Chapter 335 335-The Visit of Charles
In the course of a year, the Westia Kingdom engaged in wars with several countries and, with minimal losses, gained vast tracts of land.
It became the nation with the largest territorial expansion within the year.
Meanwhile, a region known as Carabby began to witness the emergence of pirates.
These Carabby pirates were ideologists, not aligning themselves with any country.
Regardless of the favorable conditions offered by various nations, they had no intention of joining forces, retaining their ships and crews for piracy.
No matter how stern the warnings from the Fran Kingdom and Porlia Kingdom were, these pirates showed no signs of abandoning their marauding ways.
The Carabby region was affluent, attracting adventurous immigrants from various countries.
Gradually, they were blinded by the allure of wealth, their eyes seeing only gold, devoid of basic respect for life.
Their vessels, originally meant for trade, were all repurposed as pirate ships.
Their storage spaces, initially used for goods, were now filled with gunpowder and cannonballs.
Porlia Kingdom once held one or two islands in the Carabby region, but these were soon destroyed by the pirates, who established their strongholds there.
These pirates were formidable fighters, hardened by a life on the edge, valuing money over their lives.
Their strength, coupled with the distance from the mainland, made every journey time-consuming.
Whether it was the transmission of intelligence or the dispatch of fleets to quell the pirates, there was significant delay, adding to the complexity of dealing with the pirate menace in Carabby.
The Empire granted Oungria Kingdom a unique status of protected independence, meaning if Oungria was attacked, the Empire would directly intervene in the conflict.
However, Howard, now King of Oungria Kingdom, harbored reservations about trusting Nora, given the Empire's performance in the previous war.
Catherine suggested that Howard should personally meet Nora to bridge the gap.
Despite his new responsibilities as king and reluctance to leave the capital Pist, Howard instead embarked on an innovative project in Pist.
He established a grand hotel named Budopist Hotel.
This establishment was a novel concept; many had never seen a state-commissioned hotel, let alone one offering lodging services.
Howard, attentive to his people's needs, assumed the honorary role of Budopist Hotel's manager, significantly boosting its reputation.
While Howard insisted on keeping the prices affordable to avoid financial barriers for the common folk, his foreign minister and Catherine argued for maintaining higher rates.
They reasoned that the hotel should not become a laughingstock across the continent.
It needed to attract upscale clientele initially to establish a perception of luxury, even if there were some initial issues.
After some discussion, Howard made a few concessions.
However, he firmly maintained one principle: regardless of social status, anyone who visited the hotel would receive equal treatment.
Whether noble or commoner, everyone at Budopist Hotel would enjoy services and experiences befitting royalty.
Howard personally selected the first batch of employees for Budopist Hotel, imparting to them the philosophy that every guest is of utmost importance.
He emphasized that at Budopist, 'noble' was not a term reserved for aristocracy, but a quality inherent in each patron of the hotel.
He instructed the staff to always wear a smile, ensuring that guests felt warmly welcomed, as if they were returning home.
Under Howard's guidance, the hotel developed the first set of comprehensive rules for establishments of its kind on the continent.
His regulations refined the hotel's policies.
He was the first to advocate the principle that "the customer is always right," which attracted considerable positive attention and admiration.
He further established behavioral standards such as "avoid direct eye contact with guests, but be attentive to all other details," "serve with humility but without subservience," and "strive for profitability while respecting guests' feelings and not being overbearing."
At Budopist Hotel, if a guest complained about the food or the wine, it was replaced unconditionally.
Thanks to suggestions from the foreign minister and Catherine, the hotel's clientele consisted of well-mannered and cultured individuals.
Elegance and politeness became synonymous with the guests of Budopist.
Yet, in line with Howard's firm insistence, the hotel's patrons spanned all classes.
Men and women, young and old, nobles and commoners, all dined side by side.
They tasted exquisite dishes, exchanged smiles, and transcended social barriers within the hospitable ambiance of Budopist Hotel.
The Budopist Hotel captured the attention of the entire continent and brought significant profits to Howard, who gradually came to be known as the pioneer of the hospitality industry.
With its rising fame, countless people from Oungria Kingdom flocked to the hotel daily, finding dining there a matter of prestige.
International visitors, including nobles, businessmen, and educators, traveled through land and sea routes, docking at Lagusa's port before heading to Pist, all eager to experience a meal at the Budopist Hotel.
During this venture, Howard met a diverse array of individuals.
On one occasion, a teacher approached Howard with a proposition: "I wish to make this place the learning center for our study group. As the King of Oungria, you can't refuse. If you do, it would be disrespectful, and I will organize our group members to rebel against you."
Howard found himself in a difficult position.
The group had significant influence on the continent.
Mishandling the situation could lead to substantial future troubles, as one should never underestimate the power of scholars.
However, agreeing to the request could adversely affect the hotel's business.
The content advocated by the study group might not be universally appreciated and could even be disliked by some.
Such a scenario could have severe repercussions, especially considering Howard's substantial investment in the hotel and his principle of welcoming all guests without discrimination.
Pondering over the situation, Howard was pressed by the teacher: "Have you made up your mind, Your Majesty? Our group is now a sought-after entity across the continent. I advise you to comply soon. Otherwise, an angry populace might rise in rebellion against you."
The waitstaff at the hotel, already displaying signs of anger, stood beside Howard, subtly surrounding the teacher.
Howard gestured to his employees to maintain respect towards the teacher, believing that as long as the study group wasn't overtly problematic or obviously wrong, their educators deserved respect and courteous treatment.
Howard managed a wry smile and said, "Please allow me some time to consider this matter. For now, I invite you, teacher, to dine with us. To show my respect for you, today's meal and drinks are on the house. Please enjoy the services of Budopist Hotel to the fullest."
As the teacher dined, other regular patrons entered the hotel.
Observing the vibrancy of the establishment, the teacher felt pleased with Howard's respect towards him.
Before leaving, he reassured Howard, "There's no rush on this matter."
Initially intending to leave, the teacher was requested by Howard to leave his name and contact information.
With a smile, the teacher introduced himself, "I am Martin, the organizer of this new study group. They call me the founder, but I don't like it. I believe our study group is driven by a love for learning. It wasn't created by me alone, but by the countless individuals who share this passion. Learning is our true purpose."
The patrons of the hotel paused, putting down their cutlery.
Some stared at Martin in amazement, others with skepticism, and some with joy.
Howard inquired, "Mr. Martin, how might I contact you again in the future?"
As Martin left the hotel, he mentioned that he would contact Howard when the time was right.
On another occasion, Charles, the King of Fran Kingdom, visited Pist.
Howard sent people to welcome him along the way.
On the Royal Road, a procession of luxurious and extravagant carriages progressed slowly.
The convoy, comprising seven carriages, was adorned with purple sandalwood and blue-violet floral decorations.
The coachmen were dignified and robust.
The curtains in the carriages, or rather the window drapes, were all embellished with the Capet family's coat of arms.
Against the blue background of the Capet family's colors, they exuded nobility and a clear, distinct aura.
It was an elegance that set them apart from other nobility.
The territorial changes in the Fran Kingdom had been many, largely due to the machinations of the Ing Empire.
Fran Kingdom and Ing Empire were historical adversaries.
Recently, the relationship between Fran Kingdom and the Empire had also deteriorated significantly.
When Howard met Charles, he greeted him with a hug, saying, "Charles, you really are something. When you came to help me that day, I knew you were extraordinary, full of the spirit to aid others. I just didn't expect you to become the King of Fran Kingdom so quickly."
There was a hint of melancholy in Charles's eyes as he replied, "I didn't want this either, but my father's health is failing."
Howard patted Charles's shoulder in consolation.
Opting to walk, Howard was joined by Charles, who also chose to proceed on foot.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l