Magic Industrial Age

If Oakland City within the Habsburg Empire was considered an extremely normal and ordinary city,

then arriving in the Duchy of Normandy, cities of this caliber were nowhere to be seen by Loye along the way.

Tidily swept streets, a well-maintained drainage system, streetlights lit every night, and public restrooms everywhere...

These things that Loye had grown accustomed to, he hadn't seen a single one in most cities of the Duchy of Normandy.

What he found instead were foul-smelling air, garbage strewn everywhere, sewage flowing in the streets, and muddy dirt roads covered in feces...

Anyway, if it weren't for the earldom waiting for him to inherit, he would absolutely not want to live here.

However, the city of Auxerre shattered Loye's preconceived notions.

This was a city built against a mountain, and from a distance, the buildings stacked upon each other, making it quite unique.

The building materials used were all sourced from a nearby white mountain, containing a unique type of rock.

Its hardness wasn't particularly high, and it even had many gaps, but it was as white as snow.

The houses and manors built with it were pure white, shining brightly in the sunlight, making them extremely eye-catching.

Getting closer, one could see the towering city gate, dozens of meters high, with ramps on both sides and spires at the rear, the city walls extending to the horizon.

This city gate alone deserved the evaluation of being 'easy to defend and difficult to attack'.

Loye felt that unless magic cannons were used for continuous bombardment, it would be truly difficult to break through.

Riding his horse forward until he was about to reach the city gate, Loye could see even more clearly.

This mountain was actually divided into layers upon layers, with steps leading upwards from the city gate, with horse riding paths on both sides, all of which were slopes.

There were many people coming and going, including merchants and free people, most of whom were neatly dressed.

The guards at the city gate were also very elite, although they weren't wearing heavy armor, they all had well-made leather armor on their bodies, holding spears, and moving nimbly.

Of course, they also acted as tax collectors, collecting taxes from those entering the city.

However, this entrance tax couldn't be collected from the nobles. Seeing Estelle leading two hundred knights at the front, the city gate official almost unhesitatingly drove away the people in line.

Clearing a large area, allowing the Knights to enter directly without any pause.

Inspection?

Are you kidding? The Kingdom Knights returning home, you dare to go up and inspect them? Don't you want to live!

The Kingdom Knights' garrison was inside the city, with a large area designated for the establishment of a military camp.

Having arrived here, their mission was considered complete.

However, Estelle still led Loye and the others up the steps, and after passing three long flights of stairs, they turned right until they reached a large hotel.

Here, the housekeeper Hoover was already waiting.

He had arrived in Auxerre City one step ahead to manage all the trivial matters, and it was here that the pretty girl Ava prepared to say goodbye.

She had to go to the highest point of this city first, the Duchess Afra's castle, to report back and confirm the time for the Duchess to meet with Loye.

However, just at the entrance of the hotel, as she was preparing to leave, the sound of galloping horses rapidly approached.

Seeing the sound of hooves was urgent, but there was no sign of slowing down at all, until they were close, that someone finally reined in.

Neigh!

The warhorse raised its hooves, forcibly pulled sideways, and when it landed, its four hooves landed on the ground, actually cracking the paving white stones.

This move alone showed superb horsemanship.

Then, a burly, handsome knight in golden armor jumped off his horse.

He was wearing a full set of knight's armor, but it didn't hinder his agile movements. After dismounting, he looked around and fixed his eyes on Loye.

Then, he stepped forward without hesitation, took off his iron gauntlet, and threw it on the ground.

Clang!

A young and arrogant voice rang out: "Loye Royfitz, is it?

You bastard actually dares to compete for the position of Earl, you really don't know how to live or die!"

"I challenge you in the name of a knight. If you are still a man and dare to draw your sword, then accept my challenge.

If you lose, obediently roll back to where you came from and don't embarrass yourself here."

"Of course, if you don't dare, I can also help you publicize it well, so that everyone knows what kind of coward is trying to inherit the position of the Lion!"

His voice was extremely loud, and his enunciation was also very clear, spreading far and wide on this street.

And this street was full of hotels and taverns, and 'whoosh', I don't know how many people gathered around.

The desire to watch the excitement is the same no matter where you are!

To be honest, until now, Loye was still a little stunned.

Of course, the 'duel' thing is often seen in stories and novels.

In reality, there are actually quite a few!

Nobles vying for favor and jealousy, in fact, right and wrong are not important. If it doesn't rise to the point where you die, then it's just throwing down the gauntlet, taking out the long sword, and seeing who is more powerful.

The winner raises his head high and accepts the cheers of the crowd; the loser hangs his head in dejection, pointed at and pointed at, which is too normal.

And the big nobles above are actually happy to see this scene.

The reason is simple, it can both eliminate conflicts and maintain the martial spirit of the nobles.

Not to mention anything else, even for the sake of dealing with opponents during duels, those noble children will put more effort and determination into training.

It's just that, from Loye's rise to the present, he hasn't participated in many aristocratic banquets, and he has never encountered this kind of face-to-face 'duel'.

As a result, for a long time, his mind was echoing, where am I?

Who am I?

What am I doing?

His hesitation made the knight think he was afraid, and the smile on his face became even more presumptuous. He said: "If you are afraid of death, I will give you a chance. Today, get out of Auxerre City now, and I will let you go."

These words made Anger on the side angry, stepping forward, ready to take action.

But Loye raised his hand to stop him, and turned his head to look at the pretty girl Ava, and asked: "Where did this idiot come from?

Also, can you tell me this idiot's name? Why is he looking for a beating?"

The pretty girl Ava's expression was also very exciting, but her expression management was still in place.

Tilting her head slightly, she frowned slightly: "If I remember correctly, this one should be Knight Gian Santos."

The knight immediately said: "I am already Baron Santos now.

The noble council recognizes it, the Duke issued an order, and Marquis Carlisle personally conferred the title of Baron!"

Loye asked strangely: "Then what does it have to do with me?"

"It has nothing to do with you, but it has something to do with the Raymond family. His grandmother came from the Raymond family.

In other words, he has a quarter of the Raymond family's bloodline.

Loye suddenly realized: "He is also an heir of the Raymond family?"

"One of the heirs!"

Ava said very rigorously, and added: "And a very late heir."

"If I'm not mistaken, he was pushed out by the Carlisle family. The way he is now, he should want to directly sweep you out of the game by means of a duel."

Loye nodded and said: "It seems that the Carlisle family doesn't value him very much either?"

"Why do you say that?"

"If they value him a little bit, and synchronize the information, he wouldn't do such a stupid thing."

Loye's words were impolite and very reasonable, but this knight couldn't help it.

Baron Gian Santos' face was ugly, and said: "I have already won the affirmation of many knights of the Raymond family, and they have all expressed their attitude to support me.

What is there to be proud of for a bastard like you?"

"You ask me what I have to be proud of, I'll tell you, just based on this?"

Loye really thought this matter was a bit ridiculous, so he didn't want to entangle too much.

Golden-red fighting energy rose from his body, turning into chaotic flames, clawing and dancing around.

"Fighting, fighting energy release? Third-order transcendent?"

Gian Santos was dumbfounded, he almost lost his voice: "How old are you, how could you possibly reach the third-order?"

"You, you, you..."

Loye looked at him and asked: "I'll give you a chance now, pick up your iron gauntlet, and then get out immediately!

I can pretend that nothing happened!"

"Otherwise, I'll accept your gauntlet and kill you openly, it's nothing!"

"You can choose now?"

Baron Gian Santos' face was blue and white for a while, extremely tangled.

He was determined to go all out, even if he died in battle, he could leave a good reputation, but a second-order person must duel a transcendent, that is really looking for death!

He hasn't lived enough, and he has just become a baron, so how can he be willing.

In the end, he gritted his teeth, lowered his head, bowed his body, and picked up his iron gauntlet.

Loye didn't show anything, but all around, bursts of laughter came.

Duels are common, but it is really rare to take back the duel by himself.

Baron Gian Santos' face was flushed red by the ridicule of the crowd, but he really didn't dare to stay, got on his horse, and prepared to leave.

However, at this time, there was another dialogue.

Ava asked: "Young Master Loye, why didn't you accept the duel and defeat him again.

In this way, there would be one less opponent?"

Loye replied: "I have many opponents, but such a stupid one is indeed rare. Keeping him may be very interesting!"

This dialogue was so clearly heard in his ears that Baron Gian Santos staggered and almost fell off his horse.

In the end, he barely stabilized, urged his warhorse, and ran faster.

On the other side, Ava said goodbye to Loye, got into the carriage, and left immediately.

And when Loye turned around and entered the hotel, he looked around and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Gian Santos, this fool is being used without even knowing it.

However, how many people are staring at him around here?

PS: The second update will be revised later, it will be available soon!