Chapter 228: This Is the Bond Between the Lord and the Villagers!

For Lolth, the completion of the second phase project and the overall development of the Western New Development Zone is truly good news that lifts her spirits.

“You all performed very well… Now I must consider how to proceed with the next steps of construction.”

With numerous projects in the second phase completed, Hillenbrand Town suddenly had many more workers available.

“The previous five-year plan mentioned the direction of the third phase,” Maider said optimistically. “Her Excellency Tina informed everyone that the main projects for the next phase remain a secret, but there will certainly be surprising entertainment projects… Everyone is anticipating them.”

Tina nodded and said, “Indeed, Mistress Lolth, although I don’t know what new projects you wish to add… I have already prepared some simple plans for the originally proposed shopping center and for further road and pipeline construction.”

Lolth took the draft for the third phase that Tina presented, examined it, and discovered that this elf was becoming quite reliable; the draft was well executed.

However, Lolth felt there was no urgency to commence the construction of the third phase.

“First, let’s provide everyone with a break. After all, we need to find a method to recruit some builders…”

After all, those Superoperators cannot simply continue helping with construction. Except for the dwarf craftsmen, most will gradually transition to school, teaching, or working in hospitals and police stations, and later may even become researchers.

It is acceptable for Superoperators to work diligently, but if they only do that, it would constitute a waste.

The residents of Hillenbrand Town have earned considerably, so allowing them to rest and spend time in nearby towns is a sensible idea.

If one only earns money but never spends it, that money merely resembles numbers.

Moreover, the productivity of the southern agricultural area has already greatly exceeded what two hundred people could supply. Considering that in other demon race ruled areas of Vera Plain, the food differed after the demon race settled, even if they prohibited Balrog necromancers from altering the environment in the town and vicinity, there remains an objective food shortage problem—after all, before the demon race arrived, there wasn’t sufficient food to distribute; it had all been appropriated by the nobles.

Although it appears Doyle Candice is interested in some cooperation with me…, before that, Lolth did not intend to prevent the residents of Hillenbrand Town from entering the city to sell certain goods.

Besides, we cannot impede the small merchants from outside the city from coming to Hillenbrand Town to make purchases, can we?

If Doyle dares to establish a monopoly, the Demon King can suspend this Little Devil upside down on the Demon Tower to dry—naturally, that Little Devil doesn’t seem to desire using such methods.

As for how to safely and swiftly transport this group of ordinary residents to other towns, it was also about how to conveniently bring in workers and outside merchants… Lolth conceived a new idea.

That is public transportation!

With the bridges being constructed and the roads being widened, Lolth had long contemplated building public transportation in Hillenbrand Town!

Even with the addition of the new areas in the west and south, Hillenbrand Town is not particularly large.

Thus, public transportation within the town is certainly not very necessary.

What Lolth needs to implement is intercity transportation to several major cities in Vera Plain.

She could teleport whenever she desired, and it wouldn’t pose a problem to establish a teleportation circle in the torture tower.

But… this method is far too hazardous for common people who possess no extraordinary powers whatsoever.

If there were even a slight fluctuation in the magic, it could readily kill someone without any magic resistance or defense against extraordinary powers.

Not only that, but even the improved Teleportation Magic Circle that Lolth established, which enhanced stability and reduced energy consumption, still had maintenance and operation costs that were excessively high.

Today, Aunt Jessica goes to Cassilda City to purchase eggs, and tomorrow, Uncle Troy will go to Palgauro City to sell flour…

Activating a long-distance Teleportation Magic Circle at minimum costs ten magic crystals, so how could those common people afford it? Even the Holy Alliance’s Superoperators might not be able to accept this expense.

If Lolth were to cover the costs… although her family is wealthy, she wouldn’t squander money in this manner.

Public transportation can indeed be funded by the lord’s office and City Hall, but taxes are already minimal for Lolth, and she plans to impose business taxes at the minimum in the future…

Public transportation can operate at a loss, but there isn’t a way to expend hundreds of magic crystals in a single day.

After evaluating several feasible options, Lolth considered…

First, she excluded rail transportation.

Establishing rail transportation in this world isn’t impossible; Vera Plain is as flat as her own chest, so laying down tracks probably wouldn’t be too costly.

But the issue is that Vera Plain is in a state of disorder, with the rulers having fled and the demon race just assuming control after experiencing conflict. There are insufficient people or resources to support such large-scale infrastructure.

Although Hillenbrand Town is not completely devastated, it has just been acquired, and the infrastructure is only at the level of repairing bridges and paving roads… Considering railways is unfeasible.

Relying on the power of just one town to lay down extensive railways is merely an aspiration.

Even with the assistance of Superoperators, it would still be challenging.

Furthermore, this world has almost no technology for rail transport.

Aside from the dwarves’ hand-powered mine carts which possess basic rail technology, there hasn’t even been a prototype of a steam locomotive.

Are we expected to employ a few Fighters with high strength points to push large handcarts back and forth?

That image is simply too preposterous… and labor costs are invariably the highest expense.

For a moment, Lolth couldn’t conceive of a good solution.

“What should I do…?”

Lolth stood motionless and began to contemplate.

Tina and Maider, who had come to report, observed Lolth’s thoughtful expression and felt concerned.

“Lolth, what are you considering this time?”

“Is there still some danger in the second phase of the project?”

Looking at Tina and Maider before her, and then at the draft in her hands, Lolth suddenly realized something.

She didn’t have to address everything all by herself anymore!

While she was assuming the responsibilities of Hillenbrand Town and her friends, those friends and the town’s residents could also share her concerns!

It had been a long time since she had personally worked in the fields—but every day, food was still continuously harvested and delivered to a section of the torture tower.

This is the bond between the “lord” and their “subjects.”

Even Tina can manage matters independently now!

Thinking of this, Lolth gently cleared her throat.

“Ahem—Tina, Maider, I have a new assignment for you and the newly formed City Hall…”