Outside Furious Wind City, a grand groundbreaking ceremony was underway. Grand Duke Russell personally attended and took the lead in turning over the first shovelful of earth.
Clap clap clap...
The applause continued without end.
Russell set down the shovel and looked up in satisfaction at the sign erected beside him. It read: "Furious Wind–Ze City Railway Construction, Southern Route Section."
On this day, just as the warm season arrived, the first railway in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy—and indeed the entire Dragon Sleep Continent—officially began construction.
The Steam Train had already been developed at the test site in the Blackfire Land.
The original plan had been to build a railway in Yunmeng Marsh Oasis, but since Russell had ascended as Grand Duke, he naturally arranged for the railway to be built in the Volcanic Oasis instead, running from Furious Wind City, the capital of Raging Wind Province, to Ze City, the capital of Mist Marsh Province.
In the future, this railway would continue northwest, eventually connecting to Fire Ant Swamp.
Of course.
This was not Russell favoring the Sunflower Family. He intended to build another railway from Fire Ant Swamp to Black Horse Snow Forest—the scholars of the Grand Scholars' Round Table had already begun researching sub-zero railway construction technology.
Ultimately, this railway would connect to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, strengthening exchanges between the two nations.
The Frost Star Lingering Sun and the descent of the Frost Troll world posed a grave threat to humanity's survival. Although human leaders such as King Ares stood firm, Russell trusted himself more, trusting industrialization to change the world.
If humanity as a whole did not grow stronger, one or two Dragon Knights would never be enough to contend against the entire Frost Troll world.
After all.
Before the Frost Trolls had even descended,