"His Highness didn’t accuse you of human trafficking. Why are you so eager to clear your name? That must mean you’re guilty." Joan, who was serving by Simon’s side, suddenly interjected.

Simon glanced at the girl. It was rare for her to use her brain like this. Perhaps she had experienced something similar in her childhood, given that she was now a servant herself.

"Hmph, you can’t even fool one of my maids, yet you dare to deceive me? What punishment do you deserve?" Simon slammed the table in anger.

Edger was so frightened that he prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing like a pestle. "My Lord, spare me! My Lord, spare me! This lowly one deserves death! I did indeed buy a slave of unclear origin yesterday, but I swear I didn’t abduct any commoners!"

In the Eldorian Empire, while the slave trade was legal, commoners, referred to as ’good people’ were protected by law. Anyone caught abducting and selling commoners would be executed immediately. This was an ironclad rule.

Simon had only intended to scare Edger, but he hadn’t expected to stumble upon the truth. He spoke. "In that case, release that person immediately."

"Yes, My Lord. This lowly one will go release them right away." Edger said, scrambling to his feet to flee.

"Wait!" Simon called out to stop him. His goal wasn’t to investigate a case. He spoke. "I’ll keep this matter on record. You can release the person later. Today, I called you here for another matter."

Edger was still terrified, staring blankly at Simon, waiting for him to continue.

Simon said. "I called you here to discuss a business partnership. I want to collaborate with you on the slave trade."

"What?!" Edger couldn’t believe his ears.

"You heard me right. I called you here to discuss this matter. If you do well, you might even be granted a title in the future." Simon said.

After the initial shock, Edger was overjoyed. In the Eldorian empire, merchants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and slave traders were the lowest among merchants, often looked down upon. Now, not only was the prince offering to collaborate with him, but he was also promising a future title.

Edger felt like he was dreaming.

"My Lord, are you serious?" Edger asked again.

"I didn’t call you here for small talk," Simon said. "This matter is simple. It stays between you and me. I will support you behind the scenes and provide you with silver. In return, you will supply me with slaves."

Edger nodded. "My Lord, that’s simple. As long as Your Highness needs them, I can provide slaves."

"I don’t just want ordinary slaves. I’ll pay more for craftsmen. Carpenters, blacksmiths, and the like." Simon said.

"Such people are often from low-status households, and many are slaves. It shouldn’t be difficult." Edger analysed.

"Good. Since you’re well-versed in the slave trade, you must have many ways to acquire slaves. But in our partnership, you must never violate the law against abducting commoners. If you do, I won’t hesitate to draw my sword. Starting today, I will fully support you. You must do everything in your power to bring slaves to Brambleford from everywhere." Simon said.

Edger asked. "My Lord, what about Ragged slaves?"

Simon’s expression shifted slightly. The Ragged slaves Edger referred to were the dark-skinned, short-statured natives of Southeast Asia. However, in recent years, some African slaves had also appeared in Eldora, mostly brought through other Regions. These slaves were highly sought after by the nobility in Eldora, seen as a symbol of status.

Now that Edger had brought up ragged slaves, it seemed he had already tapped into the overseas slave trade.

"Of course, as long as you can get your hands on them." Simon said.

Edger replied. "My Lord, this lowly one understands."

After discussing the specifics with Edger for a while, Simon purchased twenty slaves from him to serve as servants in the prince’s residence. These were high-quality slaves, averaging ten caps of silver each, half the price of a Plow ox.

After Edger left, Joan seemed downcast, as if the dirty dealings between Simon and the slave trader had stirred up painful memories.

Joan was never one to hide her feelings. Simon said. "Do you think it’s beneath me to associate with a slave trader? That it lacks virtue?"

"Your servant, your servant..." Joan wanted to deny it, but a surge of emotion seemed ready to burst forth.

Simon laughed and spoke. "I know what you’re thinking. Although the slave trade is legal in the Eldorian Empire, it’s still not honourable. But have you considered that my domain has only a million households? With such a small population, how many years would it take to revive the fiefdom?"

"But..." Joan suddenly didn’t know what to say.

"Moreover, if I don’t buy these slaves, they’ll fall into someone else’s hands. How can you be sure they won’t have an easier life under me, or even gain their freedom?" Simon continued. "What I need is labour, not their status as slaves."

Joan clenched the hem of her clothes and nodded lightly. "Your servant was wrong. I thought Your Highness wanted to profit from the slave trade."

Mentioning silver made Simon’s head ache. He had thought that four or five thousand caps of silver a day was a lot, but between buying Plow oxen, slaves, materials, and building workshops, the funds were stretched thin.

"Ah, I set my heart on the moon, but the moon shines on the gutter." Simon sighed bitterly, seemingly saddened by Joan’s misunderstanding.

Joan anxiously said. "Your Highness, it was my mistake."

"Enough, I forgive you." Simon said, taking Joan’s small hand and earnestly rubbing it. "Let’s not talk about this anymore. Look at how cold your hands are. Come, let me warm them for you."

Joan’s face turned bright red.

Just then, a plump figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall. Simon was startled and quickly withdrew his hand.

"Ahem, My Lord!" Roland coughed twice. "Besides the graphite, we’ve also brought back some limestone as you requested. Would you like to take a look?"

Not long after Gius left for Eldora, Roland had returned with the graphite. The first batch of crucibles had already been put to use in the Machinery Department. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

A small-scale steel production line had been established.

With steel production increasing, the Machinery Department’s need for steel to produce lathes was largely met. Currently, the department has produced two sets of lathes.

These lathes were to be installed in the hydraulic lathe workshop under construction. However, a new problem had arisen.

To operate these lathes, Simon needed to train a group of skilled lathe operators. But the Machinery Department was already short on craftsmen and couldn’t spare any more hands.

This was why Simon had turned to the slave trade. To monopolise the technology, it was essential to train a group of highly skilled slaves.