Infinite Reincarnation – Arthur Hurt - Chapter 200



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Infinite Reincarnation – Arthur Hurt Chapter 200

35-Loyalty

It wasn’t a random question. There was a difference in the production process and quality between making a product by accurately understanding the customer’s needs and thinking about their purpose and just making it as ordered.

Is it a difference in mindset as to whether you understood it or not? It was indeed a philosophy befitting a practical guild leader.

So Arthur told him about the plan to distribute toilets, and Lanick asked if they could just use buckets or chamber pots.

But Arthur told me that I wouldn’t be able to collect my urine properly that way.

“Why do you collect urine?”

“From there, it’s a state secret.”

Even though he was the guild leader and cooperative with the bathroom business, there was no need to tell him about the increased production of gunpowder.

“Well, okay, I understand.”

“Please take care of me.”

Even rough earthenware, not just white porcelain, would be fine, as long as it was sturdy and had a smooth surface.

Arthur, not only Lanik, had to meet many people while running the bathroom business.

This was because he could not possibly have carried out a business of this scale alone. And since these social activities seemed to be an attempt by Arthur Hurt to establish himself as a social figure, Count Karl Prant thought that Arthur had listened to his advice.

When the Viscount said something like that during the conversation about how to deal with the Crown Prince at the meeting between Arthur and him, Arthur shook his head.

“It wasn’t intentional.”

It wasn’t my intention to become like railroad worker Ttian. I just naturally developed connections while trying to do business.

One could interpret this expanded network as influence, but Arthur consciously avoided having close relationships with those who held real decision-making authority, that is, those who could be called political power.

Count Karl Franz nodded his head at such conduct.

“That’s smart. It’s just right, not too close to power, not too far away.”

“That being said, I am already working under His Majesty the King’s instructions… … .”

“People won’t attack you because you’re showing an attitude of wanting to be the king’s hand and foot. The moment you form your own faction and try to become its leader, they’ll probably be ready to kick you out.”

Arthur did not take Viscount Karl Prant’s warning lightly. He was not speaking without reason, and he had a good idea. There were nobles who were upset that a commoner was acting like this, and there were even royalists who wanted to fight for the monarch’s favor by making a fuss.

“I will be careful.”

On the advice of Count Karl Prant, Arthur decided to be more careful in his words and actions. Then, he went to see Councilor Fried, as he needed the cooperation of the People’s Assembly.

“I heard that you are very popular these days.”

“What is Wiserani?”

“You’ve turned the administration upside down… … .”

It seems that it was triggered by the incident where he led the palace guards and attacked the city administration building last time.

“You turned it over?”

Arthur furrowed his brows. It was such an exaggeration.

It was true that Arthur had visited the administrative office with the royal guard, but he did not turn it around.

Since the perception of civil servants who were not very good was not good, people who felt relieved by the difficulties they had experienced may have exaggerated like that, but potential Arthur haters who heard such exaggeration could have thought this way.

‘Huh? This kid is hitting on me?’

So Arthur asked Rep. Fried to correct the misunderstanding and stop talking nonsense.

“I did not turn it over. I was only visiting the administrative office on official business, and the palace guards that accompanied me were there to protect me in case of any emergency.”

“I guess so.”

Arthur’s eyes narrowed at the strangely prickly attitude. Strange? Didn’t he receive a message from Umel? Arthur had secretly decided to support republicanism, but he couldn’t understand why she was acting so prickly.

So Arthur asked in a sly tone.

“Haven’t you heard the story from Umel Barbara?”

Rep. Fried’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Umel’s name.

“A story about you?”

As Arthur nodded, Senator Fried rested his chin on his clasped hands and continued speaking.

“Umel, that guy is a rational person, so if you give him a rational reason, he will be convinced.”

“… …Do you think I’m not being sincere?”

Arthur asked, studying Rep. Fried’s expression for a moment. After a moment’s hesitation, he answered.

“Your Majesty, Arthur Hurt. Human sincerity is always subject to change depending on the situation. It is truly rare to find a human being who does not change when pushed to extremes.”

Arthur sighed at the words of disbelief. Judging from the attitude of Senator Fried, it seemed that it would not be easy to persuade him.

So, I put aside the persuasion to get on the same boat and returned to the main topic of my visit. It had nothing to do with the progress of the plan or with Rep. Fried’s beliefs.

“You will have a chance to understand that later. Rather, the cooperation of the people’s council,”

“So, I am saying that I have doubts about the intention behind the agenda you brought.”

Senator Fried interrupted and stepped in. Arthur listened with narrowed eyes as he continued.

“I already know that the plan to supply toilets in the city is related to the increase in gunpowder production. That is why I am asking. Why, after talking to Umel, do you want to increase the gunpowder production for His Majesty’s army while leading the palace guards?”

Ah. That’s what the story was about.

Arthur realized there was some misunderstanding and said with a calm smile.

“There seems to be some misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Power comes from the barrel of a gun.”

“And you are making that gun for His Majesty the King.”

“It’s not a gun, it’s gunpowder.”

“Isn’t that right? And you’re also a high-ranking official of the Tsuraz Craft Guild. Isn’t the gun the problem, not the gun itself?”

“Tsk tsk. You only know one thing and don’t know the other two.”

“What?”

“Even if you make that many guns, His Majesty the King can only hold two guns in his two hands.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Have you already forgotten what I said before? Didn’t I say it before? Power comes from the barrel of a gun.”

Huh? Something is strange? Rep. Fried trailed off.

“Uh… … So…”

“I will establish a system that will allow the cheap production of gunpowder and guns, so that guns can be placed in the hands of everyone, the masses.”

Force was the most important axis of power, because it had to be able to subdue those who resisted the system.

And that was the basis of the class system. Surplus production? You can take that away. If there is not enough, you take it away. If a child does not listen to you, you beat them into submission and climb up the hierarchy. That was the beginning of what is called a noble class.

No noble family had a farmer as its progenitor, and for a long time the nobles held swords rather than pickaxes.

That is why the nobles of old were highly trained war machines. A well-trained and armed knight could unilaterally slaughter hundreds of peasants, and this force was the basis for maintaining the class system.

But then came the gun. Guns made it possible for long-trained knights and country bumpkins to fight each other, risking their lives.

That is, since power came from the barrel of a gun with the advent of guns, putting guns in the hands of the masses is the act of returning power to the masses.

This was the real purpose of the plan to increase gunpowder production.

“… … .”

Fried Papaka was speechless for a moment at Arthur’s words. When he realized that he had stopped breathing and was sweating, he swallowed dry saliva and asked.

“Tongue, do you want a revolution?”

“Oh, you’ve gone too far. I don’t want something that grand.”

“then…….”

“The reason why so-called civilized people are more rude than savages is because they don’t get an axe stuck in their head when they spit out nonsense.”

Was there such a saying?

Arthur continued speaking to the bewildered Fried.

“Respect comes from fear. Why are the common people ignored? Because they are not afraid. But what happens when guns are put in the hands of the common people?”

You will be forced to be polite because you are afraid of bullets, not axes.

Rep. Fried asked.

“Are you saying that gunpowder and guns are that cheap?”

“That’s the policy. Let’s give it a try.”

“The nobles will not stay still.”

“A noble who doesn’t want the kingdom’s national power to grow stronger… … I wonder if he is really a noble of the Kingdom of Skara.”

Arthur said to Fried.

“Defense is the very reason for the existence of a country. And it is an inevitable trend of the times that more guns are needed for this purpose. Therefore, it is inevitable that guns will be placed in the hands of ordinary people, and it is also a historical necessity that the rights of ordinary people will be expanded as a result.”

Historical inevitability? Fried felt something thrilling. A word came out of his mouth without his knowledge.

“Republicanism… … .”

“That’s right. Just as the commoners of the empire who once had to bear military service won their rights with swords and spears, the time is coming when commoners who bear guns will win their rights.”

Arthur finished his speech with a joking laugh to Rep. Fried, who was speechless.

“And then there’s another benefit to that.”

“What are the benefits?”

“The point is that people in the world are becoming more polite. Who would dare to swear at someone with a gun in front of them? Right? Even those of noble birth are human beings, so it is only natural that they would do the same.”

Rep. Fried nodded with a dumbfounded expression.

If nothing else, he would be more likely to treat Arthur Hurt more respectfully in the future, even if he didn’t have a gun in his hand.

* * *

Arthur successfully persuaded Rep. Fried and received a promise of full cooperation. It was decided that not only would so-called Hurt-type toilets be installed in each government office, but also that a company would be hired or newly established to collect toilet waste.

As it was obviously dirty and hard work, it was also a job for the poor, so it fit well with the popular stance of the Minhoe.

After organizing the system and checking the bathroom design and urinal prototype, Arthur entrusted Andre with the related business documents and reports. These were documents that allowed the business to proceed without problems even without him.

To Andrew, the king’s attendant and court official who examined Arthur’s documents, Arthur’s actions had a very deep political meaning.

“Your Majesty the Hurt. Why are you handing me these documents?”

“Wouldn’t it be natural to ask His Majesty the King to find the right person for the job?”

“You’re not going to continue to take charge of this?”

“My main job is a metalworker.”

“Huh! That’s a really funny joke.”

Who would now consider Arthur Hurt a mere craftsman? Andre looked at him with a look of absurdity and offered a piece of advice to this power-hungry quasi-noble.

“If you continue to lead this work, you will gain great authority. His Majesty the King will surely use you highly. If you do well, you may even be given a title of succession.”

The increase in gunpowder production had a great significance. National defense and security were now unimaginable without firearms. And what about succeeding in a policy that had failed during the previous king’s reign?

It would make no sense if the king did not reward such merit with something, whether it be a title, favor, or power.

Arthur replied with a calm expression.

“And I guess you must feel that burdened.”

Andre’s eyes narrowed at those words. What was he saying? Was he trying to say that from a monarch’s perspective, an overly competent subject was a burden?

Arthur continued.