Magic Industrial Age

Ten miles east of Brussels, within the military camp.

This is the base of the Lionheart Knights. Although not all knights are here year-round, there is always a period of intensive training each year.

They bring their knight apprentices here to gather, eat, live, and train together, deepening their understanding and cooperation.

Of course, more importantly, healthy competition encourages the knights to cultivate more diligently, preventing a comfortable life from eroding their will.

Therefore, a huge military camp was built outside the city, specifically for the knights to reside in.

However, at this time, it is mainly used to detain prisoners of war!

The pirates, needless to say, are all nailed to crosses on the coastline.

Imprisoned here are formal knights, knight attendants, and even militiamen from the Wick and Carlisle families.

Nobles have their rules. Although they are prisoners, the quality of life of these knights cannot be too poor.

So, they live in the Lionheart Knights' rooms, forcing some Lionheart Knights to settle in the city.

The Raymond family has to provide them with ample food and satisfy their not-so-small demands.

Such as wine, drinks, and snacks!

Some picky nobles even require daily bathing, outdoor recreation, and exercise.

Those wounded on the battlefield also demand treatment and care.

Anyway, there are many things and a lot of trouble!

Old Hoover has to spend one or two hours carefully handling their problems every day.

Of course, those knight attendants don't need much attention. They are not knights and have not entered the circle of nobles.

That step away, inside and outside the door, the treatment is vastly different.

Their living environment is much worse, with large bunk beds and multiple occupancy rooms. Just giving them enough to eat and wear is enough.

The worst are the militiamen. In a huge room, a group of people are crowded together. Having a place to lie down is considered good.

They have to queue for the toilet, the sanitary environment is extremely poor, and the food and drink are just enough to keep them from starving.

The entire prisoner camp has three hundred and fifteen formal knights, eight hundred and seventy-four knight attendants, and over five thousand militiamen.

However, the resources consumed by the formal knights are more than twice the sum of the knight attendants and militiamen.

Even for the Raymond family, supporting these people is a huge burden.

This is what Loy saw when inspecting the military camp. It can't be said that Hoover's arrangements are problematic, but the rules are like this.

But the more Loy looked, the angrier he became, and the more his anger burned.

Especially seeing those formal knights enjoying themselves like lords, his anger surged.

"Alfonso, Alfonso!"

"Earl, I'm here!"

"Assemble the Lionheart Knights and drive everyone out. Let them go to the mines, the railways, and the construction sites. Let them work.

If they don't have the skills, let them move things, transport goods, and do the most basic physical labor!

Anyway, they have plenty of strength."

Grand Knight Commander Alfonso Zech hesitated slightly and asked, "Are the knights also included?"

"Didn't you hear clearly? I said everyone!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Steward Hoover!"

"Earl, what are your orders?"

"From today on, those who do not work shall not eat. Those who work diligently will eat more, and all other privileges will be cancelled.

Also, let those militiamen take a bath first, eat dry food, and then go to work!"

"Yes!"

"By the way, you can give them paper and let them write letters to urge for ransom. If I don't get a satisfactory amount, let them continue to work!"

"I don't believe they won't be anxious!"

With Loy's order, the Lionheart Knights all moved. The militiamen were mostly timid, and the knight attendants didn't dare to say much.

But the knights made a fuss!

One of them, although fed with drugs to suppress his fighting spirit, had the spirit of a third-tier transcendent at a glance.

He stared at Loy, his eyes full of resentment: "Earl Raymond, you are trampling on the dignity of the nobles and insulting our knightly honor!"

"And then? Then, what can you do?"

Loy said indifferently: "If you have the ability, you win the war, and naturally you will have honor and dignity.

Now that you have lost, as long as you don't want to die, honestly do what I say. Otherwise, it's not just dignity and honor that you will lose, but also have to go hungry and get beaten."

"Of course, you can also try to escape. Anyway, all of you are recorded.

If one person runs away, I will find your family; if I can't find the family, I will find your family's superior nobles!"

"So, don't drag your feet, obediently pay the ransom and get out of here as soon as possible.

Otherwise, I'm really afraid that seeing you too much, I can't help but kill you!"

Saying so, Loy turned around and looked at the assembled knights, and said: "You have seen my attitude, so, you know what to do next, right?"

The knights shouted in unison: "Yes, sir!"

Then, when they looked at the group of captured knights, the mockery in their eyes could no longer be concealed.

Loy walked away without looking back, and finally spat out a sentence: "They are all spoiled!"

……

Inside the study.

Daisy Wick looked at the list in her hand, her expression extremely ugly. She said, "Earl, is this, is this too much?"

Loy ignored her expression and said nonchalantly: "A knight under my command said a few days ago, how can you lose money after winning a war?

I think it makes sense!

So, Knight Daisy, I didn't send troops to occupy a bit of your Wick territory, and even maintained restraint, without looting.

Tell me, is it too much to ask for more ransom?"

"But, but, you are actually three times the amount calculated by my Wick family, that is three times the gold, it is really, really..."

"If you can't raise enough, you can also use other substitutes, I'm not picky, anything like gems, jewelry, magic materials, fine weapons, good things can be discounted!"

Loy said lightly, Daisy's chest heaved, and the special armor highlighted her curves, and at this time, it was even more majestic, and undulating.

After a long while, she said: "Earl, you are simply more greedy than those dragons!"

"You started the war, I won, I always have to get something, right?"

"My Wick family also has some strength, don't you really want to make friends?

In the future, we can also be allies!"

"Come on, those two allies didn't work when Marquis Carlisle died. So, allies are the most unreliable, you still have to rely on yourself!"

Loy finally lost his patience, he said: "If you can't make the decision, then go find your grandfather!

"Also, let me give you a reminder, my asking price will not change, but you can also find supplements from other places."

"Are you talking about the Carlisle family? But, but, but..."

"What can be! If you can't do it openly, then do it secretly, I don't believe your grandfather has no ideas.

The Carlisle family's main family is indeed powerful, but distant water can't quench a fire, if you are fast enough, it will be over when they come!"

"Okay, okay, go, I really don't want to talk to you anymore."

"By the way, tell your grandfather, if he wants to do something, wants my Raymond family to help him stand up, he can!

But, that's another price!"

……

Inside the Lionheart Manor,

That half of the mage tower.

Dozens of mages are busy, they are either chanting spells or waving their wands, elegantly as if conducting music.

Blocks of building materials seem to be marked with numbers, automatically flying to a fixed position and falling.

Then the mages cast spells to bond with 'fossil to mud', and then stabilize with 'mud to stone', and also adjust the magic patterns in them, communicate with each other, link, and form larger and more complex magic patterns.

There is also an old wizard with a white beard sitting cross-legged on a magic carpet, exuding powerful magic, communicating with the magic array of the entire magic tower, and constantly fine-tuning in the vibration.

This magic tower will be completed in just four or five days!

Although the interior decoration still needs to be constantly carved, the main project has been completed, and the operation of the element pool also means that this mechanical magic tower can be used.

At that time, Lilia will not need to run to the magic energy factory outside the city for cultivation or research.

Loy climbed the steps step by step, and finally stood on the edge of the sixth floor.

If he took another step forward, he would fall.

But this height is enough to take in the entire city of Brussels.

A jade belt runs from the northeast to the southwest, with three floating bridges on it, countless people are busy, and the noise is constant.

There are also those low buildings lined up, paved to the end, the streets are like lines through the picture, pedestrians are like ants, shuttling on the line, as if strung into one.

This idea is very strange, but that's how it came about.

Loy couldn't help but smile, turned his head to look, and saw the Imperial Ambassador Robin Walter, and said: "Looking from here, the scenery is really good!"

"When the mage tower is completed, you can watch it whenever you want!"

Loy turned around and seriously punched his chest, and said: "This time, I still have to thank the Ambassador for your help!

Whether it's the mage tower or the affairs on the Silver Sea, I will keep it in my heart."

Robin Walter took a step back, and also learned from Loy, clenched his fist and patted his chest: "I also have to thank Lord Loy, because of you, the Empire's layout has not completely failed.

More importantly, you saved my career!"

After a pause, he added: "However, Earl, these two battles you fought were really beautiful.

Marquis Carlisle was afraid that he would not dare to imagine until his death that you would dare to kill him; Pirate King Davis was afraid that he would not know how you found him until his death."

Loy grinned and said: "This is the education across the empire, if I hadn't gone to the empire to study, I wouldn't have been able to broaden my horizons, and I wouldn't have the achievements I have now."

"That's right, the empire's various systems are far ahead, and Hohenzollern III is as great as a god!"

The latest novel is first published on Liǔ Jiǔ Shū Bā!

After a pause, Robin Walter rubbed his hands a little embarrassedly, and said: "There is one more thing..."

"Why be so polite between us?"

"I heard that the Earl has captured the magic ship of the Ghost Mist Pirate Group, is there any discovery?"

Loy's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said: "Are you talking about the nautical chart recorded by Davis, and those account books recording black accounts?"

Robin Walter nodded: "The Earl is also a clear person, so I won't beat around the bush."

"Those nautical charts record a lot of pirate strongholds and sea beast locations, which are of great use to the Imperial Navy.

And those black accounts, the Earl holding them will not have any effect, but, put them in the hands of the Empire, it is the evidence of liquidation."

"Of course, the Empire will never take advantage of its allies for nothing, depending on the value of those black accounts, it can be converted into what the Earl needs."

Loy nodded slowly, thought for a moment and said directly: "I agree to this matter, but the things are on the way, and I have to wait a few days."

"As for what I want, I wonder if the Ambassador can help me find a magic potion to break through the fourth level, and a rapier worthy of me.

You know, my main weapon was taken away by that half-dragon, and I have no choice!"

"What about the fourth-level magic potion?"

"My guard captain, Oliveira, uses it, I believe you should know him."

"Hahaha, if it's just these, then I can promise you now."

……

Three miles south of Brussels.

There is a well-built railway station here, although the area is not large, it has everything, and it is built with more attention.

There are domes and stained glass windows, and a mechanical clock hangs on the spire, reporting the time on the hour.

In front of the station, there are two east-west railways.

Crushed stones are the base, sleepers are the foundation, and the rails are on top, and then fixed with screws...

This is the most basic mechanical structure, without any magic, so, the railway can be built by mortal Muggles.

At this time, of course, there is no magic-powered train galloping, but there is a simple flatbed car.

The power can be provided by moving the balance beam in the middle left and right, and it can travel quickly on the rails.

At this moment, Loy is standing at the forefront, feeling the wind blowing in his face, he looks up slightly, his expression relaxed.

Although the speed is not fast, the feeling is quite good.

However, the flatbed car did not run for long, and it reached the end of the rails, where a group of people were busy.

Some are laying the foundation, some are leveling the land, some are laying stones, some are transporting materials, some are placing sleepers, some are moving rails...

It should be said that the rails are actually the heaviest, and dozens of people have to shout slogans and move them little by little.

And the commanders are all professionals from the empire, pointing and arranging how to do it.

They are often accompanied by two or three people, who are their apprentices.

When the railway is completed, they will have learned something, and the railway in the Fresh Flower Territory will have to rely on them to maintain and operate it.

In addition, the most striking thing is that there is a large group of workers who are obviously different from the railway workers.

From the clothes to the temperament, from the neatness of the work, they are far inferior.

The only thing worth mentioning is that they are stronger.

That's right, these are the prisoners of war, who were sent here by Loy to reform through labor.

Seeing Loy's arrival, a person immediately ran over, it was Lord Hick Cruz, who was in charge of magic machinery.

When he saw Loy, he was very surprised, and said: "Earl, why are you here?"

"Of course, I'm here to check on the progress of the railway construction."

Loye sized him up and down, and said, "You've gotten quite tanned these days, Your Lordship. You've worked hard."

Hick Cruz grinned, not caring at all: "It's no hardship, it's just what I wanted."

Saying so, he added, "Earl, how about I tell you about it?"

"I've read the information you gave me, but I really want to hear it from you in person."

Hick Cruz led the way, saying, "These days, although the war hasn't stopped, it hasn't happened within the Flower Collar, so it hasn't had much impact on us."

"The railway is actually the slowest progress, mainly because of the Earl's order at the time to postpone it.

However, the transferred manpower has been put into other projects, which are progressing smoothly, especially those mines."

"A large iron ore mine has been equipped with a magic-powered transmission system, which has increased the transportation efficiency by dozens of times, and greatly reduced the number of miners required.

Overall, the mining efficiency is at least ten times higher than before.

Now, what's lacking is the magic-powered furnace you mentioned, otherwise, all the iron ore will be piled up there, and the production of the magic-powered machinery factory will also lack raw materials."

"What about the construction of the magic-powered steel plant?"

"For this, you have to ask Ms. Lilya.

In fact, what Ms. Lilya and I discussed was that the construction of factories around Brussels would be under her direction.

And I am mainly responsible for running around in all directions."

After a pause, he added, "It's just that Earl returned in triumph, and I had to greet him, so I stayed in Brussels.

Otherwise, I should be going to the northern mines now.

The Habsburg Empire is sending people to help explore the geology, and I want to keep an eye on it.

If, and I mean if, we can find another wild stone mine, that would be great."

Loye looked solemn for a moment, and finally said, "Lord, you have worked hard!"

"Not hard, as I said, this is what I wanted."

After an inspection, Loye saw a construction site that was chaotic but showed some order.

He noted down a few things that needed to be dealt with and didn't stay here, preparing to leave.

Hick Cruz, the little old man, sent him all the way to the flatbed car, but he looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Seeing that he had something to say, Loye waved his hand and asked everyone to step back, and also opened a silent scroll.

Magical light enveloped the two of them, and Loye asked, "If there is anything you want to say, Lord Hick, you can speak freely.

I am not a person who can't listen to advice!"

"I know, I know, in fact, the Earl has a depth of understanding that I can no longer compare to.

Even the promotion of this magic-powered machinery has been much smoother since you came.

It's just that there is something I want to say, but I don't know how to say it!"

"Then say it here, let it come out of your mouth and into my ears, without letting others know!"

Lord Hick Cruz organized his words for a long time before saying, "Earl, haven't you felt it?

The Habsburg Empire has paid too much, those technologies, support, and even invisible help, are actually far beyond the value of 500,000 gold Thalers."

"I'm not saying this is bad, for us, it's a great advantage, but, but…

You can understand what I mean, right?"

Loye's smile stiffened, slowly converged, and then floated up again, saying, "You said these words today, I heard them, let's just leave it at that!

Lord Hick, you are right, some things cannot be said casually."

This was the last sentence, Loye removed the silent force field, and quickly left with his men.

On the flatbed car, Loye stood against the wind again, but he lacked the previous ease, and even smoothed out the pride brought by a series of victories.

In fact, Hick Cruz's words were still relatively vague, but this old man wanted to give Loye some guidance with his rich life experience.

Loye doesn't despise it!

Because, in a sense, his guidance is also very reasonable.

If Loye were to express it, what he wanted to say was: the Empire is giving too much, so much that it is almost responsive.

But all investments have prices marked in the dark, and no one knows how much the Flower Collar will have to pay when it is time to repay!