When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

He was stunned for a while, then gave a wry smile, his voice a bit hoarse: "A bet is a bet."

The words were not loud, but the amplifying monk "coincidentally" passed by, so—

"A bet is a bet!"

The voice carried by the wind spread to every corner of the viewing platform and along the track.

The spectators immediately cheered, some whistling, some clapping, even more lively than before.

But Theodora and Harbin only found it noisy.

They were still hiding in the shadow of the Air Pillar, while Madlan had already signaled them twice.

The first time was when the locomotive crossed the line, and the second time was when Sibangqi said "A bet is a bet," but neither of them moved.

Theodora clutched her skirt, her toes digging into the ground: "Do we have to do it now? With so many people..."

Harbin rubbed the back of his neck, also a bit flustered: "Let’s wait a bit longer? Maybe Madlan will forget..."

Unfortunately, Madlan did not forget.

He had long guessed these two would dawdle. Simply, he waved a big hand, and dozens of plainclothes monks on both sides immediately mingled into the cheering crowd, squeezing towards the Air Pillar.

They pretended to be excited spectators, pushing forward, inadvertently squeezing Theodora and Harbin into the middle.

"Hey, hey, hey."

Harbin wanted to retreat, but there were also people pushing forward from behind. He drifted helplessly towards Theodora like a little boat in a tide.

Theodora was also squeezed until she couldn’t stand steadily, almost bumping into Harbin. She wanted to grab the pillar beside her but was pushed to continue forward.

"Stop pushing!"

Someone in the crowd with sharp eyes pointed at them and shouted: "Isn’t that Crisson and Eugenie?!"

These words spread instantly like they had wings.

Even though they hadn’t seen their true faces, a noble-looking lady, a burly young dwarf, who else could they be but Crisson and Eugenie?

"It’s them! It’s really them!"

Some busybodies immediately raised their hands and waved towards them, and those travelers who came for Crisson and Eugenie all squeezed towards this side of the spectator seats.

At this point, not kissing was not an option.

Theodora resignedly closed her eyes and crouched down.

Harbin looked at Theodora getting closer, took a deep breath, reached out, and held her shoulder.

He brought his face close, their lips touched fleetingly, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

The crowd’s cheers were louder; people blew whistles, slapped the railing, shouting, "One more!"

Theodora’s face instantly blushed red. Just as she wanted to retreat, she suddenly heard screams from the viewing platform: "Great Monarch! Great Monarch, what’s wrong? Great Monarch, what are you doing?"

Her heart tightened, and she suddenly looked up.

Only to see Sibangqi clutching his chest, collapsing softly onto the chair.

The steward next to him was flustered with his hands fumbling, and the physician had long rushed with a medicine box.

"Papa!" Theodora shouted, breaking away from the crowd to run toward the viewing platform, Harbin hurriedly following.

This dramatic scene was witnessed by several Holy Alliance artists.

They immediately set up their easels, swiftly recording with their brushes.

The fallen Great Monarch, the kissing noblewoman and dwarf, and the cheering crowd beside them, with the backdrop of a brass-colored locomotive.

"Let’s call it ’The Great Monarch Sibangqi at the Holy Alliance Locomotive Yard’, it’s sure to sweep the Empire!"

The chaos on the viewing platform hadn’t settled when Horn suddenly coughed.

A soft sound, but through the amplifying monks’ reinforcement, it spread far, and the noisy crowd gradually quieted down, all turning to look at him.

Even the steward, nervously supporting Sibangqi, couldn’t help but look up.

Horn walked to the center of the viewing platform, his gaze sweeping across the audience, his voice steady: "Everyone, today’s Galloping Horse Pact, the outcome is already obvious.

But what I want to say is—this is not the end, it’s not even the beginning of the end, but rather the beginning of the beginning."

Standing on the high platform, he pointed to the locomotive: "You all saw the speed of this locomotive, it can run four hundred miles a day, haul twenty tons of cargo, more than ten horse carriages can carry.

It doesn’t need horse feed, doesn’t need rest, as long as the spring is wound tight, it can keep running."

People in the crowd nodded continuously, especially the merchants, whose eyes were already bright.

Not needing horse feed, not needing rest, this means transportation costs can be halved!

Horn continued: "We plan to excavate Vincent Avenue and use the spring locomotive to connect the Norn fortresses east of the Dragon Sleep Mountain Range.

Previously, it took two months by sea, now riding the locomotive, it will only take two weeks!"

From two months to two weeks, even those who don’t understand business could see how much profit was involved.

"Two weeks?" As soon as these words came out, the merchants exploded, "Your Grace! Surely you didn’t misspeak?"

Horn didn’t directly answer, but smiled and said: "To let everyone see the value of the locomotive more intuitively, we’ve decided to issue railway stocks.

For specifics, it will be announced later in the ’Truth Report’."

The merchants were even more anxious, persistently asking about "how to buy stocks" and "how much can be bought."

Horn waved his hand, raising his voice: "There’s no need to rush, we’ll discuss this matter later.

The first official run of this Hand of the Holy Father No. 5 is from here to the exhibition area.

Anyone who wants to experience it can get on the train now!"

The crowd immediately surged toward the locomotive, with merchants running the fastest, eager to experience what this iron hulk that could outpace a horse carriage was like.

This was a million-pound level big business!

On the other side, after being rescued, Sibangqi was helped by the physician to sit up, his face still a bit pale.

He looked at the crowd rushing to the locomotive, then glanced at Theodora running over, giving a wry smile: "Enough, enough..."

Theodora held his arm: "Papa, are you alright?"

Sibangqi shook his head and looked at the far-away locomotive, his voice a bit emotional: "I’m fine... just didn’t expect..."

He paused, then glanced at Harbin: "You two... don’t scare me like that again."

The sunlight on the viewing platform was just right, and the streamers were still fluttering in the wind.

The clanging of the locomotive sounded again, carrying the first batch of travelers curious about novelty, heading towards the exhibition area.