Chapter 107

Chapter 107

"Everyone, sit down! Anyone who keeps acting up gets tossed off!" The grinning attendant slammed his ticket box onto the counter with a loud *clang*, instantly freezing the rowdy crowd, as if someone had hit pause.

If the attendants in the VIP carriage still looked somewhat friendly and approachable, those in the other carriages clearly had battlefield experience. Take this guy—half his face scarred, arms and chest bulging with muscles, and a voice loud enough to scare anyone. If not for his uniform showing he was government, they’d have thought they’d run into a bandit.

"No one is allowed to lean out of the windows while the train is moving. If you want to die, don’t go messing up this nice train. You’ve seen how fast this thing goes—if you stick your body out, whether you get knocked by someone next to you or blown away by the wind, think about what’ll happen if you fall. If you’re lucky, you’ll just get flung out, roll a few times, and break some bones—arms, legs, ribs, or even your skull. If you’re unlucky, you’ll get dragged under the wheels and crushed into pieces."

The attendants assigned to the train were all wounded soldiers from the battlefield. They held absolute faith in the words of the King and His Holiness. If His Holiness said something was dangerous and shouldn’t be done, then no one was allowed to disobey that order.

"Uh… yeah, got it." The man who had just leaned out shuddered, cold sweat drenched his back. He’d figured the train was steady and nothing would happen—he just wanted to feel its speed firsthand. But if it cost him his life… Just picturing what Scarface described made his gut twist with fear.

Under this threat, the others also quieted down, no longer daring to run around. They just gaped at Scarface, waiting to hear what else he had to say.

Seeing their terrified expressions, Scarface cleared his throat and began explaining how to purchase tickets and which stops the train would make along the route.

"Right now, we’ve only opened the route from the capital to the nearest Fiba City. Stops include the Artisan Workshop, the Emporium, Lek Village… and Fiba’s Anna Tavern. Tickets can be bought per stop, or as monthly or yearly passes…"

Though Scarface doubted many would spring for yearly passes, he still had to explain—who knew if some of them had rich relatives? As long as word spread, there’d surely be people buying them.

As the passengers murmured among themselves, the train stopped at one station after another. Compared to the lucky ones boarding at the Emporium station, very few got on at the other stops. Some even faked riding all the way to the end, refusing to get off where they were supposed to.

Big deal. It’s just Fiba City. Worst case, they can walk back after arriving. Of course, they’d rather take the train back to their intended stop, but Scarface had said they were only selected because they’d written their desired destinations on the application forms. A free ride here was gift enough—they couldn’t just take up space for others by riding back, could they?

Meanwhile, the governor of Fiba City, having received word that the King and His Holiness would be visiting today, had been waiting at the station since early morning. He’d expected to wait all morning, but before ten o’clock, the train arrived.

Even though the train had run here a few times now, each sighting still left him stunned. And now, he’d finally get to ride it himself—he had no idea what it was like inside.

The ministers on board, having heard the gasps of passengers at every stop, had gradually calmed down. Pfft. Just a hunk of steel on wheels. It’s just a bit faster than a horse. It’s just steady and comfortable to ride. No need to shriek like their eyes were popping out.

Look at us—we’re not that crazy.

Some of them clutched their pounding chests, feeling drool escape the corners of their mouths. They weren’t jealous that the palace would soon have its own little train!

Sniffle… They wanted their own private line too! How much would it cost to build one of these? If not that, at least let them reserve a whole carriage!

After today’s trial run, news of the train’s official launch had spread throughout the capital and Fiba City, with rumors reaching other cities.

Folks back in the Holy Capital gritted their teeth in frustration after reading the news. If only the King hadn’t taken His Holiness away, the train would’ve been built here first!

Nope, they needed to send folks to learn how it’s built—or at least study the track design and construction. They needed to lay the groundwork early, extending the rails all the way to the capital to make it easier for His Holiness to return.

Now that the train matter was settled, Ning Chan had no intention of overseeing it further. Whether they wanted to build more or modify the existing ones, they could figure it out themselves. He had something else in mind.

With material needs mostly met, it was time to address spiritual fulfillment.

You can’t just clamp down—better to steer things. While morality, religion, and law could keep people in check, those bored troublemakers would always find ways to stir up trouble if they had no outlet for their energy. Better to enrich their entertainment options and give them something to focus on.

The grand gathering with the capital’s citizens had given him some ideas. Usually, singing and dancing were small-scale affairs within closed circles—now, it was time to roll out stage plays, bands, and sports for the masses.

Since getting the whole country moving was a good thing, Ning Chan decided to start there. It had no barriers—anyone with a healthy body could participate. They could even hold national competitions without causing too much backlash.

"The palace posted another notice! What does it say?" An old man holding his grandson’s hand spotted a guard unfurling a scroll and dashed to the notice board faster than anyone else.

"Seriously, old man, you still can’t read? Let me see… ‘National Sports Games’—what’s that supposed to be?" The bespectacled young man beside him nearly choked. If you can’t read, why rush to the front?

"Shut your trap, kid. At my age, do you think I can still learn? Just read what it says!" The old man squinted, recognizing only a few scattered characters. Maybe he should study with his grandson—otherwise, he couldn’t even read the newspaper.

"Alright, I'll keep reading." The young man, seeing the old man's stern face, thought of his own stubborn grandfather and could only laugh in response.

"National Sports Congress

Through everyone's joint efforts, our country is developing towards prosperity and strength. Our lives are getting better, and our people are becoming stronger... Show your extraordinary side.

Do you feel that you are stronger than those around you? Do you think you run faster than anyone else? Do you believe you can jump farther or higher than anyone else... If you think you are, we sincerely invite you to participate in this congress. Through competition, we will select the strongest, fastest, and most skilled individuals across the nation.

The events for this congress include:

Track Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 1000m, 10000m, 4x100m relay

Field Events: Shot put, javelin throw

Swimming Events: 50m, 200m, 800m, 4x100m relay

Other Events: High jump, long jump, weightlifting, archery

Awards: First place - Gold Medal (a three-bedroom apartment outside the capital), Second place - Silver Medal (a two-bedroom apartment outside the capital), Third place - Bronze Medal (a one-bedroom apartment outside the capital)

Participation Method: Individuals must register with their village or town. If more than three people register, the top three from each area will be selected through local competitions. The village or town officials will then submit the names to the city governor, who will organize further competitions to select the top three from each district. The top three from each district will gather in the capital to compete, ultimately determining the top three in each event.

Competition Dates: Village/Town: October 4-7, Shengya Year 5; District: March 1-10, Shengya Year 6; National: August 16-30, Shengya Year 6"

Considering the strong subjectivity of some events, which could lead to unfair practices, Ning Chan decided not to include them in this competition, such as gymnastics or diving. He hoped that this first sports congress would be conducted as fairly and justly as possible, so he chose events where the outcome was clear to all observers. As for the timing, he aimed to spread it out as much as possible, allowing more preparation time and extending the excitement.

Hearing the announcement, everyone present began to assess their own abilities. If they felt they were not up to the task, they would consider their children or relatives and friends who might be capable.

Just running and jumping could earn such great rewards—what a good deal.

Moreover, competing against the best in the nation, the eventual winners would surely be formidable. Perhaps their names would even appear in the newspapers, making them known to all.

If someone from a family became such a figure, it would bring great honor to the entire household!

When the announcement, along with official regulations and newspapers, reached other cities, everyone was thrilled. The common people aside, even the village chiefs and city governors were excited. If more talented individuals emerged from their jurisdictions, it would indicate that they had managed the area well, with a healthy and strong population capable of reaching the finals.

So, were these just ordinary competitions? No, they were a showcase of one's capabilities and achievements!