Chapter 1274

Perhaps setting up factories, establishing magic crystal internal combustion engine production lines, working day and night to manufacture goods—even magic crystal internal combustion engines could be used to make transport vehicles, traffic vehicles, and so on…

By that time, Lin Cheng's reputation would spread throughout the entire empire, and obtaining the system's highest divine-grade reward for the reputation task didn't seem impossible.

This was also an important reason Lin Cheng decided to help Crown Prince Li Jian!

The divine-grade reward described in the reputation task the system had previously issued was truly too tempting for him!

"However…"

Along with Lin Cheng's sudden frown, Crown Prince Li Jian couldn't help but show confusion.

"However what?"

"I have a concern, Your Highness."

"Go ahead."

Crown Prince Li Jian was somewhat doubtful—could such a wonderful prospect for the empire really have some drawback?

"Once the magic crystal internal combustion engine is launched, it will inevitably cause some unscrupulous merchants to raise the price of magic crystals. When that time comes, people won't be able to afford magic crystal internal combustion engines, and our plan will naturally fail."

"That is indeed the case." Crown Prince Li Jian's face also showed a few shades of difficulty.

Merchants chase profit. The magic crystal internal combustion engine uses magic crystals as energy. Once black-hearted merchants raise the price of magic crystals, the plan will instead fail!

"Mm?" Crown Prince Li Jian raised his head.

"Have His Majesty issue an order to control magic crystal prices throughout the entire realm, with severe punishment for violators. Small price increases may be permitted in some regions, but absolutely everyone must be able to afford magic crystals—even the lowest-grade Level 1 magic crystals. At the same time, I will also find a way to extend the usage duration of Level 1 magic crystals, as long as Level 1 magic crystals can reach a usage duration that allows the magic crystal internal combustion engine to operate normally for an entire day."

"I think by then, combined with the empire's regulation of magic crystal prices and the astonishing efficiency of the magic crystal internal combustion engine, those unscrupulous merchants won't have much chance to take advantage and make a fortune."

Hearing this, Crown Prince Li Jian couldn't help but light up.

"Right, there's still this method."

"Good, we'll do as you say!"

Afterwards, the two finalized various details. Lin Cheng would begin developing the magic crystal internal combustion engine, while Crown Prince Li Jian would return to the imperial palace to persuade his father the Emperor, and make other preparations at the same time.

Once the magic crystal internal combustion engine came out, they would carry out all kinds of frenzied publicity and guide people to use it,

Even giving it away for free in the early stages wouldn't matter—as long as people began getting used to the magic crystal internal combustion engine, their plan could be considered a success.

After everything was settled, Lin Cheng hurried off to open his shop.

Inside the private room, Crown Prince Li Jian was still mulling over the various details he had discussed with Lin Cheng as if in a trance. To prevent himself from forgetting, he even took out paper and a pen to record them, muttering to himself as he wrote.

"Your Highness, do you truly trust that person Lin Cheng? Forgive this old minister's bluntness, but I feel that Lin Cheng is not reliable." The butler at the side suddenly chimed in.

Crown Prince Li Jian's gaze instantly turned cold, as icy as facing his father's murderer. But this look vanished in an instant, and since the butler Guo Qing was behind him, Guo Qing didn't notice the change in his own master.

"Old Guo, I don't want you to speak ill of Lin Cheng ever again. He is now my lucky star. Do you know what kind of change his words will bring to the entire empire once they come true? The magic crystal internal combustion engine will double the empire's productivity—tens of times over!"

"Once Li Jian and I achieve this… Father Emperor will surely look at me in a new light. After I ascend the throne, the entire empire will flourish with prosperity. After I abdicate, I will also become a great emperor in the empire's history comparable to the founding ancestor, remembered by the world! To have a statue erected!" Crown Prince Li Jian's eyes gazed longingly at that scene, arms spread wide,

Lin Cheng hadn't thought that far when he spoke, but good lord, Crown Prince Li Jian was already fantasizing about scenes after his ascension and after his abdication.

Good lord, truly good lord.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The butler Guo Qing also stood speechlessly to one side, inwardly exclaiming "good lord"—his own master had been completely swindled by Lin Cheng, already thinking all the way to abdicating a hundred years later.

But you haven't even ascended the throne yet, this matter doesn't even have the first stroke of the eight characters yet.