Chapter 554: Roland Wushan

Though Swampfort had been expanded twice under Gallen’s command, it remained too small to accommodate the visiting nobles seeking rest.

Fortunately, Ronin had prepared in advance, renovating and decorating the town’s inns—just passable, but sufficient.

He could have chosen Moonlight Castle instead; it was far more luxurious and spacious.

But alas, the railway to Moonlight Valley hadn’t yet begun construction, so he couldn’t showcase it.

Inside the chamber, Diane led the midwives in a flurry of activity. Beside her stood Mithy, now Blanch’s personal knight and ever-vigilant guardian.

Ronin did not enter. He waited outside, listening to the muffled cries of encouragement, his heart tight with tension, anxiety, and impatience.

Childbirth was perilous—for ordinary people.

But Blanch was now an advanced mage. Though her constitution didn’t match that of a high-ranking knight, it far surpassed that of common folk.

And Elron stood ready beyond the door. Should disaster strike, he would be more than capable.

“Ha! This is the first time I’ve seen you so nervous!”

Grandfather Rulans had returned specially from the frontlines to Swamp Town for the birth of his great-grandchild, now seated on the sofa, waiting.

Also present was Vincents, Ronin’s father, his leg still lame; Ronin’s younger brother, Brayton; and Lilya Heiyu, already betrothed to Brayton.

Ronin smiled faintly and sat beside them. “It’s my first time. Nerves are only natural.”

“When your mother gave birth to your sister, I was just like you,” Vincents said with a chuckle.

“By the time you came along, I’d grown much calmer.”

The old Vincents had been peculiar, harboring prejudice against Ronin, doing things that grated on everyone.

But now, before his son, he no longer played the stern father—gentle, refined, almost unrecognizable.

What else could he do? His son was a legend, a duke of the realm, future king.

True, Vincents felt pressure—but pride swelled within him all the same.

“Ronin,” he asked, “have you chosen a name?”

Ronin nodded. “Yes. Roland. Roland Wushan.”

Rulans raised an eyebrow. “A boy?”

Ronin confirmed it. “Yes.”

As a legendary archmage, his mind was vast. Though Blanch was merely an advanced mage, he could sense every detail within her body.

Even before birth, both already knew the child’s gender.

Hence the masculine name—Roland, a prince of courage and resolve, destined to carry forward Ronin’s reforms.

Rulans laughed. “Excellent!”

“Congratulations, brother! Never thought I’d have a nephew so soon!” Brayton grinned.

Ronin teased back, “You and Lilya should hurry too—let me rise another generation in rank.”

Lilya lowered her head, cheeks flushed red.

Brayton scratched his head sheepishly. “We’ve talked about it. Not yet. At least not until I become a Gold Knight.”

At seventeen, he was only a Bronze Knight. Even with enhancement elixirs, reaching Gold might take two or three years.

Starting a family at twenty—that would do.

As they spoke, a sharp cry pierced the air from within—the wail of a newborn. Everyone straightened. Ronin shot to his feet and rushed to the doorway.

After a moment, the door creaked open. Diane emerged, radiant, cradling a swaddled infant in her arms.

“Congratulations, Ronin—it’s a healthy boy!”

Ronin exhaled deeply, joy flooding his face. Clumsily, he took the child into his arms.

For a heartbeat, it felt unreal. And then, unbidden, a familiar phrase surfaced from his past life:

*“Child, when you were born, the entire…”*

Ronin shook his head, scattering the stray thoughts. He gazed down at the tiny face—eyes closed, breathing calm.

Rulans, Brayton, and the others gathered close. Ronin passed the baby to Rulans, then stepped inside.

Gently, he took Blanch’s hand. “You’ve done well. Thank you.”

She smiled weakly, golden-brown hair damp with sweat, yet glowing with happiness.

The news of the newborn spread swiftly—through Swampfort, through the entire town.

Nobles arrived at the castle, offering congratulations and presenting long-prepared gifts.

At last, the long-awaited banquet began.

Though rich Western dishes graced the tables, Ronin’s favored Chinese cuisine also appeared, alongside carefully aged baijiu.

To many nobles, the unfamiliar dishes looked strange—but once tasted, they carried an indescribable novelty.

The revelry lasted the entire day.

The next morning, Chakhar led the nobles on a tour of the coal mines, deepening their understanding of this vital resource.

They would return home and inspect their own lands, hoping to uncover veins like those found by Viscount Marvin.

After the mines, Chakhar guided them all toward the factory.

“What is this?”

Soon, someone spotted the rails stretching into the distance—puzzled, curious, drawn closer by instinct.

This was the domain of Duke Ronin, Conqueror of Nations, likely future master of the continent. Everything here deserved scrutiny.

And Chakhar had brought them here deliberately—surely for a reason.

Lud crouched beside the twin tracks, examining them closely.

“The precision of these joints… these rails are no common craft!”

As Minister of Finance for the Kingdom of Auduin, he sensed immediately that this railway was extraordinary—and smelled opportunity.

“Lord Chakhar, what purpose does this serve?”

“Yes, such length must have consumed vast iron. What is the Duke’s intent?”

The nobles voiced their questions, eyes alight with curiosity.

Chakhar smiled.

Once, he had been nothing more than a humble steward following a fallen baron into the wilderness. Now, standing among dukes and ministers—he dared not have dreamed it.

“My lords!” he proclaimed, voice ringing with pride.

“This railway is a magnificent invention by our illustrious Duke Ronin, the Conqueror himself!”

Speaking of the man who had lifted him from obscurity, his tone soared with fervor.

“It shall transform the way we move goods and people, binding our lands tighter, making them richer, stronger, more prosperous!”

The nobles exchanged glances. They knew the word *prosperity* well—but the concept of a railway remained alien.

Just as doubt stirred, a thunderous roar echoed from afar.

With pride and exhilaration, Seton steered the steam locomotive roaring in from afar.

Though the railway was not yet fully laid, a few miles would suffice for this grand demonstration.

Clang, clang, clang—

Two steam engines—one at the front, one at the rear—pulled five carriages between them, each loaded with earth, timber, coal, and other supplies.

“What is that?!”

“Oh my god… What in the world is this? Some kind of monstrous beast I’ve never seen?”

“No—it’s made of iron, has no legs! Since when do beasts look like this?”

Shock painted every face. As the train drew nearer, its overwhelming presence—its thunderous sound, its colossal form—pressed upon their senses until they could scarcely breathe.

The nobles stumbled backward, awestruck. None had ever beheld such a giant, let alone imagined it could move on its own.

Screeeech!

With a sharp grinding of metal, Seton skillfully brought the train to a smooth halt before the crowd.

Only now could those present truly see its shape—and the cargo within the carriages.

Seton stepped out of the cabin, bowed deeply to the nobles, and began:

“Esteemed lords and ladies, I am Seton, driver of Wubei Territory’s First Locomotive. Allow me the honor of introducing this magnificent machine!”

High above, Luo Ning hovered in silence, listening to the waves of astonishment rising below. He knew—today, the word “train” had seared itself into their hearts.

Lud arrived beside a carriage, gazing upward in disbelief at the mound of gravel piled inside.

According to Simon, this single carriage bore over thirty thousand kilograms of stone. To transport such weight across land—how many horses would it take? How much labor, how many resources wasted?

And yet—the crucial point was this: this was merely one carriage. There were four more just like it.

Even more astonishing—this was still far from the train’s maximum capacity.

As a man of commerce and finance, Lud instantly grasped the revolutionary impact this train would have on transportation.

In that moment, Luo Ning’s image in his heart soared to divine heights.

“Magnificent… awe-inspiring…”

He thought inwardly, “Such a man will surely become the sovereign of this continent—a ruler who shall bring unprecedented transformation and glory to all!” (End of Chapter)