Restart:Untalented Man

The meeting continued for a while longer.

Each minister discussed their respective plans and concerns with Riz. Ideas were exchanged and decisions were made in the process. 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝒎

Eventually, the meeting came to a close, and Riz stood up, signalling its conclusion.

Leaving the White Hall, Riz made his way outside where his carriage awaited him. Theodora followed him from behind.

Seeing Riz going toward the carriage, she promptly asked, curious about his next destination. "You're not returning to the office?"

Riz shook his head, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "No, I have an important matter to attend to at the Bideford Research Center," he replied. "There is something I need them to help me with."

Theodora raised an eyebrow, "You create something interesting again, don't you?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with a knowing glint.

Riz grinned, acknowledging her insight. "You could say that," he admitted.

"I'm just curious," Theodora continued, "Not that it really matters to me though. Every one of the things you create has its use."

With a final wave to Theodora, Riz stepped into the waiting carriage. The horses pulled the carriage forward, and soon, they were on their way, leaving the government complex behind.

The journey took him to the Bideford Research Center, a place where the brightest minds in his kingdom gathered.

His sudden presence startled everyone there. But, they quickly composed themselves and warmly welcomed their king.

"Your Majesty, I didn't know you would visit today?" a researcher inquired, looking pleasantly surprised by the unexpected arrival.

"Sorry for my sudden appearance," Riz replied with a warm smile, "I didn't have time to notify anyone. It was an unplanned trip to begin with."

"It's okay, Your Majesty. You're welcome here anytime you wish. What can we do for you?"

Riz glanced around at the faces of the researchers, "For starters, let's move inside first. It's hot out here."

"Yes, yes, let us move to the meeting room," the researchers replied.

Turning to one of the researchers, Riz instructed, "One more thing, go and call Eleanor while you're at it."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," the researcher replied promptly, hurrying off to find Eleanor.

The group of researchers led him to a spacious and well-equipped meeting room within the Bideford Research Center.

In no time, Eleanor entered the meeting room with a warm smile. "Your Majesty, what a pleasant surprise to see you here," she greeted with genuine delight.

Riz returned her smile, grateful for her warm welcome. "I had some urgent matters to discuss, and I knew I could rely on the brilliant minds of the Bideford Research Center for assistance," he said.

Eleanor nodded, "Of course, Your Majesty. We are always at your service."

Riz take a seat at the head of the table, scanning their face. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. First and foremost, I want to inquire about the water supply project. Eleanor, care to weigh in?" he asked, looking expectantly at Eleanor.

Eleanor cleared her throat, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "Of course, Your Majesty," she began, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "The construction process has already begun. The workers have been diligently working to lay the groundwork for the network of pipelines and reservoirs."

She continues, "We've encountered some challenges with the terrain, which has slightly delayed the excavation process. However, we have deployed additional resources and manpower to expedite the work. As of the latest update, the construction of the water supply project is proceeding according to schedule."

Riz nodded, showing his satisfaction with the team's efforts. "Excellent work, I appreciate the efforts you all have put into this project. Water supply is crucial for our citizens." he praised.

Eleanor continued, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, we are closely monitoring the progress, and our team of engineers is working tirelessly to overcome any obstacles. We have also established a detailed timeline and milestones to ensure the project stays on track."

Riz nodded in approval, "Please keep me regularly updated on the progress. I want to be know every step of the way. This project is the first water supply system in the world. It holds tremendous significance for our capability and prestige."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. We will keep you updated," said Eleanor.

Riz leaned back in his chair, a contemplative expression on his face. "Now, let's move to the main reason I came here. I want to ask you all a question. How do you commute from your residence to this place every day?"

"How, you say...?" The researchers exchanged glances, slightly puzzled by the question.

One of them spoke up, "By carriage, obviously. Some of us have our carriages, while others walk or ride other carriages available."

"I know, I know," Riz nodded, "What I mean is whose carriage do you use?"

A few researchers mentioned they had private carriages, while others relied on public carriages to the research centre.

As Riz delved into the topic further, he asked, "How's your experience with the public carriage services? Did you pay the same fare price every day, despite travelling the same distance, or did the price vary?"

The researchers exchanged knowing glances, acknowledging the inconsistencies they had encountered.

One of them stepped forward and shared his experience, "I use the public carriage service every day, and it's quite frustrating because the fare price is never the same. Sometimes, I get charged way higher than usual, and the reasons given by the drivers can be quite bizarre."

Another researcher chimed in, "Yes, I have had similar experiences. It's quite disconcerting not knowing how much you will be charged each day, especially when you travel the same distance regularly."

"See?" Riz asked, knowing the problem they faced beforehand, "Inconsistent fare prices can be a significant issue, leading to confusion and even dissatisfaction among the commuters. We need a standardized pricing system that ensures fairness and transparency for everyone. Don't you guys agree with me?"

The people in the meeting room nodded their heads in agreement, fully grasping the importance of addressing this issue.

Riz then reached into a folder he had brought with him and handed it to the researchers.

Curiosity piqued, they eagerly pulled out stacks of papers from the folder and began examining the contents intently.

"Your Majesty," Eleanor was the first to speak up, her eyes scanning the documents. "This is...?" she inquired, seeking clarification.

"It's a device that could record the distance travelled." Riz explained, "Imagine this thing was installed in each public carriage out there."

Eleanor responded, "With this technology in place, the drivers can't easily manipulate the price as they wish and need to charge based on the actual distance travelled."

One of the researchers chimed in, "And with so many competitors out there, if the drivers charge exorbitant prices, they will lose customers to other public carriages with fairer fares."

Another researcher added, "It would not only protect people from being overcharged but also promote transparency in the public carriage industry," one of them remarked.

Riz smiled, pleased that they understood the potential impact of this device. "Correct! My drawing may have its own flaws. Therefore, I will leave this task to all of you. Make change or modification as you wish, just bring it to reality."

"Leave it to us, Your Majesty," said Eleanor. The rest of the researchers are equally enthusiastic.

It was clear that they want to screw up those unscrupulous drivers.