Free Web NovelChapter 69: Permission for rail construction
The negotiations with the two smaller baronies went better than Leon expected.
Not smoothly.
Definitely not smoothly.
But better.
The first baron spent nearly an hour insisting the railway sounded completely pointless.
"You want to lay giant metal bars across my territory..."
The older noble frowned deeply at the map spread across his table.
"...So a boiling machine can drag carts without horses."
"Yes."
"That sounds absurd."
"It works."
The baron looked unconvinced.
"Why not simply use wagons?"
Leon resisted the urge to explain industrial logistics for the fifth time that morning.
"Because rail transport moves larger cargo loads significantly faster."
"Faster than horses?"
"Yes."
The noble slowly leaned back in his chair.
"...That sounds unnatural."
That unfortunately became a recurring theme.
Most nobles simply could not comprehend the scale of what Leon was trying to build because nothing remotely similar existed inside the kingdom.
To them—
The railway sounded like an expensive curiosity.
Not infrastructure capable of transforming economies.
Eventually Leon abandoned trying to explain the long-term implications entirely and switched to something nobles actually understood.
Money.
Trade tolls.
Industrial access.
Faster transport.
Guaranteed steel shipments.
Suddenly the negotiations became dramatically easier.
By the end of the second meeting both barons had reluctantly agreed to allow sections of railway construction through the outer edges of their territories in exchange for long-term financial agreements and transport rights.
Neither fully understood what they had just approved.
Leon absolutely did.
Which meant only one obstacle remained now.
The real obstacle.
The Nightbane Duchy.
Several days later Leon finally arrived at the Nightbane capital once again.
The massive city still looked overwhelming even compared to the rapidly growing industrial district back in Aldric territory.
Towering black stone walls surrounded enormous sections of the capital while Nightbane banners drifted high above the streets. Armored knights patrolled constantly while noble carriages moved through the roads beneath towering gothic architecture.
The entire city radiated wealth.
Power.
Authority.
And unlike the bustling chaos of Aldric territory—
Everything here felt controlled.
Disciplined.
Refined.
Leon slowly looked upward toward the massive palace rising near the center of the capital.
The last time he stood here had been during Lillith’s awakening ceremony.
Back then the entire place felt suffocating.
Now—
It somehow felt even worse.
Because this time he was not here as a guest.
He was here to ask Duke Rosthwall Nightbane for permission to build industrial rail infrastructure directly through the duchy’s heartlands.
Honestly—
That realization alone almost made him turn around.
Eventually Leon climbed the final stairway leading toward the palace gates.
The structure itself looked enormous up close.
Black stone walls towered overhead while massive Nightbane banners hung between gothic pillars carved with intricate silver detailing. Elite guards stood near the entrance wearing dark ceremonial armor that looked expensive enough to bankrupt smaller noble houses.
And unlike ordinary guards—
These men radiated mana.
Strong mana.
Leon approached carefully before stopping near the gates.
"I would like to request a meeting with Duke Rosthwall."
The two guards did not react immediately.
They simply stood there motionless like statues.
Then finally one answered coldly.
"The duke does not have time to entertain children."
Leon frowned slightly.
"This is important."
"The duke remains unavailable."
"I came from Aldric territory specifically for this meeting."
"That changes nothing."
Leon tried again.
"It concerns infrastructure expansion across Nightbane territory."
Still nothing.
The guards barely even looked at him.
Leon slowly exhaled.
This was going horribly.
After several more failed attempts he finally started stepping away from the gates reluctantly.
Then—
"Would your name happen to be Leon Aldric?"
Leon froze slightly.
The voice came from behind him.
He turned around immediately.
Another knight stood several meters away wearing dramatically more ornate armor than the gate guards. Dark silver engravings covered polished black plate armor while a deep crimson cape rested across one shoulder.
And unlike the other guards—
This man radiated authority.
Not forced authority.
Natural authority.
Even the gate guards straightened slightly after noticing him.
Leon immediately noticed the mana pressure too.
Strong.
Very strong.
The knight slowly approached before removing his helmet.
The man beneath looked somewhere around Duke Rosthwall’s age with short dark hair streaked slightly with gray. Sharp eyes studied Leon calmly while several old scars crossed one side of his face.
A veteran.
Definitely.
The man smiled faintly afterward.
"Well?"
Leon blinked once before answering carefully.
"...Yes."
The knight’s smile widened slightly.
"So you really are Leon Aldric."
Leon frowned slightly.
"How do you know me?"
The man gave a quiet laugh before extending one hand casually.
"General Kael Draven."
Leon immediately stiffened slightly.
He recognized the name.
General Kael Draven.
Commander of the Nightbane territorial forces.
One of the duchy’s highest-ranking military figures.
And more importantly—
An A-rank mage.
The general noticed the recognition immediately.
"Ah. Good."
Then his expression became slightly amused.
"As for how I know you..."
He folded his arms calmly.
"Lady Nightbane has not gone a single day without mentioning you since meeting you."
Leon immediately felt concerned.
Deeply concerned.
Kael continued speaking casually.
"She described you rather thoroughly."
Leon suddenly had a terrible feeling.
"How thoroughly?"
The general actually looked entertained now.
"Down to the shape of your face."
Leon froze.
"And the way you normally arrange your hair."
"...What."
"She also described your height, posture, mannerisms, eye shape, preferred expression when annoyed, and apparently the exact way you look while thinking."
Silence.
Leon slowly felt genuine fear creeping into his soul.
Kael noticed immediately and laughed quietly.
"Yes. That was roughly my reaction too."
The general then looked Leon up and down once more before nodding.
"Though admittedly..."
His expression became slightly thoughtful.
"She was surprisingly accurate."
That somehow made everything significantly worse.
Leon rubbed one hand across his face tiredly.
"...I don’t know how to feel about that."
"Concerned probably."
"Correct."
Kael chuckled softly before glancing toward the palace entrance.
"So."
His sharp eyes moved back toward Leon.
"What exactly brings the lady’s Leon Aldric all the way to the Nightbane capital?"
"I need to speak with Duke Rosthwall."
The general raised one eyebrow slightly.
"That alone usually terrifies grown nobles."
"It terrifies me too."
"Reasonable."
Leon hesitated briefly before continuing.
"It concerns a railway project."
Now Kael actually looked interested.
"A railway?"
"I need permission to construct rail infrastructure through sections of Nightbane territory."
The general stared at him silently for several seconds.
Then slowly—
"...You truly are exactly as insane as Lady Nightbane described."
Leon sighed.
"I’ve heard that a lot recently."
Kael looked toward the palace thoughtfully for a moment before nodding once.
"Very well."
Leon blinked slightly.
"...Very well?"
"I’ll take you to the duke."
That response came far easier than Leon expected.
Honestly it worried him slightly.
The massive palace interior somehow looked even more absurd than Leon remembered.
Black marble floors stretched beneath towering silver chandeliers while enormous stained-glass windows illuminated long hallways lined with ancient Nightbane portraits and armored statues.
Servants moved silently through the corridors.
Knights stood guard at intersections.
Every visible detail radiated terrifying amounts of wealth and power.
Even Kael occasionally glanced sideways toward Leon with visible amusement while the younger noble tried not to stare too obviously at everything around him.
"You look overwhelmed."
"This place is larger than some towns."
"That is intentional."
Eventually they reached a massive set of black doors reinforced with silver engravings.
Kael stopped before them calmly. ƒreewebɳovel.com
"The duke is inside."
Leon immediately felt his stress levels increase.
The general knocked twice before pushing the doors open without hesitation.
The room beyond looked enormous.
Massive bookshelves covered the walls while maps, documents, and magical artifacts filled sections of the grand study. Tall windows overlooked parts of the capital far below while a massive black desk rested near the center of the room.
And seated behind it—
Duke Rosthwall Nightbane.
The duke looked up slowly from the documents in front of him.
Those crimson eyes immediately landed on Leon.
And somehow—
The entire room instantly felt heavier.
Duke Rosthwall Nightbane continued staring at Leon silently from behind the massive desk.
The pressure in the room felt overwhelming.
Not magical pressure exactly.
Something worse.
Presence.
Authority.
The duke simply carried himself like someone accustomed to absolute power.
Leon forced himself to remain calm before bowing slightly.
"Duke Nightbane."
Rosthwall eventually nodded once in acknowledgment.
"Leon Aldric."
His deep voice echoed softly through the massive study.
The duke’s expression softened slightly.
"I should thank you."
Leon blinked once.
"...For what?"
"For returning my daughter to the academy."
That immediately caught Leon off guard.
The duke slowly leaned back in his chair.
"She has been significantly more... stable recently."
Leon was not entirely convinced that "stable" accurately described Lillith.
Still—
Compared to before?
Maybe.
Rosthwall folded his hands calmly.
"She speaks about you constantly."
Leon immediately felt exhausted.
"...I’ve noticed."
That actually earned the faintest hint of amusement from the duke.
A terrifying thing honestly.
Then the duke gestured toward the chair opposite the desk.
"Sit."
Leon obeyed carefully while Kael remained standing nearby near one of the walls.
For several moments the duke simply studied him silently.
Then finally—
"Kael mentioned you wished to discuss infrastructure."
Leon nodded immediately.
"Yes."
The duke motioned for him to continue.
Leon took a steady breath before explaining.
"The industrial expansion within Aldric territory has accelerated significantly over the past year."
That part alone already sounded absurd when spoken aloud.
"Steel production, mining operations, and mechanical manufacturing have all expanded beyond what wagon transport can efficiently support anymore."
Rosthwall listened quietly.
Leon continued.
"So I’ve begun constructing railway infrastructure."
The duke’s eyes narrowed slightly with interest.
"The metal road system Kael mentioned."
"Yes."
Leon pulled several folded maps from his coat before spreading them carefully across the desk.
The duke leaned slightly forward while studying them.
"The railway uses steam-powered locomotives to transport cargo mechanically along steel tracks."
Now even Rosthwall looked intrigued.
"Without horses?"
"Yes."
Kael crossed his arms nearby.
"I told you the boy was insane."
Leon ignored him.
"The current rail network already connects multiple industrial sites within the Aldric territory."
Then Leon pointed farther across the map toward Blackwater Hollow.
"My next objective is creating a direct transport line between Aldric territory and Blackwater Hollow."
Rosthwall studied the proposed route silently.
His eyes quickly moved across the borders.
The smaller baronies.
Then deeper into Nightbane territory itself.
Eventually he looked back up toward Leon.
"You’re requesting permanent rail construction rights through my duchy."
"Yes."
The duke remained quiet for several seconds.
Leon could practically feel himself being evaluated.
Then finally Rosthwall spoke again.
"...Explain the advantages."
That part Leon had prepared for thoroughly.
"Mass cargo movement."
He pointed toward the route again.
"Steel, machinery, coal, ore, industrial equipment, and military supplies could all move dramatically faster than wagons allow."
Then toward Blackwater Hollow.
"The mine there will eventually become a major industrial center."
Rosthwall’s expression shifted slightly at that.
"The abandoned mine?"
"We reclaimed it."
That clearly surprised the duke.
Kael looked mildly impressed too.
"The rat infestation?" the general asked.
"Yes."
"...How?"
Leon hesitated briefly.
"Industrial methods."
Kael slowly looked toward Rosthwall.
"I genuinely don’t know if I should ask."
The duke ignored him while continuing to study the railway plans.
Leon pressed onward.
"A completed rail connection would also benefit Nightbane territory directly."
Rosthwall raised one eyebrow slightly.
"How so?"
"Trade efficiency."
Leon pointed toward the flatter central regions near the capital.
"Your territory already controls some of the largest economic routes in the kingdom. Rail transport would accelerate logistics across the duchy dramatically."
Then more carefully—
"And during wartime, rapid military transportation becomes extremely valuable."
That part immediately caught the duke’s attention.
Leon noticed instantly.
The war with the Magneto Kingdom still continued despite recent border stabilization. Supply movement remained critically important throughout the kingdom.
A transport system capable of moving large cargo loads quickly without exhausting horses—
That absolutely interested someone like Rosthwall.
The duke leaned back slowly afterward.
"A machine capable of transporting cargo mechanically across long distances..."
His crimson eyes shifted toward Leon again.
"You built this already?"
"Yes."
Kael gave a quiet laugh nearby.
"I told you he was dangerous."
Rosthwall ignored him.
Then after several moments—
"I will permit the railway."
Leon blinked once.
Honestly—
He expected far more resistance.
The duke noticed immediately.
"You seem surprised."
"...Slightly."
Rosthwall folded his hands calmly.
"The idea itself interests me."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"And if it functions as effectively as you claim, it could benefit the duchy greatly."
Leon immediately nodded.
"It will."
The duke looked toward the maps once more.
"Though naturally I intend to inspect this ’train’ personally before broader expansion rights get discussed."
"That can be arranged."
Rosthwall looked back toward him.
"When?"
Leon thought briefly.
"The full railway connection toward Blackwater Hollow should be completed within roughly four to five months."
Kael actually looked impressed hearing that.
"You intend to build rail infrastructure across multiple territories in under half a year?"
"We already completed the first industrial lines."
The general slowly shook his head.
"...You’re terrifying."
Leon ignored him again.
"Once the route is completed, I’ll personally transport the first major shipment into Blackwater Hollow."
Rosthwall nodded slightly.
"What kind of shipment?"
"Steel, industrial machinery, and equipment for the gunpowder processing facility."
Silence.
The duke looked mildly confused for the first time during the conversation.
"...The what?"
Leon immediately realized how strange that sounded.
"The nitrate extraction and powder refinement systems."
Rosthwall stared at him for several seconds.
Then slowly looked toward Kael.
The general looked equally confused.
Eventually the duke simply sighed softly.
"...I’m choosing not to ask further questions right now."
Reasonable decision.
Rosthwall leaned back again afterward.
"You have my permission, Leon Aldric."
Then more calmly—
"I trust you."
That statement genuinely surprised Leon slightly.
The duke noticed.
"My daughter does not become attached to people lightly."
That somehow felt more threatening than reassuring.
Rosthwall continued.
"And despite your... unusual projects..."
The faintest hint of amusement crossed his face.
"You’ve consistently produced results."
Leon slowly nodded.
"Thank you, Duke Nightbane."
The duke gave one final nod.
"You may proceed with the railway construction."
Leon carefully gathered the maps afterward before standing from the chair.
Kael moved toward the doors while the duke returned toward several documents resting across the desk.
Then right before leaving—
Leon paused slightly.
"...Duke Nightbane."
Rosthwall looked up again.
"Yes?"
Leon hesitated briefly before asking:
"The placement of Blackwater Hollow..."
The duke remained silent.
Leon continued carefully.
"The fact it’s completely surrounded by Nightbane territory and extremely close to the capital..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"That wasn’t just coincidence, was it?"
For the first time during the entire meeting—
Rosthwall actually looked amused.
A dangerous expression honestly.
The duke slowly leaned back in his chair.
"...No."
Leon sighed internally.
Of course.
Rosthwall’s amusement deepened slightly.
"You are imagining exactly what happened."
That confirmed everything.
Leon rubbed one hand across his face tiredly.
"...I thought so."
Kael quietly laughed nearby while clearly enjoying this far too much.
The duke meanwhile looked entirely unsurprised by the situation.
Which honestly explained a lot.
Leon eventually gave one final respectful bow before leaving the study alongside Kael.
The massive palace corridors somehow felt slightly less overwhelming now.
Mostly because Leon’s mind remained occupied processing the fact that Lillith apparently convinced one of the strongest nobles in the kingdom to casually rearrange territorial ownership around the capital.
Honestly—
That felt exactly like something she would do.
Kael walked beside him calmly through the palace halls.
"So."
Leon glanced sideways slightly.
"What?"
The general smirked faintly.
"You survived meeting the duke."
"Barely."
"That already puts you above most nobles."
Eventually they reached the palace entrance once again.
Kael stopped near the gates before folding his arms.
"Lady Nightbane will probably be pleased to hear you visited."
Leon immediately looked concerned again.
"...Please don’t tell her immediately."
The general’s expression somehow became even more amused.
"No promises."
That answer filled Leon with dread.
A while later Leon finally departed from the Nightbane capital and began the long journey back toward Aldric territory.
The railway project could now continue fully.
The smaller baronies had agreed.
The Nightbanes had agreed.
And soon—
Steel rails would begin stretching across territories themselves.
Industrial expansion no longer remained confined to a single region anymore.
Now it was spreading.
