The Steam Train's debut had left Chris busier than ever.
Not only had the Bohemian Empire sent an ambassador to Anvil Fortress, but the Retalia Empire had refused to be left behind. Even the Minicia Kingdom had sent someone.
The first two countries had a clear goal: to acquire the technology needed to build Steam Trains, or to persuade the Kingdom of Bagnia to sell them finished locomotives.
Faced with meeting requests from both countries' ambassadors, Chris decided to meet the Bohemian Empire's prince first. The prince held a higher rank, and the two countries were indeed on friendly terms at present.
There was little to say about the meeting itself. As an imperial prince, his etiquette was impeccable, and his phrasing was supremely polished. Talking with him felt like basking in a spring breeze, leaving Chris thoroughly at ease.
Well, that alone told Chris the man knew how to charm anyone. Their conversation was pleasant because the prince was deliberately accommodating him... In other words, he was setting aside his own preferences.
Though Chris understood why, he was still pleased. The willingness of an imperial prince to go that far showed just how highly the man regarded him.
So when Prince Hohenlohe cautiously raised the possibility of purchasing both Steam Train technology and finished trains during their meeting, Chris responded with unexpected readiness.
"Of course. As long as you pay."
Why?
Behind that seemingly simple decision lay Chris's careful calculations, grounded in his own advantages, the Players' characteristics, the conditions of the age, and his future strategy.
Whether for the core blueprints or finished locomotives, Chris quoted near-astronomical prices.
The blueprints alone would cost enough to drain several years of tax revenue from one of Bohemia's prosperous provinces. A single locomotive, meanwhile, had to be purchased with gold. Chris