Chapter 187

Par Lake, outside the castle.

After the heavy snow, the weather was unusually clear today, a perfect day to go out. Cyrus couldn't wait to call on someone to experience Reinog and Joseph's latest research.

Judas, Gibran, Toby... Ferdinand, Walker, and others were all there, watching with curiosity as their lord rode something towards them from afar.

It was an old-fashioned bicycle with two wheels, front and back, a crossbar in the middle, and a seat at the back.

Cyrus looked skilled. Seeing everyone looking at him, he even had time to loosen his grip on one handlebar to wave. After a short while, he came closer, turned around, and rode off.

Seeing this, Toby Gibran's brother, said enviously, "Your Excellency is so clever! I couldn't even keep my balance when I tried to ride the bike just now..."

I always almost fell.

Walker nodded in agreement.

Not only Toby, but he was the same. It was his first time on this thing called a bicycle, and he was clumsy in every way. Fortunately, he had long legs, so even if he couldn't keep his balance, he wouldn't fall to the ground.

Moreover, riding a bicycle is actually quite easy to learn; it's not too difficult.

Reinog sent five bicycles, and after they had tried almost all of them, the lord finally got on and rode one, succeeding on his first try.

Walker couldn't help but sigh, "After all, this is something the lord instructed us to research."

Moreover, with bicycles, getting around the city has undoubtedly become much more convenient. Both the back seat and the front basket are very useful – for carrying people or placing items.

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The bicycles are currently in mass production and will likely be available for sale through the Thorn Merchant Guild after winter and spring.

Cyrus excitedly rode her bicycle around the open space outside the castle several times.

The area had already been cleaned by the servants; there was no snow.

But in a place rarely visited, there were two snowmen huddled together, one tall and one short. The taller snowman had two yellow gem eyes embedded in its face by Cyrus, while the shorter snowman had beautiful rubies on its face. He couldn't find any caramel-colored ones.

The two snowmen have round, plump bodies, with dry branches personally found by the Pope inserted on them to serve as arms and hands. A plain-colored scarf is wrapped around the necks of the two snowmen, making them appear extremely close.

Cyrus rode her bicycle around to the taller snowman.

He had been exercising for quite a while, and his whole body was warm. His ears were covered with furry earmuffs, and his hands were wearing cotton gloves, the kind with the thumb and four fingers separated.

He took off one glove and put it on the arm of the taller snowman's branch, and the other glove on the branch of the shorter snowman's branch. The gloves swayed gently in the wind, looking as if they were greeting someone.

Cyrus chuckled twice, mounted the bicycle pedals, and rode towards His Holiness the Pope, finally stopping with a stylish gesture as he braced himself against the ground.

"A-Sai, want to try riding around for a bit?"

After becoming closer, Cyrus naturally changed his form of address. He didn't like calling her Pope Segalot; it was a bit long and troublesome, and it didn't reflect their relationship.

So he came up with a very simple, affectionate nickname that would leave everyone speechless with surprise.

When he first called out, Judas almost dropped the teacup she was about to hand him.

The second time was when Ferdinand, Walker, and Samuel were in a meeting, and His Holiness the Pope was sitting next to him.

After Cyrus shouted, there was another "bang," and Samuel was so startled that his chin hit the table. He had been supporting his chin with the back of his hand, but now the shock and pain contorted the face of this legendary figure who had reached the New Continent.

Ferdinand and Walker were equally uncharacteristically flustered.

Butler Judas stood behind Cyrus and thought to himself, "Luckily, he had already lost his composure beforehand, so he wouldn't be so flustered now."

It seems the lord has no intention of hiding his relationship with His Holiness the Pope.

Cyrus smiled at her trusted subordinate, "What's wrong? Why are you reacting so strongly?"

Their innocent demeanor drew attention.

My lord, do you really not know why we're reacting so strongly?! What name did you just call His Holiness the Pope?!

Why are you and the Pope so close?!

Walker glanced at the two of them and gave a dry laugh, "N-nothing."

The meeting continued, and this topic was left aside, since Cyrus's behavior was quite obvious, and everyone had vaguely noticed it.

But some things can be understood intuitively.

Just like after a heavy snowfall, the lord and the pope personally built two snowmen that stood close together outside the castle.

It was an attitude of complete openness.

By now, those who have become aware of something have accepted it well.

After the bicycle was delivered to the castle, only Segalot hadn't ridden it yet. He smiled and glanced at the others in response to Cyrus's invitation.

Cyrus immediately understood, and the others tactfully made excuses to leave. Even the butler who had been serving her turned back to the castle to prepare dinner.

When only Cyrus and Segalot remained in the spacious open area outside the castle, the somewhat reserved Pope finally took the handlebars of the bicycle and strode onto it.

Afterwards, Cyrus covered her mouth to stop herself from secretly laughing out loud, watching His Holiness the Pope go from somewhat clumsy riding the bicycle, to becoming familiar with it, and finally stopping it skillfully in front of her.

Segalot pinched Cyrus's smiling cheek, "Get in the car, let's ride around."

He gestured for Cyrus to sit in the back.

Cyrus shook her head. "I can sit somewhere else."

Besides the back seat, where else is there?

Segalot's gaze fell on the crossbar between the bicycle seat and handlebars. He released one hand from the handlebars and watched as Cyrus came over, sat sideways on the bike, and looked completely satisfied.

Cyrus couldn't help but swing her legs, then leaned against the Pope's chest with a grin, "A-Sai, let's go!"

With the wheels pedaling, Segalot began to lead Cyrus in circles in the open space. Before they had even completed two laps, a group of fluffy creatures rushed out of the castle, playfully fighting amongst themselves.

Coalball briquettes led the way, followed by Ice Cream, while Qing Tuan swirled merrily in the sky.

Eggy and Black Sugar were clearly very curious about the two-wheeled bicycle; they had never seen one before, and they quickly chased after it.

Cyrus: "A-Sai, run! There's a beast behind us!"

"I'm so scared, sob."

The lord, feigning fear, suddenly hugged His Holiness the Pope tightly around the waist, burying his head in the other's chest and chuckling to himself.

Segalot: "..."

Two-legged creatures can never outrun four-legged creatures, not even those with two wheels.

The more Cyrus tried to stop the furry creatures from following her, the more curious they became. In the end, even Ice Cream, who wasn't particularly interested, chased after them and swatted at them with her paw.

Segalot was forced to stop riding his bike due to the furry creatures' "affection." He held onto the handlebars with one hand and pinched Cyrus's soft cheek with the other, saying, "You little rascal, so naughty."

Cyrus pouted and kissed him.

All of Segalot's helplessness vanished; moreover, even his helplessness was bittersweet.

This kind of playful banter can definitely be considered a form of fun between the two of them.

The peaceful winter passed quickly, and after spring, bicycle sales began unexpectedly. It started with the Thorn Merchant Guild's employees demonstrating bicycles on the street outside their door—carrying people and goods, locking the bikes, and even replacing wheels and chains.

Later, when the number of onlookers was about right, the manager of the Thorn Merchant Guild began to invite some people to experience riding the bikes themselves.

No one can resist the allure of a bicycle.

Moreover, the slogan displayed by the Thorn Merchant Guild for their bicycles reads, "Making life easier and shortening the distance between cities."

"Wandering through the streets and alleys with your loved one, feeling the gentle breeze, the warmth of spring, and the blooming flowers, feeling completely free."

The promotional slogans were unconventional and completely captured people's interest.

Especially after the members of the Thorn Merchant Guild demonstrated the difference between carrying passengers in the back seat or carrying passengers on the front crossbar, the eyes of the men present clearly lit up.

The ladies, on the other hand, seemed slightly shy.

In response to the riding attire, the guild also launched riding pants, mostly in women's styles.

Given that bicycles are not easy to manufacture these days, the final price is not low, at least not a price that ordinary people can easily accept.

At least for ordinary people, buying a bicycle requires careful consideration and saving up a considerable amount of money.

For a time, bicycles became a relatively expensive luxury item within the Desinia Territory.

Cyrus sent it as a gift to Orville and Archibald, and soon received a reply from them—it was a very interesting thing, and they hoped it would be promoted there as well.

Cyrus naturally agreed and discussed the trade with them.

Now, he has almost completely taken control of most of the territory in the Western Continent, and the owners of the remaining territories are all closely related to him—he intends to completely abolish slavery and restore the right of slaves to freedom and equality.

He hoped to gain the public support of Orville, Queen Minina, and the King of the Bovell Kingdom for this matter.

The last letter was sent by the Qing Tuan to the Far North.

In fact, there were no slaves in the Bovell Kingdom, but Cyrus wanted Gena Kozmo's public stance on the matter.

Only when someone affirms something will the obstacles to that thing be minimized.

As expected, Gena had no objections.

Thus, a notarized document was produced, initiated by the Lord of Desinia and jointly signed by Grand Duke Achiyoli, the King of the Bovell Kingdom, and the Anas Kingdom.

--The century-old system of slavery was completely abolished from this moment on.

The slaves were overjoyed, the common people clapped and celebrated, while some nobles were indifferent, and others, whose interests were threatened, dared not speak out.

The news of the abolition of slavery spread like wildfire to every corner of the Western Continent.

This is a day that people should remember.

The name Cyrus Desinia deserves to be engraved on all important historical records, such as books, stone tablets, and iron scrolls.