Magic Industrial Age

Currently, Flower Collar's magic energy industry has been clearly divided into two parts.

The suburban factories outside Brussels, dealing with various processing machinery, magic energy firearms, secret medicines, and ore smelting, are all managed by Maruna.

He is considered a core member of Loy's inner circle, having been personally promoted and trained by Loy, making him the most capable of implementing his ideas and policies.

Currently, Flower Collar's most profitable businesses are located here.

Furthermore, batches of highly skilled and practical workers are being continuously trained.

These individuals may have limited potential, but they are all excellent at their jobs.

Moreover, they serve as the foundation for cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and continuous expansion of the magic energy factories, as well as being reserve candidates for grassroots leadership positions.

It can be said that Loy invests in the training of professional talent without regard to cost.

The other part is managed by Lord Hick Cruz.

This little old man is a true pragmatist. He doesn't seem to mind that Maruna has taken over the most profitable ventures.

Instead, he has focused his efforts on mining and railways.

Flower Collar already has a considerable railway network, but so far, all transportation capacity is dedicated to freight.

In other words, no passenger trains have been put into service.

Moreover, according to Loy's plans, passenger services are unlikely to be introduced in the short term.

As for mine construction, the focus is shifting from manual mining to mechanical excavation.

Although the mine environment is still not ideal, the widespread use of machinery has indeed reduced the demand for manpower and increased mining efficiency.

With the promotion of the magic energy industry, Flower Collar's demand for steel is increasing at an alarming rate.

It is only thanks to Lord Hick Cruz's constant presence and supervision of mine production and transportation that no major problems have occurred.

However, this is not a long-term solution, and the old man has written to complain more than once.

His core demand is simple: he needs people!

To be precise, he needs enough miners!

You have to admit that among all professions, mining is definitely the most arduous and tiring, with extremely poor working and living conditions, and a high mortality rate.

Anyone with a better family background or other options would not want to be a miner.

It was at this time that Loy learned that most of the previous miners had been bought by Earl Karl Raymond.

That's right, he regularly purchased them from slave traders from the outside world.

The Old Continent is relatively orderly, but the New World and those islands have plenty of indigenous people, who are the main source of slaves.

However, this kind of trade is unacceptable to Loy!

Therefore, the only way he can address this issue is by improving working conditions, reducing labor intensity, increasing wages and benefits, and dispatching professional doctors.

With better conditions, he can naturally attract some people, which is the most he can do at this stage.

After dealing with these matters, Loy turned his attention back to the accounts.

It was now late October of the New Divine Calendar 313, more than half the year had passed, and Flower Collar's income could be roughly tallied.

It should be said that the accounts of the magic energy factory managed by Mira Greenman are the clearest.

Every item of income and expenditure is clear and easily understood.

Through the schematic diagram constructed by Deep Blue, Loy could almost clearly see the monthly growth rate, which was nearly a straight line upwards.

Especially after the armory was opened, the income was even more exaggerated.

However, with the increase in income, the corresponding procurement expenses also increased significantly.

For example, lapis lazuli, and various required parts and raw materials, were all considerable expenses.

These were almost all purchased from the Habsburg Empire through the channels of the Royfitz Magic Energy Group, which can be considered a virtuous cycle.

However, relying entirely on procurement is very unwise. A complete industrial system must have its own production capacity.

Therefore, Loy was thinking about supporting more industries as much as possible in the next step.

But this is not something that can be solved at this stage.

Of course, in addition to the income from the magic energy industry, Flower Collar's income from other areas is also steadily increasing.

For example, the ship trade in Siren Harbor is becoming increasingly prosperous as the regular patrols of magic warships and the prestige of the Lion Flag ensure safety!

With the increase in the number of ships coming and going, the types of goods are becoming more and more diverse, and tax revenue is naturally guaranteed.

In addition, reports were submitted on the perfume trade, gold exchange income, grain import and export, land tax, horse farms, and so on.

Last year was a chaotic year for Flower Collar, and all sources of income were significantly reduced.

This year, after stabilization, there will naturally be an explosive recovery and growth, coupled with the huge income from the magic energy industry.

Loy is almost certain that both the Red Dragon Virgil and the various vassals and knights will be very satisfied.

It must be said that after looking at these accounts, Loy himself felt three points lighter.

Of course, while checking the accounts, Loy also took the time to deal with the numerous letters.

There is no need to say more about those from Douglas Hill, Mrs. Linda, and Gary Mills, but Baron Miller's letter was extremely informative.

Since taking office as Minister of Railways, Miller has been traveling all over the empire.

Every time he arrives in a place, he sends people to survey the terrain, determine development plans, and draw up railway construction maps.

The most serious incident involved a fourth-order assassin and several Cataclysm-level threats, who really wanted him dead.

It was the strongmen sent by the empire who fought desperately to buy enough time for Miller to escape through the magic teleportation array.

The result of this incident was Emperor Hohenzollern III's furious rage and thunderous response!

This one even sent a fifth-order legend to find those fourth-order Cataclysm-level threats one by one and publicly execute them!

As for the nobles behind them and a series of forces, none of them escaped punishment.

All the territories were confiscated, the titleholders committed suicide by poison, and all the family heads were executed.

Then, a person was drawn from a branch to inherit the title, retain the surname, and leave them a little wealth, nothing more!

After this incident, the legendary Royal Society sent a member to accompany Miller.

Since then, no one dared to have any ulterior motives!

Since that time, Miller's work has been much smoother, and he has been greeted with smiles wherever he goes.

Because everyone has seen the determination of His Majesty the Emperor, they naturally dare not touch the sore spot.

Of course, these are just small episodes in the letters. Miller mainly discusses with him the local customs, development situation, and various policies of the empire.

From his words, Loy could feel the dramatic changes taking place in the empire.

Loy's meditation potion and soul-stabilizing incense have really stimulated a great leap forward in education.

After a period of precipitation, the number of magic apprentices with magic power has grown almost explosively.

They may not go far on the path of magic energy machinery, but they are definitely excellent magic gunners.

Currently, the Imperial Magic Academy's enrollment requirements are constantly increasing.

Previously, students learned basic meditation after enrolling, but now, only those with magic power are eligible to enroll.

And basic meditation courses have been popularized in junior high school education.

In addition, the emergence of various processing machinery has led to a rare 'talent subsidence' phenomenon in magic energy machinery.

In the past, second-order senior mechanical mages or third-order extraordinary mechanical mages had to use specific magic to process various magic energy machinery.

Now, based on processing machinery, coupled with skilled operators, even first-order senior mage apprentices can do it!

All kinds of situations have made the empire seem like a fully powered chariot, advancing rumblingly.

Based on this, the empire has launched many plans, including education popularization, army reform and expansion, large-scale infrastructure construction, urban reconstruction, and so on.

The empire is progressing and developing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even Baron Miller is impassioned, excited, and even unable to suppress his emotions in his letters.

Loy could understand that feeling, it was the awakening of a strong national consciousness and self-confidence.

Correspondingly, the authority and prestige of that supreme Emperor had reached the point where no one dared to look directly at him.

But this is very dangerous!

Very dangerous!

Because Loy seemed to see a beast struggling to break free, sharpening its claws and fangs.

It might choose someone to eat at any time!

Especially when the magic energy industry develops to a certain stage, and the domestic market is saturated, a large number of products need to find a way out...

At that time, the world will be turned upside down!

However, although Loy had this feeling, he didn't dare to mention a word even in his letters to Miller.

Another ten days or so passed, and after checking the accounts, Loy turned his attention to underwater trade.

In just these ten days, Mage Walter and that Sea Serpent King met twice, and the number of ordinary communications and consultations was even greater.

Then, they finally confirmed one thing.

Underwater, that is, within the Sea Serpent Tribe's current territory, there is indeed an ambergris mine!