Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World-Chapter 597: Oil and Rubber
Chapter 597: Oil and Rubber
TL: Rui88
Elves! A character never absent from a fantasy world!
Wait, wait, wait!
Paul suddenly thought of something important.
He wondered what style the elves of this world were.
Wouldn’t it be off-putting if they were like the elves from The Elder Scrolls?
“So… what do those elves look like? You’ve seen them with your own eyes, right?”
Nigel noticed that his lord’s eyes were suddenly full of curiosity.
He said enthusiastically, “My lord, every one of them had a face that was nearly perfect in human eyes. They had well-proportioned figures and slender limbs. Their skin was as white and smooth as the porcelain you create.”
As he spoke, a look of intoxication appeared on his face, his eyes full of reminiscence.
The other two captains also chuckled, and even young Alan’s face flushed red.
Paul immediately realized that this group of men might have had some special contact with the elves in a certain kind of establishment.
Just think about a group of sailors who had been at sea for months; what would be the first thing they would do upon landing?
The vast majority would choose to live in the moment. The sea was temperamental, and they had to cherish every safe return to shore.
“Ahem!” Paul put on a serious expression. “Gentlemen, I thank you for your willingness to leave those beautiful foreign ladies and return to my side.”
Nigel realized he had lost his composure and smiled sheepishly.
He continued his introduction, “Because of the elves’ beauty, they are often attacked by human slave-hunting parties from across the isthmus. Many elves end up as slaves in the human kingdoms of the north.”
Paul asked, “Are the elves militarily weak?”
Nigel nodded. “Well, the elves’ metal smelting and forging techniques are not very developed, and it seems there are few metal ore deposits in their forests. But…”
He changed the subject. “The elves have a secret weapon, a terrible fuel. When sprayed onto a target and ignited, it will never be extinguished. Not even water can put it out. The humans there are very wary of this fearsome weapon.”
“However, the elves cherish their forests too much, so this weapon, which can easily cause fires, is not often used by them. Overall, they are much weaker than their human neighbors to the north.”
Greek fire? As soon as Nigel finished describing the fuel, this term popped into Paul’s mind.
It couldn’t even be extinguished by water; didn’t that perfectly match its characteristics?
If it really was Greek fire, Paul’s heart pounded with excitement. According to later reconstructions, Greek fire seemed to contain petroleum, which was known as the lifeblood of industrial civilization.
“Oh, that’s right, Lord Grayman.”
Nigel reached into his coat pocket, fumbling for something. A few seconds later, he pulled out an object.
“We also found a strange substance among the elves. I think our naturalists here will be interested.”
Paul took the object from his hand. It was a soft, pale yellow, gel-like substance that constantly changed shape as he squeezed it in his palm, allowing him to flatten it, roll it into a ball, and mold it as he pleased. Ꞧ𝓪𐌽Ồ𝖇ЁŜ
Nigel said with a smile, “Squeezing it like this is quite stress-relieving when you have nothing to do.”
At that moment, he noticed the change in Paul’s expression. It was a mixture of excitement, joy, and impatience.
Rubber! The lump Nigel had brought back was natural rubber! Or rather, unvulcanized raw rubber!
“Lord Grayman, Lord Grayman.”
“Huh?”
Paul, immersed in his excitement, only came to his senses after being called several times by Nigel and the others.
Nigel breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn’t understand why his lord was so fascinated by this pale yellow, gel-like mass.
“Nigel!”
Paul suddenly commanded, startling the expedition captain.
“Yes, Lord Grayman!”
“You and your crew, eat well, drink well, and rest well! Get your bodies in top shape! After the repairs are complete, I need you to set out again!”
“Yes, Lord Grayman!”
“This time, you will head straight for the land of the elves. I require you to establish contact with the elves, and it would be best if you could gain their friendship.”
“Yes, Lord Grayman!”
Paul’s heart was filled with excitement. With both oil and rubber, he thought, “Elves, oh elves, you have no idea what a precious treasure you’re sitting on, do you?”
…
In the spring of the year 1995 of the Holy Calendar, a piece of news quickly spread throughout the Kingdom of Ordo.
King Rodney XVII had been called to the Lord’s side. His successor was his nephew, Gerd Rodney, who should now, of course, be addressed as His Majesty Rodney XVIII.
The old king’s passing was not surprising, as he had been widely known for his frail health in his later years.
What was surprising was his successor. Many had speculated that his daughter, Catherine, would succeed him, becoming the first female monarch in Ordo’s history. Even more people believed the king would follow tradition and let his younger brother, Jassim, succeed him.
But no one had guessed that the one to truly ascend the throne would be his nephew, Gerd. This fellow wasn’t the first in line for succession by any means.
The new king sparked discussions among the various powers within the Kingdom of Ordo.
Inside the greedy Grand Duke’s castle, Jars held a banquet and invited his many vassals.
“Hahahaha! The Lord of Light is helping me!”
Jars raised his wine glass, his excitement palpable.
“I really don’t know what His Majesty the King was thinking, passing the throne to such a young man. Catherine has the support of the army and is skilled in warfare herself. Jassim is old and cunning, deeply respected by the nobles. Both of them are people I feared. As for Gerd, hahahaha, it’s not that I look down on him, but he’s just a steward who manages the royal family’s properties!”
A soaring ambition ignited within the Grand Duke’s chest.
He saw the crown of Crystal Shrine beckoning to him. It was time to lead his troops north once more.
He announced his plan to his vassals.
“This time, we will definitely make it to Crystal Shrine!”
“I am confident! With Lord Jars leading us, we are invincible!”
The vassals were also stirred up, one after another expressing their loyalty and confidence.
“Lord Jars, shouldn’t we wait a bit?”
Unlike most, his trusted general, Samar, offered a suggestion.
“Oh? Why is that?”
Samar explained to him:
“Jassim is Gerd’s father, so perhaps nothing will happen. But what about Catherine? Will she and her cousin end up fighting?
If the two of them could be made to fight, that would be quite a show to watch.
It would be best if they fought until both sides were battered and bruised. When that happened, if he were to raise his army, wouldn’t it be an unstoppable force?
Like pushing over a dilapidated house.
The Grand Duke thought maliciously.
It was time for the spies planted in Crystal Shrine to get to work.
.
!
Chapter 597: Oil and Rubber
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