For Kal, this is a brand new era—perhaps even a new world.
The mighty Gondor Empire, the supre glory of human beings, the advanced magic technology—all the splendor he rembered has already vanished. A thousand years can erase many things, and the glorious civilization created by humans seems insignificant before the grandeur of ti.
To be honest, he felt very unaccustod.
But having been imprisoned in the shadow realm for a thousand years, he possessed a mind far surpassing that of ordinary people—usually, such an experience leads to only two outcos: either hysterical madness or transcendental calmness beyond that of mortals.
He had gone through the hysterical phase—and was fortunate enough to transition into a state of calm contemplation.
Therefore, he was very clear that he must recognize reality and accept this new era. At the very least, he needed to figure out under what circumstances he would live in the future.
It is said that humans have undergone a large-scale technological and social discontinuity. Presently, the human kingdoms are almost built from scratch on barren lands. In his communications with the people on the territories, he heard about many incredible aspects of this era. The regression in technology and the barbarism of contemporary humans left him dumbfounded—albeit his physiological state no longer allowed him to express this. The only consolation was that the ancient leader, much like him, returned from the grave and still retained the glory of a Gondor. Under his governance, this pioneering land was not quite so barbaric.
To Kal, this was indeed the greatest fortune.
Under Gawain’s guidance, he arrived at the Cecil chanical Manufacturing Facility located on the east side of the territory. This place, used for developing chanical equipnt, felt very familiar to him—though the chanical devices here were markedly different from the magic workshops of the ancient Gondor Empire. Yet, he sensed a familiar atmosphere: the technical personnel were engrossed in research and manufacturing, and new ideas were constantly clashing in the work zone. It was an ideal place for research and learning.
A silver-white tal sphere, with an exaggerated smiling face pattern on its surface, floated in front of Kal. Kal looked in astonishnt at the tal sphere in front of him, which then gently oscillated up and down. A voice with a tallic tremor emanated from inside the sphere: "Hello, I heard you were coming."
Kal was once again astounded (psychologically). He noticed that the technical personnel around him—those who did not exhibit magic power reactions, ordinary folks whose participation in magic research was baffling—were all casting curious and respectful glances toward them. He then realized that the tal sphere before him was likely the person in charge of this place, surprising him greatly: "You are..."
"You may call Saint Nicholas Egg, or just Egg," the tal sphere gracefully oscillated up and down. "I am the director of the Cecil chanical Manufacturing Facility, and also the head sphere of the chanical research departnt."
"I am Kal Slayen, just call Kal," Kal introduced himself sowhat awkwardly, never having expected to communicate with a sphere. He finally rembered the leader had once ntioned to him that this land was filled with many strange existences like himself, which he evidently underestimated. "The leader asked to co to you to learn... about how to adapt to this society. He said he found you at the Defied Fortress."
"Ah, the Defied Fortress... we’ve finally figured out the na of that ruin—you co with , and I’ll show you around this place, let you understand the technological path we’re on," Saint Nicholas Egg turned around, his silver-white comical face scanning the technical personnel around. "What are you all standing around here for! Have you completed the impact testing for the new rune trigger?!"
The human technicians dispersed one by one, and the silver-white giant egg continued, "I indeed ca out from there. A thousand years ago, I was inside the Defied Fortress, but I was in the middle area, not in the sa place as you."
"Were you really from the fortress back then?" Kal looked at the tal sphere beside him in amazent, "My goodness... I thought the changes in my life form were dramatic enough... What research were you doing in the fortress back then?"
Nicholas Egg slightly slowed his floating pace: "...being researched."
Kal: "..."
"That experience wasn’t pleasant, but if we have ti, I can talk to you about it," Nicholas Egg floated forward, "Right now, we are passing through the first assembly workshop. You can see how the industrial power on this land is being manufactured. Most of the concepts for these machines co from our leader, but the actual design of the blueprints is now completed by and the technicians. Of course, occasionally, other departnts might design and send us orders, and we manufacture them accordingly."
"...almost all ordinary people..." Kal watched the workshop scene in astonishnt, "Where are their Mage masters? Do they let these ordinary people handle those magical chanisms at will?"
"Mage ’masters’? There are no Mage ’masters’ here," Nicholas Egg buzzed, "You must completely forget your past habits. These skilled Mage Technicians require no guidance from any Mage master. What binds them is the workshop’s operational procedures and safety regulations, and under no circumstances are mages referred to as masters on the territory. Their task is to conduct research in the lab and teach students at schools."
"...I feel like I really need ti to adapt to all this."
"You’d better get used to it quickly," Nicholas Egg said, "Next, we are heading to the chanical processing center. I’ll show you how ordinary people use the power of magical chanisms to make parts."
...
Amber returned to the territory, and along with her entered Cecil, there were over a hundred... plainly dressed, lively social activists with unique personalities.
Even as winter set in, Cecil maintained a remarkable pace of construction, changing daily. Standing in the town square at the entrance, Amber discovered that the "rchants Guildhall," which was just a frawork when she left, was already in the stage of having its main structure topped off. A newly made chanical lifting device was transporting reduced-weight materials to the upper levels of the building. She couldn’t help but sigh, "Luckily, I ca back early... If I were half a month later, I might have had to ask for directions..."
Scarface Anton and Witch Gipli, who got off the caravan, stared wide-eyed at the scene before them—they evidently didn’t expect that the Cecil territory, said to have been developed for less than a year, could be built to such an extent. Least of all, did they expect that in this icy and snow-laden winter, there could be a territory so prosperous.
They were from the northern areas of the Leslie territory, already one of the few wealthy places on the southern borders of the kingdoms. Even so, the towns they lived in were still desolate after winter set in. People were reluctant to go outdoors in the icy weather. The poor counted their stockpile of winter grain to eke out their days in the cold huts, while the wealthy gathered around fireplaces in their hos waiting for spring. As for the lawless ones like them, they drowned their dreariness in potent homade liquor at the taverns. This was their understanding of a "normal way to get through winter," and the way Cecil continued its buzzing life and construction amid the cold was sothing they had never heard of.
But before being swayed by this atmosphere, these hooligans, misfits, con-artists, and thieves first felt a wave of tension and unease, primarily because they could see the orderly aura of the bustling town before them. They also noticed those neatly dressed public security officers patrolling the streets. Clearly, this kind of town was "troubleso" for people like them.
Having used to living a life of petty theft, constantly dodging patrols, these lively social activists were not yet accustod to the current state of legally entering this territory. They even forgot that they entered the town with permission...
Scarface Anton, serving as the leader while Amber was away, stepped forward to ask the boss: "Big Boss, is this really the Cecil territory?"
"What else would it be?" Amber turned around, frowning at those who got off the caravan and either shivered or had shifty eyes, and started shouting loudly, "Keep your spirits up! Heads up! Weren’t you all loud on the caravan? How co you’re all wilting now—you were hired by the leader! You weren’t sneaking across the border!"
A large group like this gathering on the square was bound to be noticeable, and by this ti, the patrolling public security officers had already noticed the commotion in the square. A patrol team headed over, and Witch Giply saw the soldiers clad in armor and ard with swords from afar, nervously reminding Amber, "Big Boss, soldiers are coming!"
Others instinctively tensed up upon seeing the soldiers approach, but Amber just smirked, turned to wave at the soldiers, and called out, "Hey! I’m over here!"
The patrol leader then noticed who was leading this group and quickly led the team forward, saluting with a snap. "Miss Amber! The leader has been waiting for you!"
He then glanced at the hundred or so newcors and smiled, "The leader has also instructed that if you bring people, you can take them directly to the old barracks on the northern side of Knight Street to rest for now, it’s already prepared."
"Got it," Amber nodded, "But these folks are not very disciplined, I’m afraid they’ll cause trouble..."
"The old barracks are out of use now, so they won’t disturb..."
"No, I an, if these people cause trouble, I’ll be responsible for teaching them, you guys don’t need to interfere—they’re not fragile."
The young head of public security was evidently not used to communicating with Amber yet: "..."
After the public security patrol team left, Scarface Anton finally dared to speak up, with a hint of surprise and awe: "Big Boss, you’ve really mingled into high society now? Even the leader’s soldiers salute you!"
"Of course, I’ve said it before, I’m now the leader’s personal guard," Amber shot a glance at the bald-headed man, "Moreover, if I didn’t have this status, how do you think I managed to get visas issued by Viscount Andrew Leslie for you hundred or so people?"
Andon chuckled, "I’m sure the Viscount can’t wait to get people like us out of his territory."
"That’s true... Alright, enough with the talk, let show you the world!"
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