When the mechanical lathe was activated, a deep rumbling echoed through the entire workshop. The operator pressed the start button, and the lathe vibrated momentarily before stabilizing.
The magic mechanism began to operate, causing the transmission belt to spin rapidly, emitting a faint buzzing sound. The cutting tool slowly advanced forward, making contact with the metal workpiece, producing a harsh friction sound and the sound of metal shavings flying. Cooling liquid sprayed onto the workpiece, producing wisps of white smoke and a unique metallic scent.
The entire process was filled with the power of machinery and precise coordination, giving Lind an incredible sense of satisfaction.
The lathe utilized the latest raw sand magic power containers, which were far more durable than the previous magic stone supply systems.
The initial plan was to connect through transmission mediums and obelisks. After all, the connection on the obelisk side was not yet fully established, with numerous subsidiary magic circles needing to be planned.
Lysha’s original design was even more exaggerated than the obelisk that had already been constructed in the current territory.
It was originally intended to use wireless power, needing only to be within the power range of the obelisk, allowing for remote power supply through specific magic circles.
However, the current magic circle algorithm could not keep up, and the material requirements were quite high, resulting in significant magic power dissipation. Lind had to adopt a more conservative approach, but he believed that in the future, Lysha’s envisioned power supply method might be achievable.
With the lathe, the weaponry and equipment in the territory could finally begin true mass production, no longer relying on the original craftsmen’s endless labor.
Combining with the raw sand magic power containers, individual combat capabilities could achieve extreme endurance, and the enhancements on the armor could also be updated.
Lind had even begun to contemplate the feasibility of powered armor.
Unfortunately, the territory was still in the early stages of developing internal combustion engines to convert magic into mechanical energy.
Since he was not a specialist, Lind could only describe the classic engine models and general design ideas from the past, leaving it to Lena and the craftsmen to conduct their research.
Although the final transmission device designed might be a bit odd and had a low conversion rate, it also had significant room for improvement; on the harsh side, it could be considered nothing more than brute force.
At least it was usable now, and regardless of wasted power, the magic engine of Graywhite Territory was in production; this lathe was powered by the latest engine.
As autumn came to an end, the Northern Border, like in the past, began to welcome the bitter winter earlier than others.
Usually, after the autumn harvest, the Northern Border would start to rest, as their winters were long and arduous. Even the fierce and valiant Northerners would choose to lie low during the cold winter and pray that their stored food would help them survive the harsh winter.
For the nobles, the pressure was much less; winter was often the best time for them. With the help of magic and professionals, the cold was hardly a concern, and there were many spell scrolls on the market specifically designed to assist nobles through the winter.
These scrolls were quickly disassembled and analyzed in Graywhite Territory, and magic circles were established based on this analysis.
The newly arrived people in Graywhite Territory were surprised to find that there was a lot of work to be done here during the winter — or rather, it was necessary work.
The benevolent governor not only provided hot meals and tailored winter clothing but also offered special winter subsidies. Families with a bit of savings would choose to use warmth scrolls produced in the territory, while those who had just arrived in Graywhite Territory and had no savings could use these subsidies to purchase some charcoal for heating.
The governor had just announced the winter production plan, followed by various factories rising up, and a large amount of basic equipment piled into the territory like snowflakes falling from the sky.
Even dressed in thick winter clothing, Darsi did not forget to wear the sharpshooter medal personally awarded by the lord, the copper medal shining dazzlingly under the winter sun. The two soldiers accompanying Darsi looked enviously at the medal on his chest from time to time.
It was not because of the special subsidies that the medal brought; these two soldiers had previously been followers of the Lars Family knights, or rather, apprentice knights. Although their living conditions could not be said to be comfortable, they were not envious of any subsidies, especially after officially enlisting.
For the soldiers of Lars, honor was the most important thing. The military training of the Lars Army emphasized that it was better to die on the battlefield than to leave their backs to the enemy, especially for those who might have once served as followers of the Lars knights.
Darsi’s medal represented not just honor, but, more importantly, the recognition of the Lord Governor. For these followers, the medal was simply a pass to the knight class.
Even though the knight class no longer held any privileges and was merely an honorary title, this title had a deadly allure for the people of Lars, akin to a winter tavern’s warm dance girl.
However, for Darsi, the two soldiers admired him, especially when they saw him hunt two rabbits with a new-style shotgun.
Rabbits were active animals year-round, so encountering them at the start of winter was not surprising, but it was difficult to hit fully white rabbits when even the bushes and forests were blanketed in white.
Darsi skillfully processed the rabbits, skewered them on a stick, and began to roast them over the fire. The other two soldiers also proficiently took out various spices, preparing for a hearty meal, as three soldiers noticed a little girl beside them staring in awe.
This was already the seventh person that Darsi’s squad had encountered since leaving the western part of the Northern Border. Though soldiers continued their training missions during winter, some soldiers, including Darsi, received special orders from Lind.
The order was to entice individuals, no, it was to persuade them to come to Graythorn Territory and integrate into the civilian population after their village of wild people was transformed from the mountains.
Doug Lars’s governance could be described as chaotic; in order to gather an army and reward his troops, he had originally chosen to seek loans and help from the Demon Clan, which had left the territory in disarray.
Now, to repay the high-interest loans, Doug Lars could only continue to exploit the newly acquired territory, and his harsh methods made even Colin feel that he had previously held too many boundaries.
As a result, the rebel forces in the Northern Border were increasingly numerous; the more the rebellion was suppressed, the messier it became, and the three Lars brothers had yet to fully restore production in the territory.
Seeing the girl drooling beside him, Darsi did not hesitate to tear off half a rabbit and hand it to her.
“Can I eat this?”
The girl received the half-rabbit skewered on a branch.
“Of course, this is for you to eat. Otherwise, for us brothers, it would just be a snack.”
After Darsi said this, the other two soldiers laughed heartily, and one soldier took out his spices and evenly sprinkled them on the rabbit for the girl.
“This is tasty; I heard the Lord Governor and Lady Governor like to use this when they eat duck.”
While sprinkling, the soldier introduced.
Seeing the soldier come closer to her, the girl recoiled instinctively. Another soldier saw her reaction, thinking she was cold, and immediately took off his coat to drape it over her, and even threw a few more branches into the fire.
“Weren’t you just hating not being able to see people properly? What’s this? Now that you see she’s a girl, you’re starting to act differently?”
Darsi teased with a mischievous smile.
“Stop it.”
One soldier pretended to kick Darsi while saying, “Did you even listen in class? Secretary Isha said, we are all subjects of the Goddess and the Lord Governor, working for the Lord Governor with no distinction.”
The three soldiers joked with each other. Escorting someone back was one of the few leisure times they had. If the girl had not seen them dressed in enchanted armor, carrying guns, and cleaning out a group of Doug Lars’s soldiers, she might have truly thought they were just kind neighborhood brothers popping out of nowhere.
After seeing this, the girl felt that the scene before her was even more magical — soldiers who treated enemies like demons could be so gentle towards a commoner.
“I—I know where my mom and dad are; can you save them?”
The girl spoke these words as if she had used up all her courage in this lifetime.
Darsi and the other two soldiers exchanged glances and said with joy, “Of course.”
