This young master truly has the ambition of a hero.

As the group left the reception room, Dick was about to personally see them to the door when he saw Ruby Eyes and Ding An walking towards them. The two were in charge of the farmers' association and the merchants' association in their respective territories, and they were on their way to report to Dick on their recent work, so they unexpectedly met in the corridor.

The steward was somewhat surprised to see these two human women whose beauty was in no way inferior to that of the elves.

Adding Rita, who always stood beside Dick, this young count already had three stunningly beautiful women by his side, which shows that he was not a child who didn't understand matters of men and women.

Moreover, the butler quickly noticed the "similarities" among the three beauties, and then subconsciously glanced at his young mistress, his expression immediately becoming very serious.

No way! This is on a completely different level; the disparity in the world is simply too vast!

After seeing the two elves off, Dick breathed a sigh of relief, but the thought that they would stay in his territory for a while gave him a headache. Meanwhile, Rita took the opportunity to tease him.

"Master, why won't you agree? That little elf girl is quite pretty! Could it be that..."

"I think her breasts aren't big enough."

Before Rita could finish speaking, Dick interrupted her, then stared intently at Rita's chest, openly admitting his own sexual orientation.

Early the next morning, Dick led a group of people to leave the main city to inspect the territory. This was not because he was intentionally avoiding the elves who came to his door, but because it was the original plan on the itinerary.

Dick first went to the eastern plains. After the climate in Lagug improved, the fertile soil there, combined with the superior seeds provided by Lukoa, became the largest grain-producing area in the northern part of the empire. The corn seedlings in the fields were already more than half a meter tall, and the lush farmland stretched as far as the eye could see.

Currently, more than half of Laguge's population is concentrated in the east, mainly engaged in agricultural activities. As long as no particularly severe natural disasters occur in the future, Laguge can not only achieve food self-sufficiency, but also have a large surplus for export.

But Dick's ambitions went beyond simply having enough to eat and drink. He planned to build a new city in the western part of his territory, between the main city and the mountains, to serve as a future industrial zone.

In comparison, the geographical conditions in the north of the territory are actually better. The terrain is flat, there are large forests and many mineral deposits whose locations have been explored. However, because it is close to the fjord, it may become a battlefield in the next orc invasion. Therefore, apart from Newport and the few military fortresses whose sites have just been selected, this area is not suitable for deploying important facilities at this stage.

Dick naturally trusted the ship girls stationed in Newport, but as the lord, he had to plan for the worst-case scenario in many things.

Dick also had a bold idea: to build a railway, not just on his own territory, but also to get other lords in the north involved and build a railway network running east to west through the north.

The National Academy of Magic has already pointed out the relevant technology. In his first year in Lagug, Dick read about the opening of the capital's first railway line in the newspaper. The news photos showed well-dressed noblemen enjoying exquisite meals in luxurious carriages while admiring the beautiful scenery outside the windows—a magnificent and prosperous scene.

Ironically, at the same time, in the Laguge iron mine, the starving slave laborers could only carry simple baskets and transport the mined ore out of the mine by hand.

Dick doesn't consider himself the kind of revolutionary who cares about the world. Everything he's doing is for himself and the people he cares about, but that doesn't stop him from trying to make this world, which is so uneven, a little fairer.

Chapter 176: Young people shouldn't be too impetuous

As a transmigrator, Dick naturally understood the importance of the railway.

The Empire's high command summoned so many Earthlings, so they should have been aware of this.

However, there is an old saying that "your position determines your perspective," so in many situations, people are not creatures that act entirely according to rational thinking.

The empire's first railway, which opened two years ago, has almost disappeared without a trace. The only line, less than 100 kilometers long, has only a few trains shuttling between the two points, and has not played much role in improving transportation or promoting economic development.

Because the imperial nobles always prioritized their own and their families' interests, coupled with personal grudges and political troublemakers who opposed for the sake of opposition, the subsequent development and construction of the railway fell into difficulties. Various interest groups became embroiled in seemingly endless meetings and arguments over issues such as railway planning and construction costs.

In contrast, the situation in the north is not so complicated. Moreover, the region is sparsely populated, making the need for railways more urgent in order to strengthen economic and personnel flows between regions.

The local geographical conditions of Laguge are quite good. Although there are some mountainous areas, the plains form a cross-shaped corridor running through the east, west, north, and south, which is very suitable for building railways.

Dick planned to build within his own territory first, and then gradually expand to the surrounding territories. However, the initial construction investment was not a small amount, while the introduction of technology was not a problem.

When Dick returned to the capital last year, he made a special trip to the National Academy of Magic to inquire and learned that the Empire had not imposed any restrictions on the relevant technology, allowing local areas to build their own railways. However, local lords were either poor or their territories were not large enough, and some were simply short-sighted, thinking that donkey carts were sufficient for transporting goods and that there was no need for railways at all.

While some powerful lords in the south possess vast territories and immense wealth, coincidentally, these southern lords are primarily major players in inland waterway shipping. Leveraging the extensive river network in the empire's southern border, they have long since monopolized most of the logistics business, forming a powerful interest group. Consequently, these nobles are not particularly fond of railways, believing that such infrastructure would negatively impact their businesses.

These traditional forces, accustomed to conservatism, almost instinctively abhor any form of change, regardless of whether the changes bring good or bad results.

As Dick's mentor, Grandor, often said, the Empire was not lacking in technology. The arrival of the Earthlings was like a catalyst; they merely provided some ideas for development, which was enough to cause a leap in the magical civilization of this world, comparable to a technological explosion.

However, those in power who acquired these technologies were unable to utilize them effectively because their thinking failed to keep pace with this leap forward.

If railways are to be developed, locomotives and carriages can be ordered directly from the alchemy workshop under the National Magic Academy. The magic furnace that powers the locomotives is very complex and not something that Lagug is capable of producing in a short time. However, rails and sleepers can be produced locally.

Lagug has no shortage of timber, and coal and iron mines have been built in the west. Dick has renewed his contract with the dwarven technical team he hired, and those dwarves have also brought a group of fellow villagers from their hometown to build a brand new ironworks for Dick.

The only problem is funding; Dick is truly broke right now.

For nobles, the easiest way to make money is to levy taxes under various pretexts. Dick had already done this, except he wasn't squeezing money from the poor; instead, he used the orc war as an excuse to thoroughly exploit the wealthy merchants and gentry within his territory. To ensure sustainable profit-making in the future, it wasn't advisable to squeeze too much money at once, so he needed to fatten them up for a while first.

Dick had also squeezed the allies of the Northern Alliance and the surrounding minor lords. The six fortresses of the Fjord Defense Line were crowdfunded by Dick. Since the lords in the northeast were all beneficiaries, they all had to give him a token of appreciation.

Therefore, Dick felt that the railroad could also be funded through crowdfunding; otherwise, it would be an absurdly large burden for his family to pay for it all themselves.

To be honest, Dick is in a hurry, but this matter can't be rushed. The winter war between the orcs just ended a few months ago, and the entire northern region was severely weakened as a result. Everyone is still recovering from their injuries.

"Even a hero can't be penny-wise and pound-foolish!"

During their inspection of the territory, the group stopped in a small town for the night. Dick heard that the estate hosting them had hot springs, so he decided to take a bath and relax.

In the open-air pool, Dick looked up at the starry sky, his wandering thoughts beginning to imagine the countless stars as tiny, golden coins, which then fell from the sky and landed precisely in his pocket.

What fell from the sky wasn't money, but the corpses of several assassins...

"Damn it, this is never going to end."

Dick glanced at the several assassins who died with their eyes wide open, and remained calm and collected. Then he saw Ayane, dressed as a female ninja, jump down from the tree and kneel down on one knee to report to Dick.

"My lord, all fourteen assassins have been dealt with."

"You've worked hard. You can leave the body to someone else to handle. Are you alright?"

"No, this is all enemy blood."

Looking down at the bloodstains on her body, Ayane removed her ninja mask, gazed at the steaming hot spring pool and her master soaking in it, hesitated slightly before speaking.

"Lord..."

"what happened?"

"Hot springs...I want to soak in one too."

"Uh... of course."

As soon as Dick finished speaking, Ayane cheered and ran happily to the shower room. She returned shortly after, wrapped in a towel, and stepped directly into Dick's pool.

Dick then realized that Ayane actually wanted to hang out with him.

As a member of the female ninja group, Ayane has always given Dick the feeling of being like a cat. She always appears aloof and elusive to others, and she has a slightly arrogant personality. She loves to compete with her half-sister Kasumi in every way, but anyone can see that she really cares about her sister.

As for Dick, she hasn't shown any affection towards him in the past year or so, as if she were completely immune to the alluring qualities that come with Dick's bloodline.

Dick was quite surprised when the other person suddenly wanted to soak in the hot spring with him.

So... did something happen between the sisters that they didn't know about?

While Dick was speculating about why Ayane had suddenly approached him, Ayane, sitting across the pool, seemed to be enjoying the hot spring with a relaxed expression, but in reality, her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to explode.

Ayane's long-standing competitive spirit made her determined not to be inferior to her older sister, Kasumi, in anything. So when she overheard Kasumi and Momiji's conversation and learned that her sister planned to confess her feelings to their master, Ayane's emotions suddenly became incredibly complex. The feeling was one of jealousy, but Ayane couldn't figure out whether she was jealous of her sister, her master, or both.

It just so happens that Ayane is the only bodyguard accompanying the lord on this trip. Her older sister Kasumi is teaching Honoka, while Momiji is tasked with training ninja agents for the intelligence agency under Tia's command. Seeing that the opportunity is rare, Ayane impulsively stepped in.

She was actually thinking of backing out at this moment, but she felt it would be too embarrassing to desert her post, so she just stood there, frozen in place.

An eerie silence fell over the pool. Dick felt that as a man, he should take the initiative in this situation, so he tried to find a topic to break the deadlock.

"Ayane, how are you and your sister... doing lately?"

When Dick asked about her sister Kasumi right away, Ayane couldn't help but put on a sullen face, and at the same time, a strong sense of resentment welled up in her heart.

"Our lord really cares about Sister Xia."

"I care about you a lot too."

Hearing a hint of jealousy in Ayane's tone, Dick quickly tried to explain, but after saying it, he realized that his words really sounded like those of a "scumbag."

Ayane then swam to Dick's side, leaning her voluptuous female ninja body against him, and asked in a tone that sounded like a reproach, but also carried a hint of allure.

"My lord, in your eyes, am I not as attractive as Sister Xia? My breasts are clearly bigger, aren't they?"

"No, I absolutely did not intend to compare you sisters, and what does this have to do with breast size?"

As Dick spoke, his eyes unconsciously glanced down. Because they were so close, Ayane's fair breasts were pressed against his arm, making them appear even rounder and more prominent, with a depth that seemed unfathomable. The touch of their skin was youthful and incredibly elastic.

She truly lives up to her reputation as a female ninja; her physique is incredibly well-trained, and it's clear she's adept at performing difficult moves.

Noticing Dick's furtive glances, Ayane couldn't help but let a mischievous smile creep onto her lips. The increasingly ambiguous atmosphere in the hot spring, coupled with Dick's unseen allure, emboldened Ayane even further.

Always competitive, she decided to strike first and win decisively against her sister.

Chapter 177: This is a deal

While Dick was out inspecting his territory, the group of elves lingering in the main city had nothing to do.

They only learned of this on the third day of Dick's absence. Upon hearing this, the spoiled young lady Felina was furious and started yelling that she wanted to go home. The butler could only smile wryly and advise her to be patient for now.

"Paul (the butler's name)! Let's go. That arrogant little dwarf looks down on me, and I look down on him too! This marriage is off!"

"Miss, please calm down. Just bear with it a little longer."

Paul, the butler, knew in his heart that the marriage alliance with Count Lagug was most likely to fall through, but he couldn't just leave like that. Having come all this way to the North, Paul did have an additional mission besides bringing the young lady here for a blind date: to conduct an on-site investigation of the North.

And their current location, Laguge, is undoubtedly the most promising territory in the northern region.

Thanks to the Emerald Crown Duchy's positive performance in integrating with humans over the past two hundred years since the third Grand Duke ascended the throne, the Empire has relaxed its control over them to some extent. The Duchy's elves can now apply for permits to leave the reserves, and business with other territories of the Empire is gradually taking hold, thus significantly improving the living conditions of the Duchy's people.

It's important to understand that the territory the Empire allocated to the Duchy back then wasn't exactly desirable. Of its total area of ​​less than 20,000 square kilometers, two-thirds was swamp. The elves, driven to settle there, were forced to compete for survival with poisonous insects, ferocious beasts, and swamp fishmen lurking in the mud.

The older generation of elves couldn't bear the fall from heaven to hell, so they launched a rebellion, only to have their spines broken by the iron fist of the empire.

The surviving elves have come to terms with reality. The third Grand Duke not only actively encouraged his people to integrate with the human race, but also hoped that the new generation of half-elves could disperse and leave this hellish place full of "water monkeys" (a derogatory term for swamp fishmen).

Over the years, through marriage alliances and trade, the Grand Duke has established tiny “elf communities” in many developed areas of the empire. These communities are usually only the size of a small town or a street, with hundreds to thousands of elves living there. They mainly engage in respectable small businesses such as singing and dancing entertainment, traditional alchemy, or jewelry crafts.

Taking into account the dwarves' current reputation among humans, the Grand Duke instructed those who went out to do their best to establish a new image of the elves as "talented in singing and dancing" and "skillful in their hands" in human society, while staying away from the old madmen of the Dead Tree Party who were full of unrealistic fantasies.

Because elves are different from dwarves, who were allies who had fought alongside humans in the past, while elves were enemies who had oppressed them, humans are more wary of elves. Their people need to apply for a pass to leave the reservation, and they need the consent of the local lord to settle elsewhere. Therefore, the establishment of each elven community is extremely difficult.

There are now dozens of such elven communities within the empire, with a combined population of forty to fifty thousand, mainly half-elven hybrids.

However, these communities are mainly concentrated in the warm and prosperous central and southern regions, and because of the mess that the Dead Tree Party caused in the capital last fall, the elves in these communities were also innocently implicated.

Therefore, the Grand Duke felt that it was time not to put all the eggs in one basket, and that it was time to sow some "seeds" further north.

As for migrating to the north, they might face the threat of orcs from the wasteland. Could the battle be more intense than the war between the empire and the southern human kingdoms?

In the past, the Jade Grand Duke would first pave the way with marriage alliances, and then, under the guise of sending dowries, he would also send a group of new mixed-race people over.

Compared to the poor struggling at the bottom of society, elves, with their clean and handsome appearance and excellent skills, not only look respectable but can also boost the local economy and contribute more tax revenue to the lord. Therefore, they are quite popular among some lower and middle-ranking lords and local gentry.

In the past few days, Paul has spent a lot of time observing the streets. He found that although the locals are not yet wealthy, they have a good mental outlook and the public security is relatively good. There are almost no homeless beggars on the streets and alleys.

The lord's mansion in Laguge adopted a work-for-relief strategy, and the large influx of refugees from other places were effectively organized, either to cultivate wasteland or to build bridges and roads and carry out large-scale infrastructure construction.

The Earl may not have many copper coins left in his treasury, but his grain reserves are quite plentiful, and he seems to have quite a few capable men under his command.

In Paul's experience, difficulties in a thriving territory like this are only temporary; prosperity is only a matter of time, and it probably won't be long.

Therefore, if it were possible to negotiate, Paul still hoped to talk to Dick. If he could just allow five hundred of them to migrate, he would immediately return to the duchy to find a larger force for them!

During the waiting period, in addition to his investigation, Paul also tried to contact some officials in the lord's manor, first giving them gifts to build good relationships so that they would put in a good word for him with Dick.

Among the key people he befriended were two beautiful female leaders of the farmers' association and the chamber of commerce. They were not only important subordinates of Dick, but also his bedmates with whom he could whisper sweet nothings.

With Paul's experience in human society over nearly a thousand years, he could tell the relationship between the two beautiful women when he first met them at the lord's mansion, just from their expressions when they were with Dick. The love and tenderness in their eyes were hard to hide.

However, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Paul did not request a private audience. Instead, he went to the governor's mansion during working hours to discuss some serious business matters on behalf of the duchy. He then took the opportunity to present the pre-prepared jewelry to the count in person, specifically stating that it was a gift for the count.

This approach has two advantages. First, it avoids the accusation of bribing officials, as giving gifts to a lord is not considered bribery. Second, with the Earl absent, a subject cannot presume to refuse the gift; therefore, they must accept it and wait for Dick's return to make a decision.

Paul believed in the allure of jewelry to women, and unless Dick was completely oblivious to romance, he would immediately pass on these gifts to the two ladies, hoping to win their hearts.

However, what Paul didn't know was that Ruby Eyes and Ding'an had already anticipated his prediction and were waiting for him.

When the elves first arrived in Ragug, Dick convened his advisors to discuss the matter and deduce the duchy's true intentions in hoping to achieve something through the marriage alliance. Their decades-long efforts to expand their territory across various regions were hardly a secret; this was actually quite easy to guess.

Despite the feud between Dick and the Dead Tree Party, he welcomes legitimate elven immigrants to settle here. A few hundred, even several thousand, wouldn't be a problem; his Lagug can accommodate them all.

But the Jade Prince's idea of ​​using marriage to obtain immigration permission is a gross underestimation of Dick; this exchange is completely unattractive to him.

He didn't want an elfin woman; he wanted her to offer something more tangible.

Chapter 178: The Value of Elves

The elves of the Emerald Crown Duchy have been kept in captivity by the Empire for nearly a thousand years. Their tangible wealth has long been squeezed out by the Empire's noble lords. But even though they have fallen to their current state, their resources have not been completely exhausted.

This cultural heritage stems from the elves' inherited culture and the resulting social atmosphere.

After all, elves are a long-lived species, and many elves who lived through the end of the dynasty are still alive and well. For elves, 1,500 years old is just past middle age, so there has been no obvious cultural discontinuity.