Hearing the man's shouts, Luo Wei instinctively exchanged a glance with Ophelia.
"Who is that man?"
"I have a vague memory of him..." Ophelia pondered for a moment before replying, "He's a minor noble from a declining family, surnamed Taylor. He's quite capable himself, having established a massive mining operation. Now, he's a member of the Imperial Council."
As Luo Wei and his companions stepped out of the carriage, more and more royal guards began to gather at the entrance.
Many of the other guests who had arrived at the same time were also murmuring and casting glances in that direction.
Seeing the growing crowd, Taylor became even more agitated, shouting louder.
However, his efforts were in vain. In the end, he was forcibly dragged away by the royal guards, his wailing voice fading into the distance.
The expelled council member and the subject of his protest piqued the curiosity of both Luo Wei and Ophelia.
Both were quick-witted individuals, and they sensed something unusual in the situation.
"What's this 'Magic Crystal Act' all about?" Luo Wei asked, turning to her.
Ophelia immediately looked at Caroline.
Caroline promptly explained, "Your Highness, earlier today, the council passed this act, which was strongly pushed by His Majesty. It's quite extensive, but in essence, it imposes strict regulations on magic crystals."
"Regulations on magic crystals?" Ophelia raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly," Caroline glanced around and lowered her voice. "According to the act, all magic crystal deposits will be forcibly nationalized, and all mining operations will have their licenses revoked. Furthermore, every magic crystal circulating in the market must be registered, and all magic devices, regardless of size, will require rigorous approval."
"I see..." Luo Wei glanced back, now understanding why the mine owner had been so agitated. If the act were implemented, it would be tantamount to confiscating his entire livelihood.
Ophelia frowned, visibly displeased as she turned to Caroline. "Caroline, why didn't you inform me about something this important earlier?"
Caroline hesitated, glancing at Ophelia and then at Luo Wei.
"Well... Your Highness, this morning..."
"You and Mr. Luo Wei were... occupied..."
"It wasn't convenient for me to notify you..."
Seeing Caroline stammering like this, Ophelia immediately grew irritated.
Then, almost instantly, she recalled what she and Luo Wei had been doing that morning...
The memory of their passionate encounter caused her face to flush bright red.
She covered her face, taking a moment to suppress those vivid images.
Blushing and frustrated, Ophelia shot Luo Wei a sharp glare. "It's... it's all your fault!"
"Huh?" Luo Wei pointed at himself, blinking in confusion.
How is it my fault?
Weren't you the one who wanted to give me a gift??
In the end, he reluctantly nodded. "Alright, alright, it's all my fault!"
Since he had benefited from the situation, he didn't mind conceding. Luo Wei tightened his jaw and, with a deliberately serious expression, gestured for Caroline to continue.
After Caroline finished relaying all the information she had gathered, Ophelia regained her composure. She picked up on some suspicious details in the event and said with a puzzled tone:
"This matter... why hadn't I heard even a whisper about it before? Father must have kept it extremely well hidden..."
"And! How could such a far-reaching act pass so easily?"
She could almost imagine the massive upheaval that would ensue once the act was implemented.
Taking wealth away from the merchants was akin to killing them. Protests in front of the palace would be the least of the problems...
Luo Wei nodded in agreement. That was indeed the case. A significant portion of the Imperial Council members owed their rise to the magic industry. Logically, an act that cut into their profits should have been incredibly difficult to pass...
But Caroline shook her head. "Merchants are shortsighted. His Majesty promised them that once the market was unified, official pricing would drastically reduce raw material costs, and their factories would see significant cost reductions."
"They truly are shortsighted," Ophelia suddenly sneered. "After all, the only ones truly affected are mine owners like Taylor, of which there are very few in the entire country, along with some smugglers and middlemen. The vast majority of factory owners will continue to profit, perhaps even more than before."
Luo Wei interjected, "There's another reason why it passed so smoothly."
Both turned to him, and Luo Wei analyzed, "Your father must have planned this for a long time. By announcing the act at this moment, he left no room for negotiation."
"Mr. Luo Wei is absolutely right," Caroline said, giving him an approving look. "The recent explosion and the cultist incident have plunged the entire nation into panic, fueling public outrage. Since people have stopped using magic vehicles, public carriages have become popular again, and the price of bicycles has skyrocketed."
"So," she concluded, "public opinion is on His Majesty's side. In the council, the old nobility undoubtedly supports him. As for the merchants, they're divided among themselves, with some even taking advantage of the chaos. The opposition has no chance of making a dent."
After Caroline finished speaking, Luo Wei and Ophelia exchanged a glance, their eyes equally profound.
Both were struck by the emperor's cunning.
By seizing control of magic crystals, he effectively controlled the entire magic industry. Whether the merchants prospered or not now depended entirely on the emperor's whims.
But Emperor Charlton II's move wasn't driven by greed for wealth. His goal was singular: power.
Luo Wei silently gazed at the towering palace growing closer in the distance. His opinion of the ailing old emperor had shifted.
Rumors painted him as inept and idle, having neglected governance for over a decade, surrounded by sorcerers researching ways to prolong his life, while allowing his children to feud and the Imperial Council to descend into chaos, with daily brawls that turned into bloody messes...
But this incident proved that he was anything but incompetent. On the contrary...
He was like a weathered sword, its blade hidden beneath layers of rust, but when drawn, it would strike with deadly precision.
"Father..."
Ophelia silently looked at Luo Wei, her words trailing off as she gave a bitter smile.
She lowered her head, seemingly overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness.
Luo Wei knew she must be thinking the same thing as him.
Namely...
The explosion, the countless casualties, the heinous cultists...
What role had the emperor played in all of this?
Didn't he know that the evil god had nearly been summoned? Did he truly not care about the lives of the entire city?
Luo Wei noticed that Ophelia's hand felt cold.
She whispered softly, "Now you understand why I yearn so much for the freedom of the skies..."
Seeing her so disheartened, Luo Wei silently tightened his grip on her hand.
"I understand."
This family, these siblings, and this father had driven her to despair.
From a young age, the innocent and romantic Ophelia had felt out of place among them. Even now, having been drawn into the fray, she still despised everything around her.
Luo Wei knew he might not be able to help much. All he could do was be there for her.
Ophelia leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Only in this way could she find a rare sense of peace.
"Maybe it's not as bad as we think," Luo Wei said with a smile, trying to comfort her. "What if we're just overthinking it?"
But Ophelia didn't pursue the topic.
She murmured softly, almost inaudibly.
"Luo Wei..."
"Yes?"
"If one day my father decides to kill me, would you risk everything to take me away from here?"
Luo Wei shook his head. "No."
Ophelia abruptly looked up at him, startled.
Luo Wei chuckled. "I'd take you straight into the palace, and we'd seize the throne together!"
Ophelia burst into laughter, her smile as radiant as a field of blooming flowers.