Chapter 1041 Scars

"Company..." Roland whispered.

"What?" Victor was slightly startled, "If you have any doubts about anything, I can explain it again——"

"No need," he waved his hand, "This is indeed an interesting plan, at least it seems to have no problems. If it is to be implemented, how long will it take for you to prepare the funds?"

Victor's eyes suddenly lit up with joy, "I knew you would understand it - please forgive me for being rude, Your Majesty, if you are also a businessman, your achievements will never be inferior to any big chamber of commerce!"

This metaphor seems to lower the king's status, but placing the other person at the top of his profession is a way of expressing high recognition in aristocratic etiquette, and it can also be regarded as an unabashed flattery.

At this moment, Roland had a completely different thought in his mind: Isn't this a large industrial company in future generations?

Settling down with technology, spontaneously recruiting manpower, organizing production and marketing, independent profit and loss... He did not expect to hear such a complete idea from a contemporary person. The biggest difference from the Chamber of Commerce is that this plan merges production and sales, which can be said to be the prototype of a modern private enterprise.

This may be an excellent opportunity.

In the past four years, his territory has made great progress, but its shortcomings have gradually been exposed - that is, the Executive Office has done almost everything. Any project needs to be controlled by the administrative department. From establishing headcount to allocating budgets, these complicated work regulations occupy most of the officials' time. As the scale of projects continues to expand, the organization will inevitably become more bloated and administrative efficiency will decrease.

This can be regarded as a common problem of "state-owned enterprises" - once profits and losses have nothing to do with the participants, stability becomes everything. It has the advantage of not considering returns and being determined by the will of the superiors. It can quickly meet needs in the early stage, and can also be used to overcome risky strategic projects in the later stage, but this does not mean that it is omnipotent.

This is also one of the reasons why Roland is fully committed to developing heavy industry and agriculture in Neverwinter City, but pays little attention to light industry - in addition to the limited labor force, the administrative office can no longer provide so many officials to deal with the expansion of industrial types.

After all, issuing an order is simple, just a matter of words, but if it is really to be implemented, even if it is to build an additional steam engine assembly factory, it will require a whole set of manpower to support it.

But now, he has a new choice.

Before he even resorted to attracting investment or other means, someone took the initiative to bring it to him, so Roland naturally had no reason to refuse easily.

Although this "company" has the background of an overseas family, it will inevitably cause a certain outflow of golden dragons after making profits, but as long as its production departments are all in Graycastle, this shortcoming is nothing.

After reaching the initial intention, Roland personally sent Victor to the gate of the castle. "When you are ready, I think new cotton seeds should be cultivated. But I have to explain one thing in advance. If there are other businessmen planning to Following your lead, the Executive Office will also sell the seeds to them at the same price - the richer the products on the market, the more affordable the prices will be, and you should know this better than me."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Victor said with a look of confidence in his eyes, "Morning merchants have never been afraid of competition. My father always said that competition begins from the moment we are born."

When he was about to resign, Roland suddenly stopped him, "By the way, I also want to ask you a question. My minister found out that you had a record of paying taxes to Changge Fortress six years ago. Why? If you want to save this amount at that time, it should be easy for you, right?"

Victor nodded, "But the lord at that time promised that as long as he paid the tax according to the amount, he would provide certain convenience and protection for the caravans traveling between the border and Changge. He did indeed do that - in At that time, this expense could at least avoid the threat of wild beasts and the trouble of attacks by peers. I always feel that paying a small price to obtain a stable and orderly rule is actually a good thing for businessmen. Unfortunately, "There are a lot of people who would rather invest a lot of money on goods that are not worth it than treat the rules as a cost."

He is indeed an interesting person, Roland couldn't help but think to himself as he watched the businessman leave. If there are such people as examples, Graycastle's "private enterprises" should also usher in a period of rapid and vigorous development.

Just when he was about to return to the office, Nightingale's anxious voice suddenly rang in his ears, "Your Majesty, Lightning is back, she seems to be in trouble——"

"What's going on?" Roland asked hurriedly.

"It's not clear yet... I just received a summons from Sylvie. After she was brought back by Maisie, she was sent directly to the medical hospital!"

His heart suddenly sank, "She is injured? Take me over now to have a look!"

"Yes," Nightingale reached out and grabbed him, and then the two of them escaped into the mist together.

…

After arriving at the medical hospital in the west of the city, Roland saw the little girl lying on the hospital bed.

The moment he pushed the door open, a lot of his worries were dispelled - Lightning looked intact, there were no obvious scars or blood on her face, and her chest was still heaving, which meant she had nothing to do. Big deal. Even if this investigation does encounter danger, it is now safe.

But he soon discovered something was wrong.

Nana did not feel at all relieved after completing the treatment. Instead, she frowned and looked down at her hands, looking confused.

Maisie was lying on the bedside nervously, wiping Lightning's forehead with her hands. When she saw Roland, she even shrank her neck into her clothes, as if she had done something wrong. Only then did he pay attention. Suddenly, there was a small amount of sweat on the other person's face, and a shallow moan was coming from his slightly opened lips and teeth, as if he was immersed in a nightmare.

"What's going on?" Roland looked at Nana, "Where is Lightning injured?"

The latter raised his head and slowly pointed at his chest.

"nightingale."

"Yes." Nightingale walked forward, carefully picked up Lightning, helped her take off the special windproof jacket, and then unbuttoned the lining bit by bit. Just when it reached her collarbone, she couldn't help but stop her hand, "Your Majesty, this is -"

Roland approached the hospital bed and found a thumb-sized wound two fingers below Lightning's neck. Compared with the surrounding snow-white skin, this scar is particularly eye-catching, but if you look closely, it doesn't even hurt the muscle layer, it just breaks the epidermis. It is the kind of small injury that will heal on its own if left alone.

It stands to reason that healing such a wound is just a small task that can be completed in the blink of an eye for Nana.

But her next words left Roland stunned.

"I can't cure her..." Nana murmured, "No matter how much magic power I use, I can't make the wound disappear. It's like my ability has failed."