The Mechanical Era

Kant was sitting on his swivel chair inside his office, just waiting around. He was seen wearing his long-sleeved white shirt, his black tie, black pants, and a pair of black leather shoes. He had his hair cut recently, with the left side of his hair combed down and a little back, while the right side of his hair combed back.*

He had his hand holding up his head, while his right hand rested on the desktop. His jet-black eyes were looking straight at the door, keeping a long face, just patiently waiting for the minister to arrive. As he waited, he thinks back to the decision he had made, and all the regrets he had made.

He starts to remember all the stupid things he had done, both in this world and in his past. These memories played back in his head, over and over again, just torturing him and reminding him of the unchangeable past that he had committed to. He cringed at all of it.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Kant's ear picks up the sound of the door being knocked, instantly snapping him out of his hell. He sat back on his chair, and dusted off his clothes, before handing his permission. Alan walked right inside the room and bowed down.

"Good morning your majesty. I have brought in the files," he speaks as he raises his left hand, holding a black leather briefcase.

"That is good. Sit down." Alan complied and sat down.

"May I see the crystals?" Kant asks. Alan keeps the briefcase on the table and opens it up. He then takes out a polished wooden chest, takes it out of the case, and places it on the table. Alan then keeps the briefcase down and opens up the chest.

The inside of the box was filled with glass containers with a rubber bong lid. The containers were all cuboid in shape, about 1/3 as tall as a regular test tube, and contained a diamond-shaped crystal of about half a gram of crystal in weight.

"Here they are, sir. All 50 grams of void crystal are present. It might have been delayed by two days, but they are here."

Kant picks up one of them and examines them, before putting them back into the chest, and closing it up.

"Will the delay affect the testing date?"

"I don't think so, sir. I think you should be fine," Alan replied.

"Where will the tests be conducted? Did you find a suitable room?"

"Yes, I have. I have found a room in the DEF headquarters. It should be good enough to conduct the tests. I have also made sure to fit the room with everything that you sir, have ordered."

"That is good. Make sure to keep this chest somewhere safe until the tests shall begin."

"Alright, sir. I understand. Kant takes a deep breath and lets it out quickly.

"Now... What about those interviewees? How have they responded?" Kant questions Alan.

"Yes. I have sent a letter to the men about a job position in the military. Many have responded that they are keen on attending the interview."

"And Armstrong? What about him? Is he one of those respondents?" Kant queried further.

"Fortunately, yes. Even Richard Armstrong seems to be interested. He said that he will be able to make it to the city by the 15th of this month, just 10 days from now. The others would be able to make it much later, from the 20th to the 25th range."

Kant smiled upon hearing the news.

"Wonderfull. Now, what about the population report? Did you happen to bring it here as well?"

"Yes sir, I did. Just give me a second..."

Alan picks up his briefcase again and hands over a file. It was a file on population statistics. According to the files, the city has managed to grow by 8,180 people, tallying the city's population to about 212,700.

A lot of these people were moving into Lower-East Middletown, as it appears that they want to take advantage of the jobs being created in Industrial District 1. However, with the tram stations set up, they were setting to other areas as well.

However, there are some statistics that Kant found very peculiar. The report, while it said about 9,500 people entered the city in the last month, and about 89 of them left, with the remaining difference being the reported deaths. Most of the people that have left seem to be a part of smaller businesses, engaging in industries like textile, steelworks, and such.

"There appear to be some people leaving the city. What do you think, minister Alan? Do you know why?" Kant questioned the minister, curious to know what he has to say. He already had a guess of what the problem might be, but wanted the minister to think.

"Yes sir, I think I do. I am sure it has something to do with the increasing competition from those factories. This place is a big market after all," Alan remarked.

"Very good minister. Yes... I think that is most likely the cause. I wonder..."

"Wonder what sir?"

Kant went into deep thinking and started to get worried a little. He could see that something was going on behind his back, but he didn't know what. He knew that the policies that

"Can you send someone to investigate the state of... smaller enterprises? I wish to know their state of health."

"Alright, sir. I will."

"Good. Now, can I have the housing report? I wish to see it as well." Kant ordered. Alan took out from his briefcase again and handed over a red file.

About a month ago, Kant had instructed Alan to get the data on the price increases of homes in the city, so that he can compare them with past figures.  The dramatic increase in a city's population comes with a lot of problems. One of which is the dramatic increase in the demand for homes across the city.

From what the reports have suggested, home prices in Middletown and the Downtown have increased by 12% in a span of 3 months. Kant became rather alarmed, as increasing home prices could bar people from settling in, and cause an economic slowdown.

It would bar and limit the number of people entering the city as they would not be able to afford the homes of the city, which in an era of relative poverty, will be a major problem that will hinder the city if nothing is to be done about it.

For the ones that do come to the city, they will be much more economically poor, as a large chunk of their paycheck would have gone to paying for their rent or mortgage, leading to people buying fewer things, meaning fewer taxes for Kant to use, causing an economic slowdown.

After Kant finishes reading the file, he places it down on the desk and gets up from his chair. From his file cabinet, he grabs a few gray files and takes back his seat. He then turned to Alan and maintains eye contact with him.

"Alan, I got a few tasks for you to do."

...

*picture is given on paragraph comment. Ignore the background. If the picture is not there, then I might have faced some difficulties uploading it.