Chapter 246 Ideal
Julie Watson of the Twelve Spinning Wheels is a rare female leader. In today's era, if a woman wants to gain the right to speak, it must mean that she has a stronger core and means than men.
"I'm sure your journey must have been arduous," Ms. Watson said, pushing a steaming cup of coffee towards the professor. "I saw your wanted poster. It's a truly tempting figure. The people at the Golden Spinning Wheel Company told me a few days ago that it would have been great if they had invited you to join them sooner. They're very satisfied with the business in Ironthorn Territory."
Hearing the news from home, Nova paused for a moment and didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let the other person continue. "Besides, you are just an ordinary person—excuse my rudeness—you should pay more attention to your personal safety."
"Thank you for your concern." The black-haired young man nodded slightly to the other person in a cool and elegant manner. "Thank you for the coffee too."
——This was an extra portion, an unexpected surprise, but he didn’t drink it on his own initiative.
Julie Watson chatted with the man slowly and with the gentle delicacy that is characteristic of a woman, observing him with a quiet composure. She had only a vague initial impression of him when she was invited to Port Morris to attend the first congress of all walks of life. Now, in their rare in-depth conversation, her image of the leader of the People's Party gradually took shape.
Serious, calm, and incredibly perceptive, despite his impeccable manners, his speech was blunt and sharp, even bordering on harsh. At the same time, he seemed to see through everything, his mind filled with endless, unheard-of ideas, giving him a strange, childlike charm.
But whenever people look at those highly transparent smoky gray eyes, they can't help but believe that he can do things that are impossible for ordinary people.
This is a very fascinating person.
Julie Watson accurately and cunningly puts the small talk at the breaking point of impatience: "I suppose you have heard of the 'Curse of the Fog Castle'."
The professor, who was stirring his coffee with a spoon to cool it down, replied with understanding, "You don't think it's a 'curse'."
"The point is, almost everyone in Fogburg now believes it's a curse," Julie Watson said with a wry smile. "Even my best girls are afraid to go to work because of it. The textile mills in Fogburg have united and are threatening to cut the benefits previously won by the Twelve Spinning Wheels if the workers don't resume production. They'll also fire anyone who leads the strike, ensuring no textile mill will hire them in the future."
"They're almost all from poor families, with families to support." She rubbed her brow wearily, her face looking a little haggard. "Plus, they trust me. I don't want them to lose their well-paying jobs forever, and I don't want them to lose their lives due to the 'curse'."
"So you traveled to other areas of Batalia to recruit skilled workers who were unaware of the curse," the professor narrated calmly.
Although he appeared objective and calm, Julie Watson's tone darkened. "...I know this is unfair to those girls from other places, but we have to buy some more time."
"And I want to prove one thing," she said softly, pushing a notebook filled with dense handwriting onto the table. "That is, the curse does not exist."
Nova took it and looked at it, and found that it was a very detailed list, which recorded in detail the textile workers' age, length of service, textile skill level, as well as the time of onset, severity and other data. He subconsciously turned on the recording function of his glasses.
"You see, generally speaking, the longer the workers work, the more serious their illnesses become. Many even don't even touch the weaving process itself," the woman said seriously. "The saying that 'the goddess will curse mortals who attempt to weave perfect masterpieces' is completely untrue. I've met many skilled embroiderers in other parts of Batalha, no less skilled than the weavers in Fog Castle, and they're all very healthy."
The professor paused his fingertips on the paper. He looked up and stared at the other man intently for a moment before saying firmly, "It seems you already have the answer to what the 'curse' is."
Julie Watson was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "...it's fog."
A determined glint gleamed in her eyes. "The thick fog that lingers year-round in Fogburg makes you cough and tear up if you smell it for too long. The smell is exactly like the black smoke emitted by textile factories. I think this is the reason why textile workers often suffer from strange diseases."
Before this, few considered the smoke and wastewater emitted by factories harmful. Mainstream society viewed these wastes as symbols of a great industrial system, the scent of gold and the future. Even the upper class would deliberately stroll through foggy streets and row boats or swim in wastewater ditches, admiring the spectacle of a "developed city."
But this is a brave and intelligent woman.
In this ignorant and foolish era, the other party endured the panic brought by the gods and the heavy pressure from the textile factory, and insisted on unraveling the truth. Although there were still some mistakes, the general direction was still correct.
Julie Watson saw the black-haired young man smile slightly. Although the curve of his mouth was a little stiff, it was indeed a smile. "What a coincidence! I basically agree with you."
Before leaving, Nova drank his coffee without hesitation, then said without warning: "I will help you with the newspaper."
Ms. Watson was stunned for a moment, looking at the calm gray eyes behind the glasses with some surprise. She asked tentatively, "If I remember correctly, the Limin Daily has been closed down?"
"It's okay. There are other newspapers." The professor said calmly, "Consider this my gift to the Twelve Spinning Wheels."
Seeing that the other person was hesitant to speak, the black-haired young man thought for a moment and added seriously, "I will send the first draft to you for your comments after it is completed. In the meantime, please let me know when you are ready to take action so that I can cooperate."
Julie Watson's pupils shrank suddenly, but she remained calm on the surface. She asked in surprise, "What action do you mean?"
She had never revealed any such information in previous conversations.
"Using a general strike to force the textile factory to address its pollution problems and hold it responsible for sick workers?" The professor shrugged. Seeing the subtle change in his expression, he offered a rare reassuring reassurance, "Don't worry, your confidentiality measures are very good. This is purely my guess."
Julie Watson: "..."
Thank you, I wasn't comforted at all.
She slowly exhaled and shook her head helplessly. "According to what most people think, we should dispel the rumors about the curse and resume production as soon as possible, right?"
"But you've come to Port Morris." The black-haired young man had already grabbed his coat and was about to leave. He paused when he heard her and leaned slightly toward her. "So you'll definitely make some choices...that are more in line with the interests of the proletariat."
"—Hail to the idealist, ma'am."
…
As they left the Twelve Spinning Wheels Alliance, Azuka's figure slowly emerged from beside the professor: "You didn't mention the problem of Port Morris."
"The situation of the Twelve Spinning Wheels Alliance and the Wheat Ear Association is different," Nova explained. "The Wheat Ear Association values the waterway of the Kasa Strait very much and wants to seize the opportunity of the riots in the Kasa Strait. That's why they can now shamelessly ask them for supplies and benefits."
"But for the Twelve Spinning Wheels Alliance, the help Port Morris can provide is dispensable, so we need to proceed slowly." Since there were no outsiders around, the tyrant raised his lips fearlessly, his words becoming more sinister. "At least we have to wait until cooperation deepens. Until they are forced to rely on the People's Party—as my hometown saying goes, they become grasshoppers on a string—then we can gradually devour and digest their power."
He made no secret of his ambition. If Orel and the others were present, they would probably be frightened into a PTSD attack by the other party's eyes, which were almost identical to those of the tyrant in his previous life.
The savior's fingers hanging at his sides twitched. He really wanted to rub the softest and most vulnerable parts of his majesty, who was full of evil plans, and then enjoy the sight of him panting, scolding him, tickling him, trying to struggle to escape, but finally being able to fall limp in his arms, trembling and sobbing helplessly.
But now they were on the street, and if he really did that, even with the Confusion Spell, it would definitely make people angry. Someone had no choice but to put his fingers on the back of his enemy's neck and carefully knead that thin soft flesh.
His nemesis was obviously used to being rubbed by him. He didn't even instinctively tense up and dodge. He even skillfully pushed the back of his neck into his palm, and put the part that was sore from working at the desk under his fingertips.
"When are you planning on going back?" Azuka asked in a low voice as he rubbed the cat contentedly.
"...Don't worry, I'm very concerned about the Land Freedom Party."
Nova slowly exhaled. Even he couldn't help but feel exhausted by the increasingly complex situation. Sometimes, even a workaholic like him would want to strike. However, everything had just started, so he really couldn't just walk away.
...Luckily, there was someone around to help him with the work.
So he suddenly turned around and hugged the person next to him, buried his face in the other's shoulder, rubbed it hard, and deeply sniffed the very pleasant scent of the savior.
Azuka paused for a moment, then slowly hugged him tighter. "Professor?" he whispered, gently stroking his back with his palm.
"...I'm fine." His nemesis muttered muffledly in his arms. "Hugs help calm the nerves and relieve stress, so I want to hug you."
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