I will be crowned king

It was early morning on January 3rd, the hundredth year of the Saint's Calendar, in Oak Town.

clear.

Dragging the suitcase with some difficulty, Anson, wearing a black windbreaker, stepped on the mud with footprints on the ground and walked towards the station.

The sunny weather after the heavy rain made the whole town look as clean as if it had been carefully washed away; the bright sunshine shone on the scattered rooftops, and the cold wind blew slightly, causing the sewage mixed with garbage to flow everywhere. The stench; groups of people emerging in twos and threes from taverns, houses, and the morning fog in the streets and alleys.

Loud street vendors, surrounded by small groups of middle-aged women who had gone out early, were comparing fruits and vegetables soaked in morning dew, fresh fish and freshly baked bread, while bargaining and shouting were playing. "Local tracks" that come and go, sometimes high and sometimes low;

The drunkard squatting outside the hotel door sleepily held the last bottle of wine left, looking at the closed door of the hotel. At the same time, he did not forget to extend his begging hand pitifully to the passers-by, but only Got a lot of blank stares;

The yawning guard stood lazily on the street, leaning on the rifle in his arms and taking a nap. Inadvertently, the children kicked over the rifle, and he fell into the mud amidst the mocking laughter of the people around him. inside;

The children in ragged clothes were running back and forth in the crowd, avoiding the pursuit of the angry guards; they were waving the rags they picked up from the garbage dump, as proud as the adventurers returning triumphantly from the dragon's cave...

Looking at the bustling crowds of people passing by, a scene full of excitement, joy, all kinds of troubles, and trivial matters, Ansen couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

If there were not guards patrolling the streets, several burned houses and sentries outside the town...who would have thought that this place was also affected by the war a few days ago, with almost nothing but ruins left.

In just a few days, the people living in this small town forgot about the war and returned to the peace of the past without changing their expressions.

Even because of the war, a large number of people and materials came and went, attracting more business travelers around, making this small town that was already crowded with people even more prosperous.

Dodging the crowds around him, Anson dragged his suitcase and walked toward a fortress-like building in the center of the town.

Oaktown Steam Railway Station.

It was born in the ninety-fifth year of the Apostolic Calendar. The Clovis Kingdom Railway Committee was determined to expand the "Iron Cross Transportation Network" in the central province outwards, and eventually use railways to connect all large cities, trade centers and key fortresses in the kingdom. As one body.

This grand idea, which alarmed the royal family and the Privy Council, and even forced the Church of Order to come forward, was called the "Kingdom Regional Transportation Plan for the Ninety-fifth Year of the Holy Spirit."

And it has another more famous name among the people, which is opposite to the "Iron Cross Transportation Network" - the Grand Cross Plan!

"It only takes one month from the southernmost hills of the kingdom to the northernmost port!" At the Privy Council meeting in front of the emperor, the top leader of the Railway Commission proudly announced to the king:

"The wealth of the entire kingdom will continuously flow toward your palace along the rails; the entire kingdom will be connected by these rails and truly integrated!"

Under such a call, the Kingdom of Clovis, which had tasted the benefits of the initial railway network, finally made up its mind to completely cover the entire kingdom with these steel tracks.

The Oak Town Steam Train Station... was born under this background and became the first train station for the kingdom's southward expansion.

With the outbreak of the war between the Kingdom of Clovis and the Empire, the Grand Cross Plan was forced to suspend; the much-anticipated "Oaktown Station" also changed from an important transportation hub connecting the south to a rotten place hanging alone outside the railway network. Final project...

After passing through the brand new door and looking inside and outside, from the rows of wooden benches to the station lounge full of people in every corner, Anson felt an inexplicable familiarity.

Following the endless flow of people and the signs on the walls on both sides, it was his first time taking a train "in his life" and he successfully found the ticket gate in front of the platform like a regular customer who frequented this place.

"Snapped!"

The young man in black and white uniform tore off the ticket, stamped it, and handed the ticket back to Anson with a formal smile:

"Welcome to take the 'Steel Sky' steam train. This train runs from Oak Town Station to the Royal Capital Central West Station and will not stop at any platform along the way;"

"Your seat is at the window seat in the third compartment of Car No. 10; we will provide you with free lunch and dinner during the journey. The conductor will notify you of the meal time, and you can go to the dining car to dine at that time;"

"If you want to prepare gifts for family or friends, don't worry. There are special mobile shops during the train to sell you specialties from various places and souvenirs of this train; please rest assured that each piece is of high quality and low price, and is carefully prepared. Selected by you and fellow travelers;”

"The train will pass through many areas in the central province, including famous rivers, rural wilderness and valleys and hills; you can enjoy the scenery outside the window and ask the staff for help with any questions. We will do our best to create the most comfortable journey for you..."

After reading this long sentence, the young man who kept a steady smile looked at Anson and crossed his hands in front of him.

"Uh, please..."

After opening his mouth several times, Anson finally waited for a chance to speak and said impatiently: "Has anyone come here recently to inquire about the passengers waiting for me? Or can you tell me who else is in the same box as me? "

According to Carl Bain, Ludwig arranged for someone to go with him, but he still hasn't seen the guy he was talking about.

The young man standing straight in uniform looked at him with a smile, but showed no intention of speaking for a full minute.

"...Okay, thank you. It's really helpful."

Anson, who probably understood what was going on, curled his lips and walked directly towards the train platform with his suitcase.

Almost as soon as he left, the young man's passionate words sounded behind him again:

"Welcome to take the 'Steel Sky' steam train. This train runs from Oak Town Station to the Royal Capital Central West Station..."

After passing through a series of stairs along the passage of the ticket gate, and then passing through a largely ineffective luggage inspection, Anson arrived at the platform and walked directly to a position near the center of the train.

Some common sense in this world or this era is completely opposite to that in the "last life"; the more high-end the carriage, the farther to the back; first-class seats and the private boxes of the royal family and nobles are often at the rear of the train.

After looking around at the increasing number of passengers around the platform, Anson carefully took out his pocket watch.

Eleven forty-five.

"woo woo woo woo--!"

Almost at the same time, a sharp and loud whistle came from a distance; the steel train shining with bright yellow gas lights spewed out thick white steam, accompanied by a loud "bang, bang, bang, bang" and the sound of metal friction between the wheels and the track. , stopped steadily.

For a moment, the passengers on the platform either stood motionless, coughing slightly and continued to read the newspapers in their hands; or they were so frightened that they screamed and rolled for their lives; or they simply ran away. Kneel down on the ground and tremble in prayer to God; or take the opportunity to pick up the packages of those who escaped and sneak away quietly in the thick smoke...

Crying, screaming, running for life, staying calm... The platform shrouded in thick steam suddenly became more lively than the market in Oak Town.

Staff members in uniforms and smiling faces were patrolling the platform as if nothing had happened, turning a blind eye to the scene in front of them as if they had experienced it countless times.

In the thick white steam, Anson looked at the car door in front of him and hesitated for a second before walking towards the car.

At this moment, an extremely excited, slightly childish voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Anson——!"