"I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question of yours," Ernest said, shutting down Sophia.
Naturally, Sophia would react, her heart felt heavy. Does that mean that he doesn't like her? Doesn't she look like girlfriend material to him? Why? She wanted to ask but asking him would be surely considered rude.
Was he indirectly rejecting her? Thinking of that made her feel sad inside as her facial expression hardened. But, Ernest's next word soothed her worries.
"At least not yet." Ernest followed, "I don't know if I like you or not but when I look at you my heart feels at ease like I'm happy that you're there sitting across me, standing by me, it feels great. There's this test to find out if I really like you."
"...Test?"
"Right. The test is really simple, imagine a person you like hanging out with another man. The question here is how would you feel? How would you react? And when I imagined it just right now…." Ernest's face hardened, his hands clenched into a fist. His heart turned heavy as if it was being squashed. "Oh? Why do I feel annoyed?" Ernest chuckled to the bliss of his feelings.
Seeing his reactions, Sophia smiled with a tee-hee. "Has no one ever looked cute in your bashful face?"
Ernest giggled. "Yeah, no one had ever…" He yawned, it seems that his mind wants some rest. "Ahhh….I'm feeling sleepy now…" Ernest slowly closed his eyes, surrendering to the urge of wanting to sleep, and then, he fell asleep.
Sophia stared at him as he breathed soundly in his sleep, Ernest does sure sleep so fast. Normally, she'd carry him to the bed but this time she doesn't want to. She just wants to savor the sight of Ernest sleeping on her thigh. She remained still, not wanting to disrupt his ethereal face. This was the man who gathered the people with his powerful speeches and in just three weeks, he became the city lord.
It was amazing. Sophia admired him, and her feelings of admiration turned to something romantic. She caressed his face gently and softly whispered. "Sleep gently...my love."
…
First thing in the morning, Ernest finds himself still sleeping on Sophia's lap. Gazing up, he saw Sophia who was sleeping soundly. Did she fall asleep in this position?
He rose to his feet, carried her gently, and carefully set her on the sofa. He covered her body with a blanket and left her there as he started his morning affairs.
The first thing to do in the morning is to complete his daily quest, get the rewards, take a bath, and get to work. This day will be another busy day.
He completed his daily quest outside when he returned with his body drenched in sweat, he didn't see Sophia on the sofa anymore. It seems that she had left and prepared for the morning also.
Ernest immediately took a bath and wore his Hugo Boss designed german military uniform and got to work.
Having slept and his brain rested, he now had a sage-like mind that could seemingly answer all the test questions and got it perfectly.
The system prompted and continued its lecture about engineering. He doesn't want to rely so much on the system but he has no choice, he'll have to use everything the system has to offer for his advantage.
Having understood the principle, design, and mechanism of the water pump station, he now needs the source of power. Electricity.
Biomass was the first thing he had come up in his mind but after having a good sleep yesterday, he was able to think about it carefully. Biomass relies on human waste, animal waste, logs, soils, et cetera. Collecting them will be a huge challenge for his manpower, so he gave up on the idea of buying a Biomass Plant. This time he looked for something traditional. Coal-powered plant.
Buying a facility comes with resources. Ernest asked about the estimated time the coal reserves will last in the power plant.
[If you're only powering the factories and stations, it'll last for about eight months.]
"That seems convenient, okay how much for the power plant again?"
[It's 90,000 tyrant points.]
"Okay I'll buy it and we will place it right next to the river."
This somehow contradicts his decision yesterday to buy a power plant, the factories having their own generator, and the like. But if he thinks about it carefully, building these facilities will boost the morale of the people. The only problem he'll face is to come up with an explanation of how this mass facility was built.
'This is really absurd and absolutely a cheat system. Let me summon modern tech while following a path to tyranny at the same time.' he chuckled at his thought.
He wondered about his life in this world without a system, where would he be in this world right now?
…
[Interlude: List of Ernest transactions in the system for the past two days.]
[Steel Mill: 80,000 tyrant points.]
[Concrete Plant: 65,000 tyrant points.]
[Power Plant: 90,000 tyrant points.]
[Total of 235,000 tyrant points.]
[Balance before transaction: 360965.]
[Current Balance: 125,965 tyrant points.]
One week later, great changes had happened in the city of Eighbury. As the industrialization act was now in place, all the unemployed people found themselves a job as factory workers and construction workers. With a pay that'll get them through daily needs, they accepted the job without hesitation.
The first thing that was prioritized on the project was reforming the infrastructures. Poor roads and bridges were being bulldozed by a bulldozer he bought from the system, it cost him the 20,000 tyrant points. And it was being operated by a dwarf.
He is still amazed at the dwarves' capabilities. Like how can the Empire kill those species that would get them the work done easily? They can operate machines as soon as they knew its mechanism, it was overpowered if he were to ask.
Since there's a lot of machinery involved in the project, Ernest drafted a non-disclosure form that will prohibit everyone who signed it not to leak or share information from outside Eighbury, or they'll suffer harsh consequences.
Those machines and equipment were not known to them and their reactions were expected. Naturally, people will ask where he got those machines. With a little sleight of hand, Ernest convinced the people that those machines were created beforehand by the dwarves, on which Guilhem, the representative of the dwarves, confirmed. Unexpectedly, they bought it.
People in this city are really stupid since they lack access to education. Luckily, the factory workers were trained and taught via seminars. Of course, a one-week seminar is not enough so workers are not that knowledgeable compared to the factory workers on earth who have an education. So twice a week, there's a seminar led by Guilhem and Blackbelly about machineries and equipment.
Another week has passed, the cobblestoned roads were now bulldozed and every major road of the city has been excavated to make way for the sewer system and drainage system, and water pipeline system. With three species working on the project, the progress was significantly faster than your average construction workers from the Earth. Also, the old streets that were filled with horse dung and people's shit before were now cleaned.
Little by little, Ernest got to know about each race's abilities. Beastman was as good as the dwarves when it comes to constructions and dwarves excelled in every sort of construction. Not only that, their body, which seems small, cannot be underestimated as they can have hundreds of kilograms of steel and other kinds of load.
He was amazed, there are tens of thousands of dwarves living in the Kingdom of Crentis alone, imagine if they were absorbed into the party. It'll be a sight to see, especially when he becomes the supreme ruler of Crentis where he'll renovate the entire capital and change it to the specifications of Albert Speer. Most notably, the Volkshalle.
Another three days have passed. Which makes it 17 days since the start of the industrialization act, the uniforms, banners, and flags he ordered from Zanac were finished.
In the under-construction city, flags and banners of UNSP now hang on his mansion, people's houses, magic lamp posts, and city walls. The Protection Squadron of the UNSP now donned their new uniforms and an armband that has the insignia of UNSP. The grand renovation of the city will be completed in five to six months, which is after the winter. It'll be an exciting sight to see.
…
Inside the mansion, Ernest has been working usually with two stacked papers on his table. As days went by, his interaction with the system had become less, thanks to the system nurturing him so that he can stand on his own.
As he dealt with the paperwork, someone entered the room. It was Sophia. She now wore the new uniform he exclusively made for her which is to, of course, satisfy his lewd desires.
A tight-fitting military uniform accentuates the well-balanced body, a short black wool skirt that shows her charming thighs. Since it'll attract the attention of the horn dogs, he ordered a black thigh-high to cover it, but instead of fulfilling its purpose, it was still charming otherwise.
"Uhm...Ernest...isn't this uniform a bit much?"
"Why? It looks perfect on you."
"Maybe it looks perfect to your taste."
"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about."
Sophia pouted, Ernest chuckled at her bashful expression.
"Okay, how can I help you today?" Ernest stopped moving his pen.
"It's about the condition of the factories."
"Factories? What's there?"
"Well since the start of procuring metals, there had been a number of accidents and injuries in the first place."
"Hmm, is that so? Don't think much about it. Their injury is insured according to the employment contract. That's why hazard pay is included in their salaries. We can't prevent the inevitable work hazard even with seminars." Ernest said, but Sophia stood there as if she didn't get her answer.
"What do you want? I told you it's insured." Ernest repeated.
"How rude...Is it that bad to look at your face for just a minute?"
"Hoh? You got me on that…" Ernest laughed. "Are you hitting on me?"
"Maybe." Sophia said ambiguously, "I do have something important to report to you so I'll spill it out."
"Go for it." Ernest permitted.
"The excess harvest of the elves were sold to a nearby town called the Malean Town at a fair price."
"Good another flow of income. What's next?"
"Well, we've received a letter through carrier pigeon from Elm's city."
"Elm city? You mean the city governed by a duke?"
"Yes."
"Give it to me."
Sophia handed the mail sealed with the duke's seal. It really came from the city of Elm. The question is what's inside. Ernest removed the seal of the mail and perused its content.
[From Duke Gustave Elm to Lord Enrico of Eighbury.
The ambassador of Elm's City will be coming tomorrow to your dominion to discuss the harvest, mineral ores, clothes, et cetera. Please prepare a warm reception to the ambassador if you don't want to receive my ire.
After reading the paper, Ernest clenched his hand, crumpling the paper.
"This fellow is full of hubris huh? There's not even a formality in this mail." Ernest scoffed.
"What should we do Ernest? If they find out that Lord Enrico was deposed, it will be a disaster."
"Don't worry," Ernest assured. "I won't let that happen. For the meantime, I want all the Protection Squadron in the barracks in one hour's time."
"Understood."
.