Chapter 534 The Demon King placed a blood-sucking sword in the hand of the Hero's brother.
Sunny days always pass too quickly, and with the arrival of June, the northeastern shore of the Whirlpool Sea finally enters summer.
On the plains of Beixi Valley, the blazing sun is like a harsh overseer, lashing each shoulder equally with its scorching whip.
The boiling heatwave distorted the air, blurring the distant horizon into a shimmering phantom.
However, even more tumultuous than the blurred horizon was the clamor that stretched across this vast land—
"Keep it up, brothers!"
"For the barbecue and beer tonight!"
"Awooooo!"
Thousands of strong, muscular lizardmen stood shirtless, their dark green scales gleaming metallically in the sunlight.
They formed a long, seemingly endless line, like a sophisticated machine made of flesh and blood, roaring and churning across this wasteland.
This is the construction site of the railway connecting Thunder City and Granston Fortress, the capital of the Northern Valley.
It is also the final "battleground" chosen by the "Cemetery Railway Group" in order to achieve an "S-level mission" rating!
In an effort to break the railway's single-day progress record, players deliberately left this straight section of land, the flattest and hardest soil, as a "showcase project" for the Cemetery Railway Group to boost its data.
Moreover, they also used the "ghost soldiers" of the cemetery to secretly move wooden sleepers, steel rails, and nails under the cover of night, so that the materials would arrive at the nodes along the construction line in advance.
Previously, these materials were transported by trains and horse-drawn carriages, making it difficult to travel too far from the construction site.
To be honest, these players have turned "Cataclysm Online" into "Railroad Tycoon Online" by doing whatever it takes to document it!
If it weren't for the Royal Railways staff communicating with them daily about the progress, and the fact that the Demon King's men were watching them from behind, they probably could have done even more outrageous things.
Player [I'll Form the Head] stands atop a high mound of earth, holding a primitive megaphone and shouting at the top of his lungs.
Under his skillful command, this mixed army of lizardmen displayed astonishing efficiency in their teamwork.
The first tier of lizardmen consists of members of the Stone Lizard tribe.
They carried heavy sleepers, moving quickly across the bustling construction site, each step kicking up clouds of dust!
What would require two people to lift for human laborers is as light as a toothpick in their hands.
Closely following behind was the track-laying team, with several hundred kilograms of transport wagons being dragged forward by the four-legged lizardmen.
The long-tailed lizard deftly rotated the boom and hook, hooking the rails off the moving cart and using inertia to detach the rails from the cart, then guiding them onto the wooden sleepers.
With the lizardmen using both their hands and feet, two parallel steel lines rapidly extended forward across the land, like a continuously stretching steel dragon.
The nail-driving team was responsible for finishing up the job.
They didn't need any advanced steam power equipment; the heavy iron hammer in their hands was the best tool!
The clanging sounds blended together, like a grand and wild symphony.
Each crisp click signifies that a railway spike has been driven deep into the sleeper, firmly anchoring the steel to the earth.
Sweat streamed down the lizardman's thick neck, dripping onto the scorching rails with a soft "sizzle" before turning into a wisp of white smoke.
The civil engineering guy, who had just started, wiped the dirt off his face and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as he looked at the railway tracks that were growing forward at a visible speed.
"Holy crap! This isn't scientific!"
"But it's magical, isn't it?" [If you're dead, you won't be afraid of ghosts] grinned at him, showing his teeth beneath the scales.
In order to blend in with these lizard people, he specifically spent contribution points to exchange for a branch of the lizard people in the southwestern swamp.
He looks greener now than before.
[I'll form the head] He stood proudly with his hands on his hips, looking at the spectacular scene, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I don't think anyone will be able to break this record anytime soon!"
After all, they were the ones who set the previous record.
As the sun gradually sank in the west, it dyed the sky a blood red.
As the last rays of sunlight were about to disappear below the horizon, the duchy official in charge of the inspection pushed the measuring wheel to complete the final leg of the journey.
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he stared at the incredible number on the dashboard.
"By Saint Sith, ten...fifteen kilometers!"
He was involved in the entire railway project, watching these lizardmen construct the railway, and he could hardly believe the results of his measurements.
In the past, it was already quite fast for these lizardmen to pave two kilometers a day, but now that number has been increased by 7.5 times!
At the same moment he filled in the number, a deafening cheer erupted from the player who hammered the last nail for the entire railway line.
Fifteen kilometers laid in a single day!
In an era without the aid of large machinery, this speed was nothing short of miraculous!
"Awesome!!!"
The players excitedly embraced each other, eager for the S-rank rating they were about to achieve, and for this moment that would go down in gaming history.
After more than four months of construction, the 200-kilometer-long railway has been completed, marking a significant milestone in the history of infrastructure development in Oslo!
It will connect the north and south of the duchy, completely freeing it from the duchy's logistics system and its dependence on the flowing river, castles, and rural roads!
Even more excited than the players were the lizardmen who had been tormented by the shouts all day.
They used to play in the mud in the swamps, but they had never done such strenuous work before. Thanks to these players, they were able to experience a different kind of "lizard life".
However, the players brought them not only sweat, but also beer and barbecue that they never dared to dream of before!
Hearing that there would be meat to eat upon completion of the mission, these physically strong guys were completely excited and joined the other players in shouting "Awesome!"
Although they didn't know what "awesome" meant, anything the "Dragonborn" said was always right.
After all, only these fellow countrymen from the continent of Gana could bring them delicacies that even the chieftains had never enjoyed!
"Awesome—!"
"Awooooo!"
Excited roars echoed throughout the room.
Thousands of strong lizardman warriors surrounded the newly laid railway tracks, their thick tails rhythmically slapping the ground with muffled "thump-thump" sounds.
They danced an ancient and wild war dance under the setting sun, their earth-shaking footsteps seeming to demonstrate the majesty of the dragon god to this conquered plain.
Unfortunately, Tafel didn't know this, otherwise she would have buried her little head under her wing in embarrassment.
If I had known, I wouldn't have used Zeta DNA as a blueprint to create these things in the first place. This is such a blasphemy!
...
On the other side, in the Andes Manor of Thunder City.
The birch trees outside the window have grown lush foliage, which perfectly blocks the blazing sun from shining into the study.
The cozy study was quiet and cool, a world apart from the bustling construction site.
Archduke Edward sat at his desk, holding the urgent report that had just arrived in his hand, his gaze lingering on the last line of the record for a long time.
"Fifteen kilometers..."
He repeated it in a low voice, his tone filled with disbelief and emotion.
Just a few months ago, these scaly creatures were monsters that lurked in the swamps, attacking caravans, and were prey on the Adventurers' Guild's extermination list.
However, in less than a year, their identities underwent a dramatic transformation, and they became the most efficient builders on this land!
They are more capable than the strongest human laborers and more obedient than the most loyal soldiers—provided they have enough meat and beer.
Although they couldn't do very complicated work, they were able to extend the railway tracks of the Duchy of Campbell to beyond the Rapids Pass...
This is simply a gift from God to Campbell!
“...It seems we misunderstood them too much before.” Standing in front of Edward’s desk, Mr. Andes’ face was also full of emotion.
The Andean family had tried to tame lizardmen to work as miners and porters, but all attempts failed.
This part still depends on Mr. Sak of the Kingdom of Gutaf.
When they presented the orthodox laws of the Dragon God and the ancient covenant of the ancestral land, they immediately won over the chieftains of the southwestern swamp.
Once the "condensation nucleus" is bribed, the remaining lizardmen will be much easier to deal with.
They not only create enormous value for the Principality of Campbell, but also do not consume any social resources belonging to the Campbellians.
After all, the chieftains took the money and then put it in Thunder City; only a very small portion would flow to the Kingdom of Gutaf along the trade routes.
“You’re right, Mr. Andes. We’ve misunderstood them too much in the past, and we must pay more attention to them in the future… They are not just a vanity project for the Kingdom of Gutaf, but a strategic resource that we have long neglected.”
Edward placed the report on railway construction in his hand on the table beside him, leaned back slightly, and interlaced his fingers in front of his abdomen.
His gaze quickly shifted to Andes, who was standing by the desk, and he asked a question that was of greater concern to him at the moment.
"Speaking of which, how's things going with the China Banking Regulatory Commission?"
In response to the Grand Duke's question, Andes bowed slightly and answered calmly.
"Everything is going well, Your Majesty. We now require every bank in Thunder City to leave detailed documentation for large transfers and deposits. Although this has increased their workload, not a single person objected when I proposed this initiative."
As he said this, a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"...After all, they are having a terrible headache right now. Too many inferior silver coins are flowing in from the upper reaches of the Benliu River along the trade routes, causing serious chaos in the silver coin market. If they don't take measures to regulate it, their vaults will be filled with all that scrap metal."
Currently, three types of silver coins are mainly circulating in the Thunder City market.
One type is the Campbell silver coin, which has the highest purity and the finest craftsmanship. The other type is silver coins from various kingdoms that flowed in from overseas and have varying purity.
The last type, and the most troublesome, is the silver coin of the Kingdom of Ryan, which is jokingly called "Ryan Iron Sheet" by the merchants of Thunder City.
The most valuable of these is undoubtedly the Campbell silver coin.
Even if all silver coins were depreciating against gold coins, the former depreciated the slowest, and prices priced by "silver pounds" were relatively stable, often not requiring exchange every two days.
This war without gunfire was more brutal than the war with gunfire; Campbell's banknotes unknowingly stole the luster of the Devalo family crown.
After all, no matter how large the empire's market is, it's impossible to bring in all the currencies and goods from other places in an instant.
Edward understood the underlying strategy, and even though he wouldn't personally command every battle, he was genuinely happy that his "general" had won.
He nodded in satisfaction, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and continued to ask.
"What about the issuance of silver pounds? I remember that in the previous issuance agreement, it seems that only your Andes Bank signed it."
“That was indeed the case at the time; it was the darkest hour before dawn, and I was the only one who resolutely chose to stand with you.”
Andes smiled, his dark humor carrying the unique wit of the Campbellians.
"But unsurprisingly, once the sun rose, those guys who left halfway through regretted it. Lately, they've practically worn down my doorstep; those bank managers are all begging me to come back to this table."
Edward laughed along, but his eyes were fixed on him.
So what's your decision?
"Of course, we should leave the doors wide open."
Andes nodded slightly, suppressing his frivolous humor and reverting to the respect and humility befitting a subject.
“I’m not one to act impulsively, and I’ve never forgotten that those silver pounds bear the Campbell family crest. To make this banknote truly ‘gold,’ Andes Bank alone can’t handle it; we need the entire financial system of Thunder City to back it up.”
“You’re right. The only thing I need to add is that it’s not just the Campbell family crest, but also the hard work and sweat of the Campbell people.”
Edward tapped his index finger lightly on the table, his eyes becoming deep and sharp, and said meaningfully.
"I want as many smart people as possible to participate, but I don't want a flood of poorly made paper money. You might think I'm greedy, but that's just how I see it. I'll be frank, you're a banker, and I'd like to hear your thoughts!"
Andes was deeply moved upon hearing this.
To let the sheep in the pen manage him—perhaps only His Majesty in the entire continent of Os possesses such boldness.
However, he did not feel regret; on the contrary, he felt honored to have this opportunity to stand here and report to him, as well as to offer his views on the future.
After all, who on this ranch isn't an animal?
The Grand Duke was willing to speak from the perspective of the lion rather than the rancher. As the fattest sheep on the entire ranch, he naturally had to speak from his own standpoint and say what was truly useful.
Instead of acting like a sheepdog and spouting correct but useless nonsense.
"Of course, it's not difficult."
Andes nodded confidently and said with pleasure.
“Not every newspaper needs to open a printing press, just as we don’t need to put printing presses in every bank. That wouldn’t be good for Andean banks either, because if everyone could print money, people would think… I probably just decided how many pounds to print tomorrow before I went to bed last night.”
Andeston paused at this point.
Instead of taking credit for himself, he used Prince Colin's words to lay out the idea they had come up with over afternoon tea on the Grand Duke's desk.
That was truly an amazing idea, and he was completely stunned when Colin said it to him.
"Inspired by His Highness Colin, I am leading several major banks in Thunder City to establish an institution that will be above ordinary banks through joint investment and proportional shareholding—we will call it the 'Central Bank' for now."
“Central Bank?” Edward repeated the novel term.
"Yes, the central bank."
Andes explained.
"It does not offer savings services to ordinary citizens; its clients are only licensed commercial banks. Each bank can use its commercial bills, fiat silver coins, or gold coins as collateral to apply for a 'loan' from the central bank to obtain silver pound cash!"
He stretched out one hand and made a grasping motion in the air, as if turning the valve of a steam engine.
"It's like a giant throttle valve. This not only makes it easier for the China Banking Regulatory Commission to supervise and prevent any bank from issuing too much paper money, but it also gives us a more efficient tool to precisely adjust the flow of water in and out of this reservoir."
“When the market is short of money, we open the floodgates. When there is inflation, we close the floodgates and store money. Not only that, we can also adjust interest rates in tandem, indirectly regulating the borrowing costs of citizens. This encourages them to consume more when there is overproduction and to produce more when there is underproduction.”
This is a very simple economic model, but it is still quite advanced by today's standards.
After all, in the past, the amount of money minted by the mints of various kingdoms depended entirely on the precious metals in the nobles' treasuries and the conscience of each king.
In difficult times, the conscience of both the king and the farmer will slip away, and the value of currency will plummet to dust amidst the scramble for it.
Now, they can sit in small boats and sway happily with the ebb and flow of the river, without having to kick the passenger next to them off the boat to avoid getting splashed during difficult times.
Sometimes, it's just that one crucial step that makes the boat capsize.
After all, a ship needs ballast; you can't have everyone sitting on the same side.
Although Edward was not an expert in the field of finance, he immediately understood the immense value of Andes' vivid analogy.
This is more than just a bank.
This is simply an invincible "light of praise"!
It is even more ferocious than the Light of Utawarerumono, after all, the latter can only pierce the Demon King's chest, while the former can gather the power of everyone and make the entire duchy prosper!
A chilling glint flashed in those emerald green eyes for a moment, and the fists on the armrests of the seats clenched unconsciously.
"That's a brilliant idea!"
“That’s right, Your Majesty. That’s why I’ve decided to offer this invincible sword to you! Only you deserve it!”
Andes had already prepared for this; the fist that was loosely clenched in the air quickly pressed against his chest, not daring to linger for even a moment longer.
As the wealthiest merchant in the Duchy of Campbell and Edward's own advisor, he knew very well that the ambitious Grand Duke would understand what he was saying.
Even without Prince Colin's reminder, he knew this was not a "private tool" that could be locked in a bank safe.
Seeing Andes's "swift as the wind" movements, Edward was slightly taken aback, his fist on the armrest involuntarily loosened, and he said with a wry smile.
"What...what are you doing?"
“I am sincerely advising you that this sword is too sharp, and if it is held by a private individual, it will only cause panic among the citizens.”
Andes' voice was respectful and sincere, without the slightest hint of falsehood.
"I implore Your Majesty to establish a Royal Bank and invest in the Central Bank. Only when the trident emblem is imprinted on the hilt can this sword truly become a divine weapon to protect the Duchy."
Edward stared into his eyes, seeing the fear hidden behind his humility, and gently curled the corners of his mouth, but then shook his head.
"Royal Bank? You want my steward and servants to sit at the same table with the bankers of Thunder City to settle accounts? You know those people are not as good at accounting as I am. They are only good at decorating my garden. I'm afraid they can't help you much."
Most importantly, these people are easy to hire but difficult to get rid of. Royal servants, like nobles, have virtually no exit mechanism.
They can be used as brakes when going downhill, and as long as the speed is fast enough, you can't tell how clumsy they are.
When it comes to going uphill, they can immediately make full use of their "subjective passivity" to force everyone to get off the car and lift it up... Although it's tiring to do this, at least the car won't roll back.
Even Edward couldn't do anything about it. His reputation in high society was already bad enough, and if he continued to be "barbaric," he might actually attract the attention of the court.
“But—” Andes was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the Grand Duke to refuse. Did he have to give in again?
Just as he was pondering what to say, Edward thought for a moment and came up with a compromise.
“But you’re right, this sword shouldn’t be in private hands. In that case… let the Royal Mint handle it.”
Andes was somewhat surprised.
"The Mint?"
Edward smiled and nodded.
“That’s right. I plan to have the Royal Mint inject capital into this ‘central bank,’ giving it enough shares to exercise a veto right at the shareholders’ meeting… Is that how the game is played?”
Andes immediately said.
"A veto right can be stipulated in the articles of association within the board of directors, which is not technically difficult!"
"That's fine then."
Edward leaned back in his chair, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
In the Duchy of Campbell, the Royal Mint is not an authority but an executive body, mostly composed of administrative bureaucrats responsible for following regulations.
Although those guys are just as lukewarm, inflexible and lacking in adaptability, they will still get things done as long as you present the compliant documents.
Most importantly, these people are different from the royal family's servants. They are all public employees, selected through examinations, and have an exit mechanism.
The Campbell family doesn't need to make money through the central bank; as the Grand Duke, all he needs is for this invincible sword to be used legally.
From this perspective, this is precisely where those bureaucrats come in.
“I don’t need them to make money for me. They just need to sit there and watch over this sword for me. As for how to wield it and how to make it create wealth for the duchy… that’s for you, the ones who are good at using it, to handle.”
“My only requirement is,” Edward’s voice deepened, his eyes fixed on the man standing before the desk, “that when the Duchy needs it to be sheathed, it must be able to return to its scabbard immediately. Do you understand what I mean?”
Andes felt a chill run down his spine and bowed his head deeply once more.
"Of course...we all hope our duchy will prosper, and I will certainly keep your advice in mind."
“Haha, Andes, you’re too nervous,” Edward chuckled, stood up from his desk, walked over to him, and patted him on the shoulder. “I’m very grateful that you handed me this sword; I’ve seen your loyalty.”
"Your Majesty, I dare not, this is my duty..."
“Many people have said this to me, but you are the one who truly takes it to heart. I still remember the smile on Earl Derek’s face when we clinked glasses, and I’ve also seen his ugly face when he revealed his true colors…”
Edward paused for a moment, seemingly thinking of the guy locked in the dungeon, and let out a soft sigh.
Actually, he didn't really want to go too far, but sometimes the atmosphere was just right, and he had no choice but to follow the rules and get things done.
"Andes, I have another important task for you. You can take my sword with you and carry it out."
"Please give your instructions."
Andes felt a chill run down his spine and bowed his head respectfully.
He had already guessed what the Grand Duke was going to say, but even so, he dared not show it on his face.
Even though he knew perfectly well that his emperor was not the king next door.
Because this strike will pierce the artery of the nobles—
"...I've always had this idea that our ancestors delegated too much power downwards. We had to do this in the past, otherwise we wouldn't be able to manage our duchies. But now, that unchecked power has become an unmanageable problem."
Knights from the Kingdom of Ryan are robbing the citizens of Roland City with copper coins, and the inferior copper coins will soon flow down to Thunder City.
Every loaf of bread here is subsidized by the Campbell royal family, and that money comes from the pockets of the citizens of Thunder City.
Theodore attempted to leverage the power of the nobles to issue large amounts of copper coins, exchanging a pile of scrap metal for the fruits of the Campbell people's labor, and then use the money to prolong the life of the Devalo family.
And now—
It's time to plug this pipe!
Edward had no doubt that the choice he was about to make was the one that everyone in the duchy had been waiting for.
That means only the sweat of one Campbell can be exchanged for the sweat of another Campbell!
No one can force them to sell their hard-earned money cheaply with a pile of scrap metal!
Don't even think about using the blood of the republic to feed the wolves in the feudal castle!
"We will issue 'copper pounds' to replace the increasingly unreliable copper coins as subsidiary coins of 'silver pounds'! Its face value will remain stable at 100:1 with the silver pounds, and only with the silver pounds, and will be recognized by the tax authorities!"
"The establishment of the 'Central Bank' is a good opportunity. It's time to take back the 'minting rights' of the minor nobles from our duchy!"
(End of this chapter)
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