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In the governor's mansion on Longtail Island, the original staff were quite annoyed by Earl Hobert's new arrangements.
It wasn't that Hobert was delaying their wages; on the contrary, he was paying them two months extra.
It was that they had a good job on Longtail Island, but they weren't sure if they could find one elsewhere. In Bayam, they weren't confident they could find a decent job, let alone return to Backlund.
The vast majority of them hoped to keep their jobs, but the assessment for their retention was very strange. They were all asked about crop cultivation or trivial matters about the local natives, while grammar and other literary assessments were ranked last.
In the end, only three people were kept, and it was said that they would be sent back to Backlund for a period of study.
The staff couldn't understand what there was to study about the work of the governor's mansion.
Everyone became increasingly agitated and gathered at the governor's mansion, refusing to leave.
At this moment, Countess Fors rose, unhurriedly took out a stack of documents from a bag handed to her by a servant, and said in a clear voice, "Guards of South Colson, I temporarily grant you law enforcement authority to arrest the villains whose names I will read next."
The guards in the hall and courtyard responded loudly, "Yes!"
"Barre Quinton, the officer in charge of security on Longtail Island!" Fors opened the documents in her hand: "His original name is Benedict, and he is a wanted criminal in the Loen Kingdom, with a reward of 600 pounds!
"Arrest him, and I will escort him to Backlund to face justice."
"Borg Gill, the judge of Longtail Island, whose original name is Cecil, is a fraudster. Arrest him too."
"..."
By the time Fors read the third person's name, the original employees of the governor's mansion scattered like a hornet's nest.
Because most of them were criminals, some even still had bounties on their heads.
Only the three people who passed the retention assessment had truly come to the Rorsted Archipelago to take risks because they couldn't survive in the Northern Continent. Only they had done the most basic jobs, and only they had paid attention to the lives of the natives at the bottom of Longtail Island.
Hobert watched quietly, without any intention of participating. At this moment, he thought Fors was quite cool, even though he had helped prepare the documents and come up with the idea.
In the afternoon, servants prepared a carriage befitting the specifications of a Loen Earl. Hobert and Fors, surrounded by servants and protected by soldiers, began to inspect Longtail Island.
In fact, Hobert was already very familiar with Longtail Island. This inspection was mainly for the benefit of the planters here.
That's why he temporarily hired many servants and brought more than a hundred soldiers, determined to show off the pomp of an Earl.
Not long after leaving the city, Hobert opened the car window and pointed to the hills outside: "There are many rocks around those hills. I guess there must have been a high-level Beyonder battle there before.
"Because the ground is full of rubble and cannot be cultivated, it has always been idle.
"The first batch of construction-related industries will be set up there. The stones there can be used to burn lime, cement, and made into gravel. The technology for these factories can be brought from South Colson.
"We also need to build smelting plants and steel mills to manufacture steel bars, metal frames, rails, and so on. In the future, Longtail Island's iron ore won't need to be sold outside. Copper ore can also be smelted into copper ingots and then sold, which is more efficient.
"However, these processes are a bit more complicated. South Colson doesn't have such factories. I've written to Upton, and he said he can help build the factories and has already bought the corresponding technology."
For Hobert, the first thing after having a new territory is to have the ability to build a new territory!
Speaking of this, Hobert complained, "The building materials here are really too expensive. When I came to Longtail Island myself before, I asked about prices in the tavern.
"A bag of cement that costs 9 soli in Backlund sells for 3 pounds and a half here, almost an eightfold increase! And it's still in short supply!"
This is how the Loen Kingdom exploits its colonies: importing raw materials from the colonies at low prices and selling industrial products at high prices.
So even if the Loen Kingdom cannot completely control the taxation of the colonies, it doesn't matter. The tax on industrial product exports remains in the ports of the Northern Continent when they leave the port.
Moreover, the Loen Kingdom government strictly controls taxes such as stamp duty that can be collected uniformly. No matter how you calculate it, this business is profitable.
Fors withdrew her gaze from the hills over there: "Then we won't be able to start some construction projects as soon as we take over Longtail Island?"
"Not necessarily." Hobert smiled, there's still "Creator" Express! No, now it can be called "Creator Logistics".
Hobert added: "There are some things I can only tell you. Keep them in mind and point out the direction to Conrad and the others at critical moments."
Fors nodded, listening carefully.
"In the initial stage, our main obstacles are those planters and mine owners." Hobert said: "I've seen how the plantations operate. To establish effective rule here, we must break the plantation economy.
"Regarding this, I've already thought of some ways, which we'll start implementing after our inspection is complete.
"After that, the problem we face is how to civilize the local natives. I haven't thought of a good solution to this problem yet. We can only set up more schools and force them to build modern houses and wear modern clothes."
Speaking of this, Hobert pointed to the fields outside. Fors followed the direction he pointed and saw local natives wearing only two pieces of cloth working in the fields.
Fors couldn't help but frown. Even in the South Colson region, which had been almost closed off for half a century, people still spoke Feynapotter and retained Feynapotter customs.
In this state, it is easy to establish a new rule because they still have basic cohesion.
However, the natives of Longtail Island hold different values from Hobert and other rulers, and their ways of thinking are also different, so it is difficult to establish effective rule in a short period of time.
The previous colonists never thought about civilizing the natives. For them, the time cost was too high.
So they chose to establish effective rule with advanced rifles and whips.
"There is a transitional solution." Hobert said: "Like in the South Colson region, we can immigrate people from Backlund to Longtail Island, first using the population of Backlund to fill the initial demand for workers, and then using a generation's time to allow the natives to gradually accept modern life.
"However, immigration has a significant problem: it can easily lead to internal divisions and create intense conflicts in the future."
Every time Hobert talked about these strategic issues, Fors would listen quietly, because she had long discovered that she was far inferior to Hobert in strategic thinking, so she might as well just listen carefully to what Hobert was thinking.
Fors, of course, had difficulty solving the problems that Hobert hadn't solved. She was concerned about another issue at this time: "If we drive away all the planters, will we offend some dignitaries in Bayam, or even Backlund?"
Hobert smiled: "I will solve this problem in Backlund."
At this time, they inspected the first plantation. The planter, who had been notified in advance, was waiting at the entrance of the plantation with his servants.
Hobert simply got out of the carriage and waved to them.
Then, Freya, who was traveling with them, stepped forward to convey Hobert's order: the day after tomorrow, Thursday morning, the Earl invites them to a banquet at the Lord's mansion.
Continuing the inspection along the way, Hobert and others camped in the wilderness that night and continued the inspection the next day.
If you were to drive around Longtail Island in a carriage, it would take at least a week, but Hobert's purpose was to deter the planters of Longtail Island.
These planters basically lived in the eastern plains, so on Wednesday morning, the original inspection plan ended, and the two returned home, staying that night in the luxurious governor's mansion.
Although this mansion was far smaller than Hobert's Earl's mansion, and the architectural structure was not very complex, the decoration was very luxurious. It seemed that Yanis had reimbursed a lot of money from the governor's mansion for this mansion.
It was said that Yanis also had a private villa that was more luxurious than this one, but that was not the asset of the governor's mansion, so Hobert didn't bother with it.
Longtail Island has many fresh fruits, which are also a local specialty.
At least Fors liked them very much. Although she had lived a middle-class life before, she didn't get to eat much fruit.
After becoming the Lady of the Lord, she had achieved fruit freedom, especially with the lumberjacks' side business of picking tropical fruits from Shipyard Island and selling them.
However, those fruits had not yet formed a scale after all, and the output was limited. Hobert had always advocated frugality, so Fors was still relatively restrained in her expenses, at least not like now, where she could eat as much fruit as she wanted.
The next day, Hobert hosted a banquet for the planters and mine owners in the mansion. He didn't use the popular ball format, but simply a banquet.
This was Hobert's fief, and he did whatever made him comfortable.
He believed that it was not solemn enough to discuss business at a ball, so he simply held a banquet.
There were more than thirty planters and mine owners on Longtail Island. Everyone gathered together, talking and laughing on the surface, but they were somewhat apprehensive in their hearts, wondering what the new Lord had called them here for?
This was a new Lord, not a new Governor, and also an Earl, a big figure in Backlund. They didn't know how to deal with such a big figure.
Fortunately, Hobert looked very young and kind, and the beautiful Lady of the Lord didn't say much, but she also seemed easy to talk to.
When lunch was about to begin, Earl Hobert tapped his wine glass with a spoon, and everyone immediately quieted down and looked at the young Earl.
"I need a lot of rubber!" Hobert's words immediately made all the planters sit up straight. They had rubber!
Hobert further explained: "My investment in Backlund requires a lot of rubber! So much that it exceeds your imagination!
"So I want to pre-order all your rubber for the next two weeks!"
The planters' faces were filled with smiles. They didn't expect the new Lord to be doing business with them.
Hobert reached out and introduced the woman on his right, who was in her forties and wearing the vestments of the Church of the Earth Mother: "This is Ms. Jodi, a Bishop of the Church of the Earth Mother."
Bishop Jodi, with her golden hair, looked at everyone with a gentle gaze and nodded slightly to them.
Hobert continued: "While preaching on Longtail Island, Bishop Jodi will help you increase the yield of rubber trees."
After speaking, Hobert made a "please" gesture.
Jodi stood up and said in fluent Loenese: "Everyone, I went to see the rubber trees on Longtail Island yesterday. If you use the potions and planting methods I provide, the yield of the rubber trees can be increased by 5 times in a week!
"If you use the new rubber seedlings I will cultivate in the future, the yield can be increased by about 15 times!"
Everyone opened their mouths wide, with only one thought in their hearts at this time: Is this a scam!
Increasing the yield by 5 times already sounded outrageous, and 15 times was completely a fantasy.
Hobert continued: "Whoever is willing to sell me rubber, whoever is willing to use the potions provided by Bishop Jodi, can come to me to receive an advance payment after dinner.
"I will prepay the money for the rubber for the next two weeks at the market price and provide you with a sum of money to purchase the potions. If the potions are effective after use, you must return this money to me. If the use is ineffective, I don't need you to return it."
Several people couldn't believe that there was such a good thing in the world?
After a few seconds, one of the planters asked: "If we don't use the potions provided by this Bishop, or only partially use the potions, can we still receive the advance payment?"
Hobert nodded: "Yes!"
Then another planter asked: "Will those potions affect the lifespan of the rubber trees, or the quality of the rubber produced?"
Bishop Jodi also patiently replied: "No!"
After that, the planters said that they were willing to sell the rubber to the Lord at the market price, so they could avoid dealing with those leech-like purchasing merchants.
The key was the method of paying the advance payment, which they were of course very happy with.
As for the potions provided by Jodi, they still had some concerns. Although Hobert promised to pay for this expense first, they only agreed to use it on some of the trees.
Then Hobert said to the mine owners: "I plan to build a smelting plant on Longtail Island. After you complete your orders, transport the ore to me.
"I will accept as much as you have! It will be settled by the cart. In the beginning, it will be paid every three days for the first two weeks, and then it will be settled once a week."
The mine owners also smiled with joy.
Everyone praised the generous new Lord.
Fors had been watching these people with a smile: With the current situation, it would be easy to drive these people away, but only Hobert could manage to squeeze them dry and then drive them away.
After the banquet, under Fors's command, the financial staff set up desks and quickly paid out more than 6,000 pounds in advance payments.
Every planter left happily, and the mine owners were completely relieved after seeing the gold pounds, waiting to prepare to send the ore to the Lord's mansion.
In the afternoon, Hobert also arranged for the renovation and construction of the rubber processing workshops, as well as the construction tasks for the first batch of factories.
As for the governance of Longtail Island, Hobert's requirements for Conrad and others were: first understand the specific situation of the island, and temporarily do not leave the city, but be prepared to take over some industries and towns!
With Freya having been promoted to "Magistrate," Hobert temporarily entrusted her with the security of Long Tail Island, or more precisely, Long Tail Port.
As for the materials for the initial construction work, Hobert said they would arrive tomorrow, as he had already arranged for Todd in Backlund to purchase them, and they would be transported by "Creator Logistics" tomorrow.
The first batch of construction workers could be transferred from the South Colson area, with experienced workers mainly recruited locally.
There were quite a few Loen people in Long Tail Port, but most of them were unwilling to engage in such labor. However, many were willing to provide the local natives to Hobert for short-term use as slaves, profiting from it.
Having just arrived here, Hobert certainly had to respect the local "customs," allowing these middleman-like human traffickers to provide the main labor force.
After arranging the tasks, Hobert returned to Backlund, where he had a ball to attend in the evening.
For Hobert, balls were becoming increasingly boring: endless dances, endless drinks, endless small talk. In the end, the ball would end, and he would feel like he had wasted an entire evening.
Of course, this was Hobert's normal state; many people could still achieve satisfactory results at balls.
Many people had already heard that Hobert had rented a huge factory building, but what he was specifically going to do was still unknown, so most nobles were still watching.
Audrey smiled beside him, "Hobert, you are becoming less and less able to hide your inner thoughts."
"These occasions remind me of when I was in school, and had to attend classes I didn't want to," Hobert said with emotion.
"Perhaps you should go to the table and have some roast meat," Audrey suggested, "Tonight's Tussock-flavored roast meat is very special; delicious food always heals the soul."
Hobert nodded, "That roast meat is indeed good, but drinking this wine is not right."
Audrey gently shook the wine glass in her hand, then looked at the color, "It's a very good wine!"
"That's not what I meant..." Hobert laughed, "If I told you how to eat it, you would say I'm not gentlemanly enough again."
Audrey smiled, "Hobert is the most gentle and refined gentleman in Backlund."
"Okay, then I'll tell you," Hobert said, "Roast meat should be paired with beer."
Audrey thought for a moment, "I think I drank beer at a poetry salon once."
"Beer is generally not served at formal banquets," Hobert said, "You probably haven't drunk it much."
The gentlemen of the nobility often drank beer at private gatherings, but ladies or young ladies drank more fruit wine at their gatherings.
Audrey suggested, "You're going to hold a banquet the day after tomorrow; you could consider using beer with roast meat at your banquet."
Hobert was about to agree, but then smiled helplessly, "If I really did that, I'm afraid my butler would hang himself in front of me."
Although he knew that even if Mr. Dawes hung from the rafters for a day, he probably wouldn't die.
Audrey smiled lightly, and the eyes of the people around were attracted to her, as if they were seeing a blooming flower.
Everyone around felt a sense of pity: It was a pity that this beautiful flower was blooming for someone else.
Audrey seemed to suddenly think of something, and she whispered, "Do you know where they sell barbecue and beer? We can go try it together."
"Their barbecue is not authentic," Hobert swallowed, "I'll find some time next week and treat you to an authentic barbecue in the evening."
Audrey immediately nodded, "Okay!"
...
In the next two days, Hobert was very busy. In the morning, he had to go to MI9 to clock in, and as soon as he entered the office, he would immediately go to Long Tail Island.
After the island changed its garrison and officials, the Loen people living here had not yet found any difference from the previous governor's office.
If there was a difference, it was that the police officer in charge of security looked too young, and was also a girl, which always made people feel that the new government's security would not be very good.
Another difference was that the clerks were going through the streets and alleys to determine property rights, which was also different from the previous governor's office.
Although the staff explained that after the property rights were confirmed, their properties would be protected by the governor's office.
But there were still many clever people who thought that this was to levy taxes on people with multiple properties, so they all used the names of relatives and friends who did not have properties under their names to confirm the property rights.
For the time being, Hobert would not have too much action.
In the evening, Hobert now had one more thing to do: he had to remember the positions, preferences, etc. of the nobles who came to the banquet, which would be used when welcoming them.
Even though Hobert's memory had been strengthened, he felt a headache after seeing these things. Sometimes he couldn't remember them even after reading them several times, and it was easy to confuse some nobles.
In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday. Hobert had lunch at MI9 and returned to the Earl's residence. After more than a month of renovation, the Earl's residence no longer showed any signs of dilapidation, and the hall where the banquet was held had many exquisite works of art.
Those were all rewards from the Queen and Princess Alice. Hobert had Dawes display them all directly, saving him a lot of money.
Hobert was not stingy with the banquet's food, band, and other aspects, trying to make them the best possible.
Of course, the most important thing was to completely illuminate the banquet hall with light bulbs.
At first, Dawes was very opposed, but when he saw the brightness produced by the rows of light bulbs, he no longer insisted on his opinion.
For Hobert, the most important thing about using light bulbs for lighting was to hide the small steam generator.
This small generator was a test machine for verifying turbine operation. The steam engine was readily available, and the generator was also readily available. The researchers mainly assembled a small turbine.
The experimental results were very encouraging. The operation of the turbine exceeded expectations. Even if the entire Earl's residence was replaced with light bulbs, this generator could supply them.
Hobert carefully moved the generator to the basement, for which he drilled a hole from the basement, installed a chimney, and specially had Selena take people to guard it, not allowing anyone to enter or exit.
Even the operators should not come out temporarily today.
At a little after two in the afternoon, the Bradley family arrived early.
Hobert, who was sitting bored in the hall, stood up and smiled, "Is my pocket watch broken?"
"No, I came early," Lord Bradley, who had a mustache on his upper lip and was slightly overweight, said with a smile, "I came to see if I could help. I have some experience in holding banquets."
Since Hobert "rescued" their father and son, Lord Bradley had repeatedly brought valuable gifts to express his gratitude, but Hobert declined the gifts, accepting only the sentiment.
Lord Bradley, who had never had any political backing, was not discouraged, but instead came more frequently.
"There is no reason to have guests help," Hobert said with a smile, "Please sit down."
Bradley thanked him before sitting down, but still gave his son a look to go and help, the meaning of which was very clear: We are your servants.
This was Bradley's realization after entering MI9: In Backlund, it was not enough to just have money; you also had to have a stable political backer.
Those old nobles would not take a baronet seriously, but Hobert and his son were different. Their political power was still very weak and might need some baronets to serve them.
Bradley felt that this was an opportunity, so he began to work hard to curry favor with Hobert.
After sitting down, Bradley asked with a smile, "I wonder who you will dance the first dance with tonight?"
Hobert said with a smile, "Of course, it's my wife."
Even if Fors did not like such occasions, Hobert required her to attend the ball, and she had to dance the first dance.
Fors agreed with both distress and joy. She was distressed because she really didn't know what to talk about with the noble ladies. Did she really want to talk about the use of the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife?
She was happy, of course, because she knew what the first dance represented.
Hearing Hobert's answer, Bradley was slightly stunned. He had come so early today to recommend his daughter Norma.
Because Hobert had not brought his wife to Backlund's noble activities, this was interpreted by everyone as Hobert deliberately not bringing his wife to Backlund, and that he planned to start a new marriage in Backlund.
Bradley did not expect that Hobert would invite his wife to dance the first dance at the banquet he was holding.
Norma next to him also did not expect this, and then her cheeks were slightly red. She recalled her father's instructions to her yesterday: Do everything possible to become Hobert's mistress. This was the greatest contribution she could make to the family.
Bradley could have such an idea because he really couldn't figure out why Hobert would have helped their father and son at the time, and in the end, there was only one possibility: this Earl hoped to get the beautiful Norma.
Hobert did not know what this baronet was planning and talked to him about the recent import and export business with the Feysac Empire.
Bradley was a little absent-minded for the first two sentences, but he quickly concentrated on chatting.
As the conversation between the two unfolded, the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.
This was also one of the reasons why Bradley wanted to work for Hobert. Hobert did not have the aloofness of those high-ranking nobles and the occasional contempt in their eyes.
At a little after four in the afternoon, Fors, who had changed into her formal dress, came over to remind him, "Hobert, you should go and greet the guests."
As she said this, she politely nodded slightly to the Bradley family.
Fors only put on light makeup as usual and wore a stylish court dress, and her temperament suddenly became lazy and noble.
Fors was actually very beautiful. With a little dressing up, she was more dazzling than most noble ladies and young ladies, especially her lazy temperament, which was difficult for ordinary people to master.
This kind of laziness easily made people imagine her stretching when she just woke up, which must be like a kitten, cute and heartwarming.
Bradley and Norma suddenly had no other intentions in their hearts, and Bradley even sighed: Perhaps it was this Earl who had been kind enough to help himself at the time.
After hearing Fors's reminder, Hobert sighed, "We were having a good chat, and suddenly I have to go to work."
Fors smiled helplessly, and coaxed him, "Go and greet the guests first, and then we'll chat when you come back."
Hobert sighed again before getting up and reluctantly going to greet the guests.
When the guests arrived, Fors perked up and smiled as she went forward to greet them, and her smile only became sincere when she saw Christian and Mona's family.
Hobert had sent invitations to the nobles he had invited to attend the party before, but some nobles did not come because they had other things to do.
In addition, there were nobles who got along well at the banquet, such as Viscount Glinter, and many baronets who wanted to curry favor with him, like Lord Bradley.
All in all, dozens of nobles were coming today!
What everyone did not expect was that Hobert could actually invite Princess Alice, which seemed to prove that their father and son were deeply trusted by the royal family.
In fact, at a ball once, Alice asked Hobert: I heard that you are going to have a ball on the 22nd?
Hobert immediately realized that he had to send this ancestor an invitation tomorrow.
As more and more guests arrived, it was getting late, and the hall gradually became dim, but the servants had not turned on the lights.
At first, the nobles did not care, but later the light was too dark, and they could not help but talk about it.
Even Mona went to remind Fors, "Quickly have the servants turn on the lights."
Otherwise, they would be laughed at by the nobles again.
Fors said with a smile, "Mother, Hobert said he wants to give everyone a surprise."
Mona was slightly stunned, and then smiled, "You are also fooling around with Hobert."
Fors smiled a little embarrassedly, but Mona didn't say anything more.
On the other side of the hall, Caitlin was also reminding Audrey, "Quickly have the Earl's butler turn on the lights, otherwise everyone will start to satirize Hobert."
But Audrey smiled and said, "When we came in just now, didn't Hobert say that there would be a surprise tonight?"
Caitlin was slightly stunned, "He might just be saying that."
This kind of rhetoric is very common among nobles.
"No," Audrey said, "Hobert rarely makes surprises, and the surprises he says are definitely real surprises."
Just now, through observing Hobert's expression and body language, Audrey was very sure of this, and she could even be sure that Hobert was actually reminding her just now.
Hearing her daughter say this, Caitlin's eyes had a little more unusual meaning, but she didn't say anything more.
In the center of the hall, Alice also noticed that the light in the room was getting darker and darker, and some noble ladies were already satirizing, "I used to hear that this Earl ate so simply every meal, and I didn't believe it, but now I believe it. It's so late, and he can't even bear to turn on the lights."
At this time, someone chimed in, "Yes, my lights are on during the day."
Alice glanced at the light bulb above her head. She had noticed this when she came in.
It wasn't that her observation skills were so strong, but that she had asked people to investigate Hobert not long ago, and one of the messages was about Hobert's great interest in light bulbs.
Following this clue, she guessed that Hobert must have his own plans for doing this now, and she could even see the surprised expressions of these noble ladies in a while.
As night fell, the room became darker and darker.
Just as the nobles were at their breaking point, about to erupt, Hobert suddenly appeared on the indoor balcony on the second floor of the hall: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome."
Hobert gave a slight bow, and after straightening up, continued: "I'm sure you're all wondering why I didn't turn on the lights."
"The reason is simple, I want you all to remember this moment."
Many nobles were already mentally mocking Hobert for putting on a show, or forcing an explanation for the oversight of forgetting to turn on the lights.
It was already difficult to see everyone's faces in the hall, so people didn't even bother to manage their expressions.
The demigod Hobert took in everyone's expressions: "Get ready! I'll show you the light of technology! Take a look at the 'Earl's Light'!"
After speaking, he closed the electrical switch on the side.
The hall was instantly as bright as day!
Clang~
Several nobles didn't hold their wine glasses steady, and they fell to the ground.
Even in the homes of nobles, they were currently using gas lamps, which were exquisite, but the brightness was no match for these tungsten filament incandescent light bulbs.
Alice at the center of the hall smiled: This is the Hobert I know.
Audrey saw the surprised expressions of her parents and brother, smiled slightly, and a strong sense of pride arose within her.
Fors watched Hobert's smug smile on the balcony: I can already imagine this guy playing the nobles of Backlund in the palm of his hand in the future.
"'Earl's Light' will bring unlimited light to Backlund in the future!" Hobert said emotionally on the balcony: "History will begin to be rewritten from this moment! Ladies and gentlemen, you will all be witnesses to this history!"
Alice took the lead in applauding, and everyone followed suit, even the nobles who had seen light bulbs before applauded Hobert sincerely at this moment.
Because Hobert chose the timing so well, giving everyone a huge shock!
As the band's music began, Hobert bowed slightly, descended from the balcony via the stairs behind him, and then took Fors's hand, dancing the first dance on the stage.
In the elegant music, the two danced and twirled, Fors smiling softly and whispering: "This feeling of being able to attract everyone's attention is actually quite nice."
Hobert smiled and said: "That's because you're beautiful enough and your dancing is graceful enough.
"I think, after tonight, there will be another goddess in the minds of the Backlund nobles."
Fors sighed softly: "But I still don't like these kinds of occasions."
Audrey saw the intimate conversation between the two while dancing, turned her head, and talked to Elizabeth about the topic of Backlund University.
Alice scrutinized Fors: This is his wife? Her appearance is just so-so.
She looked all the way down: The curve of her waist is just so-so, her chest…
Alice couldn't help but look down at her own: Perhaps, I can still develop a bit more.
After the first piece was finished, the ball officially began.
Hobert only danced this one dance at today's ball, because after he came down from the stage, people kept coming to talk to him, asking about the light bulbs.
Because they found that after more than ten minutes, none of the light bulbs above their heads had gone out.
These nobles had very keen senses, and they immediately saw the business opportunities of this new invention, and even those who knew the industry were surprised, how did Hobert provide such stable electricity?
Everyone had too many questions to ask, but Hobert kept his mouth shut, only talking to them about interesting things and jokes in Backlund, which made some impatient nobles feel itchy.
...
After Earl Hobert's ball ended, in Earl Hall's carriage on the way back.
Earl Hall asked Audrey: "This is the research project that Hobert invested in?"
Audrey smiled and said: "Yes, he said before that he would bring light to Backlund, I didn't expect it to be real light."
"Hobert is very good at creating atmosphere." Hibbert commented: "Does he also have investments in large-capacity battery technology? The lights didn't dim and none of the light bulbs went out throughout the entire ball."
"That's right, this is the key point." Earl Hall said seriously: "None of the light bulbs went out, if I remember correctly, the light bulbs on the market now don't last very long."
He asked: "Audrey, does Hobert have enough funds? Has he looked for investment?"
Audrey recalled Hobert's financial situation: "As far as I know, no."
"He will definitely look for investment." Earl Hall smiled and said: "Then, remember to tell me."
Seeing the puzzled expression on his daughter's face, he continued to smile and said: "This is a smart young man, of course he knows that sometimes the benefits of monopoly are trouble and danger.
"Of course he needs to find some partners to share these dangers and troubles."
Audrey nodded slowly, she remembered Hobert had expressed this kind of plan.
...
In Duke Christian's carriage, Tyron was still excited: "Sister-in-law said it's called an electric light, I didn't expect it to be so bright, it's like, it's like daytime!"
Christian nodded slightly: "This is indeed a novelty."
Mona said: "Fors said that Hobert has already invested quite a bit in electric lights, and plans to mainly make such products in the future."
This may be something the nobles didn't expect, Hobert didn't mention the light bulbs at all, but Fors, who also knew some inside information, made a simple explanation to Mona in the corner of the ball.
Tyron said happily: "Then in the future, Backlund will be as bright as daytime at night."
...
At this time, in Hobert's mansion, Hobert poured himself a glass of wine, found some untouched food and ate a few bites, he simply didn't have time to eat just now, and his mouth was dry from talking.
But the goal that needed to be achieved was achieved, making the nobles have a lot of enthusiasm for electric lights, which will definitely trigger a series of new topics in the noble circle.
At the same time, he also talked with Lord Atwood, who is now the Minister of Education, about Elizabeth taking the Backlund University exam.
The other party promised to help in this regard, and Hobert planned to bring a gift to thank him in a few days.
After taking two sips of wine in celebration, Hobert found Fors a little absent-minded, he put his arm around her waist: "Did you eat your fill tonight?"
"I ate my fill." Fors showed a smile.
At the ball, she noticed the way Audrey and Princess Alice looked at Hobert.
Although she is not an "Spectator", she still trusts her intuition in many cases.
Fors returned to South Colson early the next morning, walking on the streets of this city, responding to everyone's greetings, Fors's mood improved.
At this time, a middle-aged tourist in his fifties stepped forward on the street and asked: "Hello."
Fors cheered up and smiled: "Hello, is there anything I can do for you?"
The other party introduced himself: "My name is Spike, I have a question I'd like to chat with you about."
Spike? Fors was stunned, this name sounded so familiar.
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