In mid-January of the 150th year of the Kingdom Calendar, heavy snowfall blanketed nearly the entire Unova region, sparing only a handful of coastal cities.
A powerful cold front swept across the land. People wrapped themselves in thick winter clothing, and even the Pokémon living alongside humans wore cashmere scarves and hooded garments.
Inside the castle, the fireplace burned brightly. With the assistance of Fire-type Pokémon, the room was warm and comfortable.
A maid placed a steaming cup of black tea before Lucien. The tea was brewed from rare leaves cultivated in the northern mountains, rich, fragrant, and soothing.
"Your Majesty," Elif said, handing him a thick stack of letters, worry evident on her face, "these are reports recently sent from all across the kingdom."
Lucien took one letter, broke the seal, and began to read.
It was from Twin Dragons City, signed by Lord Sharon.
'My King,
Since the beginning of winter, temperatures have dropped sharply. This winter appears colder than any in recent memory.In just the past two days, several civilians in my territory have frozen to death…'
Frozen to death?
Lucien's brows knit together.
He opened the remaining letters, and his expression darkened further.
Similar reports appeared again and again.
As a ruler, the idea of his subjects dying from hunger and cold was something Lucien could not accept.
Elif, noticing his expression, spoke gently in an attempt to comfort him.
"Your Majesty, please don't blame yourself. Every winter, many civilians and slaves in the Kingdom of Eindoak perish from the cold. You've only just ascended the throne, and you've already done more than any king before you."
Lucien did not respond immediately.
Instead, he focused on one repeated detail across the letters.
"This winter… is unusually cold."
"Elif," Lucien asked, "is this winter colder than previous years?"
Elif thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. It does feel noticeably harsher."
At that moment, Kyurem's voice echoed within Lucien's mind.
"The war disrupted the ley lines of this land," Kyurem said calmly.
"That imbalance has affected the climate, temperature, and the earth's natural pulse throughout Unova."
Lucien's thoughts immediately returned to the events of the war, the destruction of the dragon veins by his brothers.
If not for his father's intervention, using Victini's power to stabilize the dragon veins, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
"So the war really did damage the ley lines…" Lucien murmured.
He then asked,
"Kyurem, is there a way to repair them?"
"There are two paths," Kyurem replied.
"Allow nature to recover on its own… or borrow the power of Victini."
"However, the restoration of ley lines cannot be completed overnight. Preparation is essential."
Lucien immediately thought of his father.
"I understand," he said quietly.
Turning to Elif, he ordered,
"Elif, please invite Father and Victini here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Elif hurried out of the room.
Lucien walked onto the terrace, gazing down at the city below, lost in thought.
The effects of the war were not limited to climate alone.
After the conflict ended, peace returned to the kingdom.
Lucien's coronation and the end of hostilities had caused public morale and satisfaction to surge dramatically.
But excitement fades.
Life always returns to routine.
As time passed, the deeper problems left behind by the war began to surface.
On the territory panel, public morale and satisfaction, once soaring, had begun to decline steadily.
The reason was clear.
A rapidly expanding population brought countless challenges.
Taking Lucien City as an example; Resource shortages, Environmental strain, Employment difficulties, Housing shortages, Overburdened public services, Slowed economic circulation.
At present, many ordinary civilians in the city were unable to find stable employment, leaving them without reliable income.
This situation could not continue.
Governing a nation was never easy.
Lucien took a deep breath and turned his attention back to the technology panel.
One option stood out clearly before him.
[Factory] Unlocks Factory Theory. Centralizes handicraft labor (such as textiles and tools) to enable large-scale, organized production. Cost: 20,000 Satisfaction
With a single thought, 20,000 satisfaction points vanished from the panel.
In their place, an overwhelming surge of knowledge flooded into Lucien's mind.
[Factory Unlocked!] Unlocks: • Manufacturing principles of the Spinning Jenny • Water-powered spinning machines • Mechanized production techniques for handicrafts such as leather shoes, carpets, cashmere coats, and porcelain.
Note: Some advanced processes require the prerequisite technology [Steam Engine].
Lucien immediately sat down at his desk.
Carefully and methodically, he sketched the structures, mechanisms, and operational principles of each machine, recording every detail with precision. These documents would soon be delivered to the Royal Workshop, where master artisans would begin turning theory into reality.
This problem had to be solved.
Fortunately, the royal treasury still held a substantial reserve of gold coins.
Lucien planned to use those funds to establish factories, stimulate trade, and, most importantly, create employment.
These factories would produce high-value goods such as leather footwear, carpets, cashmere coats, and fine porcelain, which merchants could then sell across the kingdom and beyond.
As his pen moved across the parchment, Lucien's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
He recalled the fate of workers during the Industrial Revolution of another world.
Driven by profit, factory owners had often created brutal, unsafe conditions, forcing workers into endless labor, draining their health and dignity.
There was truth in the saying that the Industrial Revolution had turned humans into little more than extensions of machines.
Factories would inevitably give rise to a new merchant class.
This was unavoidable.
As a king, Lucien wished to keep as much power as possible in his own hands, but he understood that this, too, was unrealistic.
What he could do was set boundaries.
He would use law to restrain future factory owners.
Any violations of worker rights would be punished severely by the kingdom's judiciary.
Then there was the matter of working hours.
After a moment's contemplation, Lucien made his decision.
An eight-hour workday, with two rest days per week.
Yes, this would slow the transition from the Agricultural Age to the Industrial Age.
But Lucien refused to let his people suffer the same fate as the exploited masses of history.
He picked up his pen again.
One bill after another took shape. One regulation after another was drafted.
Only when everything was complete did Lucien finally lean back and let out a long breath.
At this pace…
He might not even live to see the full realization of the future he envisioned.
A figure surfaced in his mind.
Xerneas, the god of life from the Kalos region.
Legend said that when Xerneas radiated seven-colored light, it bestowed eternal life.
"..."
Lucien shook his head lightly.
That was a problem for another day.
Right now, there were more immediate concerns.
At that moment, Elif returned to the castle, accompanied by the old king and Victini.
"What's wrong, Lucien?" the old king asked, clearly surprised.
"Have you encountered difficulties in governing the kingdom?"
"A few," Lucien replied honestly. "But they can be resolved."
He explained the damage to the dragon veins, the abnormal cold, and the civilians who had frozen to death across the land.
The old king fell silent.
"So… the war really did affect the dragon veins," he murmured.
After a moment, his expression firmed.
"Then this responsibility lies with us."
"As their father, I must answer for my two sons' actions."
"Lucien," he said calmly, "escort Victini and me back to Eindoak. We will remain there and oversee the stabilization and restoration of the dragon veins until they recover."
"Nini…" Victini hesitated, clearly reluctant to part, but it understood the gravity of the task.
After bidding Lucien farewell, the old king and Victini departed aboard Dragonite, returning to Eindoak.
Lucien watched them disappear into the sky.
Then he turned and handed the newly written legislation and technical drafts to Elif.
"I'll leave this to you," he said.
Elif stared at the documents, stunned.
"Your Highness… what is all this?"
"There are too many unemployed civilians in the territory," Lucien replied calmly.
"They need work, and stable income."
"I've been thinking," he continued. "Carpet weaving and cashmere production are currently scattered among individual households. Why not centralize them?"
"We'll purchase raw materials directly from ranchers and have workers produce goods together."
"Assembly-line production will make management easier and allow resources to be allocated more efficiently, dramatically increasing productivity."
Elif's eyes widened.
"That's brilliant!"
How had he not thought of this before?
This would provide jobs for the commoners while increasing textile output, a true win-win.
"However, it will still take time before the factories are fully established and the textile machines are operational," Lucien said, falling into thought.
Winter had already arrived.
Right now, the most urgent task was ensuring that everyone in the territory could survive the winter safely.
Fortunately, this crisis was not entirely unexpected.
Lucien and Elif had long anticipated population growth and made preparations early on.
When Lucien City was first founded, enough housing had been constructed to accommodate more than thirty thousand people.
After a year of continuous expansion by the Machamp construction teams and human workers alike, the city could now house over seventy thousand residents.
"I remember that among the magical beast soldiers, there were quite a few Fire-type Pokémon," Lucien said.
"That's correct," Elif replied. "I've seen several that can continuously generate heat."
"Hire them," Lucien said decisively.
"Have them maintain public fires, heat stations, and warming zones. Let them help both civilians and soldiers get through this winter."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Elif turned to carry out the order, but Lucien suddenly spoke again.
"Wait."
Elif stopped and turned back.
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
Lucien's gaze shifted to the technology panel.
Within the Agricultural Age technologies, shipbuilding had already existed, but the Industrial Age had expanded it further.
[Steamships] Unlocks the manufacturing technology of steam-powered vessels. Requirement: 50,000 Satisfaction Prerequisite: Steam Engine
Lucien tapped his fingers lightly against the desk.
"Isn't there a well-known fleet stationed in Castelia Territory?" he asked.
"Yes," Elif replied, puzzled. "Does Your Majesty intend to…?"
"I once read about a magical beast called Miltank," Lucien said slowly.
"Each one can produce up to twenty liters of highly nutritious milk per day. The nutritional value is extremely high and beneficial to human health."
"If we had such a magical beast, our people would grow stronger, especially children and the elderly."
He paused.
"Unfortunately, Miltank does not inhabit Eindoak. According to the records, they live far across the ocean, on a distant continent known as Johto."
Lucien had considered this before, but back then, he lacked both authority and resources.
Now, as king, his first instinct was clear.
Elif's eyes lit up in understanding.
"Your Majesty intends to dispatch the Castelia fleet… to search for Miltank and bring them back to the kingdom?"
Lucien nodded.
But he was also realistic.
"In this era, such a voyage cannot be rushed," he said calmly."The sea is dangerous. We must prepare thoroughly."
"For example," he continued, "every crew member should partner with a Water-type or Flying-type beast one capable of swimming long distances or carrying people."
"That way, even if a shipwreck occurs, casualties can be minimized."
Ultimately, this plan served another, deeper purpose.
Lucien wanted to change how people viewed Pokémon.
To make them understand, trainers and Pokémon were not enemies.
They were companions. Partners.
Beings meant to live together.
Lucien paused.
'And that's another issue.'
The word monster carried fear and hostility.
It wasn't suitable anymore.
"If we're going to change perceptions," he said thoughtfully,"we should start by changing the name."
Pocket Monsters...Pokemon..
Lucien smiled faintly.
"In the end, I'll go with the one I'm most familiar with."
Pokémon, short for Pocket Monsters.
Creatures that could be carried within specially crafted devices, companions that fought and lived alongside humans.
As the term spread, it quickly replaced the old, fear-laden words people once used.
More importantly, with the advancement of civilization, the Industrial Age brought with it an entirely new technological breakthrough.
Lucien's gaze settled on a newly unlocked entry in the system panel.
[Ball Capsule Manufacturing] Unlocks the manufacturing technique of early Poké Balls. Allows the use of spherical casings and special materials to create old-style Poké Balls.
Cost: 50,000 Satisfaction
Fifty thousand satisfaction points was no small price.
But Lucien understood its value immediately.
With officially standardized Poké Balls, Pokémon could finally be managed, partnered with, and trained on a large scale.
This would allow him to formally promote Pokémon and Trainer culture throughout the kingdom.
Once the number of trainers reached a sufficient scale…
He could begin preparations for the first Pokémon Grand League.
Through competition, humans would come to understand Pokémon not as monsters to be feared, but as partners whose strength could be trusted.
At the same time, such a league would showcase power publicly, deterring any ambitious lords who might harbor dangerous thoughts.
To become the strongest trainer would be both an honor and a challenge.
Those who distinguished themselves would not only gain fame but also official positions within the kingdom.
Much like the League Chiefs of other regions, Lucien could fully mobilize trainers across Unova, using their strength to protect cities, develop infrastructure.
...
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