Chapter 535 Mutation (First Update Asking for Recommendation Votes)
The east of Rentat City is known as the "Land of a Thousand Lakes", and the large and small lakes are as smooth as mirrors, like green agates, reflecting the surrounding lush and verdant woods.
Such a scenic place is naturally occupied by the royal family and the great nobles, and the private estate of James, Duke of Peforth, is located on the shore of such a gentle lake that seems to have no waves, which makes people feel refreshed and peaceful.
A four-wheeled carriage pulled by a dragon-scaled horse slowly stopped at the gate of the manor, and the fat man Arthur ignored his clumsy movements, opened the door in front of Lucian, jumped down, and then made a gesture of helping Lucian.
Lucian smiled and shook his head, took a step, and appeared directly behind Arthur, as if to himself: "What's the point of doing this? As long as you run the Holm Mining Union Bank, Minerals and Harvest Company, that is the best performance before Her Majesty."
The shares of Prince Patrick's "investment" were undoubtedly inherited by Natasha, so Lucian often teased her that she worked hard to invent magic items and save a lot of wealth, and she didn't have to worry about exchanging magic materials before being promoted to legend.
Arthur turned around and followed Lucian's side, smiling without blushing: "I respect you Lucian from the bottom of my heart, the alchemy substances and magical items you invented have made me gain unimaginable wealth, and I have successfully squeezed into Duke James's inner circle, so I just did it all sincerely, and there was no other purpose. You say that Her Majesty is very satisfied with the promotion and development of the 'Minerals and Harvest Company', but what about the Holm Mining Union Bank? Did she say anything?"
"Her Majesty is from Waorit and doesn't know much about the banking industry that is only available in the countries around the Stormstorm Strait, so I don't have much to say. Find an opportunity to write a report on the bank's introduction and future direction and submit it to her." Lucian understands that if you want to promote magic items and subtly influence the middle and bottom people of Holm, Briana and other countries, there are three directions that must be grasped: one is the simplification of magic items, the scale of production, and the assembly line, the second is financial support with banks as the core, and the third is the control of public opinion.
Of course, the premise of everything is based on the strength of the Magic Council.
"Okay." Arthur said with a smile, the flesh on his fat face that felt swollen was piled together, making his eyes squint into a line.
At the gate of the manor were two rows of soldiers in crisp red dresses, indicating that Natasha had arrived.
Through them, led by a squire, Lucian and Arthur went to the most striking garden in the entire manor.
This garden is the pride of Duke James, known as the Villa of the Thousand Lakes second only to the royal family, with a vast area, exotic flowers blooming, and intoxicating.
In the center of the garden, there is a relatively open open-air banquet place, overlooking the lake and mountains in front and surrounded by flowers and trees behind.
As soon as he entered the banquet, Lucian's eyes noticed Natasha, she was wearing a black outfit closer to a hunting suit, her long purple hair was pulled up, her silver and purple eyes were deep, and her temperament was heroic and sassy, but she was more calm and calm, as if after so many days of adaptation, she finally changed from the psychological condition of Countess Violet to the real Her Majesty.
Looking at Natasha with appreciation and love, Lucian became in an excellent mood, as if a little impetuousness in his heart had been calmed down for so many days, even if he didn't do anything, he was very satisfied to watch her so quietly.
As if sensing Lucian's gaze, Natasha turned her head slightly, her eyes raised, and met his eyes.
There seemed to be a light shining in her silver-purple pupils, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, it seemed that she didn't know that Duke James and the others had invited Lucian.
However, Natasha quickly restrained the change in expression and continued to talk to the nobles around her.
She wore a pair of silk black gloves on her hands that matched the style of her clothes, and she did not take them off when she received the aristocratic kiss gift.
Lucian "changed" back into a black double-breasted long dress today, and since both parties have confirmed their intentions, they don't have to worry about the unchanged style that will make the other party regard themselves as friends.
After a while, Natasha looked at Lucian, who was gradually approaching, and said with a polite smile: "Long time no see, my knight."
At this time, other nobles with slightly less strength noticed Lucian's arrival, and the conversation stopped abruptly, and a pair of eyes, including Duke James, Duke Russell, Arthur and others, kept sweeping over the two of them, both curious and expectant, trying to find a little bit of clues.
Is it really a good friend, a musical partner, and a knight who was once loyal? Or is there another more intimate relationship?
Lucian took off his top hat, pressed it to his chest, knelt on one knee, held Natasha's right hand in his left hand, and kissed the back of her hand lightly through the silk gloves with knightly etiquette: "Your Majesty, your knight has never left."
His right hand trembled slightly, as if he remembered something, and Lucian also recalled the moonlight scene he had described before, with a smile on his face.
When Lucian let go of his hand and stood up, Natasha smiled and said, "I saw a lot of novel things in Holm, they have filled the kingdom with vitality and vitality, all thanks to you, Lucian."
Looking at the polite attitude of the two of them, listening to the normal conversation, Arthur was a little disappointed, they were really just friends, there was no crossing the line at all, and there was no small detail indicating a closer relationship. He also thought that Lucian would eventually become the queen's husband, Prince Nexer, and he had found the strongest backstage, but in reality the situation did not seem to be as good as imagined.
Duke James and the others were quite disappointed, but there was a little happiness in the disappointment, they were very afraid that Her Majesty would really fall in love with Lucian Evans and marry him despite the obstruction of the church, thus causing civil strife in the kingdom, which would be different from the original intention of themselves and others.
What they hope is that Her Majesty has a close relationship with Lucian Evans, but not to the point of being ecstatic, through him to obtain a child, stabilize the royal power, and have a nominal virtual prince to maintain the current balance between the church and the parliament, or more in favor of the parliament.
As for whether they will maintain a private lover relationship, it is not something they and others need to consider.
Trying to restrain his mood, Lucian really talked to Natasha next to her like a good friend and the queen's knight, interrupted from time to time by her conversations with other nobles, and the whole scene was no different from a normal banquet.
After more than twenty minutes, seeing that he couldn't see anything, Duke James laughed and said: "Just now Her Majesty mentioned the novelty items in the kingdom, and I happen to have some here, why don't I lead Her Majesty to visit it, and the inventor Mr. Lucian Evans will introduce it himself."
"Okay." Natasha replied crisply, understanding that Duke James had something he wanted to communicate with.
So, Duke James and four other enlightened cores, Lucian, Camille, and another young man with silver-gray eyes surrounded Natasha and walked towards the main house of the manor.
"This is Earl David, a fierce royal knight." Duke James introduced Lucian.
Lucian nodded slightly: "I heard Your Excellency Maurice mention your father, who is an excellent magician."
David had the obvious appearance of the Hoffenberg family, with a deep silhouette, rigid and handsome, but those silver-gray eyes made him look a little cold and indifferent. Hearing Lucian's words, he smiled and said, "Mr. Evans, I am very happy that you recognize my father."
His attitude was not cold but not hot either, as if he remembered his dead father.
Soon, several people entered the main house of the manor and stepped on the stairs covered with red carpets.
At the moment when Duke James and the others all crossed the corner of the stairs, Lucian's left hand suddenly had a slightly cold softness.
"Natasha's hand?" Lucian turned his head to look at her in surprise, just in time to meet her happy eyes.
Natasha's right hand had taken off her silk gloves at some point, and the warmth of her palm was extremely clear, in stark contrast to the politeness just now.
Lucian understood her intentions, his left hand couldn't help but squeeze harder, holding it tighter, although there was no entanglement of lust, but the clasp of hands under this sneak made Lucian have an indescribable satisfaction, the warm feeling seemed to have a faint eternity, as if the mood had become peaceful.
While holding her hands, Natasha retracted her gaze forward, but the corner of her mouth couldn't hide the smile.
Passing the corner of the stairs, the two of them let go of their hands at the same time, and followed Duke James down the stairs and entered the secret room as if nothing had happened.
In the secret room, there are trays with glasses of wine, red wine, champagne, and "sky blue".
After each of them checked, each picked up a drink, looked at Duke James, and waited for him to speak.
"Actually, I just want to ask Her Majesty what is your attitude towards the promotion of alchemy workshops and magical items? To be honest, we have invested a lot of wealth in this." Duke James consciously grasped Natasha's tendencies, so he said straight to the point.
Natasha maintained the majesty of a queen: "I have only one attitude, all magical items that are beneficial to the development of the kingdom and benefit the people are encouraged and promoted, and everything that is evil and depraved is completely banned."
"Your Majesty, you really don't look like those conservative people." Duke Russell said with a smile, "I want to invest in something now, but I can't find a profitable place, Mr. Evans doesn't know what advice you have?"
"What investment?" Lucian suddenly felt like he was participating in a business fair.
Russell took a sip of champagne and smiled: "It's a radio station, like 'The Sound of Mystery' and 'The Real World', not just a few news programs and music appreciation."
He was keenly aware of the value in this, but it was difficult to figure out how to make money.
Natasha looked at Lucian curiously, and privately, he seemed to have said the question.
Lucian smiled and said: "The main thing is that magic radio is still very expensive now, although it has been simplified, but basically only civilians above the middle level can have it, and its popularity determines that the radio station is not very profitable."
"Any good suggestions to simplify it?" Count Haisong was also interested in this.
Lucian looked at them and said meaningfully: "I suggest that the radio station also run a newspaper, and anyone who subscribes to a newspaper for a year will receive a magic radio, so that its popularity will come up soon."
"This will be a serious loss!" Count Haisong is the Chancellor of the Exchequer and is very sensitive to losses, and a magic radio can be much more expensive than a year's newspaper.
Lucian looked at Natasha and said, "There will indeed be a loss here, but it is a necessary price for promotion, and the profit comes from advertising. I will push the telephone and telegraph companies, minerals and harvest companies to give radio stations huge advertising fees."
"Then you won't lose money?" Natasha was a little confused.
Lucian smiled and said: "The advertisement itself is an investment, and the effect will not come out until the magic radio is popularized.
Even if it is a loss, it is worth controlling the direction of public opinion on Radio Holm Kingdom through advertising.
Duke James was about to speak when his face suddenly darkened and he squeezed the cup in his hand to pieces: "It's poisonous!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Lucian felt the corrosive and terrifying toxin erupting from his body, but it was immediately eliminated by the Ring of Congers, but under the toxin, there was also a very strange cursed power hidden, which made him drunk and unable to concentrate!
Is there a problem with the wine in this secret room?
I didn't check it out!
In a hurry, Lucian looked at Natasha, and his heart suddenly sank, because her face also darkened and her hands trembled slightly.
Duke James shouted: "Who poisoned me?"
The sound was loud, as if it was about to shatter the glass, attracting the attention of the nobles outside.
He knew very well that as long as he was not a legendary or strongman, if he wanted to get close to him, the golden knight, and poison him within his consciousness, it would inevitably cause him to be alert to a certain extent.
Unless, there is a traitor!
Monday asks for recommended votes~
(End of this chapter)