A Brief Farewell

Although Baron Wembley and Lady Ellie still did not quite understand what Victor meant by phasing out outdated production capacity, his explanation sounded reasonable, and their expressions softened.

This time, Baron Wembley asked, "Even if you're phasing out outdated production capacity, why send it to Edelweiss Territory?

"We have plenty of vassals. Couldn't you divide it among a few of them? I remember Ron, Powell, and Luoza all have wool-weaving workshops in their territories. Why not help them expand?"

Victor shook his head with a rueful smile. "Father, do you know how much woolen cloth our current mill can produce in a year at most?"

Baron Wembley thought for a moment. "I remember the original construction plan said its maximum output was two million square meters of lightweight cloth or eight hundred thousand square meters of heavy cloth."

Victor nodded. Baron Wembley had remembered correctly.

"But Father, do you know how much we produced last year?"

That stumped Baron Wembley. Back when he had been involved in management, he would certainly have remembered those figures. But over the past year or two, he had devoted most of his energy to caring for his grandchildren and his younger son and daughter. He had barely participated in territorial affairs, so he truly had no idea.

Victor did not seem to expect an answer. He continued, "Last year, the mill produced eight hundred thousand square meters of lightweight cloth and two hundred thousand square meters of heavy cloth."

Baron Wembley looked down, murmuring the figures to himself. After a while, he raised his head and asked, "That's only a little over half its maximum output. Why?

"Is it the water shortage you mentioned? Does the unstable water power keep the mill from running at full capacity?"

Victor gave a rueful smile. "If only