"We must go all out to capture the criminals of the Spectre Party, effectively and efficiently train them into negative-cost labor, and then implement this mechanism to boost the city-states' productivity. Furthermore, by posting bounties according to the prisoners' value, capable adventurers and mercenaries in our province and others who see what we are doing will join in as bounty hunters—perhaps even competing with one another to dispense justice."
Lanqi raised a finger and pointed toward the distant snowfield, instructing the lords, "Human desire is like a boulder rolling down a mountain: once it starts, it can never be stopped. Tangible interests work better than anything else. From the very beginning, I felt that the games of interest among you were entirely unnecessary."
They could clearly have turned this into something wonderful that pleased everyone, yet their stubborn minds refused to bend, insisting on competing with one another.
Lanqi truly could not understand why these people acted this way.
"..."
The others kept their heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound, terrified that the Goddess was watching them.
They felt that their previous petty rivalry, compared to what the governor had just proposed, was honestly much closer to human behavior.
If this man had been placed in wartime, he would without question be a war criminal.
Yet none of them dared to speak it aloud.
Besides, once they got past that hurdle of conscience...
It truly felt well worth a try.
Both the lords and the local populace had suffered under the Spectre Party for far too long.
What was more... if this could truly be set in motion, leaving humaneness aside, the returns might genuinely be in the green!
"Then what about the specific legal and operational risks?" the lords inquired with concern.
They lacked the power to manage prisoners who were either too strong or too numerous, and the containment costs of prisons were exceedingly steep.
That was the most troublesome core problem.
"There are no legal risks, provided we draft the official documents properly. Even if the House of Commons wishes to veto the viability of this 'leased convict labor' by amending legislation, the House of Lords possesses the power to delay its passage. Given that window of time, I have ways to popularize this proposal on a wider scale."
When Lanqi finished speaking, the other lords all nodded blankly.
Regardless of the House of Commons' attitude, the nobles in the House of Lords—even those down in the south—would most likely approve of this "leased convict labor."
In fact, once they saw the north perfecting the system, they would probably be eager to implement it in the south as well!
"As for operational risks, that is simple. I drew up a plan long ago. As for high-tier criminals, we can sell... no, transfer them to the Imperial Capital. In truth, our academy has maintained an ongoing partnership with the Herrom Underground Prison in the capital. Next month, I have invited Warden Bakas to visit our academy for talks. If this succeeds, perhaps the Imperial Capital's prisons can undergo a productivity reform as well."
Lanqi's original motivation had simply been that, since he could not truly kill the students, he had decided—in keeping with the culture of the Protos Empire—to commute the immediate executions of recalcitrant students to sending them to prison for some correctional reeducation.
Although Warden Bakas, the prison's strongest combatant, leaving the suburban prison to visit the school in the bustling southern district theoretically increased the risk of a prison break that day,
surely no one was mad enough to attempt something like breaking into a prison.
Besides, Lanqi would never permit any citizen of the empire to engage in such unlawful, undisciplined behavior.
"..."
Having heard this, the lords exchanged pleasantly surprised glances, their eyes burning with fervor.
If powerful convicts could be sent straight to the Imperial Capital and quickly cashed in, resolving their worries while adding a massive revenue stream...
The Spectre Party now seemed far more valuable than mana crystal mines!
It was as if something within them had been thoroughly pried open. At this moment, they no longer felt any psychological burden; their only thought was to hurry and accomplish this monumental, heroic undertaking!
"Lord Luoqi McCarthy, you will surely become the greatest politician the Protos Empire has seen in a century! And your glorious achievements in the Snowfield Province as governor will soon add yet another laurel to your illustrious name in the Imperial Capital Herrom!"
Filled with boundless reverence, the nobles bowed excitedly and spoke in praise.
Even if history's judgment of this figure named Luoqi McCarthy might be difficult to determine far in the future, and even if the members of the Spectre Party who lived through this ordeal would surely hate him to the marrow of their bones,
right now, he was undeniably the leader delivering the people of the Snowfield Province from their misery!
Lanqi shook his head slightly.
He seemed to feel that the lords had misunderstood him.
"I have never been a politician. If anything, I am probably more of a manager or a merchant. I don't want wars, and I don't want to see people being deceived anymore. As long as we improve the economy and let people live happy lives, that is enough," Lanqi said simply. "Still, Cloris did mention that an interview program from the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation wanted to invite me to appear next month. Now that I've become governor, the host will have to make a last-minute change to how they address me during the interview."
He chuckled softly with emotion.
The Herrom Broadcasting Corporation was founded in 1723. Headquartered in the city center of Herrom, the Imperial Capital, it was the largest news media organization in the Protos Empire.
Although it was a public media outlet financed by the Protos Empire, its governance was overseen by a regulatory commission independent of both the Post Office and the two Houses of Parliament, with its independence and autonomy guaranteed by the Protos Royal Charter.
On the busy streets of downtown Herrom, the programs broadcast across the giant screens frequently belonged to the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation.
"Meow, meow, meow?!"
Boss Cat lifted its head from Lanqi's hands and let out a few cries.
Receiving an invitation to appear on a special interview program from the Herrom Broadcasting Corporation was already a considerable achievement. Unless the editor-in-chief, producers, and the commission unanimously recognized someone's buzzworthiness, they would never receive such treatment.
It could not bear to imagine the scene of Hyperion standing amid the brightly lit Imperial Capital Herrom, looking up to see Lanqi on a giant screen, wearing a suit and leisurely conversing with the interviewer!
More than a month ago, it seemed to remember Hubao's earnest plea to keep an eye on this fellow's career ambitions...
Now, it was truly clear that things had spiraled far beyond its control...
I have sinned, meow!
"Lady Cloris Berenhard?" the other lords asked in astonishment.
"Yes, the most outstanding student in our school," Lanqi nodded nonchalantly.
Hearing this, the lords inwardly marveled. As expected of His Excellency the Governor—he was actually on speaking terms with members of Duke Berenhard's household.
Whether it was Duke Morotian Berenhard, wielder of the [Original Slate - Undead], or Lady Cloris Berenhard, both were figures of the empire's central power who were completely out of reach for provincial nobles like them.
Following the governor, their future looked extraordinarily bright.
"..."
Lanqi observed the subtle reactions of the lords, not expecting that this simple sentence would make them revere him even more.
Back in the Hutton Kingdom on the Southern Continent, his classmates saw him hanging around a duke's daughter every single day, yet none of them showed him a shred more respect for it, giving Lanqi the bizarre illusion that Hyperion had been stripped of her noble status.
Thinking it over, the Northern Continent felt far more normal after all.
When people learned that one was acquainted with a duke's daughter, this was the proper reaction.
People ought to show greater respect to ducal households.
This journey to the Northern Continent had provided Lanqi with a great deal of valuable work experience and insight. He was confident that upon his return, he would be able to put it to good use in the Southern Continent as well.
Chapter 324