Leaving aside the heated discussions on the forums for now, Alto's trading company had finally completed all arrangements to enter the Imperial Capital after weeks of careful preparation.
Led personally by his trusted confidant Joseph, the caravan loaded with core equipment and supplies successfully arrived at the very heart of the Empire.
Here, they would launch their expansion into the capital's lucrative market.
They would begin with a pilot location to confirm the operational strategy, which Joseph had meticulously planned. If everything went smoothly, they would fully roll it out across the Imperial Capital in the coming months.
As the heart of the Elven Empire, Solaria was far more prosperous than Lunaria could ever hope to be.
The wide streets were packed with traffic, and pedestrians flowed endlessly through the commercial districts.
Unlike Lunaria, it was common here to see members of other races mixing freely with elves.
Among the crowd were various elven races, recognizable by their pointed ears and slender figures. They dressed in linen garments or silk robes, depending on their station.
Some noble elves even had ornate embroidery on their hems, displaying their wealth openly.
Humans, dwarves, and even rare fairy-like races could also be seen conducting business.
The city was enormous in scale, divided into inner and outer districts. From above, Solaria appeared circular, with four main avenues running east, west, south, and north directly into the inner district.
The inner district housed nobles and the powerful elite, while the outer district was mostly commoners, though it too was divided into different neighborhoods by wealth.
The trial operation site was located on a main road close to the inner district, positioned strategically.
It was situated in a bustling commercial area with massive foot traffic throughout the day.
Not only did commoners pass through regularly, but nobles frequently took this route as well when visiting the markets.
At first, a shop under renovation didn't attract much attention from passersby.
But as construction wrapped up and the barriers were gradually removed, the store's true appearance was revealed. It instantly captured the eyes of curious pedestrians.
In the lower corner was a small line of text that read: Dreamscape Entertainment Cultural Media Experience Center.
In the middle were four bold words that dominated the storefront.
"Starry Sky DreamNet Café? What the heck is that?"
A passing commoner elf stopped abruptly, scratching his head and muttering in confusion.
"That name is so strange! Have any of you heard of this kind of shop?"
Several young elves walking together gathered around curiously, examining the unusual storefront with interest.
"Never heard of it... what does it even do?"
Someone couldn't help but speculate aloud.
"The decoration looks pretty refined, though. I wonder which company is behind this?"
The shop hadn't officially opened yet, but anticipation was already building.
The renovation was extremely luxurious compared to neighboring establishments. The main entrance was made entirely of transparent glass, which was rare and expensive.
The store occupied a vast area, and one entire side wall was also decorated with glass panels. This allowed people to vaguely see the interior layout from outside.
Inside, rows of strange devices were neatly arranged in organized sections.
No one had ever seen such objects before and had no idea what they were used for, which only deepened the mystery.
Occasionally, employees in matching uniforms could be seen bustling about inside, adjusting those mysterious devices with practiced efficiency.
Meanwhile, on the main street of the Imperial Capital, a convoy drove past the gathering crowd.
Leading the procession was the newest Rolls-Royce model from Lunaria, instantly attracting widespread attention from everyone nearby.
Its noble lines outlined a calm and imposing silhouette that commanded respect, and its black exterior gleamed brilliantly under the afternoon sunlight.
The hood ornament was exquisite in design, and every detail radiated extreme luxury that money couldn't afford.
It formed a stark contrast with the surrounding traditional horse-drawn carriages that suddenly looked outdated.
As the convoy slowly passed, many citizens stopped in their tracks to stare.
"What kind of vehicle is that?! I've never seen it before!"
"Yeah! It looks so impressive! Even more imposing than a noble's carriage!"
"Is this some new model designed by a master craftsman from Solaria?"
"No idea. Haven't heard anything about it recently!"
"Something like that isn't for commoners like us anyway. Some elves are born with silver spoons in their mouths. These good things aren't that special to them. Even if we worked our whole lives, we wouldn't even get close to owning something like that. Alright, let's get back to work."
It wasn't only commoners who noticed the spectacle.
As the Rolls-Royce drove along, many nobles and wealthy merchants were also drawn to its striking presence.
They too noticed the stylish yet dignified vehicle cutting through traffic.
Coincidentally, a carriage pulled by two pure white unicorns was traveling down the same street moments before.
In Solaria, a unicorn-drawn carriage was a powerful symbol of status and wealth.
Though the carriage itself followed a traditional design, the unicorns were extremely rare creatures, even among elves who prided themselves on magical beasts.
The carriage body was engraved with elegant, mystical patterns and embedded with tiny gemstones that caught the light. It always drew attention whenever it appeared on the streets.
Inside, a noble dressed in luxurious robes leaned against a cushioned seat, resting with eyes closed peacefully.
But from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the Rolls-Royce driving down the center of the road with confidence.
He abruptly opened his eyes, and his pupils widened in surprise.
"Whose carriage is that?"
The smooth body design was maddeningly perfect in execution! Understated, yet radiating luxury in every curve.
Why had he never seen something like this before?
Compared to that, his pride and joy, the unicorn carriage, suddenly seemed somewhat inferior.
His carriage looked lavish enough, but in comparison, it felt a bit ostentatious now.
As if it screamed wealth outright without any subtlety.
But that car over there didn't announce anything, yet it exuded an overwhelming sense of prestige that couldn't be ignored.
Without hesitation, he immediately instructed his attendant urgently.
"Find out where that car came from and which workshop made it. No matter the price, I want one immediately."
Watching the Rolls-Royce disappear into the distance, he suddenly felt his own ride was like a peasant's wagon by comparison.
Completely unworthy of his status and position.
Behind the attention-grabbing Rolls-Royce were several other vehicles with simple yet refined designs, though all the spotlight had been stolen by the leading car.
Eventually, the Rolls-Royce slowly came to a stop in front of the Experience Center with perfect timing.
The door opened smoothly.
A young elf stepped out first, tall and upright, with somewhat handsome features that drew immediate attention.
Alongside him descended an exceptionally graceful female elf elegantly.
She wore a light purple gown, and her long hair cascaded gently over her shoulders. Her temperament was refined, like someone stepping out of a masterwork painting.
A rather good-looking man and a stunning woman together created quite the impression.
They immediately drew countless gazes from the gathering crowd.
"Who is that?"
"How would we know? There are so many wealthy people in the Empire. Who knows where he came from?"
"Hah! Probably some spoiled heir showing off his new toy!"
"So young with such a carriage, and such a beautiful companion. Must be some noble's son!"
"Not necessarily, though. There are too many geniuses in this world. Who knows, maybe he's another prodigy that just emerged from the academies!"
After admiring the scenery along the way, they had finally arrived at their destination.
Upon reaching the Imperial Capital, Alto couldn't help but marvel at its overwhelming prosperity.
If Lunaria felt serene and elegant while carrying a trace of tranquility, then Solaria felt grand and majestic while brimming with imposing splendor that couldn't be matched.
With Helena by his side, Alto had just stepped out of the car when Joseph, who had been busy inside the store coordinating final preparations, immediately hurried out to greet them with a respectful bow.