It had been over a year since they last met, and Arthur had grown considerably rounder, his portly frame straining against his oversized brown frock coat as though it might burst at any moment. He wore a soft cap of the same color atop his head, projecting an air of familiarity and ease around Lucian. (In the Holm Kingdom, gentlemen always dressed formally when stepping outside—whether in a suit, a double-breasted frock coat, or hunting attire—regardless of whether the weather was scorching or freezing. The only difference lay in the thickness of the fabric; one could never tell the season from their outfits alone. Lucian had often silently mocked this. Mages like them wore robes of Arcane Magic that automatically adjusted temperature and humidity, so attire hardly mattered. But if these fellows who didn't even hold formal knightly ranks ventured south to the Gusta Empire or the Kingdom of Briana, wouldn't they collapse from heatstroke in summer?)
"Welcome back, Evans." Arthur's plump face broke into a warm, enthusiastic smile. Their partnership through the "Minerals & Harvest Company" had drawn them considerably closer.
Lucian was in the process of removing his black top hat, preparing to hand it to Leo, when he replied with a smile: "Arthur, I didn't expect you to be the first to visit me. I haven't even notified my other friends yet."
"Evans, no need for the hat—the Prince has invited you to a private gathering. We can talk on the way. Hehe, over this past year or so, the rollout of the different Gold Kela models has gone remarkably smoothly. Revenue and profits have been enormous!" At the mention of this, Arthur couldn't help rubbing his hands together, his excitement plainly evident.
Lucian paused mid-motion and asked with puzzlement: "A private gathering hosted by the Prince? What kind of event?"
"It's a gathering of nobles organized by His Highness. The nobles in attendance hold the most progressive attitudes toward mages, and after witnessing the success of Gold Kela and the considerable future profits it promises, they're all eager to establish similar partnerships with mages. That's why His Highness would like to invite you, Evans, to come along and meet them. They're very curious about you." Arthur offered a brief explanation.
Then, feeling that their bond—cemented by mutual profit—warranted a deeper level of candor, he proceeded to lay out the benefits in detail, treating Lucian as the dedicated researcher who was hopelessly clueless about social connections: "Evans, this is an excellent opportunity to expand your network. Many of them are powerful nobles with long-established influence here in Rontat and across the various duchies, commanding vast resources. You may be a mage with a bright future, but there's no need to waste your own time solving every little problem. Once you've built a wide network of connections, a single letter can resolve a great many matters."
"Moreover, these progressive nobles—beyond their own considerable strength as knights—all maintain some degree of contact with high-ranking mages. That could prove of tremendous help to you."
"I really do appreciate the Prince's kind intentions. Let's set out, then." Lucian smiled and accepted. In truth, upon his return he had immediately become a disciple of the Storm Lord, making it entirely unnecessary for him to cultivate relationships with high-ranking mages through the nobles. But Prince Patrick was Natasha's uncle. Back during the "Minerals & Harvest Company" venture, the Prince had been of considerable help—even going so far as to pledge his shares in the Holm Mining Consortium as rewards for promoting environmental protection. That debt of favor could not be ignored.
Furthermore, making the acquaintance of these powerful nobles would indeed prove beneficial for his activities within the Holm Kingdom. The commercialization of certain alchemical products would require their support down the line, and he simply didn't have the time or energy to devote to such matters himself.
And beyond that—roping the nobles into a "win-win" arrangement and acclimating the common people to the convenience of an "Arcanized" age was an effective way to consolidate the Arcane Council's foundation while gradually weakening the Church. Lucian, who possessed a strong sense of "stewardship" toward the Arcane Council, was only too happy to oblige.
……
Whooom—the whistle blew long and shrill. The clatter of iron wheels against the rails grew ever faster as the arcane steam train surged forward with an unstoppable, rolling momentum.
"No matter how many times I ride one, I can never suppress the awe I feel when I see an arcane steam train set off. It shortens the distance between two cities by an incredible margin, bringing unbelievable convenience. The cargo-hauling arcane steam trains near the mining districts alone have reduced our transportation costs to previously unimaginable levels. Evans, why doesn't the Arcane Council partner with us to build arcane steam train routes? It's been years, and there still aren't even ten lines!"
Arthur Doyle looked at Lucian with genuine anguish.
Lucian chuckled: "Such an important 'resource'—of course the Arcane Council wants to keep it firmly in its own hands. The Royal Family probably thinks the same way." Laying routes within the Holm Kingdom meant they couldn't circumvent the King, so the Crown had secured a sizable share of the revenue, markedly bolstering its financial power.
"Resource? Yes! Viewed from another angle, the routes and the trains are indeed resources." Arthur smacked his lips regretfully. "It's a shame His Majesty the King is personally overseeing the matter—otherwise the Mining Consortium might still have had a chance…" He seemed to harbor a mild grievance against the King.
But he quickly composed himself and produced a kraft-paper envelope, handing it to Lucian: "Evans, for the past year or so there were no dividends—initial construction costs, the product not yet having been rolled out widely, and so on. It's only been in the last eight months, after the rollout spread throughout the Kingdom, that Gold Kela's revenue has experienced explosive growth. This is your share of the profits. Hehe, since you're a mage, your dividends from the equity are paid monthly."
Lucian took the envelope and opened it to find a moderately thick booklet in vivid red, bearing both Divine Arts and Arcane Magic seals.
"Thirteen thousand Gold Thalers." Considering the product had only recently been rolled out, a monthly average of over a thousand Gold Thalers in dividends was a remarkably generous return. If this level of support could be replicated across all four countries, Lucian's projected monthly income of ten thousand Gold Thalers would no longer be a dream. At that point, during his tenure as a high-ranking mage, the everyday costs of experiments and potions would be entirely covered—he would only need to save up in advance when it came to purchasing quality equipment, conducting certain high-cost experiments, or using some premium-grade potions.
This went to show that high-ranking mages were absolutely built on wealth. Without being a wealthy count, one simply couldn't sustain one.
"Knowledge truly is wealth," Lucian murmured with heartfelt sincerity.
Arthur declared with confidence: "Once the rollout is fully stabilized, I'm confident I can get you five or six thousand Gold Thalers a month in dividends." Then, suddenly, he sighed: "It's a pity such enormous profits have made many high-ranking mages envious. The other three countries all have high-ranking mages who've developed new alchemical substances and partnered with nobles to form companies—otherwise your income would have doubled."
This outcome fell squarely within Lucian's expectations. Money—lots of money, enormous sums of money—was more than enough to drive people to unleash formidable power. Sooner or later, high-ranking mages would circumvent his alchemical formulae and synthesize new varieties of "fertilizer." It was one of the driving forces of human progress.
Seeing Arthur gaze at him with a hint of expectation, Lucian offered a reassuring smile: "We had a head start over them—that's our greatest advantage." Since these high-ranking mages' alchemical formulae had passed the Arcane Council's review, there would be nothing he could find fault with in their methods. Development could not be stopped, and if it promoted the expansion of the industry and allowed more farmers to reap bountiful harvests, that was a good thing in its own right.
……
Rontat, Hexagram Station.
Bock Biffu, the Royal Family's coachman, paced the platform with barely contained excitement, frequently glancing up at the surrounding buildings with their sleek, sharp lines. They stood in marked contrast to the rest of Rontat's architectural style, carrying an air of mysterious coldness.
As the arcane steam train routes multiplied and stations sprang up in ever greater numbers—alongside the alchemical workshops in the suburbs and beyond—the Arcane Council had gradually begun easing the fog shrouding the stations, attempting to let more people come into contact with alchemical products and with Arcane Magic itself, dispelling the fear in their hearts.
Due to the entanglement of interests, the nobles adopted a stance of neither encouraging nor opposing this development. The isolated Church could do nothing but watch it happen.
Unlike most ordinary people who harbored some fear of mages, Bock had been different since childhood. When he heard tales of mages, he never envied the heroes or the priests—he wanted to become a wondrous, powerful, terrifying mage himself. Unfortunately, even into middle age, no magical talent had manifested, and he could only continue his career as a coachman.
During his more than ten years of service to the Royal Family, he had come into contact with a number of mages, but none had stirred his heart to such excitement.
"...The oat harvest in the fields simply stunned me—golden yellow everywhere... This is the first time there's been so much left over after paying the lord's taxes... That Gold Kela stuff is a bit pricey, but it's worth it! The children at home finally don't go hungry so often! You don't have to subsidize them from your own wages anymore!"
These were the words his mother had said when she came to visit from the village outside the city—the excitement, the joy had left a deep impression on this farmer's son, sparking a surge of heartfelt happiness. And all of it was thanks to that noble mage who had invented Gold Kela.
For farmers at the bottom of society, being able to eat their fill and not go hungry was the greatest luxury! And if they could save up some money to give their children a better future, that was the Lord's blessing!
"This is what a true hero looks like…" Bock straightened his clothes as the monstrous, elongated train ground to a halt before him, speaking silently to himself.
The carriage door opened, and Bock saw Mr. Arthur Doyle escorting a handsome young man in a black double-breasted frock coat as they slowly descended. The monocle over his left eye lent him an additional air of scholarly refinement.
"That's Mr. Evans? So young? Of course—mages have potions that preserve youth!" Bock quickened his pace and stepped forward: "Good day, sir. I am Bock, the coachman sent by His Highness the Prince. May I ask if you are Mr. Evans?" Even with Mr. Doyle present, the protocol had to be observed—it was the rule of the Royal Family.
"I am." Lucian gave a slight nod, then watched in astonishment as Bock dropped to both knees and, in the manner of one taking communion in a church, pressed his lips gently to the hem of Lucian's coat.
"Thank you for bringing hope to the farmers." Bock's eyes glistened with tears.