Chapter 383: The Industrial Crown Belonging to the Queen

Perhaps the S-class dungeon difficulty was too high, or perhaps the World Industrial Exposition was too vital to Stilran, requiring the attendance of important figures from around the world.

Steam Phantom was the only dungeon Wu Chang participated in where the main storyline did not accelerate to its end after the prelude was completed.

Even after he had already resolved the Steam Council and the Quiet Church, Olivia maintained the original timeline, opening the World Industrial Exposition at month's end—the thirtieth day as stipulated in Main Quest One.

The official description of the World Industrial Exposition was a grand event themed on global cooperation to promote cultural and technological exchange and development.

In reality, the World Industrial Exposition was merely Stilran's way of flexing its muscles to participating nations, telling its smaller neighbors they were no longer on the same level—and to show some respect next time they met.

As the World Industrial Exposition drew near, more and more foreign visitors entered Stilran.

Not only ordinary tourists entered Stilran, but also covertly trained supernaturals and spies from various nations.

Thanks to these fools, the Secret Magic Knights' dungeon journey gained a sense of participation.

Taking down these fools not only demonstrated their own value and reassured them they weren't just lucky winners, but also increased their dungeon completion rate—sparking high enthusiasm among all players.

If they couldn't bully the Steam Council, could they not bully these foreign supernaturals?

Often, before Zhu Li's secret police even got wind of it, foreign supernaturals who had slipped up were already captured by players and delivered to the Anquan Force.

Originally, during this idle time, players had planned to complete Main Quest Three: investigating the previously overlooked assassination of the Prime Minister.

When Leng Shan and Xiang Jianxing approached Wu Chang, he said he was occupied with other matters and did not join them.

Even winning by luck has limits—the truth behind Ron's assassination, he and Reventon had investigated tirelessly for a long time, combining his unique intelligence to piece together the full truth.

Other players coming to snatch the fruit now—did they really think he was a philanthropist?

Leng Shan and others guessed Wu Chang already knew the answer; they did not press further, but turned instead to Reventon, seeking to leverage the power of this world-native detective.

To Wu Chang's surprise, Reventon also declined their invitation, saying investigating who killed Prime Minister Ron was now meaningless—perhaps the killer himself had already died in one of the previous incidents.

Perhaps it was the detective's intuition that allowed Reventon, even without sufficient evidence, to vaguely guess the truth of the case.

Two consecutive rejections did not cause Leng Shan and others to give up.

Unfortunately, they acted too late—the Prime Minister's residence, as the crime scene, had already been thoroughly cleaned and renovated; no clues remained.

The only clues they could rely on were the police department's records—results were predictable. After days of frantic effort, they gained zero progress and finally abandoned the investigation.

As for the crime scene, the Prime Minister's residence was thoroughly cleaned to welcome the new Prime Minister, Randy Anderson.

During this period, Randy, with his nearly completely neutral stance, gained a decisive lead in public support and was successfully elected as Stilran's new Prime Minister before the Industrial Exposition.

As Randy's supporters, all players affiliated with the Secret Magic Knights received a notification of victory in their side quest confrontation—hence, they could not complain a single word about the destruction of the crime scene.

Time slipped by, and before they knew it, it was the day of the World Industrial Exposition.

Westminster District, the Crystal Palace.

As the venue for the World Industrial Exposition, the Crystal Palace covered more than twenty football fields and stood nearly fifty meters tall, its structure built of steel, with all other materials chosen as glass—externally, the entire building appeared as a completely transparent grand palace.

It was not only the largest building in the world at the time, but also the most magnificent and dreamlike.

Leaving aside professional topics like steel-frame structural mechanics and architectural design, simply producing the vast glass panels covering the entire Crystal Palace required sufficient industrial strength and immense wealth.

Everyone who saw the Crystal Palace for the first time could not help but cover their mouths, widen their eyes, and let out a gasp.

No matter which nation the visitors came from, no matter how confident or proud they were of their own country, upon seeing the Crystal Palace, their eyes would grow clear and their attitudes humble.

Especially when the massive Olivia Queen Airship flew overhead, the visitors' shock turned directly to fear.

On the airship, Wu Chang's true body and Olivia stood on the observation deck, gazing down at the Crystal Palace below.

Wu Chang held a champagne glass, locking eyes with the tourists below, and asked:

"Your Majesty, is this the scene you wished to see?"

Olivia did not hide her answer, saying:

"This is the vision I want the entire world to see—the future of the world."

Wu Chang gently swirled his glass, unconsciously asking:

"Then, what is the cost?"

Nearby, Zhu Li's eyelid twitched slightly; Olivia caught it, and smiled as she replied to Wu Chang:

"Everything has a cost."

"From the moment a person is born, every act—eating, drinking, shelter, movement, speech, breathing—demands a corresponding cost."

"Cost is unavoidable; what we must do is ensure our gains justify every cost we pay."

As she spoke, the Olivia Queen Airship slowly descended.

Olivia set her glass aside and said:

"Now, it is time to reap."

Olivia descended from the airship, accompanied by Stilran's top officials, amid the roaring cheers of the crowd below.

Since Xavier's death and the destruction of the Steam Council, the smog that once hung over Grimlan had never returned; this city known as the Fog Capital had, unusually, enjoyed multiple consecutive days of clear skies.

Under the sunlight, the Crystal Palace gleamed like a colossal crystal, and with the background of countless cheering citizens, Wu Chang felt a sense of unreality.

The Grimlan he had seen before seemed like an illusion; the Grimlan now displayed before the world was truly the capital of the greatest, most prosperous empire in the realm.

As the group entered the Crystal Palace under the guard of the ceremonial escort, before reaching the exposition halls, they first entered the temporary reception area to meet ambassadors and representatives from various nations.

All nations of the world placed great importance on this World Industrial Exposition.

Larger nations like Fran, Drue, and the New World sent dedicated diplomatic delegations; smaller nations dispatched their highest-ranking officials in person.

For Olivia, the Industrial Exposition was a stage to demonstrate national power and redefine the rules.

For other nations, it was a rare opportunity to gauge Stilran's true capabilities.

Before this, supercharged steam engines had been semi-secret; nations could only obtain vague intelligence through spies and had never had a chance to see the full picture.

The reception of foreign representatives proceeded quickly; as a mature and competent monarch, Olivia displayed flawless etiquette, yet Wu Chang always felt the Queen's attitude was perfunctory.

Compared to these important tools who would witness the empire's might and spread Stilran's name worldwide, she seemed more interested in the supercharged steam engines they brought.

For major powers like Fran and Drue, attending the Industrial Exposition was not mere sightseeing—they came to reclaim some dignity, to avoid humiliation before Stilran, bringing their nations' finest exhibits to compete on equal ground.

For instance, Fran brought the Landheart, long desired by Stilran's army; Drue brought ultra-high-pressure steam engines and supercharged artillery machine tools.

The advanced steam technology in their hands all originated from Stilran; in overall development, they certainly couldn't match Stilran, but in their respective countries' specialized fields, they were no inferior, even slightly ahead.

After the reception ceremony, Olivia entered the Industrial Expo Hall, stood on the podium under the escort of Wu Chang and Zhu Li, and delivered a brief opening speech.

Then, the International Industrial Expo officially began.

This International Industrial Expo displayed over thirty types of advanced steam engines, eighteen of which were provided by Stilran—more than the total of all other countries in the world.

To ensure exhibition impact, even several advanced steam engine cores seized by Wu Chang were borrowed by Olivia and placed on display stands.

Before the Industrial Expo began, Wu Chang joked with Leng Shan and others, saying that if any player still hadn't completed Main Quest Two, then this Industrial Expo was their last chance.

Of course, the prerequisite for taking this path was eliminating hundreds of secret police officers and Wu Chang's Mystic Knight Order.

The advanced steam engines on display at the Industrial Expo spanned every field, attracting thirty-five nations and over one hundred thousand visitors.

Massive crowds filled every exhibition zone.

At every display stand, Olivia assigned two or three students from the Mechanical College of Grimlan University to explain to visitors the practical uses and effects of the displayed advanced steam engines.

Visitors couldn't understand the technical knowledge, but they clearly grasped how many times efficiency improved and how much daily output could be converted into money.

Hearing these comparisons, people's eyes sparkled with excitement, as if witnessing the arrival of the future.

Many reporters could no longer contain themselves; they immediately pulled out notebooks and began writing reports.

Overall, the first day of the expo went smoothly; everyone was utterly immersed in the magic of the advanced steam engines.

As the first day of the expo neared its end, Olivia gave a brief speech before closing.

"The emergence of advanced steam engines has expanded the possibilities of industry and humanity. After a full day of viewing, I'm sure all of you have deeply felt this." "But is this enough? I believe it is not. To reach a farther future—to create a peaceful, prosperous world where everyone is fulfilled—these advanced steam engines alone are far from sufficient."

"Therefore, at this final moment, I will show you a special machine, a true gateway to the future."

Olivia's words instantly captured the attention of every visitor.

Through their experiences on the first day of the Industrial Expo, they had gained a basic understanding of advanced steam engines.

In their eyes, these advanced steam engines already represented the future—not a path toward it—yet in Olivia's view, they were still far from enough.

This left visitors eagerly anticipating the next exhibit, wondering what kind of magnificent machine could satisfy Olivia's ambitions.

This anticipation, amplified by the First Law of Esotericism, transformed into special energy that flowed into the instrument beside Olivia; the red liquid column within the instrument rose steadily as this power accumulated.

When the red liquid column reached the marked line, a tremendous roar echoed from beneath the Crystal Palace.

The floor behind Olivia cracked open, and a massive special steam engine rose from below.

More accurately, it was only a part of a steam engine.

On the podium, Olivia pointed to the massive advanced steam engine behind her and said:

"It is called the Difference Engine. It possesses infinite computational power; all problems that trouble us are insignificant before it."

"I often hear people say that advanced steam engines are the jewels of industry. If that is true, then the Difference Engine is the crown itself."

The moment Olivia finished speaking, the entire Crystal Palace began to tremble slightly.

It was not the Crystal Palace itself that trembled, but the advanced steam engines placed on display stands throughout the palace.

These advanced steam engines resonated as if in unison, vibrating at the same frequency; they all activated simultaneously, spewing thick steam.

Seeing this sudden change, visitors assumed it was a planned performance and spontaneously applauded the spectacle.

In contrast, all the transcendent beings present—especially the players who had come to complete Main Quest One—showed no excitement; only fear filled their eyes.

Under Olivia's actions, within mere seconds, the vanished Steam Rule reappeared.

The returning Steam Rule was even stronger than the suppression caused by Xavier.

Under the Steam Rule, players not only had their skills and attributes suppressed, but their ability to move was rapidly stripped away.

Except for a few transcendent beings who possessed Root Power, who could barely move within the mist, all other players lost control of their bodies the instant they realized what was happening, standing frozen in place.

The stripping of players' mobility was not merely a physical restriction, but a spiritual control.

For example, Leng Shan and God's Tongue felt no great physical constraint, yet a voice constantly whispered to them in their minds:

"Abandon thought. Do not struggle pointlessly. Follow the commands of the higher beings."

To act, they had to resist that voice with their will.

Every step forward was a spiritual struggle, leaving them drenched in sweat after only a few steps.

In contrast, Sword Star's Sword Heart talent, combined with his near-failed class transformation and refinement, gave him significantly higher willpower than the other two.

Though Sword Star's strength was inferior to theirs, he moved far more easily within the Steam Rule.

With Sword Star's support, the three quickly found Wu Chang Zhenwo.

Compared to Leng Shan and God's Tongue, Sword Star's confidence surged; before meeting Zhenwo, he had even thought he might have a chance to help him, repaying a favor.

But when he saw Zhenwo, he found Zhenwo completely unaffected by the Steam Rule, briskly carrying members of the Mystic Knight Order out of the Crystal Palace.

This instantly doused the confidence Sword Star had just begun to feel.

Is it really this hard to find a domain superior to peace?

Wu Chang didn't notice Sword Star's disappointment; he grabbed the three of them and led them outside the Crystal Palace, telling them that something major was about to happen inside and ordering them to hide nearby.

Don't stray far, don't get close—how much truth they could uncover would depend entirely on themselves.

Inside the Crystal Palace, the applause had long stopped; the visitors who had been clapping now froze, just like the ordinary transcendent beings, losing control of their bodies.

Over one hundred thousand visitors stood like ten thousand stone statues, frozen in the exact posture of their final applause.

Their gazes fixed on the Difference Engine, reverent as if in pilgrimage—eerily strange.

The returning Steam Rule did not only appear inside the Crystal Palace; the smog that had vanished for days now once again blanketed the sky over Grimlan.

Under the shroud of the Steam Rule, Grimlan was like a paused video; every resident in the city, like the visitors inside the Crystal Palace, remained frozen in their final posture.

Except for the Grey Church Slums.

As with Xavier's time, Olivia's triggered Steam Rule could not penetrate Eileen's divine realm.

The slums had become an independent space; its residents moved normally, completely unaffected, merely glancing up at the sky in regret over the disappearance of sunlight.

In the temporary ward, Eileen, sensing the shift in the plane, increased her energy output, using holy magic to purge the toxins from the girl on the bed, then said to Thomas beside her:

"I need to leave for a moment. Go outside and tell everyone to come back another day."

Without waiting for Thomas's response, Erin vanished from the temporary ward.

Inside the Crystal Palace, as thick steam filled the room, the extraordinary steam engines ceased their vibrations.

They rose into the air, following the guidance of steam rules, and sank into the Difference Engine.

As the last displayed extraordinary steam engine entered the Difference Engine, a tremendous noise erupted from within, as if something astonishing was being forged inside.

Olivia gazed at the fully formed Difference Engine and whispered:

"One final step remains. I will soon fulfill our agreement."

Clap. Clap. Clap.

In the silent hall, thin applause came from behind Olivia.

Olivia turned and saw that the applause came from Wu Chang's true body.

Wu Chang said: "The jewel of the Industrial Crown must indeed be set upon the Industrial Crown itself."

Olivia, seeing that Wu Chang moved freely as if unaffected, said in surprise:

"Sir Xiao En, you are even more impressive than I imagined. I apologize for doubting your abilities when you first returned from the New World."

"It is my honor to earn your approval," Wu Chang replied, bowing with a gentleman's courtesy.

Olivia narrowed her eyes, as if observing a new invention, and asked tentatively:

"You seem to have discovered my plan long ago."

Wu Chang shrugged and said: "I am different from others—I dare not show the slightest disrespect to Your Majesty."

"If I am not mistaken, everything that has happened since Prime Minister Ron's assassination has been within your design."

"Including the reconstruction of the Secret Law Knights, sending me to find Raventon, investigating the anomalies in Grimlan, and thereby uncovering the existence of the Steam Council."

The connection between the Steam Council and Prime Minister Ron had already made Wu Chang suspicious of Olivia.

After the destruction of the Steam Council, when he met Olivia again, the lingering resentment clinging to her as a phantom confirmed his suspicions.

Olivia made no admission or denial. She merely smiled quietly, watching Wu Chang, waiting for his next move.

Wu Chang continued:

"I am a man who sees things through. Since I accepted your commission, I must investigate to the end."

"So there is one thing I wish to confirm with you—I hope you will answer me."

Olivia asked: "What is it?"

Wu Chang looked into Olivia's eyes and said: "Prime Minister Ron's death was not murder—it was suicide, was it not?"

(End of Chapter)