Black Sail
Chapter 179: CLXXIX. Pioneer

Chapter 179: CLXXIX. Pioneer

[Aran Epoch Weekly, 1292/15/10.]

[The first trial operation of the much-anticipated passenger train has successfully arrived at the station, thanks to the transformative leadership of the Dragon Lord. Our reporter interviewed some passengers to see what they thought of the experience.]

Reporter: Chancellor Lawrence, how was your experience?

Lawrence: Well, the new mode of transportation should be vigorously promoted to raise modern awareness. In terms of transportation safety, it must be resolutely implemented, thoroughly integrated, and consistently maintained to high standards while continuously being refined and improved.

Reporter: That’s very profound indeed, coming from a great scholar of the Privy Council. What about Prince Yevgeny, what do you think of this journey?

Yevgeny: Very satisfied. No complaints about food and lodging, and the speed was very fast. I believe the day when this will be widespread among the populace will soon arrive.

[That was the short news report on the trial operation. For more news on the trial, and the second batch of passengers, please buy the next issue of the weekly.]

...

[Aran Epoch Weekly, 1292/15/12.]

[The trial operation of the train is progressing splendidly, and our reporters have been continuously tracking the story. Let’s see how the returning officers from the frontier think about it.]

Reporter: What is your opinion on this return train journey?

Crocodile Island: Very good.

Reporter: The commanding officer speaks very to the point.

[The trial operation is proceeding smoothly, and the third batch is set to depart tomorrow, followed by the eagerly awaited final two batches. Who are the lucky ones who got the spots?]

...

It’s already the thirteenth day of the fifteenth month.

On the outskirts of Aran Imperial City, at the starting point of the passenger train, the platform.

Mu Ran was beaming with joy, with a spring in his step and his hair slick and shiny, as he read the newspaper that was very people-friendly in its content.

This was because all the invested construction funds had to be recouped from the people of Aran.

"In two days, we can start on other projects," Mu Ran calmly said to the other four.

During the first three trips, all the passengers were nobles. As a member of the Train Committee, one had to be present to network, get acquainted, and facilitate the handling of various matters.

As for the last two trips, those lucky ones from the public who won the tickets, there was no need to make an effort. They probably sold their spots to other wealthy households at a high price, nothing much to say about that.

Everything was going smoothly.

Mu Ran folded the newspaper, held his walking stick, and looked around the platform brimming with religious elements, busy with people coming and going. Yet, without exception, were the elegantly dressed gentlemen, with women competing with each other in the finery of their jewelry, wearing high-fashion dresses designed by Duguli. The earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets they wore were all treasures, with a woman’s adornments easily worth two or three hundred Golden Dragons.

There was already a carriage equipped for dinners and a bar, where the nobles mingled over tea parties, the competition of finery being nothing new.

Each person looked imposing, with handsome and elegant servants handling their luggage, all strolling leisurely, emitting an air of nonchalance.

After all, the Magic Energy Industry had already made its appearance, and trains could operate simply because a cheap, sustainable power source had been found.

Mu Ran and Liszt came from the same place and their actions were incredibly smooth.

For each passenger, they prepared beautifully packaged gift bags. Mu Ran’s selection of young and beautiful female attendants, who distributed the bags containing superior tobacco and tea leaves, was certainly a token of appreciation.

Coming from a place shaped like a Möbius strip, Mu Ran’s interpersonal skills were a dimensionally superior force on the Western Continent natives.

Even with the final wave of nobles, there was no need to cozy up to the likes of William.

Aran’s nobility generally fell into two categories.

One was the old Aran nobility, from the time the Emperor established the country and reshuffled power.

One group consists of members of the War Merit Faction loyal to the Emperor, who are also the mainstay of the Royal Court.

The majority here belong to the latter, yet none of these individuals wield military power.

The Emperor selects the virtuous and admits the talented, and apart from this, all newly knighted nobles are military aristocrats, who have achieved an extremely high level of scholarship; otherwise, they would not be knighted.

However, the Emperor does not knight people in person, except in very rare cases. Over ninety-nine percent of the newly risen nobles are knighted by a designated civil official.

Sometimes, a title does not correspond with power, and it’s not uncommon for an earl working in the Royal Court to wield more power than a duke.

Mu Ran let the mechanical staff be in charge of counting the passengers. The train was scheduled to depart at ten in the morning, and it was almost time. These lords are extremely precious, and it was impossible to make them get up early.

However, considering that some lords like to be late, it was permissible to delay the departure by about ten minutes. Otherwise, it could also cause dissatisfaction among the other nobles.

In just three trains, of course, not all the high-ranking nobles of Alan could be accommodated, either because they were too idle to have pressing matters or because they were nobles with actual transportation needs who were interested in trying something new.

Given the broad experience of the local nobility, there was no need to get wildly excited about new things and change their schedules.

Of course, there were still quite a few people. Mu Ran glanced at the list, which included accompanying personnel; there were roughly four hundred people. The Old Aran lords were indeed wealthy and leisured.

At the next stations, perhaps another two to three hundred people would board.

Aside from the retinue, there were likely fewer than two hundred with titles.

After the mechanical staff counted the remaining passengers in the carriage, there were only about ten nobles left.

"In that case... let’s wait a little longer. We’ll depart at ten past ten. Have someone inform the others. Don’t say it’s because the other passengers haven’t arrived. Just say it’s for good luck. And then go to the storage carriage at the end and get some gifts to give as an apology," commanded Mu Ran. This was the last train, so there should be no issues.

The mechanical staff nodded and set about their tasks immediately.

Mo Yutong watched Mu Ran coldly from the side. Mu Ran was meticulous in his actions, but was it possible he knew that she was secretly letting people go and just wasn’t pointing it out?

Because he needed her help.

In school, although Mo Yutong did not have the widely recognized genius of Mu Ran, she was also a prodigy in her own right, capable of handling some matters that Mu Ran couldn’t manage alone.

The other three were also assisting him.

Sensing Mo Yutong’s gaze, Mu Ran glanced over but didn’t pay any further mind, focusing instead on an elder with grizzled temples who was boarding the train with a suitcase. He was unhurried as he stepped onto the train.

For such a huge project, the Alan Royal Court wouldn’t possibly entrust everything to Mu Ran. The train captain was designated by the Royal Court; even though this elder knew nothing about related knowledge or operations and merely sat in the captain’s cabin, he was still the train captain.

Was it to keep an eye on him?

Mu Ran’s face was grim as water, "the cleverest hides in darkness, while the greatest hides within the court." The magician who hunted across multiple planes ten years prior was the latter.

But in the Royal Court, full of dragons and tigers, there were also adversaries to contend with.

After another ten minutes passed,

All the passengers had boarded, and it was time to depart.

Mu Ran looked up at the scene through the glass dome. The warm sun of winter bathed everything in sunlight—a good omen.

Following the clergy of the Eternal Sect chanting hymns in praise of the Dragon Lord, Mu Ran boarded the front of the train. He took his seat to personally oversee the dispatch and control, as all the doors of the carriages closed.

The steam boiler began its pre-heating.

Thanks to the magic energy device for noise reduction, the train journey was very quiet.

As the chimney emitted billowing smoke and the train sounded its deep hum, the wheelsets and axles rotated briskly.

"Pioneer".

It journeyed along the rails, heading towards Chenxi Port.