Chapter 537: At the same time, the train started from the hero's hometown

What was fast wasn't just time, but also the "Prince."

The passenger in the smoking area hadn't finished the lit cigar, and the speeding carriage had already crossed the border of Lei Ming County.

When the carriage painted with red lacquer crossed the station of Campbell Castle, a flowing oil painting immediately entered the passengers' eyes.

The bustling market town turned into forests and farmland, soon becoming flocks of sheep and small rivers, sporadic windmills and cooking smoke, and then another piece of town and farmland.

The Campbell people on horseback had never measured the land under their feet like today.

And the abstract metaphor of "mother" was also endowed with an unprecedentedly concrete concept at this moment!

"Saint Xisi is above, it turns out the Wan Ren Mountains really have ten thousand peaks..." Councilor Dibike, who was smoking a cigar, muttered to himself, and in a blink of an eye, another carriage was left far behind.

In his ears came the excited conversation of several musicians.

A gentleman wearing a monocle narrowed his eyes slightly, seeming to have found inspiration in the wind blowing into the window.

"That rumbling sound reminds me of the cargo ships at the port of Lei Ming City... Saint Xisi is above, I have new inspiration! For the next symphony performance, I hope my oboe player's fingers can be as fast as the pistons of a steam engine!"

The friend standing next to him looked at him in surprise.

"Can that sound good?"

The musician smiled.

"How would I know without trying?"

A gentleman wearing a top hat pondered for a long time, suddenly laughing and joking.

"It sounds a bit interesting, I hope it sounds as wild as our train!"

"Haha!"

Those talking and laughing weren't just musicians, but also those painters invited by the Grand Dukes.

They were occupying the best positions, holding notebooks and pencils to sketch, seeming to intend to trace that fleeting inspiration onto paper.

And writers and screenwriters were exchanging interesting news heard on the train station platform, deciding where the next "stage" of the Kelin Grand Theater would be in the time of one station.

They planned to write about a boy chasing a train, and his dream was to make the train spitting steam fly into the sky.

Everyone suspected he was talking in his sleep, even he himself suspected he was dreaming, only the beautiful "Miss Eloise" held his hand and told him—

"You can be more confident, Campbell people will always proudly straighten their chests like knights at any time."

That would be a moving story.

It would bring people a different kind of moving feeling than *Zhong Sheng*, it would tell their next generation the power of "belief" and "courage."

And, everything is possible!

With the support of family and friends, this brave boy relied on intelligence and diligence to finally defeat the evil Holles—oh no, Factory Manager Silehou.

Very good, now the outline of the story is there.

Councilor Dibike, who was looking around, was surprised to find that they, who hadn't even finished writing the story, were already planning who to cast.

Well—

A guy who was too deep into the play had already started crying; he felt it wasn't necessary, right?

Standing here weren't just the dreamers of tomorrow, but also reporters from the *Lei Ming City Daily*. They used recording crystals to record this moment destined to be recorded in history, and planned to print this instant on tomorrow's headline.

Compared to the banquet at Gelansidunbao and the summer hunt, they unanimously agreed that this down-to-earth magic photo was more worthy of being on the cover.

On the other side, the exquisitely decorated carriage was filled with the smell of rouge and perfume, people talking in low voices, just like in the Grand Duke's garden.

The interior of this train used deep red mahogany, paired with exquisite brass decorations, the style steady and luxurious.

Although it was still a bit less magnificent than Xiodeng's Summer Palace, it also had a unique capable elegance.

It was like the "Luo Ke Sai 1053-year rifle."

The Campbell people had evolved a set of artistic styles and aesthetics unique to themselves from the traditions of the Great Lei En region.

Using four simplest images to summarize, they were red bricks and chimneys, steel and wool.

However, compared to the eye-catching decoration inside the carriage, what was even more surprising was its stability, just like a ferry sailing in open waters.

If it weren't for the flying scenery outside the window and the occasional jolting of the carriage, Holles would have doubted whether this car was really moving forward.

Compared to a carriage, it was simply too much stronger!

Not just speed and stability, the key was that it wasn't like a carriage that could be "robbed."

The robbery here wasn't small demons in the labyrinth, but those merchants and mercenaries who occasionally guest-starred as robbers, adventurers who planned to do a job before going home, and those knights and lords who set up checkpoints to collect fees along the dirt roads.

Holles knew them too well; his poor and stingy temperament wasn't raised by wealth. When he was poorer than Ma Xiu, he hadn't suffered less from the difficulties of this group of people.

Now, they were right in front of Holles's eyes, smashed to pieces by that pitch-black chimney!

And he could almost see with his eyes that those lands that were first connected by the railway would be the first to develop!

Perhaps—

Can I buy a little?

He was pondering in his heart.

At this time, a conductor wearing a crisp uniform pushed an exquisite silver dining car and walked slowly.

The wheels seemed to be wrapped in soft alchemy materials, and there wasn't a trace of sound when rolling on the carpet, so he didn't notice until the footsteps reached in front of him.

"Sir, this is the vintage wine produced by Yinsong Winery in Lei Ming County, please taste it."

The conductor stopped beside Holles and his wife's seat, his white-gloved hands skillfully pouring red wine for the two.

Looking at the liquid pouring down like red rubies, Holles sniffed, the mellow wine aroma making his throat itch, and making his old problem flare up again.

"How much is this cup?"

"No money, sir, today's consumption is all paid for by His Majesty the Grand Duke."

However, the smile on the conductor's face didn't change in the slightest, still maintaining perfect professional quality, using a witty tone to say.

"But if it were a normal day, this fine wine produced by Yinsong Winery in Lei Ming County would be sold for five silver pounds."

Five silver pounds.

Holles quickly calculated on the abacus in his heart; this price was undoubtedly a bit high, but considering it was flowing in the blood vessels of a steel beast, it seemed... also fair?

Those shrewd eyes immediately turned, and he, like a mouse smelling butter, smelled a different taste from it.

Although this train didn't have a stop, it was clear that there were quite a few stations along the railway that hadn't been put into use yet, and there were only bare platforms under the sheds.

If Holles Textile Factory could open some shops on those platforms, wouldn't he be able to make a fortune like those peddlers at the entrance of the Kelin Grand Theater?!

Thinking of this, Mr. Holles's heart was burning, and the chair felt like it was on fire, making him sit uneasily.

Saint Xisi is above—

Five silver pounds for red wine is simply robbery!

Mr. Holles could stand outside the window and pour wine for the passengers in the carriage himself, as long as the train didn't start, his wine bottle wouldn't stop!

And for a cup of wine, he would charge at most one silver pound!

Of course, he also had expensive ones if they wanted to drink!

And if they couldn't afford red wine, he also had cheap beer and black tea! And newspapers and dried meat for drinking!

However, it was a bit strange for a textile factory to do this, he pondered that maybe he should imitate Andi Si and also establish some Holles Group.

"The name of this train is quite unique, Prince... does it refer to Prince Kelin?" The gentleman sitting in the neighboring seat shook his wine glass, seeming to be more interested in the train itself than the red wine in the glass.

"Of course, sir, this train is to commemorate the friendship between the Campbell Principality and the Kelin Principality, the signature on the train head was written by His Highness the Grand Duke himself, and he gifted the pen he used to sign to our Prince." The conductor answered with a smile.

Clearly, he had memorized this set of rhetoric many times, not just to tell the trial passengers on the first train, but also to tell the curious guests in the future.

In this day and age, the citizens of Lei Ming City pursued a sense of ritual more than those nobles.

"Are there other car models?" The gentleman asked curiously.

The conductor answered patiently with a smile.

"Of course there are, the Royal Railway Company will also launch 'Duke,' 'Baron,' 'Knight,' and 'Citizen'... four cars have been delivered, and will be put into use by next month at the latest."

"What's the difference between them? Run faster? Bigger?"

"The speed is the same, sir, the only difference is the signature on the train head. Whether it's a Duke or a Citizen, the time to reach the destination is fair."

Saying this, the conductor glanced at the carriage.

"However, although there is no difference in the train head, there is still a difference in the comfort and ticket price of the carriage. The twelve carriages attached to this train are all the most expensive luxury models, and when the Prince is actually put into operation, affordable models that can carry more will also be launched."

Hearing this, Holles's eyes brightened slightly, his body leaned forward, and he immediately inserted into the topic.

"Then can I name the train? For example... 'Holles'?"

Hearing this interesting idea, the gentlemen and ladies sitting around couldn't help but smile slightly.

However, Holles didn't care at all.

What he said was his own name, but what he thought of was naturally his factory.

If there was a train, running wildly on the land of the principality every day, with a huge "Holles Textile Factory" advertisement and trademark printed on the carriage body... wouldn't that mean that thousands of people were bowing and greeting his textile factory every day!?

Although they might not have money now, one day they all would.

When they had a few copper coins in their hands, and wanted to get a decent set of clothes or buy a brand-new quilt for themselves, these guys would definitely think of his name the first time, and recognize the trademark of Holles Textile Factory!

Isn't this a million times more reliable than tying a ribbon on the ancient bell of the church?!

"This..."

The conductor clearly hadn't seen such a creative guest, stunned for a moment before answering politely.

"You probably have to go and discuss this with the high-level management of the Royal Railway Company. However, I heard that they are discussing the expansion of railway investment. Since they don't refuse to accept private capital to expand the scale of the railway, I think they won't refuse a gentleman as creative as you to participate in their plan."

"Thank you, I'll go find them to chat in a while!"

Holles leaned back into the soft sofa, overjoyed in his heart.

He seemed to have seen a train spitting white smoke, pulling his cloth, running wildly toward the destination of endless wealth.

Just when Holles was immersed in the ocean of gold coins, his wife, Fimona, sitting beside him, was giggling while holding a wine glass.

She wasn't laughing at her husband, but had just met a best friend, and was chatting hotly with this elegant lady.

That was a noble-tempered lady, she came from Campbell Castle next to Lei Ming County. That was the capital of the principality, and also the true center of power, and just now this train had passed through her backyard, and the forest farm behind the backyard.

However, this baroness had no interest in showing off wealth, but instead knew everything about the red wine of Lei Ming County and the recently hit drama.

In the past, these nobles would absolutely not talk to commoners like friends, but the Campbell Principality in Ao Si 1054 was different from the past. Now a house in the core area of Lei Ming City could really buy a manor in Campbell Castle.

After all, those who bought property there weren't just Campbell people, but also merchants, nobles from all over the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea, as well as Lei En people from the upper reaches of the Benliu River, and Luo De people from further north.

Plus the Winter Moon Coup almost wiped out all the powerful nobles of the principality, even the most conservative Campbell nobles had to put down their old dignity, so as not to miss the train passing by.

For example, the husband of this baroness was like this. He couldn't stand the vulgar atmosphere in the carriage, but refused the money contained in the vulgarity.

Thus, he took his ancient surname and stubbornness, went to the smoking area next door, lit a cigar there, and handed the business matters to his wife.

This was actually not a smart choice, after all, he and Holles really couldn't find common topics, but their wives both liked to watch the plays of the Iris Theater Troupe, and both had the ability to say the same thing in a hundred ways a thousand times.

And paired with expressions and tones even more exaggerated than Miss Qiqi.

"... Speaking of red wine, the one I like most is that winery in Yinsong Town." The baroness took a light sip of the wine in the glass, her eyes blurred, "The vineyard there is simply as beautiful as a painting in autumn."

"Heavens, what a coincidence!"

Fimona covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes smiling into crescents.

"That is the place I often go for outings! The manor owner there is still a friend of my husband. Next time we can go together, I know which forest has the best scenery, we can have a picnic there together."

That baroness also looked at her in surprise.

"Really? That's so looking forward to it!"

The chimney spitting white smoke brought the noise to the north of Campbell Castle, and in a blink of an eye, the train had entered the Nanfeng Valley plain, which was one of the largest granaries of the Campbell Principality, and the other granary was a bit further north in the Beifeng Valley plain.

A town called Heiwenfude was the largest river port in the lower reaches of the Benliu River second only to Lei Ming City, and Mofang Town had the densest windmills and mills in the entire principality, and roads with traffic connected to Jinshizi City.

That was the intersection of the central land trade route and river trade route of the Campbell Principality, and also the territory of Count Wenkedun Danqi.

Luo Yan remembered this gentleman; at the auction at Andi Si Manor, he had met the Count once.

Once Ailin had half-jokingly and half-probingly told him that Count Danqi wanted to marry his youngest daughter to him, asking him what he thought in his heart, and whether he needed her help to matchmake.

Luo Yan's answer was of course "I don't have the idea of falling in love for the time being," which was almost the standard answer for fishing.

And now thinking about it, if he had changed the answer, perhaps he could have seen a more interesting expression.

Looking at the book that hadn't been flipped for a long time in his hand. Luo Yan thought so.

Sitting opposite Luo Yan, Edward with silver hair was looking at the windmills gradually disappearing outside the window, letting the noisy wind blow the bangs on his forehead into a mess.

"... I invited Count Wenkedun Danqi to participate in the summer hunt, but when he heard the destination was Gelansidunbao, he fell ill the next day."

This was the foremost carriage of the Prince, completely different from the carriages behind, with only one table and two seats on the red carpet.

Portraits of the ancestors of the Campbell family hung on the mahogany-paved walls, and the huge crystal chandelier was fixed by some clever mechanical device, and would not shake even at high speed.

This was a gift from the Kelin family to the Campbell family, and also a symbol of the friendship between the Kelin Principality and the Campbell Principality.

Not just comfort, its safety was also unparalleled.

Luo Yan personally designed a defensive magic circle for it, and that seemingly fragile wooden wall skin could not only isolate the noise outside the car, but also withstand a full-strength blow from a diamond-level mage.

And theoretically, even a purple crystal-level powerhouse wouldn't find it easy to break it. After all, whether in hell or on the surface, the strength of transcendents was suffering "passive inflation" as the share of faith power was diluted...

"Then do you feel regret?" Looking at Edward who was squinting, Luo Yan joked in a chatty tone.

Edward smiled, withdrew his gaze from outside the window, and looked at him.

"Me? Not at all, especially after seeing the gift you gave me. It should be our Mr. Wenkedun Danqi who regrets it; he is actually a very smart person, and Jinshizi City is managed in good order by him. However, it is a pity that even a smart friend like him is inevitably going to make mistakes at the crossroads of fate."

"The Emperor and his throne have become eternal together."

"What is that?"

"A proverb from the Holy City, meaning... when a person sits in a chair for too long, it is inevitable that they will grow together with their chair. Perhaps he doesn't want to get up, but he can't get up anymore." Facing the curious Edward, Luo Yan said in a very light voice.

Edward smiled and said.

"Haha, interesting metaphor, fortunately I met you, Kelin. Sometimes I feel that it must be Saint Xisi who sent you to my side. And since meeting you, I always feel that everything is going smoothly. Whether it's public affairs, or... family affairs."

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"I'm glad you think so, perhaps it really is so."

"Haha, speaking of which... this train is really fast." ===== CHAPTER 538 =====