BXBX NOVEL Chapter 183: Steam Power!
"Who could possibly understand such a thing immediately?" he thought.
He turned to the elder with a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "Elder Mary, tell me; what do you believe is the biggest challenge in shipbuilding?"
The elder blinked, taken aback by the unexpected question. She paused, her mind sorting through decades of experience. Then, with measured thought, she answered, "It\'s propulsion. Without a reliable propulsion system, no matter how large or well-built a ship may be, it\'s useless."
Logan beamed and gave a nod of approval. "Exactly. Motivation, energy this is where we\'ve been limited." His hand waved toward the blueprint. "And this here… \'this\' is the solution. A kinetic energy device that can drive ships."
Elder Mary and Bettingfer, still skeptical, leaned closer to the blueprint once again, their fingers tracing the unfamiliar diagrams.
"A steam engine... used as a propulsion device?" Bettingfer\'s voice held a tinge of disbelief. "Are you saying that \'steam\' alone could move an entire ship across the water?"
She shook her head in doubt. "Even the smallest ships weigh several thousand kilograms. How could steam, produced just by boiling water, generate enough force to push something that massive?"
Logan smiled, sensing their hesitation but unfazed. "You underestimate the power of water," he replied knowingly. "Water, when harnessed correctly, holds immense energy."
Yet he knew that words alone wouldn\'t be enough to convince them. He needed to \'show\' them the potential of steam.
"Astali," Logan called out, turning toward one of the snake-women nearby, "go fetch me two iron pots, make sure they\'re identical."
Astali responded promptly, "Yes, Chieftain!" and hurried away with a few others.
The others exchanged confused glances. Elder Mary, Bettingfer, and the orc onlookers watched Logan in puzzled silence.
"What does he need pots for?" whispered Bettingfer to Mary, who shrugged, equally uncertain.
Despite the murmurs of confusion, Logan waited calmly, his gaze flickering between the blueprint and the firewood stacked nearby.
Soon, Astali returned with several snake-men carrying two large iron pots. Logan immediately set to work.
He arranged a few large stones into a makeshift platform, forming a simple hearth. Placing one of the iron pots on the stones, he instructed the snake-men to fill it halfway with water.
Then, he carefully laid out firewood beneath the pot and lit it, kindling a roaring flame. As the fire danced and crackled, the room was filled with quiet anticipation. All eyes were on Logan, but no one could guess what he was planning.
Minutes ticked by, and soon the water in the pot began to bubble and churn. Steam hissed as it escaped through the edges of the lid.
Without a word, Logan flipped the second iron pot upside down, placing it snugly over the first. Thanks to the craftsmanship of the blacksmiths, the two pots fit perfectly together, forming a tight seal.
Then came the delicate part. Logan summoned his fighting spirit, channeling it into his finger. With a precise tap, he pierced a small, finger-sized hole into the top of the upside-down pot. The onlookers gasped softly at the display of precision.
Next, he picked up a smooth, cylindrical piece of wood and drilled a hole clean through it using the same technique, driving his fighting spirit through both ends as if it were a sharp blade.
He fit the wooden tube into the hole atop the iron pot, creating a makeshift steam vent. Almost instantly, the boiling steam surged through the wooden pipe, blasting out with force.
Logan reached for a small, round stone and carefully balanced it over the vent. As soon as the steam hit it, the stone shot into the air, spinning wildly before clattering to the ground.
The room fell into stunned silence as the stone bounced away, leaving everyone speechless. The raw power of the steam was undeniable.
"So… \'this\' is the power of steam," Elder Mary whispered, her eyes wide with newfound understanding.
Logan smiled, seeing the spark of realization ignite within her. "Does the elder now see its potential?" he asked, his voice brimming with quiet confidence.
Mary\'s expression softened as her skepticism melted away. She stepped closer to the experiment, her hand hovering over the still-hissing steam vent. "This force... it\'s remarkable," she murmured, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and excitement. "If we could harness this properly, we might indeed propel a ship."
Bettingfer, still grappling with the concept, muttered under her breath, "All this… from water and fire?" She shook her head, as if trying to make sense of the impossible. "How could we have overlooked something so simple?"
"The beauty lies in its simplicity," Logan said. "The engine turns the raw force of steam into kinetic energy. And that energy… well, it can move more than just stones." He gestured toward the blueprint. "It can move ships."
Bettingfer exchanged a look with Mary, the skepticism in her eyes giving way to cautious optimism.
Mary turned to Logan, her gaze filled with something new; respect. "Chieftain, you\'ve opened my eyes," she admitted. "This steam engine… it could change everything."
Logan nodded, a satisfied smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Indeed. With steam power, we won\'t need to rely on magic cores. We can forge a new future; one built on ingenuity and technology."
The room buzzed with a newfound sense of purpose. What had once seemed like an absurd notion now felt within reach. The path ahead was clear: \'they would harness steam\' and revolutionize shipbuilding.
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"Let\'s get to work," Logan said, rolling up the blueprint with care. "We have a ship to build."
Mary and Bettingfer shared a look, both nodding in agreement. For the first time in a long while, they felt the stirring of hope; a belief that perhaps, with steam on their side, they could chart a new course for the future.
And so, with fire, water, and a spark of imagination, the journey toward a steam-powered future began.
Elder Mary\'s sharp eyes gleamed as she studied the intricate details of the steam engine blueprint. After seeing Logan\' demonstration of steam power and hearing his clear explanation of the mechanics, the elder\'s mind began to piece together the puzzle. Slowly, the brilliance of the concept dawned on her.
"This... this is genius," she murmured, her wrinkled hands tracing the delicate lines on the parchment. "Master Chief, where did you get such a blueprint? This is no ordinary idea."
Logan chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in his eye. He knew that the origin of this knowledge had to remain a mystery. "I got it from an old goblin," he replied smoothly, spinning a quick lie.
Elder Mary\'s head snapped up, disbelief flashing in her gaze. "A goblin?" Her voice quivered with excitement. "This is \'goblin technology\'?"
The elder had spent her life building ships, always hearing stories of the goblins\' mysterious inventions but never dreaming she would have the chance to touch such knowledge. Now, before her, lay a treasure trove; a glimpse into a world she thought forever out of reach.
"Do you think you can build it?" Logan asked, his expression serious.
Mary ran a finger along the diagram, her mind working through the connections between gears, pistons, and steam pressure. "I can try," she said at last, though a spark of eagerness flickered behind her calm words. "It will take time. Even with these detailed drawings, there are nuances I\'ll need to figure out through experimentation."
Logan smiled knowingly. "I expected no less. Even the most perfect blueprint only becomes valuable when brought to life."
For Mary, this was more than a mere engineering challenge; it was a dream. She never imagined she\'d have a chance to explore goblin technology, let alone something as monumental as the secret to propulsion. This wasn\'t just a machine; it was the key to revolutionizing shipbuilding.
"Keep the blueprint safe," Logan said, his tone firm. "This is the heart of industry, and it must remain a secret. Until our tribe has fully developed, we cannot let this fall into the hands of elves, humans, or even the goblins themselves."
Mary\'s eyes widened. "Chief, you\'re entrusting me with this?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and disbelief.
Logan nodded, his expression warm but determined. "Of course. What good is a blueprint if it isn\'t used? I need you and the other shipbuilders to make this work and we\'ll start small, with fishing boats."
The elder bowed slightly, clutching the blueprint as though it were the most precious thing in the world. "I swear on my life, it will remain safe with me. And we will do everything in our power to build this steam engine." Despite her age, her voice carried the energy of someone ready to embark on a grand adventure.
"Good," Logan said with a satisfied nod, watching the fire of determination reignite in the elder.
After visiting the shipbuilding workshop and leaving the blueprint in the capable hands of Elder Mary, Logan made his way back to the tribe. The cool wind carried the scent of salt and earth, but the thoughts swirling in his companions\' minds were heavier than the air.
Tyton, one of Logan\' trusted advisors, couldn\'t hold back his curiosity any longer. "Master Chief," he began cautiously, "how do you know so much about shipbuilding? It\'s... well, it\'s surprising."
Tyton\'s eyes shone with genuine confusion. It was one thing for Logan to be familiar with common knowledge, things like wine brewing, crafting ponds, or making perfume; but shipbuilding? That was a specialized skill that even experienced builders struggled to master. And yet, their chief had not only understood the steam engine but explained it in detail to two senior shipbuilders.
"You even outshone Elder Mary and Bettingfer back there," Tyton added, still baffled.
Logan chuckled, shrugging casually. "I know a little. I read it in a book."
Tyton blinked. "A book?"
Tyton\'s surprise deepened. Books containing such detailed knowledge were rare and hard to come by. He hadn\'t known his chief to spend time in libraries; or, for that matter, to study anything that involved steam engines.
Meanwhile, Begon, Logan\' uncle and a seasoned elder of the tribe, walked silently by his side. Begon had long since given up trying to understand his nephew\'s uncanny abilities. The young chief seemed to carry knowledge far beyond his years, often doing things that baffled those around him.
But Begon wasn\'t one to question success. Under Logan\' leadership, the tribe had thrived; growing stronger, more prosperous, and more advanced with each passing day. If there was one thing Begon had learned, it was that \'Logan\' mysterious ways always led to progress\'.
"Honestly, nothing surprises me anymore," Begon muttered under his breath. "Ever since you became chief, you\'ve been pulling miracles out of thin air."
Tyton glanced at Begon, nodding in agreement. "It\'s true. Every time we think we\'ve figured you out, you do something even more incredible."
Logan chuckled again but kept his thoughts to himself. He had no intention of explaining the source of his knowledge. Some things were better left as mysteries.
By now, both Begon and Tyton and even the other high-ranking members of the tribe, had come to trust their chief implicitly. Whatever strange forces guided Logan, they had brought the tribe further than anyone had dared to hope.
As they neared the heart of the tribe, Tyton gave a small, rueful laugh. "You know, Chief, if you told me you could fly a city, I think I\'d believe you."
Logan gave a knowing smile. "Who knows? Maybe one day, we will."
And with that, the group continued on their way, the blueprint safely in Elder Mary\'s hands, and the promise of a steam-powered future ahead of them.
The world was changing and under Logan\' leadership, the tribe would be ready to sail into the future, with or without magic.