The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 422 The Kind-Hearted Princess Irene

The city was filled with unease at dusk, just like the somber sunset on the horizon.

In contrast, Thunder City, situated along the coast of the Whirlpool Sea, boasts a beautiful and thriving landscape.

Especially in that newly developed industrial area on the outskirts, which used to be a dirty and chaotic camp for refugees, towering chimneys have now replaced dilapidated tents, and the tireless roar of steam has drowned out the groans and cries of the past.

And all of this is thanks to the beautiful and kind-hearted Princess Irene Campbell.

Her friendship with Prince Colin became the most reliable driving force for the prosperity of this small duchy.

Saint Sith above, it would be perfect if the two families could become related by marriage!
In addition, the hardworking and courageous Campbell people should also be thanked.

Or to be more precise, Horace felt that the credit should belong to his own hard work and courage.

It was his extraordinary business acumen and tireless diligence that enabled him to build this palace of wealth in this muddy place and bring a better life to his family.

"...I don't want to eat dry bread."

At the breakfast table in the morning.

Horace's young son poked at the hard bread on his plate with a gloomy expression, muttering complaints.

"Dad, we're so rich, why do we still eat this every morning? Little Tom told me that his family eats honey-smeared pastries every day..."

The mansion was decent enough for Thunder City, but that was about it. The furnishings were practical but utterly devoid of aesthetic appeal; the cold walls were bare, devoid of any tapestries or decorative paintings.

Even the vase on the dining table was empty, seemingly being used as a kettle.

Mrs. Horace also complained about this, but the shrewd businessman always found a way to persuade her.

Including one's own children.

Hearing his son's childish remarks, Horace, who was reading the newspaper, curled his lip in disdain and said slowly.

"...Whole grains are good for digestion and your health. I'm doing this for your own good. Also, thrift is a virtue passed down in our family. What are you comparing yourself to Tom's family? One day, when that kid turns into a fat pig, you'll thank me for keeping your mouth shut."

Upon hearing this, the boy deflated like a punctured balloon and said nothing more.

However, Horace seemed unsatisfied with the brat's retreat and continued in a lecturing tone.

“Don’t think your father is stingy; I’m doing this for the family. Now, every gold coin we save can buy one more share of Colin Group stock. Just you wait and see, when His Highness Colin returns from overseas, every share we have will increase tenfold, or even twentyfold! Then our family will have more money than we can spend, and you will thank me.”

A child obviously doesn't understand what stocks are, but he knows that one gold coin is worth about 100 silver coins, and one silver coin is worth about 100 copper coins.

Saint Sis, if you try to save money by cutting back on food and clothing, how long will it take to save up even a single gold coin?
Moreover, he knew his father would never sell the stock.

He remembered clearly that last winter, Colin Group stock was worth 10 gold coins. At that time, his father didn't sell a single share; instead, he bought quite a few.

“Then… what if Prince Colin doesn’t come back?” he asked cautiously.

“That’s impossible,” Horace chuckled, glancing at the ignorant brat. “His relationship with our Princess Irene is far from simple. He will definitely come back, every Campbellian knows that… Alright, enough talk. Finish your food and get to school, or do you want to end up like those homeless paupers on the street?”

Although he knew in his heart that those poor bastards were not reduced to the streets because they did not study hard, but because the nobles outside had ganged up on them and driven them out of their territory, which led to their current predicament.

However, this does not prevent him from using these "negative examples" to educate his children, so that they understand the cruelty of competition from a young age.

And there is only one disease in this world.

That is poverty.

The boy sighed, thinking to himself, "Isn't it you who's been rambling on and on?"

However, he had gotten used to silence, because arguing with his father would only make things worse.

After silently finishing his breakfast, he took the plate to the kitchen and washed the dishes with his silent mother.

Horace felt pleased with himself after giving his son another lesson. He glanced at the wall clock, estimated that it was about time, and put the newspaper he had finished reading on the table.

"I'm going to the factory in a bit, I'll probably be back late, so you don't need to wait for me."

After saying that, he walked to the door, took off a smart and well-fitting suit, put it over his tattered old sweater, and walked out with his head held high.

Although the factory was on track, he still had to go there every day to check on things and prevent anyone from slacking off and taking his wages for free.

As he passed by his usual bakery, Hollers made a point of glancing at the entrance.

He was delighted to see the wooden sign hanging at the door.

Very good! The price of a loaf of bread is still four copper coins!
After walking away without making a sound, Horace clenched his fist excitedly and muttered to himself.

"...It seems that the price of grain has really dropped!"

Horace remembered clearly that a year ago at this time, a loaf of bread cost 5 copper coins, but now it cost 4 copper coins.

Before the nobles outside Thunder City had even started their land grabbing spree, some pretentious guys started spouting nonsense in the newspapers, saying that converting farmland into pasture would lead to higher grain prices, thus spreading fears of famine.

However, the actual situation is quite the opposite.

The continent of Os is not limited to the duchy of Campbell. Although not everyone is well-fed, food is the one thing they have in abundance.

Thanks to the booming import and export industry, the royal family used a portion of industrial tax revenue to subsidize the food supply for the citizens of Thunder City. As a result, the price of grain in Thunder City not only did not rise, but actually became cheaper.

What does this have to do with him?
That's a very important matter!
It wasn't just because he could save an extra copper coin, but also because he could gain greater bargaining power regarding labor costs!
If 400 copper coins are enough for a person to live until the next month, why should he pay them an extra 500 copper coins as wages?

Thunder City has no shortage of people, especially those serfs who suddenly gained their freedom overnight.

Those guys have nothing but strength, and someone will always accept lower wages just to have some peace of mind.

of course.

Horace was kind.

Considering that most families in the Duchy of Campbell have two children, plus wives who don't work, making a total of four people, 1600 copper coins would be more reasonable than last year's 1800 copper coins.

That's 400 loaves of bread.

They should be content.

Horace pondered this matter the whole way to the textile factory. If he could save two silver coins from each person, that would be two gold coins in pure profit from a hundred people!

Operating a textile machine is not a complicated job; most of the physical labor is done by the machine. He even felt that the factory's hundreds of employees were somewhat superfluous.

However, just as he was pondering how to get these peasants to willingly accept the pay cut, a piercing metallic scraping sound suddenly caught his attention.

Not far away, a steam loom stopped, and he instinctively felt a pang of panic, but this was quickly followed by a surge of joy.

A young man accidentally got his arm caught in the transmission device, leaving half of his arm a bloody mess. The white cotton gauze was stained bright red, a truly gruesome sight.

The workers from the countryside were stunned. In the end, a few skilled textile workers were the first to react. They rushed over, stopped the machine, and carried the young man who had lost his right hand out.

"Quick! Go find a doctor!"

"Pass me some gauze! We need to stop his bleeding first!"

"Oh, Saint Sith above..."

Saint Sis above—

This is an excellent opportunity!

Horace became excited, pretended to be angry, stepped forward, and roared at the stunned foreman beside him.

"Get him off us! Don't let his blood stick the gears together! You bunch of bastards, look what you've done!"

Upon seeing the boss suddenly appear, the foreman, who had been subjected to a barrage of insults, instinctively trembled and stammered.

"Sir, he's injured and needs treatment..."

"Of course I know he's injured! Do you think I don't have eyes to see? He's just injured, not dead. The Adventurers' Guild's healers have plenty of ways to heal him!"

"But... even therapists can't restore regrown bone to exactly the same state as before—"

"What? Are his bones worth a lot? Or do you want me to pay him back? Stop dreaming. I'm already being lenient by not asking him for money for the damaged machine!"

Horace glanced at the unconscious young man with disgust and said viciously.

"Get up! Stop playing dead! You clumsy piece of trash, you're fired! Go to the accountant's office to collect your wages for this month, and then get out of here!"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads, and they also brought out expressions of anger on those numb or bewildered faces.

The arduous labor they endured every day had already fueled their anger, and now, someone had added fuel to the fire.

The surrounding workers stopped what they were doing without prior arrangement, the roar of the machines gradually subsided, and the entire workshop fell into a terrifying silence.

"What? You want to rebel?"

Horace, however, showed no fear upon seeing this. Instead, he raised his eyebrows in interest and waved to the textile factory's security guards.

Two burly men carrying sticks walked over and stood on either side of the boss.

With his accomplices backing him up, Horace raised his chin even more arrogantly and spoke in a sarcastic voice.

"Let me tell you, if you don't want to work, then get out! Thunder City has no shortage of people like you! I think I've been too lenient with you all. Starting today, everyone's salary is reduced to 1600 copper coins! If I see you slacking off again, you can expect to go hungry!"

1600 copper coins!

The moment Horace finished speaking, everyone present except the security guards erupted in an uproar.

A year ago, their wages were 2000 copper coins, but later they were reduced to 1800 copper coins.

For the sake of their hungry children at home, they swallowed their anger.

However, they did not expect that their tolerance would only lead to this miser taking advantage of them. In less than a year, he actually reached into their pockets again!

"1600 copper coins?! Are you kidding me? That's not enough for us to survive!"

"Don't go too far!"

"You might as well just make us work for you for free!"

Horace, oblivious to the approaching danger, continued to argue vehemently as he watched the enraged crowd.

"Stop playing the victim. I went to the market and saw that bread that used to cost 5 copper coins now only costs 4! 1600 copper coins is more than enough to survive!"

Seemingly realizing that his words were somewhat harsh, he rolled his eyes and added another sentence.

"Of course, this pay cut is only temporary. After all, it's too unfair to me to hire a bunch of guys who can't even operate a machine at 100% pay! Unless you prove you can do the job, I will naturally raise your pay back then—"

"Fuck you!" Before Horace could finish speaking, a wrench was thrown at him.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the wrench, he quickly dodged backward, while simultaneously beckoning two bodyguards to come forward.

"What are you trying to do! Who threw that wrench! I'm firing him—"

"This bastard!"

"Brothers! Fuck him!"

Horace's speech ignited the workers' long-suppressed anger. Someone let out the first roar, and then the entire workshop boiled over, almost overwhelmed by the angry crowd.

The textile workers surged toward Horace like a tidal wave. The two bodyguards, who had never seen anything like it, were so frightened that they retreated repeatedly. In the end, they and their boss fled in a sorry state into the office on the third floor and locked the door tightly.

The pounding on the door was like raindrops falling on it, as if it might crush the thin iron door at any moment.

Horace, who had pushed the cabinet over to block the door, turned pale with fright and was completely disoriented, as if he had seen a ghost.

When did these peasants become so troublesome?
He clearly remembered that six months ago, when he used the same trick, those people only dared to lower their heads and remain silent, not even daring to breathe.

Are they on steroids?!

Feeling the surging impact behind the door, he screamed for help out the window at the top of his lungs.

"Help!"

"Someone come quick! Go get the guards! These peasants have gone mad!"

The pig-like screams finally attracted the attention of those outside. The mounted police from the new industrial zone were the first to arrive, but they panicked when they saw the huge crowd.

Outside the small factory, thousands of people had gathered. Some were protesting, some were throwing stones, and some were looting... They simply couldn't believe that such a thing could happen in Thunder City, which was bathed in holy light!

"Have these poor bastards gone mad..." an old guard muttered to himself, staring blankly at the scene before him.

He had lived in Thunder City his whole life, and this was the first time he had ever seen such a spectacle.

The mounted police captain acted decisively, realizing that the situation was beyond his control. He summoned his guards to maintain order while sending a mounted policeman to a nearby military camp for assistance.

Soon, the Campbell family flag appeared at the entrance to the industrial area, and the arrival of a fully armed cavalry finally deterred the troublemakers who were trying to take advantage of the chaos.

However, the crowd did not completely disperse; a large number of workers remained at the factory gate.

They were textile workers at the Horace Textile Mill.

Facing Campbell's banner, they silently watched the tall, muscular cavalrymen, their faces showing anger, fear, and bewilderment.

Just as Horace hadn't expected the workers to be so angry, neither had the rioters anticipated things would turn out this way.

These farmers from the fields still felt a deep-seated fear of the Campbell family's banner.

Many people have already started to back out. If it weren't for the factory building and the wall blocking their way, most of them probably would have already run away.

At this moment, a young cavalryman rode his horse to the front of the formation, suddenly took off his helmet, revealing a head of golden hair and a handsome face.

"Your Highness?!"

The moment they saw that face, everyone's faces showed astonishment, and the next second they all knelt on the ground.

"What are you doing? Please get up!"

Seeing the crowd suddenly kneel down, Eileen quickly dismounted and stepped forward to help the textile worker who was closest to her.

The man awkwardly took two steps back, no longer kneeling, but still keeping his head down timidly, not daring to look into her eyes, much less at the legendary light gleaming from her waist.

Theresa stood silently behind Eileen, wary of any danger in the crowd.

Although Eileen no longer needs her protection, she still faithfully fulfills her duties as a squire.

“Tell me what happened here? I swear on my surname that I will seek justice for you!” Eileen looked into his eyes, her voice sincere and gentle, without a trace of the arrogance of a superior.

At first, everyone remained silent, but perhaps moved by her sincerity, an elderly textile worker finally couldn't help but speak up, muttering indignantly.

“...It’s Horace!”

Eileen looked at the man and asked.

Who is he? What did he do?

Upon hearing that the princess had actually responded to them, a cacophony of voices immediately filled the crowd, with everyone chiming in with their own comments.

"He's the factory manager here! Alan's hand was caught in the machine, and not only did he not help at all, he also wanted to fire him!"

"That's right, he's going to deduct our wages!"

"Why should he do this?! We've been working for him since we opened our eyes, and he still thinks it's not enough. What does he want from us?!"

"We want an explanation!"

"Raise wages!"

Eileen listened calmly to what they had to say, then suddenly realized that there was still an injured man lying in the factory. She quickly sent one of her healers to treat the young man's wounds.

Under the holy light, the pale-faced young man's complexion finally regained some color, and his mangled arm finally began to look a little better.

Although he hasn't fully recovered, at least he's no longer going to die.

"...This is the only way to deal with it for now. His injuries are too severe; only healing spells of at least the Gold rank will be effective." The healer returned to Eileen's side and said with a grave expression.

The Kingdom of Ryan is a land of knights, not healers. These knights only have a rudimentary understanding of healing magic, let alone being proficient in it, and have never tried to heal such a strange injury.

In comparison, sword wounds or gunshot wounds are much easier to treat, and their own resistance can also withstand some of the damage.

After understanding, Eileen nodded and said seriously.

"I understand. I'll figure something out later."

Although the injured person was just an ordinary civilian, she would not abandon her people.

Theresa glanced at the approaching captain of the guards and gestured with her chin towards the crowd at the entrance.

Does this textile factory have that many workers?

With so many people almost filling the factory, she found it hard to believe they were all employees.

The guard captain scratched his beard and said awkwardly.

"Well... I don't know either. Only Mr. Horace himself knows."

However, based on his experience, some of them were probably looters who were too slow to escape when the army arrived, so they simply mingled with the textile workers.

Theresa nodded, and was about to say something more when Eileen interrupted her.

"Theresa, their identities are not important; their voices are what truly matter."

Looking at her loyal knight, Eileen spoke in a serious voice.

“I have heard their demands, and now I need you to bring Horace here.”

"Yes, Your Highness."

Theresa respectfully accepted the order without hesitation, and led two guards through the crowd into the factory.

The crowd spontaneously parted to make way, and no one dared to stop them.

Upon entering the factory, Teresa went straight to the third floor, stood before a crooked iron gate, and waved.

A guard stepped forward, pounded the door twice with the hilt of his sword, and shouted loudly.

"Horace, Her Highness the Princess requests your presence!"

Having already peered out the window and seen what was happening outside, Horace scrambled to the door and opened it, forcing a relieved smile onto his pale face.

"Thank you, thank you! By Saint Sith, you've finally come! I thought I was going to die!"

If the female knight's gaze hadn't been so sharp, he probably would have already grabbed her leg.

The two bodyguards behind him were the same; these two extraordinary individuals, who appeared to have Iron-level strength, were terrified like dogs.

Theresa didn't waste any words. She gestured for him to follow with her eyes, and then led him through the crowd to Eileen Campbell.

"Your Highness, I have brought the person you requested."

Eileen nodded at Theresa.

"Very well, Theresa, you may leave."

"Yes."

Theresa nodded respectfully, then stepped aside from Horace and returned to the queue.

With no one around, Horace glanced hastily at the angry weavers around him, swallowed hard, and his previous arrogance vanished completely.

Seeing His Highness looking at him, he quickly forced a smile again and cleared his throat in a seemingly generous manner.

"Praise be to Saint Sis, praise be to the glory of the Campbell family! Your Highness, your beauty is still as breathtaking as ever—"

Eileen coughed softly.

Horace's shoulders jolted, and he quickly changed his mind, uttering the compromise he had been holding back.

"Alright, I've changed my mind! You win! The pay is still 1,800 copper coins—"

“Eighteen hundred copper coins?” Eileen interrupted Horace, her sharp gaze fixed on him. “I heard the average salary here is two thousand? Who’s right, my officer or you?”

"Of course, both are correct..."

Horace nervously wiped the sweat from his brow and explained tremblingly, "It was indeed two thousand last year, but as you know, business isn't very good this year... We produce far more cashmere products than the market demands, so, so..."

Eileen raised her hand to interrupt his excuse and continued calmly.

“Mr. Horace, no one knows better than me what the market price of wool is, and how well your business is doing… Do you know what it means to lie to the Campbell family?”

"I...I...I'm too scared!" Horace said, his legs going weak with fear.

Eileen stared at him expressionlessly, unmoved, and gave the order in an authoritative voice.

“In the name of the Campbell family, I command you to swear an oath under my banner that you will not use today’s events as an excuse to punish any of the rioters today, that you will not reduce the workers’ wages in any form or under any pretext, and that you will pay full compensation to the injured worker and cover all his medical expenses!”

The moment the words were spoken, cheers and whistles erupted around them, and the faces of the workers, who had been ashen, were once again filled with hope, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope for life.

However, in contrast, cold sweat suddenly broke out on Horace's forehead, like rain.

The majesty of the royal family of the duchy was indeed formidable.

But to make him accept such unequal conditions, it would be better to just kill him!

His previously bent spine straightened up again, and he let out a hoarse howl, like a duck with its neck being grabbed.

"Your Highness! Your order is not in accordance with the laws of the Duchy! I am his employer, and I have the right to decide the wages of our employees and whether to continue employing them!"

"Shut up!" Theresa glared at him and snapped, "You ungrateful wretch! Can't you see that His Highness is saving you?"

Horace: "I'm perfectly safe!"

Theresa: "..."

This fool has forgotten the pain once the wound has healed.

She wanted nothing more than to grab him by the neck, throw him back into that shabby office, and watch him howl like a piglet.

Of course, she knew this wasn't a solution.

The princess came here to resolve the problem, not to create new trouble.

"That's enough, Theresa."

Seeing that her subordinate was about to say something more, Eileen raised her hand to stop her, then calmly looked at Horace and said, "You just reminded me that my actions were indeed somewhat inappropriate."

Horace was taken aback at first, not expecting that His Highness would admit his mistake, and then a look of ecstatic joy appeared on his face.

However, before he could be happy for long, Eileen paused for a moment before continuing.

“A prince once told me that a king should solve everyone’s problems, not just the problems of one person or one factory. I suggested this to my brother, but he, who is usually decisive and efficient, hesitated on this matter, believing that the time was not right…”

"But I want to say that now is the time to do this. If we delay any longer, more and more people like you will sell their souls to the devil."

“Betrayed to the devil?!” Horace’s face turned as white as paper, and his lips trembled involuntarily.

This is a very serious accusation.

and……

As for?
Eileen's expression, however, told him otherwise.

Most Campbellians live in their own little world and are unaware of the tragic events that have occurred in the neighboring Twilight Province.

There was no corruption from the Demon King, no invasion from Chaos, yet everyone there seemed to have become a demon, killing each other in the most cruel way and devouring one another.

The Principality of Campbell must take this as a warning.

The land protected by the spirit of the former king must never be defiled by filthy blood!

An unprecedented determination was written on that young face. Eileen paused, then announced in a dignified voice.

"Starting today, a minimum wage will be implemented in Thundershire. All employers in Thundershire are prohibited from hiring employees for less than 2000 copper coins per month, and no employer may dismiss a worker arbitrarily without their consent or gross negligence. If dismissal is necessary, compensation must be paid based on the length of time worked."

"Secondly, all employers in Thunder City must deposit 10% of their monthly income into a public account supervised by the city hall as a workers' protection fund. Any worker who loses their job can receive living assistance for up to three months from this fund. Any worker who is unable to continue working due to a work injury will also receive medical compensation from this fund."

"The relevant details will be announced tomorrow, and it will be the sixth bill for the new industrial zone."

"Or rather, labor law."

Since the establishment of the new industrial zone in Thunder City, most of the citizens of Thunder City have been living a good life. She has no doubt that she has done the right thing and is proud of it.

However, she also knew that a considerable number of people were still living in dire straits, struggling to survive.

Especially those peasants who lost their land due to the nobles' land grabbing.

They did not gain their freedom voluntarily, but were forced to leave the land where they had lived for generations, and were brutally driven away by their lords with whips.

She was once deeply remorseful for this and was depressed for a long time.

Fortunately, during her lowest point, Mr. Colin's letters from afar remained a constant companion, offering guidance and pointing her in the right direction.

What tempts people to sell their souls to the devil is not money, nor power, nor stupidity, shortsightedness, or anything else.

Rather, it is unrestrained desire.

And power!

That's exactly what she needs to do now.

In the name of the Campbell family, she will put those unbridled desires and power into a cage called order!

Horace felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his mind, as if the light of hymn had cleaved him in the forehead.

Watching the soldiers heading back and the crowd gradually dispersing, he screamed in despair.

"You might as well kill me! If you really intend to do that, my textile factory will have to close tomorrow!"

"Then turn it off!"

Eileen, who had mounted her horse, did not turn around, but coldly uttered a sentence to Horace with her back turned.

"I will never allow anyone to oppress my people under my nose."

(End of this chapter)