When asked what symbolizes the industrial age, Roland immediately pictured trains roaring along the tracks, their wheels belching steam.
The oil-stained cast iron cylinders, the massive crankshaft, the enormous iron wheels, the rhythmic hum and vibrations, and the whistle piercing the sky—these were the first impressions of mechanical beauty for him, beginning with steam locomotives. Unlike later mechanical systems that concealed structures within casings, employed high-precision machining to reduce vibrations, and emphasized soundproofing and noise absorption, these early machines vividly embodied the raw power and aesthetic appeal of industrial engineering.
He also envisioned laying railway tracks across the territory, enabling trains to transport passengers and cargo between the western regions. Yet, while the vision was appealing, the reality fell short—let alone building a steam locomotive, the sheer volume of steel required for track construction far exceeded the production capacity of the North Slope kiln complex.
Thus, as a compromise, man-powered bicycles became Roland's optimal choice. The more flat roads were built within the territory, the greater the bicycle's revenue would be. Moreover, compared to the structurally complex steam trains, it required almost no maintenance—occasionally just a bit of chain oil.
To mass-produce bicycles, Anna could no longer rely on manual craftsmanship. The priority was to establish a factory and train skilled workers for assembly. With the Royal Avenue project not expected to be completed until next spring, the initial factory scale needed to be modest. After Anna manufactured the required machine tools for the assembly line, workers could gradually master the processes, achieving a monthly output of around ten bicycles. The most technically demanding part was the chain assembly: machine-stamped chain links were manually fastened with pins to form the final product.
However, rubber components like tires and brakes still require Soraya's expertise to produce—fortunately, this part of the work is relatively straightforward. Once the base mold is ready, the Magic Power pen can swiftly create numerous copies. The same applies to bearings: even if a reliable rolling bearing cannot be made, a small section of steel sleeve can serve as a sliding bearing. After applying a smooth mirror-coated inner ring, the result is nearly as effective as the former.
When bicycles first appeared, only the Noble class could afford this expensive mode of transportation. To make them accessible to the general public, Roland not only launched extensive promotional campaigns but also introduced an installment payment system to reduce the financial burden. Of course, only citizens with valid ID cards could apply for this payment option at the town hall.
The trio spent the afternoon navigating the garden. Carter Lannis, living up to his Chief Knight title, became the first to master the bike, with Iron Axe following closely behind as the second to complete the circuit. Barov, however, kept failing—twisting his bike until it nearly toppled or losing control of the straight line. In the end, Roland had to ask Soroya to sketch him standing by the bike, hands firmly on the handlebars.
"Is this all you need?" Witch asked after finishing four massive posters.
"Need to add a couple of ad lines," Roland mused. "The top reads: 'New Era rides—mine is this way, yours will be this way too.' The bottom says: 'Bicycle factory hiring workers—good pay, great benefits, plus a chance to get a brand-new bike for free. Applicants with primary education can apply at City Hall.'"
After finishing up the bicycle poster, Prince returned to the office. With some time left before dinner, he had his bodyguards summon Kaimo Stryker.
The development of mercury tetraacetate has finally achieved a breakthrough, and the creation of next-generation weapons can now be put on the agenda. Undoubtedly, in the age of firearms, caliber symbolizes justice, while rate of fire represents freedom; greater power brings greater glory, and more cannons signify greater equality... However, an awkward issue arises: if this trend continues, the two acids produced through laboratory methods will soon fail to keep up with consumption.
For example, to increase firing rate, one must abandon the residue-heavy black powder and switch to smokeless propellant—namely, gunpowder or a mixture of gunpowder and nitroglycerin. The same principle applies to high-power explosives. If trinitrotoluene (TNT) cannot be produced, nitrocellulose can serve as an alternative. Despite its inferior stability, it delivers slightly greater explosive power than TNT.
Regardless of the substance in question, both require substantial quantities of high-concentration fuming nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid for purification, neither of which can be adequately produced by laboratory-scale facilities. In other words, the industrial-scale production of these two acids is unfeasible. Even if more efficient weapons were developed, this would result in a critical shortage of ammunition.
When the Chief Alchemist entered the office, Roland said, "I have a new task for you." "Go ahead," Kemo shrugged. "Just don't attend any ceremonies." "I need more acid solution. The current production from the chemical lab alone can't meet my needs. Your new task is to design a chemical system that can efficiently and conveniently produce two acids." "Chemical... system?" He looked puzzled.
"Exactly," Roland explained the essence of industrial production simply. "It consists of one or multiple complete reaction units that can continuously produce finished goods once raw materials are fed in. I don't know much about this part, so you'll have to figure it out on your own." Though he said this, Prince knew it was an extremely challenging task—one that might take years of research with no guarantee of success. After all, the only resources available were basic reaction principles and chemical equations from *Elementary Chemistry*.
"I see," Kemo nodded. "Your suggestions are truly refreshing." "Whether you can complete them or not, both types of acid are urgently needed by me," Roland paused. "So next month, I plan to expand three more laboratories along the Chishui River and recruit qualified candidates from the populace to serve as lab technicians. If you're unavailable to train them, select a few disciples to take over temporarily. After all, industrial acid production is an extremely time-consuming research project." Perhaps tempted by the allure of *Intermediate Chemistry*, he agreed immediately. "Yes, Your Highness." After Kemo Shuir left, Roland let out a soft sigh.
If the industrial acid production method proved hopeless, Lucia would have no choice but to join the effort in refining the acid solution. After all, when the war breaks out, he needs more powerful weapons to secure victory for the small town.
Roland pulled open the drawer, intending to snack on some dried fish to kill time, but found the snack compartment completely empty.
He paused for a moment, then looked up to see a piece of dried fish already on the tip of his tongue.
"Are you looking for this?" the blonde woman across from you said with a smile.
Roland clamped his teeth on the dried fish and couldn't help but smirk, "I thought you'd stay in the fog forever." "That's fine too. At least others can't see me, but I can still see you," Nightingale said with a pout.
The gloom that had settled in gradually dissipated. Seeing the familiar face, he let out a sigh of relief. "You mentioned earlier you weren't sure what expression to wear..." "Huh?" "Actually, this one works perfectly."