"Didn't I tell you that you must rest?" Lucas frowned. He hadn't expected the old blacksmith to work so frantically, sleeping only four hours a day.
"Master, the old blacksmith is too stubborn. I..." Henry's face was filled with bitterness. He had repeatedly urged the old blacksmith to rest, but he never imagined the old man would secretly get up at night to continue forging and experimenting.
"City Lord, don't blame Lord Henry! It's my fault for not being able to help my father," The old blacksmith's son said, tears streaming down his face.
"Cough, cough... you brat! Don't talk nonsense." An aged, hacking cough came from behind them. The old blacksmith was being supported as he walked in, looking so frail a gust of wind might knock him over.
"Old blacksmith, you're ill. Why are you out of bed?" Lucas frowned. He could see it plainly: the old blacksmith was exhausted. He had worked himself into the ground.
"City Lord, I'm fine! I'm perfectly fine... cough, cough, cough!" The old blacksmith shouted excitedly, but was immediately seized by a violent coughing fit, as if trying to hack up a lung. He couldn't collapse yet. His true mission wasn't finished.
"Water! Get some water, quickly!" Lucas shouted. He was terrified the old blacksmith would just pass away right here. The loss would be too great.
"Water's here!" The old blacksmith's son ran over with a cup of water and carefully helped his father drink.
"Mina, go to the carriage and get the glucose," Lucas ordered, turning his head. He remembered stashing some in the carriage cabinet.
"Yes." Mina nodded and ran off with light, nimble steps.
"Quick, sit down and rest." Lucas personally pulled a chair over for the old blacksmith.
"City Lord, I'll get it, I'll get it!" The blacksmith's son hurried forward to take the chair. He would never dare to actually let the City Lord fetch a chair.
This gesture moved the old blacksmith to tears. He felt all his recent hardship had been completely worth it. He felt he could push on.
"Don't get excited. Calm down and rest first. I'm still waiting for you to report your results, you know," Lucas quickly placated him. He was genuinely afraid the old man would pass away from the excitement.
To build a steam engine in just a few short months... the old blacksmith was, without a doubt, a top-tier talent in this era. He was someone Lucas absolutely needed. If he died, the research plan would be completely derailed.
"Good, good..." The old blacksmith agreed several times and obediently sat down on the chair to rest. He also knew this was no time to be stubborn.
Lucas walked over to the steam engine. Watching the constantly spinning wheel, his face filled with delight. One of the symbols of the Industrial Revolution... it was finally built.
"How many revolutions per minute does it do?" Lucas asked.
"Reporting to My Lord, it runs at one hundred to one hundred and ten RPM. It's been running continuously for ten days!" The old blacksmith couldn't help but exclaim, rising and walking to Lucas's side.
"What problems did you run into?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. It was impossible to build the first steam engine without encountering problems.
"A few parts broke, and we had occasional steam leaks. We just solved the problem with the valve yesterday," The old blacksmith said in a low, anxious voice. He was terrified that the City Lord would be dissatisfied with the machine, especially considering how much steel he had used.
"You solved the valve?" Lucas was surprised. One of the most critical components had been figured out. He nodded. "Do these small issues still pop up? I need it to be extremely stable."
"My Lord, I'm already building a new one. It's an improved model. I'm confident that one can run for ten days straight without any issues," The old blacksmith said with great conviction.
He had been limited by materials for so long. If he hadn't gone to the steel mill a few days ago and learned they'd developed a new type of steel, which he then used for the engine, he never would have succeeded.
"Excellent." Lucas's eyes lit up. "You've done an excellent job. When can the new one be built? No... old blacksmith, you must rest first. Recover your health, then you can work on it."
"My Lord, don't worry about me. My son can handle it." The old blacksmith pulled his son over, saying with relief, "He was by my side through the entire process. He knows every step."
"Good. Then it's in his hands." Lucas chuckled and nodded. He knew the old blacksmith was creating an opportunity for his son, hoping the son would gain his favor.
"What are you waiting for? Accept the order!" The old blacksmith snapped, kicking his son's leg.
"I guarantee I will complete the task!" The son shouted loudly.
"Test with the small one first. If there are no issues, I want a steam engine capable of moving several thousand... even ten thousand pounds," Lucas said in a deep voice. The applications for the steam engine were endless.
"Yes!" The blacksmith and his son replied respectfully.
"Old blacksmith, do you remember those plans I gave you? For the train? The one that can pull thousands of people and travel for tens of thousands of kilometers?" Lucas asked calmly.
"I remember! I remember!" The old blacksmith nodded frantically, his eyes filled with a manic light. It was seeing that diagram that had driven him to work and experiment so insanely, day and night. He was terrified he wouldn't live long enough to complete it.
"Don't you collapse. You must build that train for me." Lucas turned, fixing his gaze on the old man, and said with great seriousness, "You alone are worth a thousand laborers in Sedona City. Your health is critical."
"I will, I will..." The old blacksmith was so moved, tears streamed down his face. It was the first time in his life he had been valued so highly, especially by a noble—and one he revered, at that.
"Master, I have the glucose," Mina said, walking in with a jar.
"Give it to the old blacksmith." Lucas watched him take the jar. "Mix a little with water and drink it every day. It will help replenish your strength."
"Thank you, City Lord!" The old blacksmith said, bowing hastily.
"Please, get up," Lucas said quickly. This kind of dedicated, research-obsessed fanatic was someone he truly respected—just like those few revered old scientists back on Earth.
"City Lord, give me one year. I will absolutely build that train for you," The old blacksmith vowed, his face grim with determination.
"Good. I believe you. Whatever men you need, you'll have. Whatever money you need, you'll get," Lucas said gently. With the blueprints he had provided, he thought, it might just be possible.
He decided he would return to Earth and, through... special channels... get some old old videos. Videos of old trains being built. They'd be black and white, and he'd have to edit them, but it would work.
"I guarantee I will complete the task!" The old blacksmith said respectfully, his face filled with a zealous fire.
"Go and rest. Now." Lucas shot a look at Henry. He was truly worried the old man would collapse right then and there.
"Yes, old blacksmith, please go rest." Henry quickly arranged for men to escort the old blacksmith back to his room.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.