Chapter 1901 - 522: The Backbone of the Duchy

"Squeak-squeak—"

On the outskirts of Thunder City, the morning quiet was broken by a teeth-gritting screech, the sound of winching metal chains.

Following that was the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the ground.

The entire suburban land of Thunder City seemed to tremble slightly with the fall of the massive cross.

"Be gentle! Watch the hoist, don't damage the cross!"

Standing at the doorway of a monastery, the foreman with a peaked cap shouted at the top of his lungs, fearing his men might jostle the cross.

The Campbell family bought this monastery to serve as the site for Thunder City University. Now undergoing a simple renovation, the university will soon be operational, with the relocation of the cross at the church entrance being the final step.

This project is currently overseen by the experienced Invincible Group. Despite the foreman's extensive expertise, it's his first time managing such a large project.

The challenge lies not in removal but in ensuring not a single scratch occurs.

Since the rumbling train devoured the church's vineyard, Thunder City's priests have been like a powder keg with a lit wick, ready to explode at the slightest spark.

They're waiting for one slip-up to launch a verbal onslaught against this group of desecrators.

The workers tied the statue of the Saint Sis cross, which had stood for a hundred years amid storms, with coarse hemp ropes, chanting in unison, carefully loading it onto a massive cart.

Seeing the intact cross, devout believers let out a light sigh, shaking their heads and turning away... The sacred emblem ultimately fell into the dust amid the shouts of these mud-worn men.

They will face retribution.

He silently recited in his heart.

As the cumbersome cart gradually departed, a brand-new carriage arrived at the monastery's entrance, delivering a new emblem.

Without religious taboos, the unloading crew worked much more swiftly this time, including the directing foreman, who quickly instructed his men to turn the winch and hoist, placing it at the most conspicuous spot in front of the monastery's entrance.

That was the emblem of Thunder City University.

No complex religious engravings adorned it, only two golden crowns standing side by side, tightly entwined by a thriving purple-gold vine.

According to the official explanation from Thunder City Hall, one crown represents the supreme truth, the other represents the Campbell family who protects this land, and the purple-gold vine symbolizes the nourishment from the ever-flowing Rushing River.

But to the Thunder City citizens crowding outside the cordon to watch the spectacle, they preferred the version widely circulated in taverns—

One crown undoubtedly represents His Majesty Edward, and the other represents the generous Prince Colin. As for the vine symbolizing life and the flowers blooming on it, they are the bloodline connecting the two families and the offspring of young Campbells and young Colin.

The country folks living in the suburbs had no doubt, even rural farm wives could birth seven or eight children, and the healthier Princess Erin and Prince Colin would surely have more descendants.

If Princess Erin heard the discussions in the new industrial zone tavern, she might spit on the profanity and then blush and heartbeat for a long time.

Outside the monastery wall, at the edge of the crowd watching the commotion.

A child of about seven looked up with a curious, innocent face at the emblem hanging at the monastery entrance.

"Dad, what's that?"

"That's our university."

"University?"

"That's right, Thunder City University."

Facing the child's confusion, the middle-aged man with a low-topped hat squinted his eyes and smiled warmly in the sparse sunlight.

"Unlike church schools, it not only studies Holy Light but also things beyond Holy Light...like the Imperial Academic State."

The child nodded thoughtfully, then eagerly asked.

"Can I go there someday?"

"Of course," the middle-aged father patted the child's head, smiling, "Unlike the Academic State, you can attend regardless of magical talent."

Thunder City University shares similarities with the Academic State and Holy City University, as their barriers to the upper class are all but illusory; this is the same everywhere, nothing to hide.

However, they differ in certain aspects.

Especially regarding the lower class.

For those who are like dust, though crossing that threshold is immensely challenging, it's not as unreachable as the high tower of the Academic State.

Besides the scholarships from Duke Campbell and the Andes Family, Mr. Colin from the Gana Continent has brought them the "income-based loan" reportedly available in the Gutaf Kingdom.

The artistry of language lies here.

Though loans are loans, this student-oriented loan is different from the "commercial loans" that devour without mercy, designed as a "repay only if income is earned, automatically canceled when due" public utility, managed by the tax department.

In simple terms, if annual income doesn't reach the "repayment threshold," there's no need to repay. If it reaches and exceeds the threshold, repayment is at a 10% standard, collected alongside taxes.

The "Thunder City Daily" gave a detailed explanation to prevent sabotage from feudal nobles' servants.

After all, their specialty is mocking the money-minded Duke Campbell for falling into the money trap, while praising the neighboring His Majesty Theoden's magnanimity for "not taking a penny."

As for the specific standard of repayment threshold, it will fluctuate upwards based on the median income in Thunder City, ensuring high-income individuals can repay in full, those who barely meet the threshold can repay a bit, and those who don't meet the threshold are exempt.