I opened a clinic in the Abyss World

Charlotte pondered for a moment and replied, "Let's take Calva as an example. Calva is also backed by wilderness and has the largest adventurers' guild on the continent of Aesop, reportedly with 100,000 adventurers, including some powerful mercenary guilds. But Calva doesn't rely entirely on adventurers as the dominant industry for the entire city."

Leveraging the unique position of the Karva people as a fusion of various races, and led by the Karva Merchant Guild, they expanded their business to every race, reaping substantial profits.

They live by the sea and have a large number of fishermen who earn a good living by catching seafood and various seabed materials.

Kalva has a presence in various industries, including agriculture, textiles, and steel smelting.

The abundant industries provide plenty of job opportunities for the residents of Kalva. As long as you are diligent enough, you can find a suitable job and avoid starvation.

The Abyss's so-called industrial upgrade aims to change its current over-reliance on adventurers, finding low-barrier, labor-intensive industries to establish themselves there, thereby freeing the lower-class residents from their survival difficulties and ultimately supporting other industries.

Diana's gaze toward Charlotte had completely changed. Before, she only thought of Charlotte as a highly skilled doctor and a exceptionally talented pharmacist.

Now she discovered that Charlotte was also a very learned person, whose depth of thought far exceeded the level of the Abyss, far surpassing those of the so-called elders sitting at the council table.

"What do you think are low-barrier, labor-intensive industries suitable for the Abyss?" Diana asked earnestly.

Charlotte said, "Given the geographical location and conditions of the Abyss, planting is ruled out first, and logging in the wilderness is also ruled out due to the high risks. Therefore, the textile and clothing industry should be the most suitable direction for the Abyss's industrial upgrading at present."

"The textile and apparel industry," Diana continued, "and how exactly will this be implemented?"

Charlotte took another sip of her drink before saying, "This is actually one of the reasons I came to see you tonight. I know a tailor who was the first to start making and selling ready-made clothes in the Abyss. The sales are going well so far, but because he is being squeezed out by other tailors, his production cannot be increased and he has entered a bottleneck period."

I want to recruit him to join us in establishing the Abyss's first large-scale garment factory. By streamlining the garment manufacturing process, we can recruit a group of ordinary employees, provide them with simple training, and put them directly to work, producing garments in large quantities.

The finished garments produced can be sold in the markets of the Abyss and Kalva, and the proceeds can be used to buy cloth and pay workers' wages.

After workers receive their wages, they use them to buy food and for other consumption, causing money to flow into other industries as a supplement to the adventurer industry.

If the factory is large enough to recruit enough workers, it can form a legitimate industry, allowing more workers to earn wages and replacing the adventurer industry.

If garment factories develop and mature, the demand for fabrics will increase, and the textile industry can be developed accordingly to provide employment for more residents.

You've been asking me how to make that wasteland of the potion workshop more valuable, haven't you? Here's my latest answer. Develop a textile and garment industry cluster on that wasteland, attract people there, and the corresponding supporting facilities will naturally follow.

  

Diana understood, and was greatly shocked. At the same time, she began to reflect on the past actions of the three great families of the Abyss.

If Charlotte hadn't explained it so clearly, she would have always believed that all the inhabitants of the Abyss lived dependent on the three major families.

Upon closer reflection, Charlotte's words proved to be true. The three major families merely controlled the main resources of the Abyss, using them to exploit and drain the resources of all Abyss residents. The real value was created by the adventurers who ventured into the wilderness every day, risking their lives to hunt monsters.

The three families depend on adventurers for survival. They have never tried to provide income for the residents, and have always been scheming and exploiting them in this small place called the Abyss.

Therefore, the abyss can only remain an abyss; hundreds of years have passed, and it remains a synonym for poverty and chaos.

Charlotte's arrival overturned the Judson family's centuries-long rule and exploitation, removing the biggest cancer in the Abyss, and indirectly contributing to the establishment of Abyss City.

However, after the establishment of Abyss City, the first meeting of the elders began to discuss the issue of money, and some discordant arguments ensued.

Previously, the three major families each managed their own affairs, maintaining their interests and power by exploiting the lower-class residents.

However, after the city of Abyss was built, a massive Abyss Guard will be maintained, and an Abyss Shield will be established, all of which will cost a lot of money.

The three families are now tacitly using a portion of the profits they previously obtained from the Judson family to fill the gap.

However, this benefit is ultimately capped; according to the current spending method, it should only last for one year.

Then the next step will be to use the savings of the three major families.

The three major families didn't establish Abyss City to do charity and unconditionally help the poor. That's not what they originally planned.

So the debate eventually came back to the issue of taxation.

Taxes are the most important source of revenue for maintaining the operation of a city. This is true not only for the Lance Empire, but also for the neighboring Calva, which has a similar system.

But when they looked down, they were in a dilemma.

The inhabitants of the abyss are far too poor.

The shops on the street are all barely surviving; most of them are just barely making ends meet after paying rent. If taxes were levied on these businesses, most of them would probably close down and run away on the same day, and we wouldn't even be able to collect the rent. Wouldn't that be a huge loss?

As for those unemployed vagrants, even if you arrest them, you won't find many copper coins.

After going around in circles, we returned to the three major families and the minor nobles who were dependent on them.

Alright, there's no solution!

If Charlotte's proposed factory construction plan results in a garment factory with a certain level of profit, it could become a major taxpayer.

Once garment factory workers earn income, it will stimulate consumption, making those struggling shops bustling and prosperous, and perhaps in the future, it will reach a level where taxes can be collected.

"Although I don't quite understand what you mean by a garment factory assembly line, your potion workshop is doing well, and I believe you can do it well. Tell me, how do you need my support?" Diana said, looking at Charlotte.

Charlotte took out a list and said, "5000 square meters of land, and the construction of a simple factory on this land. The requirements for the factory are not high, and the cost should be within 500 million copper coins. The initial purchase of cloth and machinery will cost 200 million copper coins."

Diana pondered for a moment and said, "Let's calculate the cost of the land based on a ten-year lease. Let's say it costs 500 million copper coins to build the factory, 500 million copper coins for the factory buildings, plus 200 million copper coins for initial investment, totaling 1200 million copper coins. How many shares can I own in this garment factory?"

Charlotte looked at Diana and said, "I will take charge of the overall planning and coordination of the establishment of the garment factory, and invest 2 million copper coins into the fund pool as initial expenses. As for the tailor Ivan, he will contribute his skills as equity and serve as the factory manager and technical director. The shares will be divided in a 4:3:3 ratio, with you holding 40%, and Ivan and I each holding 30%."

Diana thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "I accept this allocation plan. This investment will come from my personal account, so you don't need to worry about pressure from the Harriman family. But I'd like to know when this garment factory will be able to start production, and how many workers are planned to be recruited?"

Charlotte replied, "While the factory is being built, I will simultaneously order various machines, fabrics, and recruit and train 100 young female workers. If garment sales meet expectations, we will recruit even more employees."

Diana nodded thoughtfully. One hundred female workers meant one hundred families could have a stable income, and young women had an option besides Amman Street, which was a good thing.

But for the inhabitants of the deepest abyss, it is still far from enough; even doubling the amount would not be sufficient.

Diana looked at Charlotte and said, "Next to your garment factory, the Harriman family will build another large textile factory. I have one condition: from now on, your garment factory must use fabrics produced by my textile factory."

"I cannot agree to that," Charlotte refused outright.

"Why?" Diana frowned.

Charlotte explained, "Fabric is the most crucial core competitiveness of clothing. Currently, the group that can afford ready-made cotton clothing is relatively wealthy and has high requirements for the feel and color of the fabric. Ready-made clothing is a new thing, and in the early stages of promotion, we need not only sales volume, but also a good reputation."

As for the quality of the fabric produced by your newly built textile factory, it is still unknown. There are further processes such as printing and dyeing, so I cannot guarantee that your fabric will be used.

But I can promise that, given the same quality, the garment factory will absolutely prioritize using fabrics produced by the Abyss Textile Factory.

Diana looked at Charlotte in silence for a moment, then accepted his explanation: "Okay, it's settled then. Under the condition that the quality is the same, the garment factory will give priority to using the fabric produced by our textile factory."

The two then discussed some details of the collaboration on the garment factory. The blueprints would need to be drawn up after Charlotte returned. As for the construction work, Diana made a decision that was different from usual. Instead of hiring the construction team she was familiar with, she would form a new construction team mainly composed of lower-class residents.

Of course, we will rely on outstanding industry professionals to ensure construction quality and progress.

This change pleased Charlotte greatly, as it meant that some ordinary people who couldn't enter the wilderness as adventurers would have a chance to work.

The construction industry is also a labor-intensive industry.

The overly professional and efficient dwarf construction team completely squeezed out the opportunity for ordinary people to participate.

Now, Diana is beginning to intervene and give opportunities to more people.

As the ruler of Abyss City, everything began to change when she started thinking about how to enable the vast majority of the lower-class residents to obtain a job and earn a living through their labor.

Diana raised her glass and looked at Charlotte, saying, "You've given me a lot to think about. Instead of spending huge sums of money hoarding food to provide relief to the poor, we should find a way to give them a job so they can earn money to buy food with their own hands and hard work. That's the only truly sustainable way, and that's the direction Abyss City should take."

"It's a pleasure working with you." Charlotte clinked glasses with her.

They both downed half a glass of red wine in one gulp.

Diana stood up to see the guest off: "I need to see my father and grandfather. I still need to discuss the nettles, the textile factory, and the garment factory with them. I'll come to see you tomorrow afternoon. Can you take me to see that tailor and let me see what those so-called ready-made clothes are?"

"No problem, see you tomorrow then." Charlotte put down her wine glass and stood up to say goodbye.

"Agatha, see them out," Diana said, removing the soundproofing from the villa and pointing towards the door.

Agatha, who was waiting outside the door, was startled when she heard the sound. She quickly opened the door and looked at Charlotte with some surprise. She thought Charlotte wouldn't be able to leave the villa tonight, but she didn't expect her to leave so soon.

Could it be that Dr. Charlotte is short and quick?

"Goodbye, Agatha." Charlotte greeted her with a smile and walked straight to the carriage parked in front of the villa.

The Harriman family has a relatively simple internal structure. Diana's grandfather, Alfred, is the real decision-maker, while her father, Patriarch Dirk, is relatively unambitious and the kind of person who gets things done steadily.

Since bringing down the Judson family, Diana has become the only heir to the Harriman family, as evidenced by her appointment as a council elder.

It seems that the things they discussed and decided on today will all have a good outcome.

It seemed like something was going to happen between them tonight; the atmosphere had been set up.

Unfortunately, I was delayed by important business.

The carriage drove away from the villa, leaving the Harriman family behind.

Shortly after, Diana, dressed in formal attire, left the villa and headed towards the unassuming cottage deep within the estate.

Back at the entrance of the Abyss Medical Center, just as Charlotte was about to knock, a head suddenly fell off.

Startled, Charlotte instinctively raised her hand and threw a punch.

boom!

A vampire with black wings slammed into the door, and the magical shield was passively activated, causing him to slide down the door to the ground.

"Monte?" Charlotte resisted the urge to draw her sword after recognizing the vampire.

"Damn! Where did you get that much strength?!" Monte covered his swollen, bruised left eye and stared at Charlotte in shock.

Although he was completely unprepared, Charlotte's punch earlier had made him feel the shadow of death; it was a power that only a high-ranking knight could possess.

But... isn't Charlotte a magician whose magical essence has been destroyed?

This doesn't make sense!

"Don't blame me. Who told you to hang down like that? When humans are afraid, they can unleash power far beyond what they usually possess," Charlotte said seriously as she reached out and pulled him up.

"Your outburst was way too outrageous!" Monte still felt something was wrong. His head was still buzzing. He was a level 5 vampire. How could he be stunned by a punch from an ordinary human?

"By the way, did you come to see me for something?" Charlotte changed the subject and asked.

Upon hearing this, Monte immediately stared at Charlotte and asked, "You just came back from Diana's?"

He was a frequent visitor to the Abyss and recognized Buddy, Diana's bodyguard. The carriage was Diana's personal vehicle, and Charlotte had gotten off that carriage earlier.

During this time, he had been keeping an eye on Charlotte and had heard many unspeakable rumors about Charlotte and Diana.

He didn't believe it at first. Although Charlotte was pretty and had decent medical skills, she wasn't good enough to win the favor of a Harriman family heiress like Diana.

Then he saw Charlotte riding back to the clinic in Diana's carriage late at night.

Now he felt a sense of urgency.

Nancy is a rich woman, but Diana is a heiress.

Nancy was elegant and beautiful, while Diana was even more charming and captivating.

No wonder Charlotte didn't care about Nancy at all; it turns out... she's hooked up with Diana!

He had been missing for several days in a row, and there was no news or movement from Nancy either. Whether he could get the commission of five million copper coins depended entirely on Charlotte.

"Hmm, what's wrong?" Charlotte nodded. Since Monte had already seen it, there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"It's nothing, it's fine." Monte was a little jealous. Who wouldn't want to be kept by a rich woman, especially a young and beautiful rich woman?

"By the way, how's Nancy doing?" Charlotte looked at Monte, suddenly remembering the countess who had come from afar.

When they first met, he gave them 82 copper coins to send them away, and then he was so busy in the next few days that he completely forgot about it.

They must have been so angry they ran away after not seeing each other for three or four days, right?

Then Monte's 100,000 in handling fees will be wasted. Did you come here today to ask him to pay some handling fees?

"I underestimated you. Nancy said she's very satisfied with you and has already refunded my processing fee." Monte looked at Charlotte with some emotion, then asked him with great curiosity, "What exactly did you do to Nancy the other day? What made her so satisfied with you?"

"She was very satisfied and even refunded your processing fee?!" Charlotte's voice rose a few decibels as she looked at Monte with a strange expression.

Holy crap, how can something like this even happen?

He hadn't done anything in the past few days, and hadn't even seen Nancy's master and servants once.

They stood them up for a few days.

And Nancy was very satisfied?

What is she after?

Now, even Charlotte was completely stumped.

"What's with your reaction?" Monte was also a little confused, looking at Charlotte with puzzlement.

"Oh, it's nothing, I just didn't expect her to be this kind of person." Charlotte shook her head. The only explanation could be... Nancy is actually a hidden masochist?

She was the one who usually rejected other men and gave them the cold shoulder, but she never expected to run into a wall with him and not even be able to see him.

This didn't anger her; on the contrary, she liked it.

Look, only a pervert could do something like this.

"Now that you've gotten your commission back, let's just leave it at that," Charlotte said to Monte, trying to persuade him. "We don't have the life to collect five million in commission."

Mrs. Nancy is indeed very beautiful, but the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive people. Charlotte doesn't want to mess with a woman who can even pull off a scheme like offering a large sum of money for a child.

Moreover, the other party is far stronger than him. No matter how you look at it, it would be very risky to have anything happen between them.

"How could that be? Nancy is very satisfied with you. We're just one step away from securing that ten million copper coin commission. As long as you agree, I'll send you over tonight, and we'll collect the money tomorrow." Monte was getting anxious and pulled out a piece of paper. "Look, this is the address."

Charlotte tilted her head and glanced at it. Good heavens, Nightmare Street.