Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

The next morning.

Gordon was fast asleep.

Vera was the first to get up. She looked indifferent, dressed quickly and efficiently, as if she hadn't done anything wrong the night before.

Seeing her go to wash up, Eve opened her eyes and followed her.

The public restroom was empty; Eve and Vera stood together.

"How do you understand the relationship between Charlotte and Gordon?" Eve couldn't help but ask.

"Charlotte likes Gordon."

"Anything else?"

"Gordon likes Charlotte."

"And what about you?"

"I live with Gordon."

"Won't this cause any problems?" Eve asked.

"Whoever wants to kick me out of Gordon's life has a problem," Vera said seriously.

Eve was lost in thought.

"But Charlotte was quite special back at our Monford home," Eve said, combing her hair. "Sometimes you can be excluded from Gordon's life in a subtle way, without even realizing it. By the time you realize you have no place, it's too late."

"Why are you reminding me?" Vera glanced at Eve.

"I simply want to prevent you from getting hurt in this complicated relationship, Miss Cartrett. The rules of this world are too complex, and you need proper guidance to protect your hard-won happiness."

"Charlotte is no match for me."

"Not necessarily now, she has a second personality." Eve inserted a wooden hairpin into her neatly styled black hair.

"Oh." Vera's face showed seriousness for the first time.

It seems that Eve's statement makes some sense.

When they returned indoors, Gordon had already gotten up and changed his clothes. He tied the Crimson Alchemist's armband to his arm, admired the dragon that looked like it was about to take flight for a few seconds, and then found a clean roll of white cloth and wrapped it around his arm layer by layer.

"Why are you covering it up?" Vera asked.

"If too many people see it, it will attract reporters, clients, worshippers, and cultists. Some of them will take time to deal with, and some will take time to collect their bodies. A small piece of white cloth is better than a large piece of white cloth," Gordon explained.

Vera thought it made perfect sense.

They ate at the office canteen, which was much more spacious than the reception room.

There was a selection of food on the long table, including a large tub of oatmeal, smoked herring, black coffee, and a basket full of bread. Newly arrived newspapers were also placed in the lending section.

Gordon turned on his sunglasses to review the footage he had taken the previous night.

The hazy dynamism, rhythmic rises and falls, and subtle transmission give the content a certain artistic beauty.

Vera only saw Gordon wearing sunglasses and looking very happy, guessing that the bread tasted good today.

After finishing his reading, Gordon picked up today's Imperial Post.

The Lundnim Public Health and Jobs Revitalization Act has been passed!

He looked at the title several times and then read the content.

The bill, jointly submitted by the Secretary of Diligence and the Secretary of Generosity, was ultimately passed by Parliament.

Some members of Congress, represented by Edward Winslow, strongly supported it.

The bill will focus on the Blackwater River's management, employing unemployed workers and homeless people living along its banks, dredging the river extensively, upgrading drainage facilities, building embankments, sewage canals and new riverside parks, expanding sewage treatment plants, and discharging sewage in tiers to designated areas in the suburbs instead of dumping it all into the Blackwater River...

The report then devoted two columns to introducing the new concept conveyed by the bill: "new relief."

Traditional relief involves the government giving bread to the poor as a pretense of kindness. This time, the approach is to provide jobs for the poor, allowing them to buy bread with their own labor.

Such public works projects stimulate and create new demand, driving economic development. Congressman Edward Winslow articulated the significant implications of activating 80,000 potential workers, calling it a revolutionary leap forward in the traditional poverty relief system, and arguing that it is the first time public health, employment, and social stability have been linked and addressed in a single, comprehensive manner…

done.

The tide of destiny within him suddenly resonated even more.

He initially wrote a concept in a letter and handed it to the Minister of Generosity. Later, the concept was finally implemented in the form of legislation, and was turned into a budget and implementation plan by the parliament, which was then diligently promoted by the civil servants of the Logris Empire.

The fate of 80,000 people, the performance of countless workshops and enterprises, and the appearance of the Blackwater River in the coming years will all be changed as a result.

Gordon doesn't need to run for Congress himself; he just needs to gently push the bill in the right way, and the enormous momentum behind it will shift accordingly.

"It worked, junior." Eve looked at the newspaper headline behind Gordon.

"I'm ashamed to say I only did a small amount of work." Gordon folded the newspaper.

After a while, Martin came over with a cup of black coffee.

"The carriage is ready. The San Barto auction starts at noon, so we'd better get there as soon as possible."

"Can I still browse the market outside?" Gordon stood up.

"Okay, you'll also be responsible for keeping an eye out for any strange items up for auction at the front desk. We'll be on guard against potential threats from the back."

"Yes, I will make sure to protect those cultural heritages in my home."

"This isn't in the mission statement."

"This is what the Logris Empire taught me."

Gordon ate two pieces of bread, efficiently converting the food into calories and energy.

The goal of this auction trip was clear: first, to confirm whether any Blackwater Hermitage artifacts had been mixed in; and second, to protect the high-value cultural heritage in their own home.

……

The black carriage of the Bureau of Demon Affairs headed north along the road.

The sky remained overcast and drizzly. The people of Lundnim, accustomed to enduring damp weather, had hesitated for the first two days due to the heavy rain, but now they gritted their teeth, umbrellas raised, rain boots on, and continued their arduous journey for a living in the downpour. Newsboys hurried across the streets, shouting news of the latest legislation.

The vehicle arrived at St. Bartholomew's Monastery, whose spire pierced the sky, and several gargoyle statues were placed on top of the building.

This is church property, and a market and auction are held here every summer.

Please remember the only URL of this novel: ".". The website owner has only this one website, and other websites may be discontinued at any time.

The cast-iron gate was filled with carriages, each bearing a variety of noble coats of arms, merchant guild insignia, and colonial company plaques.

Gordon, Vera, and Eve got out of the car, and Martin immediately got to work, leaving with six patrol officers.

As he was about to walk forward, his gaze fell upon a black carriage adorned with a phoenix holding a black diamond in its beak—the emblem of the Ravenhurst family, a high-ranking official.

Beside the car, he saw Luanna, whom he had met at the summer ceremony.

Beside her was a tall steam knight, his entire body encased in large armor, carrying a heavy boiler connected to thick pipes on his back, white steam occasionally escaping from his shoulders, holding a warhammer in his hand, and holding an umbrella for Luanna at the same time, with only a horizontal observation slit on his helmet.

Luanna herself wore a deep red, belted long dress, had jet-black curly hair, and a sparkling black diamond pinned to her chest. Her eyes always carried a sense of joy and schadenfreude.

"Your Excellency Miss Ravenhurst, we really have no reason to clean and groom your horse and car... We are servants of God," the monastery's host priest said, forcing himself to be polite.

Everyone in Lundenim's social circles knows that Luanna is difficult to please, with many and complicated demands.

"Even money won't do? You'd kneel in the dirt for something like this, wouldn't you?" Luanna pulled out two gold pounds and waved them in front of the priest.

"This..." The priest swallowed hard, his expression tense, caught in a dilemma.

Just then, Luanna noticed Gordon out of the corner of her eye.

She immediately released the priest and walked toward Gordon, lifting her skirt.

The knights behind her followed in strides, each step accompanied by a loud mechanical noise. With their right hands, they dragged their warhammers, while with their left hands they held up a large umbrella for Luanna, ensuring she was protected from the rain.

"Gordon Vick, Crimson Alchemist, have you received the ball invitation I sent you?" Luanna asked in a lighthearted tone.

Gordon remembered the invitation he had seen at Charlotte's house.

"Yes, yes." Gordon glanced at the priest who was taking the opportunity to escape, "I never expected we would meet here."

Luanna looked Gordon up and down, from his sunglasses and black trench coat to his left arm, which was covered by a white cloth.

"What is that?" Luanna asked.

"I'll show you when necessary," Gordon said mysteriously.

"I like you," Luanna said.

"Hmm?" Vera looked up.

"...?" Eve's eyes lit up.

"Huh?" Gordon was startled.

"Of course, it's not 'liking' in the emotional sense," Luanna said seriously. "Do you know what your most charming quality is?"

"Face?"

"Return on investment? I've heard all about you. You can quickly turn a small investment into a huge sum within days or weeks, multiplying it hundreds of times. How do I put it? It's like seeing a fantastic new stock go public."

This was the first time Gordon had encountered a beautiful young woman who described flirting as a business operation.

"Then let's go for a walk together," Luanna said, extending her hand in invitation.

"—Miss Luanna Ravenhurst…" A familiar voice came from behind.

Charlotte stepped off the carriage, holding an umbrella, and walked toward Luanna with an impeccable smile.

"Charlotte," Luanna said cheerfully, opening her arms wide. "I knew you'd come."

“Yes, of course I will,” Charlotte said, stepping past Luanna and pulling Gordon two steps away. “I will be accompanying him today.”

"I just wanted to say hello."

"You've finished."

"See you later." Luanna gestured towards the interior of the monastery. "I have a prime spot in the second-floor gallery when the auction begins. You're welcome to come. I'd like to see your opinions on the auction items."

Gordon watched as Luanna and the enormous steam-powered knight entered the monastery, a strange feeling stirring within him.

That armored knight must be a creation of Midas Industries. I never expected it to be so tall and powerful. I wonder how they managed to make it.

Luanna's personality seems to be very subtle, a very special person...

"What are you thinking about?" Charlotte elbowed Gordon. "Let's go, there's lots of good stuff inside."

"Coming, coming." Gordon followed, she was carrying a hunting rifle today, for some reason.