Chapter 267: Black Stone Myth, Primitive Coking!

"This is... high-quality bituminous coal?!"

Xiulote, holding the asphalt-like black stone in his hand and looking at the thick smoke from the burning black stone nearby, cried out in surprise.

A gust of wind blew by, dispersing the smoke and the cry in the air. The wind also brought with it the sulfur smell unique to mining areas and blew away the coal fragments in the king's hand.

The king seemed transfixed as he gazed upon it. They appeared to be the initial seeds, containing the faint signs of life for an industry's inception.

"Bertade, you have made a great contribution!... Where did you find this?"

"From the camp's kitchen. The miners unearthed this kind of black stone from underground to use for cooking fires, and it seems they have been doing so for quite some time."

Bertade smiled faintly. He understood his Highness very well and had known the prince would certainly be interested in such peculiar items.

"Ezpan, have you seen this before?"