CHAPTER 10

The morning sun had barely risen, yet the streets outside Goldenova were already packed. The crowd stretched down the road, a sea of people standing in long lines, all eagerly waiting for their turn. From commoners to merchants, from blacksmiths to tailors, even some minor noble families had come to see this new marvel. The excitement was tangible, murmurs of curiosity and speculation filling the air.

"Did you see the streets last night? It was brighter than any festival!" one man exclaimed.

"I thought the stars had come down to bless our land," a woman beside him added.

A younger boy tugged on his father's sleeve. "Papa, can we get the lights too? I don't like the dark."

The father chuckled. "That's why we're here, son. No more relying on candles and oil lamps."

Merchants were discussing amongst themselves.

"If this is real, our shops will never be dark again. We could stay open longer!"

"Hah! And you'll still have to pay me for those extra working hours," a nearby blacksmith smirked.

Some elders were more skeptical.

"I still don't understand… If it's not fire, then what is it?" one old man grumbled.

"They say it's something called 'electricity.' No mana needed," his friend replied.

"No mana? Impossible. Nothing in this world works without mana," the old man scoffed.

A woman chimed in, "Then how do you explain the streets last night? If magic was involved, we'd have seen mages maintaining the lights. But no one was there, and yet they still shone."

The old man fell silent, unable to argue.

Just then, the doors of Goldenova opened, and a line of workers in uniform stepped out. Each held a clipboard, and behind them, wagons carrying strange equipment were being prepared. A man standing at the front, seemingly in charge, raised his voice.

"Alright, listen up! We will install lights in your homes, but we need your names and addresses first. We will do this district by district. Once we receive your request, our teams will arrive at your homes shortly."

The crowd surged forward in excitement.

The Installation Begins

Within hours, the workers had spread across the city, moving from house to house. Each team carried metal rods with glowing bulbs, copper wires, and small wooden boxes with gears and coils inside.

At one house, a team of three knocked on the door. An elderly couple opened it cautiously.

"Are you here for the lights?" the old woman asked.

"Yes, ma'am. We will install them in your home now."

She stepped aside, watching curiously as the workers entered. One man unpacked the copper wiring, while another climbed onto a stool, fixing the glass bulb onto a metal bracket on the ceiling. The third worked on the small wooden box, adjusting gears inside.

"This is the power box. It will control the light in your home. Just flip this switch, and it will turn on," the worker explained.

The old man grumbled, "I still don't understand. If it's not magic, then how does it glow?"

The worker smiled. "Think of it like lightning captured in a bottle. The energy flows through the wires, and when you open the path, the light comes on."

The old man snorted. "Sounds like magic to me."

Moments later, the worker finished his adjustments. "Alright, everything is set. Let's test it."

He flipped the switch.

For a second, nothing happened. Then, with a faint hum, the glass bulb flickered—once, twice—and then, with a steady glow, the room was bathed in a soft, white light.

The old woman gasped, clutching her husband's arm. "By the gods… It's brighter than the sun!"

The old man's eyes widened. He waved his hand beneath the light, watching how it cast clear shadows. "No heat… no flickering like a flame… It's just there."

Outside, the neighbors had gathered, peeking through the windows.

"Does it work?" someone asked.

"Look at their house! It's glowing!"

The workers moved on to the next house, and then the next. Everywhere they went, similar reactions followed. Some children screamed in delight, running in circles under the new lights, their shadows playing across the walls. Mothers marveled at the brightness, realizing they could now sew or cook even at night without struggling to see. Shopkeepers tested their lights, already making plans to extend their business hours.

At one noble's residence, a finely dressed woman narrowed her eyes at the workers as they installed the power box.

"So you're telling me this requires no mage to maintain?" she asked skeptically.

"None at all, my Lady."

She watched as the worker demonstrated, flipping the switch. The room lit up instantly. Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering in her sharp eyes.

"…Fascinating."

She turned to her husband. "Do you understand what this means? If this spreads, mages will no longer be needed for simple lighting spells. This changes everything."

Her husband, a minor noble, nodded slowly. "Lord Lor has truly created something revolutionary."

A week had passed since the first lights were installed, and skepticism among the people had started to fade. At first, many had doubted whether this new invention would truly work, but as they saw more and more homes glowing at night, their fears were replaced by excitement.

"If the neighbor's house has it, why shouldn't I?" became a common thought among the people. Soon, more and more families began registering to have the lights installed in their homes. The streets bustled with workers carrying supplies, installing power lines, and explaining to homeowners how to use the switches.

Merchants saw the potential immediately. "A shop that stays open at night? More customers, more sales!" They quickly lined up to have lights installed in their businesses.

But Lor and Harry knew that this was only the beginning. The capital of Gold Territory was thriving, but the true challenge lay ahead—bringing light to the baronies, towns, and villages scattered across their vast land.

Inside the power station, the air was filled with the scent of burning coal and metal. Massive wind turbines spun outside, their blades catching the steady winds from the mountains, while inside, engineers and forgers worked tirelessly on solar panels and new generators.

Every forger who had contributed to the power station's construction was gathered in the main hall. They stood in clusters, wiping sweat from their foreheads, some leaning on their tools while others chatted among themselves, wondering why they had been called.

Then, the large double doors swung open.

Lord Lor entered first, his commanding presence causing the room to quiet down. Behind him walked Harry, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered workers.

Lor stepped forward and, with a firm voice, addressed them. "First, I want to thank all of you. Because of your skill, dedication, and hard work, our city now stands brighter than ever. You are the reason we have achieved this breakthrough."

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd. Some workers smiled, others nodded, appreciating the recognition.

Lor then gestured toward Harry. "But we are not done yet. Harry will explain our next step."

Harry stepped forward, clearing his throat. "As you all know, our territory is vast. If we try to manufacture everything here in the capital and transport it to every town and village, it will take far too long. And what use is it if only our city has light while the rest of Gold Territory remains in darkness?"

The workers listened attentively, some crossing their arms, others rubbing their chins in thought.

"To solve this, we need to spread our knowledge. We need to train others so that they can build and install these systems themselves." Harry's gaze swept across the room. "That's why we are asking some of you to travel to the baronies and teach the forgers there. We will set up workshops in each region, so every part of Gold Territory can produce its own turbines, wires, and power sources."

A ripple of murmurs passed through the crowd. Some workers glanced at each other uncertainly.

"Leaving the capital...?"

"That means being away from our families for months."

"Teaching others? I've never been a teacher before."

Harry could sense the hesitation. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I know this is not an easy request. Traveling far from home, staying in unfamiliar places—it's a difficult task. That's why we are offering increased pay for those who step forward. And for those who do an exceptional job, there will be promotions within the company."

The murmurs started to shift. Increased pay? Promotions? That changed things.

A tall, broad-shouldered forger named Gregor scratched his beard. "How much more are we talking?"

Harry smirked slightly. "Fifty percent increase in wages while you're on duty outside the capital. If you lead a team well and successfully establish production, you will receive a permanent promotion when you return."

That caught everyone's attention.

A younger forger hesitated before stepping forward. "What kind of positions are we talking about?"

Lor answered this time. "Supervisors. Team leaders. If you prove yourself, you won't just be a worker—you'll be someone who oversees entire projects."

The hall fell silent for a moment as the forgers processed this.

Then, slowly, one man stepped forward. "I'll do it. My family could use the extra money."

Another man nodded. "Same here. I'll go if it means a better future."

Then, more and more workers began stepping forward, each with their own reasons—some for the money, some for the opportunity, and some simply for the challenge.

By the end of the meeting, over twenty skilled forgers had volunteered.

Lor smiled. "Good. You will receive proper travel arrangements and supplies. Goldenova is not just a city—it is the start of something greater. With your help, all of Gold Territory will shine."

Harry glanced at the map on the table, marking down the locations where the first teams would be sent.