After seeing off Xio and Fors, Lorne took out his ledger and began to deal with the backlog of work.
Currently, the integration of the various newly acquired factories was still in the initial exploration stage, resulting in a lot of work that required him, the boss, to personally make decisions on.
"To go a step further, I'm afraid I'll have to wait for the Captain's side to sell the first batch of arms."
"Fifteen workers in the cutting workshop have contracted the flu—" A report from the parts processing factory caught Lorne's attention.
"It seems the environment in East Borough is getting worse and worse—" He leaned back in his chair and sighed in a low voice.
At the end of the report, the factory manager even subtly suggested that in order to "prevent the epidemic from spreading and affecting production" and "save costs," they could consider firing the sick workers directly.
"No." He immediately rejected the proposal. He was not a capitalist of this era; he knew very well that for these workers struggling on the line of survival, losing their jobs was equivalent to being sentenced to death.
"But they certainly can't continue working in their current state, and they might even infect others." Lorne's fingers unconsciously tapped the desk, falling into a dilemma.
"Let them go back and rest first. Once they're better, they can return to work. You can give them some subsidies privately."
Having done all this, he did not feel relaxed. It was common for workers in this era to fall ill; he had dealt with fifteen today, but tomorrow it could be fifty or a hundred. This was not a long-term solution.
"Is there a treatment method that is both efficient and cheap?" he murmured to himself, falling into deep thought.
Knock, knock, knock!
A crisp knocking sound suddenly came from the window, interrupting Lorne's thoughts. His heart stirred, and he tentatively asked in a low voice toward the window, "Uh—Teacher Sharon?"
"It's me."
Accompanied by a cold voice, Sharon, wearing a black Gothic court dress, slowly emerged from the shadows by the window.
"It's study time."
Lorne glanced out the window at the sky, which was now completely dark with only crimson moonlight spilling down, and his mouth twitched slightly.
Do "Wraiths" all prefer to go out and teach at night? This schedule is really—
"I heard from Marich that you asked him to help supervise?" Sharon asked.
"That's right. He just plays cards with those Zombies anyway, so he might as well come out and help me." Lorne did not hide it. Then, he changed the subject, "Teacher Sharon, you'd better—not come to see me for the next two days."
"..."
"..."
*Stare~*
Sharon looked Lorne up and down, then looked around before asking, "Are you afraid I'll disturb you?"
Why does it feel like there's a hidden meaning in your words—Lorne, who was feeling a bit creeped out by her gaze, shrugged and briefly recounted the matter of digging up Will Auceptin's body.
"I'm afraid official Beyonders will come to investigate this matter recently, so it's better if you avoid them for now—"
"I understand." Sharon nodded, her expression seeming to relax slightly.
But following the principle of "since I'm already here," Sharon still began her teaching work.
During this period, Lorne also mentioned his hope to explore that fourth epoch tomb with Sharon, and Sharon did not refuse.
"By the way, Teacher Sharon, do you know of any cost-effective treatment methods? For ordinary people." Lorne moved the "Book of Secrets" in front of him and asked.
"There are corresponding records in the 'Book of Secrets'."
Because the author of this book was a powerful "Shaman King," there were also many ritual magics related to healing in it.
"Those methods won't work." Lorne shook his head.
He couldn't possibly take spirituality materials, draw various mystical symbols, and use ritual magic to treat dozens of workers; if he did that, within three days, the Nighthawks or Punishers would be at his door to "check the gas meter."
"Then you can look for an Apothecary."
An Apothecary—that won't work either. Lorne shook his head inwardly. An Apothecary's medicine was never cheap; even if it was diluted for the workers, the cost would be ridiculously high. He wasn't that wealthy yet.
He briefly explained the workers' illness to Sharon.
"Then perhaps you could go to the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess." Sharon gave another suggestion.
"Church of the Earth Mother Goddess?"
"Yes. In terms of healing and saving lives, they are the most experienced." Sharon said certainly.
"But it should be hard to find people from the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess in Loen, right?" Lorne shook his head slightly.
"Not really. There is an Earth Mother cathedral in Backlund."
Hearing this, Lorne was somewhat surprised. He didn't expect the three major churches to allow the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess to establish a cathedral in the capital.
"That is the only one in Backlund. According to the information I know, the Bishop there has a good reputation and might be willing to provide you with some help."
"Understood. Thank you for the explanation, Teacher Sharon~" Lorne thanked her sincerely.
The two entered a state of exchange and study again, and the night outside the office grew deeper.
!!!
Just then, Lorne's movement suddenly paused, and he abruptly looked up, his gaze sharp as he looked out the window.
"What's wrong?" Sharon noticed his abnormality.
"It seems... someone is coming."
"The Premonition of Disaster isn't strong. It feels... like someone from the official side."
"Teacher Sharon, please avoid them for a moment."
"Mm, be careful." Sharon nodded slightly, quickly putting away the occult books, and her figure vanished. "Old man, you say there's more than one Beyonder in this office?"
Leonard stood in the shadows around the factory, staring at the office not far away that was still lit, and asked in a low voice.
"This couldn't be a trap, could it?"
"I just observed that James Scott at the party two days ago, and today I received a mission to come and question him."
"Didn't you take this mission on your own initiative?" Pales's old and playful voice sounded in his mind.
"I—I just wanted to complete the observation mission I didn't finish last time! And didn't you say James Scott's side was safer? The other person is a member of some guild and has a certain understanding with the Church, so it's a bit inappropriate to investigate directly." Leonard retorted.
"I'm old; even an old man misjudges things occasionally. You have to be understanding," Pales said slowly.
"You—" Leonard paused and asked again, "Have they discovered me now?"
"Probably not. You have no ill intent, and you have my cover."
Hearing this, he looked up at the crimson moon in the sky and tapped four times clockwise on his chest.
"Praise the Goddess."
He decided to wait a bit longer and act when the night was deeper.
"Strange, why isn't there any movement at all?"
"There's definitely someone nearby, but they just won't come in—"
Lorne sat at his desk, pretending nothing was happening, organizing the documents on the desk, appearing like a diligent man working late into the night.
"Teacher Sharon, leave first—" he said in an extremely low voice.
A moment later, he felt Sharon's spirituality response disappear completely.
Another half hour passed, and Lorne picked up a ledger, bringing it close to the dim light of the gas lamp, pretending to study it carefully.
Suddenly, the scene before his eyes blurred, and an intense drowsiness struck without warning, his eyelids instantly becoming heavy.
So sleepy—is this the official's method?
He didn't feel much ill intent; the Premonition of Disaster wasn't strong. Moreover, he didn't think the Church would kill him, the currently popular "hero of the east district," at this juncture. Thinking of this, he simply followed the drowsiness, closed his eyes, and slumped on the desk.
Lorne suddenly realized that he seemed to have entered a dream.
—
Pulling someone into a dream—the ability of a "Nightmare" that the Captain had mentioned.
Because I was prepared in advance, did I end up having a lucid dream—
A moment later, the office door in the dream opened with a "creak." A figure wearing a black coat slowly walked in.
He saw that familiar face with black hair and green eyes.
The moment he saw the other person, Lorne almost failed to control his expression.
Why is it you again?!