Whooo!
Amid the whistle, the long steam train clattered into the old district of Beldan City.
Compared to before the war, vast tracts of land from western Midseashire all the way to the Sonia Sea coast had been incorporated into the Beldan region. Combined with the massive influx of people during the war, this small city, which had originally declined due to resource depletion, now rivaled major cities such as Backlund and Trier in area alone.
And because of the tax-free port policies previously implemented in the three cities along the Sonia Sea, Beldan's political and economic center had gradually shifted to the new coastal district...
However, that did not mean Beldan's old district had declined as a result.
On the contrary, with its world-famous film production base, the old district remained a holy land in the eyes of countless young men and women yearning for fame and a life of extravagance. Nearly every day, young people carrying "dreams of stardom" came to Film City to play bit parts in various films, seeking the favor of producers or directors...
And the large concentration of people naturally brought massive consumption, which in turn attracted merchants of every kind. Thus, Beldan's old district had maintained its prosperity.
The monk "Wude," or rather, Wood, saw this bustling yet somewhat "familiar" scene the moment he stepped out of the train station.
"Sir, going to Film City Castle? Only 10 pence."
"Brother, need a place to stay? I recommend the Old Dick Inn. Cheap prices, attentive service, and the films in the rooms are all very new..."
"Interested in an 'Actor Training Class'? A professional team to make your star dream come true."
"Sir, are you interested in learning about the faith of the Demon Emperor? So many big-name stars succeeded because of our lord's