Regardless of the attitudes the Federation and its merchants, as well as these shareholders of the Nagariel United Development Company, hold towards the country of Nagariel, it cannot be denied that the arrival of these merchants has gradually brought some vitality to this stagnant nation.
It sounds incredible; a group of plunderers should not be the ones to awaken a nation's vitality. Shouldn't they be destroyers and ruiners, only bringing pain?
Why are these plunderers able to inject vitality into this country?
It's quite simple; it all comes down to jobs, or rather... money!
The role of money is unparalleled. Any country discussing market revitalization will propose many concepts and policies, but ultimately, what truly matters is more capital flowing into the market.
The supply-demand relationship in the market is reactivated, people have more income, and the entire society becomes more vibrant as a result.
A rich material life is the source of societal vitality. Some may feel that money isn't everything, but for society as a whole, money is omnipotent, capable of anything.
Money can have a girl young enough to be your granddaughter nestle in your arms whispering sweet nothings, money can quickly help family members who just lost loved ones to recover, money can make an unknown politician suddenly become a potential candidate.
It seems there's nothing money can't do, including providing empowerment to this society.
Lynch's recruitment efforts and those of other federal merchants in various regions began to stir, leaving people feeling bewildered, as if this country is waking up.
"Mr. Lynch, some things weren't lost by us..." The deputy manager was explaining to Lynch some issues he didn't quite know how to handle, such as people bringing things to the camp that didn't belong there.
Some even brought wild dogs, claiming these were stolen from here too, in short, they're bringing anything of perceived value to the camp.
Their aim in doing so is to find a way to secure a job from this camp.
After what happened, people around here know that Lynch, a lord from the Bail Federal, is someone reasonable and rule-abiding.
If you follow his reasoning, adhere to his rules, and have a bit of luck, then you might be granted an opportunity, a precious opportunity.
The deputy manager held two notebooks, one recording actual "thieves," and the other listing those trying their luck.
The deputy manager is a very... honest person. After witnessing Lynch's wealth, power, and status, he had no choice but to become straightforward.
He didn't reveal Nell's special identity to the employees, showing he's a smart person, like now.
Lynch flipped through the notebooks and tossed them aside, "No need to separate them; integrate them and send them off to work on the roads. You need some manpower, and these people can help you."
The deputy manager nodded, "Regarding their wages..."
"Pay them daily, give them the equivalent of one Federation Sol and twenty Galil, and inform them about our wage policy and promotion system, along with a cheap lunch. It doesn't need to be too good."
Concerned the deputy might misunderstand, Lynch added, "Set each lunch at... around ten Galil. It doesn't need to be too good. Being too generous will make them think you're foolish and potentially easy to exploit. Be stern with them."
The deputy manager diligently took notes, inwardly admiring Lynch's understanding of these people. Having stayed here for over a month, he had somewhat understood the Nagariel people, and indeed, they were as Lynch described.
If you're too nice to them, they won't see it as kindness; they'll just think you're easy to bully.
This shift in concept is peculiar, similar to those girls who at first didn't dare approach the camp, only circling around the area.
When a fool offered a bottle of soda, those girls not only dared to come closer but also dared to walk in and ask for other things.
Of course, their attitude wasn't terrible, but it allowed the older deputy manager to discern a bit more.
He might be one of the few who didn't have "troubles" around him.
After discussing these matters, the deputy manager didn't leave and hesitated, "Mr. Lynch, do we need to conduct an environmental assessment?"
Lynch circled a spot on the map for him, indicating where the cement factory was roughly located. It's by the main road of the city to facilitate transportation and is within the city, but not too close to the center.
According to Federation regulations, enterprises with severe pollution, such as cement factories, must undergo environmental assessments before construction to determine if the project will impact the surrounding environment and residents.
In the Federation, capitalists solve these problems with money and job opportunities. They deploy lobbying teams to visit nearby residents, informing them that a factory will soon be built, offering jobs and good benefits.
Turning enemies into allies and leaving the rest to these new allies to handle, like dealing with the Environmental Protection Agency and some non-governmental environmental organizations.
This is the method in the Federation, but here in Nagariel, the deputy was unsure whether to conduct an environmental assessment because cement factories generate more dust than other factories. Once operational, the dust in the air within at least a kilometer radius would increase dramatically.
This dust also contains varying amounts of metal, posing immeasurable harm to human health, so even in the Federation, cement factories are deemed severe polluters.
"Of course, but you don't need to worry. We will use the most advanced dust removal and suppression equipment to ensure it poses no substantial threat to nearby residents!" Lynch answered decisively, not hesitating or pausing.
This made the deputy manager a bit... uncomfortable. Aren't these capitalists inhumane for the sake of money?
Though it may seem disrespectful to Lynch, this was his genuine thought—that pollution and such are insignificant compared to economic benefits and profits. Capitalists dare to discharge toxins into water sources for economic gain.
Lynch's reply wasn't so "mainstream," which momentarily stunned him, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded, "I see..."
After the deputy manager left, Lynch picked up an apple from the table, wiped it with his hand, and took a bite.
Tropical and temperate fruits differ significantly in flavor and texture. For example, the apple in his hand should be an apple. At least it looks like one.
It's not as reserved as the Federation's apples, which lack juiciness making them less crispy—not that they aren't crispy, just not as much.
Apples here are much crisper, with a richer aroma and flavor.
With a crunch, as Lynch bit down, the apple almost split open, and juice flowed out even before he exerted pressure.
Nagariel is located in a tropical zone with a long coastline, so logically, fruits here should sell well, and indeed they do. Fruit export is one of Nagariel's main foreign trades, consistently generating considerable profits annually.
However, these profits belong to Nagariel's ruling class and the former Pretton Trading Company, leaving ordinary people's fruits unsold, eventually rotting on trees unless sold to local "fruit farmers" at extremely low prices.
These so-called fruit farmers aren't "farmers" at all, leaving ordinary citizens with little to no income from fruit farming, sometimes even incurring losses.
Moreover, since fruits require a long maturation process and can't be stored long after ripening, ordinary people rarely engage in fruit farming.
After the deputy manager left, Nell, who had been silent, tentatively asked, "Does conducting environmental assessments and protection cost a lot?"
Lynch nodded, responding matter-of-factly, "Yes, it costs quite a bit."
Environmental assessment and protection are two things, but both require significant funds, puzzling Nell. He felt Lynch didn't seem like a conscientious capitalist, even though Lynch hadn't done anything particularly bad, this feeling lingered in Nell's and others' minds.
This is why the deputy was surprised when Lynch readily agreed to these things—you, Lynch, don't seem like a good person!
Nell touched his head, thinking he might need stitches, but after the doctor cleaned the wound, they said it was just over a centimeter and didn't require stitching, so they just bandaged it simply.
If the bandages on his head were replaced with typical Nagariel materials, he'd look even more local.
Perhaps touching the wound caused slight pain, making his fingers retract, and he asked further, "Then why not place the factory outside the city limits, saving costs on environmental assessments and protection?"
Lynch curiously tilted his head, watching Nell, who chuckled, "I'm just curious."
Lynch thought Nell's company would grow increasingly big, and he couldn't oversee everything. So he might as well tell and teach him some things to prevent others from taking advantage of him in the future.
The marketplace is like a battlefield, and it's no joke. Even though Lynch and Mr. Wardrick's family's relations are good today, if the chance arises to take a chunk out of Mr. Wardrick or vice versa, neither would pass up such an opportunity.
At most, after doing so, they'd explain the reasons behind their actions—"It's just business!"
Lynch finished the apple in a few bites, wiping his hands with a white towel, saying, "Because I'm not the one paying."
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