Your Majesty, in that case, can we discuss the routes of these railroads passing through our territories?”
Upon hearing Nora say this, Lilith perked up, saying, “Yes, please take care of this matter, Chancellor. But remember to decide quickly; whichever noble displays the best attitude, the railroad should pass through their territory.”
Lilith was already very skilled at taking advantage of such situations. Just like in the battle at Golden Ear Plains, no one would question the transport capacity of the Iron Beast, while the Northern Border was now building this railroad, which was semi-civilian. This meant that those Northern Border merchants and the nobles along the route could also use it as long as they paid.
Everyone had enough intelligence to know just how much profit a railroad passing through their territory could bring.
As for whether the Kingdom’s transportation would be controlled? If Her Majesty the Queen was not worried, why should the local noble lords be anxious? Moreover, if it truly brought immense benefits, even if it was controlled, those nobles would only say they were willing.
“But Your Majesty, will the Northern Border agree to the changes?”
Nora was somewhat worried that the dominant Northern Border might not intentionally change for Her Majesty’s demands, but Lilith waved her hand and said, “No need to worry. I’m the Chancellor; just rest assured and do it.”
To be honest, seeing the handsome yet melancholic face of Nora, Lilith really wanted to tell her that the Governor of the Northern Border was on their side, but she hesitated, fearing Nora wouldn’t accept it, and after considering, decided against it.
Nora nodded and stepped back. She was not surprised by Lilith’s confident demeanor. The current attitude of the Northern Border towards Her Majesty could even be described as spoiled; it felt as if that Governor truly regarded Her Majesty as his little sister. Nora quickly shook her head, casting away this absurd thought.
At this moment, the guard did not leave but said to Lilith, “Your Majesty, the Lord Governor of the Northern Border also sent you a toy.”
Lilith nodded and followed the guard to see what good thing Brother had sent her.
Although the guard said it was a musical instrument, Lilith felt it couldn’t be that simple. Sure enough, when Lilith saw the familiar keyboard, she immediately recognized it as a communication device.
However, every key pressed on the keyboard would emit a note, so one could also say it was an exquisite musical instrument.
At the same time, the guard secretly handed Lilith a confidential letter that used Chinese characters to briefly instruct her on how to use the communication device.
For confidentiality, Lind did not use the world’s universal language like the one in his own mansion but specially adapted a device for Lilith that produced pinyin and disguised it as a musical instrument.
Soon, Lilith had this communication device moved to the Northern Border tax bureau office located in her own smaller palace in the Royal Capital, where everyone was on her side.
After confirming that there were no other people around, Lilith used the device to simply greet Brother. Shortly after, she received a reply entirely in pinyin.
“Wow, no doubt he’s my brother.”
Looking at the reply from Brother sent from the Northern Border, Lilith exclaimed in excitement, even jumping down from her chair and spinning around in delight. Although she could only send pinyin, it also meant that she could be even lazier in the future; when faced with indecision, she could just consult Brother.
The technological tree in this world was quite peculiar, especially in communications. Instances of studying spiritual and soul levels for long-distance communications, like Lucanus, were not rare. However, Lilith had no interest in understanding the principles behind this communication device, or rather, she no longer cared; what technical issues? If Brother had it, wasn’t it the same as having it herself?
In the response, Lind simply informed Lilith how to deal with the foreign envoys promoting Supremacy Magic.
