Chapter 251: The date with Leila, the birth of [Heart of Steam]


    ??As night slowly enveloped the [City of Giant Trees], little fluorescent lights lit up throughout the forest.


    Since the elves are close to nature, the use rate of oil lamps is not high.


    Instead, there is a unique fluorescent lamp, which can bloom with a soft halo with a little secret power.


    Looking down from a high place, dots of light shine across the city, like stars in the sky, reflecting the beauty of the entire city.


    ?Shaan sat next to Laila, looking at this beautiful scenery and couldn''t help but feel a little crazy.


    Suddenly, Laila stood up and stretched out her hand to him, with a bright smile on her face: "Do you want to accompany me to visit my city?"


    ?Xia En was startled, then stretched out his hand, and the two of them held each other''s hands.


    The next moment.


    ??The magnificent teleportation circle once again lit up at the feet of the two of them.


    ?After the light flickered, Xia En came to a busy city.


    Compared with the last time we met, Laila''s attainments in teleportation spells have greatly improved.


    Not only is the casting time extremely short, but it can also appear in any corner of [City of Giant Trees].


    Xia En came back to his senses and looked around, seeing a bustling crowd around him.


    There are stalls on both sides of the street, selling various ethnic snacks, magic pattern equipment, ores, jewelry, and magic books.


    ?There are all kinds of things in the forest.


    ??If you ignore the different races and the extraordinary items in them, it is almost the same as the night market on the earth in the previous life.


    Obviously, this grand event of the Conference of All Nations has greatly promoted the commercial trade of [City of Giant Woods].


    It also attracted many small and large traders who wanted to make money.


    ? And soon, Shane was surprised to find that the passers-by around him seemed not to notice the arrival of him and Laila at all.


    No one was surprised by the appearance of the Elf Queen.


    "rest assured."


    ?Laila whispered in Shane''s ear: "I used a magic that reduces my presence, so they won''t discover my identity."


    ??Xia En has long known from [Laila''s Magic Notes] that she has mastered many weird magics, so he is not too surprised.


    only…


    ?Shaan glanced at Laila''s little hand clasping his own, and couldn''t help but blink.


    ?Laila''s pretty face was slightly red, but she still said matter-of-factly: "This magic has a distance limit. If it is too far away, it will be ineffective."


    “Besides, there are so many people here, what if we get separated?”


    ?Shaan nodded, and held Laila''s hand tighter by the way: "You are right."


    "let''s go."


    With this magical disguise, Xia En and the two were able to wander around the streets freely.


    ?Even if someone accidentally caught a glimpse of their faces, they would only think that they were an ordinary couple visiting the [City of Giant Trees].


    I have to say.


    After these hundred years of development, the elves have made great progress in research on technology and magic.


    The most obvious change is that a large number of magic pattern equipment and steam devices have appeared in the city.


    From the weapons and armor worn by people to buildings and vehicles, the shadow of emerging technologies can be seen everywhere.


    ?Many outsiders who have just arrived are dazzled by these new things and can’t help but exclaim in admiration.


    “This kind of pattern is called magic pattern?”


    “Items inlaid with magic patterns can have different secret powers?”


    ?A bald middle-aged man exclaimed: "Doesn''t this mean that it can give ordinary people extraordinary powers?"


    “Amazing! Really amazing!”


    Someone nearby recognized the identity of the bald middle-aged man and asked curiously: "Master Carmen, do you also want to study this kind of magic pattern equipment?"


    "certainly!"


    Master Carmen''s eyes were burning with invisible flames, and he said firmly: "If I can further promote this cross-era product, maybe more people will remember my name!"


    Some of the companions around me agreed, while others were not very optimistic.


    Obviously, the opposition still accounts for the majority.


    “Carmen, you are tired of concentrating on mathematics, do you still want to achieve something along the way in the magic pattern?”


    “Yes, yes, magic patterns are a completely new field for you, and it’s not that easy to start from scratch.”


    “You are so old, don’t you think about your wife and children?”


    Listen to the argument among this group of people.


    ?Laila''s eyes brightened slightly and she explained in a low voice: "This Master Carmen is a well-known mathematician on the mainland."


    “If he can join the research team of [City of Giant Woods], it will definitely be of great help to the development of magic pattern equipment.”


    Xia En touched his chin.


    ??He vaguely felt that the name "Carmen" sounded familiar.


    Thinking about it carefully, Xia Encai suddenly remembered that in later generations, Carmen was a famous magic pattern master.


    ?Of course, he himself has long since died.


    ??However, each piece of magic pattern equipment he left behind has a secret power beyond ordinary magic pattern equipment, and can be sold for a high price.


    ??Whether it is the auction of [Insanity Island] or the collection of Duke Nova, there are magic-patterned equipment painted by Carmen himself.


    ?There is even a saying spread among the Seven Seas -


    Produced by Carmen, it must be a high-quality product!


    ?Thinking of this, Xia En couldn''t help but look at the bald middle-aged man more.


    It is hard to imagine that this humble man will achieve extraordinary achievements in the field of magic patterns in the future.


    ?However, he did realize his dream and left his name in history.


    ? Carmen’s attitude was originally very firm, but under the persuasion of her companions, she inevitably wavered.


    Suddenly at this time.


    A voice sounded behind Carmen.


    “How will you know if you don’t try?”


    “Choosing to give up before trying is the act of a coward.”


    ?Carmen was stunned and turned her head suddenly: "Who?"


    ?He looked back twice, but didn''t see the speaker.


    But he chewed the words carefully, and the look in his eyes gradually became firm.


    “That’s right, even if I fail, I will still have a try!”


    “Everyone, I have made up my mind, you don’t need to persuade me any more!”


    After saying that, Carmen left in a hurry, as if she was going to discuss with the elves.


    ?Laila looked at Xia En beside her curiously, wondering why he suddenly spoke out to persuade her.


    “It’s just a small thing that I do casually.”


    ?Shaan smiled and said, "Let''s go."


    They have come here, and the two of them have not missed some of the delicious food on both sides of the street.


    ?Shaan ate the Elf sweet pancake that impressed him again, and felt that the taste seemed to have been slightly improved and became less sweet.


    Perhaps it is an adjustment to suit public taste.


    ?Laila held the sweet pancake in her hands and gnawed it like a little hamster, with an expression of nostalgia and enjoyment on her face.


    “It’s so delicious…”


    Xia En asked curiously: "Have you not eaten for a long time?"


    ?Laila nodded: "Yes."


    “You don’t know that since I became the queen candidate, those old-fashioned people won’t let me eat any food outside the palace.”


    “It’s just nectar and fruits all day long, I’m tired of them!”


    ?Shaan thought about it carefully. Being a candidate for queen not only brings power, but also brings many shackles to Laila.


    She must behave like a queen and possess the majesty of a queen.


    The simplest truth.


    Now, it is basically impossible for Laila to travel around the continent as before, let alone leave the [City of Giant Woods] as she pleases.


    “The price of becoming a queen is freedom...”


    ?Xia En sighed inwardly.


    No matter what, this is Laila''s choice, and she cannot control other people''s lives.


    What he can do now is to give Laila as much fun as possible in the limited time.


    ?Thinking of this, Xia En grabbed Laila''s delicate hand again and walked in this bustling street.


    ?There was a sea of ??people, but it seemed like they were the only two people left in the world.


    Soon, Xia En found a place similar to a small exhibition ahead, where many passers-by gathered.


    ?Shaan asked the nearest passerby: "Excuse me, what kind of exhibition is this?"


    The passerby replied: "It is said that Mr. Thomas from the Seahorse Kingdom has developed the latest steam creation."


    “He called it...[Heart of Steam]!”


    ?Xia En couldn''t help but be stunned.


    Of course he knows about the existence of [Heart of Steam].


    The [Gluttony Steam Engine] on his [Black Swan] gained the ability to grow on its own after receiving the blessing of the [Heart of Steam], and its performance improved step by step.


    ?However, the [Heart of Steam] that Shane obtained at that time was already a product of the fourth generation.


    At present, those who appear in [City of Giant Woods] should only be the first generation.


    Xia En suddenly became interested.


    This Thomas from the Seahorse Kingdom should be the so-called legendary steam mechanic!


    ?Before he spoke, Laila''s eyes lit up beside her: "Xia En, Xia En, let''s go!"


    “[Heart of Steam], it’s amazing when you hear it!”


    ? ? Apart from her status as a queen, Laila is also a genius proficient in various fields.


    Especially in steam technology, she showed extraordinary acumen a hundred years ago.


    Xia En asked in a low voice: "How is the research on the steam device I gave you before?"


    After thinking about it, Laila said: "We have already figured out some of its basic principles and used them in the construction of [City of Giant Wood]."


    “It’s just that kind of strange activity that we still can’t crack.”


    Xia En smiled and said: "Actually, the activity of the steam device is related to this [Steam Heart]."


    “This kind of creation can even make the steam device awaken its own soul!”


    While talking, the two of them had already entered the exhibition.


    ?However, what surprised Xia En was that there were not many people in the venue.


    Some people walked out quickly after hearing about the content of the exhibition, seemingly without much interest.


    In addition, this venue was originally built temporarily, making it even more crude and deserted.


    ?Seeing this scene, Xia En felt quite strange.


    The birth of [Heart of Steam] can be called an epoch-making symbol of steam technology.


    It is not an exaggeration to say that it is witnessing history.


    But now…


    ?But in fact, many great inventions in history were not taken seriously when they were first born.


    The limitations of people’s eyesight and horizons meant that no one cared about these things at the initial stage.


    But under the erosion of time, they will eventually shine like gold in quicksand.


    …


    …


    At the exhibition stand.


    Thomas, who had a mustache, looked at the sparse crowd in the audience and couldn''t help but feel a little discouraged.


    ??In order to come to [City of Giant Woods] and get the opportunity for this exhibition, he risked everything.


    He wants to turn over in one fell swoop with the help of a creation like [Heart of Steam]!


    However, the actual situation gave him a heavy blow.


    Actually, Thomas also understands the reason for the current mediocre response.


    ?At this moment, the city with the most advanced steam technology in the world is none other than the [City of Giant Trees].


    Since I come from a small city and am a human being, I will naturally be looked down upon.


    The deserted situation in the venue can be expected.


    "It seems that I lost the bet..."


    ? Thomas sighed.


    In his expectation, regardless of success or failure, he did not intend to continue researching [Heart of Steam].


    Because doing research is really too expensive and energy-consuming.


    Even though Thomas was originally a young baron of the Seahorse Kingdom, he simply couldn’t withstand this kind of consumption.


    The best case scenario in his mind is to use this exhibition to make a name for himself and then sell the [Heart of Steam] patent rights at a good price.


    But now, it seems that even this goal has been missed.


    ?Thomas sighed again, his heart becoming heavier when he thought of the debt owed in the country.


    “That’s it, I’m too naive.”


    "Go back to China and seal this technology forever..."


    ??Rather than sell his hard work at a low price, Thomas would rather keep it sealed.


    But at this moment.


    A man in black robes walked up to him, curiously looked at the exhibits on the platform, and asked.


    “Is this the first generation [Heart of Steam]?”


    ??Although Thomas was frustrated, he did not forget the basic etiquette and nodded politely.


    “That’s right.”


    “Placing it on a steam device can increase the efficiency of the machine.”


    “That’s right…”


    Xia En twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "But this device is a bit too big, isn''t it?"


    At this moment, he also saw the reason why no one paid attention to [Heart of Steam].


    This steam device is as big as one-third of an adult man.


    It''s okay to use it on those large steam machines. Some small steam machines are not as big as this [Heart of Steam]!


    ?Thomas couldn''t help but blush a little and defended: "This is a technical problem."


    “I will definitely go in the direction of lightweighting in the future.”


    ??Xia En, however, saw the problem in Thomas'' direction at a glance.


    The current [Heart of Steam] is just an external device. No matter how it is reduced, it will appear bloated and cumbersome.


    If it is installed on a large equipment, a [Steam Heart] that is too small will not be effective.


    So it seems extremely useless.


    Xia En simply said: "Have you ever imagined using countless small and precise parts to form the [Heart of Steam]?"


    “When installed on other steam devices, it directly penetrates into the interior of the device from a microscopic level to provide more precise blessing?”


    "this…"


    Hearing this, Thomas fell into deep thought.


    As the inventor of [Heart of Steam], he immediately realized the feasibility of this operation, and his eyes burst into light.


    It seemed as if a door to a new world was opened to him!


    (End of this chapter)