abcnovels
Chapter 79 Isn't that slavery?
Chapter 79 Isn't that slavery?
Chapter 79 Isn't that slavery?
Adam waited until the attention turned to him and smiled.
"The first thing is the appearance of a newspaper worker, whose role will be to sell newspapers or deliver them to homes," Adam smiled and, seeing the interest in the partners' eyes, continued: "The second thing is the publishing house. Educated citizens will get a place in the publishing house and, after some checks, will be able to work in the department where they excel the most. The third thing is the printing house. This enterprise will handle the newspaper printing, so we need to train future workers first, and then we can popularize newspapers among the common people."
Creating so many new job positions would be an ideal move to eliminate unemployment or, at best, cut it in half. Considering that newspaper production would be a challenging task due to Adam's lack of knowledge, a lot of support staff will be required.
The traders nodded, realizing the importance of Adam's idea, and smiled, agreeing to invest and attract other investors. Ekaterina, clicking her heels, pulled out another parchment and, once again with the help of Amarantha, enlarged the image.
Seeing the unfamiliar building, the traders turned to Adam, who just smiled and asked them to wait. After five minutes, when everyone's attention was focused, Ekaterina started to explain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, with your permission, I would like to present my Master's idea – the education system." Ekaterina turned on her heels and pointed to the first small building. "Let's start with the elementary school. Children from 5 to 12 years old will attend here. They will receive basic knowledge such as the universal language of Orivis, basic arithmetic, an introduction to magic (theory), and history. The education will be structured as follows – there will be five one-hour lessons per day, with a thirty-minute break after the third lesson. If a child shows exceptional performance and demonstrates a better understanding of the material than others, they will receive financial assistance from the city administration."
Ekaterina turned and looked into the eyes of the traders. Ricky, Avalon, Marina, and Sabrina appeared thoughtful, trying to show their interest, although some reluctance was visible.
Adam, noticing their hesitation, clapped his hands to draw attention. "Friends, I understand all the risks, and I am aware that we might lose a considerable amount of money. Building the infrastructure, finding competent teachers, and providing financial assistance... I am sure that in the first few months, if not the first year, there will be significant financial losses, and I declare this to all of you right now, proving my sincerity in this matter. But!" Adam closed his eyes, smiling, took a sip of apple juice, and continued his speech. "While it might be easier to govern a naive populace, having educated people, who could become pillars of the city in the future... it's worth all the expenses."
Under ordinary circumstances, such a lenient approach to the people would be met with smiles from ordinary citizens, but soon their greed would awaken, realizing that without them, the city might falter due to a lack of skilled workforce.
Many of them would be wooed by other cities or even the government. However, it would be possible if this were an ordinary world without magic and other supernatural elements.
"Of course, I am not ready to provide education just for 'thank you.' There are many risks, and I am not so kind as to endure losses with a smile on my face," Adam said in a deep, rough voice, narrowing his black eyes that seemed deep and alluring, like the entrance to the Abyss. "Each family willing to send their children for education must sign a contract."
Adam waved his hand, and a paper appeared in his hand, which glowed brightly and enlarged, showing it to all the participants of the meeting. It was a template for the contract with the parent, the student, and the school.
[Education Agreement for Enrolling in Sedyon Elementary School
We, the undersigned, hereinafter referred to as "Parents" on the one hand, and (Student's Name), hereinafter referred to as "Student," on the other hand, hereby enter into this agreement for the enrollment of the Student in Sedyon Elementary School, located in the city of Sedyon.
1. Obligations of Sedyon Elementary School:
1.1. Sedyon Elementary School undertakes to provide the Student with quality education corresponding to the level of elementary education in the fantasy city of Sedyon.
1.2. Sedyon Elementary School commits to creating a safe and friendly learning environment for the Student, ensuring their right to receive education without discrimination and violence.
1.3. Sedyon Elementary School pledges to pay 5 Platinum Dragon Stones to the Parent if the Student achieves the goals set by the school in their assessments.
2. Obligations of the Parents:
2.1. The Parents agree to ensure regular attendance of the Student in Sedyon Elementary School and strict adherence to the school schedule.
2.2. The Parents commit to providing accurate information regarding the Student, their surroundings, and their background to Sedyon Elementary School.
3. Restrictions on the Parent/Student:
3.1. Sedyon Elementary School reserves the right to limit the number of children from one family accepted for education to ensure equal opportunities for all students and the effective operation of the educational institution.
3.2. The Student is not allowed to leave the city of Sedyon without prior written permission from the city government. This condition ensures the Student's safety and protection from potential threats outside the city.
3.3. The Parent/Student agrees to keep all information regarding educational materials and any other information learned within the premises of Sedyon Elementary School.
4. Duration of Education:
4.1. The educational process in Sedyon Elementary School continues for (indicate the number of years or period), including the mandatory completion of all elementary school classes.
5. Mandatory Admission Requirements:
5.1. To be eligible for enrollment in Sedyon Elementary School, the Student must reach (indicate the minimum age) by the start of the academic year.
5.2. The Student must pass the entrance examination, and only upon passing will they be admitted to the school.
6. Responsibilities of the Parties
6.1. In the event of a breach of the conditions of this contract, Sedyon Elementary School reserves the right to terminate the contract and impose sanctions on the Parent/Student, as well as require them to pay a fine of 10 Platinum Dragon Stones.
7. Dispute Resolution
7.1. Should any disputes arise regarding the implementation of this contract, Sedyon Elementary School will provide opportunities for dispute resolution.
8. Final Provisions
8.1. This contract shall come into force from the moment of its signing by both parties and shall remain in effect until the completion of the Student's education at Sedyon Elementary School.
8.2. Any amendments or additions to this contract shall be valid only in writing and must be signed by Sedyon Elementary School.
To confirm their agreement, the parties have signed this contract (mention the date of signing).
Signatures of the Parties:
Parents (or legal representatives):
Student:
Sedyon Elementary School:
Adam smiled softly as he observed the traders' expressions. A light chuckle came from beside him as Amarantha moved closer, her cherry lips whispering gently near his ear, "You do realize this contract essentially confines the students, right?"
Returning her wit with a smile, Adam placed his hand on her waist, and with his other arm, he embraced Elyra, who was reading the contract attentively. "Of course. But brain drain is a serious issue for any state or city. If I don't place restrictions on leaving, I might end up at a significant loss."
The contract contained several clever points aimed at benefiting the school side. Most common people wouldn't notice these provisions and would sign them as soon as they received them. But traders or wealthy individuals with proper education would likely detect the drawbacks. Nevertheless, Adam would just shrug it off, as not every country could offer such comprehensive education.
Even in the highly developed Silvana, where the Academy of Wisdom exists, there is no education system with such low entry barriers and free tuition. Therefore, a parent would have no choice but to accept the contract's terms.
"This is just a template for now, but I plan to add a few more clauses to ensure my utmost benefit," Adam said, leaning back in his chair and stretching, squinting his eyes. "Taking care of tools and sharpening them for future endeavors, no one would willingly hand over a ready and high-quality product to someone else, let alone for free."
For Adam, children were currently a burden that didn't bring him any profit. Needless to say, he didn't want to support useless individuals. So he decided to establish a school.
If the value of an ordinary child is rated as 2 out of 10, an educated child would rate at 7. And if he could provide them with a complete education up to higher grades and even college, Adam could increase their rating to 10.
Considering his ambitions, he would never agree to have his tools stolen. Adam would take any measures to keep the "brains" within his domain.
"But I'm offering good conditions for those willing to serve me and benefit the city. The scholarship is something new for this world, and it will serve as a lifeline for poor families," Adam turned to Amarantha and smiled mysteriously, placing his hand gently on her cheek. "And that's why, my beloved wife, I am righteous. Free education, scholarship... doesn't that make me a saint? Even though I am a demon."
Adam grinned, seeing Amarantha's intrigued gaze, and laughed. Turning his head to the traders, he smiled and embraced Elyra, who nuzzled her face against his chest, and asked, "I would like to hear your opinion."
To be continued...