Chapter 3130: Moon Bay Celebration

Although Ajelina spoke with a big tone, the content still exposed the little princess's secret. Not long after, she was driven downstairs by Princess Lei Qianya to rest with the maids. Princess Lei Qianya still didn't mention the new Saturday course to Xia De tonight. She and Duo Luo Qian also planned to talk about this after the New Year came:

"Then during the Year-End Festival, how many people will be in this bedroom?"

Her Royal Highness the Princess said to Xia De with a smile:

"Aunt and the others said they wanted to expand the house for you. I think it's better to think of a way to expand this bed... Come to think of it, do you think I've gained weight or lost weight recently?"

The bedroom was already dark. Although the curtains were not completely drawn, there was almost no starlight or moonlight on the snowy night. Xia De looked at the beloved red-haired princess in the darkness. Although he didn't find any changes in Princess Lei Qianya, he felt it was better to be cautious:

"It seems to be a bit thinner. Is the review too hard recently? Pay attention to physical health."

Princess Lei Qianya hugged Xia De with a smile, and then whispered in his ear:

"I also feel like I've lost some weight, especially... you check carefully. Every time my weight decreases, that place always changes first. This is really annoying."

And after Xia De's careful inspection and confirmation, Princess Lei Qianya's changes were actually not big:

"Then when your weight increases, is that place the first to change too?"

"Xia De, I'm really sorry. I can't reach the level of the maid chief of the aunt... But it's really a pity, the attempt at the hot spring with me and Duo Luo Qian last month's Red Butterfly Day failed."

She lay on the bed, her red hair falling on the pillow, and her emerald eyes had a pitiful expression:

"So, brave knight, please, please try again."

(Little Mia is running...)

In the silver-white harbor, a firework flew into the clouds with a swoosh~ and exploded under the clear sky.

Even in the daytime, the colorful fireworks after the explosion still made the children watching the excitement on the roof cheer, and this also meant that the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Moon Bay Bridge had officially begun.

It was Sunday morning, and the idle citizens who had nothing to do at the end of the year almost all rushed to both sides of the Taton River, preparing to witness the grand ceremony that this "City of Wealth" used to show off its wealth again after the city's major disaster in the summer.

The City Council also intended to announce to the outside world that Moon Bay had completely recovered from the disaster, and it could also be regarded as celebrating the arrival of the Year-End Festival in advance. After Countess Bella Belindel lit the first firework, the fireworks that exploded one after another continued to bloom in the sky over Moon Bay City.

Both sides of the bridge were already crowded with citizens wearing thick winter clothes, scarves, and hats, while the venue for the ribbon-cutting ceremony was arranged at the west entrance of the bridge, closer to Moon Bay Port rather than the city center.

On the temporarily erected high platform, Bella, who was dressed up, waved to the citizens frequently amidst the clicking sound of reporters taking pictures.

Dozens of huge hot air balloons were tied to the bridge base. The hot air balloons themselves were decorated with the Moon Bay City coat of arms, the coats of arms of the seven major families such as Belindel, and of course, to take care of Karsenrik's face, the coat of arms of the Anjou royal family was not forgotten.

Amidst people's exclamations, the steam airship hired by the City Council at a high price cruised around the silver-white Moon Bay City in the blue sky. This airship belonged to the Church of Creation, and even for the wealthy people of the "City of Wealth," this strange flying machine belonged to the "legendary" level of cutting-edge technological creations.

The steam valves laid around the double-layer tower bridge were constantly spraying colorful smoke through additional nozzles; and the ships on the Taton River were also unified and docked on the shore under the order of the City Hall, and followed the order to eject colorful balls made of silk cloth to the shore through steam compression cannons.

The colorful balls exploded in the air, and then sprinkled "gold coins" hidden inside to both sides amidst the wave-like cheers of the people.

Those gold coins were "Moon Bay Bridge Commemorative Coins" specially minted for the ribbon-cutting of the Moon Bay Bridge. Although they were not pure gold, each one could be directly exchanged for a two-shilling paper note at major banks in the Moon Bay area—only Moon Bay City could have such a big hand.

It's just that knowledgeable people know that this coin with the Moon Bay coat of arms on the back and the Moon Bay Bridge pattern on the front will definitely appreciate in value in the future, so collecting it is the right choice.

And the police officers on duty today were probably the only ones who didn't like this way of celebration, because they had to maintain order in the looting of the people. But occasionally when they could reach out and grab the small gold coins falling from the sky, no matter who it was, they would thank the generous countess.

Everything was harmonious. On the outskirts of the celebration ceremony, the church had even set up porridge sheds to distribute relief food, and even the poor people who were not dressed decently could get a full meal on this day of city-wide celebration.

Xia De did not stand in the crowd on both sides of the Taton River, was not among the specially invited guests under the stage, did not stand on the side of the podium with church representatives, City Council members, City Hall representatives, dock union representatives, and other representatives of the seven major families, and did not sit in the carriage with the Belindel family coat of arms behind the podium, ready to be the first to pass the bridge.

On the top floor of the "Gilded Age" newspaper office facing the ribbon-cutting ceremony venue, Xia De and Mr. Ptolemy Albert stood there watching the countess preparing to give a speech in front of the megaphone.

The distant northern "City of Steam" was still snowing heavily, while today's Moon Bay City had rare good weather.

Xia De rarely saw this vampire coroner on such a sunny day. In the outsider's memory, the places Mr. Albert often frequented included but were not limited to dark and damp sewers, underground autopsy rooms, cold and dim small taverns, or remote alleys in the lower city.

Seeing him in the winter sun now, Xia De even worried for a few seconds that he would be ignited by the sun. But then he remembered that Mr. Albert was the chosen one of "Light," and theoretically, he would only become stronger in the light.

The two had been standing here for a while. The illusion produced by the chosen one twisting light covered the figures of the two. Xia De was actually with Bella before she went on stage, and only met with Mr. Albert after watching Bella set off.

The two talked about various things that happened at the end of the year while watching the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the bridge.

Now the story of Vista Land has gone far, and everyone has to continue to look forward. The friction between Karsenrik and Delarion has also deeply affected this city of wealth on the west coast, specifically manifested as the increase in smuggling to the north through Moon Bay Port, and the smuggling of goods from the south through Moon Bay Port.

The City Council knew this well, but as long as the taxes could be paid enough, the nominal "special action to rectify the evil trend of smuggling" could only stay in newspapers and internal documents that ordinary people could not see.

However, the "Eternal Light" organization established by Mr. Albert to help the poor grew very quickly after the summer disaster, taking advantage of the city's recovery.

He modified some of the more radical goals and slogans from before, and coupled with Bella's authorization from Xia De, "Eternal Light" was no longer wanted and searched by local police, and was transforming into a mutual aid organization in the dock area and the lower city.

This of course did not mean that Mr. Albert gave up his ideals; he just didn't want to use Moon Bay City as a breakthrough point anymore. In fact, in the past six months, "Eternal Light" had radiated to the entire west of Karsenrik, and even appeared in the nearby Saradil County in the north.

"Moon Bay City's 1854 was very bad, but once the war breaks out in 1855, this should be the best capital safe haven."

Xia De looked at Bella's speech figure. Behind her were also representatives sent by the Anjou royal family. But of course, it was not a prince or princess. Xia De had met that Earl of Chichester at the funeral in Willendale at the beginning of the month. Margaret should call him uncle.

"Willendale's attitude toward the Moon Bay area is very subtle, both worried that the Moon Bay area will really become independent, and thinking that the Moon Bay City Council only thinks about making money and has no patriotic thoughts at all."

Mr. Albert reminded:

"Remember to let that countess pay attention to safety. Although the Anjou royal family would certainly not be bold enough to assassinate Moon Bay nobles, the interior of the Gray Gloves is not monolithic. She needs to worry about dangerous situations."

The twelve-level Golden Dragon descendant "Fate" great witch of course would not be successfully assassinated by a few steam bombs, but if she was really attacked, it would also be a troublesome matter that was difficult to deal with. Bella herself knew this, but she didn't want to change the status quo for the time being.

"She said that if Willendale puts pressure on the smuggling issue, she would unite with other major families to open a special route to the Archipelago Kingdom. Transship goods from the north and south to there, change the nationality of the goods, and then conduct cross-border trade."

"The island owners and tribal leaders of the 'tribal monarchy' in the Kelageli Kingdom are not really only muscle and no brains. Now that the three navies are confronting each other near the Eye of the Storm, it is hard to say what the Archipelago Kingdom really wants to do."

Mr. Albert said, and Xia De sighed, a little worried about Major Rads' safety.

Just then, a series of applause sounded on the street below, as if Countess Belindel had announced the policy of tax cuts for civilians next year.

"Are you really going to cut taxes?"

Mr. Albert asked, and Xia De continued to watch Bella giving a speech:

"Yes, but only a few items. During the construction of the Moon Bay Bridge, so much corruption was investigated and recovered by the City Council. After the bridge was built, it was not said where the surplus would be used, so this is enough to make up for unimportant taxes such as the 'bathtub tax'."

(End of chapter)