industrial lord

Chapter 801 The Prodigal Son Returns Home
The blizzard was like a wild painter, using endless white to paint the outline of the city of Boyheim.

The spires of the churches, the low-rise houses, and the winding streets were all covered with a thick, soft blanket of snow.

The world was so silent that only the howling of the wind and snow, and a mechanical roar that seemed out of place in this era, approached from afar.

A dark figure pierced through the snow curtain, steadily driving along the road that was mostly covered by snow.

It was a sidecar motorcycle manufactured by the Duchy of Wesen. Its design was sturdy and rugged, exuding the beauty of steel and power. The right side of the vehicle was filled with luggage.

Pavel rode on the bicycle, wearing a thick dark blue woolen cloak, with a thin layer of ice on his helmet and goggles.

The garrison of Boyheim, having seen Frederick's convoy equipped with such vehicles years ago, were on high alert, fearing that it might be someone sent by the Grand Duke of Wessen.

Pavel entered the city, slowed down, and stopped in front of a familiar noble mansion.

The roar abruptly ceased, as if it had taken away the sounds of the world for a moment as well.

Pavel took off his goggles, revealing his young face, weathered by wind and snow yet appearing even more resolute.

He exhaled a puff of white breath, looked up at the familiar family crest on the lintel, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

That's the warmth of returning home.

He knocked hard on the oak door.

Two days later, in the warm living room of the mansion, the crackling fire in the fireplace dispelled all the cold outside.

Several familiar faces of Pavel sat together, their faces beaming with curiosity and excitement.

They were all young noblemen from Boyheim, and Pavel was his old friend.

"Tell me quickly, Pavel! What's the Duchy of Wessen like?" a young knight asked impatiently.

When Pavel invited him to go to Wesenberg City, he was a little scared and didn't go.

Pavel had his maid bring him coffee and explained the four methods of brewing coffee in Wesenberg before beginning to describe the scenery of that distant country.

“It’s completely different there.” His voice was low, tinged with envy. “In the city, the streets are paved and wide enough for four carriages to drive side by side.”

"What surprised me was the city's sewer system. Even if there was standing water during a heavy rain, it would be completely drained within half an hour after the rain stopped."

"And the streetlights along the roadside, the streetlights in Boyheim are like fireflies, while the streetlights there are like the sun."

"The factory chimneys surrounding Wesenberg were a symbol of progress..."

He enthusiastically described the efficient administrative system of the Principality of Wessen, the rigorous curriculum and combat exercises at the military academy, the novel products, and the pervasive atmosphere of pursuing efficiency.

He didn't exaggerate; he simply stated the facts. But it was precisely this lack of embellishment that made his descriptions all the more convincing.

The others listened intently, their eyes filled with longing and a hint of disbelief.

Just then, the living room door was suddenly pushed open, bringing with it a gust of cold wind and the smell of snowflakes.

A girl wearing a thick travel cloak rushed in, her cheeks red from the cold, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her bright eyes.

"Pavel! You're really back!"

Polina, a young lady from a local family of magicians, lives on the other side of the street.

She handed the cloak to a servant and carefully took out a large cardboard box from a basket wrapped in thick velvet that she carried with her.

The box contained golden, uniquely shaped pastries.

“I just brought it back from Carlsbad,” Polina told everyone. “I came here as soon as I heard Pavel was back.”

"This is called a 'puff pastry,' a dessert invented by the Archduke of Wessen."

"My goodness, the place has changed so much! There are artists and amazing new shops everywhere!"

The crispy outer shell and sweet cream filling of the cream puffs immediately won over everyone present, especially the ladies.

Polina smiled with satisfaction at everyone's enjoyable expressions, then turned to Pavel, her tone filled with eagerness and anticipation: "Pavel, how is life in Wesenberg City?"

"I heard everything there is ridiculously expensive, is that true?"

Looking at Polina's face, which was glowing with excitement and anticipation, Pavel wondered what was going on in his mind and asked curiously, "Polina, has your family finally decided to send you to Wesenberg University to study magic?"

Polina's family situation is somewhat complicated. Among the group of old men, some believe that family tradition is the best approach to learning, while others think that one should have a more open mind towards learning.

In the schools of Oak City, there are many students who have run away from their decaying homes.

Polina's excitement subsided slightly, replaced by a hint of hesitation.

After hesitating for a moment, she nodded slightly and said somewhat insincerely, "Well... my family feels that only there can my magical talent be best guided."

"But, I..."

She paused in her speech.

Everyone present knew what Polina was hesitating about. Compared to profound magical incantations, she actually loved capturing the colors and light of the world with her paintbrush.

A slightly teasing female voice broke the delicate silence: "Oh, isn't that perfect?"

“Pavel is at the military academy, and Polina is in the university town. The two places are not far apart.”

"If you ask me, you should just rent an apartment together in Wesenberg City. You could save a lot of money that way."

The speaker was Sir Olga, who had been sitting quietly beside Pavel. Her smile was gentle, but her eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if they could see into the most subtle fluctuations in a person's heart.

“Olga!” Pavel and Polina exclaimed almost simultaneously, their voices filled with embarrassment and protest.

Polina's cheeks instantly turned even redder than when she had come in from the snowstorm.

Olga smiled and apologized, seemingly unintentionally, both her previous words and the apology.

“Don’t joke like that,” Pavel said seriously, then looked at Polina again and gave her practical advice as a pioneer, “If you go there as a student, the cost of living isn’t actually as terrible as the rumors say.”

“There are many apartments around the university town that are specifically rented to students, and the prices are reasonable.”

"The Duchy of Weisen encourages consumption, and there are many high-quality and inexpensive goods on the market. As long as you are careful with your money, you can manage perfectly well."

His use of the word "cheap" was based on the perspective of minor nobles like them.

The group chatted for a while about the customs and culture of the Duchy of Wessen, from modern clothing to rigorous military training, until the steward came to report that dinner was ready.

On the long dining table, silver candlesticks illuminated the food covered with a snow-white lace tablecloth, making the guests' eyes dazzled.

The servants served up a variety of traditional local dishes, including roast meat and stew, which smelled delicious.

However, the main dish that was served stunned everyone.

It was a type of food they had never seen before.

Served on an exquisite porcelain plate are noodles that resemble intertwined silver threads or solidified crystal.

It is almost transparent, reflecting a warm glow under candlelight, creating a striking contrast with the richly colored traditional dishes around it.

It was drizzled with a rich, dark brown meat sauce, and garnished with some chopped herbs, which further accentuated the translucent texture of the "noodles".

"What is this?" A young man asked curiously, poking the noodles with his fork. The noodles trembled and had a strange elasticity.

"Try it," Pavel said with a smile.

Polina was the first to carefully pick up a fork and put it in her mouth, her eyes widening immediately.

"Wow...what a wonderful texture!" she exclaimed. "It's quite crunchy, completely different from our noodles!"

"Moreover, it seems to have absorbed all the flavor of the meat sauce, it's delicious!"

Others also tried it, and soon the table was filled with sounds of surprise and praise.

This novel food clearly delighted the palates of these young nobles.

"Pavel, what is this? Is it a new specialty you brought from Weisen? Where can I buy it?" someone asked impatiently.

Pavel waited until everyone had fully experienced the uniqueness of the "crystal noodles" before putting down his knife and fork and saying in a calm but clear tone, "This is not a local specialty of Wessen."

"It's called 'crystal noodles,' and it's said that the ingredients come from the extremely far south. It was invented by a prince's wife by accident."

"And it is precisely the main food source for the food aid that the Duchy of Wesen is providing to our city of Boyheim, and even the entire Bohemian region."

The food crisis was somewhat distant to the young masters and ladies of the city; merely knowing that it existed did not stop them from drinking and dancing as usual.

Pavel paused, his gaze sweeping over the surprised faces of the crystal noodles, and continued, "While passing through the city of Budevis, I met Mr. Thomas, a Wesson official in charge of this aid effort."

"I was able to get some ahead of time because of his kindness, so that everyone could have a taste of something new."

As soon as he finished speaking, a brief gasp of surprise rippled through the table.

They never imagined that Pavel had such unconventional methods, managing to contact officials in the Duchy of Wessen.

A strange light flashed in Olga's eyes, as if she were simply curious about the food.

She gracefully twirled a few strands of vermicelli with her fork, carefully observing their texture, before slowly putting them into her mouth and savoring them.

Her movements were unhurried, and she wore a gentle yet enigmatic smile, but something was flashing and calculating rapidly in the depths of her eyes.

The news Pavel brought—about this peculiar food, its status as a large-scale aid supply, and the Wesson official "Thomas"—was like a jigsaw puzzle that suddenly appeared, quickly piecing itself together in her mind.

She put down her knife and fork, picked up a napkin and gently wiped her mouth. Her gaze returned to Pavel, her tone carrying just the right amount of curiosity: "Oh? The main supplies for food aid... This Mr. Thomas must be an important figure highly regarded by Grand Duke Wessen."

“Pavel, could you tell us more about him, and also about the situation in Budvis City?”

“I’ve heard that things have been quite turbulent there lately.”

Her question sounded like casual conversation, but Pavel keenly sensed an unprecedented focus hidden beneath her calm tone.

A slight tremor ran through him as he vaguely sensed an unusual and strange atmosphere.

"Thomas is the kind of promising official who has worked his way up from the bottom in the Duchy of Wessen."

Pavel said only a few words before turning the conversation to the new business in Budvis City.

This wasn't what Olga wanted, but she just listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few words.

Dinner continued in an atmosphere that appeared harmonious on the surface but was actually fraught with tension.

The wind and snow outside the window continued, but a chill, full of uncertainty, had quietly crept into the warmth inside.

(End of this chapter)