Chapter 228

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Chapter 228: This Is the Bond Between the Lord and the Villagers!

For Lolth, the completion of the second phase project and the overall development of the Western New Development Zone is truly good news that lifts her spirits.

"You all did very well… Now let me think about how to proceed with the next steps of the construction."

With many projects in the second phase completed, Hillenbrand Town suddenly had a lot more workers.

"The previous five-year plan mentioned the direction of the third phase," Maider said optimistically, "Her Excellency Tina told everyone that the main projects for the next phase are still a secret, but there will definitely be surprising entertainment projects… Everyone is looking forward to it."

Tina nodded and said, "That’s right, Mistress Lolth, although I don’t know what new projects you want to add… I have already made some simple plans for the originally planned shopping center and for further road and pipeline construction."

Lolth took the draft for the third phase that Tina presented, looked it over, and found that this elf was becoming quite reliable; the draft was well done.

However, Lolth felt there was no rush to start the construction of the third phase.

"First, let’s give everyone a break. After all, we need to find a way to recruit some builders…"

After all, those Superoperators can’t just keep helping with construction. Except for the dwarf craftsmen, most will gradually go to school, teach, or work in hospitals and police stations, and later may even become researchers.

It is fine for Superoperators to work hard, but if they only do that, it would be a waste.

The residents of Hillenbrand Town have earned quite a bit, so letting them rest and spend some time in nearby towns is a good idea.

If you only earn money but never spend it, that money is just like numbers.

Moreover, the productivity of the southern agricultural area has already greatly exceeded what two hundred people could supply. Considering that in other demon race ruled areas of Vera Plain, the food was different after the demon race settled, even if they prohibited Balrog necromancers from altering the environment in the town and nearby, there is still an objective food shortage problem—after all, before the demon race came, there wasn’t enough food to go around; it had all been taken by the nobles.

Although it seems Doyle Candice is interested in some cooperation with me…, before that, Lolth did not intend to stop the residents of Hillenbrand Town from going into the city to sell some things.

Besides, we can’t stop the small merchants from outside the city from coming to Hillenbrand Town to buy, can we?

If Doyle dares to create a monopoly, the Demon King can hang this Little Devil upside down on the Demon Tower to dry—of course, that Little Devil doesn’t seem to want to use such methods.

As for how to safely and quickly get this group of ordinary residents to other towns, it was also about how to conveniently bring in workers and outside merchants… Lolth had a new idea.

That is public transportation!

With the bridges being built and the roads being widened, Lolth had long thought about building public transportation in Hillenbrand Town!

Even with the addition of the new areas in the west and south, Hillenbrand Town is not very big.

So, public transportation in the town is certainly not very necessary.

What Lolth needs to do is create intercity transportation to several major cities in Vera Plain.

She could teleport whenever she wanted, and it wouldn’t be a problem to set up a teleportation circle in the torture tower.

But… this method is far too dangerous for common people who have no extraordinary powers at all.

If there was even a slight fluctuation in the magic, it could easily kill someone without any magic resistance or defense against extraordinary powers.

Not only that, but even the improved Teleportation Magic Circle that Lolth set up, which increased stability and reduced energy consumption, still had maintenance and operation costs that were too high.

Today, Aunt Jessica goes to Cassilda City to buy eggs, and tomorrow, Uncle Troy will go to Palgauro City to sell flour…

Activating a long-distance Teleportation Magic Circle at least costs ten magic crystals, so how could those common people afford it? Even the Holy Alliance’s Superoperators might not be able to accept this price.

If Lolth were to cover the costs… even though her family is wealthy, she wouldn’t waste money like this.

Public transportation can indeed be funded by the lord’s office and City Hall, but taxes are already low for Lolth, and she plans to charge business taxes at the minimum in the future…

Public transportation can run at a loss, but there isn’t a way to lose hundreds of magic crystals in a single day.

After considering several feasible options, Lolth thought…

First, she ruled out rail transportation.

Setting up rail transportation in this world isn’t impossible; Vera Plain is as flat as her own chest, so laying down tracks probably wouldn’t be too expensive.

But the problem is that Vera Plain is in a state of chaos, with the rulers having fled and the demon race just taking over after experiencing war. There are no people or resources to support such large-scale infrastructure.

Although Hillenbrand Town is not completely devastated, it has just been taken over, and the infrastructure is only at the level of repairing bridges and paving roads… Considering railways is impossible.

Relying on the power of just one town to lay down extensive railways is merely a dream.

Even with the help of Superoperators, it would still be difficult.

Moreover, this world has almost no technology for rail transport.

Aside from the dwarves’ hand-powered mine carts which have basic rail technology, there hasn’t even been a prototype of a steam locomotive.

Are we supposed to hire a few Fighters with high strength points to push large handcarts back and forth?

That image is simply too outrageous… and labor costs are always the highest expense.

For a moment, Lolth couldn’t think of a good solution.

"What should I do…?"

Lolth stood still and began to think.

Tina and Maider, who had come to report, looked at Lolth’s thoughtful expression and felt concerned.

"Lolth, what are you thinking about this time?"

"Is there still some danger in the second phase of the project?"

Looking at Tina and Maider in front of her, and then at the draft in her hands, Lolth suddenly realized something.

She didn’t have to tackle everything all by herself anymore!

While she was taking on the responsibilities of Hillenbrand Town and her friends, those friends and the town’s residents could also share her worries!

It had been a long time since she had personally worked in the fields—but every day, food was still continuously harvested and sent to a part of the torture tower.

This is the bond between the "lord" and their "subjects."

Even Tina can handle things on her own now!

Thinking of this, Lolth gently cleared her throat.

"Ahem—Tina, Maider, I have a new task for you and the newly formed City Hall…"