Chapter 213: What Can the Cecil Territory Sell

The workers and alchemy apprentices were doing the final inspection and test on the reaction vessels. They checked the sealing of every section of connecting pipes and tested the operation of every set of runes; this was to ensure that no fatal accidents would occur after this set of reaction vessels of a scale larger than any conventional alchemy platform went into official operation. And its most important part — the central reactor — was personally inspected by Pittman.

As the part in the entire system that had to bear the greatest pressure, this ugly metal vessel could be said to be the fruit of the current Cecil territory’s state-of-the-art technology. It was personally molded into form by Nicholas Egg; its interior carved with elemental runes for resistance against corrosion, high temperatures, and high pressures. At the same time, under Gawain’s guidance, Nicholas Egg even designed the world’s first pressure gauge that was based on mechanical structure —— it used a section of elastic metal pipe as the sensing element and relied on gears and connecting rods to drive the indicator to display the measurement. Although its accuracy wasn’t high, it was acceptable.

In Gawain’s opinion, the theory of the pressure gauge wasn’t complicated. It could completely be achieved given the current mechanical operation technology of the Cecil territory. The difficulty was with the standardization of the pressure scale. Fortunately, this world with intriguing physics at least had a reasonable “atmospheric pressure”. Gawain and the metal-ball alien spent a long time on it before they managed to get a standard value of the local atmosphere and worked out a series of barometric pressure and pressure standards using that as the benchmark. Then, they carved the relative barometric pressure scale on the dial of the pressure gauge. ——In the situation where all kinds of standards did not exist in this world, Gawain comfortably became the regulator of a series of parameters and planned to apply these parameters that he’d drafted in every field that they developed into henceforth.

And other than an advanced measuring unit, precise connection of pipes, as well as strong tanks, this set of equipment was also unique in that it no longer used an open flame to be the source of heat to heat up liquid medicine. Instead, the fire elemental rune carved at the bottom of the reaction vessels was used for direct heating —— the majority of Druid potions did not require temperatures as high as that for forging metals. The fire elemental rune could completely fulfill the role of heating up the vessels, and compared to the open flame units on the alchemy platform, the heat of these elemental runes was even stabler and easier to control.

At last, the final checks were completed. Pittman left the inspection area of the reaction vessels, while an alchemy and herbology apprentice who looked to be only 20 years old went forward —— selected by Pittman, he was the person-in-charge of the alchemy factory. It could be seen that this young man was a little nervous, but he still activated the various parts of the reaction vessels according to the most proper procedures. As the materials prepared in advance were added into the feeding hole, the magical runes everywhere on this set of “large-scale alchemical equipment” began to gradually get charged. Gawain could sense the flow of magical power. Under the effect of the inversion circle, primitive magical power of nature activated those ancient theurgy runes. Everything automatically started operating just like that.

Unlike the start of the first Magic Powered Engine, the reaction vessel before their eyes wouldn’t create too much noise even in its full power condition. Despite having operating machinery such as agitators and pumps around it, the primary Magic Powered Engine was no longer so alarmingly loud after multiple optimizations. The mechanisms used in this set of reaction vessels were also “small machinery” with less noise. It could be said to be rather “quiet” when it was working.

As for the large container right in the middle, it was even quieter: there were no machinery parts in it.

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Rebecca looked at the group of metallurgists and workers busying themselves amongst those containers; there were even looks of nervousness and excitement on each of their faces. She was slightly disappointed. “Ah… I’d thought the stir during the activation of the new machine would be greater…”

“If this thing was loud, it wouldn’t be far from an explosion too.” Gawain glanced at Iron-Headed Girl and then looked towards Pittman, nodding lightly. “Congratulations, your inversion circle and theurgy circle operated perfectly.”

The wrinkles on Pittman’s face were like blooming flowers. This little old man, who sold ointments and did fortune-telling as his avocations when he was idle, now wore a sincere smile. “Yes, yes… the route was correct, the route was correct…”

Amber looked at the heap of complex metal pipes and reaction vessels in surprise. She could not help but ask, “Such a huge set of things… How many potions would be produced every day? Speak, old man, what is this set of vessels used to manufacture?”

Pittman was clearly in a great mood right now; he even didn’t pursue the problem of Amber directly addressing him as “old man”. He stroked his beard with pride shown all over his face. “Number One reaction vessel is producing the Druids’ signature ‘rejuvenation potion’, which is a healing agent. Since farm work is suspended in winter, there’s no need for any agricultural potions for the time being. But there are many construction projects in winter, so there is a considerable number of injuries every day. These potions can be put to use just in time. As for the output… with the supply of raw materials from the Kant territory, in the situation where there is no lack of raw materials, the number of potions that this thing produces every day is enough for the territory’s consumption for a week. This is still a conservative estimate…”

Amber’s eyes were wide. “Producing a week’s usage per day?! Then, won’t you be filling up all of the territory’s warehouses before long?! What’s the use of such a big output?”

Gawain glanced at this half-elf with a smile. “To sell.”

“Sell…” This evidently hadn’t crossed Amber’s mind earlier —— not that her thinking was limited, but because the Cecil territory had always been in a state of pioneering and construction. Basically, any resource was lacking here; there were always only purchases, and this was an unprecedented first that there was a surplus of output that would be sold outside. Her brain felt a little numb, even her questioning was instinctive. “Sell to who?”

“The first market that’s been decided at present is the Kant territory,” Gawain casually replied.

Amber had just nodded when it promptly struck her. “Wait a minute! Aren’t the raw materials for these potions purchased from the Kant territory?”

“Yes.”

“Then you *chomp*chomp* chop and mix them up, then throw them into the container to cook for a bit, and sell it back to the Kant territory according to the price of alchemy potions?”

“…That is the procedure indeed.”

“Damn! That could actually be done?!” Amber was stunned, and as a bandit with strange and crooked values, even she felt immense discomfort at this moment. “Didn’t you say that you were going to manage and build up the Kant territory like your own territory and even treat the Kant people like the people of Cecil territory… Say it, are you regretting leaving the inheritance that Viscount Kant left to you back then in the castle there? Even so, you don’t have to use such a mean trick. ——Leave it to me. I just have to go marketing twice at that side, and I’ll have everything transported back here for you…”

“This is much meaner than what I’m doing, alright?!” Gawain glared at Amber and then explained with a shake of his head. “I do not intend on defrauding my future people —— transporting the potions to the Kant territory is because that is the biggest medicinal materials distribution center in the southern borders. Other than medicinal herbs, there have always been alchemical potion businesses there. Mr. Patrick, who is in charge of running the Kant territory’s general affairs, was the consultant for Viscount Kant in the past and also the contact for the chamber of commerce. He has channels and is able to help us sell our surplus of potions. I plan on getting him to be the ‘agent’ for the Cecil alchemical potions and sell potions on split dividends with me. This way, the Cecil territory stands to earn significantly, and the Kant territory gets a share of profit too. It’s a win-win situation.”

“…It’s actually the kind of thing where everyone stands to benefit again.” Amber batted her eyes. “But… this is a huge gain. Would there be nobody… losing out?”

“Yes.” Gawain smiled. “Of course, someone would lose out —— all the third-party potion merchants, Apothecaries, Druids, and Alchemists on the Kant territory’s trade route. They will certainly be impacted.”

Amber’s eyes widened. “Then…”

“I will put out recruitment information at an appropriate time. —— Then the problem of lack of alchemy talents at the territory can be resolved. With some training, those people would be a great help in the alchemy factory.”

This time, Amber was only left with a helpless stare and no more words to say —— she was more or less able to keep up with Gawain’s steps for the first few manipulations, but for this last one, she could only stare, at a loss of what to say. After a good while, she then realized one thing from the bottom of her heart:

When a cunning ancient esteemed spirit resurrected and intended to cause some trouble, those so-called conspiracies and plots that those haughty hoodlums usually bragged about would be absolutely unworthy of mentioning.

“With such a large amount of alchemy potions entering the markets, even if they’re the most-ordinary rejuvenation potion, it would be enough to cause a massive impact on the market.” Pittman stroked his beard with a subtle smile. “Even if it was merely this one set of reaction vessels, its output from producing round the clock would be enough to overtake the total output of all alchemists from the Cecil, Kant, and Leslie territories, and even the Carol territory further north. Lord, I think I finally understand what you meant when you said that ‘mass production would be the first step to destroying the old order’ back then. But have you thought about it? Once such a large number of potions with the Cecil label enters the market, we certainly will incur the curiosity and attention from all parties…”

“Yes, they will be curious and attentive, but that requires reaction time. Besides, for a mere alchemy potion, the attention it attracts would be rather limited. This bit of curiosity and attention is nothing to me. Perhaps there would instead be an advantage.” Gawain said with a smile. “Compared to alchemy potions, I’m afraid what I will launch next will incur a much greater shock…”

Amber looked at Gawain curiously. “What else do you plan on selling?”

Gawain patted Amber’s head. “I plan on selling some things to Tanzan Town, but the concrete details have yet to be fixed. You will know when the time comes.”

Amber blinked. But this time, even when Rebecca and she went forward together and pursued the subject, Gawain would not give any more details. Hence, the two girls could only shut their mouths with their bellies full of curiosity.

Gawain stood under Number One reaction vessel and lifted his head to gaze at this “chemical plant” that was a blend of all kinds of state-of-the-art technology in the current Cecil territory. He looked at those magical runes that quietly lit up and extinguished and listened to noises of various kinds of supporting machinery or magic circles that inserted liquid into the containers, provided sources of heat, or released theurgies. A smile slowly appeared on his face.

If the route was correct, then everything would be much easier to handle.