industrial lord

Chapter 793 For the First Impression
Once the concepts were aligned, the municipal government's actions immediately became more efficient and targeted.

Under Jori's guidance, city hall officials and clerks were mobilized and began intensive preparations for government affairs.

“A 500-page ‘Budvis City Investment Environment White Paper,’” Jory emphasized to several key officials at a hastily convened preparatory meeting, “is not just a collection of numbers.”

"It needs to cover our population, land, mineral resources, existing industrial scale, tax policies, labor cost analysis, as well as a short-term industrial development plan for the next three years and a long-term plan for ten years."

The officials looked at each other in bewilderment. Their terms of office were uncertain, and they might be out of a job when the city council was re-elected. Who would care about things three or ten years from now?

Seeing the troubled expressions on the faces of the officials, he understood the situation and added, "Just think of it as advertising for the city. Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter; the key is to make the guests believe it."

"More importantly, we need to conduct in-depth analysis of areas that investors may be interested in."

"For example, MP Hojenpoulos's duck canning and down jacket industry requires a large supply of duck down and a stable supply of poultry."

"Therefore, we need to list in detail the suitable water area, the number of potential waterfowl farmers, and possible cooperation models in the report."

“Producing terry cloth requires building a garment factory. Whether the local area can provide enough raw materials, whether there is enough labor, the supply chain support capabilities, and whether the surrounding agricultural output can support so many workers all need to be assessed one by one.”

"This targeted analysis instantly clarified the direction of the preparation work."

Everyone thought Jori's words made a lot of sense.

Holleček stated that he would personally oversee the process and review various archives and data.

Delnets said he would use his experience running slaughterhouses and dealing with local farmers to provide firsthand information on agriculture and livestock.

“Reports alone are not enough,” Jori continued, “We need to show them our ability to act.”

"Let's leave the complicated stuff aside for now and start with the basics."

……

Soon, the latest work arrangements were issued, and time flew by in the midst of the busyness.

Steam filled the bustling air of the Budevis City train station, and a cloud of white mist could be seen rising from afar.

Thomas stepped out of the noisy carriage, carrying his slightly worn leather suitcase.

Fifteen years ago, he fled from Constantinople to the territory of Weisen with his professor and classmates. After settling down, he started as a village chief who received disaster victims and has now become a mid-to-high-level official in the government of the Duchy of Weisen.

Two days ago, he was suddenly transferred to oversee food aid, and Baron Franz Sr. summoned him for a private briefing.

Thomas immediately took a train to Boudviz, a city in southwestern Bohemia, which would be where he would work and live for some time to come.

However, the actual work will not officially begin for another ten days or so, so Thomas came ahead of time to secretly learn about the local customs and political landscape.

The platform was bustling with people, the cement floor was spotless, and the air was filled with the smell of steam and the pastoral scent from afar.

He took a deep breath; a new challenge was about to begin.

Just then, a young and energetic voice rang out from the side.

“I never imagined that Budvis City would have a train,” said the young man in the uniform of the Wesson Military Academy. “Perhaps soon I will be able to take the train all the way home.”

This handsome young man in military uniform stood tall and straight, with a clear and sharp eye. He wore a ceremonial short sword at his waist, which was more decorative than practical, indicating that he was not an ordinary traveler.

Pavel, from Bohem in the Bohemian region, was studying at the Wessen Military Academy. He took leave to go home at the end of this year.

Pavel didn't take the traditional trade route; instead, he took the train here and then rode his newly bought motorcycle north back.

When Pavel returns to Boyheim, he will have plenty to talk about, much to the astonishment of his former friends.

Thomas told him, "At the current rate, it should be around this time next year."

The two sat together on the train and chatted all the way, and have now become acquainted.

The two walked out of the train station, and Thomas seemed somewhat dazed.

“I feel like something’s missing.” He looked left and right. “It doesn’t quite look like a train station.”

Pavel thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Indeed, the exit is too quiet, unlike the train station in the Duchy of Wessen."

The two felt a little unaccustomed to the absence of people loudly soliciting customers.

Thomas said somewhat awkwardly, "I'd like to find a place to stay."

He arrived early, so naturally no office or accommodation was prepared.

I had originally planned to follow the hotel's salesperson here, but the place was deserted.

Upon hearing this, Pavel's face showed a "I'll take care of it" expression.

“That’s easy. I have a friend in the city. Finding a suitable place to stay won’t be difficult,” he said. “I met him while watching horse racing. He won some money, and this time I even helped him send a letter home.”

Pavel was very proactive. He asked around with Thomas and soon found a bakery where he delivered his friend's letter to the owner and his wife.

The couple were delighted to receive their son's letter. The baker was a highly respected figure, and with their help, they quickly found Thomas a place to stay, while Pavel also found a hotel to stay in.

“It’s solved, Mr. Thomas!” the baker said. “It’s a two-story detached apartment on a relatively quiet street not far from the city hall.”

"The landlord is a distant relative of mine, and the rent is very reasonable."

“It’s not far from here, and we’ll deliver fresh bread to you every day if you need it.”

The baker's tone was initially tinged with pride, as if he had accomplished a remarkable task, but then it carried a hint of anticipation.

In his eyes, Thomas was a gentleman from the "big city," and if he could provide him with bread, the shop's business would surely take off.

Thomas readily agreed, sincerely thanking the baker. Led by the baker, they strolled through the streets of Budvis. Along the way, Pavel chatted with the baker about his son's life.

The young man first worked in a factory, but he didn't like that kind of life. After saving some money, he went to the racetrack to gamble on horses and won some money. Then, with Pavel's help, he opened a bakery near the military academy, and the business was pretty good.

Thomas observed the city carefully.

The city's buildings are mostly made of gray-brown rocks, and the years and humid climate have left dark water stains and mottled moss on the walls.

The streets are not wide, and the stone pavement is uneven due to years of use and lack of maintenance. Some low-lying areas are filled with murky puddles left by rainwater at some point, which have now frozen into ice.

Most of the pedestrians were dressed simply, and some were even worn out.

The baker found a great apartment in a quiet location amidst the hustle and bustle. The previous tenant was a junior officer in the Osmarca Empire army.

The landlord was a taciturn middle-aged man who collected the rent, left the key, and then left.

The apartment was more spacious than Thomas had expected, and the lighting was also acceptable.

But it was empty, with almost nothing except a few dusty old tables and chairs and a bare wooden bed.

Ashes filled the cold fireplace, and dust settled on the windowsill.

A sense of emptiness, tinged with mildew, that comes from long periods of vacancy.

Thomas stood in the center of the living room, looking around. The slight warmth that had just risen because he had found a place to stay was quickly dispelled by the cold, lifeless space.

He needs a mattress, cooking utensils, lamp oil, cleaning supplies...

Pavel and the baker whispered to each other for a while, the baker's face full of surprise and confusion.

After the conversation, Pavel said to Thomas somewhat apologetically, "I'm sorry, there's no tradition of 'move in with your bags' here. In the past, officers from the Osmaga Empire would come with servants and so on, and they would have to prepare their own things."

The baker also came over and said, "Sir, I'll have my wife bring a few other women to help you clean the house."

“It seems we need to go to the market to do some shopping first,” Thomas sighed, saying to Pavel and the baker.

After putting down their luggage, the baker went home and asked his wife to find someone to clean up. Thomas and Pavel then went out onto the streets again, their destination the largest market in town.

The closer you get to the market area, the denser the crowds become, and the more complex the various smells become.

The expected bustling scene of fruits, vegetables, spices, livestock, and leather, brimming with the vibrancy of daily life, did not materialize. Instead, there was an unusual kind of busyness that Thomas found somewhat familiar.

Beneath the tall wooden archway at the market entrance, adorned with reliefs depicting local specialties, were not vendors and customers, but rather many laborers and minor officials holding scrolls and gesturing wildly.

They were busy using huge brushes and pungent lime water to clean the ground, archways, and walls on both sides, which had been cleaned only by rain and snow in previous years, trying to remove the dark grime and strange smell that had accumulated over the years.

Inside the market, the area that should have been filled with stalls was empty, with only a few people scrubbing the ground vigorously, trying to remove the stubborn stains mixed with blood, rotten vegetable leaves and mud that had seeped into the cracks in the stones.

Water stains were everywhere, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of lime and cheap cleaning agents, almost completely masking the original atmosphere of the market.

Thomas froze, his brows furrowing involuntarily.

He glanced at Pavel beside him, and the young jazz also seemed somewhat taken aback.

"What's going on?" Thomas asked, puzzled.

Pavel shrugged and strode toward a middle-aged man who looked to be in charge of the market.

The man was wearing a dark coat of decent quality but outdated style, with a leather briefcase slung over his waist. He was frowning as he supervised the workers, occasionally glancing down at a board in his hand to make notes.

His face was serious, his eyes sharp, and he possessed a shrewdness honed by years of handling affairs.

“Excuse me, sir,” Pavel stepped forward, his tone polite but carrying an undeniable aristocratic confidence, “is the market closed today?”

The official looked up and glanced at Pavel and Thomas, who walked up a little later.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Pavel's military uniform and Thomas's distinctively different, more streamlined, and fashionable coat from the Duchy of Wessen, before his serious expression softened slightly.

He clearly regarded the two as guests from out of town, perhaps of some status.

“Yes, esteemed guests,” the official replied politely. “The market needs a thorough cleaning and tidying up, and will be closed for the next two days.”

He paused, perhaps feeling the need for a more formal explanation, and added, "This is to welcome the upcoming investment delegation from the Principality of Wessen. The city hall has ordered that all major public places in the city must present their best appearance."

Delnets was actually quite dismissive of this sudden "prestige project," which he felt added extra workload and expenses. He figured it would have been better to simply prevent guests from entering these places.

But this was at the strong suggestion of Mr. Jory, and an order personally issued by Mayor Holleček, emphasizing things like "first impressions" and "investment environment presentation."

As a municipal official, he had to carry it out.

As the owner of the slaughterhouse, he knew that if he could attract investment from the Weisen people, it might be profitable in the long run.

This contradictory mindset made his tone sound flat and official when he explained things, lacking much genuine emotion.

"An investment group?" Pavel raised an eyebrow and glanced at Thomas. Thomas remained expressionless, simply nodding slightly to indicate that he understood.

I can't buy anything anymore.

Thomas felt a surge of inexplicable absurdity as he watched the bustling scene before him, a scene of preparations to welcome "their own people" that was disrupting the normal lives of the locals.

He traveled all the way from the Duchy of Wessen to manage the food aid here, only to find that even the most basic necessities were unavailable due to this emergency cleanup.

Left with no other choice, the two had to return, retrieve their luggage, and check into a hotel.

(End of this chapter)