Magic Industrial Age.

Chapter 456-454: Remnants of Time (Please Subscribe)
December 25th, 314th year of the New Divine Calendar, the Christmas Day of the Lord of Light.

After a busy year, the flower shop finally got a well-deserved break.

Although the production tasks remained severe, so severe that there seemed to be no end in sight, Luo Yi still made the decision to arrange a full seven-day vacation.

Starting from Christmas Day on the 25th, through the Feast of Grace, we will return to work on January 3rd of the new divine calendar year 315.

Except for certain essential positions, such as steelmaking furnaces which cannot be shut down and require overtime work, all other jobs must be suspended so that everyone can enjoy the holiday to the fullest.

Of course, before this, the monthly salary, benefits, year-end bonus, etc., have all been settled.

Pay what is due and award what is due, without any delays. This same requirement applies even to some private enterprises.

Even with insufficient working capital, the Earl's mansion continued to provide interest-free short-term accommodations.

As a result, all the workers this year found themselves with an extremely considerable sum of money, so much so that it was hard for them to believe.

This one point alone has generated an amazing amount of positive feedback!
After a year of hard work, it would be a lie to say they weren't exhausted, but the substantial profits they've already realized can soothe their physical and mental fatigue.

It even gave them hope that they could succeed as long as they worked hard.

When you have money in your hands, even the most frugal person will think about spending it.

In addition, with ample preparations within the territory, goods from all over the country filled almost every shop.

As a communication center and resource transfer hub for the Alliance, the Empire, and even the Sea Clan, the abundance of goods here is beyond imagination.

With these prerequisites in place, the excitement of this Christmas can be expected.

In fact, to ensure the smooth running of the festival, Luo Yi transferred a full three thousand men from the First Imperial Guard Regiment, which was training in the military camp.

Then there's the police station managed by Leon Vascoss, which is also divided into districts, down to each street.

These police officers, familiar with the roads, along with a squad of Imperial Guard soldiers, are responsible for maintaining order, sanitation, mediating conflicts, and even preventing fires in a designated area.

There were quite a few projects under her charge, but the generous bonuses and benefits that Lori gave out in advance, along with the promised days off, silenced all complaints.

And this is only what's on the surface.

Secretly, Luo Yi even had Ang mobilize underground gangs to crack down on all criminal venues and individuals involved in organized crime, time and time again.

Where there is light, there is darkness. Even in Flower Territory, the dirty dealings in those dark corners cannot be completely eradicated.

However, during this crucial time, anyone who dares to cause trouble for him should not be blamed for Luo Yi's ruthless methods, which could result in a mountain of deaths.

Even the hidden spies and moles were warned.

As a result, the festive atmosphere of Christmas reached its peak.

As the first rays of light appeared on the horizon, the sirens' songs echoed throughout the entire city of Brussels via Lilia's mage tower.

The ethereal voice seemed to cleanse the soul and weariness; the power of the Lion King enveloped everything, and the invisible waves spread, filling everyone's hearts with joy.

Men and women, young and old, all came out of their homes.

They put on new clothes and tall hats, and danced a celebratory dance to the rhythm of the music.

Their movements weren't particularly skillful, their dance wasn't very difficult, and their simple body-twisting movements couldn't even be considered dance.

However, you cannot deny that they exhibit a tremendous vitality.

Though humble, it is resilient and tenacious, like wild grass, enduring trampling and ravaging, yet still thriving.

Along the way, long tables were set up, laden with wine, drinks, soup, meat, bread, and fruit...

This was provided by the shops along the way. Loy requisitioned all the chefs and kitchens in the city and made them provide plenty of food and water.

Of course, most of these expenses were borne by the lord's manor, and pedestrians could buy food with just a few copper coins.

The reason she didn't bear the entire burden wasn't because Luo Yi didn't have the money, but simply because she was afraid of causing a waste.

However, if you want to eat it for free, that's not impossible!
Free food is provided in the squares throughout Brussels where bonfire parties are held.

Of course, those places are too crowded, and it's not easy to squeeze in.

It's worth mentioning that there are some changes to Christmas this year.

In the city's various squares, there are elaborately arranged magic circles, which look small but are made with a great deal of precious materials.

Then, at the start of Christmas, the photo crystals were placed in the center.

As the magic flowed, a strange buoyancy appeared, and the crystal was suspended in mid-air, with a beam of light shining on it.

Thus, the crystal created a refraction effect, spreading out a huge picture in the sky.

What's amazing is that the same image can be seen from all four directions, and it can be seen clearly even from a great distance.

This sudden scene attracted countless eyes and gasps of surprise. Of course, most people didn't know what a photo crystal was, but that didn't stop them from paying close attention.

The scene moves from far to near, as if looking down at the earth from the sky, revealing the appearance of a city.

That was the original Brussels, before Löw arrived, it still retained its original appearance.

The Ruhr River flows serenely, with people coming and going on the three floating bridges. There are many boats coming and going, and many boatmen are pulling the boats to the shore. The dockworkers are busy at work.

This scene evoked a sense of nostalgia in many people!

That seems like a long time ago, but it also feels like it hasn't been that long.
However, looking back at the city in my memory, it seems to have become much shorter, and the pedestrians on the road are dressed in tattered clothes with sorrowful faces.

In fact, the entire image is gray and lacks brilliance.

Until one day, on a day when flowers were in full bloom, this ancient city welcomed its new master, the new king of lions.

When the count, who looked like just a boy, set foot on this land and entered this city, it was as if the world had gained color and everything was different.

At that moment, the flow of time suddenly accelerated, and everyone saw it.

They watched as a mage tower appeared out of nowhere within the Lion Manor, the light of the magic crystal lamps dispelling the darkness and illuminating the night sky.

In those fields, the land was leveled, and factories rose from nothing, with countless people bustling about, working tirelessly.

Then, inside the steel plant, huge chimneys billowed thick smoke, and under the workers' operation, pieces of gleaming refined steel emerged from the molten iron.

Inside the textile factory, female workers stood beside the spinning machines, their hands moving non-stop. The final product was bolts of cotton cloth rolled into cylinders, which were then sent out of the factory and became new clothes for people.

Inside that secret medicine workshop, countless magical materials underwent drying and processing, ultimately transforming into bottles of secret medicines.

They were then loaded onto carriages or boats and sent to all directions.

And then there were the railway tracks, from nothing to something, from broken to complete, finally pulled by locomotives gleaming with magical energy, back and forth, transporting supplies and goods.

The sheer volume of activity seemed to be a microcosm of the city's transformation.

The view suddenly widened again, and everyone saw it once more—the changes in the city.

The factory area is becoming increasingly bustling, high-rise buildings are springing up in the new city, the roads are becoming wider, and magical crystal lamps are illuminating the darkness on both sides.

Correspondingly, low-rise buildings were demolished, and countless people moved into their new homes with smiles on their faces.

The school was filled with the sound of students reading aloud, the streets were bustling with vendors hawking their wares, the passersby were dressed in well-tailored gentlemanly attire, and the coins they pulled out to make purchases were gleaming and shiny!
The scene then shifts again, showing many smiling faces.

There were elderly people, children, men, women, people eating, people receiving wages, people working, people walking, people talking loudly, and people confidently holding their heads high...

It was as if the entire city had witnessed the expressions of countless people, from frowning to beaming with smiles!

It should be said that the entire 'photo' playback time was not short, but when countless people looked up at it, they didn't even blink.

Some people smiled, their faces deeply wrinkled, yet their smiles were radiant.

Some people cried, their eyes filled with tears, as if recalling past hardships.

Many more people's eyes flashed with understanding and fervor!

Only at this moment, at this very moment, did everyone truly feel the enormous changes that had taken place in this city in just two short years.

And those who are in it are no longer the same as before.

At that moment, the screen suddenly went dark, and when it brightened again, the silhouette of a figure appeared.

A ray of light shone down from afar, making his silhouette appear so majestic and towering, like a giant protecting this land.

Then, Luo Yi slowly turned around, took a few steps forward, and walked in front of everyone.

He wore a bright red silk robe with a lion emblem embroidered in gold thread on his chest, an ancient golden crown on his head, and a gleaming ring on his right hand.

He tilted his head slightly, his face still young and handsome, but his brows now held a maturity and dignity born of years of experience.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the screen, looking directly at everyone in the city and meeting their eyes.

Until this moment, in the light screen that resembled a silent film, Luo Yi spoke, her loud and majestic voice resounding throughout the heavens and earth.

"This is the era of magical energy industry, and also a miracle of mechanical creation!"

"This is also a great change that has not been seen in the Old World for ten thousand years!"

"I am honored to be born in this era, to have this territory, and to have you, my hardworking and tireless people."

"We, you and I, will eventually stand at the forefront of the times, ride the waves, and fully enjoy the benefits!"

"My friends, the future is long and the years are endless; let us strive together!"

(End of this chapter)