Age of Mysticism

   Luke returned to 236 Copper Mulberry Avenue in a carriage.

  There were not many people on the roads of the imperial capital at night, the street lights illuminated the smooth bluestone ground, a night shift tram occasionally drove in the middle of the road, and there were sheriffs patrolling along the side of the road with swords in their arms. After a while, the sky began to rain lightly, and the north wind blew the raindrops on the glass of the carriage.

  Luke stretched out his hand, and a ball of fire burst out of his palm, and the heat dispelled the cold air that had penetrated.

  His thoughts recalled what happened after arriving in the imperial capital today.

  Queen Christina is capable and talented in handling government affairs, but she has too little understanding of the interior of the palace. She doesn't know how much power the Cross has in the imperial court, and she doesn't know how deeply the two princes are tied to them.

   Regarding the sky-high purchase order, no one except Augustine the Great has the strength to investigate the case inside.

   And what is Augustine doing?

  According to what I know about the emperor, as long as his mind can still think, he will never give up power to others easily. This time behind closed doors, he had given all the power to the queen, so there must be some important matter that forced him to do so.

   Is he really overworked and sick?

   Or for some other reason?

  Without clues and intelligence, no accurate judgment can be made.

  So Luke wanted to let the eldest prince Fania be a stepping stone. With Fania's personality, the more impatient he is when he is finishing the goal. And the last time he attacked Dai'er, it proved his gambler mentality, and at the same time, family affection has long been worthless in his heart.

   Therefore, Luke judged that Fania would not go to the Cross Society to discuss countermeasures after knowing the sky-high purchase order. When the queen goes to the north, she will definitely take away a group of royal knights and palace guards.

  The guard force of the palace has been greatly reduced, and Fania is likely to take risks.

   Let Fania find out what Augustine is doing in hiding.

  Luke squeezed out the fire with his fist, and then knocked on the carriage: "Go to the Adrian Alchemy Factory in the lower city."

  The carriage turned around at the next intersection and headed towards the downtown area.

  The investment of a large amount of funds into the lower city of St. Lun has achieved initial results.

  Once people have hope, they will burst into a positive side. The previously dirty streets were cleaned up spontaneously by the residents living nearby, and the potholes were also filled in.

  The gang members organized patrol teams according to their respective territories. Even on rainy nights, they patrolled decently wearing raincoats and holding weapons, and their conscientiousness was no less than that of the sheriff in the upper city.

  So not long after Luke's carriage entered the lower city, it was stopped by a patrol.

  It rains harder.

  The gang surrounded the carriage in the middle, and the heavy rain washed away their raincoats. Everyone held weapons and was on guard.

  The carriage is very luxurious, which means that the people in the carriage are distinguished.

  According to common sense, people of this status would not come to the downtown area on a rainy night, but since they came, there must be something important.

  A boss stepped forward and knocked lightly on the carriage door.

   "This is the lower part of the city of St. Lun, it is very unsafe at night. Who are you? What are you doing in the lower part of the city so late?"

  The leader inspected the decoration of the carriage and the clothes of the driver, wondering if he could extort a sum of money from the other party.

  At this time, the window of the carriage opened a small gap.

   "Rage City, Luke! Come to old Adrian."

  The leader saw the profile of the person sitting inside through the gap in the window, and immediately stepped back and bowed when he heard the person inside tell his identity.

   "Mr. Luke good evening, I just offended, please forgive me."

  When the gang members heard that it was Mr. Luke in the car, they immediately put away their weapons and saluted together.

   "Mr. Luke, good evening!"

  Luke said lightly: "It's your duty to maintain the law and order in the lower city at night, you didn't offend me, so naturally I don't need to forgive you.

  Take me to Adrian's alchemy factory, I don't want to stop every patrol I see. "

   "It is our honor to lead the way for Mr. Luke!"

  The leader pulled over a fast-footed subordinate and asked him to report to Adrian's alchemy factory that Mr. Luke was coming.

   Then he led the other gang members to step on the rainwater and trot along with the started carriage.

  As the number of patrols encountered on the road increased, more people escorted the carriage. At the same time, the news that Luke came to the lower city quickly spread to all the streets in the lower city. Those who had fallen asleep hurriedly got up, waiting for the news from Adrian's alchemy factory.

   When the carriage arrived at the alchemy factory, old Adrian had already greeted him outside the door with his son and leaders. Lightning pierced the sky, and heavy rain poured down. Everyone stood in the rain, speculating in their hearts...Mr. Luke must have something important to come to the downtown area in such bad weather.

  The door opens.

  Old Adrian stepped forward and held up an umbrella to block the shower for Luke who got out of the car.

   "Mr. Luke, did something important happen?"

Luke walked forward stepping on the stagnant water, waved to the people who greeted him, and said to old Adrian: "There is something important, notify the major shareholders of Polaris to come to a meeting, and we will talk at the meeting. Ed Are you here?"

Old Adrian thought that Mr. Luke blamed Ed for not coming to greet him, and immediately explained: "Ed is in the alchemy laboratory. Since Mr. you taught him the formula of the mysterious substance mixture, he has been obsessed with researching more advanced mixtures. Due to the danger of the mysterious substance, I did not send anyone to inform him.

   I beg your pardon, sir. "

   "It's a good thing to like to study new mixed substances." Luke took the umbrella from old Adrian: "You go to prepare for the meeting, and I'll go and see Ed."

   "Yes, Mr. Luke."

  Old Adrian sent someone to the alchemy laboratory first, and asked the guards there to let Mr. Luke go immediately when they saw Mr. Luke.

  Luke skillfully found the alchemy laboratory of the factory.

  The alchemy laboratory in the factory is much better than the alchemy room in the workshop next to the sewage reservoir. Old Adrian, who had money in his hands, purchased a batch of second-hand alchemy equipment, which filled the entire alchemy laboratory with a sense of luxury.

  The first generation of mysterious substance mixtures are prepared in a special studio, protected by guards 24 hours a day.

  When Luke saw Ed, he was on a crafting table full of various experimental vessels, carefully mixing a mysterious substance mixture experimental reagent. Wearing a protective mask, he has a calm expression and a steady wrist. He already has strong confidence and experience.

  Luke didn't disturb Ed, but just watched quietly from the sidelines.

  Ed didn't notice Luke's arrival either, he was completely focused on the mixture reagent in his hand.

   After an unknown period of time, the originally stable reagent suddenly became unstable. The liquid transpired, and the mysterious substance turned into colorful gas and sprayed out from the test tube.

  Ed skillfully used the special aspirator to **** away all the mysterious substance, and then he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

   "Failed again!"

   “But one step closer to success.”

   "Lu... Mr. Luke!"

  Ed immediately put down the test tube in his hand and saluted in a panic when he saw Luke.

   Ed, who uses the first generation of mysterious substance mixture, has a very strong body, but he is still shy when he meets Luke.

Luke walked over, picked up the experimental notes from the table, pointed to some of them and said, "Adjust the measurement here to 12 milliliters, first heat it to 60 degrees, then lower it by 5 degrees every ten minutes, and keep it at a constant temperature after reaching 40 degrees." 20 minutes.

   Here you need to use purple light for irradiation; here you need to add stabilized quartz powder..."

Ed recorded carefully, and after Luke finished speaking, he couldn't help asking: "Mr. Luke, this is an advanced potion I thought of based on the first-generation mysterious substance mixture, how do you know its correct formula and production process. "

  Luke put down the experimental notes and said with a smile: "I know there are many formulas for the mysterious substance mixture. I asked you to pay attention to where is the mysterious substance collected?"

"It's all in the mysterious substance vault, please follow me." Ed took Luke to the depths of the studio, and said at the same time: "Since my husband asked me to pay attention to the special mysterious substance produced in the sewage reservoir, I will send it every day. People are patrolling around the sewage reservoir. Once I find it, I will collect it immediately, and now I have a lot of reserves.

   It's all here. "

   Ed opened the safe and pulled out a large storage box. The box was filled with glass test tubes, some empty and others filled with mysterious substances of different colours.

  Luke took out the test tubes one by one to observe the color and change of the mysterious substances inside, and handed over to Ed the ones that needed to be used, and picked seven special mysterious substances in a while.

   Then Luke took some regular mysterious supplies and left the vault with Ed.

   "The number and types of special mysterious substances collected are not bad. I will continue to pay attention to the collection in the future. I will be useful."

   "Yes, Mr. Luke."

   "I want to prepare a mixture of mysterious substances, and you will be my assistant. Old Adrian and the others are still waiting for my meeting, so let's hurry up."

  Hearing that Luke was going to prepare a new type of mysterious substance mixture and allowed himself to be an assistant, Ed said happily: "Thank you, Mr. Luke!"

  Luke put the selected mysterious substances on the potion racks of the experiment table, and then labeled them one by one, and then took out the beaker and alcohol lamp to start making the mixture.

   "I only do it once, it's up to you whether you can learn it."

   "I'll learn by heart, Mr. Luke."

   "Go, mix No. 4 and No. 5 mixtures at a ratio of 1:3 and melt them into 60-degree wine, and place them in a zero-degree incubator."

   "Yes, Mr. Luke."

  Ed followed the instructions and started making the ingredients of the mysterious substance mixture. Luke picked up the No. 1 mysterious substance and poured it into the beaker, then lit the alcohol stove to heat the flask.

  The two of them were busy in the laboratory. Apart from the brief experimental communication in the room, there was only the sound of bottles and jars colliding.

  At the same time, the news that Mr. Luke was going to hold a meeting of Polaris' major shareholders spread from the Adrian Alchemy Factory to the entire lower city. The gang bosses who received the notice set off immediately. Although the outside had been severely flooded due to the heavy rain, they did not dare to delay.

  The northerly wind blew more violently, washing the entire city with icy rain.

  In the laboratory, Luke operated quickly, and with Ed's assistance, the entire process of making the mixture was greatly shortened.

  The eight mysterious substances were refined, concentrated, mixed, modulated, and finally turned into a small square crystal. Each side of the crystal presents a different color, and the internal lines of the crystal form countless cross-sections, with a burning fire point in the middle.

  The light emitted by the fire point is refracted by the section, giving off a brilliance brighter than diamonds.

   "Bring the chilled wine here."

   "Yes, Mr. Luke."

  Ed took out the wine that the experiment had started from the incubator and placed it on the table in front of Luke.

  Luke picked up the square crystal with tweezers and placed it on top of the wine glass.

   "At this point, pay attention to adjusting the height of the crystal. The light inside the crystal will focus on the surface of the wine. When the wine is ignited, you can put the crystal into the wine glass."

   As he spoke, Luke adjusted the height of the crystal, and a fire point appeared on the surface of the wine. The wine made with the mysterious substance was ignited, and a blue flame rose upwards. Luke let go of the tweezers, and the crystals fell into the wine, melting on contact.

  Then the upward-burning fire became downward-burning, and the inside of the whole glass of wine was filled with blue fireballs.

Luke picked up the wine glass and said to Ed: "This is a kind of second-generation mysterious substance mixture called 'passionate wine'. Not everyone is suitable for this mysterious substance mixture, it is only suitable for people with fire affinity. The body has a beneficial effect, and people with other constitutions will suffer from it.

  How to use it is..."

  Luke raised his head and drank the whole glass of soju in one gulp, the burning wine reflected the light of swallowing from his throat. Immediately afterwards, the pores of Luke's body overflowed with the smell of burning alcohol, forming an explosively expanding air pressure.

  At this moment, Luke felt that he was bathed in flames inside and out, and the blood of the lava stone demon was revealed by the strong fire attribute ability. More powerful flames erupted outward, mixed with flashes of lightning.

  Feeling signs that the energy in his body was about to get out of control, Luke immediately activated the Thunder-Jining Huotong. The frantic currents were controlled and concentrated in one place, turning into an electric chain that revolved around Luke, and then gradually disappeared. The burst of fire was also forcibly suppressed, and then retracted into the body.

  Jiang Lei Huo pupil burst out with intense light, and the entire right eye was filled with compressed energy.

  As Luke gradually mastered the control of the rampage energy, the vision disappeared quickly, and his right eye returned to normal.

  Ed, who was stunned, dared to ask at this time: "Mr. Luke, are you okay?"

   "No..." Luke opened his mouth, and a mouthful of fire almost burned Eddie. Luke shut his mouth immediately, and after regaining control of his energy, he tried again before saying: "I'm fine, this 'passionate wine' has increased too much for me, and I almost lost control.

  It seems that you are going to redecorate here. "

  Luke looked around, his short-term energy went berserk, and the laboratory was smashed into a mess. The instrument rack was twisted and fell down, and broken glass was scattered all over the ground.

  Eddie immediately said: "Compared to the potion formula you taught me, sir, these are nothing worth mentioning. Thank you again, I have learned the manufacturing process of a precious mysterious substance mixture."

   "You can learn to explain your talent in just one pass. I leave it to you to clean up here. I'm going to chair the Polaris shareholder meeting.

   In the future, the use of the first-generation mysterious substance mixture will increase, so you should make more reserves. "

   "Please rest assured, Mr. Luke."

  Luke bid farewell to Eddie and left the alchemy laboratory. The guards outside told him: All the major shareholders of Polaris are here and are waiting for Mr. Luke to arrive in the conference room.

  Luke took out his pocket watch and found that it took three hours to make the potion.

  …

  The night was getting deeper, the wind swayed the windows of the meeting room crazily, and the rain hit the glass and made a heavy beating sound.

  The two sides of the long conference table are full of gang leaders who came to the meeting. The chandelier on the ceiling is swayed by the airflow, and the swaying light illuminates different faces.

  No one spoke, and everyone quietly waited for the person on the main seat to arrive.

  The door of the conference room was pushed open, and the gang leaders immediately stood up when they saw the people coming in.

   "Hi Mr. Luke!"

"Hello everyone, sit down!" Luke strode to the main seat and sat down, and then asked the old Adrian next to him: "The Polaris Small Commodity Production Company has been established for a while. I have some things recently. Didn’t pay attention here, report to me about your current business situation.”

   "Yes, Mr. Luke!"

  The prepared old Adrian took out a book and read it according to the record...

  Everyone listened quietly.

  The production of small commodities does not require large-scale equipment. Small production tools such as sewing machines can be produced and imported in large quantities in Rage City, and then transported to Saint Lun City by rail, and then distributed to family production units in the lower city.

  It can be produced after simple training.

  As long as the supply of raw materials and the sale of finished products are guaranteed, the return on investment will soon be seen.

  Raging Waves City is a large market that connects both the interior of the empire and the international market. In this era of rapid economic growth in the world, demand is something that has no upper limit. As long as there are channels, there is no need to worry about not being able to sell commodities after they are produced.

   Therefore, with the continuous supply of equipment and endless orders in Raging City, family-based production is rapidly spreading in the lower urban area. Although the profit is very thin, a stable income is much more valuable than the previous life of eating the last meal without the next meal.

  In the lower city, everyone knows who gave the meal, and everyone respects Mr. Luke.

  Now the lower city, which has a little money in hand, is preparing to raise funds to rebuild the roads in the city and dig drainage pipes. In bad weather like today, it is difficult for people to get in and out, let alone the vehicles that deliver goods.

  If you want to be rich, the road must first be repaired.

  Old Adrian also thought about laying a set of electric lines and purchasing some large steam engines. If the energy supply in the lower city is abundant, it can also increase the production speed.

  After listening to the old Adrian's report, Luke asked Alice about the use of the investment and the revenue status of Polaris.

   Then he talked with Malcolm about how extraordinary pets are sought after by the upper class in Raging City.

  Finally, I made a concluding speech: "Actually, from the attitudes and expressions of everyone, I can see that the current development momentum of the lower urban area is very good, and everyone can feel that it will be even better in the future.

   Today you are thinking about building roads and laying out power grids; in a few days you may consider demolishing all those low houses and building tall buildings or opera houses. "

  Luke's words elicited easy laughter from everyone.

  The future is really bright!

   "But... have you thought about how to keep the wealth you have now and will have in the future?"

  Luke's next words made the laughter stop abruptly, everyone's face changed from amiable to fierce, as if whoever dared to rob their wealth, they would do their best.

  The nature of the villain is revealed.

  Old Adrian asked Luke in a low voice: "Sir, is it because your investment income in the lower city has attracted the covetousness of the imperial officials?"

   "Did the imperial officials trouble you?"

  Old Adrian answered without consideration: "No."

Malcolm said suspiciously: "This is very strange! In the past, there was no oil and water in the lower city, and those imperial officials didn't care about it at all. Now that the lower city passes through the Shenglun City Railway Station to import and export so many goods, the imperial officials did not make things difficult for us and paid the taxes. It was released smoothly.

  This is not in line with common sense. "

  Malcon had worked in the Empire's Extraordinary Creature Cultivation Center and knew what the imperial officials looked like. When they saw the big merchants in Raging Waves City near the lower city, they should pounce on them to get some benefits.

  It's not like they are doing nothing now, not like their style.

  Others also felt abnormal, as if some kind of power was protecting them.

  Luke looked at the meeting place where discussions were gradually starting, his eyes swept over everyone's faces, and then said: "The eldest princess said that there are people who work in the Secret Service among you, stand up!"

  Princess! Secret Bureau!

  The venue was silent for a moment, and no one expected that there would be an eyeliner from the Secret Affairs Bureau here. Everyone looked at the people in the venue vigilantly, thinking in their hearts to find out the inner ghost and then impose the death penalty.

  A man sitting at the end of the conference table stood up.

  When everyone was about to shoot the case and yell at the inner ghost, the man showed a helpless expression and said: "It's me...Governor Meteor. I was working for the Secret Service, but at that time I didn't know it was you.

  His Royal Highness Princess asked me to fully cooperate with your work in the lower city and protect your safety. "

   Meteor Governor!

  Everyone in the venue was dumbfounded. Meteor, that is the hottest figure in the empire right now, could it be that Mr. Luke is...

Facing the looking eyes, Luke said to the informant of the Secret Service: "We all work for the Secret Service, and you are just fulfilling your mission with due diligence. Since you know who I am, you should be responsible for my identity. Let's prove it once."

"Obey, Governor." The informant saluted Luke first, and then introduced to everyone present: "Mr. Luke, who helped and saved our homeland, is actually a Viscount of the Empire, an Honorary Royal Knight, and a special six of the Imperial Secret Service. Director of the Department, Senator of Raging Waves City, Governor of Meteor of Raging Waves City."

   Following the informant's introduction, the mouths of everyone in the conference room grew bigger and bigger, and then they all stood up involuntarily.

  The informant breathed a sigh of relief after introducing Luke. Keeping this secret put too much pressure on him.

  Old Adrian said excitedly: "Mr... Your Excellency Governor."

  The puzzle just now was solved. It was Mr. Luke who saved the lower city...it was Governor Meteor who protected the lower city.

   "Sit down!" Luke pressed his hand: "Don't stand, sit down! If it wasn't because of something urgent that made me have to reveal my identity, I would prefer to communicate with you as Mr. Luke."

   Everyone sat down again under Luke's order.

  Old Adrian said: "My lord governor, the entire lower city is yours. If there is anything for us to do, please tell us."

"Then let's start with the new position I just got." Luke paused, and seeing that everyone was listening intently, he continued: "Now I am the newly appointed special cabinet minister, responsible for the special transportation of materials in the northern border office."

  Seeing that everyone was about to stand up and salute again, Luke immediately stopped them: "It's too late today, and I'm going back to Raging City early tomorrow morning, so I'll save some etiquette first.

  I want to tell you at this meeting that the northern border of the empire is about to face a full-scale attack by the Attorney League.

  If the army of the Art County United breaks through the northern fortress group, the entire empire will be in turmoil. "

  The information revealed by Luke was too explosive for the gang leaders in the conference room.

  During the war, the empire's internal propaganda was to report good news but not bad news. The attack on the Tedgar Hills on the southern front was not going well. The people heard that the barbarian army was marching and killing the imperial army, and they were defeated. It seemed that the capture of the Celtic Duke was just around the corner.

  Although there is propaganda about the crisis in the northern border, it is even more emphatic about the powerful army in the northern border. It only talks about the "brilliant record" that the Northern Army has played against the Yate County United before, and never mentions that the Northern Army has been transferred half of its troops to the southern front, nor does it say that the Yate County United is coming in full force this time. The scale of the war Not on the same order of magnitude as previous border skirmishes.

  The crisis in the western border is not even publicized.

  In short, the people of the empire maintained a very optimistic attitude towards the war, and their daily life was hardly affected much.

   Now that Luke said that the northern border was so dangerous that the queen had to go to the northern border to supervise the battle, these gang leaders realized that the war was so close to them.

  Old Adrian asked: "My lord governor, what do we need to do?"

   "I want to recruit in the lower city!"

   "How many people are needed, we must recruit them for adults."

  The gang bosses didn’t have any hesitation. Whether it was to block the Yate County United and keep the good life they just got, or to repay Governor Meteor, they were willing to give up their lives.

   "5,000 people!" Luke said the troops he predicted might be recruited in the lower city: "The soldiers from the lower city went to Rage City to reorganize in the name of labor, and received at least three months of military training.

  When the situation in the northern border is in crisis, Rage City will send troops to support the northern border. "

   On the train, Luke received a lot of news from Raging City, including the formation of the city militia.

  Viscount Iskran has expanded the size of the city militia in Rage City to 2,000 people. And because the residents of Raging Waves City generally have a high level of education, Viscount Iskran suggested that the city militia be equipped with a large number of war machines, alchemy puppets, magic projectile cannons, small scout airships, and armored trucks to form an armored assault division. Fortress of War enters the North to fight.

  At the same time, Viscount Iscorran also expressed his own difficulties. Since the city residents cannot be aroused to panic, they cannot recruit large-scale troops within the city. Before Raging Waves City entered a state of war, the size of the city militia could only reach 4,000 to 5,000 people.

  For a pure armored assault division, the number is slightly insufficient.

  The armored assault division is the strongest and most expensive combat force for any country.

  The reason why the Imperial Northern Frontier Corps is strong is because it has thirteen armored assault divisions that the empire has spared no effort to build.

Each armored assault division is equipped with: ten offensive and defensive war fortresses; sixteen logistical war fortresses; 1,000 to 1,500 war machines; 3,000 alchemy puppets with various functions; 20 reconnaissance airships; 3,000 vehicles of various types.

   Troop strength ranges from 10,000 to 15,000.

   It can be said that the attack of an armored assault division is a torrent of steel, and the garrison is a steel fortress.

   Amazing combat effectiveness and amazing cost.

  At the same time, if you want to form an armored assault division, you need a large number of high-quality soldiers. Due to its special economic status, Raging Waves City has a high-quality military source. Even the gangsters in the port can play with machines and drive cars.

   The soldiers recruited in Raging Waves City can be placed in the technical positions of the armored assault division to build a skeleton. In addition, they need to be filled with light infantry to cooperate with war machine attacks and protect expensive weapons such as magic projectiles.

   So Luke thought of downtown.

  The people here, if they were to drive a war machine, it would definitely be a setback, but if they were given a knife to make them desperately, they would definitely rush upwards. With such fierce light infantry looking around, technical soldiers can drive war machines and war fortresses to attack and defend boldly with confidence.

  Old Adrian communicated with other gang leaders, and felt that there was not much pressure to recruit 5,000 soldiers from the lower city in a short time. Moreover, the development of the lower urban area and a large number of low-tech jobs have begun to attract the slums and rural areas of the imperial capital circle, and many relatives and friends of residents have defected here with their families.

   If you want to settle down in the lower city, then send out a male to fight.

  Old Adrian asked Luke in a low voice: "My lord, is 5,000 soldiers enough?"

   Luke asked, "Can there be more?"

  Old Adrian replied: "The five thousand soldiers, I guarantee that all of them will be sent to Rage City to report within half a month. Give me another two months, and I should be able to recruit another 5,000 soldiers."

Luke was overjoyed: "Very good! All families that give birth to males will be given better treatment. Raging Waves City will specially allocate a batch of high-profit orders to military families, and the lower city will also take special care of their lives. Everything Welfare should be given priority.”

  10,000 is the minimum number of people for an armored assault division. If 10,000 soldiers can be recruited from the lower city, the Raging Waves City armored assault division can be fully staffed.

   Such an armored assault division with complete combat capabilities can only play its due role when it is pulled to the northern border.

  The harvest in the lower city this time was even greater than expected.

  Luke discussed with the gang leaders the details of conscription and the way to send them to Rage City. When he left the alchemy factory, the rain stopped outside.

  The dark clouds dispersed, and a full moon hung high in the sky.

  Luke looked at the moon in the sky, and Qingkong, who was riding a horse in the desert of the western border, also looked up at the moon.