Chapter 1972 - 535: Meanwhile, the Train Departs from the Hero's Hometown (Part 3)

She was a noblewoman with an air of elegance, coming from Campbell Castle next to Thunder County. It was the capital of the Duchy and the true center of power, and just now the train had passed through her backyard and the forest behind it.

However, this Baroness had no interest in flaunting wealth. Instead, she was well-versed in the red wine of Thunder County and the recently popular dramas.

In the past, these nobles would never converse with commoners as if they were friends, but the Campbell Duchy of Aus Calendar 1054 was unlike before. Nowadays, a house in the core area of Thunder City could truly buy an estate in Campbell Castle.

After all, it's not just the Campbell people investing there, but also merchants and nobles from various parts of the Northeast Shore of Vortex Sea, as well as Ryan people from the upper reaches of Rushing River and even more northern Luo De people.

Moreover, the Winter Moon Coup nearly wiped out all powerful nobles of the Duchy, forcing even the most conservative Campbell nobles to set aside their old dignity lest they miss the train passing before their eyes.

For example, the husband of this Baroness. He couldn't stand the vulgar air inside the carriage, yet couldn't resist the money wrapped in vulgarity.

Thus, carrying his ancient surname and stubbornness, he went to the adjacent smoking area, lit a cigar, and left business matters to his wife.

This was not necessarily an unwise choice, after all. He and Horace couldn't find any common topic, but their wives loved watching the Iris Flower Theater Troupe and both had the knack of talking about the same thing in a hundred different ways a thousand times.

Accompanied by expressions and tones even more exaggerated than Miss Kaylee's.

"...Speaking of red wine, my favorite is still that winery in Silver Pine Town." The Baroness lightly sipped the wine from her glass, her eyes distant, "The vineyards there look as beautiful as a painting in autumn."

"Oh my, what a coincidence!"

Fimona exclaimed in surprise, covering her mouth, her eyes smiling into crescents.

"That's exactly where I go for outings often! The estate owner there is friends with my husband. Next time we can go together, I know which grove has the best scenery, we can have a picnic there together."

The Baroness looked at her in surprise as well.

"Really? That would be so delightful!"

...

White smoke from the chimneys carried the noise to the north of Campbell Castle, and in a flash, the train entered the South Stream Valley Plain, one of the largest granaries in the Campbell Duchy, with another granary situated a bit further north in the North Stream Valley Plain.

A small town named Blackford is a huge river port downstream of Rushing River, second only to Thunder City, while Mill Town has the densest windmills and mills in the entire Duchy, with intricate roads connecting Golden Cross City.

There it's a hub for land and river trade routes in the central Campbell Duchy and also the territory of Count Winkedon Danqi.

Luo Yan remembered this gentleman; he had a brief encounter with that Count at an auction at Andes Manor.

Once, Erin even half-jokingly, half-probing, asked him whether Count Danqi wanted to marry off his youngest daughter to him, asking him how he felt about it, and if he needed her help to facilitate it.

Luo Yan's answer, of course, was "I currently have no intention of falling in love," almost a textbook fish-on-the-hook answer.

And now thinking back, if he had given a different answer back then, perhaps he might see more interesting expressions.

Looking at the long-unopened book in his hand, Luo Yan thought so.

Sitting opposite Luo Yan, Edward, with his silver hair, was watching the disappearing windmills outside the window, letting the chaotic wind mess his bangs.

"...I invited Count Winkedon Danqi to the summer hunt, but when he heard the destination was Glanston Castle, he fell ill the next day."

This was in the foremost carriage of the Prince's Train, completely different from the carriages behind, where only a table and two seats stood on the red carpet.

On the peachwood-paneled walls hung portraits of the Campbell family's ancestors throughout the ages, with a massive crystal chandelier fixed by some exquisite mechanical device, ensuring it wouldn't sway even during high-speed travel.

This was a gift from the Colin family to the Campbell family, symbolizing the friendship between Colin Duchy and Campbell Duchy.

It offered unparalleled comfort and safety.

Luo Yan personally designed a defense magic array for it, making those seemingly fragile wooden walls not only isolate the noise from outside but also withstand a Diamond Level Mage's all-out strike.

Theoretically, even for a Purple Crystal Level expert, breaking through it wouldn't be an easy task. After all, whether in Hell or on the earth surface, the power of Transcendents was being diluted as the share of Power of Faith was spread thin, enduring "passive inflation"...

"Do you think it's regretful?" Watching Edward squinting, Luo Yan teased in a conversational tone.

Edward smiled, withdrawing his gaze from outside the window, looking at him.

"Me? Not at all, especially after seeing the gift you gave me. The one to be regretted is our Mr. Winkedon Danqi, he's actually a very smart man, managing Golden Cross City in good order. Yet unfortunately, even a smart friend like him is bound to make mistakes at the crossroads of fate."

"The Emperor and his throne have become eternal together."

"What is that?"

"A proverb from Holy City, meaning... when someone stays in a chair too long, they inevitably grow with the chair. Maybe he doesn't want to get up, or perhaps he just can't anymore," Luo Yan said lightly, addressing the curious Edward.