Lucas didn't expect a flood of people rushing to borrow books from the library. His vision was more humble, more intimate—a haven for those too poor to afford books but burning with a desire to learn. The thought stirred a quiet warmth in his chest, a flicker of pride in offering something so rare in this era. The library wasn't about profit; it was about planting seeds of knowledge, a subtle power that could shift the tides of Sedona City's future.
"Master, should we name this book?" Annie asked, her delicate fingers flipping through the pages of the literacy primer, her fox ears twitching with curiosity. The faint scent of ink and fresh paper filled the air, and Camilla, standing quietly nearby, felt a shiver of excitement at the sight of the book, her mind racing with the possibilities it represented.
"Let's call it *Primer of a Hundred Words*," Lucas said with a soft chuckle, his voice carrying a warmth that made Camilla's heart skip. The book, a mere ten pages, contained just over a hundred words, perfectly suited to its name. The movable type printing blocks, still large and clunky, had birthed this simple yet revolutionary tool.
"And this one?" Annie asked, picking up the second book, its pages slightly denser with text. Her brown eyes sparkled with intrigue, and Camilla couldn't help but lean closer, drawn to the moment's quiet intensity.
"*Primer of a Hundred Words, Volume Two*," Lucas replied, his lips curving into a playful smile. He'd skimmed the book earlier; its words were slightly more complex that demanded a sharper mind. The simplicity of his naming convention amused him.
"Eh?" Annie's eyes widened, her fox ears flicking in surprise. "So, if there's another, it'll be *Volume Three*?" Her voice held a teasing lilt, and Camilla felt a spark of warmth at the playful exchange, her own curiosity piqued by the dynamic in the room.
"Exactly," Lucas said with a nod, his tone light but firm. "All books of this series will follow that pattern." His decisiveness was magnetic.
"Master, will the library only have this one book?" Annie asked, holding up the *Primer of a Hundred Words*, her fingers brushing the cover with a reverence that mirrored Camilla's own fascination.
"Of course not," Lucas said, rolling his eyes with a playful smirk. He leaned forward, his movements deliberate as he pulled open a desk drawer, revealing a thick stack of papers. The scent of parchment and ink wafted up, intoxicating in its promise of knowledge. "These are stories and life lessons I've translated from… elsewhere," He said, his voice low, almost secretive. "Take them to the printing institute and have them all printed."
"Yes, master," Annie said, her fox ears perking as she accepted the stack, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement. She flipped through the pages, noting the tiny, precise script—half the size of the printed text. Her mind raced; this stack could yield a dozen books, a treasure trove for any lover of words. She thought of Helen, the rabbit-eared teacher, whose eyes would light up at such a bounty. Camilla, watching silently, felt a pang of envy mixed with wonder, her body tingling at the thought of so much knowledge within reach.
Lucas leaned back, his gaze distant as he considered the library's role. It was a small venture, a side project compared to his true focus: newspapers. With Sedona City's literacy rate soaring to an astonishing fifty percent—a feat unheard of in other rural cities—the time was ripe for a press. Newspapers weren't just about information; they were a weapon, a way to shape minds and control narratives.
Who should lead the newspaper? Lucas's mind churned, his fingers tapping the desk rhythmically. He'd oversee it initially, but he needed someone to take the reins eventually. Helen, the rabbit-eared girl, was his first choice—her sharp mind and love for words made her ideal—but she was already entrenched in the education system. A flicker of frustration crossed his face.
"Mina," Lucas said, turning to the cat-eared maid, his voice low and commanding. "Who in Sedona City is highly literate? Someone who knows a vast number of words and can write well." His eyes locked onto hers.
The newspaper needed writers, at least one or two to start, crafting articles while the safety bureau fed them rumors and tidbits. But as Sedona City grew, a single editor wouldn't suffice. Reporters, editors—a whole industry would emerge, and Lucas's vision was already stretching toward that future.
Mina frowned, her cat ears twitching as she pondered. "I'd need to investigate, master," She said, shaking her head. "I don't have a name offhand." Her voice was soft but firm.
"Do it immediately," Lucas ordered. Newspapers were non-negotiable; they were his mouthpiece, a tool to shape public perception and guide choices. In his mind, he saw the chaos of Earth's marketing accounts—posts praising a celebrity one moment, vilifying them the next, with crowds swayed by every word. Newspapers here would be even more potent, their authority unquestioned in an era where knowledge was scarce.
"Yes, master," Mina said, nodding solemnly. In truth, she had a candidate in mind but needed to confirm their suitability before presenting them to Lucas.
Lucas's thoughts drifted to Earth's media, where marketing accounts manipulated opinions with ease. Newspapers here could wield even greater power, shaping the minds of a populace with limited knowledge. The core of this power was movable type printing, a secret he guarded fiercely. If it spread, rival presses would spring up, diluting his control.
"The secrecy of movable type printing is now elevated to Level A," Lucas said, his brow furrowing, his voice low and serious. Sedona City had four secrecy levels—A, B, C, D—with B previously covering printing. Now, it joined the military workshop as a top-tier A-level secret, a move that underscored its importance.
"Yes, master," Mina replied, her tone grave. She understood the weight of an A-level secret.
"Establish the Sedona News Agency next to the security bureau on the commercial street," Lucas said.
"News agency?" The word was foreign, and everyone in the room froze, their eyes wide with curiosity. Annie's fox ears twitched.
"Master, what's a news agency?" Annie asked, her voice soft but eager, her ears quivering with intrigue. Camilla leaned forward slightly, her brown eyes fixed on Lucas.
"It's a fascinating place," Lucas said, his lips curling into a sly smile. He grabbed a sheet of paper and began sketching, his fingers moving with a deliberate grace that captivated her. He was designing the layout for the first newspaper, *Sedona City News*, a foundation for future expansions or perhaps a *Siacan News*.
Annie opened her mouth to ask more but stopped, seeing Lucas engrossed in his work, his pen scratching furiously. She sighed softly, her fox ears drooping slightly, and began drafting plans for the library, a habit she'd picked up from Lucas's meticulous approach. The room hummed with quiet purpose, the air thick with the scent of ink and ambition.
Mina pulled a strip of fried fish from a drawer, nibbling it as she slipped out to investigate her candidate, her cat ears flicking with determination.
"A fascinating place?" Nicole murmured, tilting her head, her voice soft and contemplative. Lucas's innovations were always surprising, and she shook her head with a smile, trusting his vision. She beckoned to Camilla, her movements graceful. "Come, let's handle today's castle affairs."
Camilla blinked, her brown eyes darting to Lucas, who was lost in his work, his focus almost palpable. She hurried after Nicole, her skirts swishing softly as she left the study. The beast-eared girls and Nicole moved with an unspoken understanding, leaving Lucas to his work—a silent pact born of respect and trust.
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