Super Righteous Player
Chapter 463 - 4 Nigel Elliott_1

Chapter 463: Chapter 4 Nigel Elliott_1

In different countries, the conditions and thresholds for taking the subway are entirely different. This is also a privilege granted to different countries by the Underground Federation.

Because of the constant temperature barrier, the Winter Principality can only use the subway for inter-city transportation during the winter years... Additionally, with the omnipresent Hands of Winter responsible for surveillance, counter-espionage, and assassination work, it actually makes their threshold for taking the subway quite low.

Aside from a few targets under surveillance who are not allowed to enter underground—most civilians can take the subway as long as they have money.

But it’s different in the Kingdom of Noah.

In the Kingdom of Noah, more than 90% of the subway capacity is used for transporting goods.

As the world’s largest exporter of food, minerals, and timber, the Kingdom of Noah’s four subway lines are almost constantly in operation every day, transporting goods abroad and importing livestock products in bulk from The Holy Nation, purchasing various luxury goods and artworks from the United Kingdom... as well as Frost Beast products from the Underground Federation.

The maritime routes from the Winter Principality were completely terminated after Noah declared war on Winter. To this day, they haven’t been reopened.

But the Winter Principality still has various exports to The Holy Nation and the Underground Federation.

Apart from Frost Beast products, high-quality stone, cold iron ore, lead ore, gold ore, unmeltable ice... due to limited transport capacity, most are sold directly to the underground dwellers, who are responsible for their removal. As a result, if the Kingdom of Noah wants to buy Frost Beast blood, they must purchase it from the underground dwellers.

That is why controlling prices becomes extremely important.

If unchecked people are allowed into the underground, a large number of smugglers of special goods will emerge, directly disrupting the market. In other words, the Kingdom of Noah’s control over subway access is not for political purposes... but for economic ones.

Those wishing to use the subway must obtain the signature of the Minister of Transportation—even the local nobles with a signature, while they may use the subway themselves, cannot transfer their right to use the subway to others, let alone grant others the access to the subway.

And obtaining the signature isn’t the end. After receiving the signed pass, one must apply to the local subway office a few days in advance, followed by sending a ritual to the Royal Capital through the subway office and mailing a letter to the Ministry of Transportation remotely. Only after the verification and confirmation of identity can someone use the subway within the specified time.

Extremely troublesome.

Just listening to it, Annan found it extremely troublesome.

This is probably why the Kingdom of Noah urgently needs to build overland railways...

...However, from this perspective, if Annan were to reopen maritime routes to Frostwater Harbor, could it also potentially reduce the Kingdom of Noah’s demand for overland railways to some extent?

"Welcome, Your Highness Annan."

The receptionist at the subway office took out a book, placed Annan’s access card on top of it, and compared it with the password on it. Then, politely handing it back to Annan, the receptionist replied reverently, "And 111, Four Dark Deeds, Jiu’er... The deep well is now available for use."

It is probably because you do not understand the meaning behind the players’ names that you can say such a thing so calmly.

Thinking this, Annan maintained a calm expression and nodded, "Very well, Viscount Horace. Thank you for your efforts."

"Not at all... You jest..."

Viscount Horace apologized again and again, somewhat flustered, even offering to personally accompany Annan and his entourage to the deep well.

Yes, this receptionist was a viscount himself. Although a marginal one, he was indeed a noble.

—But it was precisely because he was a noble that he understood what Annan’s status truly meant.

Although a viscount of the Royal Capital, he obviously wasn’t qualified to attend the King’s funeral—therefore, although he knew of the existence of His Highness Annan, he had never seen him.

The first time he saw Annan, he was captivated by his nearly divine, radiant countenance. Even though he knew it was somewhat impolite, he couldn’t help but give Annan a few extra glances.

It wasn’t really his fault.

After Annan turned into a frost-haired, his appearance became even closer to that of his grandmother and Paper Princess.

As the holder of the essence of "Beauty", Paper Princess’s appearance essentially set the highest standard of "Beauty" for humans in this world. Although it was just a change in hair color, Annan, now resembling Paper Princess more closely, had a presence that was drastically different from before.

This was why Annan had decided not to use this identity while operating underground for the time being.

A boy must protect himself when away from home, lest he be taken by some strange auntie...

...Of course, there might also be strange uncles.

The four of them, with their luggage, headed to the deep well.

The so-called "deep well" was a steel structure resembling a hydraulic elevator.

The four of them stood on an open anti-vibration platform of at least fifty square meters and signaled to the workers nearby.

As the worker pressed a button, accompanied by a slight vibration and squeaking sound, they began descending rapidly.

"This is way too luxurious," Four Dark Deeds murmured. "Such a large space just to transport us four?"

"Don’t overthink it, it’s probably for unloading goods," Lin Yiyi casually replied.

Annan nodded and added, "Not many in Noah can take the subway, and even fewer can bring others along. Basically, it’s just going to be us on this trip..."

Before he finished speaking, the deep well had already descended to the next level.

Before the four of them stood a strange man in his fifties with short brown hair, holding a large bag of luggage, slightly hunched over, alone on the platform.

Upon seeing Annan, he paused for a moment.

Annan keenly sensed that the gaze was not a common one—he tasted a hint of astonishment and surprise.

Does this person recognize me?

Before Annan could speak,

the man turned and came forward, asking in a low voice with a mixture of nervousness and trepidation, "Good day to you, sir. I am Nigel Elliott... might I be so bold as to ask you a question?"

"Go ahead. But I don’t guarantee I will answer."

Annan glanced at him and calmly replied.

He did not reveal his own name.

In front of Kafney, the senior, and the players, he occasionally acted cute or spaced out— but in the presence of strangers, maintaining an imposing aura was always essential.

Yet, the man’s question caught Annan by surprise:

"May I ask if you are acquainted with the ’Paper Princess’?"

Nigel asked respectfully.

You don’t know that I am Annan Winter... but you are aware of my connection to the Paper Princess?

Annan kept silent, suddenly remembering where he had seen that name before—

Shortly after Delicious Goose arrived in Noah, he had seen the portrait of the Paper Princess in the newspaper. An artist had met the Paper Princess once and managed to approximate her likeness with just a fleeting ’blurry impression,’ capturing ninety percent of her true appearance.

But it was that last ten percent that represented the "truth of beauty" beyond common understanding and incomprehensible.

In actuality, the painting he reproduced... bore a closer resemblance to the present-day Annan than to the Paper Princess.

It was quite normal for the man to be startled upon seeing Annan.

With that in mind, Annan’s tone softened a bit, and he said with a faint smile, "You must be that ’famous artist’... I’ve heard the Paper Princess mention you. A very diligent man, with impressive talent."

He even put emphasis on the word "famous artist."

The man waved his hands again and again, feeling embarrassed, "I don’t deserve such praise... I am well aware that my depiction of the Paper Princess is far too ordinary, lacking Her breathtaking and dream-like beauty. I had no intention of exhibiting that painting, it’s just... the newspaper offered so much money..."

"Yes, I understand,"

Annan nodded, reassuring him in a gentle voice.

Upon hearing Annan’s consolation, the middle-aged artist was so grateful that he almost reached out to grasp Annan’s hand— but when he looked up and saw Annan’s face, he shivered, involuntarily lowered his head, and awkwardly withdrew the hand he had half raised.

"By the way," in order to spare the man further embarrassment, Annan inquired, "where are you headed? Perhaps we can travel together for a while."

"I am headed to the Coldwind Fortress in the Saint Felix Province of Winter Principality, sir."

The artist Nigel did not ask Annan’s name or destination but directly revealed his own.

...Surprisingly, it really was on the way.

Annan and his company’s official destination was the Razor Domain in Bronfield Province—just two stations away from the Coldwind Fortress, and three more stations to Frost Speech Province.

Of course, that was only the surface objective.

Their actual destination was the Underground City beneath Razor Domain—the Sporogenesis Mill.

But there was no need to tell this to the stranger.

"It seems we really can travel a section of the way together..."

Annan had scarcely finished speaking when the train could already be heard rumbling in the distance.

He closed his mouth and glanced toward the entrance.

"Let’s talk on the train, Mister Elliott,"

Annan said to Nigel, turning back with a smile.

With a meaningful inflection, he added, "I also have some matters... for which I wish to consult you later on."

Annan had already realized something.

Nigel Elliott nervously fidgeted with the hem of his clothing, opening his mouth and then closing it, and subsequently nodded repeatedly.

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