Chapter 663: The Eclipse

The road leading to the hotel where Ezra and Lucy would be staying was as busy as ever.

Their Royal Phantom Rolls moved along the street, passing rows of buildings and other Steam Vehicles travelling in both directions.

The sound of engines filled the air, mixing with the voices of pedestrians and the occasional call of a street vendor.

Steam rose from several vehicles, drifting above the road before fading into the air.

There were plenty of Steam Vehicles on the streets of Solcrest, but the number of ordinary Steam Carriages, Noble Steam Carriages, and Royal Steam Carriages was noticeably lower than that of other models.

The streets had changed.

Even at the airport, where many Cab Steam Carriages used to wait for passengers, a new type of vehicle could now be seen.

These vehicles had been produced by The Eclipse, using Ezra’s vehicle ideology to develop a Steam Vehicle designed specifically for pick-up services.

They were different from the usual carriages.

Their purpose was straightforward: to transport passengers from one place to another while offering a more suitable design for the work.

The Eclipse had introduced them to the market, and the response had been strong.

Many pick-up companies across Britannia wanted to purchase the new vehicles.

Their growing interest had placed The Eclipse in a favourable position in the Kingdom’s Steam Vehicle market.

Other manufacturers, of course, would not simply stand aside and allow the company to have the entire market to itself.

They could produce their own versions and compete for the same customers.

Still, the new pick-up vehicles were already making their presence known on the streets.

They were not the only models built around Ezra’s vehicle ideology, either.

Several Noble Fordliners moved along the road, their bodies passing between the other vehicles.

Noble Land Sailors and Noble Winter Rollers could also be seen, along with other models produced by different Steam Vehicle companies.

The variety made the roads of Solcrest look different from what they might have looked like before these designs became available.

The city itself was well maintained.

Its roads were neat, and the buildings lining the streets gave the capital a lively appearance.

People moved along the pavements while Steam Vehicles passed through the designated lanes, each heading towards its destination.

A few Royal models could be seen among the vehicles on the road.

The Phantom Rolls, however, remained rare.

Despite the number of different Steam Vehicles travelling through Solcrest, it was still unusual to see one of them.

Their scarcity showed how highly the Phantom Rolls was regarded compared with the other models competing in the market.

Inside the Royal Phantom Rolls…

Lucy placed the bouquet of flowers into her space bag.

She also carefully put the toy Royal Phantom Rolls away as well, then took the pamphlet intended for her Master and handed it to him.

Ezra accepted it.

Lucy, however, did not return her attention to the scenery outside.

Her gaze remained on her Master, and she held the box of chocolate candy firmly in both hands.

Ezra could feel her staring at him.

He did not need to turn his head to understand what she wanted.

The way she was holding the box made that rather obvious.

“You can take it.”

He said calmly, without looking at her.

Lucy’s eyes immediately brightened.

“Thank you, Master!”

She said happily.

She opened the box at once.

The lid lifted, revealing the chocolate candy inside.

Lucy wasted no time in picking up a piece and placing it into her mouth.

She bit down.

Crunch.

Her eyes sparkled.

“Hmmm.”

The sound escaped her as she savoured the taste.

She chewed slowly, enjoying the chocolate before reaching into the box for another piece.

The candy was said to be the best in Solcrest, and Lucy seemed quite pleased to have the chance to try it.

She took another bite.

Her expression made her enjoyment clear enough.

“Hahaha.”

The lead staff member of The Eclipse’s pick-up team let out a light laugh as he watched her.

Lucy glanced at him briefly before turning back to her Master.

“Don’t worry, Master. I won’t finish it.”

She said, taking another piece of chocolate and placing it into her mouth.

Ezra did not object.

He continued holding the pamphlet, his attention resting on its contents for a moment before he looked towards the staff member sitting nearby.

The man had been observing the two of them during the drive.

After watching Lucy enjoy the candy, he turned the conversation towards Ezra.

“You are quite famous in Solcrest,”

The staff member said calmly.

Ezra raised his gaze towards him but did not immediately respond.

The man continued.

“Especially after your fight against that other amazing young Alchemist, who used the Golden Flames. The people living in Solcrest really couldn’t stop talking about you and the other young Alchemist.”

He added with a simple smile.

The fight had clearly left an impression on the people of the city.

Even those who had not been present could hear others discussing the two young Alchemists and what had happened between them.

Ezra had already experienced the attention at the airport.

People had recognized him, called out his name, and even tried to introduce their businesses to him before he could leave.

Now, the staff member was telling him that the same interest extended throughout Solcrest.

“It was like being treated as a celebrity.”

Ezra finally spoke in his usual calm tone.

He did not sound particularly excited about the comparison.

He simply stated what the experience had felt like.

“Yes. You Students of Royal are always seen as popular figures, mainly among the younger generation, because you children are the future holders of many high positions.”

The staff member replied calmly.

His explanation was simple.

The children attending the Royal Academy often attracted the most attention, compared to other students of other Academy’s because of the positions those students of Royal might hold in the future.

Their actions could become topics of conversation even before they reached adulthood.

Ezra was no exception.

His performance in the Combat Festival had given people another reason to talk about him.

The fight mentioned by the staff member had only added to that attention.

The man continued speaking.

“And as you already know, some of the Executive Grandkids and even some of our lead Grand Craftsmen children attend the Royal Academy too, but they aren’t as talented as you.”

He said, looking at Ezra with a calm expression.

Ezra listened without interrupting.

“I see.”

He replied simply.

The conversation did not go much further.

Ezra had acknowledged what the staff member told him, and there was no need for him to offer a lengthy response.

The Royal Phantom Rolls continued along the road.

A few hours later…

The Royal Phantom Rolls approached the main headquarters of The Eclipse.

The company’s headquarters occupied a large area, with several buildings and structures visible beyond its outer entrance.

Before reaching the main gate, the vehicle passed beneath a structure formed by two standing pillars.

A horizontal section joined the pillars at the top, creating a gateway over the road.

The Eclipse’s crest was displayed at its center.

It showed the shape of a white eclipse moon marked with black shades.

The Royal Phantom Rolls moved beneath the structure and continued towards the main gate.

Security guards stood at the entrance, ready to inspect vehicles entering the headquarters.

When the Phantom Rolls approached, they carried out the necessary checks before allowing it to proceed.

The guards checked the vehicle and the people inside.

First, they confirmed the identification cards belonging to the members of The Eclipse’s staff.

They then checked Ezra’s Black Card of The Eclipse, his Ashenlocke identification card, and Lucy’s Servant of Ash identification card.

Each card was examined and verified.

The procedure took only a few seconds.

Once the guards had confirmed their identities, they allowed the vehicle to enter.

The main gates opened, and the Royal Phantom Rolls passed through.

Lucy leaned forward slightly as she looked beyond the entrance.

Her eyes widened.

The area inside the headquarters was much larger than the gate alone suggested.

Buildings and other structures stretched across the grounds, while Steam Vehicles moved along the roads connecting different sections of the company.

Workers could be seen going about their duties.

Some moved between the buildings, while others were occupied with vehicles parked near the facilities.

Lucy turned her head to take in more of the surroundings.

Ezra, meanwhile, observed the buildings, vehicles, and structures with his usual plain expression.

He did not need long to understand why The Eclipse had become the number one Steam Vehicle-producing company in the Kingdom.

The arrangement of the headquarters made the scale of its operations clear.

Some of the buildings they passed had been constructed in the shape of the Steam Vehicles produced inside them.

Their designs reflected the models associated with each facility, making it easier to distinguish one section from another.

Each vehicle model had its own production base.

The different facilities were not simply grouped together without purpose.

Their arrangement showed that The Eclipse had dedicated space for the work involved in producing its various Steam Vehicles.

The Royal Phantom Rolls continued along the internal road.

Lucy kept looking from one side to the other, her attention caught by the buildings they passed. Every time another structure came into view, she turned to examine it before looking ahead again.

There was plenty for her to see.

Among the buildings were several large restaurants.

Their size and appearance suggested that they could compete with some of the better restaurants found on the streets of Solcrest.

However, these restaurants were intended for the company’s own staff and workers.

They provided a place where the people working at The Eclipse could eat, rest, and relax during their time at the headquarters.

The vehicle passed them without stopping.

Further along the road, the sound of engines grew louder.

A large structure came into view, and the noise coming from inside it carried across the surrounding area.

The sound of vehicles accelerating echoed through the air, drawing Lucy’s attention towards it.

She turned to look.

The noise was clearly related to racing, at least at first.

Vehicles were moving at speed within the large facility, and the sound of their engines rose and fell as they continued their runs.

But the place was not simply a stadium for entertainment.

It was a vehicle speed-testing area.

The Eclipse needed somewhere to test its Steam Vehicles, and the facility allowed those tests to take place within the company’s own grounds.

The noise coming from it was part of that work.

The Royal Phantom Rolls continued past the testing area.

More buildings came into view as the vehicle moved deeper into the headquarters.

Lucy continued looking around, shifting her gaze from the structures on the left to those on the right.

Her eyes followed the different designs, and she occasionally leaned towards the window to get a better look at something before it disappeared behind them.

Ezra remained composed beside her.

He observed the grounds without showing much outward reaction.

The size of the headquarters and the variety of its facilities gave him a clear picture of the company’s operations, but he did not need to comment on every building they passed.

The vehicle continued towards its destination.

Finally, the Royal Phantom Rolls slowed down in front of the administrative building of the Phantom Rolls division.

It came to a stop.

Waiting outside were the head staff members responsible for the different Phantom Rolls teams.

The Steam Engine Team was present.

So was the Exterior Team.

The Interior Team had also gathered, along with the other teams involved in the production of the Phantom Rolls.

They had assembled in front of the administrative building, waiting for Ezra Ashenlocke to arrive.

The driver opened the door on Ezra’s side, while another staff member opened the door beside Lucy.

Ezra stepped out first.

Lucy followed him.

As soon as they were outside, the staff members standing in front of the building greeted him together.

“Welcome to The Eclipse, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke. We are happy to have you in our presence.”

The Eclipse staff spoke at the same time.

Ezra faced them.

He placed his right hand against his chest and lowered his head slightly in a polite greeting.

“Thank you. It’s an honour to be here.”

He replied calmly.

Lucy stood beside him and performed a proper maid’s bow.

The staff members acknowledged their greetings.

Their attention remained on Ezra, the person they had gathered to welcome, while Lucy maintained her position beside him.

Then a familiar man stepped forward.

“It is good to see your face again, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke.”

The man said.

Ezra recognized him almost immediately.

He was one of the members of The Eclipse who had accompanied Anderson Hawthorne, the company’s top Grand Craftsman, to the auction event for the Phantom Rolls.

Ezra remembered seeing him during the event, particularly when the transaction for the Phantom Rolls rights had been completed.

He had not forgotten the man’s face.

“It’s good to see you again, sir.”

Ezra replied calmly.

The familiar staff member stood before him, and the two exchanged their greetings once more.