Volume 2 Chapter 15: "Guild Strike."
Unexpected discovery
Romulus clutched the wooden frame of a bicycle made for the common man. It was supposed to be fragile, but under his hands the material seemed to come alive, the fibers intertwined, the reality itself obeying his will.
- "The system, what does that mean?"
[✨ **"Reality Architect Influence" activated! **]]
■ You have unconsciously **strengthened** the structure of the tree.
■ Now it's **stronger than blued steel**.
It turned everything upside down.
If wood can have such strength, then poor people no longer need steel for bicycles. But the guild must answer for its greed.
The retaliation plan
Romulus stormed into his father's study, eyes blazing with the fire of determination.
- "Father, I have a plan to crush them!"
Count Lucian, accustomed to his son's ebullient energy, laid aside his quill.
- "Speak, Romulus."
1. Monopoly on "Weapon X."
- "We declare that revolvers and gunpowder are the family secret of the House of Argelion. Any attempt to steal them is a betrayal of the crown."
The Count raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest in his eyes.
- "And if the king wishes to see the blueprints?"
- **"Let us say that they are useless without our masters," Romulus smiled wryly. - "And give him a batch of musket shotguns of my design as a token of our loyalty for his favor."
2. antitrust decree
- "Let's stop the guilds from profiting from the people. And to make sure we hit it right."
Romulus unfolded a map of the trade routes like a general before a battle.
- "We'll lure foreign merchants. We'll give them paradise terms if they'll buy the mines from the guild."
The Count thought for a moment, then burst into laughter.
- **"You want to **leave them with their bare hands?"
- "I want to take away their power, break their pride."
The poor man's bicycle is complete!
By evening, the first batch of wooden horses were ready.
The frames are of Romulus-reinforced wood, invulnerable to breakage.
The wheels are of braided cables, replacing scarce rubber.
The price is ten times lower than its iron counterparts.
When the first apprentice boy jumped on his bike and rolled, the crowd erupted in applause.
- **"Young master! It's a real miracle!"
Romulus smiled, but anxiety gnawed at him inside:
"How much longer can I change this world, invisibly weave a new reality... until the Ancients turn their wrathful gaze upon me?"