August Rodney
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"So, this is the so-called flying shuttle loom?"
Inside a weaving mill, Gerd Rodney's eyes focused on the shuttle moving back and forth.
He had been staying in the Northwest Bay for almost a month now, visiting various workshops almost every day.
As the shuttle zipped back and forth, a piece of cloth was rapidly forming on the machine.
"Yes, my lord," Paul, acting as a guide, stood beside Gerd Rodney, confirming his observation.
Gerd remarked, "A clever little contraption. Even to an amateur like me, its principle doesn't seem too complex. Yet, such a simple improvement has drastically increased the efficiency of fabric production."
Paul agreed, "Many innovations aren't particularly profound. They just sit quietly, waiting for someone to have a flash of inspiration."
Gerd, slightly pained, said, "If it's this simple, I could've avoided giving you so many shares. I could just have craftsmen replicate it after a glance here."
"Oh! You shouldn't say that, Lord Gerd," Paul raised his eyebrows. "If we have a good partnership, you'll also benefit from our future technical upgrades."
"Technical upgrades?"
"Yes, whether you believe it or not, my laboratory houses even more advanced technology than what you see here. If this current technology is copied, I'll immediately implement upgrades with even higher production efficiency, squeezing the copycats out of the market. Those who follow the proper channels, like our partners, will benefit from these advancements."
"You're quite confident, Earl Grayman."
Paul spread his hands, looking assured. "That's just how confident I am."
"Alright!"
Gerd dropped the topic and looked at Paul, asking, "So, was it you who had the flash of inspiration for this flying shuttle technology, Earl Grayman?"
Paul smiled modestly and replied in a humble tone, "Although it was me, the specifics were completed thanks to Mr. Guy Burns from the machinery factory and his colleagues."
"Guy Burns? Wait, that name sounds familiar."
Gerd's mind suddenly sparked a memory, and he began recalling.
"Guy Burns? Burns… Burns…"
He kept muttering the name under his breath.
Paul smiled beside him, waiting for Gerd to remember. Guy Burns was from the capital and came from a noble family, so it was likely Gerd knew of him.
But Paul didn't plan on reminding him; sometimes, the joy of recalling a vague memory is its own reward.
"Haha, I remember!" Gerd slapped his forehead.
"A peculiar machinist from Crystal Glare. Though his abilities were rather average, his style was unique. He refused to make 'toys' for the nobles and instead taught his techniques to poor kids. Eventually, the machinists of Crystal Glare banded together and drove him out. He couldn't make a living there and had to find work elsewhere. Ah… Earl Grayman, is your Guy Burns from Crystal Glare? After all, there are many people with the same name."
Paul burst into laughter and said, "I believe it's the same Guy Burns. What he told me matches exactly what you just said. However, I don't quite agree with the 'average abilities' part. Many of the machines here were completed thanks to Master Burns."
Gerd was surprised, "Is he really that talented? But I heard…"
"Oh! Lord Gerd," Paul waved his hand, "You mentioned that the machinists in the capital are keen on making 'toys' for the nobles. Master Burns never cared for that. His ambition is to create 'big things,' like this flying shuttle loom that multiplies production efficiency."
Paul continued teasingly, "Haha, it seems the nobles in the capital lost a great talent and drove him all the way to the Northwest Bay. Imagine if he had stayed in the capital, perhaps right now I'd be going to you, Lord Gerd, to buy technology and machines!"
Earl Gerd rubbed his thumb and forefinger together in front of his eyes, smiling as he said, "Just takes a little flash of inspiration, right?"
The two looked at each other and laughed heartily.
After the laughter died down, Paul asked, "Lord Gerd, do you have an interest in mechanical technology yourself?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just now, you seemed to know a lot about Mr. Burns' history, so I got the feeling you're somewhat of an 'insider.'"
"Oh! No, it's not because I'm interested in mechanical technology," Gerd answered honestly. "Actually, it's because my younger brother is passionate about machines. I learned about Mr. Burns from him. You could say he's a 'half-insider,' as you put it."
"Your younger brother?" Paul asked, "Lord August or Lord Yuriko?"
"It's August," Gerd replied. "He's quite keen on mechanical things. He's been visiting your machinery and agricultural factories every day lately. I think he's already recognized Guy Burns. They probably met back when they were both in the capital."
Paul nodded, "I see, that explains how he knows about Burns."
Gerd looked again at the flying shuttle loom in the workshop, his face showing a fond expression. "My brother is both passionate and talented. He often says that if he hadn't been born into the royal family, he would've been an excellent locksmith. The other nobles frequently mock him for this—after all, he was born a royal, yet he's still enthusiastic about such things."
At this, Gerd's face showed a hint of helplessness.
Paul laughed, "Your brother certainly seems like an interesting man. I know of an emperor who loved woodworking, so this doesn't seem too extreme."
Gerd smiled back, taking Paul's words as a kind reassurance, so he didn't pursue which emperor Paul was referring to.
He continued, "My brother's skills have been useful, though. You've heard of the guillotine, haven't you?"
Paul: "Ah? The guillotine? Around here, the lords usually use hanging for executions, but I know what a guillotine looks like."
Gerd: "Back in the capital, the guillotine's blade used to be rectangular, with the edge parallel to the platform below. But this shape caused the blade to dull quickly after just a few uses, and sharpening it was a hassle."
Paul: "Let me guess—your brother, August, fixed the problem?"
"Exactly." Gerd laughed again. "Guess how he solved it? He changed the blade to a triangular shape, so the edge is slanted. Now it doesn't dull as easily."
"I see, that's a simple yet effective idea."
Paul sincerely praised.
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (FF) ahead on (pa treon . com / CinderTL) – Chapter 748. {We've Caught UP!!!}
Early access starts at $5. Your support keeps this going!
Subscribe & Read Nightmare Strikes FREE!! ;)
Translated 4 Series, 1.5K+ Chapters and 1.78M+ Words.