The crowd erupted with;
Cheers.
Applause.
And excited shouts.
The entire hall came alive with more energy.
The reason was simple.
The young woman who had just stepped onto the stage wasn’t merely one of Britannia’s most famous rising musicians.
She wasn’t merely one of the flowers of Britannia.
She was also an Alchemist prodigy from the Duke Family that ruled Northwick.
A true daughter of one of Britannia’s most powerful noble houses.
Many young noblemen stared at her with admiration.
Some hid their fascination better than others.
A few couldn’t even take their eyes off her.
Meanwhile, many young noble ladies cheered her name openly.
"Lady Selena!"
"Lady Selena!"
"Lady Selena!"
Their excited voices echoed throughout the venue.
Selena stepped out from the backstage entrance with graceful movements.
Her emerald-green hair was neatly tied behind her head, decorated with blooming white and pink flowers woven carefully into her hairstyle.
Under the stage lights, her pale skin appeared almost radiant.
The elegant white-and-emerald Victorian gown she wore perfectly displayed the dignity and beauty expected from a noble lady of a Duke Family.
Every movement she made seemed calm and natural.
There was no need for exaggerated elegance.
Years of noble upbringing had already become part of her.
Her emerald eyes slowly settled on the grand piano being wheeled onto the stage by several workers.
The workers moved quickly and efficiently.
Within moments, the instrument was positioned at the center of the platform.
Selena approached it.
The entire hall seemed to quiet down naturally as she walked.
Then she sat.
Her back remained straight.
Her posture, perfect.
Her slender fingers hovered slightly above the black and white keys.
Everyone watched.
No one wanted to miss even the smallest movement.
A genius of music was about to perform.
Slowly...
Selena raised one hand.
The simple gesture immediately silenced the entire hall.
The conversations stopped.
The whispers disappeared.
Even the photographers became quieter.
The only remaining sound came from the distant hum of the venue itself.
Seconds passed.
The anticipation continued building.
Then...
Her hands descended.
The performance began.
The first notes flowed gently through the hall.
It felt warm, comforting and soft.
Several guests immediately smiled.
Others leaned back in their seats and closed their eyes.
The melody wasn’t loud.
Yet it carried a strange ability to draw people in.
Selena’s fingers moved smoothly across the keys.
Like flowing water.
Like a breeze moving through a field of flowers.
The entire hall slowly became immersed in the music.
The melody rose.
Then slowed.
Then rose again.
Each transition felt natural.
Each note blended perfectly into the next.
People found themselves unconsciously following the rhythm.
Some gently tapped their feet.
Some nodded their heads.
Some quietly hummed along.
Even those who knew little about music couldn’t help but become absorbed.
"Wow..."
Lucy’s eyes sparkled.
She stood near the backstage area.
Normally, the area behind the stage remained busy with workers moving around constantly, staff exchanging information and security personnel maintaining order.
Yet now...
Everything had slowed.
The workers stood quietly.
The staff paused their conversations.
Even some security guards listened while pretending not to.
Everyone had become part of the audience.
Meanwhile...
The live broadcast chat completely exploded.
Comments rushed upward so quickly that they became impossible to read.
***
"Amazing!"
Selena_Fan2000
"Lady Selena never disappoints!"
Servant_of_The_Emerald_Queen
"This is beautiful!"
Selena_Fan1345
"I’m crying!"
Joseph274
"Play forever!"
Bnc_Loyal
***
The more Selena played...
The deeper the audience sank into the world she was creating.
The hall felt different.
The tension of business.
The excitement of investment.
The pressure of competition.
All of it seemed to fade away.
Only the music remained.
The melody flowed through the venue like a fresh spring breeze.
Many elderly guests smiled nostalgically.
Many younger guests sat completely captivated.
Some people even forgot why they had come to the event in the first place.
For that moment...
Only the music truly existed.
One hour passed.
Yet it didn’t feel like an hour.
The final melody slowly approached.
The rhythm softened, and the notes gradually descended.
Then...
Selena played the final key.
Silence.
The entire hall became still.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Everyone remained trapped in the lingering emotions left behind by the performance.
Then...
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
The venue exploded.
The applause shook the hall.
People stood from their seats, with cheers erupting everywhere.
"Lady Selena!"
"You are amazing!"
"Beautiful!"
"Encore!"
"One more song!"
Praise echoed from every direction.
Selena smiled softly.
Her expression remained gentle.
"Thank you, everyone."
Even her voice sounded elegant and had a light tone.
She rose from her seat and bowed toward the crowd.
The applause only grew louder.
Moments later...
Lara returned to the stage.
"That was incredible, Lady Selena."
She bowed politely.
"You never stop amazing us here in Britannia."
Lara’s bright smile looked completely genuine.
"Well, thank you."
Selena smiled politely, then she prepared to leave the stage.
However...
"Please wait, my Lady."
Lara raised her hand slightly.
Selena stopped.
Curiosity appeared in her eyes as she tilted her head.
Lara stepped forward.
"I would be honored if you would do us the favor of welcoming today’s main star to the stage."
She bowed slightly.
Then extended a hand toward Selena.
The Galehart heiress looked at Lara’s hand.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
She covered her mouth lightly with one hand, just as noble ladies often did.
"It would be my honor."
Her smile became warmer.
The photographers immediately became excited again.
Flash after flash illuminated the area.
From the moment Selena entered the stage until now, the cameras had never stopped following her.
Every angle.
Every expression.
Every movement.
Nothing was missed.
"That’s a yes, my people!"
Lara raised her hand dramatically.
The crowd immediately responded with cheers.
The atmosphere surged once more.
"Because right now..."
Lara’s expression gradually became serious.
The orchestra behind them began playing a slow and suspenseful melody.
The crowd quieted.
Everyone understood.
The real event was finally beginning.
"The main event."
Lara slowly looked around the hall.
"The star of today’s gathering."
She could see the anticipation in the faces of the audience.
Investors.
Scholars.
Craftsmen.
Nobles.
Merchants.
Everyone had come for the same reason.
"The presentation of the groundbreaking invention..."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"...which became the fastest invention presentation in Britannian history to reach six million views."
The crowd listened attentively.
"And which has now become the fastest invention presentation to surpass ten million views."
The excitement immediately rose again.
Lara handed the microphone to Selena.
Selena accepted it gracefully, then she stepped forward.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
"Please welcome to the stage..."
Her voice wasn’t loud.
Yet the hall listened carefully.
Every word reached the audience.
"Ezra Ashenlocke."
She paused briefly.
"The creator of Phantom Rolls."
The orchestra immediately shifted.
The slow melody transformed into a grand and energetic score.
The atmosphere exploded.
At that moment...
Ezra walked out from backstage.
The bright stage lights fell upon him.
Lara and Selena stepped aside.
As they passed each other, Selena glanced at him thoughtfully.
The young inventor who had captured the attention of all Britannia.
Yet Ezra didn’t react.
His gaze remained forward.
His steps remained steady.
His expression remained calm and plain as usual.
He walked directly toward the center of the stage.
The applause intensified.
Now...
Every important guest.
Every executive.
Every craftsman.
Every scholar.
Every noble.
And every VIP hidden within the private rooms above.
All eyes were focused on him.
Ezra could feel the countless gazes.
The expectations.
The curiosity.
The pressure.
But as always...
He felt nothing.
"Good day to all guests, distinguished guests, and honored VIPs."
Ezra spoke confidently.
His eyes swept across the crowd.
Not with nervousness.
Not with arrogance.
But with simple confidence.
The confidence of someone who thoroughly understood his own creation.
"My name is Ezra Ashenlocke."
He paused briefly.
"And I am the creator of Phantom Rolls."
He gave a signal toward the technical team.
"So..."
Ezra walked a few steps forward.
The moment he moved; the technical team responded immediately.
A large holographic presentation screen materialized behind him, floating above the stage for everyone in the hall to see clearly.
The crowd gradually quieted down.
Many guests adjusted themselves in their seats.
Scholars took out notebooks.
Merchants prepared their pens.
Several company representatives opened their Starlix devices and Zphone devices to record important points.
Everyone knew the real presentation had finally begun.
"A lot of people have been asking me something."
Ezra paused.
The hall remained silent.
His calm and flat voice wasn’t loud, yet it reached every corner of the venue.
"What made you come up with this invention?"
He glanced at the audience.
"Since every creation has a reason behind its existence, and as I already briefly explained in the post I uploaded..."
Ezra raised a hand.
The first slide disappeared.
The second slide immediately appeared.
An image showing three different classes of Steam-Carriages materialized on the holographic screen.
Normal.
Noble.
Royal.
The three carriages were displayed side by side.
Many people immediately recognized the models.
Some even nodded before Ezra continued.
"As we can see, both the Noble and Royal Steam-Carriages differ from the Normal Steam-Carriage because of the amount of decoration, materials, and overall refinement invested into their production."
Ezra pointed toward the image.
"The purpose of these additions is to display elegance, nobility, status, and royalty."
Many nobles nodded in agreement.
Several carriage manufacturers also agreed silently.
After all, that was exactly how the industry currently operated.
Ezra swiped his hand again.
The second slide vanished and the third slide appeared.
"That is why I asked myself a simple question."
His voice remained steady.
"What happens if we remove all the decorations and exquisite patterns?"
The image changed.
The crowd immediately became more attentive.
The Noble and Royal Steam-Carriages appeared again.
This time...
All decorative carvings.
All golden trims.
All expensive embellishments.
All luxurious patterns.
Had been removed.
Only the basic exterior structures remained.
"This..." Ezra pointed calmly. "...is the outcome."
A low murmur spread throughout the audience.
The difference was obvious.
Or rather...
The lack of difference was obvious.
Without the decorative additions, the three Steam-Carriages looked nearly identical.
A random citizen would even struggle to tell them apart.
Several Scholars exchanged glances.
Many Craftsmen narrowed their eyes thoughtfully.
The realization struck them almost instantly.
"If a random person was asked to identify which carriage was Normal, Noble, or Royal..."
Ezra continued.
"There is a high chance they would confuse them."
The audience slowly nodded.
Some even laughed lightly after realizing how true the statement was.
Many people had never actually thought about it before.
Yet once the idea was presented, it suddenly seemed obvious.
A large number of Scholars, Craft-Based Alchemists, Craftsmen, merchants, business owners, and nobles all nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, many others hurriedly wrote notes.
They carefully recorded every part of Ezra’s introduction.
No one wanted to miss an important detail.
"That realization brought me to a conclusion."
Ezra swiped his hand again.
The presentation returned to the first slide.
"Steam-Carriages intended for the Noble and Royal classes should possess their own unique exterior identity."
His calm voice echoed through the hall.
"The difference should not exist only through decoration. It should exist through the body itself."
Several executives from major carriage companies immediately sat up straighter, because the statement alone already carried enormous commercial value.
"Now..."
Ezra slowly moved away from the center of the stage.
"The ideology behind this design originated from a simple objective."
He stopped walking.
Facing the audience directly.
"I wanted to achieve a smooth body structure."
Many people blinked.
A smooth body structure?
Such a simple explanation seemed almost disappointing.
Yet nobody interrupted him.
Because they had already seen the results.
"And that goal..."
Ezra raised his hand.
"...eventually led me to the Phantom Rolls."
He pointed toward the center of the stage.
The next moment...
PSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!
Steam burst upward.
Mechanical sounds echoed throughout the venue.
Metal gears rotated beneath the stage.
The audience immediately turned their attention toward the center platform.
Slowly...
A hidden section of the stage began to rise.
The movement was deliberate.
Building anticipation.
The orchestra softly lowered its volume.
Even the crowd unconsciously held their breath.
Then...
The Phantom Rolls emerged.
Rising from beneath the stage like a noble beast making its appearance before the world.
Steam continued flowing around it.
The black body reflected the stage lights.
Silver detailing traced its elegant frame.
The smooth curves gave it a sense of refinement completely different from traditional Steam-Carriages.
The moment the steam finally cleared...
Gasps erupted throughout the hall.
Many people had already seen the Phantom Rolls through Skynet.
Many had watched Ezra’s original presentation countless times.
Yet seeing it in person was completely different.
The scale.
The craftsmanship.
The presence.
Everything appeared far more impressive.
The photographers immediately moved into action.
Camera flashes exploded continuously.
They rushed to capture every angle possible.
Every curve.
Every reflection.
Every detail.
The live broadcast chat descended into chaos.
Comments flooded the screen so quickly that they became difficult to read.
***
"This is beautiful!"
Lex000
"It looks even better than the video!"
Ysmere
"How can a carriage look like that?"
Stark_Drake
"Buy it immediately!"
Green_Alchemist
"I need one!"
Flame_00
***
The excitement only continued growing.
Even some representatives from the largest carriage companies couldn’t hide the interest in their eyes.
On the second floor...
Rena couldn’t stop smiling.
The satisfaction on her face was obvious.
After all, she had personally helped during part of the creation process.
Seeing the finished Phantom Rolls standing proudly before all of Britannia gave her a strong sense of accomplishment.
Her smile became so obvious that her husband eventually leaned closer.
"Are you alright?"
He asked quietly.
Rena simply smiled wider.
"Perfectly."
Meanwhile...
Ezra calmly walked toward the opposite side of the Phantom Rolls.
The invention stood beside him like the centerpiece of the entire venue.
"Now..."
He raised his hand slightly.
"You must all be wondering why I chose a smooth exterior structure as the foundation of this design."
The audience focused again.
"Perhaps because it makes the carriage look cleaner."
Ezra answered his own question.
"More elegant, and more pleasing to the eye."
Several audience members nodded.
"Yes."
Ezra gave a small acknowledgment.
"That is one reason."
Then he paused.
Allowing the words to settle.
"But there is more."
Ezra stepped forward.
Standing near the front side of the Phantom Rolls.
"You see..."
His gaze swept across the audience.
"After studying the Steam-Engine systems used throughout our kingdom..."
He continued calmly.
"...I realized that Britannia possesses a tremendous advantage."
The next slide appeared.
Then another.
Ezra swiped through several slides until he reached the fourth.
Charts.
Engine diagrams.
Performance illustrations.
All appeared on the holographic screen.
"We are blessed with a reduced need for fuel consumption compared to what might otherwise be required."
Several Craft-Based Alchemists immediately became interested.
Some even leaned forward.
They could already tell the discussion was moving toward a technical explanation.
Ezra pointed toward the fourth slide.
"By fuel..."
His finger stopped on one specific diagram.
"...I mean the coolant required for the Steam-Engine."
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