What did it mean to produce two kilometers a day?
That was two kilometers of a single rail.
A single railway track required two rails, and the planned route to the northeast required four tracks in total.
That meant they needed eight rails, each spanning six hundred kilometers.
Assuming they produced one two-kilometer rail per day, finishing six hundred kilometers would take a full year.
Eight rails would take eight years, and that was only for the distance to Final City.
From Brilliant City to the Great Wall, the distance was at least a thousand kilometers!
And that was only the northeast region!
This railway was originally planned to cut through the entire continent from north to south, only being considered complete once it reached Seaview City from Final City in the northeast.
All in all, that was at least three thousand kilometers.
Thirty or forty years!
And that didn't even account for potential production drops due to unforeseen issues.
That was just the manufacturing phase!
If they included the time for surveying and laying the tracks, it would probably take sixty or seventy years to finish.
By the time it was completed, Luo Li would probably be old and withered, wouldn't she?
No, wait, in this world, one could use their own power to maintain their youth.
Right, even when she eventually went to her grave, she had to go looking as beautiful as ever.
But... that was besides the point!!
At this rate, wouldn't the project just be finishing in time for her funeral?
They could hold the completion ceremony and the funeral together!
Luo Li's lips twitched as she looked at Anton.
"Two kilometers a day, about sixty kilometers a month, seven hundred and thirty kilometers a year. Anton, tell me, how much track do we need for the northeast?"
Anton's face took on an expression of serious contemplation.
"Your Highness, if we only go to Final City, we need approximately four thousand eight hundred kilometers of rail."
"If we extend it to the furthest point of Final City, we need about eight thousand kilometers."
"According to Your Highness's plan to lay the railway from the Great Wall to Seaview City, the entire route requires twenty-eight thousand kilometers of rail. Without accounting for special losses, it will take fourteen thousand days. That's fourteen thousand... fourteen thousand..."
At this point, a look of difficulty appeared on Anton's face. He seemed to struggle with the math and actually started counting on his fingers.
"It will take approximately thirty-eight years."
Luo Li rubbed her forehead helplessly and provided the answer for him.
There was no universal education in this world. Among all the races on the continent, only the dragon tribe had a fairly comprehensive education system for their young.
As for other races, it was basically determined by their status.
There was no such thing as universal education for the masses.
The illiteracy rate in the Kingdom of the Moon was likely over ninety-five percent.
At most, there were probably only about ten million people in the entire Kingdom of the Moon who could read.
Among them, those who had received a higher education probably didn't even reach a million.
Thirty-eight years just for manufacturing.
Then there was the surveying, the foundation work, the laying of the tracks, and so on.
With everything combined, it really wouldn't be finished for sixty or seventy years.
Thinking of this, Luo Li shook her head with a grim expression.
"No, Anton. You have to find a way. No matter what, you must increase productivity to ten kilometers of single rail per day."
At ten kilometers a day, it would take about seven or eight years to manufacture the twenty-eight thousand kilometers of rail.
With the laying of tracks, surveying, and other such tasks, they could finish everything in a dozen or so years.
Thinking back to her previous life, from the time the first railway was built in her country, the history of railways had spanned over a hundred years.
It was only later, under the environment of a new society, that there was enough productivity to quickly manufacture and lay tracks.
Reaching a level of prosperity took several decades.
However, in that world, everything relied on human labor and manual track laying.
But this place was different.
This was a world of magic.
For surveying and laying foundations, they could fully enlist the help of the Mage Association.
Among the four great elements of earth, wind, water, and fire, the earth element made for the best construction workers.
"Ten kilometers?" Anton repeated, lowering his head in thought.
"What is it? Is there a problem?"
"Your Highness, it is indeed a bit difficult."
Hearing this, Luo Li actually smiled.
"Difficult is good."
"Huh? Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"
Anton looked completely bewildered, even setting aside his thoughts for a moment. He stared at the silver-haired girl, unable to comprehend her meaning.
Luo Li stood up with a smile.
"Anton, construction is a heavy responsibility. If there were no difficulties and yet the speed couldn't be increased, that would be strange instead."
"It's right for there to be difficulties. If there are obstacles, overcome them. If there aren't, make some and overcome them anyway!"
"The difficulty I want you to solve now is to increase productivity. Recruit experienced craftsmen, increase the amount of equipment, take on apprentices, and expand the factories. I want you to find a way to solve all of it. What I want are results, do you understand?"
Anton was stunned for a moment, then began to think it over.
Recruit experienced craftsmen?
Take on new apprentices?
Increase equipment? Expand factories?
Aren't these all the solutions right there?
But if he had tried to figure it out himself, it probably would have taken him several days to consider all of those points.
Her Highness was truly Her Highness; she had thought of so many solutions in an instant.
And that phrase—if there are obstacles, overcome them; if there aren't, make some and overcome them anyway.
Only this Highness could say something like that!
"Your Highness, I understand. I will see to it immediately."
"Good, go then. If you run into any major hurdles, go discuss them with Lola."
"Understood."
Anton nodded and left the Temple with a gaze full of confidence, followed by his pathetic son, Dylan.
Watching Anton's retreating back, Luo Li let out a sigh of relief.
No matter how one looked at it, one problem was solved.
As for what kind of productivity Anton could eventually reach, that would depend on his personal ability.
She would have to tell Lola to look after him more later.
Just as she was thinking this, Momoka's voice reached her ears.
"As expected of you, Luo Li. You provided a solution in just a few words. With such a decisive and wise monarch, the rise of the Kingdom of the Moon is likely unstoppable."
Luo Li gave a casual wave of her hand.
"Alright, alright, stop flattering me. It was just a coincidence, nothing more."
"A coincidence? I don't think a phrase like that can be said by chance. 'If there are obstacles, overcome them; if there aren't, make some and overcome them anyway.'"
At this point, Momoka let out a long sigh, as if reminiscing about the past.
"If my father had possessed such a mindset back then, Hiroyuki Amazawa would not have so easily seized half of the military power in the Kingdom of the Sun."
Was she thinking about her father?
Ryuichi Yamazaki?
Momoka's situation was relatively special.
A King's daughter becoming a Saintess was a rare occurrence in history.
It was said that the previous Saintess of the Sun had taken a liking to Momoka during a royal gathering.
Her mother had died early, apparently assassinated when she was only a few years old.
The incident had caused quite a stir at the time.
After all, as one of the Eight Nations of the Holy Church, the Kingdom of the Sun attracted far more attention than other small countries.
Although they were called the Eight Nations of the Holy Church, there were actually many small countries nestled in the gaps between them.
But among the human nations, these eight were the most powerful.
And Momoka was Ryuichi Yamazaki's most beloved daughter.
"My condolences."
Luo Li didn't have any better words to offer, so she could only say those two.
Momoka was stunned for a moment and looked up at Luo Li.
A faint smile appeared on her face, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
"Thank you. But that's all in the past now. What's in front of us is what matters most."
She straightened her expression and looked at Luo Li.
"Speaking of which, I'm quite curious about what this railway actually does and why you value it so much. If it's convenient, could I see it for myself?"
"Seeing it is no problem. After all, you're one of us now, Momoka."
When she said this, Momoka was slightly taken aback but said nothing more.
"However, I'm afraid that's impossible right now."
As soon as Luo Li said this, Momoka was stunned again.
Before Luo Li could finish, Lina, who was nearby, quickly cut in.
"I know! It's because of that explosion yesterday, right? The steam engine and the railway were both destroyed."
Momoka instinctively turned toward the silver-haired girl.
She saw a look of helplessness on Luo Li's face.
"Yeah. If you want to see it, you'll probably have to wait a few days. Sorry, Momoka."
Momoka shook her head.
"It's fine. It's not important. I'll be in Brilliant City from now on anyway, so I'll see it sooner or later."
"Mhm. Then I'll get back to handling things."
Luo Li turned to a nearby young nun.
"Go invite Mr. Scott and Ms. Carrie in."
"Yes."
The young nun went out. Behind her, Momoka seemed a bit curious but didn't ask further.
Meanwhile, Lina was starting to look bored.
She had almost no experience with administrative affairs, and everything Luo Li was dealing with now was exactly that.
For someone with her restless nature, sitting here felt like sitting on a cactus.
"Luo Li, you handle things here. I'm heading back first!"
"Back? Where to?"
"To the harem, of course! Where else would I go?"
Lina's matter-of-fact attitude made Luo Li's face darken.
This girl just got her position and already wanted to slack off?
In her dreams.
"What are you going to do once you're back?"
"Sleep, maybe? Or get some exercise?"
Lina was completely unaware that she was about to step into a trap, maintaining her casual expression.
"So you have nothing to do? Perfect. Go find Kevin and discuss the expansion of the navy. Although you're not very familiar with naval matters, you definitely know more about military affairs than I do."
"Eh? But..."
Lina wanted to say something else, but the silver-haired girl suddenly looked at her with a face full of resentment.
"Don't tell me everything you said last night doesn't count? You made so many promises last night to win my trust, and now you're going to abandon me?"
Lina blinked. Last night was last night, and she wouldn't deny what she had said.
But why did she feel like the girl's choice of words was incredibly strange?
It felt as if she had actually done something to the girl last night!
This wasn't right!
Something was definitely wrong.
But she couldn't put her finger on what it was.
The silver-haired girl was right; the three of them had clapped hands to seal an oath last night, confirming that Lina and Momoka would assist Luo Li.
But no matter how she looked at it, the descriptions coming from the girl's mouth gave her an incredibly bizarre feeling.
As the conversation continued, Lina felt her face beginning to burn.
"Alright, alright! I get it! I'll go! Just stop talking like that!"
She noticed the young nuns nearby turning their gazes toward them.
Their expressions shifted from confusion to surprise, and then to who knows what.
Every single one of their little faces was filled with indignation.
Lina, her face flushed red from being stared at, quickly agreed.
If she didn't agree now, who knew what else this girl would say!
This Luo Li!!
She clearly knew she was using such ambiguous terms to trick her, yet for some reason...
Lina couldn't find it in herself to feel even a hint of disgust.
"I'll go! Just stop!"
As soon as Lina relented, the resentful expression on Luo Li's face vanished instantly.
A mischievous smile hung on the girl's lips, her eyes full of cunning.
"Mhm, do your best!"
Lina saw this and immediately grew angry. This change of face was way too fast!
"You!? I knew you were playing me!"
"Eh? What did I play you with?"
"You... you still dare to play dumb! I..."
Seeing the teasing glint in the silver-haired girl's eyes, Lina grew angrier the more she thought about it.
Luo Li had clearly steered the conversation in that direction, making the other young nuns misunderstand something.
Yet why was she the one suffering the loss!
The more she thought about it, the more furious she became!
No way!
If you take a step back, you get an ovarian cyst; if you endure for a moment, you get breast hyperplasia.
If a man can stand it, his wife can't!
"Luo Li! I'm going to get you!!"
"Whoa! What are you doing! Don't touch me! Ah—!"
Luo Li had no idea that a grand Saintess of War would actually resort to physical force when she couldn't win an argument!
Seeing Lina pounce, she instinctively tried to dodge.
But how could her level-ten-something self compare to someone with the formidable power of level sixty?
Even her dynamic vision was several tiers lower.
She was caught in an instant.
Lina's strength was nothing to scoff at. Before Luo Li could even react, both of her hands were grabbed.
With just one hand, Lina pinned both of Luo Li's wrists together.
Luo Li looked in horror as Lina's free hand reached for her waist.
"Stop!"
"Gitchy gitchy goo!"
In an instant, a wave of intense ticklishness shot from her waist straight to her brain.
"No... heehee... stop, stop stop! I was wrong, hahahahaha!"
A moment later, the Saintess of War left the Temple, looking refreshed and satisfied as if she had won a great battle.
She left the poor girl slumped on the bed, wailing in despair.
"Waaah... I'm not pure anymore! Momoka! Why didn't you help me!"
From beginning to end, Momoka had watched their playfulness with a calm and composed air.
The teacup in her hand had never wavered; their antics hadn't affected her in the slightest.
"You were the one in the wrong, so how could I help you?"
You have a point, I have no rebuttal.
"That might be true, but you could have at least said something."
Momoka's eyes crinkled slightly.
"Fine, I'll say something next time."
Next time? You probably won't say anything next time either, will you?
Why did she suddenly feel like even though Momoka's eyes weren't open, there was a strange sense of amusement in the corners of her mouth?
Could she actually be a bit of a schemer?
The girl rubbed her little belly, which was sore from laughing so hard.
Even though she had paid a small price, Lina was finally willing to take action.
With these things, once there was a first time, there would be a second, and after that, it would happen naturally without her needing to interfere.
Rate on N.U.
