On that day, Jude returned home, taking a "private plane" back.
A few large crows were pulling a "plane" through the sky. The speed was fast, and it was quite stable. As the first passenger of the "Crow Express," Jude's evaluation was fairly good, other than feeling a bit nervous, there were no other issues.
"Papa! What is this?!"
Seeing Jude return, Lucy's face was full of surprise.
The "plane" pulled by several large crows naturally caught her attention, and the little girl asked curiously.
"This is a Crow Constellation Plane."
Jude replied with a rather strange expression. According to Moen, controlling these crows was a power granted to him by the Crow Constellation.
Although Jude himself was not a Celestial Spirit Mage, his wife was an exceptionally talented one. Lyra held three keys of the Zodiac, so Jude still had quite a bit of understanding regarding Celestial Spirits.
How to put it?
Now he could see that what Moen used was definitely not Celestial Spirit Magic. At least, it was completely different from the Celestial Spirit Magic he knew. No wonder Moen had previously refused to teach Lucy Celestial Spirit Magic.
It was simply not the same thing, so naturally, it couldn't be taught.
"Crow Constellation Plane?"
Lucy widened her eyes, staring curiously at the crows. Could these crows all be Celestial Spirits of the Crow Constellation?
"Doesn't feel like it."
Although Lucy was young, her understanding of Celestial Spirits was even greater than Jude's. She could naturally tell that something was off with these crows—they were clearly very different from Celestial Spirits.
"Lucy, here you go."
Jude took out a book, interrupting Lucy who was still staring curiously at the crows.
"What is it?"
Lucy widened her eyes in surprise and took the book. Although she hadn't seen it fully yet, she already had a guess about what the book was.
"The Great Detective Folmos! It's signed by Mr. Moen!"
After taking the book, Lucy shouted happily. Looking at the words written on the pages, she read carefully, her mood excited.
"TO Lucy, I hope you grow up happily and become the person you want to be! —Moen Drayer."
Seeing the words, Lucy felt deeply moved. Although she hadn't met him yet, she truly regarded Moen as her idol.
Uh, although Moen's "Celestial Spirit Magic" seemed a little strange.
"Thank you, Papa!"
Lucy tightly hugged The Great Detective Folmos and thanked Jude sincerely. She hadn't expected her father to actually get Moen's signature for her. She had thought her father had completely forgotten.
"Well, I just happened to have something to do with him, so I got a signature."
Jude stroked his beard and said casually.
In front of his daughter, he always kept a stern face, always serious and composed, presenting a calm and earnest demeanor. Perhaps as a father, he felt this was normal.
"Have you finished your homework today?"
After saying a couple of sentences, Jude shifted the topic to her homework. He really didn't know what else to say to his daughter.
"All done. The teacher said I did really well."
Lucy replied happily. This was the first time in a while that her father had shown interest in her affairs; before, he never asked.
"Oh, that's good."
Jude replied dryly, then said no more.
The father and daughter walked back to the house together. The "Crow Express" landed right in front of their home. It took a while for them to enter, showing just how large their house was.
The surrounding area covered several hilltops, and the marketplaces that looked like small cities all belonged to his family. This was a private territory. Their household could even be completely self-sufficient, forming an internal cycle.
"Rest well."
After saying that, Jude returned to his own room, seeming like he was escaping in a hurry. This was already the limit of what he could do.
".
Watching her father leave quickly, Lucy pressed her lips together, hugging the book tightly. Actually, if it were only Moen's signed book, it wouldn't have made her this excited. It was because her father had gone out of his way to get it for her, that was the main reason for her excitement.
Lucy felt that her father seemed to have changed a little, but the change was subtle, giving her a rather awkward feeling.
Three days later, Moen and Jude Heartfilia set out together. The two of them sat on the "Crow Express," departing from Magnolia, flying straight toward the important southern city of "Selveria." Many southern nobles were also heading there.
"Duke Savalu of the Julenoru family is the main troublesome figure. The Julenoru family has great influence in the south. Our railway expansion there will inevitably affect their interests. Actually, I think they may not necessarily oppose the construction itself, just that they don't want it outside their control."
Inside the "Crow Express," Jude explained the information he had collected. He emphasized a special figure, Duke Savalu of the Julenoru family, a powerful southern noble.
The Julenoru family has long dominated the south, with deep-rooted influence capable of affecting many things, even leading other nobles to resist the kingdom's policies. And the kingdom has limited means to handle them; it can't just push them all to rebellion, right?
"They don't want the railway, probably to reduce the kingdom's influence over them, right?"
Moen listened quietly, roughly guessing why Duke Savalu opposed the railway. If the railway was completed, the entire southern region would be more closely connected to the kingdom, and the kingdom's influence would extend further.
This is certainly good for the Fiore Kingdom, but for the southern lords who ruled like local kings, it's not good at all. Once royal authority extends there, they would have to yield, and their interests would surely be harmed.
"There must be that factor involved. Otherwise, the railway construction would even be convenient for them; they'd have no reason to refuse."
Jude nodded, agreeing with Moen's reasoning. Indeed, laying a nationwide railway in the south faced many complex problems and obstacles that would be far from trivial.
"No problem. I believe they will understand."
Moen smiled confidently. He wanted to see whose will was stronger—his fists, or the stubborn southern lords!
Soon, the "Crow Express" reached its destination—Selveria, a major southern city, known as the "royal capital" of the south.
It rivaled Crocus, the capital of the Fiore Kingdom. Crocus is known as the "City of a Hundred Flowers," while Selveria enjoys the reputation of the "City of Roses," as various roses bloom there.
"Caw!"
The crows cried hoarsely as the "plane" landed in the venue chosen by Jude, located on a hill outside Selveria. This was a hunting ground.
"Hunting meeting?"
Moen laughed. This setup really had that kind of style.
"Can't help it, we need to cater to the tastes of these nobles."
Jude's expression was helpless. Although he had amassed a great fortune, he himself was not extravagant or indulgent. Compared to these nobles, of course, his household was already excessively large.
But Jude truly had no frivolous hobbies. His mind was entirely on work, with no desire for indulgence. He rarely hunted.
"Catering to their tastes? That's not right—you're already at a disadvantage from the start."
Moen shook his head. He didn't think Jude's catering would accomplish anything. Those nobles wouldn't yield their interests for this.
"At least we have to make them willing to come."
Jude shrugged. There was no other way; his prestige only went so far. Getting them to show up was already difficult.
"Follow my plan. Forget hunting just arrange a banquet. Let everyone sit together and talk properly. If the negotiations go well, everyone's happy; if not…"
Moen smiled. They had already been lured there; now it was up to the nobles to deal with it. Having come all this way, could they just leave? Even if they were stubborn, being on the hill, could they just leave as they pleased?
Jude looked at Moen in shock, speechless for a moment. Although he knew they couldn't keep compromising with these high-ranking nobles compromise would be ineffective, should they really show their hand and tear off the veil of civility at the very first contact?
"A bit too hasty?"
Jude thought of himself as radical, but compared to Moen, he now seemed conservative.
"Hasty? Of course not. We're just showing our stance. This first meeting is to make them understand our position, so they won't misjudge us. Otherwise, what if they truly think we're easy to bully?"
Moen said with a smile. Though his face smiled, his tone was firm, and his eyes narrowed.
"Fewer people misjudging means less unnecessary bloodshed. Consider it accumulating merit."
Moen bared his teeth, his tone grim. He already knew the opposing nobles would likely make a move against Jude. His task was to protect Jude, find these people's weaknesses, and uproot them completely!
"So, we proceed as you said?"
Jude hesitated slightly, still feeling Moen's approach was too radical.
No choice; Jude was ultimately a businessman. With a merchant mindset, he usually aimed to solve problems through discussion and negotiation.
He had brought Moen along just to secure a chance to negotiate with these high-ranking nobles, letting Moen intimidate them, creating a fair opportunity for negotiation.
"Do as I say."
Moen nodded, demanding Jude follow his plan.
After taking on the task, Moen had no intention of toying with these southern nobles. He would strike hard from the start—he wanted to see who dared to block him from obtaining a Golden Saint's Robe!
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