The purchasing power of one écu was equivalent to around 18,000 to 19,000 renminbi oh. Four écus could buy a BYD Qin PLUS Hoion ba Earth.

  A mere carriage—what kind of advaeology did it have?

  It didn’t even e with a horse, let alone a carriage system, a dared to match the price of a BYD Qin PLUS Hoion?

  More importantly, while Charlot Meburg had never owned a carriage, he often rode public carriages or borrowed the private carriages of the Bretagne family. Naturally, he khat these things were not worth that much!

  The carriage broker smiled and said, “A carriage of this quality is a rare find. Sir, are you sure you don’t want to resider?”

  Charlot immediately raised his void decred loudly, “Find me another broker!”

  The sudden outburst drew the attention of many around him. The broker’s face flushed red, and he lowered his voice, saying, “Apologies, sir! Allow me to make amends—this carriage be yours for three écus a flors.”

  Charlot said coldly, “I don’t want to repeat myself.”

  The broker’s voice dropped even lower, “Actually, three écus will do!”

  Charlot shook his head. “This is your st ce to quote me a price.”

  Oh, there was a long period when car buyers seemed masochistiduring aloof attitudes, pt, markups, and months of waiting just to get their hands on a specific car brand.

  Charlot found it inprehensible. To him, vehicles were industrial produone had epoch-defining teology. If one car didn’t work out, just get another. Why let oneself be treated like a fool?

  In this era, carriages cked teological sophistication. A carpenter could oversee the entire process, from chopping the wood to crafting the carriage. Forests surrouhe cities, and wood was virtually free, while bor was cheap. The most expensive part of a carriage was often its decorations.

  Even in Strasb, very few could afford carriages. Made of durable wood, carriages could st for decades, sometimes passed down through three or five geions. A newly crafted carriage might take months to find a buyer.

  The market for sed-hand carriages was even smaller. Many people preferred paying a premium for a brand-new carriage over promising on used ones. A practical buyer like Charlot was rare—he was not about to let areat him as a fool with moo burn.

  Gritting his teeth, the broker whispered, “Two écus a flors! I’ll throw in carriage mps, cushions, and reins!”

  Charlot nodded and said, “Reend me a draft horse as well.”

  This time, the transa proceeded much more smoothly.

  Charlot did not pick the fully golden-haired, radiant Argento horse, which looked like a divieed from the heavens. Nor did he select the Bronay horse, a solid white breed that resembled carved marble. He also ighe massive Shire horse. Instead, he chose a two-year-old Brabant draft horse!

  In this world, due to the exorbitant cost of horses, high maintenance expenses, and the prevalence of extraordinary abilities, knights emerged as a symbol of elite martial strength, but rge-scale cavalry never developed. Nearly 90% of all horses were bred as heavy draft horses.

  The Ingrima Empire had a saying: “More horses pull carts than carry riders.”

  The Brabant draft horse was sidered medium-sized among draft horses, with average strength. Even so, it stood over two pimis tall—far rger than most horses oh.

  Hardy and unpicky eaters, Brabant horses could go hungry for a few days without issue. Although not as strong as other breeds, they had excellent endurand det speed. Their only fw was their mixed c—chestnut, brown, bay, gray, and bck often blended into patchy coats, making them less aesthetically pleasing. As a result, they were priced lower than other draft horses.

  This two-year-old Brabant horse cost Charlot two écus. The broker even threw in a year’s worth of hay.

  Typically, horses on the Old ti lived for 30 to 50 years. With proper care, they could outst a carriage and serve three geions or more.

  Charlot’s purchase of the carriage and draft horse had already drawn attention.

  A woman ihirties, strong and resolute-looking, stepped into his path. She wore but slightly worn clothing and spoke, “Sir! Do you need a coaan?”

  “I have excellent driving skills, low wages, and even handle odd jobs like ing.”“I really his job. Would you sider hiring me?”

  Charlot hesitated slightly. The woman lowered her void added, “The broker here voue.”

  The broker hesitated, then said, “Mrs. Nancy is a better driver than many men. Her previous employer was extremely satisfied with her and even offered her a lifetime tract. However, due to a failed gold mine iment in the New ti, her employer had to sell off assets to cover the loss, including releasing Mrs. Nancy from her tract.”

  Charlot asked, “Madam, what’s your weekly wage?”

  Mrs. Nancy bit her lip and replied, “Eighty-five times.”

  The price was a bit steep, but Charlot didn’t object. Smiling, he asked, “Would you accept a short-term trial?”

  Mrs. Nancy quickly agreed, “I would.”

  Sylvie Martin’s weekly sary was also 85 times, but Sylvie had graduated from Behemoth National Academy, sh wage was justified.

  For a coaan like Mrs. Nanmand the same sary, there could be only one expnation: she was inally trained as a high-level coaan in a noble household.

  Most people wouldn’t even sider hiring a female driver. Mrs. Nancy was likely a “personal requirement” of a noblewoman.

  Given her expensive sary, it was naturally hard for her to find wain. Charlot himself had only retly earned a weekly wage of one flor ay times. Mrs. Nancy’s pay was close to half the ine of a forty-first-ranked imperial civil servant.

  Charlot chose an old carriage and a budget-friendly draft horse because overspending on such things was meaningless—aside from appearahey offered no real improvement in fort.

  However, the fort provided by a high-level coaan was a different story. Though Mrs. Nancy’s price was steep, Charlot was willing to trial her for a week.

  After settling all expenses, Charlot happily climbed into his new carriage. Mrs. Nancy dohe coaan’s hat and, with a deft flick of her wrist, drove the Brabant horse smoothly out of the carriage market.

  Her driving skills were indeed excellent—fast yet stable.

  Charlot half-reed ihe carriage, taking in the decor. This luxurious four-wheeled carriage appeared ade and was slightly lohan typical models, certainly exceedi pimis.

  The interior was divided into two partments. The front, roughly six pimis long, was the owner’s . The rear, about two pimis square, was for servants and luggage. It featured a fully enclosed design, unlike ordinary carriages with open luggage racks.

  Oher side of the owner’s were bright crystal gss windows, crafted using high-level alchemy—absurdly expehe broker’s cim that its inal price was five écus and three flors was likely true.

  In addition to two opposing rows of seats, the previous owner had whimsically designed a small “study” in the rear of the owner’s . Though pact, it included a desk, bookshelf, sofa chair, and even a slot for a kerosene mp.

  Charlot particurly liked this design. Normally, nobles would have installed a soft bed in this space.

  Charlot had inteo head home but ged his mind. Opening the unication pipe, he said, “Mrs. Nancy, take me tias Uy.”