Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Social Capital
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Chaos.
The earthquake that twisted the ground and even made the air tremble was more than enough to shatter order and discipline, sending people wandering lost in confusion.
If the streets had simply been left abandoned like this,
countless people might have suffered wounds to their souls that could never be washed away.
But.
No matter how impossible an earthquake is to overcome with human strength,
this time was different.
At least, for today—for this very moment—
it was order, not chaos, that was gathering the people.
"Save the people."
It was a command too absurd for this era.
An age where no one believed in forgiveness or salvation,
where only the forgiveness and salvation in heaven described in the scriptures held any meaning.
For one person to save another.
Such a thing was impossible.
But highly advanced capitalism
treats even 'social capital' as part of its capital, desperately struggling to maintain 'sound social order'.
It means goodwill and trust can be turned into money.
One person cannot save another,
but sufficient capital can save people.
"Dare to suppress every last suspicious group trying to invade Your Excellency's business establishments. I will not forgive the looting of goods. Show the discipline befitting the soldiers who receive the most gold in the Empire."
"Understood."
The Golden Ear's soldiers took control of the streets.
Looters, thugs, opportunists, thieves, and murderers lost consciousness under the soldiers' clubs.
Public order was restored.
"There's a circus performance in the open square! We're also selling popcorn and tofu chips perfect for munching while you watch!"
The Golden Ear's clowns herded people in one direction.
To prevent damage from aftershocks, they guided the crowds toward the wide open square.
Magic and acrobatics, fire and beasts, lights and music.
Those dazzling performances were enough to seize people's attention even amid the chaos.
Even the shaking of the ground
seemed at times like mere staging for this circus.
People lined up, laughing.
"The order is to preserve materials necessary for art and history education. Install supports and protect them so no important relics or artworks are damaged in the chaos."
The Golden Ear's scholars and artists protected the artworks.
Earthquakes have a bad habit of indiscriminately toppling relics and cultural treasures, lacking any appreciation for beauty.
Traces left by entire eras, beauty captured in fleeting moments.
To safeguard them, even lowly painters rushed about busily, installing supports and reinforcing walls.
History and art did not crumble to the earthquake.
"Follow earthquake safety procedures!"
Some slaves roamed the streets, scattering leaflets printed with earthquake safety guidelines.
Illustrated in a way even the illiterate could easily understand.
They included simple maps, along with
directions to the square where the circus was underway.
Some people huddled under tables,
others shielded their necks and heads with soft cloth as they headed to the square.
"Someone's trapped under there!"
"Bring a stretcher!"
And countless slaves, along with a few priests, rescued the injured.
Teams of three slaves moved in unison,
clearing debris from collapsed buildings and tidying the streets.
People who would have otherwise been buried by nature's merciless fury and died
were miraculously saved,
gasping for breath beneath the warm sunlight.
It was a miracle.
If saving one person's life with another's could be called a miracle,
then this was undoubtedly
the greatest miracle in history.
"What the hell is this...?"
"What are those slaves...?"
Slaves moving in perfect order under the overseers' commands, saving people.
Some onlookers stared in bewilderment at the sight.
It felt even stranger and more chaotic than the earthquake rattling the air.
Slaves were clearly barbaric beasts,
while free folk were dignified, intelligent souls.
Yet this scene made it seem as though
the branded slaves were the true intelligent citizens,
and free folk mere beasts.
"You are Your Excellency's property! I will not forgive any who tarnish his honor and dignity!"
"Understood!"
If the possessor had seen the free folk's stunned expressions,
he probably would have said something like this.
Aah...
This is... disaster preparedness training.
Teaching earthquake safety procedures.
...
...
...
...
Of course, none of this was purely for charity.
While the slaves toiled to rescue people,
Torsso led insurance investigators and various staff around the site, busily hunting for 'money-making opportunities'.
All for gold.
Turning even disasters into springboards for profit was House Riddle's virtue.
"Accurately record the earthquake damage. Mark locations on the map, and classify by intensity and type."
Disasters make money.
Reconstruction projects, food distribution, logistics, finance—everything booms in the city after a disaster.
Opportunity in crisis is a truth transcending East and West, ancient and modern.
"Distribute these leaflets to the crowds in the square. Fresh off earthquake damage, explain insurance needs and they'll surely sign up. Aggressively target factory owners whose machinery was wrecked. With factories multiplying rapidly, preempt and monopolize the factory insurance market."
House Riddle had only recently entered insurance and finance.
Though expanding on vast funds, expertise, and authority, they fundamentally lacked history.
But through the relief efforts just now,
they had instantly secured immense trust from countless people.
The more directly people experienced the disaster's damage,
the more they'd trust House Riddle, who had rushed in to save lives amid it.
"Earthquake damage means surging demand for circuses. The harsher and more grueling life, the more inescapable fate feels, the more people dive into dreams and fantasies to escape reality. Especially ramp up cheap performances for commoners."
And the tougher life got, the more commoners drowned in cheap dopamine.
Fake booze, gambling, circuses, trashy newspapers.
An era was dawning where such things ensnared souls.
"The stock market will panic temporarily, but companies with minimal earthquake damage can expand, seize markets, and grow. Buy up stocks from businesses with irreplaceable tech and those lightly hit by the quake."
Securities, futures trading, options.
House Riddle issued and traded countless securities products.
No computerized trading in this world,
but chaos and finance moved swifter than a thousand-mile steed.
And.
When it came to moneymaking, House Riddle moved faster and more precisely than anyone.
"Reconstruction will spike demand for slave labor. Recheck slave dorms and distribution networks per region for efficient dispatching. Today's 'relief operation' doubles as an inspection. Overseers, confirm thoroughly and report."
Reconstruction business.
The Empire was deep in urbanization from factories and land reforms.
Couldn't abandon cities now,
so pouring massive funds into rebuilding was inevitable.
And no matter the machines,
construction sites always consumed 'people' above all.
"Chance to rake in money with a rake. Budget is no concern. Spare no expense."
"Understood!"
"Let's test just how far 'money' can take us this time."
Unlimited budget, vast manpower. A miraculous venture allowing boundless investment.
Even emptying House Riddle's vaults wouldn't be excessive.
Since it would all return manifold in gold anyway.
Preparations were fully in place.
After all, Torsso had known the earthquake was coming.
'...It truly unfolded exactly as Your Excellency foretold.'
The one who foretold it was his master,
Karl Riddle.
In other words, Karl possessed the ability to know the future.
'Not possessed by a demon... but granted revelation?'
Prophet. One who knows first.
Torsso was a cynic, if anything,
but he didn't deny the existence of gods or prophets from scripture.
He simply saw gods as useless for moneymaking.
But in this moment,
the faith forming Torsso's soul inverted.
'Revelation... makes money!'
A truly blasphemous notion.
God's grace
wasn't the sort of thing valued in mere gold, was it?
Yet,
sometimes worldly desires served as the spark for greater miracles.
'...Doing deeds that please God, dignifying people made in His image, and earning money.'
Morality makes money.
The moment Torsso awoke to the primitive form of 'social capital'.