Chapter 2666 Light in the Dark

Taking advantage of this one-minute "spiritual theater" time, Qiao An fully deliberated on what the prime minister meant, and then ended the "spiritual theater" and responded calmly.

"Of course we know that Lady Saoirse is busy with official duties. It is reasonable to say that it is difficult to find time to take a walk in this remote corner far away from the city center. However, I dare not speculate on Your Excellency's intentions with my shallow knowledge. You said that you are on the way. I have no opinion."

"Hey! I haven't seen you for a few days, Mitra, you have become more talkative than before!" Saoirse smiled and sighed.

"You used to praise me for my eloquence!" Joan said pretending to be aggrieved.

Judging from Mitra's memory, Saoirse took special care of this "Magic Eye Arcanist", and indeed once said that she was "smart-tongue" in a joking tone.

"Hey! I'm not praising you. I mean you are mean and never suffer when you quarrel with others!"

Saoirse smiled and explained.

"Really? But I still think it's a compliment."

"That's right, we of the beholder clan have always regarded being mean-spirited and good at quarreling as a special skill."

Saoirse smiled and changed the subject: "Mitra, I heard a few days ago that there was a mining accident in your territory. Is the loss serious?"

If other beholder aristocrats asked Joan this question, she would answer that the loss was heavy, and it was better to give the other party a chance to gloat over their misfortune than to disappoint him, and then she hated herself afterwards and planted the root of disaster for no reason.

However, the one asking the question at this moment is the only sane Prime Minister in Udinos City who disdains to base her happiness on the suffering of her compatriots. Besides, she has always been friendly to Mitra and took the initiative to take care of her, "mythical warning" It was also impossible to detect any evil intentions of Saoirse, Joan felt that it was better to tell the truth.

"The loss is not heavy, only three dwarf miners died."

Next, Qiao An briefly described the aftermath of the mine disaster, as well as the safety, work and rest, and food systems he had formulated for the mine.

Saoirse listened attentively, and did not comment thoughtfully until Joan finished speaking.

"Mitra, you have made radical reforms to the mines, and you have taken care of the slaves so well that you are almost like a zealous philanthropist."

"These measures are not in line with our traditions, but having said that, beholders who abide by traditions will not sacrifice their main eyes, advanced magic eye arcanists."

Saoirse's words sounded familiar to Joan. Odis's "spiritual princess" Metatron once made a similar evaluation of Mitra as Saoirse—this kind of unconformity A well-behaved guy will never be surprised no matter how crazy he does.

"Freaks who don't take the usual path", this kind of character setting is a good protection net for Joan, but it can't be too concave, leaving people with an unreasonable impression. She needs to give the prime minister a self-justifying explanation for the various reform measures she has implemented in the mine.

"Lord Saoirse, I'm not interested in doing charity. The various new systems implemented in the territory have only one purpose, which is to make the servants work better and create wealth for me more efficiently."

"Create wealth more efficiently?" Saoirse repeated Joan's last sentence, doubts appearing in her main eyes.

"Yes, I have reduced the working hours and intensity of the servants, provided them with a lot of rest time, better meals, more comfortable dormitories, and more thoughtful security measures. All of these require costs. In the short term, the investment is greater than The output, as you say, almost looks like charity."

"However, in the long run, these measures will help prolong the working life of the slaves, make them healthier, happier, and more active in their work, instead of fleeing or even rioting."

"I spent a lot of money on the safety facilities of the mine, and also provided uniforms and safety helmets for all the miners. This investment can greatly reduce the chance of mining accidents, and the miners who should have been injured or killed by mine accidents can live healthily. Come down, provide me with a more permanent workforce that, in the long run, produces more than enough to pay for my welfare and safety measures, and a lot of left over — that’s the reform dividend.”

"Indeed, the new system you implemented in the territory can squeeze the slaves more efficiently, and it will be more beneficial in the long run. What's even more wonderful is that the slaves also feel that they have benefited. They are grateful to you."

Saoirse looked at Joan with a look of appreciation.

"Mitra, you are really smart and good at managing your own property. Maybe you are more suitable than me to be the prime minister of Udinos."

"Humility" is not a virtue of beholders, but Joan can't accept Saoirse's compliments calmly, otherwise, wouldn't it appear that he is ambitious and covets her status and authority?

Undecided, Joan resolutely opened the "Spiritual Theater", paused for a minute and took a break to think about how to answer properly.

"Thanks to the compliment, I am very happy, but unfortunately, in order to become a successful prime minister, in addition to talent, appearance and popularity are also very important."

"The nobles of Udinos are full of jealousy and prejudice against me, slandering me as blind, calling me ugly out of conscience, and can't understand my attempt to break the stereotypes, since the public of Udinos The right to speak is controlled by these idiots, so why should I bother with public affairs, and end up being thankless!"

"Mitra, you are too extreme. In fact, not all the nobles in the city reject you. Besides, the reason why many people can't understand you is because they don't know you well enough."

Saoirse comforted softly.

"A few days ago, I had a few conversations with Slaoga and Lashinu. They spoke highly of you, and they said that you were an annoying guy just because of the rumors in the city. After dealing with you and fighting side by side, I realized that the rumors are not credible, but in fact you are a very easy-going person, they all like you and hope to have a deep friendship with you."

"It can be seen from this that even our beholder family will inevitably be misled by groundless rumors, and after the truth is clarified, we will revise our views."

"Really?" Joan was slightly moved. "Slaoga and Lashinu are not bad. I hope there are more such reasonable nobles in Udinos."

Saoirse smiled slightly, and the topic turned back to the new system implemented by Mitra in the territory.

"Mitra, you just said that providing welfare and security to slaves is to squeeze them more efficiently and for a long time. This point of view is very interesting. I will continue to observe the reforms you try in your own territory. If the results are good, I will I will consider speaking to Supreme and promoting it throughout the city."