Chapter 502: The Mechanical Union

In less than half an hour, the sound of a car came from the castle's front courtyard.

Akaland arrived.

The legendary Mid-stage mechanic, his face flushed with red light and his eyes full of anticipation, entered the living room and shouted, "Lei En, I heard you called me for something; I haven't even had time to test the latest model motorcycle. How's that, enough face‑saving for you?"

Lei En smiled, "Please, have a seat."

He had collaborated with Akaland several times, each pleasant, and they had become quite familiar, so their speech was rather casual.

When the maid brought tea, Akaland took a few sips to quench his thirst, shook his head and said, "You're truly a big figure now; many people find it hard to get even a glimpse of you."

"You can come find me anytime," Lei En shrugged.

"What's the use of coming?" Akaland said with a helpless expression. "As the Earl of Glamorgan, how much time do you spend in the castle? By the way, I haven't congratulated you yet, Lord Duke Augustus."

"Thank you," Lei En modestly accepted the congratulations.

Akaland, seeing his calm demeanor, sighed, "The Dragon‑born restoration in Kangjiatuo has already reached the Empire. In the past two months, the Imperial Council has argued countless times over the fact that Weizelan, without Consul approval, dispatched Wizards on its own. Now that I hear you were ennobled as a duke by that Dragon‑born sovereign, the uproar has grown even louder; I wonder how many people envy you…"

"Tsk tsk!"

"It's a dukedom, after all. Though the title isn't as lofty as an Imperial duke's, it comes with a massive fief of millions of people; even I am green with envy."

Akaland's face showed yearning; in the Empire, only a Holy Soul Ascension Wizard can obtain such a vast fief and enter the Supreme Council.

Other Transcendent beings, even if they reach Level 20 or higher, have no right to be granted a dukedom.

The Empire is a Wizard's empire, not a Transcendent's empire.

Lei En sensed the deeper meaning in Akaland's words; it was really a warning to watch out for hidden daggers.

He had known about the Imperial Council's disputes for a long time, so there was nothing to worry about; the teachers had already handled them. The Weizelan Wizards went to Kangjiatuo in a personal capacity, and now that the matter is settled, the legislators' arguments are meaningless.

Behind these disputes were merely minor moves by two other factions.

They did not want to see Weizelan's Fu Kong Cheng profit from Kangjiatuo, settle massive debts, and ease the teachers' disadvantage in the Supreme Council.

"Anyone who thinks there's a problem, feel free to come find me," Lei En sneered.

"Hahaha…" Akaland roared with laughter, "Those legislators are merely foot‑soldiers under the real big figures; even if you gave them a hundred more guts, they wouldn't dare appear before you, unless they think their heads are harder than Marck's."

The decisive battle outside Kingslan City also reached the Empire.

No one realized that Lei En was wielding the true Thunder God's Hammer, but anyone with a bit of insight knows that his power already sits at the legendary peak. Across the entire Empire, only a Holy Soul Wizard or a Saint Rank Transcendent could possibly withstand a single strike from Lei En.

Lei En did not bring up Kangjiatuo again, but asked about the motorcycle factory.

【5】 The two had built the motorcycle plant together; after the day the first vehicle rolled off the line, Lei En never went back, leaving everything to Akaland to manage, becoming a complete absentee proprietor.

Two people cooperated to build a motorcycle factory; except for the day the first vehicle rolled off the line, Lei En never went there again, handing everything over to Akaland to manage, and he became completely hands-off.

At the mention of motorcycles, Akaland's emotions surged instantly.

For more than a year he has poured all his energy into motorcycles, already improving them to a third new model, and he hasn't forgotten to expand the production line and boost sales; in the name of the Mechanical Union, he has established branch factories in all the Empire's major cities.

Now there are over ten motorcycle factories, their combined capacity reaching a thousand units per day.

Sales are also booming.

Because the price is cheap—less than one‑tenth of a car's—and they're convenient, many city dwellers and even rural peasants can afford them, keeping demand constantly outstripping supply.

Almost every vehicle is snatched up the moment it leaves the factory, with people waving cash.

Now, in the Empire's big cities and nearby towns, you can see countless white‑smoking motorcycles racing through streets and alleys, leaving a trail of roaring sounds.

The Mechanical Union also sees the motorcycle's prospects; it will become one of the most profitable projects.

Akaland has decided to keep investing, increase capacity, aiming to produce five thousand motorcycles daily within three years, and to sell them beyond the Empire's borders.

Thus, the motorcycle plant's early stage not only fails to break even, but also requires more capital.

Speaking of this, Akaland feels a bit embarrassed.

He had once told Lei En that it would turn a profit within a year, only to bite his own tongue.

The motorcycle cake is too huge; even as vice‑president of the Mechanical Union, he cannot block the greedy eyes. Within the union, each city's branch, noble lords, and major merchants of the sales channels vie openly and covertly for shares of the motorcycle plant, even sparking friction.

Lei En holds a forty‑percent stake in Mo Du's first factory.

According to the prior agreement, any new branch factory the Mechanical Union builds in any city, as long as it uses Lei En's steam‑motorcycle technology, must give Lei En a ten‑percent share.

That ten percent may seem small, but as more factories open, its value becomes incalculable.

Lei En sensed Akaland's difficulty and asked, "Is anyone trying to move that ten percent of my shares?"

"Yes." Akaland nodded silently. "The Mechanical Union isn't decided by me alone; there are several other vice‑presidents, and the regional branches also want a piece of the pie. Those new factories want to take ten percent even though you did nothing, and many think that's too steep."

He thought for a moment and added, "If you can concede and lower the share to five percent, I can fight for you."

Lei En nodded; he isn't an unreasonable person.

Putting himself in the other's shoes, Akaland, squeezed in the middle, asked, "Do you have the data on the regional branches? Let me see."

"I always carry it with me," Akaland said, pulling out a thick stack of documents.

Lei En took it and flipped through; it listed the locations, investment costs, and share structures of the Empire's thirteen new factories, with over twenty more in preparation. Just by looking at the data, even someone clueless about business can see the motorcycle's future prospects and massive market.

Its price is far cheaper than a car's, yet its sales are dozens of times higher.

The motorcycle market will fully open; annual revenue will reach at least eighty million Gold Shields, and maintenance and servicing add further income, with yearly net profit exceeding ten million Gold Shields.

If overseas markets can be developed further, it could double.

Who wouldn't be green with envy over tens of millions of Gold Shields a year? Not even ordinary noble lords; even a Holy Soul Wizard can't sit still, itching to intervene and take a cut.

In fact, Lei En saw the shadow of Holy Soul Wizards on some of the new factories' shareholder lists.

Many of them are Wizards from Fu Kong Cheng, or outright members of wizard families.

Lei En had previously thought motorcycles would be popular, with a broad market, but never imagined they'd explode so wildly, far beyond his expectations.

The key is that motorcycles burn "gray coal," whose calorific value rivals that of ancient gasoline yet is far cheaper; almost every household stores piles of it. Coupled with the Mechanical Union's mature steam technology, the resulting steam motorcycles perform excellently, causing an instant boom.

"Lei En, I'm under a lot of pressure."

Akaland's face showed distress, "People come by every day to pressure me, forcing me to hide in the factory. Even the president has asked me several times to promptly seek your opinion. I've visited several times, but Fabian always says you're absent."

Lei En raised an eyebrow; even that mysterious president can't bear the pressure.

"I understand."

He thought for a while and said, "I will definitely not hand over that ten‑percent share to anyone." Lei En's words made Aka Land's expression shift slightly; just as he was about to speak, Lei En waved his hand and said, "But I won't take shares for free either; whatever money I invest in the early factory construction, I will contribute proportionally to my share."

All the ten‑percent shares of the motorcycle factories yield yearly profits of over a hundred million Gold Shields, essentially another Bo Ju Ling Di; who would be willing to let go?

If Lei En were just an ordinary lord who couldn't protect his interests, he would have to grudgingly accept it.

But he is not.

He has Weizelan and a Holy Soul Wizard as backing; his teacher is in good health, and his own strength is unrivaled beneath the Holy Soul—why should he spit out the meat he has already taken?

What is mine is mine; no one may try to take it, not even a Holy Soul Wizard!

Aka Land's expression flickered, and he shook his head, "This isn't a small amount; there are over thirty factories in total. Proportionally, you'd need to put up at least two million Gold Shields, and later it could be more—potentially exceeding three million Gold Shields."

"Three million Gold Shields, is it?" Lei En replied cheerfully, "Alright, I'll pay."

While he was perusing the new factory data earlier, he had silently calculated it once, and the figure was about right; this investment is definitely worth it.

"You can produce that much money!"

Aka Land was extremely surprised; Lei En's nonchalant tone made it sound as if he were talking about three hundred Gold Shields, not three million. Even he himself, after years of business and amassing a fortune worth tens of millions, would find it somewhat difficult to produce that much cash.

"I have a bit of gain in Kangjiatuo," Lei En said lightly.

Aka Land immediately understood and couldn't help but envy, "Probably more than just a bit…"

Lei En chuckled and then said seriously, "I've invested this much money, but I have one condition. I will set up an audit team to review the motorcycle factories' accounts every six months, ensuring my money hasn't been embezzled. That's not too much, right?"

"Fine," Aka Land nodded solemnly.

He couldn't guarantee the factories' accounts were flawless; someone would always take a risk, and Lei En's audit team would become a sharp sword in his hand.

Lei En smiled satisfactorily, "Tomorrow I'll have someone deliver the first payment to the guild."

He stood up, "Now it's time to discuss my matters."

"What matter?"

"You'll know when you come with me."

Aka Land, puzzled, followed Lei En into the castle's teleportation hall; he wasn't surprised to see the teleportation array, having long guessed that the castle contained one due to Lei En's ever‑changing whereabouts.

However, Lei En did not activate the array, but stood aside waiting.

After a dozen seconds.

The teleportation array trembled slightly, all the rune lines lit up, the void rippled like a water surface, gradually forming a vast energy vortex; minutes later, a towering portal opened at its center.

Lei En made a beckoning gesture and led the way inside.

Aka Land hurriedly followed, passed through the portal, and found himself in a spacious courtyard surrounded by an ancient castle; looking up, he saw heavy snow falling from the sky, the temperature bitterly cold, with gusts of icy wind.

This is the Kingdom of Kangjiatuo!

Aka Land tightened his clothing and heard a young voice say, "Teacher."

He turned toward the voice and saw a slender, cold‑aura young man with a hint of eeriness, not yet twenty, bowing to Lei En.

Lei En nodded and replied, "Reslin, you did well; return to Weizelan first."

"Yes, Teacher."

Reslin turned, entered the portal, and vanished.

Aka Land watched the portal close and instantly realized that the teleportation array had been set up by Lei En's student; even merely splicing together forged mithril plates displayed an exceptionally high magical talent.

This student named Reslin had been under Lei En for less than half a year, likely only an initial‑stage Wizard, yet he had mastered such profound magical knowledge.

"You're quite an extraordinary student," Aka Land said in surprise.

He spoke from the heart, because he found himself unable to see through Reslin's strength, as if shrouded in a mist. A renowned Legendary Mid‑stage mechanic, yet unable to comprehend an initial‑stage Wizard, would be laughed at if he said it aloud.

Lei En chuckled darkly, "If you could see through it, you'd be seeing ghosts."

"Reslin is my best student; his future achievements won't be inferior to mine," he said with a hint of amusement, his mouth corners lifting.

Aka Land was startled, not expecting Lei En to rate Reslin so highly.

One must realize how great Lei En's reputation is in the Empire now; not only has he broken the record of the youngest legendary prodigy of Duke Hong Shi, his power is also unfathomable.

A Legendary initial‑stage defeating a Legendary High‑rank was something no one believed in the past.

Many people study Lei En, comparing him with famous heroes of history; some even believe Lei En is the most outstanding prodigy in human history, stronger than the young Emperor Alpha, on par with Duke Hong Shi and Augulevi Master, and that Holy Soul Ascension is only a matter of time for him.

Although some think this is praising Lei En excessively, overstating the facts.

Yet no one can deny Lei En's talent and strength.

Now Lei En says his student Reslin's future achievements will not be inferior to his own; Aka Land was instantly frightened, half‑believing, half‑doubting.

One Lei En is already astonishing; if there's also a Reslin, how could that be?

"Aka Land."

Lei En called twice, and Aka Land snapped back, asking, "Which place in Kangjiatuo is this?"

"Dragon Ridge Castle," Lei En replied.

He opened a portal to the castle's high tower, overlooking the entire Dragon Ridge City perched atop the hill, now blanketed in snow; the view was a sea of white, with the thriving Giant Dragon Forest not far to the south, while the north and east stretched into endless plains.

"I intend to fully develop the Augustus Duchy."

Lei En pointed to the city below and the distant land, saying, "By development I mean total mechanization: building roads and railways between cities, establishing schools and factories, upgrading mining equipment, applying machinery wherever possible; the entire duchy's production and operation will be powered by steam engines, making it a nation built upon steam engines."

"Of course, the most important is to erect the goddess's temple, spreading Her wisdom and brilliance."

"This requires massive participation from the Mechanical Guild; within three years we plan to invest five million Gold Shields, with even more over the coming decades."

"I will also provide some designs for mechanical products, certainly not far off from motorcycle profits; this is an opportunity for the Mechanical Guild—what do you think?" Lei En asked with a smile.

Aka Land's eyes brightened the more he listened.

Especially upon hearing "total mechanization," his breathing grew heavier, as if a grand blueprint unfolded before his eyes.

Aka Land nodded emphatically without hesitation, proclaiming loudly, "I, representing the Mechanical Guild, agree to cooperate with the Duke, participating in the construction of the Augustus Duchy!"

(End of Chapter)