“What in the world is this?”
“A primary forging workshop needs Elemental Vein Fire as its core?!”
Monet’s expression was strange as she held the thick book in her hands.
She had barely flipped through a few pages, muttering things like “How can this be?” and “What is this?”
“Professor Monet, you can study it slowly.”
“Because… we don’t have the funds to build such a forging workshop for now.”
Seeing the other’s troubled expression, Luwei thoughtfully comforted her.
That’s right, the book Monet was holding was the reward from the Romance Quest: [Primary Forging Workshop Blueprint (Exquisite)].
As for why the blueprint was a thick book… let’s just say, the thicker the blueprint, the more detailed its technical specifications.
Moreover,
Looking at Monet’s increasingly bewildered expression, Luwei felt not worry, but joy instead.
A “Forging Workshop Blueprint” that could stump an Academic Succubus, an alchemy giant, and a walking encyclopedia like Monet—
It must contain craftsmanship far beyond this era!
“By the way, Professor Monet, have you finished designing the assembly line for the Giant Strength Potion you developed?”
Hearing this, Monet put down the book in her hands,
rummaged through a drawer behind her, and handed over a scroll.
“You really know how to put people to work… there’s a specialization for every field. Is it really appropriate for you to dump all these tasks on me like this?”
But Luwei didn’t think much of it.
“Do you know what kind of astronomical figure the research funding I approved for you is?”
“Fifty Gold Coins!”
In terms of purchasing power… one Gold Coin in this world was roughly equivalent to forty thousand yuan in Luwei’s previous life.
In other words, the little researcher Monet was holding two million in funds every month.
“If it’s not enough, you can apply for more from me, instead of complaining about too many tasks.”
“Also, do you need me to use the funding to hire a few assistants for you or something…?”
As Luwei spoke, she suddenly noticed the other’s reaction seemed a bit off.
“Um, Your Highness Luwei…”
Monet’s voice suddenly became a bit hesitant.
“I… I want…”
“Want what? Just say it openly.”
Luwei was quite straightforward.
“Although the Caris Family really doesn’t have much capital left, supporting one research institute is still very easy…”
“I want to monopolize your funding!”
Monet’s voice suddenly rose several notches.
“Your research funding… could you please only give it to me?”
Hearing this, Luwei was somewhat taken aback.
What kind of strange request was this?
“Other researchers, I can recruit them myself! Please don’t approve funding for anyone else anymore!!”
“Uh… that’s not a problem.”
“It’s just, you’ll hire researchers yourself? Using your salary and the sales share from the Giant Strength Potion?”
“Exactly!”
Monet nodded with certainty.
“I will spend money to hire personnel to build you the most advanced research institute in the entire Federation!”
“But please… make sure to approve the funding only for me.”
As she spoke, Monet took a few steps forward, placing her hands over her chest, her gaze could be described as quite… affectionate?
Seeing this scene, Luwei just felt a chill run down her spine.
Why was she emphasizing this point so much?
“I, I understand.”
Taking the Giant Strength Potion formula from Monet’s hands, Luwei waved dismissively.
“Thank you for your hard work. I will raise your monthly funding to eighty Gold Coins…”
With that, Luwei turned and hurriedly prepared to leave the research institute.
Because… she had a feeling something bad would happen if she stayed.
As if to confirm her suspicion—
“Ohhh~~”
“Eighty… Gold Coins every month?!”
Monet let out an exaggerated exclamation…
“I’m already… f-filled to the brim with funding~~♡”
“Ha… so much… funding… and it’s, it’s only approved for me…”
Hearing the strange sounds coming from behind her,
Luwei’s pupils trembled with shock…
What on earth did this woman think funding was!?
***
Several days later, in a remote mountain range.
“Your Highness, we’re here.”
Floxi’s voice came from beside her… Luwei tried her best to ignore her.
Luwei looked at the desolate wilderness around them, as if trying to remember where the entrance to the Potion Workshop was…
For secrecy, the Caris Family’s Potion Workshop was built inside a mountain range.
It was some distance from the Kares Territory.
Usually, the assembly line workers in the workshop arrived via special enclosed carriages.
To prevent the Life Potion production process from being leaked,
the production line was divided into many independent sections, with each worker responsible for only a very small step.
This was also Luwei’s suggestion—an Extreme Assembly Line, combining secrecy and efficiency.
Watching Luwei beside her lost in thought, Floxi felt a flutter of excitement in her heart.
To be able to go out with Her Highness Luwei!
She must trust her quite a bit, right?
Thinking this, Floxi’s gaze drifted to the silent Shuangsha standing nearby.
For secrecy, Her Highness only brought herself and Shuangsha as guards on this trip.
Didn’t this mean… Her Highness was already willing to accept her protection?
Thinking this, the three of them stepped inside the Potion Workshop…
What greeted them were rows of workers standing in perfect order.
They were all poor, low-level commoners recruited from the Lower District yesterday on Luwei’s orders…
As their lord, Luwei couldn’t simply hand out money to these people, but she could provide them with some high-paying, stable, and simple jobs.
But clearly, most people were skeptical of such a windfall.
Their expressions were mostly quite worried, probably thinking some Magician was conducting dangerous magic experiments.
Until they saw Luwei…
A wave of whispers immediately erupted from the crowd.
Having too notorious a reputation was also a nuisance.
If, moments ago, they only thought this job was selling their lives to some Magician, with the promised high salary actually carrying equal danger…
Then now, a look of despair had risen on their faces.
As if this salary had already become their blood money… well, it fit Luwei’s stereotype perfectly.
Hearing the content of these people’s discussions, Floxi and Shuangsha beside her both looked somewhat angry,
even seeming like they wanted to step forward to clear Luwei’s name…
But Luwei just shook her head at them.
“Those who want to quit can register with the foreman.”
“Our workshop only hires those who truly need this salary…”
Hearing this, the workers immediately began discussing even more intensely.
People kept leaving the line.
Most of them were physically strong, quite valuable labor even in the worker market.
But clearly, they were only attracted by the high salary… and had no desire to sell their lives for Luwei, their lord with a notorious reputation.
Their departure meant nothing to Luwei.
And those who remained were Luwei’s real target—elderly, frail workers, and even quite a few with physical disabilities.
Among them were also some familiar faces,
relatives of soldiers who had attended the memorial ceremony Luwei held for the Seventh Army…
Most of the remaining workers looked anxious.
Because they knew their own labor capacity was almost nonexistent.
Not only could they not handle heavy physical work, but those with disabilities could barely even stand for long periods.
And in the current Kingdom of Avalon, the lives of commoners had already reached a certain level of hardship.
Due to the annihilation of the Seventh Army, the kingdom had to focus more on rebuilding the military… rather than the survival of its people.
In this crisis, those hit first were these ordinary people already at the very bottom.
Looking at these sallow and emaciated workers, Luwei’s heart was still somewhat moved.
The fact that they were still willing to stand here meant they were already so destitute they didn’t care about their own bodies, only wanting to earn this money.
What they feared wasn’t how dangerous this job might be…
But rather—were they truly worthy of such a high salary?