Chapter 107 Vital Invention

Industrial District, Bideford.

While Gerald and Audrey are busy in the south. Riz busied himself in a certain workshop formerly known as 'Arnold Woodshop.' The size of the workshop has quadrupled more than it was in the past and has undergone multiple renovations. All thanks to the generous money supply by the king.

Because he hired Goban as his chief researcher in Gatharix Weapon Company, Arnold is the only person left that he can trust to do research and experiments in a field aside from weapons. Due to multiple joint works between him and Goban in the past, coupled with the education provided, this old man has his knowledge expanded beyond woodcraft.

On paper, Arnold is not officially employed by Riz but it's the opposite in reality. Not only does he pay the monthly wage to Arnold but he also slips in some SIN agents to the workshop as a worker. Their job is mainly to monitor Arnold, making sure no leak and no invention was stolen.

Riz looks around the workshop. In one part, the place becomes workshop-like and in another part, turning into a research laboratory-like.

"I'm sorry for the mess, Your Majesty." Arnold apologized for the leftover steel fragments and plates, small steel components coals and dirty drawings, blueprints, sketches littered around on the floor and a simple model of a modest-size steam engine.

Health and safety hazards are everywhere with no effective measures put in place.

"It's okay, Arnold. You invited me here to show the results of your research, right?"

"Absolutely. I guarantee you'll be pleased, Your Majesty. I've deepened my understanding of pressure and found three ways to increase the pressure of a gas by increasing the number of molecules and temperature while decreasing the amount of space." The old man sounds like a child enthusiastically describing his new toy.

Riz raised his hand and put a stop to his explanation. Not because he isn't interested but because he already knows. Also to prevent the old man from derailing from the main topic. "Alright, stop right there, Arnold. You can explain it later. Show me the product first."

"My apologies, Your Majesty. Here, this way."

Arnold guides Riz to the inner part of the workshop. The inner part is where the finalized inventions are stored and its access is limited to three or four people.

"Well, this is impressive..." A familiar huge steel-made object enters his sight.

Even though he is aware of its existence, he was nevertheless astounded by it. It feels different for him to witness it firsthand.

It's a steam-powered tractor. A traction engine.

Riz can already imagine various places this machine can be used, ploughing fields, powering machinery and moving heavy loads. It's essentially a small version of the locomotive steam engine.

Before he applied steam engines anywhere else, he wanted to mechanize his agricultural sector. The goal is to boost productivity and reduce the cost of food as much as possible. Currently, the production of food has increased due to his previous policy but it's still unsatisfactory to him.

Various food companies have sprung up in the past year like mushrooms but his people aren't fully utilizing the fertile land they have.

The young king rummaged through every inch of the traction engine. It has every component such as a firebox, water tank, tubes and smokestack. Arnold follows exactly the blueprint he provided and manages to complete the incomplete part of his blueprint.

"Should I start the engine, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, hurry up. I can't wait to see this thing moving. While we are at it, let's go around the city." Riz excitedly suggests.

"Isn't doing that will alert other nations? There are a lot of foreign merchants in Bideford."

"Don't worry. It's fine as long as we keep the blueprint safe. There's no way they can steal this heavy engine."

"If you say so...Boys, load the coals and water here."

The workers immediately followed the order as they began to load the coals in coal bunkers. This traction engine was designed to hold 3000 litres of water.

After waiting for some time, the water finally heats up and generates enough steam. The roaring sound traction engine and the rattling sound of gears begin to fill up the workshop and its surrounding area. Such a loud noise is hard to ignore as it was unfamiliar to them and naturally piques the curiosity of the populace nearby.

"Hop on, Your Majesty." Ignoring the murmurs out there, Arnold called the king to ride the traction engine with him.

Riz did as he was told to and the metal beast started to move out to the street from the back entrance. Arnold is steering the wheel clumsily which is understandable.

"What's that?!"

"How did it move?"

"Move away! Don't block the street!" Arnold shouts to the crowds. "Hey, you! Don't touch it unless you want to lose your arm."

From the top of the traction, Riz can see the shock, awe, terror and curiosity in their eyes.

Some mothers tightly hold their children from getting close to an unknown creature. Men majoritively look with curiosity. Among all of them, a small group of people there attracts his attention. They're neither scared nor curious but gazing intensely at the traction engine.

'Well, that's a f*cking spy over there. Oh! that one as well. Another one at the corner. I should ask Charlotte to conduct another round of cleanup.'

Either way, Arnold's words have no effect on the spectators. Thus, he needs to personally step in to stop them from approaching the traction engine before the first vehicle-related accident happens in this world.

Riz opened his mouth, "People of Bideford, I understand your curiosity but I want you to move aside. I don't want any injuries to occur."

Hearing the words from their king, they no longer linger around the traction engine. But it doesn't stop them from following the metal beast.

Arnold sighs in relief, "Finally some space to move. I'm so scared that I might run over them."

"I guess the fault lies in me. Testing this for the first time in the middle of a busy city is not a good idea. Just one failure can cause catastrophic damage."

"Don't blame yourself, Your Majesty. I am also at fault for not thinking through it. Fortunately, the street here is wide or else it could be worse. Now, where should we head?"

"Let's get out of the city and move circulating it. We can figure out the range of this beast."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Arnold steers the wheel to the closest city gate, the south gate.

Along the way, both of them received the same reaction every single time.

'It's slow as a snail. What speed is this? 5 kilometres per hour?' Riz yawned as it moved.

"What's your next plan, Your Majesty?" Arnold initiated a conversation.

"Hmm? Let see...First, mass produces this and rent or sell it to the farmers. Our farmer possesses a vast land after all. Imagine if the farmers could plough the land faster than they do now. Then, I want you to retrofit my company to use a steam engine. After that, we applied the usage of the steam engine to the entire kingdom."

"Is this why you put all your effort into finding coals, Your Majesty?"

"Yes. Those who control energy resources are the ones who control the world. What do you think this invention affects our world, Arnold?"

"It'll cause a major change in society. I can see a lot of jobs becoming irrelevant." Arnold sounds like an old man who sees the world he knows become unrecognisable.

"Rest assured, Arnold. One job goes extinct and a new one emerges. I can guarantee the group that benefited from this is the people. This country is going to become better and better."