Life has dealt a heavy hand to a weak demigod like me.

Charles's face began to turn red, as if he was a little embarrassed by Victor's praise.

"You're joking. I'm just lucky."

"No, you have more than just luck."

"When a disaster happens, you think not only about your own safety, but also about using your own strength to help others," Victor said with a smile.

"You will become a council member, not only because of him, but more because we have seen your love for this city and your compassion for the weak."

"I remember a great man said a long time ago that the most important thing about a country is its people, because they represent countless possibilities. At that time, everyone ignored this statement, but you were the first to lend a helping hand."

In fact, the most fundamental reason why Charles was able to become a member of parliament was because Victor saw the possibility of controlling the four people of Floyds from him or Mernadette.

But as he is well versed in the art of speaking, he knows which words can make the listeners happier.

Compared to something like luck, the reasons he gave would undoubtedly be more convincing to others and make Charles feel good about him.

"I just...don't want to see them suffer any more."

"It would be great if everyone had the same thoughts as you." Victor sighed. "By the way, Charles, I think your manor doesn't have a telephone yet."

"Phone?" Charles showed a hint of doubt at the right time.

"This is a very ancient and convenient way of communicating, and was very popular during the Black Fire Age."

"When blackfire was most widely used, it changed not only the nature of warfare but also life itself. However, this aspect doesn't attract much interest, so there are few records of it."

"Rumor has it that in that era, there existed a country where even ordinary families and the poor had access to electricity. Over 90% of the people had electric lights and a variety of electrical appliances in their homes."

"The telephone is one of them. With it, you only need to know the other party's number to communicate anytime and anywhere in the entire city or even the entire country." Victor smiled and explained some things about the past to Charles.

"If that's the case, why isn't it being used on a large scale in the kingdom now?"

"If it's just electricity, it can be used easily even without black fire." Although Charles knew the reason, he pretended to be ignorant.

After all, even though many things about the Black Fire Age were clearly recorded, most of them were sealed in important archives in some countries, and a lot of information was not even available in the Moroston Royal Academy.

As for Charles' identity, there are many things he shouldn't know.

"The specific reasons are very complicated. Blackfire is not just an energy source or a weapon. It has many more functions, one of which is to facilitate the transportation of electricity."

"You know, electricity isn't a problem, and electric lights aren't a rarity at the Royal Academy. But because of the special nature of electricity, it's easy to manufacture, but complicated to transport and utilize. Precious extraordinary materials can perfectly solve this problem, but the cost is often outweighed by the benefits. Extracting ordinary materials is extremely difficult, so while this type of equipment has been preserved, it's mostly just a toy."

"The black fire contains a unique substance that can perfectly solve this problem."

"It sounds like a perfect substance," Ciel said, nodding.

"Of course, long ago, black fire was hailed as the perfect substance."

"During the Five Gods Era, a high-ranking member of the Church of Earth analyzed the nature of black fire and left behind many related conjectures."

"The phone I just mentioned, although not closely related to Blackfire, is also the item that the sage speculated about."

"Sometimes, I can't help but admire the wisdom of the ancient sages. Just by seeing this material, they planned countless uses for it. These uses were not even understood by people at the time, or even for a long time afterwards. However, as time passed, people realized that their vision was difficult for us to surpass."

This senior executive is sitting right in front of you.

When you blow like this, he will feel a little happy, but he will also blush.

However, sometimes Charles is really worried about the IQ of many people.

He had already put forward some scientific "conjectures" during the Five Gods Era.

Most of them were regarded as delusions, and a small number were realized in the Black Fire Age.

Although creation is more difficult than plagiarism.

But it’s not like it took tens of thousands of years for the original idea to develop.

Magical energy brings not only progress to the people of this world, but also shackles.

Because magic power is so convenient, allowing people to fly, escape underground, achieve immortality, and be almost omnipotent, basic technology is often neglected.

After all, most of the magical powers and supernatural means that technology can achieve can also be achieved.

What technology cannot do, extraordinary people can still do.

In a world like this, most smart people are thinking about how to become extraordinary, so who would pay attention to the development of science?

"Because telephones are so convenient, I have proposed installing them in all government departments."

"There are several oil mines around Moroston. Although large-scale factories haven't been built yet, small-scale experiments based on blueprints and records have already begun."

"When the time comes, as a member of parliament, in order to better serve the public, your family will be one of the first to install this ancient yet advanced technology, Charles." "Thank you for your trouble," Charles thanked.

"This is a right that every MP has."

"But there's something I'm wondering if Councillor Ciel is interested in."

Ciel looked at the other person in confusion.

"The newly built refinery is a bit short on capital. If you have some spare cash, you might want to invest in it."

"Don't worry about losing money. After Blackfire was brought back to this world by Peroz, the direction of the world will be closely related to it for a long time afterwards." Not only will there be no loss, it will be a huge profit.

Blackfire, or rather, oil technology, had been used in many different ways as early as the Blackfire Era. In some very few cities, the level of development had even reached the level of the 1950s and 1960s, or even later, in Charles's previous life, due to Blackfire.

The end of the Black Fire Era does not mean that all scientific and technological information in that era has been destroyed.

Most of them are just sealed up. Most countries that have experienced that era have a lot of sealed information in their hands.

Besides, Peroz was from the Kingdom of York.

According to the convention on the search for Black Fire signed by some countries after the end of the Black Fire Age, the Kingdom of York was able to quickly possess most of the advanced technologies of the Black Fire Age at that time.

Take a small stake in a refinery now, and in a few years it will return you tenfold or a hundredfold its value.

What Victor is doing is not looking for investment, but giving big gifts.

after all...

At most, words and gestures can make people feel good about them.

What is really needed to maintain a relationship is interest.

Trying to use dry words to completely win Charles over to your own will might make him obey you temporarily, but using benefits will make him serve you for the rest of his life.

Victor looked at Charles, then waved his hand. The aide-de-camp walked over quickly and took out a document.

Victor motioned for Charles to take a look.

Ciel silently picked up the document.

One hundred thousand gold pounds, 9% of the shares.

After the first year, perhaps the dividends each year thereafter will exceed the initial investment.

"I don't feel I'm qualified to sign this contract." Charles' expression was full of conflict, but he eventually pushed the contract back.

"No, you do." Victor smiled and looked at Floyd who was standing guard in the corner with his back straight.

It wasn't the first time he had seen Floyds.

But this is definitely the first time I've seen him like this.

Originally he was skeptical about some things, but now...

He felt that he could be more confident and bold.

“After the miracle, this country will face unprecedented challenges.”

"So every bit of strength is very precious."

"To be honest, I'm surprised by the change in Floyds." Victor looked a little strange.

He was more than just surprised. When he saw the information for the first time, he felt like he was dreaming.

"He made many mistakes before, but we believe he has begun to change and repent now."

"So we're willing to give him a chance."

"His Majesty the King has formally pardoned him."

"But...we hope that someday in the future, if the refinery or the country encounters difficulties."

"He will help this country through this just as we spare him."

The 9% stake was not given to Charles, but to Floys and the people around him.

You know, the royal family only holds 20% of the shares in the refinery, and the Severus family only holds 4%. Normal parliamentarians don’t even have the opportunity to participate in the shares, but Charles’ shares are more than twice that of the Severus family.

If it weren't for Floyd, Victor would never have done this.

"this..."

"You should know that I have no say in Floyd's affairs."

"Why did he choose to be my bodyguard? I have many questions in my mind."

Victor turned around and looked at the attendant, who took out some information again.

The above records some of the interactions between Mernade and Floyd in more detail.

He helped bandage the bloodied Floys' wounds, built a shed for the place where Floys often slept, and occasionally shared his own rations with him...

There were witnesses to many things that happened, and although many of these witnesses died that night, some still remain.

Besides...

Victor's ability is related to time. He can see things on his own.

"Kindness is the most beautiful quality bestowed upon us by the gods. I used to scoff at this statement, but now I believe it somewhat." Victor meant it sincerely, especially after investigating Mernadè's past.

Even a politician, ambitious and profit-seeking person like him would have an initial good impression of Mernadè.

Of course, this impression is not because she is kind, but because her kindness can bring benefits to Victor himself or to the country.

"I believe that after feeling the kindness of this world and the tolerance of this country, he will be happy to do something for this place." Victor raised his glass, and Charles also raised it quickly.

In the end he accepted the contract.

"I'm not sure what he's thinking, so I'd like to ask him myself later," said Ciel.

Victor nodded, then naturally changed the subject and began teasing Charles about Theresa.

In front of Charles, Victor seemed to lack the arrogance of a prince, and instead seemed like a kind and generous elder. If it weren't for his past and his inner self, most people would probably immediately warm to him.

Charles also adjusted his expression in time.

The smile in Victor's eyes became even more intense.

After that, Victor didn't keep Charles for long. After all, as the host of the banquet, Charles still had a lot of things to do.

Ciel gladly accepted his thoughtfulness and soon started chatting with most of the people at the party.

Not much was discussed about the specific content, but Charles received a lot of invitations and hints.

However, considering how troublesome they were, Charles politely refused.

After the dinner, the guests left one after another.

Soon, only a few people from Severus' family were left besides the people in the manor.

"Hahaha, you are worthy of being the son-in-law I chose. Even though we haven't seen each other for a while, Moroston has become more brilliant because of you." Doug said loudly.

Charles looked at the other person with a dark face.

"I heard from others that you kissed my daughter. You don't want to abandon her, do you?" Doug continued, looking at Charles' expression.

Charles's face darkened even further.

How could you have heard that I kissed her? It was clearly she who forced the kiss on me.

"You young people are more open-minded than I was back then, but you still have to be more careful. I don't want Theresa to attend the wedding with a bulging belly."

"Dad!" Teresa stared at Doug with a blushing face.

"Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore."

"I stayed here specifically to thank you." Doug's expression turned serious. "Thank you for saving Theresa."

"If it weren't for you, I really don't know how sad I would be if something like this happened."

Charles shook his head quickly. "This isn't my fault. If you want to thank someone, you should go to thank Floys."

"I have to thank everyone." Doug shook his head.

"If it weren't for Mernadè, if it weren't for you accepting him, he wouldn't be there. Even if he did appear, he wouldn't care about those things."