Miss Wang Weina, even your cousin won't do!

"Providing assistance isn't out of the question, but we're in a transaction, right?"

"As far as I know, Kal'tsit has been taking care of your daughter, her name is Louisa, a very touching name."

Lilia suddenly frowned, becoming alert:

“What’s wrong with Louisa? I’m sorry, Your Highness, but if the deal is solely about Louisa, I will never agree to it. I may be poor, but I’m not so poor that I would use my daughter as a bargaining chip.”

“…” Wayne shook his head, both amused and exasperated. “The way you put it, it makes it sound like I’m some kind of despicable nobleman. What I mean is, it’s not good for Kal’tsit to keep taking care of Louisa. She’d be better off with her own mother, wouldn’t she?”

Wayne extended his hand and said:

“I have a project. Are you interested in building a childcare facility for the elderly in New Wales?”

Lilia blinked, realizing there was a hidden meaning in Wayne's words. She excitedly opened her mouth to agree, but then paused, pouting helplessly, "I don't have the money. I'm sorry, I can't do this deal."

“Miss Lilia, no offense, but do you think I’m short of money?” Wayne shook his head helplessly. “What I lack is time and qualifications.”

"As you can see, I cannot personally bring Miss Natalia back to Victoria, but if I leave her in Ursus, she will inevitably face even greater pressure because of what happened today. From her father, from the aristocratic system, and even from the entire social environment."

"So, I need someone to do this for me—to bring her to Victoria legitimately. This requires qualifications, which I don't have, but you do."

Wayne turned around, clapped his hands, and the Ursus nobles who were fiercely bidding immediately fell silent and looked at Wayne again.

Wayne announced calmly:

"Friends, I have a new idea. As you all know, I want to develop my fiefdom into a technology capital that rivals Silicon Valley in the former Colombian Federation. To this end, I have already recruited many companies, including Rhine Life, Victoria General Medical, Raytheon Industries, and even Black Steel International has reached a cooperation agreement with New Wales County and will be relocating from the wasteland of Colombia soon."

"But this remarkable woman reminded me of something I had overlooked—the people who have settled in New Wales, enjoying the benefits of Victoria, but what about their families? Their infants, their elderly and frail parents—are they to leave their families behind and come to New Wales alone to pursue their dreams? That is inhumane."

Wayne paused, then solemnly announced:

"Therefore, as the master of the city, I have decided to add a new urban block of 200 square kilometers to New Wales. On this block, I will build nursing homes, sanatoriums, childcare facilities, as well as a large number of staff dormitories, affordable rentals, and residential areas. This will be a massive project! Only Ursus people with a grand vision and imagination can handle this task. Do you all understand what I mean?"

The scene immediately erupted in excitement.

Chapter 161 Can we learn from Wayne?

Ursus Empire, Saint-Germain Palace.

Fyodor has been having a very leisurely time these days. He even has the time to enjoy afternoon tea and sit with Witt on the spacious balcony of the palace, overlooking the beautiful scenery of the royal gardens that cover an entire mobile city block.

All of this is thanks to Wayne. Because of Wayne, a rich, powerful, and rare catch, almost no nobleman has bothered this unfortunate emperor in the past few days.

In trendy terms, Vayne is... a limited-time character. He's powerful, rare, and only appears for a limited period. It's even uncertain whether he'll return to Ursus (for a rerun) in the future. With him around, you can find him anytime. Fyodor, who stays in the Royal Palace of Saint-Germain and doesn't run away, is essentially a regular character in the permanent pool. In an instant, he became a quiet and deserted tourist spot.

Fyodor was a little unaccustomed to it at first, but this discomfort was quickly dispelled by the joy of sleeping until he naturally woke up and having afternoon tea. He now wished that Vind could stay in Ursus for ten days or half a month, or better yet, never leave!

"Hmm... that won't work either. If they don't come, it won't be attractive enough. We should agree on a time with Wayne, like once every six months... would that be too long an interval? Or how about once a quarter of a year? It would be even better if we could invite his sister over."

Fyodor muttered to himself with a keen business sense, and even after Islam Witt was called out to the balcony and returned a few minutes later, he still didn't notice the change in Witt's expression from relaxed to tense.

“Your Majesty,” Witte called out, trying to bring Fyodor back to his senses, but Fyodor didn’t notice the person calling him at all. It wasn’t until Witte couldn’t bear it any longer and raised his voice, “Your Majesty, Prince Wayne has gotten into a conflict with a nobleman!”

"What?!" Fyodor snapped back to reality, blurting out, "Which blind fool is this?"

A few seconds later, seemingly realizing that his words had been inappropriate, he tried to salvage the situation by saying:

"How dare he be so rude to my guests! Have the nobles become so despicable? Tell me, who is he?"

"Grand Duke Urgai, Grand Duke Andani Urgai and his son."

Fyodor immediately searched his mind for the name, and after confirming that he didn't recognize it, he quickly drafted a plan.

Tonight, send the inner guards to Grand Duke Urgai's residence. As for the reason, it certainly can't be "offending Wayne," that would make him seem like he's helping Wayne retaliate, which would be detrimental to his authority and image. Hmm, investigate him, then accuse Kosiché of treason.

Having finally caught a nobleman red-handed, if he didn't seize the opportunity to purge a wave of disobedient nobles, he would have been a worthless emperor.

Having made up his mind, he then leisurely asked:

What conflict did Mr. Wayne have with Ulga?

"Count Rostov from Chernobog sought a political marriage for his daughter at a banquet. Grand Duke Urgai's son took a liking to the young lady, and while the two nobles were discussing the marriage, Miss Rostov asked Lady Kalshi, an attendant of Prince Vinn, for help. Lady Kalshi rebuked Count Rostov as 'a businessman trying to sell his daughter' and challenged him to a duel. Grand Duke Urgai spoke rudely, rebuking Lady Kalshi for being insignificant and lacking in status, which ultimately attracted the attention of Prince Vinn."

After listening to Witte's account in a few words, Fyodor raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked in return:

Is His Highness Wayne angry?

Witt bowed his head and said, "His Highness Wien is angry, but the reason seems to be because of Grand Duke Urgei's contempt for Lady Kal'tsit. It is Lady Kal'tsit who is unhappy about the marriage."

“A woman…” Fyodor began instinctively. Witt looked up at Fyodor and immediately said, “It’s because of Grand Duke Urgai’s words that His Highness Wayne is angry.”

Fyodor paused, then rationally swallowed his words.

But he still found it somewhat ridiculous. For such a trivial matter, an earl proposed a marriage alliance to a duke, and a foreign royal attendant actually objected, even causing a conflict and forcing his own prince to intervene and help her out. This was undoubtedly a dereliction of duty, yet Wayne actually stood up for Lady Kal'tsit.

Mr. Wayne's regard for Ms. Kelsey is quite extraordinary.

“It’s worth mentioning that Miss Rostova…” Witt hesitated, then stopped. Fyodor paused, then snapped out of his reverie and casually inquired about the person who had sparked the conflict.

"What's wrong with that young lady?"

"That young lady is still at the age where she needs home education."

Fyodor paused, then slowly placed the wine glass back on the low table beside him. His expression shifted several times before finally settling into a sigh.

Witte had already been quite tactful. Anyone with even a basic understanding of aristocracy would know that she was still at the age of home education, meaning that Miss Rostova was not even twelve years old yet, and was still in a period where she had not even tried the most basic "academic social interaction."

A twelve-year-old girl... she shouldn't even be called a girl. She's older than a loli but not quite a girl yet, and they're bringing her to this kind of bloody and money-grubbing banquet to arrange a "marriage" for her. This doesn't even qualify as a political marriage. It's just like what Ms. Kal'tsit said: it's like an impatient salesperson trying to sell off their stockpiled goods as quickly as possible.

“Witt, tell me, what year is it now?”

"Fyodor asked, his face dark. Witt sensed Fyodor's suppressed anger and lowered his voice to reply:"

"At the end of the year 1092 in the Terra calendar, there is only a little over a month left before the year 1093 begins."

"Oh, really? If I didn't know better, I would have thought it was a thousand years ago, and we were still under the rule of the Khan, having to marry, mate, and reproduce like crazy just to preserve a spark of our race on the barbaric grasslands."

As he spoke, he suddenly slammed his fist heavily on the table.

"22 years old to be an adult! Engaged at twelve! Ursus's laws are completely ignored by these idiots! Can't they be civilized? Can't they be polite? Don't they realize that the difference between us and Victoria isn't about how many warships, how many mobile cities, or how much land area we have?"

“What we lack is culture, is spirit,” Witt said respectfully.

Fyodor glanced at him and shook his head: "What good is it if you're the only smart one?"

After saying that, he chuckled and added, "At least you're the only smart one here."

"Chernoberg is the epicenter of this Kosichev rebellion. The deputy commander of the Third Army is stationed there. I have reason to suspect that the upper echelons of Chernobog are involved in this failed rebellion. Summon Count Rostov and the mayor of Chernobog to the palace. I want them to confront the masterminds face to face."

"Understood," Witt said, bowing.

Fyodor composed himself and continued, "And then what happened? The banquet ended?"

Witt shook his head: "No, Your Majesty. Prince Wien has stabilized the situation. The banquet has not only not ended, but has entered a period of chaos."

Fyodor tapped the table with interest, signaling Witt to stop keeping him in suspense and finish his story in one go.

"Your Majesty, Prince Wayne has announced several major projects, including a memorial in New Wales..."

Fyodor nodded. It was just a memorial hall, a large project nonetheless, and perfectly suitable for Wayne to use as a bribe to appease the nobles. Come to think of it, why didn't I think of this? After the war, the military-industrial complex left behind so many basic industries—lathes, assembly lines, everything. With a little modification, they could be converted to produce agricultural tools or manufacture large building materials, thus solving the problem of surplus labor. Those idle, spirited soldiers could also be sent to the eastern wastelands for reclamation work.

Ideally, he would have a minor conflict with the stubborn nobles there, watching the military and the nobles' private soldiers fight each other to the death, so that he, the emperor, could peacefully reclaim power.

Wayne's plan is very inspiring; I can try it out in a while.

“A power tower…a bridge…a clock tower…” Wit continued to list the construction projects proposed by Wien as if they were his own treasures, and Fyodor nodded repeatedly.

After a moment, Witt, recalling the last item in the report, swallowed hard and said:

"And the construction of leisure and elderly care residential facilities in an entire mobile city block."

"Hmm...hmm?" Fyodor sat bolt upright. "What did you say?"

"His Highness Wayne wants to tender for the construction of a residential area in Ursus as a welfare benefit for employees of New Wales County, covering an entire mobile city block. Unfortunately, it seems that no Ursus construction company or noble is willing to take on this project at present; they are all too small."

Ursus's corporate development is distorted. The powerful, technologically advanced military industry disdains to participate in such projects, while the private enterprises that are willing to take on the project are too weak to undertake the construction of an entire mobile block, let alone a foreign project.

Fyodor paused for a moment, then suddenly had a thought and asked, "Can we take it?"

Witt pushed up his glasses in surprise: "Us? Your Majesty, the royal family does not have a construction company."

“But I heard that Victoria is doing something like that…” Fyodor recalled how he had frantically studied Victoria’s current situation in order to communicate with Wayne during Wayne’s time in Ursus. He admitted that he was tempted. Such a huge project, if entrusted to them, would be a fortune! Ursus’s businesses were short of money, and he, the emperor, was even more short of money!

He recalled thoughtfully, “Victoria had the state, the royal family and the government take control of certain large companies, enabling them to work together to complete projects that some small companies could not, which greatly improved efficiency.”

“I remember he called this ‘nationalization of enterprises’.”

"Could we learn from them?"

Chapter 162 He is a Legend

Ursus, Saint-Germain.

Thanks to the minor unpleasantness at yesterday's banquet, Wayne had a reason to decline all banquet invitations today. Given that the various proposals Wayne made yesterday were enough for the nobles to process for a while, everyone tacitly agreed to the matter.

Wayne's reason for declining the banquet was not to slack off, but to welcome the unicorn Winster and Talulah, who had returned from the far east of the Ursus Empire.

Talulah arrived yesterday, and Wayne gave her a full day to rest and organize her thoughts, giving himself some time to consider how to face the biggest and most pathetic boss in the first chapter of Arknights' story. As for Koschei, that falls under the jurisdiction of the Inner Guard, and Wayne shouldn't interfere for now. However, Fyodor has no reason to break his promise to him, so Wayne just needs to wait a few days until Fyodor personally delivers Koschei to him.

8:00 am, morning at Saint-Germain.

Before Alina, who was responsible for waking Talulah, entered the room, Talulah was already sitting at the round table by the window, gazing at the sky outside, her thoughts seemingly wandering elsewhere. Alina pushed open the door and, seeing Talulah sitting by the window, exclaimed in surprise:

"Talulah, are you up so early?"

Talulah snapped out of her daze, looked towards the door, and upon seeing that it was Alina, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, a weary smile appearing on her face.

"Hmm... Time to get up."

Alina frowned as she observed her tired expression and the prominent dark circles under her eyes, and immediately saw through her:

"Are you still awake? Are you that nervous?"

“To be honest, a little.” Talulah gripped her military uniform skirt tightly with both hands, pulling it into wrinkles. Meeting Alina’s skeptical gaze, she sighed and admitted defeat: “Well, I am indeed very nervous, just like when I first met Mr. Bozocasti.”

Even more panicked than before. At least by then, Talulah had been wandering the snowfields for some time and had heard tales of the tundra guerrillas and patriots from survivors in many villages and mines. She had a general idea in her mind. But Wayne was different.

Her information about Wayne was practically nonexistent. Even when she asked Miss Theresa, she only received a vague answer: "He's a good man."

There are too many people who could be called good, and the standards for judging goodness are too numerous and varied. To some extent, Duke Koschei, who maintained stability in his territory and prevented any unrest in the Koschei Duchy, could be considered a good person in the eyes of his people. But in Talulah's eyes, he was an absolute demon.

Talulah could only pin her hopes on someone as kind as Miss Theresa, and any "good person" she deemed worthy of her attention would certainly be someone who "fitted her imagination." But Talulah was genuinely bad at dealing with nobles, especially high-ranking nobles; the little social etiquette she had learned from Duke Koschie had long been forgotten. If it weren't for this turn of events, she believed she would probably never have any connection to the word "noble" again in her entire life.

"There's no need to worry too much, Talulah." Alina stepped forward and gently ruffled the gray hair of the Drak girl, her smile seemingly capable of giving people the strength to move forward.