Ding-ding! Caine rode the bicycle that Raphad had just finished, circling several times on the lawn behind his house. "It's quite good—exactly as I expected. Still, there's no need to have a separate bell. When riders are in motion, it's hard to free their hands. Integrating the bell directly into the handlebar would be more convenient, more streamlined, and more in line with the natural evolution of things." Caine gently squeezed the brakes with his right hand, bringing the bicycle to a swift stop. At the same time, he placed the handheld bell back to its original position. Raphad paused for a few seconds, then said, "Yes, that makes sense. I simply copied the practice of horse-drawn carriage bells and forgot that we're dealing with a completely new mode of transportation." "Having said that, he glanced at Cline with a slight air of curiosity as he skillfully got out of the vehicle and adjusted the stand: 'You give me the impression that you've ridden similar vehicles before, and that you're quite proficient at it. I'm certain that there are significant shortcomings in other bicycles on the market, clearly different from mine.' Shared bikes, indeed... As a 'clown,' I should actually have been riding a unicycle. Cline silently muttered a few comments, then smiled gently: 'This has nothing to do with experience. What matters most is excellent balance and physical fitness.' He then changed the subject: 'But based on your earlier description, the cost appears quite high—this contradicts our product's positioning. You must come up with a solution quickly to reduce costs. After all, affluent individuals and the upper class, who are accustomed to a certain level of prestige, would certainly not choose to ride bicycles themselves, as it would be considered undignified. The same applies to middle-class professionals earning over 300 pounds annually.' "Our target is the junior staff, the postal clerks, the so-called working aristocracy—the middle class earning between 70 and 300 pounds annually." "This is just a prototype, you see, a term invented by Emperor Roscel, one that naturally comes with high costs. If the subsequent factory-scale production proceeds smoothly, I believe we can bring it down to under six pounds. And if we can find a cheaper material that can substitute natural rubber, that would be even better—this is the most expensive component." Rapard responded thoughtfully. Unfortunately, the world hasn't yet discovered oil—nor even knows whether it truly exists. Could coal tar, refined from coal, play a partial role in this regard? I simply don't understand. I'm neither a specialist nor a well-informed generalist. Klein paused and reflected: "If we can keep costs under four pounds, we'll be in business. As for a cheaper substitute for natural rubber, you might want to consult Roscel's manuscripts—perhaps he has recorded certain ideas there." "Rapard hummed softly and suddenly said, 'Speaking of this, I just remembered there's a grand exhibition in honor of Emperor Roscelle next week at the Royal Museum—organized by the Church of Steam and Machinery. They claim to have the original blueprints of Emperor Roscelle's inventions and various personal relics.' Original blueprints and personal relics? Caine was deeply moved and immediately asked, 'What dates exactly? I'm very interested.' 'The exhibition runs from Tuesday to Friday next week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Though Roscelle once was an enemy of the kingdom, the charm of his legendary life has never diminished.' 'I'll make time to visit the exhibition." "Klein pulled out his bulging wallet and produced two ten-pound notes and two five-pound notes, "This is the second installment. Use it to study cost reduction and to file the most comprehensive patent application at the patent office. If you don't have an established lawyer, I can introduce one. The remaining twenty pounds will be paid to you next week to help you seek new investors and move toward factory-scale production. Of course, I'll also assist in connecting you with potential prospects." He hadn't intended to monopolize the profits from bicycles. First, he lacked the capital for large-scale production. Second, he felt he didn't have sufficient networks in the areas of manufacturing, promotion, and sales. It would be time-consuming and labor-intensive to either handle it himself or hire someone to do so, and success wasn't guaranteed—there was even a risk of loss. Therefore, he believed it would be more effective to bring in new investors with similar resources and channels, allowing specialized tasks to be handled by professionals." Moreover, more importantly, this way, he gains the opportunity to liquidate a portion of his shares early, accumulating some cash to secure the resources needed for his eventual promotion to "Faceless," avoiding the situation where he finds himself short on funds when the time comes. I never intended to become a bicycle magnate either; my position is sensitive, and before becoming a "Faceless," I need to distance myself from any events that might draw public attention. I intend to play the role of a "magician," not that of a "businessman" or "factory owner." Klein murmured these thoughts to himself. "I know several transactional lawyers," Raperd mumbled, taking over the second round of investment. "Why not apply for a loan at a bank? Once we secure the patent, I'm certain banks will lend us money—banks like Beckland or Bavat, for instance." "We're bringing in more than just capital—we're introducing distribution channels, networks, and capabilities, too, don't you see?" "Klein smiled and explained, then put on his hat, saying, 'Once the patent is filed, send me a letter—do you know my address?'... On the island of Sunya, there stands a mountain of a dormant volcano. A steady stream of ships, masts upright and sails billowing, arrive one after another, filling the not particularly small harbor. The pirates' songs, shouts, laughter, curses, and cheers never cease, making the place feel like a sea of celebration. 'The Inverted Man' Aljer Wilson stepped down from the 'Blue Avenger' and ascended the nearby cliff, quietly observing all of it. 'All the pirates except the four kings and seven generals only learned of this gathering a week ago—most couldn't make it in time. This is precisely what the organizers are doing to guard against sudden attacks by naval forces and major religious orders.' Aljer's mind, however, remained scattered as he watched the pirates hauling out kegs of barley wine." He knew that the Kingdom of Ruin had already introduced revolutionary ironclad warships, but he did not worry about encountering them here, since it had only been four months since their introduction. The宣传 of an invincible fleet still required more ironclads, a variety of supporting vessels, trained officers, sailors, and gunners—without at least a year of preparation, a genuine combat strength could not be established. As Algier's thoughts drifted, sudden cries erupted from the pirates on the ships and at the docks—some rushing toward the island's interior, others hastily steering their vessels away from the wharves, as if fleeing from demons or a plague. In just a few minutes, the once bustling scene had turned into disorder and stillness. Turning toward the sea, Algier spotted a ship entirely black, its masts bearing a large white banner depicting a skull. The skull, set against a dark background, glowed with deep blue flames in its eye sockets. "The Black Death," Algier murmured. He understood why the pirates had previously taken to avoiding her. "The Sickness of the Land," Tracy, wherever she went, always left people unaccountably ill! The "Black Death" slowly drew near the shore, and a figure appeared at the ship's prow—dressed in a white linen shirt, draped in a dark red coat. A remarkably beautiful woman, yet one with a striking, spirited presence. Her rich, flowing curls were neatly coiled atop her head, bound with a white scarf, her legs clad in well-fitted beige trousers, her figure both elegant and graceful. What most captivated the onlookers, however, were her long, straight brows and her sharp, clear blue eyes. As she moved, her gaze would sometimes blur, becoming hazy and dreamy—especially enchanting. An itinerant minstrel among the pirates had arrived at the cliff's edge at some point, and in a voice that seemed to sigh, he said: "She is always a girl." "Indeed, she brings the sickness," he added. "Oh, I am now ill—my mind is filled with her." Some of the pirates who had drifted apart gathered once more, entranced by the "Sick Maiden" Tracie. Alger suppressed his disdain, glanced at them, and inwardly scoffed, "What a hopeless lot—just a moment ago they were avoiding us, now they're completely captivated by beauty." "Tracie the Sick Maiden is indeed beautiful, but not to this extent, is she? Indeed, something extraordinary in the realm of charm?" As his thoughts turned, Tracie the "Sick Commander" stepped away from the "Black Death" and made her way toward the dark palace deep within the island. At that moment, a massive ship appeared on the horizon, its sails bearing a banner of an eye encircled by ten stars—eyes without lashes. "Commander of the Stars, Gadeleia..." Alger nodded gently, murmuring silently. Since the "Black Death" and other vessels had already docked at the shore, the large ship did not approach the coast but instead sailed around and anchored at the sheltered cliffside. Then, the overcast sky suddenly brightened, and a brilliant glow of stars spilled down, coalescing in midair into a transparent bridge stretching from the great ship to the deep palace. A lady stepped onto the bridge and walked gracefully through the air. She wore a classical black gown adorned with numerous symbols and magical emblems, most striking of which was a mysterious eye—without lashes. At her waist, she carried a celestial sphere and a short staff, much like the powerful sorceress described in folk legends who flourished during the Fourth纪. Aljer looked up for a moment, then slightly furrowed his brow, murmuring to himself in puzzlement: "That celestial instrument feels so familiar... It's as if... as if... the strange glass bottle I once received—some odd use for it, I can't recall—broken when the 'Cardinal' gentleman invited me to the gathering... that very same bottle..." They were two colossal creatures—monsters large enough to scare little children! "Wang?" Suzy exclaimed in bewilderment, turning to her owner and noticing that her expression was exactly the same as her own—clearly just as surprised by the sheer scale of the gift.