"October 5th, Meigedi Financial Correspondence reports:

The Saintess Bank has suspended all financial activities with the Steel Guild from today, while simultaneously implementing a share reform plan.

According to the announcement from the Holy Property Guardianship Bureau, shares of private mines will be converted into stocks and bonds based on net value, as well as a certain amount of Devotion Notes.

This policy involves 17 major large mining consortiums in North Mangde County, with 6 of them already having accepted the accounting."

"October 25th, Truth Daily reports:

Director Catherine of the Holy Property Guardianship Bureau participated in the lightning furnace technology demonstration today.

This technology boosts steelmaking efficiency through lightning, with tested production capacity approximately 300% higher than traditional methods.

Over thirty representatives from small to medium-sized mines and technical personnel were present, and about 30% of the dwarf smelters signed the Saint Hammer Monastery's technology employment agreement on-site.

Director Catherine stated in response to reporters' questions: Technical iteration is an inevitable path for industrial upgrading."

"October 25th, North Mangde County Times reports:

According to insiders, five local traditional noble mines have recently left the Steel Guild, opting instead to sign independent operation agreements with the Holy Property Guardianship Bureau.

Concurrently, 47 dwarf artisans have been newly registered with the ry Court Barracks, most of whom are former core members of the guild.

Dwarf Master Gentmore of the Steel Guild stated he respects the members' autonomy in decision-making, but did not respond to specific operational issues."

"November 10th, Truth Daily reports:

The special task force of the Holy Property Guardianship Bureau conducted a surprise inspection of 29 small and medium-sized smelting sites in North Mangde County, shutting down 11 sites found to be non-compliant on the spot.

The smelters that were rectified must attend standardized training, and their operating rights will be directly linked to production capacity indicators.

At the same time, the Fifth Battalion of the Shattered Stone Plain Army Corps was stationed in the mining area to carry out security tasks."

"November 25th, Advisory Council Bulletin reprints internal public messages:

Former Steel Guild Master Bart was sentenced for covering up safety violations.

The Judgement Court found him in violation of the newly issued "Miner Protection Ordinance," sentencing him to exile and requiring him to compensate for injured and deceased miners.

The entire trial of the case was public, with over a hundred miner representatives and smelting managers attending as observers."

"November 28th, Truth Daily reports:

The Holy Property Guardianship Bureau announced today the completion of the initial restructuring of the Steel Guild, planning to split the original guild into three holy-owned departments for mining, smelting, and processing, all under the unified management of the Saint Hammer Monastery.

Director Catherine emphasized at the signing ceremony: The new mechanism will continuously optimize production capacity through a four-year cycle calculation.

According to the planning document, the target pig iron production for 1457 is confirmed at 8,000 tons."

After closing the briefing notes copied by the Secret Monks, Horn tightened his scarf and wiped his nose with a handkerchief: "It seems the most critical step has been completed, and now it's the fine grinding work."

Madlan sat across from Horn, with rice wine warming on the brazier on the table.

The air in December was exceptionally cold, and steam was bubbling from the wine pot.

Hearing Horn's words, he laughed along: "The Saintesses are indeed remarkable individuals."

Catherine's means are quite straightforward; first, suspend financial activities and commercial operations to close the door and beat the dog, then flex muscles, use a point to break through the surface, and kill the chicken to warn the monkey.

With the threat of force, some are pulled in while others are suppressed, easily dissolving their resistance.

Besides, the prominent feature of these capable Saintesses and ministers is their strong decisiveness,

acting swiftly and without hesitation.

Under the relay efforts of Harbin and Catherine, the interest group that once dominated the mining area of North Mangde County finally collapsed with a loud crash in the winter of 1453.

"Yes, today is the happiest."

Horn, in a great mood, stood up, went to the edge of the platform, gripping the railing, and looked down at the cold, white sky.

On the grass, the Close Guard Cultivators and Cheka were running back and forth, chasing a ball painted red.

The most eye-catching among them was a tall girl.

Despite being twenty-four years old, thanks to the Witch's anti-aging effects, Jeanne still looked like an eighteen-year-old girl.

Her skin, tanned wheat color from the Black Snake Bay, returned to fairness in just three months.

Today in the ry Court Barracks is extremely cold, and people were wearing thick woolen and sweaters.

Only Jeanne still wore a shirt and a leather vest, weaving through the field, advancing with the ball.

After evading one Cheka after another, she nudged the goalkeeper aside with her elbow, and the red football shot into the goal frame instantly.

The players representing the Close Guard Cultivators cheered, and among the surrounding hundreds of monks and officers, some laughed heartily while others cursed in disappointment.

On the field, Jia Li, unusually, yelled angrily: "Press her, what are you hesitating for?"

As for the goalkeeper with a misaligned tooth from the elbow hit, he received praise from Jia Li.

Today, he finally got a half-day off, which was neither more nor less.

Horn simply organized the Cheka and Close Guard Cultivators from the mountain retreat into a friendly match.

"The soldiers all love this sport." Even Hakuto, the Exorcist Leader, was holding the railing. "Sometimes, even after exhausting training, they still come to kick the ball before returning."

"The soldiers also need recreation in their free time." Watching the soldiers swarming around the field, Horn felt an itch in his feet again.

With economic development reaching this stage, cultural entertainment includes new dramas, puppet shows, serialized novels, picture books, and so on.

But in terms of sports, it still remained stuck in the past's knight games.

Lance charging and polo were thrilling but cost too much, and ordinary people couldn't afford or understand them, lacking participation.

As the saying goes, culture and sports should bloom together. We can't just watch cultural entertainment, so Horn introduced football.

Popular things are always similar, and soon, football quickly became a craze among soldiers this winter.

With the current state, it seems that by this time next year, the first football league will be held.

However, Horn didn't plan to organize a professional league, just an amateur league for fun.

Hosting the Holy Alliance's twenty-four-county football league, it could even stimulate surrounding economic development, a rare activity indeed.

As for attracting spectators, Horn was confident.

The frequency of fighting incidents among representatives from each county each year shows this ticket is sure to sell well.

However, with superhumans like Jeanne and Jia Li, it's best not to let them play football with ordinary people.

Later, skill levels could be set, such as below third level, third to sixth level, above sixth level, and so on.

Picking up the hot wine on the table, Horn downed it in one gulp, feeling warm all over, and threw away the scarf.

"Let's go, I'll play a few kicks too!"

Ten minutes later.

Re-wrapped in his scarf, Horn sat in Hilov's wheelchair, his ankle wrapped in a bandage, being pushed back by a barely suppressing laughter Hilov.

As for Jeanne and Jia Li, wiping their sweat, they followed behind the two.

This time, they unusually stood on the same front.

"Brother, you really need to strengthen your exercise."

"Accident!" Horn, having lost face, could only put on a brave front, "How could I compete with a group of people who've reached the fourth or fifth stage of breathing techniques?"

"What's that got to do with breathing techniques? Regardless of whether they're teammates or opponents, whoever gets the ball passes it to you, Papa."

Jeanne chimed in: "Didn't you twist your foot by missing the shot and stepping on the football?"

Hilov's face was almost breaking out in laughter: "When you did that backflip, I thought you were pulling some unique move."

Horn's face turned beet-red, muttering incomprehensible terms like "long pass, lob," "short pass, penetration," "hat-trick."

Back on the small platform, Madlan's face was equally red, though it was unclear whether it was from drinking or suppressing laughter.

"Your eminence, the word from the Holy Seat Mansion is that some Falan shareholders of the Spice Company wish to meet with you..."

"Not seeing them." Horn was currently not in a good mood, "Is there any major issue?"

"The news of the tariff agreement has reached Falan, and they're questioning whether it will require a reduction in spice production next year. If profits aren't sufficient, they might divest…"

"Let them divest if they want." Horn replied irritably, taking a sip from the table's cup, "Tell them, there will definitely be a market and more profits than before. If they trust me, they can follow along; if not, no compulsion." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

As he spoke, Horn's mood gradually calmed down. He took another sip of wine and asked Hakuto: "How's it going over there with Dass?"