Arcanum: Chaos Path

Chapter 458 New Order

How long Adam hung on the lamppost is unknown.

Anyway, those who were supposed to be watching the show have already done so, and those who weren't supposed to have joined in as well.

Everyone was happy about this, except for one daydreaming angel who silently withdrew into himself.

While Adam was hanging on the lamppost, Rune, now the Republic of Suxia, was also undergoing a vigorous reconstruction of its order.

Various departments were established rapidly, and new regulations were implemented swiftly. The entire society changed at an extraordinary speed in this process.

As for old Kohler, he couldn't really understand what had happened in Rune recently. After all, he was quite old and his mind wasn't as flexible as that of young people. He couldn't quite understand many new regulations and social changes. But that didn't stop old Kohler from knowing that after the rebels overthrew the Rune royal family, his life was getting better and better.

"Good evening, Mr. Kohler! Are you going to your evening class?" Freya greeted Mr. Kohler with a smile. This young girl, who wasn't very old, was obviously much more cheerful than before. Her clothes had also changed from old clothes that had been washed many times to a simple but brand-new school uniform.

Those were school uniforms issued by the newly opened "compulsory education" school. The material wasn't expensive, but it was comfortable and durable. Everyone who wanted to go to school could get two sets. The school also provided three meals a day for free. Although the food wasn't expensive, it was enough to fill one's stomach.

Because of this, many families, even those who had not originally planned to send their children to school, have enrolled them in this newly opened school.

As for the "evening classes" that Freya mentioned, they are not implemented in compulsory education schools. The latter are mainly for students, and considering the students' health, they are basically held only during the day, similar to regular schools, but the tuition is almost non-existent.

As for "evening classes," they are courses offered by another newly established "skills academy." This academy is mainly for adults, and the courses are offered both during the day and in the evening, allowing students to choose their preferred option. In addition to the most basic literacy courses, the courses mainly focus on developing various vocational skills. A meal is provided depending on the class time. If students perform well at the academy, they can be directly recommended by the school to work in relevant places. Tuition fees are also almost non-existent.

Incidentally, all schools have a course on ideological education to correct outdated ideas and help students adapt to the new society more quickly and effectively.

Old Kohler takes evening classes at the "Skills Academy," learning a craft that is well-suited for seniors. Because of his outstanding performance, he may soon receive a recommendation and be able to take up a relevant job.

"Good evening, Freya. You look very happy today. Did something good happen?" Old Kohler clearly liked this cheerful young girl, because she reminded him of his own children.

"I was praised by my teacher in class today," Freya said, a little embarrassed. Then, as if remembering something, she looked at Mr. Kohler with a puzzled expression and asked, "Mr. Kohler, at your age, you could easily live on welfare. Why are you looking for a new job?"

Considering that some people are too old to work, the Republic has corresponding assistance policies for the elderly. People who reach a certain age and meet the conditions can receive relief funds.

Of course, if you're a young person with hands and feet, forget about it—the Republic doesn't encourage being a parasite; it advocates hard work and self-reliance. Unemployed adults can attend vocational schools for free to learn a skill and receive welfare subsidies for a period, but if they consistently refuse to work, the Republic won't tolerate it. After all, this isn't the old Ruen who had talent but no job. The Republic is now desperately short of workers in all sectors, and it's a time of rebuilding. As long as you're willing to work, you won't starve.

Old Kohler paused for a moment upon hearing this, and after clearly considering it carefully, he said, "Although I can live on those relief funds, it's not like I can't work. How can I really rely on the state to support me? The current king... oh no, the consul is so good. People like me can have a decent job. This is something we couldn't even dream of before. I used to be a good worker, and of course I have to continue working now."

Freya listened, seemingly understanding but not quite. She nodded and said, "I also think things are great now. My mom has been taking evening classes recently and will soon receive a recommendation. After that, Mom won't have to do laundry anymore. Although doing laundry isn't bad, the water is really too cold in winter..."

The two then exchanged a few more words, but since old Kohler was in a hurry to get to his evening class, they naturally went their separate ways quickly.

Freya went home; she still had some homework to do that evening, while old Kohler went to the Skills Academy.

The vocational academy is bustling with activity at this moment. Because most people have a job during the day, many can only attend evening classes, so the academy is most crowded at night.

Old Kohler greeted a few familiar classmates and then sat down in a seat near the front. He was surrounded by people of different ages, mostly middle-aged, but also some elderly people like himself.

Soon, some school staff members arrived at the classroom. They were not teachers, but rather brought dinners and distributed them to the students.

The teachers only arrived after all the students had finished eating and their utensils had been collected.

What followed was several hours of study. Because of his age, it was not easy for Old Kohler to learn, but he was hardworking and willing to endure hardship, so his progress was not much behind others, and he was actually one of the better ones.

After class, however, Kohler asked the teacher a few questions he didn't quite understand before returning to his residence, which was also the accommodation for many of his classmates.

The Republic provided temporary accommodation for every homeless person. The accommodation was not large, and because it was built rather hastily, it lacked some living facilities, but at least it gave every homeless person a place to stay.

These people are basically like old Kohler; they go to the skills academy to study every day. But once they have a stable job, they move out of the temporary dormitory and into the employee dormitory of the factory where they work.

—That's right. The skills and jobs recommended by these vocational colleges are basically from newly established companies and factories in the Republic. These companies and factories generally provide accommodation and three meals a day, and the salaries are decent. They may not make people rich, but at least they can eat and drink without worry and their lives are secure.

After a quick wash, old Kohler ended his day.

(End of this chapter)