Magic Industrial Age

In theory, faith is the most difficult thing to acquire and also the most difficult to change. It's like a tumor rooted in the mind; once it forms, it's hard to sever.

Even when paradoxes arise from unlawful interpretations, and theological texts become inconsistent, believers will engage in self-PUA (Personal Understanding and Acceptance) to find self-justifying angles.

Therefore, as a vast power that led the entire human race, drove all the alien races out of the Old Continent, and unified the faith, the Church of the Sun God can be said to have reached its peak.

Kings may die, empires may fall, but the church has become almost the only constant, unifying the faith of the entire continent.

At one stage, the church even proclaimed that the Lord of Light was the only God, and that other gods were merely heretics and false deities.

However, even such a powerful church, the Church of the Sun God which preached exchanging pain and endurance for the chance to enter heaven, had a crack torn into it after the emergence of the Church of the Seven Gods.

Faith is the most difficult thing to shake, but once it starts to waver, it's like a landslide.

The Habsburg Empire had almost completed the alteration of its faith. Although there were still believers in the Lord of Light, their numbers had visibly decreased.

Meanwhile, the Church of the Seven Gods gradually took over the dominant position.

This was, of course, inseparable from the support of the empire, but it also demonstrated the power of the Church of the Seven Gods, which could be described as diverse and all-pervasive.

You must also admit that the Habsburg Empire was able to promote the development of arcane mechanical technology because the faith in the Seven Gods liberated people's minds, thus giving rise to a new era.

Getting back to the main topic, the Seven Gods Bank, as the most important force under the Church of the Seven Gods, can be said to play a pivotal role.

The various services it provides are things that the Church of the Sun God never even dreamed of; they are truly ahead of their time!

Take this auction hall, for example. It holds regular auctions.

Various rare magical materials, magical weapons, magic potions, magical items, and even ancient objects, calligraphy, stone carvings, sculptures, and so on can be found here.

Even ancient creatures occasionally appear.

That's right, although the auction explicitly prohibits the sale of slaves, that only refers to the human race.

Outside the human race, races such as elves, orcs, and dwarves are not included.

The wind elf servant that Oliveira contracted was actually purchased by Earl Raymond from the auction.

It can be said that here, even if you don't buy anything, just looking around can broaden your knowledge, and it will become your capital for bragging after you leave.

Therefore, this is the most suitable place to hold a bidding event.

Inside the magnificent hall, rows of arcane lamps illuminated everything brightly. Below were rows of seats, all made of redwood and padded with cushions, looking more like sofas than chairs.

Upstairs, there were individual boxes for distinguished guests.

The Seven Gods Bank doesn't recognize noble titles; it only recognizes its own badges. For example, the ruby ring that Loye has can secure a box.

Of course, the great nobles who can come here are not short of money, so the former wealthy merchants and nobles of Oakland City can only stay on the first floor obediently.

This feeling is not pleasant, but they can only endure it.

In front of the hall, a map was hung. It wasn't aesthetically pleasing, but it was absolutely accurate and detailed.

It was a railway map, a double-track railway with two lines!

From Fisherman's Port to Oakland City, and then to Kamoti City, there were eleven stations along the way, almost all stopping at major transportation routes.

From these eleven stations, you can go to almost anywhere in the Northern Territory.

This alone means that these eleven stations have the potential to develop into villages and towns in the future.

In an era of great transportation development, it is extremely normal to settle along railways.

In addition, the railway map also showed various data, such as the total length of the railway, the required materials, the amount of gold Tyr spent, and the benefits it could generate.

It can be said that everything was clearly marked in a concise manner.

It should be said that the construction of this railway is not very difficult, mainly because the Oakland City area in the northern part of the empire is relatively flat.

The entire railway has hardly any undulation, with only a few gentle slopes and some dense forests being the most troublesome.

This railway map really attracted the attention of many people. Many wealthy merchants moved forward to take a closer look.

Don't think they are doing useless work. In fact, just buying a few pieces of land along the railway can bring considerable benefits.

The railway is the lifeblood of finance; it's not a joke.

On the other hand, those on the second floor appeared much more indifferent, each putting on airs, showing their elegance and composure.

Even if they were interested, they mostly used a monocular telescope to observe.

Zeb and Adrian were among the most active, shuttling between the envoys of each great noble.

Sometimes they talked loudly, sometimes they whispered, occasionally glancing in the direction of Loye, as if plotting something.

Loye was the only one in the entire Oakland City who had a seat on the second floor. He sat there, next to Douglas Hill.

As a mage, his spirit was so keen that he could naturally feel those gazes.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Loye, I always feel that I'm going to be tricked by you this time."

Loye said with a smile, "You still have a chance to refuse now. Believe me, I won't hold it against you."

"Refuse my ass! What are they compared to benefits?!"

After a pause, he added, "But don't forget what you promised me?"

"My promise is as good as gold!"

"That's good, that's good!"

Just as they were talking, a series of knocking sounds came.

Da da da da!

The sound of the mallet was loud and far-reaching, directly drowning out all the noise and silencing everyone.

Baron Miller was already dressed in full attire.

His golden short hair was combed back, looking exceptionally capable. His well-fitting gentleman's suit was a standard black and white color scheme, setting off his straight figure.

Every move carried the decisiveness of a soldier and the elegance of a nobleman.

Just this appearance alone could captivate countless women.

It's a pity that as the head of the Petrovic family, his love is destined to be more of a consideration of various interests.

Seeing everyone's eyes converging, he finally spoke: "Everyone, the purpose of today's bidding event, I don't need to say more."

"After so long, everyone should know what they need to know, so I won't waste any time."

"The promise I can make is that the accounts will be public, every expenditure will have a clear record, and every shareholder is welcome to check at any time."

"So, I announce that the bidding event officially begins!"

This was Loye's request. Since it was a bidding event, there was no need to say more, just focus on this one thing.

Therefore, Miller's actions were quite decisive. With a wave of his hand and a surge of magic, he had already taken out a piece of parchment from his dimensional bag.

This world already has useful paper, but parchment, with its excellent magical carrying capacity, still plays an extremely important role in various occasions.

Such as contracts, agreements, IOUs, licenses, etc...

What Miller is taking out now is a certificate for 2% equity in the Northern Railway Company, with the seal of the executive hall and flashing magical light.

Obviously, its authenticity is beyond doubt.

"2% of the shares, priced at 5,000 gold Tyr, with a minimum increase of 100 gold Tyr each time.

Everyone, who is interested can bid!"

When he said this, Miller was extremely confident. After such a long period of momentum building, the eager attitude shown by the major wealthy merchants and nobles could not be faked.

Not to mention, now there is a group of great nobles involved, he also expects to raise the price of the shares to an extremely high level.

However, after he finished speaking, no one spoke for a long time.

"Everyone, who is interested, bid?"

Miller couldn't help but urged again, but unfortunately, the sound echoed in the hall, but no one answered.

His smile slowly froze on his face, and his gaze changed from gentle to sharp.

He first swept across the first floor, a group of local wealthy merchants and nobles in Oakland City, who couldn't help but lower their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.

He looked up again and looked at the noble envoys on the second floor. A group of people maintained their demeanor and gave him a faint smile.

This smile, rather than politeness, actually had an unusually obvious meaning of provocation.

At this moment, Miller felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, he understood, he understood everything.

There are many ways to achieve the goal, and direct action and forceful seizure are actually the most stupid.

So, they changed their method, no sale!

As long as no one bids, no one pays, and the shares of the Northern Railway Company are not sold, it means that Miller cannot raise enough gold Tyr.

At that time, in order to build the railway, Miller will inevitably have to compromise with them.

The so-called company shares, the control of the railway, and even Miller himself will have to give in to their demands.

And to do this is not difficult for them!

The wealthy merchants and nobles of Oakland City are naturally interested in the railway and can also take out a sum of money.

However, after these great nobles jointly warned them, they didn't even dare to say a word.

As for these great noble envoys, if they are in the same spirit, then the success or failure of this railway, this first attempt at the 'joint venture model', is up to them.

You ask, will Hohenzollern III be angry when he knows?

He won't!

As an emperor, he only wants the result, not the process!

If Miller cannot overcome this difficulty, it means that he has no value to cultivate, then just replace him with another person.

All of this flashed through Miller's mind in an instant. Although there were no swords or shadows, this was even more terrifying than swords and shadows.

At this moment, Miller was trembling with anger, but he was so powerless!

It was at this moment that a voice rang out.

"I bid 10,000 gold Tyr!"

Miller suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound, and saw Douglas Hill standing out on the second floor, his moon-white robe was so eye-catching.

Behind him, Loye poked his head out, met Miller's eyes, and gave him a reassuring smile.

Well, his arrangement finally came in handy!

The second update is here, the third update is in progress!