The Survival Rules of NPCs

Chapter 81 Acting Recklessly 1.....

Chapter 81 Taking a Whim...

"My lord, don't let my appearance fool you. I'm in excellent health, with inexhaustible strength. Just ask around, and you'll see. When it comes to moving goods at construction sites, none of those young lads can outrun me, and that's with my children in tow." The man patted his chest vigorously, his thin back ramrod straight, trying to show off his strength. The two children, especially the slightly older boy, looked at Bright with wide, expectant eyes.

He heard from his father that if they were hired by this gentleman today, his sister would have money to see a doctor, and their family would be able to live in a warm house and have soft bread and milk every day.

Brett sighed. In his past life, those capitalists ruthlessly eliminated middle-aged men, causing their families' lives to collapse instantly. They only pursued efficiency and disregarded human relationships, which made him constantly curse the capitalists online. But one day, when he reached this point himself, he realized that... his choices seemed to be the same as those capitalists of the past.

Is this what it means that capital never sleeps?

"Sir..." The man, Bright, didn't agree immediately. He knelt down abruptly and said excitedly, "Sir, please hire me! My daughter hasn't eaten for two days. She's sick, and I can't afford a doctor..."

The boy next to him also knelt down and kowtowed along with his father.

"Master, please help my sister. Father said that if my sister doesn't find a doctor soon, she will end up like Mother, being sent to the mountaintop where that horrible corpse collector will dissect her and burn her."

Bright pulled at his noodles, and the terrifying recipient... So this is how people spread rumors in the refugee camp?

"Old Hans, we won't say anything if you come early in the morning to grab seats, but now that the master doesn't like you, you can't just keep pestering him like this!"

The people in line behind them started making a fuss, clearly afraid that Hans would snatch a spot.

They had all heard that this lord would be hiring a large number of workers, but a large number... didn't mean all. There were over two thousand applicants, and at least half of them would be eliminated. Now that Hans had taken one spot, they would have one less opportunity!

Brett looked at the pale-faced little girl. The thin child was still looking at him with hopeful eyes, as if she knew that he was her lifeline. What a clever child.

He thought of the girl who had confessed her love to him but died on the eve of a blizzard. If she had such a reliable father, perhaps she could have lived a little longer.

I need to be more rational. This father with two children is clearly not in my best interest. If I hire him, firstly, his physical condition and age do not meet my requirements. If he dies in an accident, with his child who is only eight years old, I, as a worker, will have to wait at least seven or eight years for a job, which would be a very unnecessary loss!

And he saved his whole family, but what happened after that?

Can I save everyone?

Only by growing stronger can... only then my ass!

Bright took a deep breath and laughed directly, "You've been hired. Go to the back and sign the agreement."

The forty-year-old father suddenly looked up, his face filled with disbelief, feeling as if he were dreaming!

He knew, in fact, that it would be difficult for someone like him to be hired. When he knelt down just now, he had already guessed his fate, but he just didn't expect...

"But I have to warn you," Bright said calmly, looking at the middle-aged man who still seemed unconscious, "I'm hiring workers to mine in dangerous places. You need to think carefully; it's a rather dangerous place."

"Don't worry, sir, I'm not afraid of danger!" the man quickly assured him, immediately pulling his child and kowtowing repeatedly, "Thank you, sir!"

Thank you, sir!

What danger? Even if he were told to die tomorrow, he would be satisfied.

Once he got the identity, his child's future would be guaranteed, and his daughter would be saved. As for himself? Let him die... He'd had enough of this damned life!

The security guards responsible for maintaining order looked at Bright in disbelief. In their view, any rational nobleman would not hire such a refugee; it was simply a losing proposition.

"Very good, go sign the agreement. Work hard from now on." Bright waved his hand, expressionless, and said, "Next..."

'

If I can't save everyone... then so be it. At least I can make things go smoothly for the few in front of me. I worked so hard to get this power, why should I have to do things in a subservient way?

Do whatever makes you feel good.

Hiring someone with kids is definitely a losing proposition, but I'm happy with it, so what's wrong with that?

Bright straightened up, seemingly convincing himself that as for the need for more space and money to run the school later, he could deal with that later; he would always find a way to solve it.

On that day, Bright hired two thousand workers and seventy-six merchants, and nearly three-quarters of the able-bodied men in the refugee camp were emptied in an instant. That night, the entire refugee camp was filled with bonfire parties, and men, women, and children were unusually joyful. In this bitter winter, such a day of hope felt like a dream, and many people were reluctant to go to sleep, fearing that when they woke up, someone would tell them that it was all a dream.

"Two thousand one hundred and forty-one workers, seventy-six merchants, Mr. Bright, you really are..."

99

When the Chancellor of the Exchequer saw the list, his gaze towards the other party became incredibly complex.

Even Eliza, who was standing to the side, was speechless. Although Bright had said that most of the spots would be reserved for the refugee camp workers to improve the efficiency of the Holy Stone City mine, wasn't this going too far?

Does a viscount not need any basic warrior guards?

Shouldn't we hire doctors, lawyers, and other professionals to generate more value?

Moreover, the other party also said that if they want to establish an academy, they should at least reserve some places for some foreign scholars, right?

Most of the aristocratic employees were employed in a certain proportion. While the lower-class workers, farmers, scavengers, and so on were necessary, their proportions were strictly controlled. After all, everyone knew that only a more prestigious middle-class status could earn them enough wealth.

For example, the accountants or doctors on Rose Avenue in Saint Stone City earn the equivalent of dozens of workers' salaries in a month. And that's just for ordinary accountants; more senior accountants earn more in a year than hundreds of workers.

Nobles can only take a 20% cut. It is definitely more profitable to take a cut from a mid-level position than from a lower-level one. If given a choice, no noble would even choose to employ someone from the bottom.

The existence of so many low-class workers in most of these employment structures is simply due to the conditions of joining a city. After all, a city always needs a certain number of low-class laborers, and the nobles must share that number.

In response to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's lament, Bright laughed and said, "It's alright. Holy Stone City mainly made its fortune from its mines. When the mining business is good, the city's tax revenue is high, and my share of the profits is also high, isn't it?"

Is that the same thing?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer chuckled and shook his head. Although the nobles would share the city's tax revenue, the profits were divided proportionally. For example, if everyone was a viscount, and I employed 500 workers, the rest would be middle-class occupations, while you employed 1,000 workers, only a small number of them would be middle-class occupations.

You and I are both viscounts, and we all receive the same tax and profit sharing, but I get more from the middle-class professional commissions.

"Anyway, that's how it is. Will the government loan be approved first?" Bright asked directly.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer nodded: "Of course. With so many workers as a guarantee, we naturally have no worries about you defaulting on your payments. The government will try its best to provide subsidies and preferential treatment for the workers' rental housing. Considering that you are a newly joined viscount, there will be some other subsidies as well. But regarding the issue of the mine, are you sure there really is a new mine that can accommodate so many workers?"

"It should be fine..." Bright said calmly, though he felt a little guilty inside.

Michelle said yes, but he always felt that the guy was hiding something, and he didn't know if he was reliable.

Moreover, he had absolutely no idea whether the mine route was safe or how much it would produce. He'd invested all his capital this time, and if it resulted in a huge loss, he couldn't afford to replace his workers...

The surplus workers would probably be unwanted even if sold to other nobles.

It's truly a case of being caught in a dilemma, but since it's already done, there's no choice but to go all the way down this path.

Eliza glanced at the other person silently, feeling that she understood him less and less. According to the report from the female knight Elsie, this time Bright had hired a lot of unnecessary middle-aged refugees. It was hard to imagine that the mysterious and decisive Mr. Bright would do such a foolish act of kindness.

Is he numbing himself, or... is he really just such a weak and kind person?

Just as the Chancellor of the Exchequer was calculating how much loan to approve, his subordinates reported that a distinguished guest had arrived in Holy Stone City.

It was none other than Lord Michel, the biggest buyer in Holy Stone City.

Eliza and Bright quickly got up and went to greet the security officer who had given the report.

In the past, almost all of the mining business in Holy Stone City was handled by Michael, who offered the fairest and most reasonable compensation. Over the years, it was Michael and former Minister of the Interior Allen who managed the business together, which enabled Holy Stone City to maintain positive economic growth for decades and become a city with a population of hundreds of thousands.

Now that Allen is dead, will the return of this highly sought-after businessman from Mirandell bring about any changes?

Bright was also anxious. That guy had promised him extra mines, and if he didn't find them, he would be in trouble.

To be honest, I was too hasty this time, and I can't be so willful next time.

Just as he was about to go to greet him, Bright glanced at his intelligence notes again, as was his habit, and what he saw made him freeze in shock.

Intelligence 1: Player [Loves to Eat Cabbage] has enlisted the help of people from the Heart of the Forest to find the first Elf Seed. It is imperative to keep it safely hidden.

Intelligence 2: The Spirit Seed contains the secret to becoming a Spirit. The Shadow Forces have also sensed that the seed is about to be born and will do everything they can to destroy the nascent seed.

Intelligence 3: Duke Raven of the Beth Empire has approved funding for intelligence gathering. Players throughout the North District have received word that more than half of the players in the North will gather outside Holy Stone City within the next ten days.

Intelligence 4: Li Gou Dan has once again detected the sound of [Cabbage] in the forest and is rushing back to report your latest coordinates.

Intelligence 5: Michelle's secret to staying young is...

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