Firearms in a Fantasy World

Chapter 134: Settlement

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

"Earl Grayman."

After hearing Paul's bold words, Eileen decided to pour cold water on him.

"Since we're planning wide-scale dissemination, we'll definitely need a large number of such promotional pamphlets, right?"

"Of course, the pamphlets should use as simple and understandable language as possible, describing with common and easy-to-remember words. Besides introducing hygiene knowledge to people, it would be best if they could also serve as educational materials, helping people to recognize some words with the help of speakers."

"So, how do we solve the manpower issue? We need many scribes. In the recent exams, we selected a group of people with basic literacy skills, but they've all been assigned jobs. If we call them back, department heads probably won't release them."

"Um... that is indeed a problem."

Paul closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then suddenly opened them and slammed the table hard.

"I've got it!"

He shouted loudly. This idea had been circling in his mind, but recent events had made him forget about it.

"Printing! We can use printing."

Eileen and Ladia asked with curiosity, "Printing? What's that for?"

"Think about it, if we engrave words sequentially on wooden boards, then ink them, and finally press paper onto them and peel it off..."

The two women immediately understood.

Excitedly, Eileen said, "The words will be printed on the paper!"

Paul nodded, "Exactly!"

Ladia also looked incredulous. "Lord Earl, it seems you've come up with another remarkable technology."

Paul blushed slightly, "Invented? Heh heh, that's too much praise."

Indeed, once printing is widely adopted, a large number of scribes will become unemployed. Let's mourn for the former colleagues who served as chief secretaries.

"With this problem solved, let's continue discussing the Ministry of Health's work. Record everything I've just thought of now, organize it, and I'll take these notes to the Council of State meeting to discuss with department heads in detail, so we don't miss anything important."

"Yes, Earl."

"Soon, Supervisor Hansel will depart southward. Besides continuing to recruit the talents we need, he'll also bring back a large number of refugees from the South to bolster our workforce. The Foster family will also send us some refugees."

"But these newcomers may carry various diseases. Mishandling could easily lead to them infecting our locals, or even causing widespread epidemics. Therefore, I believe the Ministry of Health should also take on the responsibility of quarantine, checking the health of incoming immigrants."

"Both of you are scholars, do you have knowledge of some common diseases?"

Ladia and Eileen both nodded.

"Very well, please summarize your knowledge of diseases, including methods to identify them, for the quarantine staff to learn in the future. Perhaps you could discuss this with Father Anderson; he also possesses considerable medical knowledge."

"Rest assured, Earl."

Just as Paul was about to continue speaking, a knock came from outside the door.

He called out, "Come in."

Chief Secretary Bernard immediately entered, holding a document pouch. "The Staff Office has urgently sent this to you."

Bernard swiftly approached the desk and placed the pouch on it.

Paul took out the documents and quickly scanned the title.

"Everyone, rejoice! Our navy has just won a major victory, eliminating that slippery 'Eel.'"

Ladia and Eileen exchanged glances, seeing the joy in each other's eyes.

"That's great! With the pirate gang of eels eliminated, the remaining small groups should be swept away easily."

"Earl, your overseas trade plan can finally be implemented."

"Let me show you the specific battle report."

Paul handed a stack of documents to the two female advisors, but kept the last two sheets for himself.

The two female advisors read the battle report together. However, as they reached the end, their faces displayed expressions of anger.

"These shameless pirates actually kidnapped civilians as slaves, even children."

"And they imprisoned captured women to do... those kinds of things!"

Eileen, especially angered by her own experiences with forced marriage by her father, felt indignant about the suppression of women in society. Seeing something worse than forced marriage, she couldn't bear it.

Paul, however, seemed unsurprised. "These things happen all the time."

Miss D'Arshi had truly grown up sheltered. Even in the modern, increasingly lawful 21st century Earth, such occurrences were not uncommon.

"Don't these shameless pirates fear the wrath of God? Earl Grayman, please punish them severely."

Eileen's anger also stemmed from another reason. Fleeing north with her female guard, if they were to encounter danger on the way, there was a high chance they would suffer the same fate as those enslaved women.

Just the thought sent shivers down her spine, making her feel that it would be better to die than to live through such horrors.

In contrast to Eileen, Ladia, though also angry, appeared much calmer. After all, years of being an adventurer had exposed her to many dark sides of the world.

Paul readily agreed, "Of course, I will certainly judge them harshly. But you two, calm down first. Do you have any suggestions for these liberated slaves?"

Eileen immediately spoke up, "Of course, send them back home."

Paul asked, "Some of these people have lost their entire families to pirates, even whole villages have been massacred. They have nowhere to return to."

Ladia asked him, "What about your own thoughts, Earl?"

She looked at Paul with some concern. Slavery still existed in this world. Although, after centuries of effort by the Church, slaves had largely escaped the miserable fate of being treated as mere livestock, and even had some meager possessions of their own, legally they still had to remain tightly bound to their masters.

And Earl Grayman had the authority to accept the slaves defeated by him.

"I mean, since we are recruiting immigrants anyway, let's keep these homeless people here as civilians under the jurisdiction of the Government Council."

Ladia breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you for your kindness."

Eileen asked, "What about the women among them?"

Although she didn't want to admit it, in today's society, it was extremely difficult for women among the lower classes to survive alone. They had no power, no knowledge, and to survive, they either had to marry quickly or resort to dishonorable professions.

Paul thought for a moment and said, "How about we establish a hospital? Let these poor women work as nurses."

(End of the Chapter)

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