novelraw Chapter 190 : What Was Drunk Was Not Wine, But......
Chapter 190 : What Was Drunk Was Not Wine, But......
Building teleportation gates wasn't like constructing railways, where each section needs to be built sequentially, and if the middle isn't connected, trains can't run.
As long as the feasibility of the plan was confirmed, the rest only required replication in various locations, and a large-scale teleportation network could be established at a diffusive rate.
They finally managed to build the teleportation network before the heavy snow blocked the roads.
To date, over 150 stations have been built across Oz Kingdom, with eighty percent of the teleportation points already in operation.
Although the teleportation gates consumed a large amount of financial resources, the usage fee wasn't expensive. The basic fee for each teleportation was only 1 silver coin, with even lower pricing in some remote areas.
Such low teleportation fees were affordable even for ordinary civilians if they gritted their teeth.
Yvonne had done a simple calculation beforehand, factoring in facility maintenance costs and labor expenses, estimating that all costs could be recovered and profits could begin within 3 years.
This year's winter was noticeably more lively than previous years.
"To celebrate the successful opening of the teleportation gates, cheers!"
""Cheers!!""
The Smollett mansion was brightly lit tonight.
Everyone's face was beaming with joyful smiles.
Although it was a banquet hosted by a renowned top noble family, the invitees were mostly not people of high status.
Those heartily drinking expensive red wine here included lower-ranking soldiers who helped repair teleportation points, apprentices from associations responsible for drawing teleportation arrays and setting up transfer formulas, 'untitled' individuals like carpenters and masons, and even beast-people.
In the past, these people might never have had the chance to attend such a banquet in their lifetime, but today, Yvonne had invited them all.
"We must also thank everyone present for their strong support."
"Your genius concept was the foundation of everything!"
"Haha, it's also thanks to this child, the core formula for 'teleportation' was constructed by her."
"Wait, wait—"
Saying this, Yvonne pushed Elsa, dressed in formal attire, in front of everyone,
"Ah—Could you be Miss Elsa Dorothy??"
Among the crowd, someone quickly recognized Elsa. After her name was mentioned, it immediately ignited the scene:
"I know, it's that genius magic user young lady!!"
"I've heard rumors about you for a long time!"
"Miss Elsa, I'm your fan, please give me an autograph—!!"
"Eh?? Eh??"
Seeing Elsa surrounded by enthusiastic crowds and looking bewildered, Yvonne satisfactorily raised her wine glass.
In stark contrast to her own notorious reputation, while still at Hartwell Magic Academy, Elsa had become famous for single-handedly repelling a nearly rampaging disaster beast.
This story, after being passed down by word of mouth, became a legend. Because of her commoner birth, this genius young lady has since been idolized by countless young children. It formed an excellent contrast with herself, who was born with a silver spoon.
Well... although the difference in treatment and popularity was quite large, Yvonne wasn't jealous
After all, the person was already hers, what else was there to care about?
·
"I've never eaten such delicious food—"
"So delicious I want to chew and eat my tongue!!"
"Mama......"
Everyone present was full of praise for the banquet dishes,
The banquet had invited top chefs from the Food Guild and the Chamber of Commerce, and with the previously developed menu, everyone was eating happily
Who could resist three fresh fish chestnut chicken sauce bream duck roll chicken tripe salt water elbow pot-boiled trotter?
"Miss Elsa."
Just as the banquet atmosphere reached its peak, an elegantly dressed elderly gentleman approached the two young ladies.
The old man, supporting himself with a cane in one hand, smilingly stepped forward.
"Ah, you are—"
Elsa blinked, she had an impression of this old gentleman,
"Due to busy work earlier, I couldn't properly greet you—Please allow me to reintroduce myself here—I am Norgin, the president of the Silver Eye Association."
It's President Norgin...!
The 'Silver Eye' was the most influential news media in Oz Kingdom.
The association's reporters would travel across the country, collecting first-hand information for reporting, with timely and fresh information being their biggest selling point. Additionally, using magical technology to create moving magical images of the content to be published was a feature of this publication, with each issue also including vivid audio columns.
Garth's novel was initially serialized in this magazine before being picked up by a publishing house for individual volume publication.
This magical publication was all-encompassing, not only having exclusive economic reporters collecting first-hand economic information and exclusive economists analyzing the latest economic situations, but also fashion specials popular among women, and even adventure guides based on monster information flowing in different regions... In short, when you open this thick magazine, there's nothing you can't find, nothing you can't do.
"I'm very pleased to meet you, President Norgin!! I read every issue of Silver Eye! Every report is really interesting and very helpful!"
"Hoho... That's truly an honor."
Placing both hands on his scepter, Norgin looked at the two with smiling eyes.
"It's this old man who should thank you, Miss Elsa. Every time our association publishes reports about you, the response is always quite good... Since Lady Yvonne is also here today, I'll get straight to the point... Miss Elsa, are you interested in working at our 'Silver Eye' association? I'm willing to offer this amount as salary—With our professional staff's packaging, you'll certainly become a new star of tomorrow!"
Wearing four rings on one hand, President Norgin opened his palm, gesturing an astronomical figure Elsa had never imagined,
President Norgin was undoubtedly an editor-in-chief and information merchant with considerable business acumen, a reformer and inventor in the magical printing industry. He knew well the importance of attracting readers, and just the gimmick of a young genius beautiful girl magic user could attract many people.
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I'm already affiliated with another association......"
She wanted to use Brin and the others as a shield, but Norgin keenly identified this point:
"That doesn't matter, we have many collaborations with 'Myriad Leaves Gold', and personnel are fluid—In fact, many of their staff also help out at our place."
"This......"
Elsa's eyes sought help from Yvonne,
"Mm, I think if you're interested, you could give it a try?"
However, Yvonne was completely in a spectator state, showing no intention of helping her out of the situation.
"A hope-bringing young idol, isn't that nice? With Elsa, you'll certainly become very popular?"
"—That's not what I want!!"
Elsa was somewhat angry, believing that staying by the side of the person she likes is more important than such trivial matters.
"...President Norgin, although we appreciate your kindness, as you can see, she doesn't seem very willing."
Yvonne stepped forward, smilingly refusing.
Of the four families, only three remain now, and the rest are behemoths of great importance in this country. As the heir, Yvonne's words now carried considerable weight,
Seeing the young lady speak up to keep someone, even Norgin had to know when to retreat.
"Although it's quite a pity, this old man is not someone who doesn't know when to back off. If you have time, you're still welcome to visit our humble association as guests."
"Definitely next time."
Just as the president and his party were about to withdraw, a reporter from the association following President Norgin seized the opportunity to step forward with paper and pen:
"I am the editor and reporter for the new publication's special column!! Excuse me, Lady Yvonne, Miss Elsa!! May I ask a question?!"
"If it doesn't take much time, you may."
"It won't take much of your time! Alright! Then I'll ask! I've been quite curious about this before, may I ask what exactly is the relationship between you two??"
As this tall, thin reporter asked this question, the 'villainess' young lady was holding the hand of the 'star of hope' commoner girl.
Similar ages, completely different life experiences, yet converging here.
Don't you think it feels very much like 'fate'??
The young lady who had returned from the bottom placed her finger on her lips and softly uttered two words:
"Secret."
...A perfect match.
Apart from these two words, the young reporter didn't write anything else on the paper.
·
Gulp, gulp gulp, thud thud thud thud thud
"...I understand today is a day to be happy, but Evie... is it really okay for you to drink so much?"
Amidst the clinking of glasses, Yvonne had one glass after another in her hand. She couldn't help but start to worry.
"Don't worry, this is just juice that looks like wine."
Swirling the liquid in the glass, she smiled and handed over the wine glass she had just taken a sip from.
"If you don't believe me, try it?"
"Mm~~~"
Actually, Elsa wasn't interested in the taste of juice, but since Evie wanted to feed her, she had no choice but to taste it.
She took a small sip, letting this special liquid slowly dissolve on her tongue before swallowing, and then showed a surprised expression:
"What a refreshing taste...!!" Unexpectedly delicious.
"Right?"
Indeed, there was no alcohol taste, only a faint sweetness leaving an aftertaste on the root of the tongue.
"What kind of juice is this... the taste is so special."
It's winter now, summer and autumn would be understandable, but to be able to drink fresh juice in this cold season?
Yvonne smiled and answered her confusion:
"This isn't fruit that grows on trees... but fruit that grows underground, called red root fruit, and this is squeezed red fruit juice."
"...How amazing, there's actually such a plant?"
Swirling the crystal-clear liquid in the glass that looked like a ruby, Elsa exclaimed in amazement.
"Yes... Because it's quite cold-resistant, so this year I specifically had father try planting some in North Kalos, and the harvest was quite good."
This was also thanks to the convenience brought by the teleportation gates. In the past, transporting anything would take at least three or four days, but now with the teleportation gates, Elf Logistics could deliver in half a day.
As the banquet was nearing its end, Yvonne no longer went to greet guests, but instead held Elsa's hand with her velvet-gloved hand and came to the platform,
"It's getting better."
"It's getting better indeed......"
Although it had snowed heavily yesterday, tonight the moon was bright and stars were sparse. According to the constellations, tomorrow would definitely be a good day.
"By the way... why did Evie want to build 'gates'?"
Leaning on her shoulder, she blinked her eyes, just like the twinkling stars in the sky.
If you want to bring change to this world, there are actually many other paths.
Yet you chose such a path of bearing infamy—
Yvonne sighed.
"Actually, since I was young, I've been very curious about why when winter comes, those servants at home are so reluctant to go back......"
In her original world, winter should be spent with family, eating some prepared and stored delicious food, dispelling the cold, and welcoming spring... This was the 'common sense' that Yvonne had accepted.
"After coming to this other world, I also subconsciously thought this was a matter of course... and had been thinking so all along. But... later, after inquiring, I learned that those servants with poor conditions were just seeking survival... Staying in the mansion at least provided a salary, but going back was almost equivalent to seeking death."
Every year at this time, once the coldest season arrived, many people in the lower city district of the capital Greenwoam would starve or freeze to death—These unnatural deaths were even more numerous than in some underdeveloped areas.
These data were only accessible to Yvonne after she inherited the title, and those numbers made her dizzy. The detailed records of death case reports made her unable to eat meat for several days.
The number of people dying in winter in the lower city district was even higher than in some rural areas with similar population density. At first, Yvonne didn't quite understand why this was happening, but she soon realized why winter was so harsh in this area
Every year, because heavy snow blocked the roads in winter, many jobs in the city couldn't be carried out.
Farmers could rely on the grain stored from autumn harvests to survive, but it was different here—Because it was a city, there wasn't much farmland.
Most people came to realize their dreams, but they had no money, no food, and couldn't afford heating materials. Every spring, countless frozen corpses were cleared from the bottom layer.
"............"
Elsa listened silently, her dress creased where she gripped it.
Because she knew, she should have been one of those people.
The more miserable they were, the luckier she was.
She dared not imagine, if Yvonne hadn't rescued her from such a place, she might have already......
"...If there were 'gates', it would be different. With teleportation points, everyone could travel far in winter, and do some simple business......"
As long as there's people flow, the market will naturally be revitalized,
People no longer shut their doors and windows tightly, but had one more choice.
They could try to walk out of their homes and teleport—
It wasn't just as simple as opening a few doors,
Yvonne's approach was equivalent to revitalizing the entire winter.
"That's amazing~~~"
Elsa hugged Yvonne's arm, venting her desire,
"Evie, my superhero~~~~"
"...Didn't I tell you before, even if it wasn't me... Michel would have saved you too......"
Yvonne felt she wasn't.
In conclusion, she didn't think she had done anything extraordinary, she had always thought so.
"For me, when I needed it most, it was you, Evie, who reached out to me... So, you can be more proud! The person you saved back then has now become so remarkable—"
"Hmph, you really know how to talk......"
The atmosphere was quite good now, although she wanted to kiss her directly, but her mouth was a bit dry.
Elsa was thinking about finding something to moisten her lips,
Mm... This cup should also be red fruit juice, right?
There was just such a cup at hand, thinking this naturally, Elsa picked up the wine glass that was about the same color as the fruit juice Yvonne had given her to drink,
"Wait, that cup is—"
Although she noticed something was wrong, she couldn't stop her from drinking it all in one go.