Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 444 - 442: Many Things Need to be Changed

Chapter 444: Chapter 442: Many Things Need to be Changed

At the westernmost point, there was a gigantic harbor where a deep-sea vessel blared its sharp whistle, setting off towards the deep-sea area to fish.

In this world, marine biological creatures could survive in illuminated zones, and massive amounts of algae also bred there. Marine creatures often grew incredibly large, commonly seeing a type of giant octopus named "Antima," each weighing several hundred tons.

These marine creatures provided Giant Stone City with precious food and fish oil. However, capturing these giant octopuses involved significant risk, whether it was from the turbulent sea itself or the marine animals. Previously, before the advent of giant steel wheels, Humans couldn’t capture such enormous creatures.

There were also some slave traders at the docks nearby, selling slaves from unknown origins. Shackled men and women expressionlessly disembarked from ships as if they had accepted their fate.

At the farthest end of the street, on a small hill, stood a resplendent castle, which was Zhang Yuan’s destination.

It was a world with a vast disparity between the rich and the poor.

"Sir, please, give me some wine! Even leftovers would do," a beggar desperately pleaded in front of a tavern.

"Get lost!" A series of whip cracks sounded on the ground.

People saw Zhang Yuan’s steam vehicle and could not help but reveal their envy and complex emotions.

This was the trend of the era.

No matter where you came from, which era you belonged to, or what grand ambitions you had, you could only adapt to the trend, unable to forcibly reverse it.

Zhang Yuan sighed softly, temporarily powerless to rescue all the "slaves." Even though he was an "Earl," he couldn’t overthrow an entire era on his own. Every system’s emergence had its unique historical significance.

It was impossible to speak to these people about ideals, morals, or so-called empathy. The economic foundation dictated the superstructure; without higher productivity, systemic changes could not be realized.

The driver honked the horn twice with a "beep beep," and the noisy crowd dispersed, with no one daring to recklessly come up to beg. In people’s minds, only the wealthiest nobles could afford such a steam vehicle. Across at the harbor, a voluptuous woman even threw a coquettish glance at the young handsome man in the car... perhaps dreaming of being noticed by him, even if just for a one-night stand.

About half an hour later, the car arrived at its destination, and Zhang Yuan stepped heavily into the grand entrance of the Duke Mansion. Accompanied by eternal night, the air nearby carried a slightly oppressive aroma.

However, the interior of the Duke Mansion was spectacularly opulent, its bright lights illuminating every corner, perpetually undimmed 24 hours a day.

No one liked the dark; dim lighting was considered a sign of a noble’s decline...

As he walked through the gate, a girl hurried over and affectionately took Zhang Yuan’s arm. She was his sister in this world—Anna.

He didn’t know why, but the world always seemed to provide him with a sister with big, lovely eyes, just like Wang Nana from his previous life.

"It’s been a long time, Anna. How’s the business at Candy Company?" Zhang Yuan’s heart softened when he saw his cute sister.

"Brother, do you care about the company more than I do?" Anna frowned, complaining softly.

"Ha ha, I already know you are very good, but I still don’t know how our Candy Company is doing."

Zhang Yuan knew that this little sister was not as naive and lively as she appeared on the surface, but rather was sullen in secret. Candy in this world was a luxury, only affordable by the wealthy. How could it have been passed smoothly from their father’s plantation, factories, and business to a simple girl?

Because Zhang Yuan had a bit of autism when he was younger, his father had raised this sister as the successor, so Anna essentially took over the management of the family’s various factories.

It was not until his autism had recovered and Zhang Yuan demonstrated his own talents that their father decided to pass the title and wealth to his eldest son. After all, in this world, titles were mostly inherited by males, not females.

Every time she thought about the property she had painstakingly managed and was about to be taken by her brother, Anna always felt a sense of unwillingness... Or perhaps it was some girlfriends and subordinates chattering in her ear. Even though this subtle hostility was well masked by feigned closeness, Zhang Yuan still sensed it.

According to the usual novel plots, it was time at this ball, in front of all the nobles, to activate the "Golden Finger" and take back all the shares. Ever since Earl Niu Taidun brought genuine technological enlightenment to this world two hundred years ago, all the nobles understood the power of technology. With the "Golden Finger" in hand, it was too easy to impress and slap faces.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan gently picked up Anna and happily spun her around, just like when they were children, both of them laughing together.

"Brother, what kind of girl do you like?" Anna asked with a slightly complex expression.

Nobles like them theoretically should have arranged marriages, but Zhang Yuan was an exception because of his autism early on.

Real nobles wouldn’t want to marry their daughter to a fool, and Zhang Yuan’s father did not want to just pick any girl of the first status to arrange a marriage, so this matter had been delayed.

But now, Zhang Yuan had become a hot commodity, knowledgeable about astronomy and geography, elegant and discerning, and anyone with a clear eye could see this young man had a promising future and had even obtained an earldom, with a large fortune to inherit...

Marrying a daughter to him was a very profitable deal.

Zhang Yuan easily understood the complex look in her eyes, he stroked Anna’s head and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"The world is vast, meant to be experienced in a lifetime. There is no need to waste time on meaningless scheming. What you already have, I will not take away; consider it a gift from me."

"You are my only family, the sole warmth in this world. However, helplessness is a normal part of life, and many things in this world need to change. The path may be difficult, and one needs a bit of support to keep moving forward."

Anna clenched the hem of her dress, seeming a bit uncertain.

Zhang Yuan changed the subject: "In looking for a partner, you should seek someone with a compatible heart, not just because they are attractive. At least find someone as good-looking as you."

Anna noticed her brother walking with a noble and generous stride toward the hall of the dance, as if carrying higher ideals and beliefs in his heart. In contrast, she was just a little girl with minor scheming.

She quickly ran after him, starting to talk about some minor troubles she had encountered running the company. After their father died, everyone underneath was restless, each having their own schemes, and someone was even persuading her to fight for the property.

Zhang Yuan said indifferently, "The main issue is the lack of prestige. You are quite capable and can handle it, but the people below don’t know that; they only worry about losing their own jobs. Most people in the world are opportunistic, as long as you are strong enough, they will not completely side with our competitors."

"Regarding family matters, I will soon start maritime trade between the islands to prove our family has a successor... That should be enough."

Listening to Zhang Yuan’s words, Anna gradually calmed down, deep in thought.