God of Steam: I Really Want to Improve!

When Edwin saw the latter half of the letter, his fingertips paused slightly.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the kingdom, His Majesty the King had decided to hold a formal investiture ceremony at the royal palace next week, personally awarding him one of the kingdom's highest honors—the Star of Wisdom medal.

At the same time, he would be granted the title of hereditary baron...

A hereditary title.

Edwin lowered his gaze from the letter, his thoughts racing.

He was not surprised by the King's reward. What surprised him was how quickly the entire process had moved.

Was it to stabilize the situation?

This country was quite similar to Britain at the beginning of the First Industrial Revolution.

As social productivity developed, the old landed aristocracy was declining beyond recovery.

Financiers represented by Count Hall, as well as newly risen technological elites like himself, were rising at an unprecedented rate. The clash between the new and the old was the defining theme of this era.

Against such a backdrop, the King was pushing an "inventor" with no foundations like him to the forefront, then forcibly binding him to the traditional power structure with a hereditary title. The intent behind it was worth pondering.

Was this a gesture of goodwill toward the vast merchant class, using a successful example to placate this emerging force?

Or was this the result of the Church of Steam and Machinery working behind the scenes?

He shook his head, temporarily suppressing those tangled thoughts.

The intelligence he possessed was still too limited. Any speculation would merely be a castle in the air.

Besides, in a sense, this might not be a bad thing.

Thus, Edwin began preparing for the upcoming investiture ceremony.

Under the guidance of an etiquette officer sent by Count Hall, he commissioned