Lord of Industrialization

"Aleppo, tell me a joke."

"Sir, your nickname among the people of the Kingdom of Sardinia is 'Grand Duke of Red Eggplant'."

Frederick was chilled by this joke, and felt that the air-conditioning in the carriage was not needed.

These days, he has felt the Sardinians' fanatical love for red eggplants, mainly because most people here eat noodles as their staple food, and a spoonful of red eggplant sauce beats countless condiments.

In recent years, the Kingdom of Sardinia has imported a large number of red eggplant seeds from the Duchy of Wessen because the climate is better and the yield is high.

However, the Kingdom of Sardinia does not export any red eggplants, but continues to import canned food from the Duchy of Wessen.

This land is like a black hole of red eggplants, which can never be filled.

Frederick didn't want to listen to the joke anymore. Seeing that he was still far away from the Borromeo Library, he asked Aleppo: "What's the news in the city recently?"

Aleppo asked: "Sir, are you really going to build a railway to Fira?"

Frederick blinked and said: "Go on."

Aleppo said: "Many people have seen the secret message you wrote to Mr. Ludovico. His Majesty Francesco asked me to ask privately whether there is such a thing."

Frederick couldn't understand. He just wrote a play outline, how could it become a secret message for building a railway?

He was silent for a moment and replied: "You report it. Those are just play outlines. Don't read too much."

"But it is forbidden to disclose any information about this matter to the outside world."

Frederick didn't know how this matter was misunderstood by others, but judging from the king's reaction, it was not a small matter. It was estimated that the Venetians had already known about it.

When he started chatting with Ludovico that day, he knew where Fira was, and speculated that the railway there would be the same as that to Venice.

This was an unexpected event, and maybe it could be used.

Before arriving at the Borromeo Library, Frederick said nothing, thinking about the possible impact of this incident.

The Borromeo Library is quite large, with a five-story main building and three three-story auxiliary buildings on the left, right, and back.

The library has been in decline for a long time now. There are other libraries in the city to go to. There are no readers here. The three auxiliary buildings originally for visiting scholars are rented to merchants from other places. The main building is usually closed.

There are only a few old priests left as managers. Today, only an old monk named Anthony can come out to greet Frederick. Others have difficulty walking.

Frederick arranged for someone to come in advance and gave them some money to hire someone to clean up. Now the library is still tidy.

The layout of the several floors in the library is the same. The vast hall is full of bookcases and desks are placed against the wall.

There are many glass windows about one meter high and half a meter wide on the wall, and thin iron branches are inlaid with half a palm-sized transparent glass.

But now only these glass windows remain, the rest have been sold for money to make ends meet, and the window holes are sealed with wooden boards.

Frederick opened a bookcase, and a strong pungent herbal smell came out.

This herb is used to repel mice and insects. Such a strong smell means that the bookcase has not been opened for a long time, and the smell means that it is replaced regularly.

Take out a book and flip through it. It is well stored and not worm-eaten.

Frederick nodded with satisfaction, and Anthony breathed a sigh of relief. These books are the most valuable in the library.

Frederick turned to Anthony and asked, "Have you sold the books?"

Anthony said seriously, "We are all orphans. Archbishop Borromeo adopted us and we have always regarded him as our father."

"Before he died, he asked us to keep these books well, so that the knowledge in them can be put to use and not become decorations in the bookcases of rich people."

"We heard that you built the Edelweiss Library and that you are Aunt Psyche's student, so we think these books can be given to you."

Frederick nodded and asked, "Do you think I should keep these books here or transport them back to the Edelweiss Library?"

Anthony bowed his head and said, "It's up to you."

Frederick thought for a while and said, "Then let's exchange books. Some books will be transported over and some more books will be added."

"You still live here, and I will hire someone to take care of you."

Anthony thanked him immediately.

What he feared most was that Frederick would buy the library and then drive them away.

Frederick said, "Let's go to the second floor."

He was a little worried that Anthony and the others put all the good books on the first floor for him to see, and put those that were eaten by insects and rats upstairs.

The layout of the second floor was the same, but there were readers here today.

A girl of eighteen or nineteen sat by the window and quietly flipped through a book. The sun shone on her long golden brown hair, as beautiful as a painting.

Frederick then randomly checked several book boxes, and the books inside were basically intact.

When he came to the third floor, Frederick asked Anthony, "Does the reader on the second floor come here often before?"

Anthony replied, "She just came this morning. This is the first time I've seen her."

Frederick turned his head and winked at Aleppe, who understood and left.

When Frederick came to the fifth floor, Aleppe came back.

Aleppe reported in a low voice: "Her name is Bili Rei, she is 21 years old this year, and she is a well-known businessman in Milan."

"The Rei family was originally a merchant family of some size in the city. Fourteen years ago, a fire broke out in their home. Except for a servant who risked his life to save her, all the family members were burned to death."

"The Rei family's property was managed by her uncle, but it was actually embezzled."

"Before she was seventeen, she was just an ordinary-looking girl. That year, she suddenly submitted the evidence collected over the years to the court. She finally won the case and not only regained her family property, but also took over the property of her uncle's family."

"In the past few years, the Rey family's business has become more and more prosperous under her hands."

Frederick asked in a low voice: "Don't you think it's a coincidence?"

Aleppe nodded, what a coincidence.

Frederick frowned and thought for a while, then said, "I even doubt whether she is the real Beli Rey."

"Speak to the Duke of Milan and investigate secretly."

Aleppe asked: "Do you think there was something wrong with the fire that year?"

Frederick replied: "In another time and place, I would not be so suspicious."

"His Majesty Francisco knows about the railway trip last night. There is no reason why the city of Venice doesn't know about it."

"I don't have an itinerary. The only place I'm sure I'll be found is here, and it's almost undefended."

Aleppe has been a killer for many years and has rich experience. He nodded and said, "That's true. I would do the same thing if I chose a place that comes into contact with the goods."

Frederick curled his lips and said, "Let's go, let's just pretend we don't know anything."

He went downstairs, deliberately walked around the second floor, and then left.

Soon after, Anthony called a group of people over and cursed: "Why did you work the day before yesterday? The top of the bookcase was not wiped clean, and there is still dust on the window sill."

"Hurry up and get ready. If Archduke Wesson comes over the day after tomorrow and sees this again, let's see if I don't let him beat you to death for being lazy after you've paid enough!"