Chapter 536 Meanwhile, the train departed from the hero's hometown.
It wasn't just time that was fast, but also the "Prince" ship.
Before the passengers in the smoking area had even finished smoking their lit cigars, the speeding train had already crossed the border of Thunder County.
As the red-painted carriage passed Campbellburg station, a flowing oil painting immediately came into the passengers' view.
The bustling market town transformed into forests and farmland, then quickly into flocks of sheep and streams, scattered windmills and cooking smoke, before returning to another town and farmland.
The Campbells, riding on horseback, have never measured their land as they do today.
And the abstract metaphor of "mother" was given a concrete concept like never before!
“By Saint Sis, it turns out that the Wanren Mountain Range really does have ten thousand peaks…” Councilor Dibico muttered to himself while smoking a cigar, and in the blink of an eye, another carriage was left far behind.
He could hear the excited conversation of several musicians nearby.
A gentleman wearing a monocle squinted, seemingly finding inspiration in the breeze blowing in through the window.
"That rumbling sound reminded me of the cargo ships in the port of Thunder City... By Saint Sith, I have a new inspiration! For the next symphony performance, I hope my oboe's fingers will be as fast as the pistons of a steam engine!"
His friend standing next to him looked at him in surprise.
"Would that sound good?"
The musician smiled.
How will you know if you don't try?
A gentleman wearing a top hat pondered for a long time, then suddenly laughed and joked.
"That sounds interesting. Hopefully, it'll sound as wild as our train!"
"Ha ha!"
It wasn't just the musicians who were chatting and laughing; the painters invited by the dukes were also there.
They were in the best spots, notebooks and pencils in hand, sketching as if they intended to capture that fleeting inspiration on paper.
Meanwhile, the writers and screenwriters exchanged anecdotes they had heard on the train platform, and within the time it took to walk one stop, they decided where the next "stage" for the Collins Grand Theatre would be.
They planned to write about a boy who chases after a train, and his dream was to make that steam-spitting train fly into the sky.
Everyone suspected he was talking in his sleep, even he himself doubted he was dreaming, only the beautiful "Miss Eloise" held his hand and told him—
“You can be more confident. The Campbell man will always stand tall and proud, like a knight.”
That would be a deeply moving story.
It will bring people a different kind of emotion than the "bell", and it will tell their next generation about the power of "belief" and "courage".
And, anything is possible!
With the support of his family and friends, this brave young man, through his intelligence and hard work, finally defeated the evil Horace—or rather, the Sleho factory manager.
Great, now we have the outline of the story.
Councilor Dibico, looking around in surprise, discovered that they, who hadn't even finished writing the story, were already planning who to cast in the role.
Okay—
One of the guys, who was really into the role, started crying. He thought it couldn't be that bad.
Standing here are not only dreamers of tomorrow, but also reporters from the Thunder City Daily. They used video crystals to record this moment, which is destined to be recorded in history, and intend to imprint it on tomorrow's headlines.
They all agreed that this down-to-earth magic photograph was more worthy of the cover than the banquets and summer hunts at Glenstonburg.
On the other side, the elegantly decorated carriage was filled with the scent of rouge and perfume, and people were talking in hushed tones, just like in the Grand Duke's garden.
The train's interior features deep red mahogany wood accents, paired with exquisite brass trim, creating a sophisticated yet luxurious style.
Although it is not quite as magnificent as Theodore's summer palace, it has its own unique and sophisticated elegance.
It's like the "Rocksey 1053 rifle".
The Campbells have evolved their own unique artistic style and aesthetic from the traditions of the Great Lane region.
To summarize it with four simple images, it is red bricks and chimneys, steel and wool.
However, what is even more surprising than the eye-catching interior decoration is its smoothness, like a ferry sailing on open water.
If it weren't for the scenery rushing past the window and the occasional jolt of the carriage, Horace would have even doubted whether the train was actually moving forward.
It's so much better than a horse-drawn carriage!
Not only is it fast and stable, but most importantly, unlike a horse-drawn carriage, it is not susceptible to being "robbed".
The robberies referred to here are not the little devils in the labyrinth, but rather the merchants and mercenaries who occasionally dabble in banditry, the adventurers planning to pull off a heist before heading home, and the knights and lords who set up roadblocks along the dirt roads to collect tolls.
Horace knew them all too well; his stingy and miserly nature wasn't something he'd developed from being spoiled. When he was even poorer than Matthew, he'd suffered no shortage of harassment from these people.
Now, right before Horace's eyes, they were smashed to pieces by that black chimney!
He could almost see with his own eyes that the lands first connected by the railway would be the first to develop!
perhaps--
Can I buy some?
He was pondering it in his mind.
At that moment, a flight attendant in a crisp uniform slowly pushed an elegant silver food cart over.
The wheel seemed to be wrapped in a soft alchemical material, rolling silently on the carpet until he noticed the footsteps approaching.
"Sir, this is an aged wine from Silverpine Winery in Thundershire. Please enjoy it."
The flight attendant stopped beside the Horaces' seats and skillfully poured them red wine while wearing white gloves.
As Horace watched the ruby-like liquid cascade down, he sniffed. The rich aroma of the wine made his throat itch and triggered his old habit.
How much is this cup?
"No money needed, sir. His Majesty the Grand Duke will cover all expenses for today."
However, the flight attendant's smile remained unchanged, maintaining perfect professionalism as she spoke in a humorous tone.
"However, on a normal day, this fine wine from Silverpine Winery in Thundershire would cost five silver pounds."
Five silver pounds.
Horace quickly did some mental calculations. The price was undoubtedly a bit high, but considering that it flowed in the veins of a steel behemoth, it seemed... fair enough.
His shrewd eyes immediately lit up; like a mouse smelling butter, he detected a unique flavor in it.
Although the train did not stop at any station, it was clear that there were many unused stations along the railway line, with only bare platforms under the sheds.
If Horace's textile factory could open some shops on those platforms, wouldn't he be able to make a fortune like those vendors outside the Colin Theatre?!
Mr. Horace felt a surge of excitement at this thought, and felt as if his chair was on fire, making him restless.
Saint Sis above—
Five silver pounds for a bottle of red wine is robbery!
Mr. Horace could stand outside the window and personally pour wine for the passengers inside; as long as the train wasn't moving, his bottle would never stop!
He would only charge one silver pound for a cup of wine!
Of course, he also has expensive options if you want to drink it!
And if you can't afford red wine, he also has cheap beer and black tea! And newspapers and dried meat to go with your drinks!
However, it was a bit strange for a textile factory to do this. He thought that he should perhaps follow the example of the Andes and establish some kind of Horace Group.
"That's quite a unique name for the train, Prince... does it refer to Prince Colin?" The gentleman sitting next to me swirled his wine glass, seemingly more interested in the train itself than the wine in it.
“Of course, sir. This train is a tribute to the friendship between the Duchy of Campbell and the Duchy of Colin. The signature on the locomotive was written by His Highness the Grand Duke himself, who gifted the pen to our Prince,” the conductor replied with a smile.
Clearly, he had memorized this speech many times, not only to tell it to the first passengers on the test ride, but also to tell it to curious guests in the future.
These days, the citizens of Thunder City value rituals even more than the nobles.
"Are there any other models?" the man asked curiously.
The flight attendant answered patiently with a smile.
"Of course, Royal Railways will also be launching the 'Duke,' 'Baron,' 'Knight,' and 'Citizen'... Four cars have already been delivered and will be put into service no later than next month."
"What's the difference between them? Are they faster? Bigger?"
"The speed is the same, sir. The only difference is the signature on the locomotive. Whether you are a duke or a citizen, the time to reach the destination is the same."
As she spoke, the train attendant glanced at the carriage.
"However, although the locomotives are the same, the comfort of the carriages and the ticket prices are different. The twelve carriages on this train are all the most expensive luxury models. When the Prince's train is actually put into operation, a more spacious and affordable model will also be introduced."
Upon hearing this, Horace's eyes lit up slightly, and he leaned forward to immediately join the conversation.
"Can I name the train? Like... 'Horace'?"
Upon hearing this interesting idea, the gentlemen and ladies sitting around couldn't help but smile slightly.
However, Horace didn't care at all.
He was saying his own name, but what he was really thinking about was his factory.
If there were a train that carried tens of thousands of people across the principality every day, with huge advertisements and trademarks for "Horace's Textile Mill" printed on its side... wouldn't that mean that tens of thousands of people bowed and greeted his textile mill every day?
Although they may not have money now, they will have it someday.
When they have a few coins in their hands and want to buy themselves a decent set of clothes or a brand new quilt, these men will immediately think of his name and recognize the Horace Textile Factory's trademark!
Isn't this a million times more reliable than tying ribbons to an old church bell?!
"this……"
The flight attendant had clearly never seen such a creative guest before, and paused for a moment before politely replying.
"You'll probably have to discuss this with the top management of the Royal Railway Company. However, I've heard they're discussing expanding railway investment. Since they don't refuse to accept private funding to expand the railway, they probably won't refuse creative gentlemen like yourself from participating in their plans."
"Thank you, I'll go talk to them in a bit!"
Horace leaned back into the soft sofa, overjoyed.
He could almost see a train billowing white smoke, pulling his cloth, racing towards the destination of endless wealth.
While Horace was immersed in a sea of gold coins, his wife Figona, sitting beside him, was chuckling as she held a wine glass.
She wasn't laughing at her husband; she had just met a close friend and was having a lively conversation with this elegant lady.
She was a lady of noble bearing, from Campbell Castle, next to Thundershire. That was the capital of the duchy, the true center of power, and the train had just passed through her backyard and the woodland behind it.
However, the baroness had no interest in flaunting her wealth; instead, she was very knowledgeable about the wines of Thundershire and the latest hit plays.
In the past, these nobles would never speak to commoners like friends, but the Duchy of Campbell in 1054 of the Os calendar was different. Now, a house in the heart of Thunder City could truly buy an entire estate in Campbell Castle.
After all, it wasn't just Campbellians who bought property there; there were also merchants and nobles from all over the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea, even the Lane people from the upper reaches of the River Runner, and the Rhodes people further north.
Furthermore, the Winter Coup wiped out almost all the powerful nobles in the entire duchy, and even the most conservative Campbell nobles had to abandon their former dignity in order not to miss the train that was passing by.
For example, this baroness's husband was like that. He couldn't stand the mercenary atmosphere in the carriage, yet he couldn't refuse the money contained within that mercenary atmosphere.
So, carrying his old surname and stubbornness, he went to the smoking area next door, lit a cigar, and handed over his business to his wife.
This was actually a smart choice, since he and Horace couldn't find common ground, but their wives both enjoyed watching Iris Theatre Company plays and had the ability to tell the same story a hundred times in a hundred different ways.
And it was accompanied by an even more exaggerated expression and tone than Miss Kiki's.
“…Speaking of red wine, my favorite is still the winery in Silverpine Town.” The Baroness took a small sip of the wine in her glass, her eyes dreamy. “The vineyards there are simply a picture-perfect scene in autumn.”
"My goodness, what a coincidence!"
Fimona covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.
“That’s exactly where I often go on picnics! The owner of the estate there is a friend of my husband. We can go together next time; I know which grove has the best scenery, and we can have a picnic there together.”
The baroness looked at her with surprise.
"Really? That's so exciting!"
...
The chimneys belching white smoke carried the noise north of Campbell Castle, and in the blink of an eye, the train had entered the South Valley Plain, one of the largest granaries in the Duchy of Campbell, while the other granary was located a little further north in the North Valley Plain.
The town of Havenford is a major river port on the lower reaches of the River Run, second only to Thunder City, while Mill Town has the most concentrated windmills and mills in the entire duchy, with narrow roads connecting it to Golden Cross City.
That place is the intersection of the land and river trade routes in the central Duchy of Campbell, and it is also the territory of Earl Winkton Dange.
Luo Yan remembered this gentleman; he had met the count once at the auction at the Andes Manor.
Once, Eileen half-jokingly and half-probingly told him that Earl Danche wanted to marry his youngest daughter to him, and asked him what he thought and whether he needed her help to match them up.
Luo Yan's answer was, of course, "I don't have any plans to date right now," which is practically the standard answer to hook the fish.
Looking back now, if I had given a different answer, I might have seen a more interesting reaction.
Looking at the book in his hand that he hadn't opened in a long time, Luo Yan thought to himself.
Sitting opposite Luo Yan, Edward, with his silver hair, was watching the windmills gradually disappear outside the window, letting the noisy wind ruffle his bangs.
"...I invited Earl Winkton Dench to the summer hunt, but when he heard that the destination was Glenston Castle, he fell ill the next day."
This is the very front carriage of the Prince, quite different from the carriages behind it; there is only a table and two seats on the red carpet.
The walls, made of mahogany, are adorned with portraits of the Campbell family's ancestors, and a massive crystal chandelier is held in place by some ingenious mechanical device so that it won't sway even at high speeds.
This is a gift from the Colin family to the Campbell family, and it also symbolizes the friendship between the Principality of Colin and the Principality of Campbell.
Not only is it comfortable, but its safety is also unparalleled.
Luo Yan personally designed a defensive magic array for it. The seemingly fragile wooden wall not only blocked out the noise from outside the car, but could also withstand a full-force attack from a diamond-level mage.
In theory, even for a powerhouse at the Amethyst level, breaking through it wouldn't be an easy task. After all, whether in Hell or on the surface, the strength of extraordinary beings is diluted along with their share of faith power, thus suffering from "passive inflation"...
"So, do you feel regretful?" Luo Yan asked jokingly, looking at Edward who was squinting.
Edward smiled, turned his gaze from the window to him.
"Me? Not at all, especially after seeing the gift you gave me. It's a pity about our Mr. Winkton Dench, who is actually a very intelligent man and ran Golden Cross City very well. However, it's a shame that even a friend as intelligent as him can make mistakes at the crossroads of fate."
"The emperor and his throne became eternal."
What is that?
"There's a proverb in the Holy City that means... when a person sits in a chair for too long, he inevitably becomes one with the chair. Perhaps he doesn't not want to get up, but rather he can no longer get up," Luo Yan said softly to the curious Edward.
Edward smiled and said.
"Haha, what an interesting analogy. Luckily, I met you, Colin. Sometimes I feel like Saint Sith must have sent you to my side. And since I met you, I've always felt that everything is going smoothly. Whether it's business or... family matters."
Luo Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I'm glad you think that way; perhaps that's really the case."
"Haha, speaking of which... this train is really fast."
Perhaps feeling a little embarrassed by his earlier heartfelt words, Edward, sitting opposite him, quickly changed the subject, looking at the scenery rushing past the car window.
“In the past, it would have taken my knights three days and three nights to travel from Campbell Castle to the North Creek Plain, even by forced march. But now, we have covered half the distance in just half a day, not even by afternoon tea time.”
Such a speed of strategic deployment is probably unparalleled even on the entire continent of Os.
Perhaps the Empire's Griffin Knights could be faster, but logistical supplies couldn't always be transported by griffons. In inland areas inaccessible by warships, this mode of transportation, known as the train, would not only change people's production relations but also the logic of military deployment.
In the past, a single castle could block the entire network of village roads, but now a railway can run over that complex network.
perhaps--
Campbell's army should establish a separate branch specifically to support the advancing troops and lay railways for transporting supplies.
"The current speed is not fast. The newly paved roadbed needs time to settle naturally, and the power components are still in the break-in period. We are not driving at full speed at the moment."
Seeing Edward's astonishment at the train's speed, Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued.
"At the latest by this time next year, this train will be able to go at least a little faster."
"Really? I thought that speed was already amazing, but I didn't expect it to be even faster!"
Edward was in a great mood, but he noticed that Luo Yan seemed a little absent-minded, and the book he was holding hadn't been turned for a long time.
Thinking that the prince was worried about the safety of the train, he laughed heartily and comforted him in a half-joking tone.
“Relax, my friend. Although the Campbellians are driving this thing for the first time and aren’t as skilled as the lizardmen of the Kingdom of Gutaf, don’t forget that there are two ‘Chosen Ones’ in this vehicle. I think even if something really happens, there will probably be angels supporting the bottom of the vehicle and carrying us all the way to Glenston Castle.”
An angel...
Luo Yan turned his gaze away from the book he hadn't turned a page to in a long time and responded to the Grand Duke with a polite but helpless smile.
"To be honest, I'm not worried about our train, but about someone who isn't on it... I hope that guy won't tear my estate down in a fit of anger."
As a prince who had even crashed an airship, he wasn't worried about a train derailing.
Even without his defensive magic array on the carriage, and even without that thing being deployed beforehand, and with two powerful angels coming to break down his doors, he was 100% confident he could escape unscathed.
"Haha! So that's what you were worried about."
Edward chuckled and leaned back against the soft sofa.
"Don't worry, I specifically asked my wife to take care of the children before I left. Although she is usually mild-mannered, she is very experienced in taking care of children."
"I hope so."
Luo Yan verbally agreed, but in his heart he was silently mourning for someone else—
Poor little Richard, hopefully that young knight has improved his skills recently; the Iron rank is indeed a bit too weak.
The "Butterfly of All Things" he left in his study had already faintly heard the screams coming from outside the study window. The reason he hadn't turned the page earlier was because his attention was still on the Colin Manor, watching over the son of the Grand Duke before him.
As for Mrs. Antony, she was eagerly holding Miss "Ya Ya's" hand and talking non-stop, while poor Mia was stuttering as she recited the "textbook" she had just memorized the night before.
It must have been really tough on this chief investigator.
"Speaking of which... since you're so worried, why didn't you bring Miss Vivian along?" Edward asked curiously, watching Colin turn a page in his book.
That's a good question.
The truth is, it's because that place is too close to your sister, which could easily attract unnecessary trouble. As for the nonsense, of course it's because—
"She's too impetuous; she needs to calm down and settle down."
Edward paused for a moment, looking at Prince Colin's intriguing expression, then gave him a sympathetic look.
"...You've really worked hard."
Luo Yan said subtly.
"It's alright, I'm used to it."
By the standards of the Colin family, or even Hell itself, Miss Vivian is actually the "relatively normal" one...
...
The train, which departed at eight in the morning, crossed the last bridge before dusk.
Ten hours, two hundred kilometers.
This is a speed that horse-drawn carriages of the old days could never catch up with.
As the sun gradually sank below the horizon, the passengers thought they would spend the night in the carriage, but before the sun went down, they saw the station in the suburbs of Granstonburg.
This place used to be a transit station for rebels to stockpile food supplies. Now, the simple wooden fence has been removed and replaced by a train platform paved with gravel.
"Waaaaah—!"
The long whistle of the steamer shattered the lord's servants' nostalgia for the old days.
Accompanied by a tooth-grinding metallic scraping sound, the massive steel body slowly slid into everyone's view, then covered everyone's eyes with white smoke.
The welcoming crowd that had been waiting on the platform stirred. Some coughed, some covered their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs, and others cast glances that were either dissatisfied or suspicious.
This place is where the few remaining prominent figures in Granstonburg are gathered, but now they are all disheveled and humiliated.
Among them were old nobles and gentry who had survived by changing their allegiance to the winds, as well as priests holding scriptures and trying to appease themselves.
Outside the checkpoint, there was an even larger crowd of civilians who had never seen the world before.
Among them were free farmers, newly freed serfs, and peddlers wondering whether they should jump on the bandwagon and start a business.
Panic spread through the population like a plague.
Unlike the well-informed citizens of Leiming City, the commoners who had never left their villages in their entire lives stared wide-eyed in horror.
Looking at the monster that was spewing clouds and mist, someone shouted "Devil!" and many people's legs went weak, and they knelt down on the spot.
They trembled as they prayed to Saint Sis, begging for divine protection to stop the monster's charge... Even without their prayers, the "monster" that had reached its destination stopped on its own.
Many passengers in the carriage laughed out loud, which was really impolite.
However, the gentle and kind "Miss Eloise" did not laugh... She was so frightened by the word "devil" that she dared not move.
She was terrified that she might do something outrageous and expose her identity as a "hell informant".
However, it was precisely because she did not smile that many gentlemen and ladies, upon regaining their senses, cast either ashamed or admiring glances at her.
What a wonderful person...
No wonder her smile can make so many young men and women swoon.
Unfortunately, they didn't know that their stares were almost scaring Miss Kiki's tail out of her skin.
Fortunately, as Luo Yan's junior schoolmate, she was also a succubus who could hold back and keep her composure.
When the incessant wailing of demons began, the priest, unable to tolerate the blasphemy, immediately went over and reprimanded the arrogant fellow.
It is common knowledge that there are no devils on the blessed land. These blasphemous individuals may curse in private, but to shout it to the pastor's face is a blatant slap in the face!
The priests of Granstonburg are not like the priests of Thunder City; at least in their own eyes, they are very serious about educating the world.
They were trying to prove to Edward that their serfs, though poor, were full of spirit and had strong backbones.
As a result, the honest locals showed no respect and immediately knelt down.
Unfortunately, Edward was unaware of what these pastors were thinking; otherwise, he would have laughed at their self-delusion.
"For glory! For Campbell!"
A loud shout came from outside the train station.
A knight in old-fashioned plate armor roared as he charged along the tracks toward the massive locomotive, lance in hand.
Upon hearing that there were monsters here, he immediately donned his ancestral armor and rushed over with two trembling attendants.
However, the bravery of the North Valley Knights did not last long in his lance.
Upon seeing the Campbell family crest engraved on the locomotive, the lance in his hand clattered to the ground, his face turned pale, and cold sweat soaked through his clothes.
His two attendants fled in terror, fearing they would be mistaken for remnants of the Winter Moon Coup and beheaded by the "White-Haired Demon" of Thunder City.
It must be said that Glenston Castle was not without valiant knights, but most of them had served time in prison with Earl Derek.
Those who can still stand here and perform performance art today are either the most astutely shrewd cowards or the truly humorous.
Laughter broke out again in the carriage, while Bertrand Peregrine, who was accompanying the Grand Duke on the trip, silently loosened his grip on his sword hilt and breathed a sigh of relief.
With his platinum-level skills, he could kill that ridiculous assassin in less than a second. But if he could, he really hoped that the other party wouldn't give him a chance to make a move.
They've already shed too much blood; there's no need for them to die for something that's already been decided...
At the same time, the soldiers in formation lowered their Roxay rifles and returned to their ceremonial posture with their chests out and heads held high.
Compared to the comical performance of "The Last Knight" in front of the railway tracks, the expressions of the nobles and gentry standing in the front row were far more complex.
Looking at this steel behemoth moving on land, they felt not only awe, but also a touch of sadness at being blown away by the smokestack.
Without even opening an encyclopedia, they could keenly sense that the era of windmills and castles had come to a complete end.
Those blissful days of relying on a monopoly over rural road networks and river ports to set up checkpoints and charge fees on their own territories were gone forever with that long, mournful whistle of the steamship…
"laugh--"
With a long, snorting sound, the train came to a steady stop in front of the newly laid red carpet.
The train doors opened, and Archduke Edward, dressed in his finest attire, and Luo Yan, in a black tuxedo, stepped off the train one after the other and walked toward the soldiers lined up in formation.
The station platform was silent, save for the uniform military salutes and Archduke Edward's succinct and efficient return salute.
Whether it was the farmers in the distance, the nobles and gentry nearby, or the priests who were scolding the common people, they all involuntarily shut their mouths.
The white-haired duke, whom they privately called the devil, was not riding a warhorse, nor did he wear a longsword, a symbol of military power, at his waist.
However, just by standing there, he exuded an aura of authority that made them dare not speak loudly.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duke and Your Highness the Prince, welcome..."
The royal steward and local officials immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply, showered him with praise, and offered words of welcome and blessings.
On one side of the crowd, several men and women dressed in old-fashioned formal attire, looking dejected, also lowered their heads.
Those were Earl Derek's family members.
Although Derek himself is still imprisoned in the dungeons of Thunder City, this has not affected his family; they are merely under royal surveillance and have not been imprisoned.
The fact that they are standing here at this moment is itself a silent declaration—this land has changed hands.
From this day forward, the people here will only need to abide by one law, which is the royal law of the principality.
If the descendants of Earl Derek don't know what dignity is, someone will make it up to them.
"Get up, everyone."
Edward smiled and raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the various expressions on the faces before finally settling on his butler.
“Mr. Priest, I think our guests are hungry, and hopefully it won’t be too far from here to the ‘Granstonburg Town Hall’.”
He emphasized the word "Granston Castle Town Hall" because it had once been the estate of Earl Derek.
It was also one of the first properties that the royal family confiscated from the rebels.
The butler nodded respectfully.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, the banquet is ready. The city hall kitchen has prepared a sumptuous feast of roast meats and chilled champagne for you and your guests, and the doors are always open to you."
"very good."
Edward nodded, then smiled and gave a word of advice.
"This train carries the citizens of the principality; they are our 'first class'! Please make sure they are well received and feel our hospitality!"
The term "first class" was one he learned from the "three-tiered council" in Roland City, thanks in large part to the work of the Royal Intelligence Bureau.
I heard that Theodore used it to refer to the priests who contributed nothing to the country, and the second class to the nobles who did not listen to him.
That's a really funny idea. Edward Campbell wouldn't do something so stupid. He wouldn't tolerate those traitors.
In his duchy, the Campbellians will no longer distinguish between the noble and the lowly based on age and lineage, but will instead divide power according to their contributions to the duchy.
He wouldn't use a coaxing tone to say that hierarchy and power don't exist, but that the citizens of the principality are undoubtedly his "first class".
As for the third tier, it undoubtedly includes Earl Derek's traitors who colluded with King Ryan, as well as the prisoners who were in jail with that guy.
Whether they are in "first class" or "third class", they will all ride the same train and arrive at the station on time at the same time.
Yes.
Even Earl Derek and his traitors will be able to enjoy the royal chef's cooking in the dungeon tonight.
But don't expect to eat anything fancy.
These guys deserve to spend the rest of the night behind bars, eating fried pork chops and buttered bread dipped in stew.
Edward felt he was utterly evil.
Perhaps the priests were not wrong; there was indeed a terrible demon lurking in his shadow, only suppressed by piety or something else.
A magnificently decorated carriage stopped by the roadside near the train station. A tall, black horse prancing along, with a dashing cavalryman sitting on its back.
Passengers disembarked one after another under the reception of the concierge staff and stepped onto the red carpet temporarily laid on the gravel platform.
Edward turned around, smiled, and gestured for Colin to proceed.
"Please, my dear friend, let us savor the treasures of Earl Derek's cellar. Although that fellow betrayed me, I must say, his palate is still quite discerning, and his wine tasting skills surpass mine."
Luo Yan smiled and nodded, gladly accepting the offer. He followed Edward, walking side by side with the Grand Duke toward the carriage.
"Can you give me a sneak peek at tonight's menu?"
"I heard there's a whole boiled salmon with lobster sauce, and sole rolls..."
Edward raised his hand to stop the coachman who was about to step forward, and personally opened the carriage door for his good friend, smiling as he spoke.
"Of course, if you're tired of the seafood in Thunder City, I recommend roasted deer leg with plum sauce. The game in Granston is different from that in Silverpine Forest; I've been craving the deer meat here for ages!"
(End of this chapter)
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