This time, Lacey stayed in Richard’s castle for just one day before leaving.
After Lacey left, Richard returned to the castle and continued etching runes onto the longbow.
He had already inscribed one magic rune on the bow. However, to complete it, he needed to engrave several more runes.
Moreover, these runes were new to Richard. At least, they were unfamiliar to him.
So, the etching process was slow for him.
Of course, he didn’t spend too much time on it each day.
Engraving magical runes is quite draining on magical power.
With Richard’s current level of magical energy, he can only engrave runes for a maximum of one hour each day.
The rest of the time, he continues to handle various affairs in his territory.
On the third day after Lacey’s departure, the road from Florencia City to the southern part, which had been under construction for over twenty days by tens of thousands of workers, finally reached the edge of Richard’s territory.
Due to the relatively flat terrain, this road is remarkably straight, with no curves at all.
There are no tunnels on this road either.
However, several bridges have been constructed.
The road spans over one hundred kilometers and crosses several rivers. These rivers are not large, much smaller than the Kava River, making bridge construction relatively easy.
Of course, the bridge-building technology in this world is quite basic. Ordinary craftsmen cannot build stone arch bridges. Typical bridges are constructed with stone piers, topped with wood, and leveled with dirt.
Such bridges can last for many years, but once the wood decays, they need to be replaced.
Richard’s bridges are naturally not like this. However, they are not too complex either.
After constructing the piers, he directly placed templates on them and poured concrete.
Of course, to ensure the stability of such bridges, rebar is essential.
Richard bought some rebar from the online store.
Interestingly, when Count Zane saw the dense array of steel plates used in the bridge construction, his expression was quite something.
Iron is expensive in this world.
Some poor people even share a single iron pot among several households.
But Richard using so much iron for a bridge was astonishing!
Well, what Count Zane didn’t know was that Richard’s iron wasn’t ordinary iron but steel.
So, Count Zane was quite shocked by Richard’s “wealth.”
And that moment was broadcast live.
Thus, Count Zane became the subject of ridicule from the live stream viewers.
【Honestly, it’s quite amusing to see this old count so surprised at everything.】
【At this rate, the old count might have a heart attack.】
【Haha~~ Another reaction meme!】
【…】
Count Zane probably didn’t realize that various reaction memes created from his expressions had already become popular online in another world.
After the road reached the edge of his territory, Richard specially invited Count Zane to ride in a carriage and experience the new road.
The comfort of carriages in this world is generally average. There is no shock absorption, and the road surface is uneven.
However, on the road Richard built, the carriage was completely smooth with no jolting.
Moreover, the carriage moved quickly on this road, and the horses didn’t exert much effort.
Even with just one horse, a carriage carrying a few people could travel over ten kilometers in an hour. With rest time included, it would take at most one and a half days to travel from Florencia City to Stone Fort City, a significant increase in speed compared to before.
Previously, even with relatively flat terrain, the roads were not particularly easy to navigate. Rainy days made it worse, as the wheels would slip and get stuck.
But now, these problems were all resolved.
“Count Richard, this road is excellent. Whether for people or carriages, travel speeds are greatly improved on such a road!”
After experiencing it, Count Zane praised the road highly.
His way of addressing Richard had also changed.
With Richard now a count, his status was on par with Count Zane . Among counts, they usually add the title “count” after their name when addressing each other.
Richard said, “Now that merchants from the south frequently trade in Florencia City, wouldn’t you like this road extended to near Stone Fort City, or even connected to the interior?”
Count Zane ‘s face lit up with surprise upon hearing this proposal.
In fact, he had long coveted Richard’s cement road.
He even wanted to buy cement from Richard, but considering he didn’t have craftsmen skilled in using cement, Count Zane had refrained from asking.
He didn’t expect Richard to bring it up himself.
So, Count Zane immediately said, “Of course, I’d be willing, Count Richard. Such a road must be quite expensive, right?”
Richard replied, “Indeed, it’s not cheap. The cost of cement roads is about one gold coin per meter!”
“So expensive?” Count Zane was startled.
It’s actually not that costly. Ordinary cement roads don’t use rebar. The cost mainly comes from the cement, which is priced in Earth’s currency.
Other costs are not high. For instance, labor is much cheaper in this world compared to another world.
After all, where else can you find workers who earn less than ten bucks a day on Earth?
Overall, the cost for a ten-meter-wide road is only a few hundred coins per meter, with cement being the major expense.
【Haha, don’t scare people, anchor.】
【Yeah, it wouldn’t be good to frighten the kids.】
【If the anchor says it like that, the old count will definitely be unwilling.】
【I have a feeling the streamer is about to pull a trick!】
【Yeah, the old count is about to be set up!】
【…】
After the meeting was broadcasted live, viewers watched and discussed with amusement.
Richard said, “Of course it’s expensive. Please note, Count, that this road surface is even harder and smoother than stone.”
Count Zane crouched down and tapped the concrete road surface, which was indeed very smooth.
However…
Thinking about the price Richard mentioned, Count Zane ’s heart began to race involuntarily.
As a count, his territory is quite large and productive, and he also has a commercial guild. The count is already at the threshold of high nobility.
His annual income far exceeds that of an ordinary baron or viscount.
Typically, Count Zane earns three to four thousand gold coins a year, which is equivalent to thirty to forty million in annual income.
During good harvests, it can be even more.
Of course, this comparison isn’t entirely accurate because wages and living standards in this world are very low.
Count Zane is a standard wealthy person.
In the interior regions, some counts who are skilled in business actually earn even more.
But—
To build one meter of cement road costs one gold coin?
Does that mean building three to four kilometers of cement road would be equivalent to his entire annual income?
And considering there are still over one hundred kilometers to Stone Fort City, Count Zane felt that even if he spent all his savings, he couldn’t afford such a road.
“Count Richard, you’re really wealthy!”
Count Zane thought with a trembling heart.
Then he heard Richard’s voice: “In fact, Count, you don’t have to pay a single coin. I can build this road to Stone Fort City and even further south.”
Count Zane ’s eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing these words.
“Not… not a single coin?”
Hearing Richard’s offer, his expression was filled with incredulity.
Not a single coin!
Even though Richard is also a count and he has never given a false impression, Count Zane still couldn’t believe such an offer.
【Wow, the anchor definitely has a trick up his sleeve!】
【 Yeah, someone is definitely being tricked!】
【The old count must think he’s found a windfall!】
【Poor old count!】
【What are you guys talking about? I, a little elementary school student, don’t understand!】
【…】
In the live stream, viewers were amused by Richard’s statement and Count Zane ’s reaction.
Some viewers guessed Richard’s intention and enjoyed watching the old count feel like he’s stumbled upon a windfall.
Next to the carriage, Count Zane still looked at Richard with a mixture of disbelief and anticipation, waiting for his reply.
In the midst of Count Zane ’s hopeful gaze, Richard finally spoke.
“Yes, you don’t need to pay anything. However, in the future, I will charge the merchant caravans and carriages that use this road to cover the cost of road construction. The toll will be charged for thirty years.”
“Toll?”
Count Zane pondered for a moment and asked, “There are tolls on some official roads in the interior. How will you charge for this road, Count Richard?”
Richard replied, “We’ll charge by the segment. It won’t be too expensive. For a carriage traveling from Florencia City to Stone Fort City, the fee will be 2 silver coins.”
2 silver coins!
Count Zane , who also has a trading convoy transporting potatoes to Florencia City, considered this price and said, “This price isn’t actually high, considering the amount of gold coins you spent on road construction.”
Richard added, “However, Count, you only have a small part of your territory in the south. The road I build might cross the king’s or other nobles’ lands—”
Before Richard could finish, Count Zane , fearing he might change his mind, quickly said, “Rest assured, Count Richard, I will coordinate this matter. The southern nobles have already formed trading caravans. Your road will enable them to reach Stone Fort City and the southern region faster, and they will be willing. As for the king, leave it to me. You can start the construction without any problems.”
Count Zane assured him fervently.
He also holds the position of Governor of the Northeast Province, representing the king in the northeastern region.
Of course, this position doesn’t carry much deterrent power for a noble of Richard’s level.
【I knew the count would fall for it!】
【Poor count, always falling for the anchor’s schemes.】
【Two silver coins for over two hundred kilometers… that’s 1 copper coin per kilometer! This toll is too expensive!】
【2 silver coins per trip, and some caravans have dozens of carriages. A caravan’s toll could amount to several gold coins a month… The streamer really knows how to do business!】
【Indeed, the anchor is the smartest. Building this road is most beneficial for him, and he found someone to foot the bill!】
【666!】
【Awesome, hubby!】
【…】
In the live stream, viewers were even happier by Count Zane ‘s reaction.
Thus, the road construction was happily decided.
Richard’s road construction team would continue south, with the first section extending to Stone Fort City.
Two days later, Count Zane specially rode over to find Richard and informed him that he had obtained the official approval from the king and had coordinated with several nobles whose territories the road would pass through.
These nobles, upon hearing that it was only a road about 10 meters wide and considering Count Zane ‘s coordination, did not mind it much.
How much land could a road like that take up?
Thus, Richard was able to continue constructing this road, which would benefit the future trade prosperity of his territory, and successfully shifted the construction costs to others.
Don’t underestimate tolls.
The number of trading caravans coming to Florencia City was increasing, and many of these caravans had a significant number of carriages.
The toll Richard charged might seem quite high for ordinary people, equivalent to a month’s wage for them.
However, for the trading caravans, it was manageable, and due to the time saved, these caravans would likely be quite happy to use the road Richard built.
Of course, since this road wasn’t a closed system, Richard planned to station a few people at intervals to check the passage permits.
It would be impossible for anyone to avoid paying the toll; those caught trying to evade would receive a warning on the first offense and be blacklisted on the second. Richard believed no caravan would be foolish enough to try it.
Additionally, these personnel would also help maintain the order along the entire road.
Once the arrangements were set, Richard’s custom bicycles arrived in bulk.
The bicycles were quite simple: old-fashioned light bikes with a basket in front and a seat for one person at the back.
Richard had only one requirement: durability.
This requirement was straightforward, and the bicycle store delivered robust bikes that met this demand.
“Wow, Master, what are these?”
As soon as the bicycles arrived, several beast girls gathered around.
Richard mounted a bicycle, familiarized himself with it, and began pedaling.
Watching Richard ride around the castle on the bicycle, all the beast girls looked on with amazement and interest.
Several fox girls seemed eager to try it out.
Seeing their reactions, Richard decided to leave one bicycle at the castle for them to practice on.
The other bicycles would be distributed to the rabbit-people to help them with transportation issues.
Additionally, Richard had also ordered some old-fashioned three-wheeled bicycles, similar to the rickshaws from the past era.
These bicycles had one person pedaling at the front and could seat two people at the back, with a small canopy for rain protection.
Richard planned to initially deploy a batch of these bicycles in the city to address some transportation problems and potentially provide employment opportunities in the future.
After all, the city was now quite large, and people relied on walking for transportation. Some had to wake up very early just to reach the construction sites, often walking for over an hour.
“Lord, did you call for us?”
After the bicycles arrived, Daisy, the bunny girl, and a large number of rabbit-people arrived quickly.
Richard pointed to the bicycles and said, “Come and try these. They’re called bicycles, and you can use them for transportation in the future.”
He demonstrated by riding one.
Daisy and the other rabbit-people were astonished!
Upon arriving in Florencia City, the rabbit-people had already been amazed by various aspects of the city.
Now, with Richard presenting such a novel item, their curiosity and respect for him grew even more.
“Everyone, give it a try!”
The first batch of selected rabbit-people was small, just over a hundred, and all were relatively quick learners.
After Richard personally demonstrated and explained, this group of over a hundred rabbit-people spent the morning learning to ride bicycles.
Their ability to balance was surprisingly good.
“Is this a talent of beast-people?”
Richard wondered.
While many demi-humans might not be particularly intelligent, they were physically adept. Rabbit-people, though not particularly strong, had very flexible limbs, often surpassing humans in certain aspects.
Seeing these rabbit-people learning to ride bicycles, Richard let them ride around.
As expected, the sight of rabbit-people riding bicycles through Florencia City caused a huge sensation.
Richard’s live stream that day was quite simple.
The automatically filming phone followed the rabbit-people for over an hour.
As the bicycles were ridden around the city, eliciting exclamations of surprise, millions of viewers in the live stream found it fascinating and watched with great interest.
The day was far from over, and soon, the nobles in Florencia City came to Richard, eager to buy bicycles.
There were quite a few nobles in Florencia City.
After spending some time in the city, many of these nobles, upon returning to their own castles, felt their castles seemed less appealing.
So, they began staying in Florencia City, enjoying various delicacies and contributing a large amount of gold to Richard.
This time was no exception.
When they heard that bicycles were priced at 50 gold coins each, many nobles, despite finding it expensive, still paid on the spot.
Seeing these nobles flaunting their purchases, others quickly followed suit, and soon over ten nobles bought bicycles.
Count Zane ’s envoy even bought ten bicycles in one go, planning to resell them in some large cities in the inland regions.
Richard didn’t stop them, allowing them to help open the market for him.