Chapter 249: Chapter 241 Cabinet Meeting_2
"My lord, all the equipment in the assembly hall is running normally."
This wasn’t Chui Chui speaking through Laura.
As Yan Xing’s first hand-assembled humanoid alchemical automaton, Laura naturally held a unique status. All new technology Chui Chui designed for alchemical automatons, along with newly purchased equipment, was prioritized for Laura’s use. At this time, Laura had replaced her smartphone. She now used a more professional cognitive system designed by Chui Chui; its operating system was a modified version of junior artificial intelligence.
Now, Laura was responsible for most technical issues within the Eternal Domain, significantly reducing Chui Chui’s workload. Laura served as the technical director of the Eternal Domain and was a member of the Lord’s Cabinet Ministers. In meetings, she was responsible for topics related to technology in the domain’s construction.
After numerous upgrades, Laura no longer resembled the crude form she had when Yan Xing first created her. Once the humanoid alchemical automaton was completed, it enabled the operation of machining tools and equipment purchased from the real world. With these machining capabilities, Chui Chui’s designs could be realized.
Laura’s supporting skeleton was updated with superior metal. Her internal components and alchemical devices were rearranged more efficiently, creating more space to install additional parts. There were also alchemical muscle fibers and Nerve Induction Elements. Thanks to the collaboration with Goblins, Chui Chui’s Alchemy Laboratory had many more types of these to choose from. For the automaton’s exterior skin, Chui Chui found a material better than resin. After undergoing Demonization, it was not only more durable but also better supported the function of the Nerve Induction Elements.
By now, Laura resembled a sci-fi robot. If dressed in clothes that concealed her appearance, she could pass as a human. However, in this Magic World, self-aware alchemical automatons existed, so Laura had no need to disguise herself in the Eternal Domain.
Yan Xing didn’t say much to Laura; he continued to focus on his notebook, waiting for his ministers and aides to arrive.
Soon, the officers of the Eternal Domain, summoned by the Lord, began to arrive one after another.
Gao Sipa was the Minister of General Affairs, mainly responsible for the storage and allocation of materials in the domain. Lao Hansi was the Minister of Taxation, chiefly in charge of the domain’s taxes. Werewolf Gang Ya was the Minister of Defense, mainly tasked with the domain’s protection. Beyond these three who had initially followed him, Yan Xing had also appointed some new officers for the domain’s operations. There were those responsible for the domain’s public order, others for its hygiene, some for law enforcement, and still others for supervising officials.
...
Harrington, responsible for the operation of the Domain Magic Tower, now served as the domain’s Chief Magic Advisor. Wood, responsible for the domain’s academy, now held the title of Head Scholar. Although one was an Intermediate Level Mage and the other an Intermediate Level scholar, there were no mages or scholars of higher rank in the domain.
Most of the people in the assembly hall were novices at managing a domain; they probably wouldn’t even qualify as low-ranking officials in Nuta City. Yet, the Eternal Domain was now recognized as a foreign nation by the Silvermane Principality, so these recently educated officials all held titles that seemed disproportionately grand for their experience.
Fortunately, the Eternal Domain had completed the installation of its information network. With database support, the domain functioned normally under their management. Otherwise, who knew what state these officials would have left a domain of 20,000 inhabitants in.
Among this assembly of Eternal Domain Cabinet Ministers, there was one exceptionally special presence: Elf Aranda. The last to enter the assembly hall, she silently took her seat at the end of the conference table.
Once everyone was gathered, Yan Xing surveyed his assembly of ministers. There were Junior Intelligent Robots, humans, Werewolves, Elves...
Quite a mixed bunch!
Before proposing his own city reform plan, Yan Xing first had the minister of each department report on their work.
Gao Sipa always started meetings by requesting materials. Rapid domain development meant that everything was in short supply; to develop quickly, nothing could be lacking.
Yan Xing said to Gao Sipa, "Our markets serving Nuta City and Thunderous Swamp have matured, and the roads are mostly built.
"The technology factory in our domain will soon be able to produce trucks suitable for our needs. In the future, we should primarily source our domain’s material needs from our own markets.
"You are in charge of establishing the domain’s finance department as soon as possible, and you will serve as its first Cabinet Minister of Finance. Now that Grain Tickets from the Eternal Grain Bank can circulate within Nuta City, I will allocate two hundred million Grain Tickets and 300,000 Gold Coins to the finance department to cover the expenses of the domain’s fiscal transition."
Currently, the Eternal Domain used a unified distribution system for goods, and Gao Sipa was in charge of managing them. He felt somewhat unsure about his ability to handle purchasing goods with money in the future.
"My lord... I was only recently promoted to hero rank. I can handle overseeing the storerooms, but... if you ask me to keep the accounts, I’m afraid I’ll mess them up."
"Perhaps you could find another Finance Minister? I... I think I’d better stick to overseeing the storerooms."
Yan Xing sighed. Pointing to the table full of civil and military ministers, he asked Gao Sipa, "Look at this room full of people. Who among them can keep clear accounts? It doesn’t matter if your accounting is a bit muddled. Just ensure your loyalty is unwavering; as long as you always act with my best interests at heart, you’re a good official."
"Laura..."
Laura, who was furiously typing on a keyboard to record the meeting minutes, replied, "My lord, what are your orders?"
"Assign Gao Sipa a robot assistant, specifically to help the domain’s finance department with bookkeeping," Yan Xing instructed Laura. Then, he turned back to Gao Sipa and continued, "The Eternal Domain is different now. There are more people and more matters to attend to. You must help share my burdens and build the Eternal Domain into the grandest city in the Wildwind Highlands.
"You’re my Finance Minister. Don’t keep thinking of yourself as just a warehouse supervisor."
Gao Sipa immediately answered, "Yes, my lord. I will certainly do my utmost to fulfill the great responsibility you’ve entrusted to me."
Next was Lao Hansi.
Lao Hansi was the Tax Minister of the Eternal Domain and also handled some personnel matters. Currently, tax collection in the Eternal Domain involved taxing the domain’s farmers weekly. Lao Hansi already had a team of tax officers under him, and the taxes collected were, of course, God-given gold coins. The Eternal Domain’s weekly tax revenue amounted to 7,564 God-given gold coins. As for regular taxation... due to the Eternal Domain’s supply-based system, there wasn’t much.
After listening to Lao Hansi’s report, Yan Xing said, "You should transfer your personnel-related responsibilities to the respective departments and increase the manpower in your tax department.
"I will have the technology department equip you with tax assistance robots.
"Going forward, taxation must become a major source of revenue for the Eternal Domain’s finances; we can’t just rely on collecting God-given gold coins."
Surprised, Lao Hansi asked, "My lord, our tax department has ample staff. We only collect taxes once a week."
Yan Xing replied, "Your current staffing will soon be insufficient. By the way, make sure the South City Market is well-planned. Expand its grounds, maintain order, and levy a business tax on them."
"Yes, yes... my lord." The Lord must be planning something significant, Lao Hansi thought, so he refrained from asking further questions.
Following that, Yan Xing inquired with other officials about current situations faced by the domain, such as public safety and sanitation, the training of Mages and scholars, relations with the Werewolf Tribe, and the city’s defense status.
Overall, under its centralized system, the Eternal Domain faced no significant issues. Its citizens were relatively guileless, and thanks to the coordination of the established information network, everyone diligently performed their duties.
Furthermore, preparations for upgrading the domain to a Seventh Grade Domain had been completed. A Seventh Grade Domain could train and recruit Seventh Order Cavalry and construct Griffon Towers to recruit Griffons. Many existing buildings could be upgraded, and many new structures would become available. The domain was set to grow even stronger.
After Yan Xing finished questioning most of the officials about their work, he turned to Elf Aranda, who was sitting at the end of the table, and said, "Aranda, let’s hear your report."
In the Eternal Domain, Aranda was still responsible for receiving new individuals who wished to become citizens. However, as her role expanded, scrutinizing the foreign population entering the domain gradually became part of her duties as well. She now had a team under her command to handle these tasks.
The Werewolves entering the domain were easier to manage. Once informed of the domain’s rules, they behaved very respectfully within the city out of reverence for Yan Xing. The humans entering the domain, however, were a diverse lot. Most of the arriving humans were merchants, followed by mercenaries accompanying them, adventurers, and curious onlookers—all sorts of people. Their reasons for coming to the Eternal Domain were also varied. Among them, there were undoubtedly those who came to steal, spy, or engage in other unlawful activities.