Chapter 596: The Backbone of the Duchy

"Squeak—"

Outside Lei Ming City, the morning silence was shattered by a grating, teeth-on-edge scraping sound—the groan of winch cables.

Immediately after came the muffled thud of heavy weight hitting the ground.

The entire suburban land of Lei Ming City seemed to tremble slightly as the massive cross landed.

"Be gentle! Watch the rigging—don't damage the cross!"

Standing at the entrance of a monastery, the foreman in a peaked cap shouted at the top of his lungs, terrified his workers might chip the cross.

The Campbell family had purchased this monastery as the site for Lei Ming City University; now, after simple renovations, the university was about to open, and relocating the cross at the church entrance was the final step.

The project was currently managed by the Invincible Group, renowned for construction experience; yet even this foreman, a veteran, had never overseen such a large project before.

The challenge lay not in dismantling it, but in leaving not a single scratch.

Ever since the roaring train devoured the church's vineyard, the priests of Lei Ming City had become like gunpowder kegs with wicks lit—touch them and they exploded.

They waited only for a spark to appear, so they could denounce these blasphemers in sermons and pamphlets.

Workers bound the century-old stone cross of Saint Sis, weathered by wind and rain, with coarse hemp ropes, chanted in unison, and carefully loaded it onto a massive cart.

Watching the undamaged cross, a devout believer sighed softly, shook his head, and turned away… the sacred emblem had finally fallen into dust amid the shouts of common laborers.

They will be punished.

He muttered this silently in his heart.

As the heavy cart slowly pulled away, a brand-new carriage arrived at the monastery's entrance, delivering the new emblem.

Freed from religious taboos, the workers moved with far greater speed; even the foreman quickly directed his crew to turn the winches and cranes, mounting the emblem in the most prominent spot at the monastery's entrance.

It was the emblem of Lei Ming City University.

No complex religious inscriptions adorned it—only two golden crowns standing side by side, tightly entwined by a vibrant purple-gold vine.

According to the official statement from Lei Ming City Hall, one crown represented supreme truth, the other the Campbell family guarding this land, while the purple-gold vine symbolized the endless nourishment of the Flowing River.

But for Lei Ming City citizens crowding beyond the barricades to watch, they preferred the version widely circulated in taverns—

One crown undoubtedly represented His Majesty Edward, the other the generous Prince Colin; the purple-gold vine and its blossoms symbolized the bloodline linking the two families, and the young Campbell and young Prince Colin.

The country bumpkins living in the suburbs had no doubt—even rural farmwomen bore seven or eight children; healthier Princess Eileen and Prince Colin would have even more offspring.

If she heard the tavern gossip in the new industrial district, Princess Eileen would likely spit, "Blasphemy!" and blush furiously for a long while.

At the edge of the crowd watching outside the monastery wall.

A child of about seven years old gazed upward with a youthful face, curiously staring at the emblem hanging at the monastery's entrance.

"Dad, what's that?"

"That's our university."

"University?"

"Yes, Lei Ming City University."

Facing the child's confusion, the middle-aged man in a low-crowned hat squinted, smiling into the thin sunlight.

"Unlike church schools, they say it doesn't just study Holy Light—it studies things beyond Holy Light… like the Empire's Academies."

The child nodded half-understanding, eagerly asking:

"Can I go there someday?"

"Of course," the father said, patting the child's head with a smile. "It's not like the Academies—you don't need magical talent to attend."

Lei Ming City University shared similarities with the Academies and the Holy City's universities: all had effectively no barriers for the upper class, and this was true everywhere—nothing to hide.

But they also differed.

In their treatment of the lower classes.

For those as insignificant as dust, crossing that threshold was difficult—but not as unreachable as the towering Academies.

Besides scholarships from Duke Campbell and the Andes family, Mr. Colin from Jiana Continent had brought them the "income-based loan," supposedly also available in the Kingdom of Guta.

The art of language lay here.

Though called loans, these student loans differed from the soul-crushing "commercial loans"—they were designed as public services: repay only if you earn, and automatically cancel upon maturity, managed by the tax department.

In short: if your annual income falls below the repayment threshold, you owe nothing; if you exceed it, you repay 10% of the surplus, collected alongside taxes.

The Lei Ming City Daily published a detailed explanation to prevent servants of feudal nobles from sabotaging it behind the scenes.

After all, they excelled at mocking Duke Campbell for falling into a money pit, and praising neighboring Emperor Theoden for his "not taking a single coin" benevolence.

The specific repayment threshold would rise with the median income of Lei Ming City: ideally, high earners could repay fully, those barely at threshold could repay a little, and those below need not repay at all.

According to Edward's words, the threshold must exceed the wages of textile workers and dock laborers in Lei Ming City—he was cultivating talent capable of shaping the duchy's future.

If he was unlucky enough to be wrong, and the talent he nurtured, fed from his own spoon, spent forty years never learning to eat alone…

Then it meant Lei Ming City University had produced either an unsuccessful failure—or a "genius" out of his time.

Either way, the cost of "bad debt" would be borne by the Campbell royal house—they couldn't possibly pressure a penniless old beggar.

Of course, all these "academic privileges" applied only to those born on this land as Campbells.

After all, it was built with war reparations from Campbell nobles, not funds from the Imperial Mint of the Os Empire.

Those from coastal city-states of the Vortex Sea or other kingdoms still had to pay substantial tuition to enroll.

At this moment, those gazing at the emblem were not only the father and son in the crowd, but also Professor Cairns, standing at the university gate.

Though not a Campbell and uninterested in worldly gain, he too saw a different hope in the shining emblem—

He would here make up for the regrets of his youth.

The rain that had soaked Professor Cairns would not soak these children. He would do everything in his power to hold an umbrella over them, shielding them from wind and rain.

"Dean Cairns."

A voice from behind interrupted Professor Cairns's thoughts.

He turned to see a young secretary standing there, arms full of documents, respectfully reminding him:

"The opening ceremony is about to begin—our students are seated in the great hall, waiting only for you."

"I know."

Professor Cairns nodded solemnly, adjusted his long robe, and walked steadily toward the hall.

Through the long corridor, the once-majestic prayer hall had been transformed.

Stained-glass windows had been removed and replaced with clear, transparent glass, allowing sunlight to flood in unimpeded, illuminating the entire hall with spacious brightness.

The statue of Saint Sis still stood at the far end, but before it now rested a massive blackboard.

When Professor Cairns pushed open the hall's doors, the previously noisy chamber fell silent.

Only when the old professor stepped onto the podium did murmurs begin to ripple again among the rows of benches.

Hundreds of young faces sat below.

Most wore shirts or coats stitched from coarse cloth—some from Lei Ming City families, others from remote villages.

Not long ago, church schools had been their first choice—the only path to becoming priests or lawyers.

Now, they sat in the duke's academy, receiving higher education like noble children.

Of course, not everyone here was common-born; the spring of Os Year 1054 still belonged to nobles and the transcendent.

In a few seats near the front, a handful of well-dressed youths sat.

Most came from rising new families within the Campbell Duchy, already educated before arriving; like their fathers, they were among the first in this nation to embrace change.

Beyond local Campbell elites, foreign nobles had also paid their own tuition to enroll—such as a boy named Guta.

He appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen, with slightly curled purple hair and eyes as innocent as a fawn's—younger than anyone here.

Except for his eyes, fangs, and aura, he bore many similarities to Prince Colin.

Thus, merely sitting there drew countless glances.

Fellow students occasionally cast curious glances at him—even more intense than their curiosity toward Dean Cairns—murmurs flickering faintly.

Rumor had it this student, though young, had already mastered Silver-tier transcendent power—and demonstrated astonishing talent in the entrance exam!

Whether in the Holy City's university or Lei Ming City's, "genius" was always a topic of fascination.

Especially when the genius was so pleasing to look at.

Feeling those burning gazes, Nanfu Colin's cheeks warmed slightly; he straightened his back as much as possible, fixing his eyes on the blackboard ahead.

By Bayeli…

Forgive Nanfu Colin's blasphemy—he did not mean to be disloyal, but truly… humans are incredible!

No one had bullied him!

Simultaneously, this was his first time sitting in a human classroom, among so many peers without horns or tails.

Though the statue of Saint Sis behind the blackboard made him squirm, compared to the intoxicating sweetness in the air, this minor discomfort was bearable.

Professor Cairns walked slowly onto the podium.

He surveyed the youthful, vibrant faces below, then lightly waved his wand—causing a piece of chalk to float up from the desk and write two bold, powerful words on the blackboard:

Science!

Truth!

Feeling the magical energy flowing through the air, Nanfu stared, eyes wide, sitting bolt upright.

This was…

Source Magic!?

The magic circles of Hell mostly followed the Elementalist school, only leading slightly in limited applications within the Subspace.

In contrast, the Academies had long abandoned the First Era's "Elemental System," reconstructing transcendent power from a more fundamental, source-oriented perspective!

This was uniquely outstanding on the Os Continent.

Objectively speaking, the Academies' research into magic and the Void Realm was unquestionably superior—not just beyond Hell's reach, but also surpassing even the Holy City's university.

Most Saintlight nobles still prefer practicality over abstract exploration.

For instance, knights cultivate Divine Qi, while mages primarily study Holy spells… all of which are "specialized attacks" against demons and chaos.

The Magic Capital is no different.

If Vivian were sitting here, she'd likely sneer at the old professor's convoluted Source Magic.

She might not defeat a fellow-level Holy Knight or Priest, but taking down a fellow-level Academy professor? That would be easy.

The Magic Capital's little tyrant could flick Academy mages into the air like spinning tops. In pure destructive power, the simpler and cruder the spell, the more effective it is!

But Nanfu is different.

Unlike Vivian, who cared for no one but her elder brother, he was fascinated by everything in the human world.

Especially Source Magic—something unlearnable in Hell—this might serve as cover for his future travels among humans!

He watched with intense focus, eager to etch every movement and every word of the old professor deep into his mind.

"... In the past, this hall echoed with prayers to the gods. Now, I hope to bring here a different kind of light."

Kains turned, gently waved his wand, and made the chalk floating before the blackboard drift back to its original position.

When Prince Colin arrived at the Academy, he was still asleep and had not heard that unforgettable lecture.

Yet he was unlike those who pretended ignorance while understanding perfectly.

Upon awakening, the moment he saw Prince Colin, he understood what "Science" was—the thing that terrified even the Sages and their successors.

It was not merely the "Prince Colin School," but rather a quiet, pervasive philosophy—an unyielding pursuit of truth.

It carried many meanings.

For instance, seeking truth from facts.

For instance, replacing fantasy with reason.

He recounted his past, then turned to the present.

"... We are all believers in Saint Sis. That is beyond doubt. Yet the Holy Scripture does not explain everything—it leaves things unspoken."

"Today, within the walls of Thunder City University, I pledge my name to you: you may discuss knowledge purely, without worrying about the gods above you, or the dukes and kings beyond these walls!"

A faint stir rose from the audience, especially among children from common families—they had never heard such bold words.

Aside from those few who had truly seen the world, most ordinary faces showed faint fear and uncertainty.

Is this right?

Kains did not care whether they could accept it, nor did he care if he had wounded some fragile, sensitive heart.

Thunder City University is not Saint City's kindergarten. He did not come here to be its caretaker.

Since he had decided to ignite the light of Science upon this land, he would light his candle without restraint.

For he was not merely a mage—he was the Chancellor of Thunder City University!

This was also what he learned from the Prince of the Blood…

"Here, truth alone is your only faith!"

Kains raised his voice, passing on the flame granted to him by Prince Colin to the young seedlings seated in the grand hall.

"Only Science can truly lead you to it!"

…

The Thunder City University Library—once the monastery's scriptorium.

Only clergy and monks granted special permission could enter to behold the holy teachings and transcribe the sacred scrolls at their desks.

Copying scriptures was tedious work, yet not everyone had the chance to hold this bowl of rice.

Now, those parchment scrolls filled with obscure prayers had been emptied, replaced by rows of new books exuding the scent of ink.

These included books Luo Yan had bought with his own money, rare editions gathered by the Adventurers' Guild from across the Empire, and textbooks he had legally obtained through James Walli's channels using his Academy professor's access rights.

Some were copied by himself.

This was one of the perks of his former professorship at the Academy—he could freely borrow books from the Tower of the Grand Sage.

He had devoured countless volumes back then, and even had his students and enthusiastic players help him transcribe some.

These books were later sent to the printing factory in North Peak City, bound into volumes long ago, only recently delivered here in part.

As librarian of the Thunder City University Library, Mr. Locke stood before the bookshelves, his face glowing with excitement.

Saint Sis above—

The collection here far surpassed any noble's library he had visited in his travels!

Even more moving was that this noble prince had entrusted this precious treasure to him, a man he had met only once.

Holding the heavy brass key from Prince Colin's hand, Locke's eyes grew moist.

He took a deep breath, bowed respectfully with an imperial gesture, offering the highest reverence to the imperial prince.

"Your Highness… allow me to praise your generosity once more—you have lit a lantern for travelers seeking the unknown! My greatest honor is to have lived in the same age as you!"

Hearing the flowery praise, Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"You overstate it, Mr. Locke. Books and gold are merely external things. The true priceless treasure is someone like you, who dares to lead others to open books. I hope your Encyclopedia is completed soon—laying the final brick upon this library."

Mortal flesh decays; paper will one day turn to dust.

Yet as long as one Campbell dares enter this library, their knowledge and spirit shall endure.

As a deity, my epic must be sung by mortals.

If one day no one remembers him, even if his creations remain in the world, his divine essence will vanish.

Like Lin Te.

Hearing Prince Colin's reply, Locke's expression softened.

He spoke with unprecedented solemnity.

"Your Highness, I will not disappoint your expectations—I will spare no effort to complete the Encyclopedia!"

"I believe in you, Mr. Locke. I look forward to that day."

Luo Yan nodded with a smile, then pulled out his pocket watch, checked the time, and naturally ended his small talk with the librarian.

"Since the key is now in your hands, I won't disturb you further as you embrace these new friends… the Duke's carriage should arrive soon. I've arranged to meet him in the Board of Governors' office—we have some minor matters to discuss for tomorrow."

With that, he patted Locke's shoulder and turned toward the library's exit, leaving the treasure of knowledge to those who truly cherished it.

…

The applause echoing in the hall finally faded; the crowd dispersed, yet the air still hummed with restless energy.

Near the monastery, in the administrative building, Duke Edward stood by the window of the Board of Governors' office, smiling as he gazed at the grand hall's entrance.

Students, just finished with the opening ceremony, streamed out in small groups, their young faces flushed with excitement, as if returning from a grand celebration.

These young boys and girls chattered incessantly, seemingly discussing Chancellor Kains' speech.

The duchy's seedlings were growing strong.

This thriving scene—Edward never tired of watching it. Investing in Thunder City University was the best money he had spent this year.

Once, he worried his children would not grow as he wished—just as he had not become a duke valuing honor as Aaron Campbell had desired.

Now, he no longer held that fear.

Even if his children took a wrong path someday, those who had once benefited from the Campbell family would surely guide them back.

Of course, Edward dared not claim he himself walked the right path—only the gods knew what lay ahead.

Perhaps Mr. Edward of 1054 OS was already on a wrong path, and young Richard would have to correct him later.

Somehow, Edward felt his heart had grown calmer, and without realizing it, he had reconciled with that foolish father of his.

Perhaps—

That was the unseen deity lending a hand.

"I sensed your gaze from afar."

Behind him, the door opened. At the soft click of leather soles, Edward knew who had entered.

A smile curled his lips as he turned to see Mr. Colin closing the oak door behind him.

"You're mistaken—I didn't see you at all. But I did see your brother, Gustav."

"Looks like I overestimated my own charm," Luo Yan teased, then smiled. "How's my brother adjusting?"

"I can say this university was made for him!"

Edward laughed, continuing with a teasing tone.

"The only downside? Our Mr. Colin is far too popular—everywhere he goes, he draws a swarm of butterflies."

The remark carried a double meaning.

Yet Luo Yan acted as if he hadn't heard Edward's subtle probe—completely unfazed.

As a demon lord with so many disguises he could barely remember them all, he was extremely flexible—able to decide whether or not he belonged to the Colin family, depending on the situation.

"I'm sure Gustav will manage fine. Back in Jiana Continent, this child was always fascinated by humans."

"By… humans?"

"Yes. There were mostly lizardfolk, or sailors who capsized their ships. Few his age—until recently, things improved."

Close call!

Luo Yan subtly steered the topic back, his palm sweating.

He'd nearly slipped—almost revealed too much. But years of lying with a straight face had trained him well; no trace of error showed.

Edward clearly hadn't thought as far as Hell—only puzzled by the lack of peers.

"Actually, I've always wanted to ask—his betrothal is with…?"

"Of course, a family from Saint City. We can't marry lizardfolk from Jiana Continent, can we?" Luo Yan joked.

The Colin family possesses a secret passage out of the Great Barrier—a clue he long ago shared with the Campbell family.

Maintaining ties with families in Shengcheng is perfectly normal; without a god's-eye view, no flaw could possibly be detected.

"Haha, of course."

Edward did not press for details about which family—it was, after all, he himself who feared exposing his ambition to unite Gutauf and Lino.

Breaking an engagement was never a honorable act; his heart wrestled with itself, so he laughed it off and changed the subject.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they sat down on the sofa.

Without summoning the servant waiting at the door, Edward personally poured Colin a cup of tea and said with sincere tone.

"I must thank you for this."

Luo Yan smiled and nodded.

"You've said it many times already."

"No matter how many times I say it, I must say it—without your help, this would never have gone so smoothly."

At this point, Edward's voice carried a hint of reflection.

"Seeing those vibrant children today, I am immensely glad I made that decision—spending this money on them."

"It seems their confidence moved you."

"More than that!" Edward grinned, "Only recently did I realize—the backbone of the Duchy is not some unreliable 'Shield of the Duchy' or 'Legendary Light' that wounds itself a thousand to kill a thousand—it's the Campbell people's spine."

Late yesterday, he received a report from the Royal Intelligence Bureau regarding the Level-Three Conference held at the Summer Palace in the Kingdom of Rayn.

After reading the entire intelligence, he could not help but sigh—how few true men remain in this land of knights!

Even a lowly opportunist who went there and wagged his tail could turn into a guest of honor among ministers.

What is happening in Roland City sends chills down the spine.

This further confirmed his belief: only by enlightening the people can one resist feudal forces both within and beyond the Duchy.

The founding of the Leyming City University is the first and most crucial step toward forging the national spirit of the Campbell Duchy.

Luo Yan looked at Edward in surprise, his eyes brightening with interest.

It seemed the concept of the nation had not only been born in the roars of textile workers, but also in the heart of the Duke of Campbell.

"Your vision and foresight remain as impressive as ever. That you see this clearly proves the Campbell Duchy's future is already on the right path."

"Speaking of 'the right path'..."

Edward's lips curled into a mocking smile, and in a casual tone, he shared with Colin, seated across from him, the news he had received from the Intelligence Bureau yesterday.

"Our dear King has recently put on quite a show. Word is he's short on funds, so he held a 'Level-Three Conference' at the Summer Palace, trying to copy our tax-collecting methods."

"Oh? How did it go?" Luo Yan blew gently on the tea leaves floating in his cup.

Though he had already learned of it through the Shenghen Organization, he asked casually anyway.

Edward's reply, as expected, confirmed his guess—the Duke made no effort to hide his sarcasm, grinning as he spoke.

"Result? The result is his Summer Palace turned into a marketplace! Nobles slammed tables and cursed, clerics stood cold as bricks, and a few spineless dogs trembled in the corner... Saint Sis above, that damned old man should've invited me—I missed such a splendid circus!"

Hearing the unmasked sarcasm, Luo Yan smiled and teased, "It seems our Mr. Theoden must have offended Saint Sis—otherwise, how else to explain why misfortune always falls on him?"

Edward retorted with a joke of his own.

"I heard he made the court jester a regional bishop—perhaps that's what angered the gods."

I heard he elevated the court jester to the position of regional bishop—perhaps that's what angered the gods.

"Then it's no surprise. If I were Saint Sis, I'd punish him too."

Edward laughed, leaning back against the sofa.

"Haha! You still have such a sharp wit! But... let's change the joke!"

Though he didn't mind joking behind closed doors, thinking of the chaos next door... he felt it wiser to be more pious.

Although he didn't mind making this joke when the door was closed, thinking of the chaos next door… he decided it was better to be pious.

"... I believe the merciful Saint Sis won't mind my harmless jesting. Besides, as a Prince of the Empire, I sincerely feel these people are too blasphemous—they've even drawn the Inquisition's attention."

Watching his beloved ally's confident demeanor, Luo Yan gently set down his teacup after sharing his joy, continuing in a casual tone.

"Still, though our neighbor has once again committed a humiliating blunder, don't assume your only opponent is him—we must remain cautious."

One man cannot achieve a republic in the Campbell Duchy, just as one man cannot uphold feudalism in the Kingdom of Rayn.

Whichever path is taken, it reflects the collective will of an entire civilization—it is not decided by a king or a noble alone.

Edward grinned, still dismissing the disgraced king as beneath notice, yet his eyes held no trace of arrogance.

"Of course. Only fools place their hope for victory in their opponent's mistakes. Whether or not Theoden the fool exists, Campbell's reforms will proceed at our own pace."

Yet as he spoke, a flash of sharpness crossed his eyes.

"Still, my account with Theoden remains unsettled. Campbell blood cannot be spilled in vain. Reciprocity is the noble tradition—if he enjoys scheming behind backs, I intend to return the favor with a grand gift."

Watching the ambitious Duke, Luo Yan smiled faintly.

"You've already given their Salvation Army far too much aid—they can't absorb more weapons. Besides, what they lack now isn't support, but timing... If you still wish to do something, try the Encyclopedia."

You've already given their Salvation Army far too much aid—they can't absorb any more weapons. Besides, what they lack now isn't support, but timing… if you still wish to do something, perhaps try the Encyclopedia.

Edward paused, clearly not following Colin's sudden leap in thought—at least not yet seeing the connection.

"Yes—the project overseen by Mr. Luo Ke."

Luo Yan nodded lightly.

"I believe the people of Rayn are not as worthless as you claim. The feudal specter still haunts the Campbell Duchy—and the republican specter must surely drift above the Kingdom of Rayn. That candle has not yet lit, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And you, having already won one victory, can easily light it for them."

Though he did not know the exact version of the intelligence Edward had received, the Shenghen Organization's report to Sarah included every speaker's remarks.

For instance, a scholar named Ferguson—clearly one of the rare sensible ones—left Baron Wickton speechless with a single sentence.

The kind-hearted Prince Colin remarked that 3% of seats was far too few.

Yet this card was excellent.

"When the wise men of the Kingdom of Rayn begin earning Campbell Duchy salaries and writing 'Truth' and 'Science' in our books, I believe the wise of both nations will find much to discuss... A shared topic is always the best way to deepen bonds."

The Duke of Campbell was a clever man—he could speak to him as one clever man speaks to another, without needing to explain every detail as he would to the Holy Maiden.

It's like giving a grown man a firecracker—just hand him the lighter, and remember to take it back afterward.

But if you give it to a child, you must teach him how to light it, how to run after lighting it, and not to grab the firecracker and run with the lighter still in hand.

Edward's eyes grew brighter with every word, and finally, a thoughtful expression settled on his face.

"I see... I'd overlooked this sword! Thank you."

Watching Edward, Duke of Campbell, begin thanking him again, Luo Yan could not help but smile wryly.

"Not necessary. I believe your wisdom would have led you to this conclusion even without my reminder."

Not at all—I'm certain that with your wisdom, even without my reminder, you would have thought of it yourself.

(Chapter ends)