Rewards Delivered

Victor naturally made good on his promise immediately. Soon after receiving Victor's notice, the old butler Downs promptly sent over a sum of money—3,000 gold in total. It had all been taken from the lord's Inner Treasury rather than the Finance Department's official accounts, so the money was awarded to these researchers in Victor's own name.

Octavia naturally received the largest bonus. As the most crucial member of the telegraph project, she received 120 gold. Lysander came next with 100 gold, while even the person who received the least was given 40 gold. This already exceeded Victor's previous promise.

Including both engineers and researchers, there were fewer than fifty people in total, yet the entire 3,000-gold bonus was distributed among them. It was an exceptionally generous sum.

It was precisely for this reason that Victor had not chosen to use the territory's official accounts. The researchers' bonuses were simply too high, far exceeding the territory's normal wage standards. If word got out, it might spark heated discussion throughout the territory, and Victor worried that it would bring these researchers negative consequences.

After all, even the territory's highest-ranking civil and military officials earned only a little over twenty gold a year.

However, Victor had also prepared bonuses for the territory's civil officials and military, allowing their income to double on that basis.

Moreover, the civil war had only just ended last year. The military had followed Victor through campaigns north and south and filled their bellies to bursting. Even ordinary soldiers who had fought through the entire war could receive five gold from bonuses and allowances combined. Those who earned merit could receive even more through promotions and rewards. Together with the land Victor granted them, most were living quite comfortably.

After distributing the full bonuses, Victor told everyone they could