Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 645: Section 454: A Toast to the Past (1)_2

Chapter 645: Section 454: A Toast to the Past (1)_2

But precisely because of this, Malin was eager to change everything.

Having secured this knowledge, Malin began to establish more factories, recruiting capable individuals among the refugees. Those who had served as soldiers could be absorbed into the factory guard as soldiers, and these new troops would be responsible for the safety of the city and its streets in normal times.

The commercial guilds wanted to join in, and Malin could offer them distribution channels—the increasing number of goods required more and more smooth logistic channels. In this era, maintaining a country’s logistics was very challenging, so Malin didn’t mind granting benefits to the savvy members within these guilds. If the guilds didn’t see Malin’s presence as something that would ultimately oppress or even eradicate them, then what Malin needed to do now was to show everyone that he was willing to trade with them, that they were partners, not mortal enemies fighting to the death.

Interest was the best weapon to divide those who were short-sighted, quicker than a knife, fiercer than a bullet, and more silently pervasive than a deranged gunner.

Besides that, Malin’s weapon workshops began to offer more and better weapons; the price had always been a major issue in weapon export, but Malin had a natural adversary and business partner in this respect—Chaos Evil God.

Their legions, their followers, and their subordinates, all would be the most reliable promotional partners for Malin’s weapon workshops.

When money could eliminate Chaos faster and better than knives and bows, what else could be a problem?

Perhaps these Nobles and the King would further oppress those poor souls to obtain these weapons, but when those who couldn’t survive chose to head to Carterburg—a haven of peace—Malin would absolutely enjoy seeing it happen.

He could even spend money to buy refugees; from among them, the selected peasants would have land to cultivate, the herders could graze livestock, and the city dwellers could learn the knowledge needed for industrial production; Malin had enough skilled workers to educate them.

And their children would learn more knowledge in Malin’s schools, becoming the new workers, herders, farmers, and soldiers.

With money in their pockets, the Nobles could buy more weapons, more cannons, eliminate Chaos more quickly and efficiently. If they survived the upcoming Tide of the Dead and sudden Chaos assaults, they would be the best live advertisements for Malin’s weapon workshops.

All this was for civilization on this planet to continue its legacy through the impending Tide of the Dead; everyone would give everything.

Those unwilling to give everything, Malin would definitely not offer a hand to pull them up when they fell into hell.

Those who would not save others would not be saved by Malin either.

Faced with Malin’s explosive growth in production capacity, the father-in-law from Mowish was the first to become restless. He not only asked his daughter more than once but ultimately sat down in front of Malin, and had an honest conversation with him.

"What exactly do you want to do? This month, Carterburg has increased by seventy thousand refugees. Your subordinates have sorted them and placed them into categories; your farms, your factories, your workshops, even your factory guards are all expanding their numbers. Each and every one of them now sees you as their new master, and the mayor of Carterburg can’t even get his edicts out of his official residence anymore."

His Majesty from Mowish looked at Malin, his face full of worry.

"I know you wouldn’t betray me because you are still willing to see me, and even without a Legendary, you’ve sat in front of me so blatantly, showing your sincerity. But Malin, my child, can you tell me, why are you doing this? At least give me an answer, an answer that can comfort the seriously ill Lady Manli in her bed."

"Lady Manli is seriously ill? What happened?" This was bad news Malin heard—the older generation he knew was rapidly approaching their end.

"Organ failure, doctors from the Church of the Goddess of Benevolent say it’s an old illness that has flared up. The World Tree potion you gave me can only provide temporary relief. So, Malin, give me your answer."

Looking at this husband with a grief-stricken face, Malin finally decided to open a portal to personally visit the lady.

His Majesty from Mowish agreed and provided safe coordinates for the portal; Malin took Saye and followed His Majesty through the portal.

Faye wanted to enter, but Malin stopped her.

The other side of the coordinates was the grand hall of the palace since they were with their Majesty, the guards had no reaction but rather opened the door.

Malin saw Lady Manli, thin as a rail, lying on the bed, with her three sons sitting at her bedside.

Hearing the footsteps, she opened her eyes, and the first person she saw was her husband, so the seriously ill wife smiled and said, "Is there an answer?"

"Manli, I have brought back the answer," her husband said so.

Only then did the lady notice Malin.

"...you’re here."

"Yes, I am here, not to witness your joke. I understand all of your concerns. Putting myself in your shoes, if I were you, I too wouldn’t tolerate someone who might threaten my child’s inheritance under my watch."

Malin took a seat in front of her.

"I’m glad you think that way. We have had conflicts and misunderstandings between us, and I’m pleased that we can sit here and clarify all those conflicts and misunderstandings. So, Malin, do you have a reason for the expansions you’re making now that you can clarify to me?" Lady Manli asked with a smile.

"The Tide of the Dead will invade at the latest in five years’ time. Everything I am doing now is for the future of our civilization. My workshop is arming the entire world, my factory is feeding the entire world. Lady Manli, I want to save this precarious world and let more people live."

"I see, thank you, Malin..." The lady smiled, even though her dry face became quite frightening as a result.

Malin nodded to his father-in-law.

After receiving his approval, he turned and walked towards the exit.

The guards opened the gate, and as Malin passed through it and the gate started to close, he heard Lady Manli calling out to him.

"Malin, can you give me one more answer?"

Hearing the urgency in her voice, Malin stopped and turned around.

"Malin, my child, tell me, if... if there were no ifs, if there were no deities in this world, what would you do?" Her breath became rapid, but her eyes were full of anticipation, and she even sat up as if waiting for Malin’s answer.

Faced with her question, Malin hesitated for a moment, then looked at the lady and revealed a somewhat sorrowful smile, "...Lady Manli, do you know, if there were no deities, your conflicts and misunderstandings wouldn’t be just that, they would be the raw truth of life and death struggles between us. But it is precisely because there are deities, because there is the Tide of the Dead, that our conflicts pale in comparison... What’s in the past is past, Lady Manli, may you find peace."

"Thank you for your honesty, Malin, just like you said, what’s past is past... Go... Save the world... Go..." After saying this, Lady Manli smiled and leaned back onto her pillow.

Her breathing became more labored, and Malin stood there, watching as the lady eventually stopped breathing.

He watched her husband weep into a puddle of tears.

Malin touched his chest, then turned and left.

Good night, Lady, the world without you is that much more unfamiliar.

......

Having returned to Carterburg with Faye, Malin continued with his increased production plans. This time, there would be no more assessments and investigations from the royal departments, which made Malin rather reflective—Lady Manli had ultimately proven herself to be a smart person. She had taken the initiative to reconcile with Malin in the last moments of her life, and both had fully understood each other’s bottom lines.

She was a woman confined by her times, but also an impeccable mother. Although she was considered Malin’s adversary, he felt more respect for her than anything else—her love for her children and her husband was far greater than her love for herself.

Such a woman, even if truly an adversary, even if it had really come to the point of life and death, Malin couldn’t bring himself to dislike her.

For she had done everything she could, as a loyal partner, a kind mother, and an extraordinary woman.

It’s just a pity that she was limited by her times.

If she were to live two thousand years later, a woman like her surely would have shined even more brilliantly.

Alas, there are no ifs.

Poor Lady Manli, may the God of Benevolent have mercy on you.

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