Arthur woke early on the first day of the year, keeping to his routine despite the festivities of the previous night. After a swift breakfast, he dressed in a finely tailored black suit, fastening each button with precision. He then walked over to his desk, pulling open a drawer to retrieve a set of documents detailing the design of a new invention—one he had been contemplating for some time. These papers contained the schematics for a typewriting machine, a device that, if successfully implemented, could revolutionize office work. He carefully placed the documents inside his leather briefcase before heading out of the palace, flanked by his security detail, who were similarly dressed in dark suits.
As Arthur's carriage made its way toward the industrial district, he took in the sights of the city. The remnants of the New Year's Eve celebrations were still evident—colorful remnants of fireworks littered the streets, and faint traces of burnt gunpowder lingered in the air. The city had been alive the night before, with people filling the streets, celebrating with music and revelry in bars and taverns. Even now, a festive atmosphere persisted. Families roamed the streets, shopping for goods, while groups of children laughed and played, chasing one another down cobblestone roads. Street vendors enthusiastically sold their wares, and cafés bustled with patrons enjoying hot beverages to ward off the morning chill.
Despite the holiday spirit, Arthur had business to attend to. His destination was the headquarters of one of his most important enterprises, where he was set to meet with William, his trusted industrial administrator. Upon arriving at the district, he directed his carriage toward a large stone building that served as the management hub for his various business ventures. As he stepped out, the guards stationed at the entrance took notice of his presence. Since his visit had not been announced in advance, Arthur instructed one of the sentries to inform William of his arrival.
After a few minutes, William emerged from the building to greet him. Though surprised, he immediately straightened his posture and offered a formal bow. "Your Highness," he said with respect. "I was not expecting you today."
Arthur acknowledged his greeting with a nod. "It is the first day of the new year, and I expected you to be resting," he remarked as they entered the building together.
William chuckled lightly. "I would have preferred that, Your Highness, but there is still much paperwork to be completed. The financial department is working overtime to finalize year-end reports, calculate taxes, and prepare statements for the board and shareholders. Many of our accountants and clerks are here, ensuring that the numbers are in order before the next fiscal cycle begins."
Arthur observed the bustling office space as they walked through the corridors. Even on a day when most people took time to recover from celebrations, rows of clerks and financial officers sat at their desks, scribbling figures into ledgers and handling towering stacks of documents. The sound of quills scratching against parchment filled the air, accompanied by the occasional murmur of discussion.
Once inside William's office, the industrialist gestured toward a seat. "Would you care for something to drink, Your Highness?" he inquired.
Arthur settled into his chair. "Black tea," he replied.
William nodded and swiftly arranged for the request. As they sipped their tea, Arthur leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "I did not expect the office to be this busy today. I assumed you would take at least this day as a holiday."
William sighed. "Believe me, I would have liked to. But as you can see, the workload is relentless. Year-end evaluations, tax assessments, financial planning—it all piles up. Without proper documentation, we risk miscalculations that could affect the company's performance and compliance with the treasury's regulations."
Arthur placed his cup down. "That brings me to the purpose of my visit. I have devised an invention that will drastically accelerate office work."
William raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh?"
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Arthur reached for his briefcase, retrieving the documents he had brought along. He spread the schematics across the desk before William, who leaned in to examine them. The design outlined a mechanical writing device—a typewriter.
"This machine," Arthur began, "operates through a system of typebars, each corresponding to a specific letter or symbol. When a key is pressed, the associated typebar swings upward, striking an ink-coated ribbon against the paper positioned on a cylindrical platen. This action imprints the selected character onto the page with precision and uniformity. The machine is designed with a spring-loaded mechanism that ensures the keys return to their resting position after being struck, allowing for rapid consecutive typing without delay.
Additionally, it will introduce the use of carbon paper—a thin sheet coated with a wax-based ink that sits between the primary sheet and a secondary blank sheet. Each keystroke transfers the character onto both sheets simultaneously, enabling the creation of duplicate documents without the need for manual rewriting. This feature will be invaluable for official record-keeping, correspondence, and financial documentation, dramatically reducing the workload of clerks and ensuring greater efficiency."
William studied the intricate mechanisms of the device while listening intently. "With carbon copies, we could eliminate the need for clerks to rewrite reports multiple times," he mused. "And if each keystroke produces uniform lettering, legibility and consistency would improve as well."
"Exactly," Arthur confirmed. "Government agencies, large businesses, and newspapers will be our primary markets. Offices like this one would benefit greatly. Imagine the time saved if every accountant and scribe had one of these at their desk."
William leaned back, a grin spreading across his face. "Your Highness, this could revolutionize office work."
Arthur nodded. "That is the plan. I want you to oversee the establishment of a production facility for these machines. How long will it take to set up?"
William studied the schematics once more, considering the components required. "We will need precision engineering equipment, metal stamping machines for the typebars, molds for the keycaps, and specialized rollers for the ink ribbons. If we begin immediately, I estimate that we can have the factory operational within a month and begin mass production shortly thereafter."
Arthur was satisfied with the timeline. "Good. Start preparations at once."
After discussing the finer details of the production process, Arthur shifted the conversation to another critical matter. "What of the paper currency?"
William set down his tea. "The printing facility has completed its setup, and we have begun the first wave of banknote issuance. As you instructed, I ordered our company's finance departments to conduct larger transactions using paper money, exchanging portions of our gold reserves for banknotes. Additionally, some suppliers, particularly those providing coal and iron, have agreed to accept paper currency for payments. Tax collection has also begun incorporating paper money."
Arthur nodded, understanding the implications. Though he had implemented measures to facilitate the transition, he knew that widespread acceptance of paper currency, especially in foreign trade, would take time. Domestic businesses were adjusting well, but foreign merchants still preferred gold, as the stability of Pendralis's paper currency had yet to be fully established. Nevertheless, the early adoption by major industries was a promising step.
"One more thing," Arthur said. "As of this year, export restrictions on industrial machinery will be lifted."
William's eyes widened slightly. "That will change the landscape significantly."
For years, Pendralis had prohibited the export of key machinery, ensuring that domestic industries retained a technological advantage. However, with the home market nearing saturation, manufacturers were struggling. Lifting the embargo would allow them to access international demand, revitalizing factory output and boosting the economy.
"I will issue instructions to ramp up production accordingly," William said. "Many factories had slowed operations due to declining orders. They will need to scale up once more."
After discussing additional logistical considerations, Arthur took his leave, opting to walk through the city rather than return directly to the palace. The streets were alive with the lingering spirit of the New Year, as merchants enthusiastically displayed their goods, children ran about with wooden toys and streamers, and musicians played cheerful tunes at street corners. The air carried a mixture of fresh-baked bread, roasted chestnuts, and the subtle remnants of burnt fireworks from the night before.
Arthur strolled leisurely, observing the vibrancy of the city he had worked tirelessly to build into a thriving hub of industry and commerce. He stopped by a well-known tea house, its interior warm and inviting, where he ordered a steaming cup of black tea. As he sipped, he overheard businessmen discussing market trends and commoners conversing about the recent introduction of paper money. It pleased him to see the economy adapting, albeit gradually.
After finishing his tea, he continued his walk, occasionally pausing to browse storefronts. He examined fine fabrics imported from foreign lands, leather-bound books filled with knowledge, and intricate timepieces displayed behind polished glass cases.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Arthur finally made his way back to the palace. Despite the long day, he found solace in the city's energy, knowing that his efforts were shaping a prosperous future. He dined in his chambers while reviewing the performance reports of his enterprises, meticulously analyzing the numbers before setting the documents aside. Satisfied with the progress, he changed into more comfortable attire and prepared for bed. Tomorrow would bring another busy day, and he intended to rise early once more, as was his habit. With that thought, he lay down, closing his eyes to rest before another day of work and innovation.
As evening fell, he returned to the palace, where he dined in his chambers while reviewing the performance reports of his enterprises. Satisfied with the progress being made, he changed into more comfortable attire and prepared for bed. Tomorrow would bring another busy day, and he intended to rise early once more, as was his habit. With that thought, he lay down, closing his eyes to rest before another busy day