THE TRASH PRINCE'S SYSTEM

CHAPTER 8: FROSTMARK PROVINCE MEETING

Inside the Meeting Hall of Winterkeep, Third Prince Cain Vailtair Thaloria held a meeting with the residents of the other fortified trading outposts of Frostmark Province, along with that of the residents who lived in the outpost he controlled.

“ To my subjects, and fellow residents of Frostmark Province, I’m sure you’ve heard of me already. I'm your duke, and the trash third Prince you've all heard about. Yes, I admit there was a time I became a trash prince who cared naught about ruling this province, much less to rule myself, but that time has ended. To prove it, I’ve wrested control of Winterkeep from the previous Provincial Secretaries appointed by the Holy Church, House Blackmoor, and the Crown Prince. How? Simple. I killed them all. If you don't believe me, you can ask the good knights and soldiers stationed here, “

The third prince paused to let the words sink in to his audience. Shock, awe and conversation rippled across the audience, with some of the knights listening to the third prince's speech confirming every single word the third prince said to the next man beside him, since they saw everything with their own two eyes. The third prince fired blanks from his flintlock into the air to quiet every one down.

“ But that’s not the end of it. I’m sure each, and everyone of you were given a chest of gold, to help alleviate the hardships of living in a fortified outpost. I hope you all used my gifts of gold well. That’s just the beginning. I know you harbor resentment against me for not improving the over-all quality of living conditions in this province. But with those corrupt, cowardly and inept officials inserted by the Holy Church gone for good, things are bound to change for the better. I promise you, it won't be an easy ride. It will be tough, and we will attract powerful enemies later on, enemies such as the Holy Church, so I hope you can all give me your utmost support. This meeting is adjourned. I know you all must be hungry and tired from coming all the way here from your outposts. This fortress is big enough to house all of you, and we have enough supplies to last until the start of winter. Sir Lucas Saville, these men and women are tired from their long ride. Have your men escort them to their rooms, and see to it that they are well fed and well supplied. “

“ Your command will be fulfilled, Your Highness. “

Sir Lucas Saville performed an elegant and gracious bow to the Third Prince, then began barking orders to the group of knights, serving men, and serving women under him to assist the newcomers.

As the residents of the fortified outposts in the Winterkeep Province filed out of the Meeting Hall and were guided to their resting chambers, the Third Prince organized the blueprints and items he prepared in advance and stacked them properly on the table of the Meeting Hall.

No sooner than he sat down on his Chair to take a quick rest when the newcomers entered.

“ We humbly greet Your Highness. “

A group of mages, envoys from merchant guilds that traded in Winterkeep Province, and master craftsmen said in unison, while performing an elegant, dignified bow before the Third Prince.

“ Be at ease, my lords and ladies. I welcome you to Winterkeep. I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called all of you here. “

“ That’s exactly what we wanted to ask you, Your Highness. Why did you make us come all the way here? “

A beautiful young pyromancer named Claire Crawford, in her early 20s, boldly and directly asked the Third Prince, looking him straight in the eye.

“ There’s a reason why I asked you to come here, my lords and ladies. I have a plan that I want to see implemented in Frostmark Province, and this is related to the prosperity and stability of this province. And you all are vital to my plan. “

“And what exactly is that plan, Your Highness? Let’s hear it. We didn't come here to bandy fancy words with you. “

Claire Crawford replied again. The other mages, the merchant guild envoys, and the master craftsmen all nodded their heads in agreement with the young pyromancer.

“ You’re direct to the point. As you wish. As you all can see, my lords and ladies, Winterkeep Province is rich in natural resources, but lacking in trade, commerce and stability. I wish to turn this situation around, with these blueprints and modern tools you see on my table. And that's where you come in handy. “

Third Prince Cain Vailtair Thaloria gestured to the table of the Meeting Hall, which was filled with blueprints and items he conjured out of thin air using his System.

The mages, envoys from merchant guilds that traded in Frostmark Province, and master craftsmen all crowded around the table, oohing and aahing with appreciation at the items, and blueprints stacked neatly in the table, and examining the designs printed on the blueprints.

“ What are these? A steam powered carriage? Soaps, shampoos, dishwashing liquids, ball point pens, modern drinks, modern foods, and even a steam powered lamp, with magic enhancements, and even magically enhanced to be impervious to attacks by Holy Mages? “

“ Magically enhanced steam operated irrigation ditches, a steam operated sowing-harvesting-threshing machine where all the farmer has to do is place seeds on the machine, sit down, press the buttons, and let the machine do the rest of the work? “

“ A magically enhanced steam powered fishing ship, passenger ships and cargo ships that go back and forth from the sea border with Starhaven Kingdom, and provinces that share the seas with Frostmark Province? A magically enhanced airship with arcane magic, wind magic, helium, and hydrogen triple fusion core, magically resistant to thunderstorms and heavy downpours of rain, and flies as fast as a racehorse but on air? It could even travel from one point of Frostmark Province to another. There’s even a proper landing airstrip, and airport blueprints for this airship. “

“ A magically enhanced steam-powered cooker with an oven, and even a grill? There are even cooking tools we aren't familiar with. Non-stick aluminium frying pans, non-stick woks, non-stick soup pots, and a magically enhanced kettle that quickly boils water. “

“ A plumbing system that gives both hot and cold water? There’s even a proper waste disposal system connected to the comfort rooms, where all we have to do is throw trash into the waste disposal system. Solid waste is burned and turned into electricity, and human poop is automatically purified, dried, and sold to farmers as fertilizer for a reasonable cheap price. “

“ Mass production of goods in steam powered factories? Canned goods, jams, even clothing, tools and apparatus? “

“ Steam powered lighting at night? Sounds interesting. “

Good. I caught their interest. My position right now is precarious, since I just wrested control, and the residents of Frostmark Province don't fully trust me, and the speech I said yet. I might as well go all out and implement all these reforms drastically.

Prince Cain let the mages, master craftsmen, and merchant guild envoys gawk and examine the blueprints and items on the table in awe. He thought to himself.

“ We’re interested in developing all those things described in the blueprints you provided for us, Your Highness. But the question is, can you afford the cost in the long term, before we start talking business? “

“ Of course, I have ways to find the money needed, my lords and ladies. I’ve already seized the physical and monetary assets of the previous Provincial Secretaries who proved inept. All of their belongings will be auctioned off, and the proceeds from the auction will be used to pay for all of these. If it still isn't sufficient enough, I’ll also pledge my salary as a Duke, and the allowance I receive as a Third Prince. “

“ Sounds fair enough to us, Your Highness. If there’s nothing else, we’d like to discuss the specifics of “

“ Stop right there, my lord. Not so fast. I'm the one dictating the terms of this trade, not you. Let me state my terms clearly, so all of you who are gathered here today, listen well.

First, for the merchant guild envoys who went through all the trouble to come here, I’ll grant you all permission to set up trading branches in the outposts of Frostmark Province.

Second, all of those merchant guilds shall employ the master craftsmen who came along with you, and also the mages. I don't care if you envoys get into a fight over whom you want to employ. You shall pay them fair wages with benefits, and treat them with the utmost respects.

Third, these merchant guild envoys shall shelter and shield these mages from persecution by the Inquisitor Mages of the Holy Churches. In the worst case scenario, you are hereby allowed to resist them violently, allow the Mages to defend themselves, to the point of killing the Inquisitor Mages. Any merchant guild who brings captured Inquisitor Mages to me, dead or alive, shall receive a bounty as a reward.

Fourth, these merchant guilds shall pay a tax of 40 Thalorian gold coins monthly as a permit to operate tax, and shall also pay a value added tax of 5 percent every item sold.

Fifth, I expect the merchant guilds to show me definite results and profits within a month. Failure to do so shall result in revoking the permit to sell in Frostmark Province, no questions asked.

Sixth, I expect high-quality goods only, and I expect affordable prices for all. Merchant guilds caught selling inferior goods shall be penalized with a fine of 200 Thalorian Gold Coins. Quality control inspectors, hired and appointed by the Quality Control Department under the new Provincial Trade and Finance Secretary shall make the rounds of shops owned by the merchant guilds stationed in Frostmark.

Seventh, I expect the factories that make these goods, the shops that sell these goods, and the branch offices of the merchant guilds I authorized for this purpose to follow top-notch sanitation and safety standards. The same quality control officers shall be the ones responsible for enforcing these standards. Merchant guilds caught with flagrant sanitation violations and employee safety violations shall have their factories, shops and offices temporarily closed down and suspended, and the merchant guild shall pay a fine of 200 Thalorian Gold Coins. A repeated offense shall result in the revocation of the permit to sell and produce goods in Frostmark Province.

I expect all of you merchant guilds who came here to sign a written contract, with the terms I stated stipulated in the contract.

Those who disagree with my terms and conditions are free to leave and seek profits elsewhere. “

After Prince Cain laid out his terms and conditions, all of the merchant guild envoys, sensing a potential profit, quickly agreed to the terms stated by the third Prince.