Lord of the Sky City

Rocky really hadn't expected that just after his return to Thunderhawk City, he would receive a message from the Azure Commerce Guild, especially one inquiring about how much food he wanted to buy.

This couldn't help but amuse Rocky a bit. It seemed the Azure Commerce Guild still had no awareness; after that last unpleasant trade, did they really think they had Thunderhawk City under their thumb?

In reality, Thunderhawk City no longer needed to conduct any trade with the Azure Commerce Guild, because Aileen had already negotiated a deal with another chamber in Eternal City long before.

This chamber was called the Ruby Chamber of Commerce, a newly established business with its headquarters in Eternal City. Although smaller in scale compared to the Azure Commerce Guild, precisely because of this, they wouldn't bully their clients.

Also, being newly established, the Ruby Chamber of Commerce also urgently needed a steady, major client like Thunderhawk City. In the eyes of the Azure Commerce Guild, Thunderhawk was just a minor client, but to the Ruby Chamber of Commerce, Thunderhawk could be considered a major client.

Therefore, when Aileen approached them, they agreed to her terms right away, not only agreeing to supply the necessary food and yarn steadily but also at a much more favorable price than the Azure Commerce Guild.

With this in place, there was absolutely no need for Thunderhawk City to cooperate with the Azure Commerce Guild anymore.

However, Rocky did not do so.

"Aileen," he said, "tell the people from the Azure Commerce Guild that we need the food supply as per the previous years' amounts, and the sooner the better. As for the price, we'll discuss it later; just get the food here quickly."

"My lord, what did you say?"

Blinking at Rocky, Aileen doubted if she had heard correctly. "My lord, we have already settled with the Ruby Chamber of Commerce. They will deliver this year's food supply in three days, and I have already paid the deposit."

Although Thunderhawk City had returned to the vicinity of Eternal City, the city did not immediately leave, the reason being that in a few days, the Ruby Chamber of Commerce would be delivering the food. Therefore, Aileen couldn't understand why Rocky still wanted the Azure Commerce Guild to transport food.

"I know, I just want to see what the Azure Commerce Guild's food supply looks like this year."

With a sly grin, Rocky told her not to ask too much and just do as he said.

Aileen, being exceedingly clever, immediately understood what Rocky was up to and subsequently shook her head helplessly, the words "childish…" popping into her mind.

Although in her thoughts she found Rocky's approach quite childish, her heart was brimming with glee because she too was eager to see the expression on Jia Xi's face—the old pervert who tried to take advantage of them—when he arrived in Thunderhawk City laden with food.

Having discussed the matter with the Azure Commerce Guild, Aileen didn't leave right away, because what she had to talk about next was more serious.

"My lord, the notice for the training class has been posted."

"Oh? How has the response been?"

Upon hearing this from Aileen, Rocky immediately asked.

Previously, he had already hired two technicians from the Technician Guild, and he had them start teaching in Thunderhawk City. He had introduced this training class for the residents to learn leather-making skills, which is what Aileen was referring to.

Early this morning, Rocky had people post notices throughout the urban areas of Thunderhawk City, hoping the residents would eagerly sign up to learn new skills, and all courses were free of charge.

Yet faced with his eager expectations, Aileen indeed looked at him helplessly and then shook her head. "My lord, the residents' response... isn't too enthusiastic." Experience new tales on мѵʟ

Looking at Rocky, Aileen, though reluctant to dampen his enthusiasm, still had to tell the truth, because the reality was as she said – the response to the notice posted by the City Lord's Mansion was lukewarm, and no one had signed up all morning.

This was actually to be expected, as the residents of Thunderhawk City had long been accustomed to a lifestyle of men plowing fields and women weaving at home, and no one thought there was anything wrong with this way of living, so no one was willing to attend any training classes.

"Sir, I think you should just issue an order directly, commanding the town's residents to attend the training classes, as this would be more effective," he said.

Looking at Rocky, Aileen expressed her thoughts.

Setting up training classes was not a problem, after all, leather manufacturing was a new technology for Thunderhawk City, and the residents indeed needed to learn to master it, but Aileen never understood why registration had to be voluntary?

As the City Lord, Rocky could simply issue an order about what he wanted the residents to do, and who in the town would dare to disobey the City Lord's command? One must remember, in this era, the residents of Sky City do not look up and see the sky, it is the City Lord of Sky City who is their sky!

Yet, Rocky did not do so, he insisted on having the residents sign up voluntarily, a practice Aileen could not understand.

"A twisted melon is not sweet..."

Aileen's misunderstanding was something that Rocky actually understood quite well; in fact, he really could make everyone in the city learn the new technology with a single command, but he did not wish to do so.

It was not because of kindness, but because he had a longer-term plan in mind.

He hoped to use this reform to cultivate the residents' initiative, allowing them to voluntarily accept and even proactively seek reform, as that would make future matters easier to handle.

So, after pondering for a moment, Rocky said to Aileen, "Aileen, immediately send someone to change the announcement. Tell the residents that the deadline for this training session is one week from now. After this time, they will have to wait for the next session."

"This... Sir, are you sure we should do this?"

Rocky's words caused Aileen's eyes to widen in disbelief.

The current situation was that no one was willing to attend the training classes. Under such circumstances, setting a registration deadline would only reduce attendance even more, Aileen thought, finding herself increasingly unable to understand Rocky's ideas.

Yet, faced with her confusion, Rocky did not offer much of an explanation. He only asked Aileen to follow his instructions, believing that it would not take long, at most after the first training session, for the residents of Thunderhawk City to change their minds about the training.

"Sir!"

Just then, as Rocky and Aileen were discussing the training class, Liliya hurried over.

"Liliya, what's the matter?"

Seeing Liliya hurrying towards him, Rocky frowned. She should be with the Guard Corps at this time, so why had she suddenly come to him?

By now, Liliya had reached Rocky, and then she said to him with a smile, "Sir, Monte is leaving..."

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