The Mechanical Era



Kant looks around the table before pointing his finger toward Carl, deciding to switch things up a bit. 

"You go first, Director Carl."

"Thank you, sir. Though I do find the idea of a government bond to be a very good choice, I must ask sir, how will you inform the city's population of the investment opportunity of bonds, sir?

Not only you will have to make them aware the bond exists, but you must also convince them to buy up the bond, in order for us to receive and use the money for the project. 

Considering there are no viable methods to communicate such information, I would like to ask you whether you have come up with a viable solution?" Carl asks.  The two other ministers nodded in acknowledgment.

"Well Director Carl, I already had come up with a solution for it. In fact, I set up the foundations for it months ago." Kant replies, slightly surprising Carl and the other two. 

"Oh? Really sir? What is it?" Carl asks. Kant hands them another set of files, consisting of copies of a charter and copies of the articles on incorporations. 

"Now, I am sure you are all familiar with the schools I had ordered to be built around the city. Publicly, these places were built to allow people to learn how to read and write, to allow the people to be able to read the bible.

However, my real motivation was to allow them to read up on the other library books, containing information about science, so that they can become more educated on that matter, but it is also to set up, what I like to call, a news agency," Kant claims.

"News agency?" Armstrong asks.

"Yes, Minister Armstrong. A news agency. With our newly literate population, we can train a few individuals to become journalists, who will be responsible for disseminating information about the bond and its benefits to the public. 

The news agency will be fully owned and work closely with us to ensure that the information transferred to the public is convenient to what the state intends its listeners to hear. It is a tool we can use to control and manipulate the population further." Kant explains.

"I recommend you read the charter. You will be able to learn how I intend the agency to  work." The men took up the files and read the charter. 

After a few minutes of reading, Carl speaks up.

"Sir, this is brilliant. Not only will it serve as a means to promote the government bond to help us secure funding, but it will also provide a platform for us to control the flow of information to the public.

With this news agency, we can control the narrative and ensure that only the information we want to be disseminated reaches the ears of the citizens. This will be a powerful tool in our arsenal."

"I agree," adds Minister Armstrong.

"This is a significant development, and I commend you for your foresight, sir.

With this news agency, we can ensure that the citizens are always kept informed of the latest developments and are more inclined to support the government's initiatives.

It also could be used to coerce them into supporting us, like in case of a war breaks out between the north and south." Kant nods in agreement.

"Indeed, Minister Armstong. Although we must remember that the news agency will be a powerful tool in our hands. We must use it wisely and ensure that the information we disseminate is always in the best interest of the state.

We will have to carefully select the journalists and editors we hire, ensuring that they share our values and are willing to work closely with us. It will be a vital aspect of our plan for the future of the city and kingdom." Kant turns his head to face Alan, the assistant minister. 

"Alan, as the assistant minister, I will be handing this task to you. Is that alright?" Kant questions the minister. The minister, knowing what was coming to him, nodded in agreement. 

"Yes sir. I will be fine, sir. In fact, I already have a way I can implement your plan," Alan claimed.

"Really? Already? And how would that work out?" Kant asked.

"You see sir, considering we would want the agency to work with us close together, we should set it up near the palace, in the downtown district. It would act as the main headquarters of the agency.

Now, considering we need the papers to travel swiftly, we should set up smaller stations throughout each district. Using the tram system, we can deliver these papers swiftly, to all these stations, where the people can access them easily," Alan explained. Kant nods in agreement, pleased with Alan's proposal.

"Excellent idea, Alan. I am glad to see you are already ahead of the game. Please make sure to get started on it immediately once this meeting is over. We cannot waste any time."

"I will, sir," Alan replies. 

"Now that is out of the way, are there any remaining questions you all have, before we continue?" Kant asks. This time, he sees Armstrong being the one raising his hand, while the other two rested there on the tabletop.

"Yes, Minister Armstrong?"

"Well sir, with all this talk about industrial and economic expansion, such as the building of the railroads, do you not think that it will grab the attention of the Imperial Queen, Rose Tippo Valline? 

Considering our plans for dominance, I fear that she might use her large army to march into Hoverdam and topple your throne. Do you perhaps have a plan for that?" Armstrong questions.

"I do Minister Armstrong. In fact, that is what I was going to touch on in this next part." 

"I see. Carry on then sir." Kant presented Armstrong and the other ministers with another batch of files and documents. Inside contained charters, plans, and blueprints for weird weapon systems, they had never seen before. What particularly caught Armstrong's eye, was this strange device. It looked to have a basket, connected to a large sphere, with fire fuming into it. 

"Gentlemen, I would like to present to you some blueprints and charters I have been working on for the past months."