As summer was drawing to a close, Border Town was about to enter its final and hottest month. Roland grew increasingly reluctant to leave the castle.
The saltpeter he bought from Margareta was used not only for gunpowder production but also to cool rooms. These days, nearly every room has a bucket of saltpeter with a kettle of water inside, serving both as a heat-absorbing cooling aid and a refreshing drink to quench thirst. This way, he could avoid drenching himself in sweat the moment he entered the office each day.
Roland had suspended all the witches except Anna from their duties. Beyond their daily drills and studies, they mostly gathered in the first-floor hall, chatting or playing Quent cards in a cheerful group. As for Anna... it wasn't that Roland didn't want her to rest—she simply had no fear of heat. She could hold a red-hot iron ingot in her hand, and the scorching summer heat meant nothing to her. Even after an afternoon of laboring by the steel furnace, she wouldn't sweat a drop more.
To reward Anna for her diligence and attentiveness, Roland has recently been crafting special ice treats for her. A prime example is the timeless classic ice cream—made by blending egg yolk, cream, milk, and sugar syrup, then chilling it with saltpeter. Anna adores this delightfully cool, velvety treat with its sweet, sticky texture. Each bite, especially when her lake-blue eyes narrow into a sliver, brings him pure delight.
Moreover, reviewing the monthly summaries provided by the city hall is a delightful way to lift one's spirits.
Border Town has now doubled its population, reaching nearly 18,000 residents. With the Changge Fortress supplying a monthly quota of serfs, the population is poised to surpass 20,000 by the following year. Excluding villages and towns within its borders, this urban scale rivals major cities like Chishui City, Jinshui City, and the Imperial Capital.
It's somewhat disappointing that while the population has grown significantly, the quality of education hasn't improved much. Currently, only about a thousand local residents in the town are still receiving education, and it might take around a year to graduate smoothly. Although the private academy founded by Karl has produced a group of early graduates, the number of fewer than a hundred remains insignificant compared to the total population.
Roland mused that perhaps education for refugees in the eastern border should be prioritized over waiting until sufficient dormitory complexes are built. After all, he believed early education could only bring benefits, never drawbacks.
The town's factory is also developing well.
After over six months of construction, the industrial park now operates three factories: two steam engine production plants and a bullet manufacturing facility. Factory No.1 has grown from a dozen blacksmiths at its founding to over a hundred workers, with most new hires being local residents—exactly what the founder envisioned. Each apprentice gradually becomes a skilled craftsman, then inspires the next generation to follow.
The workers at Factory No.2, part of the Xianyue Bay caravan, had mastered the operation of various machine tools within just one month. While their yield rate remained low, their first-month performance was notably better than that of the blacksmiths at Factory No.1. However, all steam engines produced before the contract expired remained the property of Roland. Currently, both factories collectively produce eight to ten steam engines monthly, which constitute the primary revenue source for Border Town.
Regarding the ammunition factory, it was directly handed over to the First Army upon completion. Not only were sentries stationed at the entrance and patrols arranged around the perimeter, but even the production tasks were carried out by soldiers. After a week of trial operation, the factory has now commenced mass production of the new generation of standardized ammunition.
Roland's design pipeline cannot achieve fully automated production, as the priming powder, gunpowder, and bullet head all require manual loading and compaction. The primary processing tools are two mechanical stamping machines: one presses Anna's cut copper sheets into bullet casings, while the other stamps the priming cup.
The soldiers simply need to evenly place the mercuric sulfate powder between two thin sheets of paper, secure the paper pieces together, insert them into the primer cup, and finally insert the primer cup into the annular groove at the end of the cartridge to complete the process. As for loading the black powder and compacting the projectile, the procedure is identical to the previous reloading exercise.
The factory employs only about forty workers, yet it produces over five hundred rounds of ammunition daily. Roland plans to convert these forty workers into full-time processing staff to ensure the factory's smooth operation.
Roland's next priority is to complete the soap and perfume factories—the former being a vital component of the military industry, while the latter could open up new trade channels for the town. As for the bicycle factory, he can delay its construction until after the Kingdom Avenue is completed.
"Your Highness," Nightingale said, pushing open the door. "Macy and Lightning have arrived." The two slipped past her and ran to the table, peering out. "Is there something you need us for?" "Tomorrow is Midsummer," Roland said, pulling out the pre-written reply from his drawer and handing it to Macy. "When you return to the fjord, remember to pass it to Tilly." "Ah...!" She paused, blinking a few times before carefully stuffing the envelope into her handbag. "No problem!" Roland watched her look suddenly enlightened, as if she'd forgotten about her monthly duty to deliver the news. He held back a chuckle—this small town had a certain charm after all.
"I forgot it's already the new month again," Lightning pressed his forehead. "Doesn't that mean we'll be apart for another long time?" "Last time it was Lord Tilly's cleanup schedule that delayed us. This time I'll return as soon as possible," Maxie shook her nearly floor-length white hair. "The Eagle's Nest won't be explored until I'm back... *chirp*!" "Got it," the little girl pouted. "That's the deal." "You have a mission too," Roland spread out a map of the southern town area. "This is your hand-drawn map. Remember where there's a shallow beach near the mountain's coastal side?" "Remember," Lightning gestured on the map. "It's probably right here." "Great. You'll take Maxie flying soon, plant two flags at the beach-mountain junction, and mark it on the map," he said, looking at Maxie. "If Tilly agrees to send the Witch, guide the sailboat to this shallow spot. I'll meet you at the mountaintop." "Send the Witch?" Lightning asked curiously. "Are there new sisters coming to Border Town?" "Not yet," Roland smiled. "It depends on Tilly's answer... But I think she'll agree."