Chapter 651: The Real Sensation! The Flame Empire!

"May I ask, has Teacher Tina come to the capital this time?"

After Duke Lauren's words fell silent, a petite figure stepped down from a carriage.

"Wow, Young Lady Anne!"

The moment she stepped down, she drew the gaze of everyone around her.

She was Duke Lauren's daughter.

Known as the brightest jewel of the Six Eastern Provinces: Anne.

In the terminology of the Eternal Night Empire.

If a duke ruled a vassal state, he was already a king, and his daughter would naturally be a Princess.

Like Princess Luo Ying, the Crown Princess.

But for a duke within the Eternal Night Empire, his daughter was merely granted an honorific title.

Anne was not very old; she had just turned eighteen this year.

Naturally beautiful, at fifteen she had appeared before the Emperor's court, outshining every noble lady present.

That was why she earned such a title.

And why she drew so much attention.

Anne paid no mind to the stares around her; she looked toward the female dwarf giant Hester.

The female dwarf giant Hester bowed slightly in return — a basic courtesy.

"So you are an acquaintance of the Crown Princess? She has come to the capital as well, but she and the Queen have already entered by airship."

Said the female dwarf giant Hester.

Duke Lauren and Anne clearly had some knowledge of the Flame Empire, but not much; in this setting, Anne did not press further, saying:

"So this is the gift you've brought this time? Teacher rarely pays attention to noble affairs when she's focused on her studies at the Sacred Magic Academy, is that right…"

Anne explained today's "custom" to the female dwarf giant Hester.

"Today is an opportunity for the people of the Eternal Night Empire to witness your prosperity and strength."

Then, softly, Anne added another remark.

The female dwarf giant Hester understood.

But she did not make a decision on her own; instead, she wrote a magical letter to the Crown Princess.

Indeed, unless it was of great importance, Hester would not write directly to Meng Ying.

After all, Meng Ying was the Queen.

Soon, she received a reply from the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess granted permission.

The female dwarf giant Hester then said: "Uncover the drapes!"

Both nobles and commoners had already lined both sides of the street.

Even many of the early-arriving great nobles turned their gazes toward the procession.

"Where did this power suddenly come from? They've brought so much — is anything even inside?"

Thought Duke Phibes, who ruled two kingdoms.

The Flame Empire's caravan had stolen his spotlight entirely.

In such a setting, as a duke, Phibes would never openly show any displeasure or disdain.

But that didn't stop him from feeling a twinge of envy inside.

At Hester's command, the drape on the first carriage was swiftly pulled away.

The contents within were immediately visible to the crowd.

"Waaaah~~~"

The crowd erupted in unison with a collective "Waaaah."

For the first carriage was filled with exquisite silk!

After Duke Lauren's earlier display, many had already gained a basic understanding of silk.

And remembered its appearance.

"Good heavens, are all of these silk?"

Someone still wasn't certain.

"They must be — they look exactly like Duke Lauren's, no, even better."

Duke Lauren's caravan was not far away; several people quickly made comparisons.

Not only better, but also far more abundant!

"Of course — the best is always kept for oneself."

Watching the massive load of silk, Duke Lauren shook his head with a bitter smile.

His spotlight was inevitably stolen — but Duke Lauren had some understanding of the Flame Empire; he knew full well he could never outshine it.

And the Flame Empire had brought so many gifts not to steal the spotlight.

But to seize this opportunity to fully open the Eternal Night Empire's market.

Thus, this city-entry display was an excellent chance.

It could rapidly make these people recognize the Flame Empire's strength and the value of its goods.

Once the Flame Empire began mass-selling silk, porcelain, and other items, demand would surge instantly.

And prices could be set high, earning the Flame Empire far more gold coins.

Otherwise, why send so many expensive gifts for a mere millennium birthday?

Indeed, "expensive" was only from the buyer's perspective — for the seller, production costs were actually low.

Diamonds are sold one at a time, and each sale reduces the stock; they are also relatively rare.

But whether silk or porcelain, their production cost is not high; the reason they are sold at such high prices is purely because rarity drives value.

Besides, if you don't take the nobles' gold, you're leaving money on the table.

The nobles within the Flame Empire earned vast amounts of gold through trade, while Meng Ying and the fox women concentrated those gold coins into the imperial household through expensive goods such as silk, porcelain, various wines, and tea.

After the gold accumulated in the imperial household, the empire redistributed it to commoners as payment for public infrastructure projects.

And these commoners would ultimately spend large amounts of gold to improve their material living standards.

Thus, as the gold circulated, the imperial household's holdings did not diminish much; indeed, due to the sheer volume of gold gained from foreign trade, the gold flowed in continuously.

Yet the nobles enjoyed goods they had never had before, the commoners grew increasingly wealthy and possessed ever more abundant goods, and the Flame Empire grew ever more prosperous.