Chapter 107: The Economists' Ecstasy!
Every evening, thick, heavy Clouds and Mist gather in the sky over the Sea Surface. The Sunset can only find tiny gaps to shoot out streaks of Crimson Sunset Glow.
Perhaps influenced by the sky outside the window, the Cabin, despite being lit by Electric Light, still appeared somewhat dim.
This was an Official's Dedicated Seaship flying the World Government Flag. Far ahead, a massive Red Line wall stood towering into the Clouds and Mist, its peak completely out of sight.
At this moment, over a dozen Ships identical to it were sailing on the nearby Sea Surface. They all came from various Kingdoms or City Islands across different Sea Areas.
[Thump thump thump]
Inside the Cabin, John, with coffee-colored curly hair and many freckles on his face, wearing a plain bright yellow Suit, gently knocked on a door.
"Please come in."
"Teacher, those people said we'll arrive in forty minutes," John said as he entered the room, closing the door behind him. He looked respectfully at Professor Smith.
"Alright, I understand."
The latter, sitting in a chair, looked up and nodded kindly. He then stood up, put the cap back on his fountain pen, and began tidying the Text Materials on the desk.
"Let me help you, Teacher."
John quickly walked over to help organize. Professor Smith smiled at this and didn't refuse, instead asking, "I heard the World Government didn't originally call for you; you volunteered. Can you tell me why?"
John showed a shy smile and said, "There are mainly two reasons. One is that I don't want to be separated from you, Teacher, as I haven't finished your classes yet. The other is, as you know, I'm very interested in Currency. I thought coming here this time would allow me to observe the issuance of Berry up close."
Both of them hailed from the Kingdom of Kockardy in the North Blue. It was a large Island with a land area about half the size of the Alabasta Kingdom.
It was also the most modernized and prosperous Nation in the entire North Blue in recent times. Gentlemen in Suits and Leather Boots and Ladies in Long Dresses and High Heels were seen everywhere. It also boasted self-sufficient Production Industry, Universities, and Banks.
If a Transmigrator's starting point were here, they might think they had transmigrated to 18th-century London, England.
The prosperous Economy, coupled with modernized Military Equipment, gave their Army the Firepower to easily defend against Pirate raids. Its National Strength was also among the top tier of all Affiliated Countries.
Naturally, it became a key target for the World Government's requisition of Administration and Financial Talent this time, especially the Cambridge King's University in this Kingdom, which was of utmost importance.
Professor Smith was the most renowned Economist and Great Economic Planner at that University. This professor, already nearing sixty, spent nearly forty years building the entire Financial Industry for the Kingdom of Kockardy and, based on the Nation's Economic Foundation and Environmental Resources at the time, pointed out many Construction Goals and Development Plans.
So, when the World Government Officials' Ship arrived at this Kingdom and requested the King of Great Britain to requisition Professor Smith to serve in the Finance Department, there was some resistance.
However, just as the atmosphere between the two sides became serious, the professor voluntarily agreed.
"Is that so? It seems you're like me. I also want to see more Economic Entities from a higher position," Professor Smith said with a smile.
"I thought before that using a lifetime's worth of learning for just one Nation was too narrow and too regrettable. I didn't expect them to actually come looking. I always thought the World Government didn't pay much attention to economic matters."
After tidying the Text Materials, the two took their respective Leather Bags and left the room, heading to the spacious Main Cabin to gather with others. Looking around, there were easily one or two hundred people.
Although their attire, Skin Color, Pupil, and Hair Style varied, like a group of people from different Eras inexplicably gathered together, every single person's eyes revealed Wisdom and Intellectuality.
These individuals were all Elites, Luminaries, and Scholars in the fields of politics and Economy, possessing varying degrees of fame in their respective Kingdoms.
However, unless they were from the same Kingdom, due to Communication Difficulties between Islands, even though they were all active in the same Industry Field, they were completely strangers to each other.
This also led to the large gathering having no Noisy Conversation, only the sound of Breathing. This display of High Quality behavior made the Maritime Affairs Officers responsible for management very relaxed and satisfied.
About fifty minutes later.
Professor Smith, along with John and over a hundred Scholars from the Kingdom of Kockardy, followed the crowd down the Deck and officially stepped onto this town, known as Red Port because of its proximity to the Red Line.
"So many people, so many Ships... Are they all Scholars?"
John excitedly scanned left and right, seeing Ships flying the World Government Flag docked at the Port. And from each Ship, a group of men and women exuding an intellectual aura disembarked.
"That should be the case."
Professor Smith nodded, narrowing his eyes and looking up at the Red Line, which was so close and so massive that it instilled Fear in one's Heart.
Soon, a group of Officials from the Ministry of Finance arrived and stated that they would be leading the way from now on.
However, Professor Smith was called out separately and, along with nine other unfamiliar Scholars, became the first group to ride the Bubble Ship.
Professor Smith and the others then walked in line through the Prosperous Town inside, and then took turns riding the Bubble Ship, slowly ascending along the wall of the Red Line to the very top. This process alone took over half an hour, as the Height of the Red Line was several thousand meters.
"It seems impossible to get everyone up before tonight. Notify them to prepare enough rooms!" the Official riding the Bubble Ship with Professor Smith and the others said into a Transponder Snail.
"Yes, Vice Minister."
"You are the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance?"
Smith waited for the other party to put the Transponder Snail back in his pocket before asking. The latter turned around and smiled warmly, "Yes, my name is Jeliff. I'll have to ask for Professor Smith's guidance in the future. Our Ministry of Finance has collected all of your previous Writings!"
"That is my honor. However, why would a Vice Minister like yourself personally come to lead the way?"
The eyes of the other nine Scholars also showed confusion.
Vice Minister Jeliff smiled and said, "Ordinary people certainly aren't qualified for me to come, but you are all scholars recognized by our Ministry of Finance as the most top-tier, and you will also be members of the 'Celestial Tribute Collection and Management Committee'. So, I volunteered to be the guide to get acquainted with everyone in advance."
Smith and the ten Economists subconsciously pondered the keywords they heard and asked, "So our next job is related to the Heavenly Tribute. What do we need to do?"
"Reform the 'Heavenly Tribute'! Change the current unified collection system to a proportional allocation charge. What you need to do is provide us with a Quota Table based on the Payment Capacity, Productivity, Population, and other Economic Foundations of all Affiliated Countries!"
"..."
Upon hearing Vice Minister Jeliff's words, Professor Smith and the ten Economists were all shaken in their Hearts, their eyes lighting up.
They had long seen that the current Heavenly Tribute Collection System was very unreasonable, yet it hadn't been improved for hundreds of years. And now, the World Government was finally going to change it, and they were specifically looking for them to be personally responsible for the Reform!
Surprise!
Professor Smith, in particular, felt ecstasy. He felt that his lifetime of learning could finally be fully utilized on the world stage.
"The direction of this Reform is: large Nations pay more, small Nations pay less; wealthy Nations pay more, poor Nations pay less, or can even pay nothing. But we will plan economic development for them so that even the poor Nations who cannot afford the Heavenly Tribute after the Reform will one day be able to pay it. There are still four years until the next Reverie. It's not short, but it's not long either. Please give it your all!"
"Yes!"
The ten most top-tier Economists in the World, with an average age of around forty-five, were flushed with excitement.
Thank you to Hen Mang Reader for the 3000 Qidian Coin Tip! Bows! Thank you for your encouragement, support, and long comments and opinions!
I wonder if the Readers who Tip are mostly career fans of the protagonist?
(End of this chapter)