Chapter 51 Situation
“Dad?!”
Miss Sparrow covered her mouth and widened her eyes.
With an anxious look on her face, she held her father's strong and thick arm and said with concern:
"Why do the Lewis family do this? You are so good to your employees. Maybe outsiders don't know, but Even though business has been poor and you have suffered several losses in the past few years, you have not abolished those welfare systems... The workers in Braque City love you so much that the parliament has not even awarded you a medal.”
"Aurora, you don't understand."
Mr. Fozzie shook his head.
"If no one investigates further, the Parliament will naturally be happy to see the result, but the '12-hour working day' is a system enforced by the empire. Now that the Louis family plans to report it, the Parliament will no longer be able to help us cover it up. After all, Mr. Leighton Lewis once served as a high-level member of the Chamber of Commerce in the capital city of Muse City. Even if he retires now, he still has a certain influence, and the local council does not want to offend him. ”
"Then... what should we do?"
Miss Sparrow clutched her father's sleeves tightly and bit her lip.
"Otherwise, you should temporarily restore the 'twelve-hour work system' first. If the workers know that you will be imprisoned, they will understand you... When this matter is over, I will buy some food on your behalf. and supplies to express condolences to the workers. By the way, the valuable jewelry and clothes you bought for me can also be pawned and given to the workers as compensation.”
“Oh,” Mr. Foz smiled happily. He touched his daughter's head. "You have grown up and become a qualified lady, Aurora...but this matter is not that simple."
He said, remained silent for a moment, and then said:
< br>"What the Lewis family wants is my collection, the 'Christmas Pocket Watch Fisher'."
"The broken pocket watch..." Aurora was slightly startled.
Of course she knew about the pocket watch her father talked about, because it was a token of love that she had pawned off her entire fortune after she eloped with her father when her mother was still alive.
Not only is it a limited edition collection made by the famous imperial watchmaker "Fisher Atom", it is extremely valuable, but it is also the sincere love of a mother who gave up everything and gave it to her father.
My father once sold a pocket watch with the support of his mother, and used that pot of gold to acquire the current family business. However, later on, the living conditions gradually improved, but my mother died young due to illness... My father He spent a lot of money to redeem the pocket watch as his only memory of his mother.
The value it has been given cannot be measured by money at all.
“That’s my mother’s only relic!” Aurora bit her lip.
"I know, how could I not know..."
Mr. Fozzi suppressed the pain and frowned.
“But if the conditions of the Louis family are not met, everything we have will be in vain, hundreds of workers will lose their jobs, and so many families will be trapped in the quagmire of life... This is power And the power of status. Dad has worked hard for decades and has long understood this truth."
"But...how can we guarantee that the Lewis family will not continue to use this leverage to blackmail you in the future? "Aurora said worriedly. "Today they only want the pocket watch, but tomorrow they may intensify their extortion efforts."
"We can only hand over the pocket watch first..."
Mr. Fozzie shook his head.
"From next week, I will restore the 'twelve-hour work system'. Most of the workers will blame me for this, but... alas!"
He said, holding up his hands Covering his face, he seemed to be trying to control his emotions.
Aurora said no more, she silently gave her father a hug.
She knew only too well her father's pain.
My father is different from other factory owners and capitalists. He was originally a worker, and he can deeply understand the hard work and life needs of workers. Therefore, after opening the factory, he has been working hard to obtain benefits for the workers. This may be why my father wants to pay tribute to his former self. , make an answer with a clear conscience.
But now, this answer may turn out to be very bad.
"Dad, I will deliver the pocket watch when the time comes..." Aurora said softly.
*
*
*
Late night.
The recording session will be held in the fourth-floor attic of the secret apartment and the exercise room.
Whoosh——whoosh——
Whoosh!
Mr. Stork, who had taken off his hat and was wearing only his shirt with his cuffs rolled up, was wielding a practice stick. His movements were swift and methodical, and he swung the wooden stick to create a series of afterimages and sounds in the air.
Suddenly, Mr. Stork thrust out his stick, the air screamed, and it accurately hit the head of a target dummy.
With a bang, the head of the target dummy flew up and fell to his feet.
Mr. Stork looked at the concave prosthetic head and was slightly startled, then murmured:
“When did my staff skills improve so much again...could it be? What is the function of the mysterious lake in "Black Lake"? I didn't expect that the enhancement of 'Gnosis' can also activate the wand technique in disguise! "
He smiled with satisfaction, and a look of hope flashed in his eyes. "Maybe one day, even if I can't step into the mysterious realm, I can become a 'master of stick magic'..."
*
*
< br>*
The next morning.
Gilan was sitting alone in the window seat of the "Swan Cafe". On the table in front of him was a tempting breakfast, three plates and a drink: "Roasted Lamb Sliced Sandwich", "Fresh Fruit" "Salad", "Grilled Chowder Platter" and "Essential Coffee".
The chowder platter consists of two slices of fried bacon, a fried egg, a pile of fried tomatoes and mushrooms, two sausages and three slices of white bread with butter.
The entire package is called "Swan C Package" and is worth 6 pfennigs and 8 melangs.
The reason why he didn't order the most expensive "Swan A Set Meal" was purely because he didn't like fish.
In addition, as the exercise technique reached the second stage of "yellow bile", he found that his food intake had increased a lot. This set meal C was large and filling, and could barely satisfy his appetite.
‘It’s another beautiful day for new students. Let’s take this expensive breakfast as a reward for yourself today. ’
Being a human being requires a sense of ritual.
Jilan picked up the cutlery, looked solemn, and said silently in his heart.
Soon, he started to eat.
Taking advantage of boredom, I opened the morning newspaper on the table.
On the newspaper publication named "Forest Post", the headline published a piece of bombshell news:
"Threat from the Eastern Federation! Please be vigilant to the people of the empire!"
The subtitle is: "The situation between the Bremen Empire and the Owena Federation is tense, and war is about to break out!"
Gilan raised his eyebrows.
Chewing food in his mouth, he chewed the words "Owenna Federation" in his heart.
'This federation seems to be another big country adjacent to the east of the Bremen Empire. The two big countries don't deal with each other very much. There are often frictions. The diplomacy is mostly verbal and full of gunpowder... Is it really true? Is there going to be a war? ’
He couldn’t help but think.
But based on the experience of his previous life, Jilan found that in a war between countries, it is difficult to actually start a war when the strength of both sides is balanced... In most cases, it is mostly talk, using various methods. means to exchange benefits.
"Have you heard? A while ago, during the 'Buao High-Level Meeting', the diplomat team of the Oweina Federation led a scantily clad song and dance troupe into the capital 'Muse City'." Sifang Palace' performed an obscene performance in front of our Propaganda Minister Stavin and a group of military officers..."
Several gentlemen were chatting over coffee at a table.
"A blatant provocation and insult? It's really too much!"
Another man with a pencil mustache grabbed his hat and said angrily.
“It is said that the head of state hates fancy songs and dances. If he knows about it, it will definitely make those guys in the federation look good!”
“I heard from friends in the local council, The Federation seems to have built large-scale military camps in border cities a few months ago, and seems to be preparing to gather troops and take action..."
The long-haired gentleman at the same table had a solemn face and worried eyes.
"The Great Forest Area happens to be in the eastern part of the empire, bordering the Federation. If there is a war, our Braque City will be the first to bear the brunt."
"Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief Reich Mesa 'Your Excellency began to implement the 'Steel Wall Fortress Plan' as early as nine years ago, using the entire forest area as the strongest defense line of the empire. The defense fortifications stretching for more than 400 kilometers are impregnable... If a war really breaks out, the Federation will pay a heavy price. !”
Mr. Pencil Hu knocked on the table and said in a deep voice.
"They can't, let alone dare not do anything... Don't forget the 'Second Battle of Honor' seventeen years ago. The head of state not only recaptured the northern colony 'Bosylvia', but also severely damaged it. The Owena Alliance avenged the bloody revenge of the 'First Battle of Shame' more than 40 years ago."
"Yes, the Head of State is the beacon of our 'Hiru Nation' and the greatest leader in the history of the empire. With him, neither the 'Owena Federation' in the east nor the 'Stuttgart Empire' in the west can even think about it again. Get a little benefit from us!”
The other gentlemen showed respect.
As their discussion grew louder, the guests in the coffee shop, regardless of whether they were gentlemen or ladies, invariably stretched out their hands, crossed them on their chests, and made an "X" sign... as if I have high respect for that head of state.
Jilan was startled. He looked around and frowned slightly.
In order to avoid being out of place, he had no choice but to put down his knife and fork, cross his arms as well, pretend to be one of them, and blend into the inexplicable fanaticism.
(End of this chapter)