# Chapter 19
The Vogliš people fled the civil war to the empire and settled as foreigners in Umfa. But they divided into two categories: conservatives who adhere to Vogelich traditions, and reformists who embrace change.
Like Aryan and Nikita, they did not divide into states, but they differed in vision.
I first met the Conservative representative, a man in his forties with narrowed eyes. He spoke in a firm tone despite his politeness: “We will not move even if you increase the compensation.”
“Because of your ruler?”
He looked at me in surprise at my question.
“You seem to know a lot about Vogelich.”
I shrugged lightly.
The Voglich people choose the place for the temple with the help of a cow, believing that the ruler sees the world through her eyes.
They eat and sleep where the cow first eats, and choose her resting place as a place of worship. This is why Aryan sanctifies cows, while Nikita believes that not all cows are sacred.
“Did not the Aryan ruler say: ‘I am you and you are me, I am wherever you are’?”
When I repeated a phrase from their Bible, their hum became louder.
They didn't expect their emperor to know that.
In the Empire, the mention of another ruler might be considered heretical.
“How did you know that?”
Thanks to my conversations with the Voglich people during my search for Mr.
“So, wherever you go, your ruler will be with you.”
I ignored his question and continued: “If you are hesitant, you can check his presence in the places we have prepared in your way. If he sees and decides, you will have no complaint, right?”
When I mentioned their method of choosing places, they asked to wait and started whispering.
“Okay, okay.”
I succeeded! I clenched my hands, tried to look calm, and nodded.
We moved with the actor and some people to the prepared place with a cow.
The white cow, carrying a bell around her neck, walked around slowly and then sat down in front of the prepared ground, made a sound and ate the grass.
...Well, I can consider them similar to modern-day Hindus who revere a few cows.
"Oh, my God!"
While they were excited, the actor looked at the cow suspiciously and said, “Can we check with a cow from our temple?”
"naturally."
I expected his suspicions. But when their cow ate the grass in the same place, the actor nodded and said, “Okay, we’ll move here.”
Edmund looked at me suspiciously after the transition problem was resolved smoothly.
"What did you do?"
“You see.”
I shrugged and took a powder from my pocket.
“I milled a special feed that cows love!”
Edmund looked at me suspiciously when he saw my smile.
“You know a lot about other religions, even though you were raised by priests.”
Will he accuse me of heresy? I laughed and covered my mouth.
“I like to read books from other countries.”
“Anyway, it's resolved, right?”
Edmund did not deny Felix's words. He looked at me for a moment and then took long strides.
“Your Highness, wait for me!”
I followed him, repeatedly asking, "Wasn't I great? I'm the best, right?" He didn't answer, but his lack of anger was enough to make me feel good.
“Did that stubborn old man agree to move?”
I expected the conservatives' reasons, but the reformists' reasons were not clear. I stood nervously in front of their representative, a friendly-looking woman in her thirties.
“Honestly, I'm tired of how we were treated here after the Civil War.”
She sighed and lit a cigarette.
“But do you think solving the money problem will change people? Will cleaning up this garbage and planting some flowers make people love the place?”
I felt from her sarcastic laugh that it was not easy.
“Yes, I don’t think everything will be solved at once.”
Edmund entered suddenly, with a politeness that surprised both me and her.
"But will you continue to endure this? Or will you rise up by force as you did 15 years ago?"
Without responding, she continued smoking her cigarette.
“The light rain wets the clothes without you noticing, and the water drops penetrate the rock. Small efforts lead to big achievements one day.”
When I added my words, she crushed her burning cigarette.
“Okay, I have a condition.”
"condition?"
I swallowed nervously. What if it's hard? Or impossible?
“When you redevelop Umfa, you will need labour. Use the residents here.”
"What?"
“Whether building houses, cleaning streets, or planting flowers! There are flower shops and carpenters here!”
She beat her chest confidently.
“We may live here, but we take pride in our skills.”
Is it that easy?
We were planning to use Umfa residents originally.
“Okay...”
I looked at Edmund hesitantly. He looked quizzical but wisely kept his mouth shut.
“It looks like things will go smoothly.”
I whispered to him, covering my mouth.
“Why are you whispering?”
He replied in a whisper as well.
“Just pretend to think and then nod.”
Edmund frowned but nodded after a moment.
"Is this correct?"
"good."
I nodded seriously and looked at the actress.
“His Highness Edmund thought about it, but agreed for Nikita’s sake.”
Politics requires such offers.
"truly?!"
She rose in surprise, as if she did not expect approval.
“Of course, His Highness the Prince always thinks of foreigners.”
I laughed and shook her hand.
***
“What's going on?”
Edmund muttered on the way back.
“We have already decided to use foreigners to build guard wards.”
“But we have to use the opportunity to show kindness.”
I smiled looking into his red eyes.
“So we can order something later.”
***
After the residents of Umfa moved in, the construction of the wards progressed smoothly. The huts were demolished, and the buildings began to rise rapidly.
The knights who would move into the Umpha wards were selected, and as I expected, they quickly agreed thanks to the incentives.
“How is the loan system working?”
While I was supervising the construction of the wards, Dante, Edmund's chief assistant, was working with him on the loan system.
“We received His Majesty the Emperor’s approval today. Now, anyone with a job, foreigner or imperial citizen, can obtain a loan from the Imperial Bank.”
“This will reduce the number of people who have to live in Umfa due to house prices.”
Everything is going smoothly.
The loans have been approved, all that remains is to announce the implementation date. .
“I'll go now!”
"To where?"
“To discuss flower planting plans today!”
We contracted with a flower shop in Umfa for the landscaping.
“Are you going alone?”
Dante raised his head from the papers and asked.
"He's at the entrance, he's not dangerous! And it's still daytime!"
Bad things usually happen at night, don't they?