System vs Rebirth

Chapter 1457: Duke Lorelei’s Visit

For the next several days, Raincart spent his time leisurely in Noel’s territory. While he was there, he also shared some insight as a parent.

In the end, Noel had to form his own family, which meant taking care of his descendants. Raincart shared his experience so that he could become a proper parent. At least, he shouldn’t make the same mistake as his parents.

However, before his grandfather returned to the Greenwood Kingdom, he got a rather unique visitor.

Noel was facing an old man who had been coming to this place more often than Raincart.

”To think you’d have the time to visit this place, Duke Lorelei.”

That was right. The visitor was none other than Duke Lorelei. Then again, Noel had predicted this would happen sooner or later.

In the end, among the connections that the third princess had, Duke Lorelei was the closest to Noel. Countess Christina might be close to his father, but she wasn’t that close to him, so sending her wouldn’t be optimal.

Hence, Duke Lorelei came as a negotiator. Even though their relationship was good, Duke Lorelei wasn’t a person who could be taken advantage of during a negotiation.

If Noel chose to take advantage of that friendship, their relationship would turn sour. That was why Noel had to be careful when dealing with Duke Lorelei.

Duke Lorelei smiled wryly. He, on the other hand, felt a bit apologetic because he had been bothering Noel this whole time.

”Sorry for visiting you all of a sudden.”

”That is fine.” Noel nodded. ”Still, my grandfather is visiting me right now. If possible, I would like it to be brief.”

”Of course, I understand.” Duke Lorelei knew Noel cut it short just so that he couldn’t take advantage of the situation.

”What do you want?”

”We want to fix what is wrong. In the past, the royal family has seen the Ardagan family as a thorn in their side.

”However, the new royal family doesn’t see it that way. Four days from now, Her Highness Wendy will be holding a coronation ceremony, but it will remain a secret for the time being.”

”Good choice. Making it big will just shake her rule.”

”Yes. To avoid making the same mistake, we are planning to start what the royal family once promised.” Duke Lorelei raised one finger. ”It’s the beginning of the train.”

”So, you want my train?”

”Yes. The royal family will fulfill its original commitment by building roads. In exchange, we would like to partner up with you.”

”What do you propose?”

”The royal family will expand the train network to every corner of the kingdom. We will also negotiate for this train network to be expanded internationally.

”In exchange, we’re going to create a new ministry of transportation. We would like the knowledge that you possess regarding transportation and ensuring public safety.

”In addition, the road tax. Since we’re creating a brand new and much better road, we will have to turn that investment into profit.

”Of course, it will be too unfair for you, so we will be just receiving the road tax only for the roads that the royal family builds.”

Noel looked down, falling deep in thought. Having the kingdom regulate his technology would be a kind of chain that could restrain this transportation network. At the same time, the public would trust the new transportation more.

This way, more and more people would have access to transportation. At the same time, having a toll fee would be quite a burden for him.

”How much do you want for the toll?” Noel asked while crossing his arms.

”It will be a fixed fee. We’re thinking about three to five gold coins.”

Noel fell silent. If the royal family built a huge network of roads, and the number of trains increased, the profits for them would be quite huge. After all, the trains would be traveling multiple times a day.

Of course, this wasn’t a huge fee for Noel. Even if he charged about 5 silver coins for one passenger, the passenger train he had could carry five hundred people at once, not including the amount of goods they would bring as well.

Even if they subtracted the cost as well as the toll fee, they would still get about 12 to 15 gold coins per trip.

If there were multiple trains and at least ten trips every day, they could easily get hundreds if not thousands of gold coins.

Noel carefully considered his options before giving an offer. ”3 gold coins.”

Here it comes. Duke Lorelei had not originally expected this. Even the people in the palace thought they would get 2-3 gold coins.

Hence, Duke Lorelei said, ”In that case, why don’t you throw some small airships in the process?”

”Airships, huh? So that’s your true goal.” Noel squinted his eyes. ”Since it’s small, you must want it as a messenger.”

”...” Duke Lorelei didn’t say anything, but he was smiling helplessly. In the end, it was impossible to mask their true intentions from Noel.

”I don’t mind. In fact, I will even create one grand airship for the royal family to show their prestige. However, I do have a condition.”

”A condition?”

”Yes, it is an easy condition.” Noel raised one finger. ”I want the royal family’s help in building airports.”

”Airports?!” Duke Lorelei was confused.

”Yeah.”

”What is this airport?”

”It’s the same as the train station, but for airships.”

”Ah!” Duke Lorelei widened his eyes. Noel might say it was an easy favor, but Duke Lorelei had seen through Noel’s true goal. This airport’s real goal was not just this kingdom but the entire world.

That was right. The princess might want stability for the entire kingdom, but Noel was preparing for an expansion to the whole world.

In his father’s hand, the Ardagan family became the wealthiest in the kingdom. However, in his hand, the Ardagan family would become the wealthiest in the world.

”This is not something I can decide right away.”

”Of course, you’re free to tell them about it.” Noel smiled confidently as though he already knew they would have no choice but to accept. Noel had seen the power of train stations, airports, and docks from the illusion that his great ancestor, Melinda Sirius, once showed.