Chapter 1788 - 497: The Train Enters the Hero's Kingdom (Part 3)

Everything is just beginning.

...

Early spring of Aus Calendar 1054, the delayed sunlight finally melted the frozen soil outside Thunder City.

The smoke of civil war has just dissipated, and the air still retains a hint of bloody chill, but the moist land has begun to emit the breath of new life, waiting for hardworking farmers to sow seeds.

However, arriving here even before the farmers was Prince Colin, who returned to Thunder City with Edward from Glanton Castle.

At this moment, two iron rails laid on sleepers crossed the freshly thawed land like ugly scars, cutting through furrowed fields.

This is the newly planned industrial area on the outskirts of Thunder City, but most factories have yet to start construction. The only creation visible on the horizon is a black monster made of steel and brass, lying at the end of the rails.

A giant chimney on top of it billows black smoke and White Mist above the heated boiler.

Behind it are five flatbed carriages, stacked with heavy stones and lumber—cargo that would barely move with at least a dozen heavy horse-drawn carts!

Edward wore a dark blue suit without any medals and observed the novel creation calmly, hands behind his back.

"…Prince Colin, my dear friend, you invited us here to show us… this new steam engine?"

The Duke's voice carried a touch of courteous curiosity, along with a faint ambivalence.

He was no stranger to steam engines; at least half of the ships coming and going from Thunder City were equipped with these. Yet, installing a steam engine on wheels and tracks, this was his first time seeing it.

This really is a novel idea.

I heard the dwarves also had tracks, but theirs were mainly used to haul ore in mines, often with only one track.

Standing beside Edward, Yang Andes had similar thoughts, though his confusion was more polite.

"It indeed looks more refined than those on ships... Perhaps Prince Colin wishes to show us its unusual features."

Luo Yan smiled gently at the words. He didn't explain, just raised his hand and waved lightly toward the steel giant beast.

A few Lizardman players saw this, immediately sprang into action, and shoveled coal into the boiler, then pressed the lever of the control valve.

The NPC has been acting for so long, finally, they got moving!

Quest reward in hand!

"Woo—!!"

A piercing steam whistle suddenly broke the tranquility of the outskirts.

Under the astonished gazes of Edward and Andes, the chimney atop the steam boiler instantly spewed denser black smoke and White Mist!

Connecting rods began to move laboriously, driving huge steel wheels, making heavy friction sounds of "clank, clank" on the rails.

Subsequently, under the amazed gazes of the two, the steel giant beast slowly began to move forward!

Its speed was slow, but it carried with it irresistible strength, moving forward along with the five massively heavy carriages behind it, shaking the entire land as it awakened!

The expression on Edward's face finally changed completely, unable to maintain the previous calm, astonishment engraved in his eyes.

He had seen grand scenes, but this scene still completely overturned his imagination!

Without the intervention of Magic Power, cargo that required a dozen horse-drawn carts to move was easily hauled by this machine…?

This is too incredible!

"This is steam technology from the Gutaf United Kingdom," Prince Colin's voice sounded timely beside him, introducing warmly, "Their steam engines not only travel at sea but also run on land. Creations like these that can cross mountains, they call… 'trains.'"

As he spoke, Colin's voice carried a hint of regret.

"Unfortunately, this railroad is too short; I can't show you its full speed. If there were enough tracks for it to speed up, it could reach a maximum of fifteen kilometers per hour."

"This speed doesn't sound very fast, our supply carts can do the same," one affairs officer following Edward couldn't help but say.

Luo Yan smiled and nodded.

"Of course, as I understand, Thunder City postal carts can run even faster, but I believe discerning people can see, its advantage isn't speed, but endurance. Even the fastest horse can't endure days of continuous running, but it can run nonstop to the end of the track."

The officers behind Edward whispered among themselves.

Especially Sir Wesley, his eyes shining as he looked at the train, almost as if seeing a miracle bestowed by Saint Sis.

If this thing could transport ammunition, the superior firepower military idea he advocated would undoubtedly rise to a higher level!

They could even be bolder and mount larger old cannons on the train, deploy at any time, and fire at will!

"By Saint Sis…"

Andes adjusted his monocle, his face finally recovering from the shock now filled with fervor.

"The freight capacity of this thing… it can rival cargo ships on the inland rivers!"

He was not a soldier, thus didn't think of mounting cannons on a train.

But instead, he saw the potential hidden within carriages, capable of changing the Duchy's economic landscape!