Chapter 324
Chapter 324
Chapter 324
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 324 – Governor Lan Qi Serves the People
At the same time, thousands of miles away from the royal capital Ghedalia of the Aetherthalan Kingdom, it was also a bright afternoon in the Snowfield Province of the Protos Empire.
The city walls, weathered by time yet still standing tall, carried the deep historical weight of Kingston City. A procession was slowly making its way along the top of the wall.
At the very front of the group, at its center, a man in a suit walked with his hands clasped behind his back. Sunlight fell upon him, coating his figure with a golden sheen.
His thoughts were vast and far-reaching. He often gazed into the distance, walking with steady, powerful steps, as if feeling the pulse of the earth beneath his feet.
Several city-state lords followed at his sides. Though many of them were figures of authority in their own territories, at this moment, in the presence of the Governor, they were unfailingly respectful.
“High-quality development is the primary task for the comprehensive construction of our Snowfield Province.”
Lan Qi was conducting an intensive round of local inspections and was making a series of important arrangements.
The officials around him nodded respectfully. Their eyes remained fixed either on Lan Qi’s side profile or his back, ready at all times to receive his questions or instructions.
Sometimes, they would slightly lower their heads in self-reflection, or simply to avoid meeting the leader’s gaze.
Two hours earlier, at noon, the Governor had convened a brief meeting with these lords in Kingston City’s municipal hall. During the meeting, Lan Qi had listened carefully to their reports and offered a series of valuable opinions.
He first affirmed the achievements of the past year in Snowfield Province, acknowledging that they were the result of the tireless efforts of all. Then he elaborated on the province’s strategic importance within the Protos Empire and the heavy responsibilities it bore.
He pointed out that the unique geographical location of Snowfield Province gave it immense potential for both ecological preservation and tourism development. Therefore, its development plan must adhere to the principles of maintaining stability and prioritizing the environment. While thoroughly eradicating the Ghost Gang, they must also ensure that the local ecosystem suffered no harm, maintaining sustainability.
Lan Qi emphasized that the future of Snowfield Province must be rooted in its local resources and characteristics. He urged the active guiding of capital and technology into infrastructure construction, and he also required that all levels of government strengthen cooperation between city-states, learn from advanced experience, and work to improve operational efficiency and administrative capacity.
Finally, he expressed his belief that with the joint efforts of all the people of Snowfield Province, the region could become one that boasted both natural beauty and economic vitality, making a proper contribution to the development of the Protos Empire.
Though the Governor’s tone was always serious, every carefully considered remark and sharp insight made the lords present clearly aware of their own issues, prompting them to pledge improvements with sincerity.
Now, after the meeting had concluded, several lords were still accompanying Lan Qi, walking along the walls of Kingston City and discussing the details of their work with him.
“…I don’t plan to stay in Snowfield Province for long. Once the work plans are arranged, I’ll leave. The next time we meet should be in the imperial capital, Helrom.”
Lan Qi intended to remain in Snowfield Province for only another day or two at most, after which he would continue his journey toward the much farther Northern Border Province.
With the magic-rail train system still not fully restored, and assuming good weather, the trip from Snowfield Province to the Northern Border Province could take several days.
Lan Qi needed to ensure that he would be back in Helrom before mid-April.
By late April, the long-prepared bishopric election would finally be held.
The lords and nobles walking with him all held seats in the Upper House, along with their votes, which carried significant weight.
Lan Qi had already secured a good number of votes for Sigrid. She was very pleased, saying that all the goodwill points previously deducted because of Sid had now been restored to Lan Qi — and encouraged him to continue, so that Sid might become a happy young lady.
Of course, if Lan Qi managed to win a seat in the Lower House through election, he would hold a vote as well — and votes in the Lower House carried even greater weight.
Within the Protos Empire’s political system, the Lower House enjoyed superior authority in legislative matters, holding the right of first deliberation on many bills. The Upper House, made up of nobles, had only a one-month power of delay and was ultimately accountable to the Lower House.
The lords trailed behind Lan Qi like retainers, but upon hearing that he would soon be leaving, they exchanged worried glances.
At last, one of them, after some hesitation, raised the concern that weighed most heavily on their minds.
“Governor McCarthy, may we ask — after you leave, what should we do about the Ghost Gang?”
If Governor Rocky McCarthy himself was present to command their operations against the Ghost Gang, they would feel completely reassured.
But if the Governor departed, even with his clear directives left behind, they worried whether they could coordinate and execute them properly — or whether they could respond effectively and promptly when the Ghost Gang acted.
When the time came to act, each lord might seek to maximize his own interests, leading to compromises and choices that abandoned the optimal solution for the collective good.
“On such an urgent issue as dealing with the criminals of the snowfields, the fact that it has been delayed for so long — I personally believe the root cause is that you have never reached an agreement on the division of costs and benefits.”
Lan Qi stopped, exhaling a cloud of white breath into the cold air.
During the earlier meeting, he had not publicly revealed the full strategic plan — saving it for this very moment, to deliver personally to these leaders.
“…”
The lords halted, looking a little embarrassed.
Being so sharply pointed out for the true root of the problem left them with nothing to say.
“Of course, I’m not blaming you… I just think that exercising justice should never be a net loss.”
Lan Qi straightened his back, his gaze sweeping over the snowy plains ahead. His deep voice reverberated in the frigid air:
“Change your perspective. Right now, don’t you all feel that the cost is too high? Then we must raise the benefits, so that everyone is driven to do good.”
“But… how do we raise the benefits of catching the Ghost Gang?”
One of the lords stepped forward, confused, asking the key question.
This was precisely what had troubled them most.
Suppressing banditry required enormous manpower and financial resources, and the rewards gained were negligible. The failure to agree earlier had been due mainly to disputes over contributions of money and labor.
But now — the Governor was telling them that the benefits of suppressing banditry could be increased?
If this was truly feasible, it might fundamentally resolve their dilemma.
“Issue a public decree.”
Lan Qi glanced over his shoulder and ordered calmly.
“A… decree?”
Lan Qi nodded and continued:“From this day forward, all prisoners in every city-state prison within Snowfield Province shall, under proper supervision, work outside the walls, performing public works projects. They will learn the value of honest labor while contributing to their communities, making a visible contribution to the taxpayers.”
“?!”
The other lords froze in astonishment.
Though the Protos Empire permitted the existence of demon slaves, even converting criminals into slaves required a complex process of registration, auditing, and certification — not to mention the high cost of contracts and magical restraints.
But legally, there was indeed no prohibition against using prison inmates as “leased labor.”
And the definition of “labor” was left intentionally vague.
With the vast resources of Snowfield Province, if there were enough hardy laborers, the flow of money could become a flood!
This wasn’t just catching criminals — it was practically profiteering off them!