Chapter 10:
The next day William left to supervise the mine after insisting that a real miner must be brought in. He was told that they had already asked for one, but they were still waiting for a reply. He was also told to redirect all the ore to the mill. Subaru then asked Ivan about electricity.
Subaru: "Ivan may I get a moment?"
Ivan: "Yes boss, anything."
Subaru: "Do you know what electricity is or have you seen it?" Ivan made a long pause searching his memories.
Ivan: "I don't know what it is, but I've seen magicians use it in the capital."
Subaru: "And what use do the magicians have for it?"
Ivan: "They make small lightning strikes of much less power than the natural ones and the lightning makes crackling sounds."
Subaru: "Do you know how they generate electricity?"
Ivan: "Generate?...Well they spined an odd metal wheel around some type of coil."
Subaru: "Hmm…Maybe we will need to expand this division. No, I am taking to many issues at once first the factories and train must get running."
After that Subaru told Ivan that they would need a new train capable of moving long distances, the one they had was barely managing the 11-kilometer railway. Subaru asked to include 4 pistons, a whistle and a way to recycle the water vapor, since they were running out of water quite often.
Soon after that Subaru received 2 smiths and their apprentices (total of 15 people) from the town. They would man the mill that for now would focus on refining iron ore into iron for the railway the division's stockpile and the town. 5 of the 6 cauldrons would be used for this, the last one was reserved for steel making. They were taught by Beatrice on the dangers and maintenance of steam engines, what use they would have and how to keep them running. A few men where reluctant to use the steam engines specially after knowing that they could blow up if handled incorrectly. Subaru made sure they saw how necessary the engines were. First, he shows them how it made the blowing of air into the fire a lot easier, making the job of 1 man for just each bellow with just a man and an engine for all the bellows in the mill (18 bellows total). Also, when tipping over the cauldron they had a separate bigger steam engine capable of doing so when originally it would take some 10 to 15 men to achieve the exact same.
When the first ore filled carriage arrived the engines were all started and the fireplaces just got ignited, the men got quick to work. Subaru and Beatrice just stayed in the mill to make sure the engines where all used properly since they had no idea on how exactly ore was refined into iron.
On the third carriage came William he was content with how the miners worked better than the day before and went to the mill to see what was going on.
He was surprised to see almost everyone in there working so seamlessly in the facility and saw Subaru and Beatrice in the mill and went to tell them about the good news in the mine and that now he would resume production of the cotton machines. Since the cotton factory would be running in a few days from now. But he also learned something surprising.
William: "What happened to that guy?" He pointed to a man sitting on a chair with bloodied hands.
Beatrice: "He put his hand to close to the gears and got a few fingers crushed in fact."
William: "W-what?"
Subaru: "But don't worry Will, he got healed by Beako and is now all good he is just…recovering from the shock."
William: "Are you sure this is safe sir?"
Subaru: "After that happened to him, I am sure no one will dare touch any moving mechanism."
Beatrice: "They have to somehow take the machines serious I suppose."
After that William got to making steel using a cauldron that was being used to refine iron, after getting rid of all the impurities he had the men working on the cauldron to help him with the steel. This time all the windows were opened, and the heat was a lot more tolerable than the last time William used the mill. Subaru seeing that William was taking care of everything decided to leave but Beatrice wished to stay, so he went alone to the house and went to see how to cotton factory was going.
The factory was almost finished only a few roof tiles where missing Subaru was impressed by how fast magic made constructing buildings. Once he entered the house, he went to check on Ivan who had devised a way to recollect the water vapor from the exhaust but not the one coming out from the top of the piston, Subaru told him to not worry too much about that. Subaru then looked at the steam train Ivan had drawn on one of the tables and got closer. It looked like the one he had envisioned but according to the scales was a bit smaller than expected. Someone knocked on the door and Subaru went to see who it was.
Subaru opened the door and found a messenger with a letter for him, he thanked the man and read the envelope. It was from Julius. 'What, they already found out? I knew Anastasia's intelligence network was good but not this good.' He opened the envelope and started to read. It was not at all what he thought. The letter said that something had been found in the capitol by members of the iron fang, a man's body, he had weird cloth a few books written in a foreign language and some odd metias, one of the metias was similar to the one he used during the hunt for the white whale. Julius was asking for him to help inspect the items the man had.
Subaru immediately decided to go and sent a letter to the mansion and went to find Beatrice. Beatrice was happy to have a chance to see more from her contractor's world and they started to pack up. At lunch they informed Ivan and William about the sudden change of plans and told them that they would oversee the introducing of the factory workers to the factory as well the installation of the machines for which Beatrice handed them a plan of the expected layout.
They left for the capitol with Patrasche immediately after lunch. After 3 days of travel, they finally arrived. In the voyage Subaru had made plans for what he would do here. First, he would go the Karsten's manor to see if he had any message from the rest of his faction. Second, he would go to inspect the man's items and try to find an excuse to keep anything he considers valuable. Then, he would search for someone that could know anything about generating electricity if he didn't find any one then he will search for book about it. When walking to the Karsten's manor he started to feel sorry for the dead man 'Stop it Subaru, it's no use feeling sorry for someone I don't even know or care about, think about…Emilia-tan.'
He found that Emilia was already at the manor and she informed him that she will accompany him since she needed to speak with Anastasia about a resource transfer between the factions. She also confirmed that all the faction would go to the town for the festival. Without any further updates they started to head for the place where Anastasia's knight would meet them.
Once they arrived, they found Julius waiting for them, he greeted them and took them to a Garson like place belonging to the Iron Fang.
Subaru: "I am surprised you are actually allowed to have such installations in a populated area."
Julius: "I was to when my lady showed me. I did not know about this place before that."
Emilia: "But why is it surprising? Isn't a private army supposed to have a base?"
Subaru: "But in a city?"
Beatrice: "That type of power projection is odd I suppose."
Julius: "I can assure it is perfectly legal since the Iron Fang is contracted to protect this area. A special service Anastasia-sama provides."
They entered the building and Emilia was guided by Ricardo to Anastasia's office while Subaru and Beatrice followed Julius to the basement.
Julius: "You see Subaru we brought you here specifically to take a look at one of the metias, but I personally wish to have you take a look at the books."
Subaru: "But why me?" 'Perfect I don't have to insist to see everything.' He thought.
Julius: "Because the books seem to be heavily encrypted in some unknown or long forgotten method. Like the knowledge you used for the first trial in the tower."
Subaru: "Encrypted you say? Maybe I can actually help then." 'Did he really just give me an excuse to take the books with me?' He thought. "Julius what did you see in the books?"
Julius: "I couldn't read them, but they had a few illustrations of what seemed like machines and odd cities and maps."
Subaru: "I'm feeling a bit curious about them now." He thought: 'Yes, this it just perfect if it is what I think.'
Beatrice: "So is Beatty in fact. Julius and what about the metias I wonder?"
Julius: "Oh yes the primary reason for your visit. There are 2 of them one large and one small. The large one folds open and can glow and the small one is similar yet different to the one Subaru had."
Subaru: "I think I know what they are. Please tell me you didn't use them too much."
Julius: "As expected from you, and no we hardly investigated them and as soon as we made the connection to you, we stopped all further investigations."
Beatrice: "I would like to see the books first I suppose."
Julius: "No need to worry Great Spirit they are in the same room."
Subaru: "And how did the man die?"
Julius: "According to a report he appeared out of nowhere and was disoriented, he then started to speak nonsense, tried to cross a road and was crushed by an incoming dragon carriage. The case was archived as an accident and since he isn't registered anywhere his belongings are here."
Subaru: "At least it wasn't painful, right?"
Julius: "The report says he died instantly."
Subaru: "Did anyone understand what he said?"
Julius: "Vaguely, stuff about being a time traveler and a so-called middle age. Any ideas?"
Subaru: "He pretty much called us barbarians…" 'A different conclusion to what I had but apparently he didn't notice the dragons or demi humans.' He thought.
Julius: "What barbarians?!"
Subaru: "I can explain it to you later if you want to, but it will be time consuming."
Julius: "Very well" He took out a notebook and wrote down what he would ask Subaru later.
They arrived at the room where the stuff was stored, it was pretty well cleaned and illuminated to be a part of the basement. Subaru saw Julius pick up a box from a pile of boxes and put it on a table. Julius indicated Subaru and Beatrice to get closer, so they did. And the first thing Subaru saw was a laptop and what he assumed was a phone albeit it was all screen and only had 2 buttons on the sides. Once Julius took out the books Subaru started to read the titles. 'Diary…The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective… Industrial Revolution in World History… The age of Machinery: Engineering the Industrial Revolution, 1770-1850…The Victorian Age in Politics, War and Diplomacy.'
(Haven't read any of these yet so I don't know the content quality or recommend them. I included them to have an excuse as to how Subaru will know how to make machines from now on and why they haven't been made yet. Let's face it Subaru is not that smart. Also, to make Emilia capable of managing such a society on the macro level or at least study about it.)
There was also a newspaper and folder. Subaru was smiling knowing that he hit a gold mine. Beatrice had already picked up a book and looked at the pages and Subaru followed.
Subaru: "All the books look so new."
Beatrice: "And the paper feels different I haven't seen book like these ever in fact."
Julius: "Apparently the man had just bought them, but I do not know of any place where they sell book like these."
Subaru: "They are a bit encrypted but the bigger issue I see is that this is my home language. Can I take them with me to decipher and translate them?"
Julius: "You are truly cunning sometimes Subaru, I would allow you to take the book with you, but we need to ask Anastasia-sama first."
Subaru: "Let's wait for her and Emilia-tan to finish talking then. I will try to figure out what they are about." 'Maybe I could get Anastasia to sell them to me? No, I shouldn't risk it yet.' He thought.
After skimming a bit through the books Subaru went to check the computer and to his delight it did not have a password. He saw the battery was half consumed and saw the date 19/06/2021 and realized that this man came from his future. He then took a quick look at the documents. He found many books and papers about medieval Europe and the Spanish conquest of the Americas. He turned the computer off and looked at the weird phone. He was awed when the screen reacted to his fingers. 'It is from the future after all.' He thought while trying to use it. After a while he realized that the battery depleted rather quickly compared to his old phone, so he turned it off. He then looked at the diary of the man and learned that the man was a history teacher in a university teaching primarily about medieval Europe, Spanish Reconquista, renaissance and que conquest of the Americas. He was apparently getting a new job where he would have to teach people about the Victorian age, so he bought a few books to get going with the unfamiliar subject. 'Almost to convenient.' Subaru thought.
Julius: "Before I forget this man also had weird junk in his bag." He took out the chargers for the phone and computer from the backpack.
Subaru: "Junk you say? It makes you seem like a barbarian if you call it that. Be careful with that."
Julius: "A barbarian?"
Subaru: "I will explain when I have time I promise."
A guard entered the room and told them that Anastasia and Emilia had finished talking. Julius quickly put everything back in the box carefully, He then guided Beatrice and Subaru to Anastasia's office. Once they arrived, they found Anastasia behind her desk and Emilia siting in front both were talking about trivial stuff but greeted them as soon as the entered and so did the others.
Anastasia: "So Subaru, you can really read those books?"
Subaru: "Yes, but they have some light type of encryption. Despite that I still managed to read the titles and figure out what they are about."
Anastasia: "And what are they about?"
Subaru: "A few are about machines that can be made in theory but that are yet to be made in reality or find practical applications, others are about a fictitious British society in a fictitious Victorian age it seems to have some interesting concept regarding internal politics despite being fictitious. And one is about a great war or two."
Anastasia: "Hmm…you don't seem to be lying, but for what we brought you here. Julius did he manage to use the metias?"
Julius: "He did but decided to not take further looks into it."
Anastasia: "Why is that Subaru?"
Subaru: "Because they have limited energy, and it was depleting rather fast for my liking."
Beatrice: "Can't we replenish the energy I wonder?"
Anastasia: "Subaru?"
Subaru: "Its energy source is electricity I know it, but I don't know how to make it."
Anastasia: "We can fix that later. About transcribing the books how long would it take?"
Subaru: "Hmm…five…maybe six…"
Julius: "What? Days? Weeks? Months?"
Subaru: "Could be seven…I would mostly do it in my spare time since currently I am occupied."
Anastasia: "Months?"
Subaru: "Yes, but it could be more, the books are long and a few concepts will require a lot of explaining I think."
Anastasia: "Ok then, we will let you take the books, but I need you to send reports of advance every trimester if possible."
Julius: "What about the metias Anastasia-sama?"
Anastasia: "Subaru take them to, I will send a machine that I have in Kararagi for the electricity generation issue."
Subaru: "Seems good to me."
Anastasia: "Then we have a deal." Subaru looks at Emilia on the side who nods.
Subaru: "Deal!"