hotmtlnovel Chapter 93
Chapter 93
“This is still in development, so it’s not available on the market yet. It should be officially launched around this fall.”
“Really? Then I’m the first person to receive a gift from Penelope! Wow, I’m so happy. Truly!”
Elizabeth beamed with joy, and seeing her so delighted filled Penelope with warmth.
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, “Is there anything else you’re developing, Penelope?”@@@@
“There’s one more thing, but once it’s finished, I’ll send it to you, Betty.”
“I bet it’s going to be something brilliant. Penelope, your ideas are amazing. I don’t know how you come up with such things.”
“Haha, well, thank you for the compliment...” Penelope laughed awkwardly, brushing off the question. She couldn’t exactly explain that she was using knowledge from her previous life—that would make her seem like a lunatic.
Elizabeth, carefully tucking the cosmetic set into her bag, suddenly pulled out a roll of papers from her pocket.
“I also have some good news for you, Penelope. Ta-da!”
She untied the ribbon and spread out the papers, revealing the title Durek Railway Project Plan.
Penelope’s eyes widened in shock. The Durek Railway was the very project that had brought her significant wealth.
Elizabeth, clearly proud, announced, “Isn’t it amazing? This railway will run across the entire continent, and Halo will be one of its stops.”
“...Really? I can’t believe it.”
Penelope, her hands trembling slightly, examined the documents Elizabeth handed her.
“Construction is set to begin this summer. By next fall at the latest, you should be able to take a train directly from the capital to Halo.”
“Oh my goodness...”
Penelope couldn’t close her mouth. What she had once only imagined was now becoming a reality. A railway connecting the capital to Halo would transform the territory overnight.
Even now, migrants were flocking to the northwestern part of the continent. If a train station were built in Halo, the population density would skyrocket.
Increased population would naturally lead to the growth of commerce, economics, banking, arts, culture, and education—all the necessary infrastructure for development.
This is my chance to turn Halo into a prime tourist destination, Penelope resolved. If the railway succeeded, her dream of early retirement could become a reality.
“So, what do you plan to gain by handing that over to Penelope?”
Ahwin’s cold voice abruptly cut through her thoughts, freezing Penelope in place. He was staring at Elizabeth with an icy gaze.
“There’s no way you’d give something away for free. What do you want from her?”
“...”
Elizabeth’s expression stiffened as she met Ahwin’s piercing eyes, her gaze tinged with bitter emotion.
She sighed deeply before replying, “It’s true that I don’t do things without a price. Investing in Halo is a calculated move for the future. But everything I’m proposing benefits Penelope.”
To succeed, one had to wage countless battles of wits against lords, knight orders, high priests, and bureaucrats.
Even the emperor and empress had territories they were personally responsible for governing.
If they made me do that, I’d run for the hills.
What good is royal status if you work yourself to death?
Penelope clicked her tongue inwardly.
Now that I think about it, the heroine is so pitiful. She only wanted revenge against the emperor who killed her, but instead, she ended up with the hardest job in the world.
Penelope felt a pang of sympathy for Elizabeth, imagining the weight she carried.
Ahwin, however, seemed utterly unfazed. Folding his arms, he asked,
“So? You want to use Penelope to build your power?”
“Of course! She’s capable, easy to communicate with, and exactly the kind of person the emperor and I desperately need right now.”
Elizabeth drained the rest of her beer and slammed the mug down with a forceful exhale. Her sharp gaze betrayed her frustration.
“Now are you satisfied? Everything I’m proposing benefits Penelope. For Halo to survive, it needs tunnels, railways—whatever it takes. Besides, with you by her side, there’s no way I’d propose something that would harm her.”
Ahwin scoffed and turned to Penelope. “You’ve heard enough, right? The decision is yours.”
“...”
Penelope swallowed hard. Saying “I’m not sure” seemed like an invitation for both Ahwin and Elizabeth to tear into her.
Elizabeth’s tone softened, almost coaxing.
“I promise, Penelope, I’ll do everything I can to make sure this benefits you. No noble would dare mistreat a lord the empress has personally shown interest in.”
Her eyes practically asked, You trust me, don’t you?
Penelope nodded quickly, sneaking a glance at both of them before hesitantly speaking.
“Well, I only have the authority of an acting lord at the moment...”
“Then I’ll grant you full authority as a lord. What else do you need? Tell me, and I’ll make it happen,” Elizabeth replied without hesitation.
A shiver of exhilaration ran through Penelope.
With one statement, the empress had officially recognized her as the true lord of Halo. With Elizabeth’s endorsement, no one would dare look down on her again.
Wow, this is what absolute power feels like. It’s thrilling.
A tingling sensation coursed down her spine.
In truth, extending the railway to Halo had been part of Penelope’s plan all along.
The fact that this monumental project—one that would have required half of Halo’s annual budget—was now being offered for free was nothing short of a miracle. There was no reason to refuse.