Capítulo 277: Science and Technology vs. Heroic Sage Kings
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"Lord Earl, release him, and you will gain the friendship of the Scholar's Tower,"
Mond Landon sincerely said.
Is this guy joking with me? You think you can get someone out of my prison with just a vague promise of friendship? Real gold and silver would be more practical.
But on second thought, the influence of the Scholar's Tower in the royal courts of various countries is substantial. Mond's mentor, with just a word, could take on a commoner as a student, so he must have some standing within the Tower.
This Mond Landon looks like an honest and simple man, but his mentor might not be so straightforward. I've heard that those old scholars, once they get on in years, often have quite eccentric tempers. If he's fiercely protective of his student and uses his connections to cause trouble for me, what then?
'Sigh', better to avoid unnecessary trouble. It's just a kid—letting him go isn't a big deal.
As for strict law enforcement or the lord's prestige, the common folk of this era don't understand such things. What I said earlier was just for show.
Besides, if we really look into it, Kevin's only mistake seems to be not reporting Biden's lie to the lord's manor after seeing through it and instead trying to use it to blackmail him. According to the investigation, after the riot broke out, he neither killed nor looted.
However, the advice he gave to the salt workers was the direct trigger of the riot, so he was listed among the 50 people with the most severe crimes.
Having made up his mind, Paul said sternly, "Very well, Scholar. You may take him away, but you'll need to pay a bail fee."
Mond Landon immediately stood up and deeply bowed to Paul, gratefully saying, "On behalf of his parents, I thank you, Lord Earl. These poor folks have been living in fear for quite some time."
Paul responded with a simple acknowledgment, "You'd better discipline your junior well. Study hard and stay out of trouble. Also, I hope the 'friendship' you mentioned isn't just talk."
"Of course, we will certainly teach him well."
Mond hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Lord Earl, I heard the manor will severely punish the 50 major offenders. What will happen to the others besides Kevin?"
"It's no secret. Among the 20 with the most serious crimes, five will be beheaded, ten hanged, and five will have their executions postponed. These, along with the other 30, will be sent to the northern forests to reclaim the land and see how they fare. Originally, Kevin was also supposed to be sent for land reclamation."
Mond bowed again to Paul. "You are truly a merciful lord." He had originally thought Paul would have all 50 of them executed.
"Hmph, after all, they didn't actually rebel. Oh, by the way, what does your Scholar's Tower study all day? Do you have any talents in technology?"
"History, politics, literature, music, logic, philosophy, and so on... Anything you can think of, the Scholar's Tower has touched upon."
A trace of pride appeared on Mond's face.
"As for technical talents, like machinists or alchemists, we certainly have those too."
Paul smiled slightly. "If you can help me recruit some talents, it would certainly live up to the 'friendship' you mentioned earlier. They don't have to be exceptional—even if they can just read, that would suffice. Of course, I mean in the Aldor language."
"This..." Mond broke into a cold sweat, thinking to himself, "We're the Scholar's Tower of the imperial capital! I doubt there are many people willing to come to this bitterly cold northwest region."
But out loud, he said, "I will do my best."
After discussing official business, the two continued to chat for a while. Mond Landon's Aldor language was even more precise than Paul's, who was from the Bay, so they had no trouble communicating.
This scholar truly lived up to the reputation of the Scholar's Tower, with vast knowledge that spanned ancient and modern times, making Paul secretly impressed.
"I am striving to improve people's lives through the development and promotion of new technologies, Scholar. You can take a tour around Alden, visit the port to see our new sailboats, go to the fields to see our harvesters, and stop by the shops to see..."
The young count's ambitions greatly surprised Mond Landon. Isn't it typical for children of this age to dream about knights' adventures or leading armies into battle?
Paul, animated, said, "The descent of the Five Hundred Angels taught humanity to farm, weave, and forge metal, allowing us to occupy the most fertile lands on the planet. But I believe that science and technological progress have no limits. We can completely elevate our standard of living even further; we can absolutely support a larger population, ensuring that everyone is well-fed."
"Science? Technology?"
"Yes, understanding the principles behind things, I call 'science,' and applying that science to our lives, I call 'technology.' It is through these two that humanity has progressed. I'm not boasting, but thanks to these two, the lives of the people in Alden and Byerldine have improved greatly compared to before."
Mond was noncommittal. "Lord Earl, forgive me, but your territory has only just..."
Paul waved his hand, interrupting him. "I know what you're going to say—a group of salt workers lost their livelihoods because of the emergence of the saltworks and had to take desperate measures. But I need to tell you a fact: the saltworks have saved most families a significant amount of money."
Mond looked incredulous.
"Mr. Landon, you live in the bustling capital of Gabella and are a prestigious scholar of the Scholar's Tower, so naturally, you wouldn't know the hardships of a remote place like this. The salt workers used traditional methods to boil salt, which resulted in very limited production. So, of course, the market price was high—compared to now. Before, no one thought the price of salt was expensive because it had always been that way. You know, without salt, people wouldn't have the energy to work, so it's a necessity of life. Although the cost of salt each time wasn't much, over the years, it added up to a considerable expense."
Paul proudly said, "Since the saltworks started producing salt in large quantities, the price of salt has dropped to unprecedented levels, saving a lot of money for people. If you don't believe me, you can ask any woman on the street and hear her thoughts on the price drop."
"This..." Mond fell into thought. "I'm sure there's a better solution, one that benefits everyone and leaves both sides satisfied."
Paul spread his hands. "I'm sure there is, but we're not gods. Sometimes, to take care of the majority's interests, you have to sacrifice a small minority. This can only be called... the scars of the times. Fortunately, I'm not part of that small minority being sacrificed. Unfortunately, as a lord, I'm precisely the one who has to make such decisions."
Mond conceded, "You make a valid point, Lord Earl. So, in such a situation, a wise ruler is crucial. They can take care of the vast majority while minimizing sacrifices."
"A wise ruler?"
"Yes, Earl Grayman."
Mond Landon's gaze became resolute.
"Compared to your so-called 'science' and 'technology,' I believe that the key to improving people's lives lies in 'heroes' and 'wise kings.'"
(End of the Chapter)
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