Chapter 440: Gordon
Charles didn't want to admit it, but Gordon's offer had struck Charles' weakness, especially when Charles had a clear idea of the impact an analytical engine would have on the world. It had to be known that the Information Age began all thanks to electronic computers.
Charles would need to take one step at a time through trial and error if he were to insist on using Ascendants to start a technological revolution. However, using analytical engines to start a technological revolution was different.
The modern surface world had already paved the way for Charles, so he just had to make his subordinates recreate the technology up above. If Charles couldn't afford to do so, then a capitalist could definitely afford to do so.
There was also mankind's endless pursuit of convenience.
Gordon was well prepared to acquire a share in Charles' key technology. He ordered his subordinates to carry over a myriad of blueprints that stacked taller than Charles.
Gordon was about to explain to Charles how an analytical engine worked when Charles nodded immediately, making the former feel a bit puzzled. I haven't even started yet, but he already agreed to my proposal? Does he know just how powerful an analytical engine can be?
Gordon felt disgruntled, feeling as if he had revealed his trump card too soon.
"Governor, I've already shown you my sincerity, so I hope you'll show me your sincerity as well. I need a report and some items to bring back home," Gordon said, his gold teeth sparkling through his wide grin.
"I thought you guys would have thoroughly investigated me and what I've been doing here," Charles commented with a slight smile.
Gordon smiled and stared quietly at Charles.
"All right, let's go. You can just see for yourselfsee if the report you've received matches what I actually have here," Charles said as he led Gordon toward the prison where the Ascendants were imprisoned.
On the way, Charles turned to a staffer and said, "Go to Leonardo and tell him to get ready to discuss the details of our collaboration with this guy. We're going to need Leonardo's help."
Charles' order was quickly fulfilled.
"I'm curious, Vice President Gordon," Charles said as he and Gordon continued on their journey toward the prison. "How can something that is purely mechanical store data?"
Charles was genuinely curious. He was aware of the existence of hard drives, where computers store data, but the analytical engine was a purely mechanical beast.
"Governor, do you know that the grooves on a phonograph record allows a phonograph to play beautiful music as the needle slides on those grooves?
"Our analytical engine uses the same principle, but the specifics are a bit special. Come to think of it, why does it seem like you're familiar with our analytical engine, Governor Charles? Have you seen something like it before?" Gordon asked.
Charles chuckled, but he didn't respond. Flanked by a group of researchers, the two made their way to the lowest floor of the prison where the Ascendants were being held.
The prison cells on this floor looked more like miniature factories, and the Ascendants with black shackles on their necks and limbs were locked in their own cells as they worked diligently.
Prison guards clad in blue uniforms stood outside each cell with a variety of weapons and torture devices. Clearly, any form of resistance meant receiving severe punishment from these guards.
The materials that the Ascendants had created were sent out via steam-powered conveyors, and there was also another conveyor that sent raw materials for the Ascendants to modify or transform using their special abilities.
Charles wasn't that knowledgeable when it came to something like this, but even a layman like him could see that everything on this floor was conforming to a standard and there was a system in place. The coded tattoos on the Ascendants' faces, their work speed, and the carrot and the stickthey were all standardized.
Gordon looked around with an astonished face as the Ascendants combined and transformed items into new materials. The camera in Gordon's hand flashed incessantly as he pressed the shutter button nonstop.
"Governor Charles, I must say that this has definitely exceeded my expectations. I also heard that you came up with all this. Is that true?" Gordon asked.
"No, I just gave them some ideas," Charles said, shaking his head. "My subordinates came up with the specifics."
"Charles!" a bald Ascendant towering two meters tall roared. Then, he grabbed the shackle on his neck and tried to pry it open. "You're going to pay for this one day!"
The bald Ascendant's actions earned him the whip.
Charles turned to the prison guard and asked indifferently, "What crime did he commit?"
Armed with a rifle, the prison guard instantly stood up straight and loudly reported, "Reporting to the Governor, sir! Ascendant No. 42 is a pirate, and he has been convicted of multiple counts of rape and murder."
Charles nodded and glanced at the bald Ascendant before walking away with Gordon.
"You said you have both land and labor, so how many islands does your chamber of commerce own?" Charles asked, probing Gordon's background.
"We don't have any islands. Unlike governors, our chamber of commerce does not have an island that we call our headquarters. However, we have a ton of something elseEcho," Gordon replied. It seemed that money was Gordon's most favorite topic to discuss, as his eyes seemed to emit a golden light when he continued, "Money is a very wonderful thing, Governor Charles.
"It can buy food, clothes, and even people, regardless of gender. It can buy everything in the world. You know what's even more wonderful? The fact that money breeds money."
The corners of Charles' lips curled up slightly. "Is that so? I think you're exaggerating it. Your money will soon belong to others if you don't have enough strength to hold on to it."
For the first time, Gordon's fawning smile vanished. He stood up straight, and the gaze in his eyes changed as he started treating Charles as an equal rather than just a mere collaborator.
"Governor, it is presumptuous of me to assume, but perhaps you're convinced that your navy is enough for you to overcome any obstacles. However, there are some things your navy can't overcome."
"Your navy cannot defeat the ever-rising prices of goods, the ever-rising unemployment due to trade instability, and the corruption of money on the human heart.
"Have you heard of the Western Seas' mages, Governor? I must say that their mages are a force to be reckoned with, but it is a shame that their thoughts are antiquated, as if they're still living out their ancient history.
"Fifteen years ago, we visited them with a proposal to cooperate. We showed them enough sincerity, but those old fogeys actually thought that we weren't qualified to cooperate with them.
"However, those old fogies soon lowered their arrogant heads and changed their tunes when our boundless funds flowed into the Western Seas. Their arcane magic is powerful, but we don't fight battles in fields where we'd be at a huge disadvantage."
Charles listened quietly without interrupting, as Gordon was trying to show off their muscles. The unmistakable implication was that even though the Royal Treasure Chamber of Commerce was full of profit-seeking capitalists, they were still a force to be reckoned with.
In other words, they would fight back if Charles were to deceive them.
"Great story. Now, can we continue?" Charles asked.
Gordon's fawning smile returned. Then, he bowed and gestured for Charles to go ahead first. Just like that, Charles and Gordon had a pleasant time with each other; they had already made up their mind to collaborate, so they got along pretty well.
Charles soon learned that Gordon truly had the insidious tongue of a merchant, as even though the latter was quite submissive before Charles, he was anything but submissive when it came to profits.
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