582 Transformation of Identities (1/2)

”Lanxiang, what does it mean?” Asked Oliver in confusion. He was familiar with the different languages and cultures in many different countries in the alternate dimensions, but he was helpless in front of Lucien's made-up words.

Lucien said solemnly and sincerely, ”Although such schools are based on the apprentice system, they are undoubtedly a brand-new form on their own. The students do not depend on anybody else, and they will be paid after they enter the alchemical workshops, except that their wages are lower and their contracts are longer. Therefore, I have created a brand-new term for them - Lanxiang. It's a name for such schools that contains the meaning of dream.”

”What's your opinion?”

With his eyes closed, Atlant said with a smile, ”I strongly agree with the idea to promote generic schools and vocational schools, but there is one problem. In the apprentice system, as long as you raise an apprentice, the apprentice will have to work for the alchemical workshop for free for ten years. All you need to prove is accommodation and food. However, this Lanxiang… Lanxiang demands the alchemical workshop to pay for the education in advance and for the apprentices' work after their graduation. I don't think they will take it willingly unless the Congress and the kingdoms browbeat them.”

”Mr. Atlant, times have changed. The apprentice system in the past can no longer meet the demand of the current alchemical workshops. I don't think you need me to explain it. It can be seen by the fact that the apprentices of the Congress almost all became students in schools.”

”I'll talk to the few companies I have shares in and ask them to invest in the first Lanxiang. In a couple of years, when their cost is lowered and their market is expanded under the support of incessant professional workers, the other alchemical workshops will probably be still short of hands. The early investment from the companies on their education will be retrieved from the profits they make.”

Lucien made the gesture that he was not forcing anybody to do anything. It was always difficult to make other people pay money. Thankfully, he was no longer the young man who lobbied for environmental protection. Right now, he had become a member of the Highest Council who had his own forces and his wealth. He could totally leave other people behind and set an example for them to follow.

Also, the actual cost wouldn't be too much. He could ask Natasha to allocate a redundant abbey to him as the school, and issue tasks with his arcana points to make the sorcerers and the graduated apprentices teach. Also, starting from the second year, he would arrange for the students in the school to work in the alchemical workshops as 'interns' in their spare time, so that part of his early investment could be recovered.

Seeing Lucien's attitude, Atlant and the other sorcerers who were still skeptical were relieved. He nodded in a smile, ”Indeed. Time has changed. The old stuff should be buried in the past. I suggest that the Highest Council vote regarding 'Lanxiang'. We will encourage the alchemical workshop to invest but won't force them to. Evans, if you want to build any, count me in.”

Douglas clapped his hands softly. ”I agree with the idea, too. The Allyn Telephone and Telegram Company and other corporations owned by the Congress will invest first as examples.”

Since the investment was not forced, all the members of the Highest Council raised their hands. The atmosphere was rather harmonious.

”There's one other problem. Is the support of the Congress and the governments enough to popularize the generic schools? Will the students be out of jobs after their graduation? It must be noted that the apprentice system can almost meet the demands of everybody except for the alchemical workshops. Also, unlike the students of 'Lanxiang', they won't be built to fit in a certain alchemical workshop. If they spend a huge fortune only to discover that their life has not improved at all, it's possible that they will hate us and rejoin the embrace of the God of Truth. That's against our wish.” Atlant was good at figuring out what people might think.

Lucien smiled, ”Mr. Atlant, the change of time is a chain reaction. When the number of alchemical workers grow, the social wealth increases, and the alchemical items that shorten the distance among cities are invented, the whole social structure will definitely go through qualitative changes. Perhaps, one job will be subdivided into many professional jobs, and many things unimaginable in the past will appear. But of course, we will control the scale of the generic education. It will have to suit our wealth and social condition.”

”Then, I have no objection. Evans, you are not reckless at all.” Atlant did not know much about social development, but his old partner, 'Master of Transformation', was an excellent historian. She agreed with Lucien's prediction that social labor would be further divided. After talking to Atlant silently, she made him drop his suspicion.

The discussion about the generic schools went on for a while. Under the glorious banner of striking the faith of the Church, the Highest Council passed the motion, albeit stressing that it must not overstep the line.

”I would like to say something else.” Lucien discovered that he was more and more like a leader. ”I suggest we regulate the alchemical workshops in terms of overwork and child labor. The alchemical workshops must not overly exploit the workers, which will push more people to join the Church. It will be best if the working time is limited to ten hours every day. Children can be hired as workers, but their work should be settled according to their age…”

Because of simplification and promotion problems, the alchemical workshops were still underdeveloped, and the workers were in relatively good health. Therefore, Lucien believed that regulations should be made before the alchemical workshops enjoyed the benefit of exploiting workers. It would be much easier this way.

As for child labor, it was only a helpless compromise. Due to the lack of a good charity system, many orphans needed a job in order to survive. He could not pursue his dream without bothering the actual circumstances, which would only hurt them.

”I don't think we need to talk about such trivia in the Highest Council.” 'Absolute Defense' Ataman stopped Lucien from talking on. ”Regulating the alchemical workshops and better treatment for workers are suitable for our goal to renovate the image of sorcerers, but all we need to do is to propose the idea. Leave the details to the Affair Committee.”