Accidents might come, but not now. For now, the Northern Territory only needed to focus on development.
By comparison, Alexei was more interested in the catalogue of goods.
After surrendering, Duke Alvaray had voluntarily handed over the vast majority of his property and enthusiastically joined in the Northern Territory's reconstruction. His attitude was so impeccable that even Theus, who had shown no mercy when purging the nobles, could find no fault with him.
Moreover, the former duke truly had a keen eye. He quickly realized that the Northern Territory's reconstruction was brimming with business opportunities.
Castel had indeed built railways, bringing in bulk goods from the south and connecting the major cities of the Four Northern Territories.
But distributing those goods further to every village and town was becoming rather difficult.
First, Castel simply did not have many people. Even with Blood Port included, they only barely had enough. Second, the Northern Territory was simply too vast.
Besides, according to Theus's plans, the Northern Territory of the future should center around cities. Most villages would gradually wither away, only to be reborn as satellite towns as the cities expanded.
Duke Alvaray had seized upon this crucial stage of development and formed merchant caravans that traveled across the vast Northern Territory.
At first, Alexei had been pleased. After all, these caravans had helped break through the Northern Territory's isolation and bring Castel's goods to the people at the very bottom.
But before long, he began to feel a headache coming on, mainly because his influence in the Northern Territory was far too weak.
These merchant caravans gradually became the bridge connecting Alexei to the common people. While that saved him trouble, it also made him dependent on them.
In many places, people only recognized the caravans that regularly came and went,