industrial lord

Chapter 791 The Angel of Wealth is Coming
Another heavy snowfall arrived quietly last night, covering the city of Budevis in and out of the city in a pure white. Only the dark stone pavement on the main street, cleared by the snow, looked from the sky like the new blood vessels on a giant's body, winding forward.

Along the streets, some brand-new shop signs still had icicles hanging from them, shimmering faintly in the thin winter sunlight.

Holleček sat in his office in the city hall, overlooking part of the main street, looking worriedly at the thick snow.

Recent news indicates that the Duchy of Wessen is about to send a large amount of grain to provide relief through work, and the task for Budvis City is to extend the railway to more distant areas.

Although it was freezing cold and the soil was as hard as rocks, with the help of the ox and horse magicians, clearing away plants and rocks along the route was no problem.

The construction progress is not the key point; the key point is to prevent people from freezing or starving to death this winter.

Holleček was at a loss for words. In the past, whether it was the Osmaga Empire or the Kingdom of Piast, the first thing they did after a poor harvest was to intensify their plundering of food, regardless of the lives of ordinary people.

All I can say is that the Duke of Wessen's kindness was immense.
Just then, the post office van sped along the main road, and the bell under the rearview mirror rang out a crisp sound, reminding people to give way.

A dark green car stopped at the side entrance of the office building and unloaded official and personal letters from various places.

Soon, a letter arrived in Holleček's hands.

Holleček sat in the chair, the flames in the fireplace dispelling the chill outside the window, but unable to dispel the deep thought that settled between his brows.

The letter came from Langnar and was signed by Hojenproz, who immediately sent a reply by airmail after receiving Holleček's reply.

In his reply, Hojenproz expressed his undisguised joy, stating that he was "sincerely pleased" that Holleček had agreed to his visit for investment and formally informed him that he would soon set off with several "like-minded friends" to conduct a "field visit" to Budvis City.

The word "friend" made Holleček frown deeply.

The other party used polite words, but the capital power behind them carries considerable weight.

He knew that the city of Budvis, a stage in dire need of rebuilding, was about to welcome a group of important guests, who might even be new masters.

The afternoon municipal meeting began in this delicate atmosphere.

The city hall's council chamber was fairly spacious, but simply furnished, with some traces of hasty repairs after the ravages of war still visible on the walls, all covered up with cheap oil paintings and the like.

Seated around the long table were prominent city officials, most of whom, like Holleček, held both municipal and business positions and were the core force in the city's reconstruction.

When Holleček calmly announced the upcoming visit of Högenproz, a suppressed murmur and a variety of complex glances filled the previously somber council chamber.

"Hojenproz? Is that... Langnar's 'Thief Councilor'?"

Someone confirmed in a low voice, their tone filled with disbelief.

"That's him."

Holleček affirmed, and then recounted the main points of the letter.

After a brief silence, a surge of excited commotion, like ripples spread across a lake after a pebble has been thrown in, spread among the attendees.

The most vehement reaction came from municipal official Delnets.

This robust, ruddy-faced middle-aged man is the owner of the city's largest slaughterhouse, in charge of the city's finances and the approval of various infrastructure projects.

He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup rattle, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

"Great! Fantastic news!" Delnets' voice boomed, carrying the butcher's characteristic fierceness. "I've heard so much about Mr. Hojenproz's reputation from the passing caravans that I'm practically sick of it. It's our good fortune that he's taken a liking to us, Budvis!"

He stood up excitedly, almost dancing with joy: "Gentlemen, think about it! The Duke of Wessen's visit and the opening of the railway have given us a much-needed respite."

"But if we can attract large-scale investments from major factory owners like Senator Hojenproz, that will be the wings that truly allow Budvis to take off!"

He waved his arms as if he could already see countless gold coins raining down from the sky, crashing into Budvis's dry treasury, and some even falling into his own slaughterhouse's coffers.

Delnecke had a grand plan that had been lingering in his mind for a long time—to build a magnificent stone arch bridge in the city that would be named after him—the "Delnecke Bridge." The mere thought of it made his blood boil.

That will not only be a project to facilitate transportation, but also a monument to his political career and personal prestige.

However, the enormous sums required to build such a bridge were astronomical for Budvis, a city that had just achieved a balance between income and expenditure, with most of its revenue invested in the more pressing issue of people's livelihood recovery. Hojenproz's arrival was like a ray of light, instantly illuminating this seemingly unattainable dream.

The economic development brought about by foreign capital is the most crucial link in realizing his ambitions.

The other officials present, whether they were representatives of the textile guild, tax officials in charge of managing shops in the city, or sheriffs who ran building materials businesses, shared similar thoughts with Delnets at this moment.

They were all businessmen who had struggled out of the ruins of war and deeply understood the principle of "it's good to have a big tree to lean on for shade".

By attaching themselves to the ever-growing economic machine of the Duchy of Wessen and utilizing its capital, technology, and markets, they have found the best way to rapidly accumulate wealth and solidify their position.

No one would object to attracting investment, especially Hojenproz, who is gaining a reputation within the Duchy of Wesen.

A consensus was quickly reached in the council chamber: we must do everything we can to welcome this angel of wealth and let him see the potential and sincerity of the city of Budevis.

However, amidst the optimistic atmosphere, Holleček raised a more practical question: "Gentlemen, we have the enthusiasm, but how exactly should we entertain Congressman Hotzenproz and his delegation?"

"They come from Langnar, one of the wealthiest cities in the duchy. Their knowledge and experience far surpass ours. What kind of protocol should we use? What itinerary should we arrange? How can we present ourselves without appearing overly inadequate?"

This question was like a bucket of cold water, calming the excited crowd down a bit.

Indeed, Budvis City was recently rebuilt, and its conditions were rudimentary, with virtually no experience in providing high-end hospitality.

What if the arrangements are not made properly and displease the big boss? Wouldn't that be counterproductive?

At this moment, Delnets stood up again, a confident smile on his face, and said with great confidence, "Your Excellency Mayor, colleagues, there is no need to worry."

"I happen to have a suitable person to consult on this matter."

He paused, looked around, and was pleased to see that everyone's eyes were on him. He then said loudly, "You have all surely heard of our neighbor, Baron Stowe's brother, Mr. Jory."

"He basically manages the business in Stoll. He deals with merchants from all walks of life in the Duchy of Wesen all year round and knows their rules and preferences like the back of his hand."

“We have some connections with him, so we can send someone to invite him immediately and hire him as our special advisor for this reception.”

This proposal was immediately agreed by everyone.

Jori's reputation was indeed well-known in the area, and Holleček also did business with him.

He is the perfect person to guide us through our difficulties.

The messenger from Budvis boarded the train, disembarked at Stolling Station, and, trudging through the snow, arrived in the neighboring Stolling that same day, where he met Jori and Baron Stolling.

Baron Stowe believed that although Stowe and Budvis were neighbors, Stowe's geographical disadvantages prevented it from expanding its business, making cooperation with Budvis necessary.

The next day, a well-decorated van rolled along the slightly bumpy cobblestone streets of Budevis and stopped in front of the city hall.

Mr. Jory, who stepped out of the van, was dressed smartly but not ostentatiously, with a fair complexion and eyes that revealed the shrewdness and agility characteristic of a businessman.

He warmly greeted Holleček, Delnec, and others who came to greet him, speaking politely and humbly, showing no airs of being the brother of a great lord, but rather acting more like a middleman eager to close a deal.

The fireplace in the reception room was burning brightly. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone got straight to the point without lingering.

Jori accepted the hot tea that Delnets personally handed him, took a small sip, and showed an appreciative expression on his face. He then put down the teacup and got into the flow.

“Mayor Holleček, Mayor Delnets, gentlemen,” Jori’s voice was clear and his pace slow, ensuring that every word could be heard, “I am honored to have been invited here.”

"We in Stoll have indeed accumulated some superficial experience in dealing with Wessen businessmen, as we receive distinguished guests like Senator Hojenproz."

"As far as I know, in order to attract investment, almost every region of the Duchy of Wesen has now developed an unwritten but quite effective process."

“We can learn from it and adjust it according to the actual situation in Budvis City.”

Holleček, Delnets, and others had already prepared notebooks and were carefully taking notes.

(End of this chapter)