Chapter 140: Settare, who came to deliver the message

Regarding Luo De's proactive request for guidance.

Even though he had explicitly stated that he wanted to study the knowledge of the Marvelous Theory School.

Felushan still readily agreed.

She also agreed to help him hide the fact that he had once deceived Ka Wei.

Coincidentally, she was also preparing to change her teaching method.

First teach mechanics, then teach the Knowledge Theory School's knowledge.

It was exactly the right time for Luo De to follow her in studying mechanics.

It also happened that she already liked Luo De's personality.

In her words.

Being full of curiosity for different kinds of knowledge is what an Academy student should be like, far better than the students taught by those rigid old fogies.

Thus.

In the days that followed.

Besides his regular research, Luo De spent all his other time studying mechanics with Felushan, especially since she was currently researching automatic irrigation sprinkler equipment—a topic requiring extensive mechanical expertise—and he even got the chance to put it into practice.

This is different from before, when he simply followed Felushan to figure out how to make this equipment.

Back then, even if Luo De said something amateurish, Felushan would at most think he just hadn't been exposed to classical mechanics, so he couldn't understand her design.

Nowadays.

If Luo De gets her teachings wrong again, she will really hit his hand with a teaching stick.

Although this punishment doesn't hurt or itch, at least the form is fully carried out.

And Felushan, who had lost funding from the Shiluobutian Academy, took the funds and research site provided by A Ru Cun, plus Luo De and Ka Wei's help, and from design approval to completion built a prototype in just one month.

But then a completely new problem arose.

"There isn't enough energy to keep this equipment running."

At Uncle Anpu's house, Luo De, Kantisi, Dixiya, and Uncle Anpu sat around a table, four people in total.

After hearing Luo De's words,

Everyone in the room furrowed their brows.

Lack of energy.

This is indeed a problem right before us.

But there is a way to solve it.

That is the Marvelous Theory School's equipment at the Academy; A Ru Cun has a waterfall, so it is fully capable of using the Academy's hydroelectric equipment, or utilizing other vein-energy equipment—meaning the Academy's existing energy facilities can completely solve this problem.

Unfortunately,

"We have applied to the Academy before."

"But the Academy has refused every time."

When she said this, Kantisi's tone unusually carried a hint of anger.

This was expected.

If the Academy were willing to give A Ru Cun these things, why would we need to use equipment that requires batteries to start in the newly built facilities?

"Duoli definitely has it."

"But it's definitely contraband-grade."

"Never mind the price; if used, once the Academy discovers it, it will be very troublesome."

Luo De then offered a second option: "There is still another way—importing from abroad."

"Import?"

For A Ru Cun, this is an absolutely novel term.

Dixiya is somewhat better off.

After all, she is also a mercenary who has traveled far and wide, seen much, and once took employment from overseas merchants, so she naturally knows that compared to Sumeru, other countries have many unrestricted good things.

For Kantisi and Uncle Anpu, their energy is all spent in wits and courage against the Academy; they truly never thought about importing things from abroad.

"Energy technology."

"This stuff is only blocked in Sumeru, but in other countries these technologies can be bought."

Luo De laid out what he knew: "Besides other things, Mondstadt has wind power technology, Inazuma has electricity-using stone power generation technology, Liyue and Fontaine each have their own unique technologies, and these technologies are not banned by the Academy, so they can be smuggled in through Kawanyi despite the blockade."

"The village doesn't have enough money, right?"

Dixiya, who has some understanding of these matters, frowned and raised a realistic problem: "These technologies can indeed be bought, but the village still owes a large sum to Sir Sangge Mahabaye and hasn't paid it back; wanting to free up money to buy this technology back is nearly impossible."

"Yeah."

Kantisi rubbed her temples and also said with a headache: "Your idea is indeed good, but we really don't have that much money; schools, hospitals, newly added public facilities, orphanages, irrigation channels—these are pure investments with no returns. If it weren't for the livestock base and the village's farmland having harvested a crop, and having settled a payment with Sir Sangge Mahabaye, the village wouldn't even be able to scrape together a single mora."

The implied meaning.

No money to buy this energy technology.

But if this energy problem isn't solved, Felushan's researched equipment will be delayed even further; without waiting for Nadixa to be freed, it's basically impossible to resolve.

After both proposals were shot down in succession,

Luo De didn't show a bitter face like Dixiya and the other three; instead, he smiled and said the third option: "Then it's time to bring out the Red King technology that your A Ru Cun has cherished."

"!!!"

As soon as his words fell, everyone's gaze in the room instantly focused on Luo De.

Now not only Dixiya, but even Kantisi and Uncle Anpu could hardly restrain themselves, wanting to pull Luo De aside and ask for clarification.

"What are you staring at me for?"

"I know you have hidden the Red King's leftover mechanisms in your hands, but you can't figure out how they work or use them, so you've just kept them hidden."

"Now the village has two top-tier Miaolun School scholars, and also includes a scholar specialized in analyzing Red King relic mechanisms. Won't you invite her to help analyze the technology you can't use? Or are you still planning to leave them to your descendants as a family heirloom?"

"A Ru Cun possesses Red King technology."

"This is no secret."

"The village's abundant water source is what those founding elders and orphans drew from the Red King relics using mechanisms."

"However, after the Red King's passing, those descendants who carried the last spark of Red King civilization also lost the ability to analyze and use these technologies; they can only make do with what they have, completely unable to independently develop advanced machinery and mechanisms like their ancestors could."

"Technology relies on archaeology."

"This is nothing to be ashamed of."

"Luo De's only worry now is that the village's elders and radicals won't allow Felushan and Ka Wei to analyze those mechanisms."

"After all, once Felushan completely analyzes those mechanisms, it means the Red King's technology will have been obtained by the people of the rainforest region."

"In the eyes of those stubborn, hidebound elders and even more hidebound radicals, this is completely unacceptable."

"Fortunately."

"Kantisi and Uncle An Pu have no such concerns."

"After Luo De finished speaking, they didn't even hesitate much before seeing Kantisi nod and say: \"I'll open the warehouse for them to research as they wish; as for the village's noise, rest assured, they won't make any noise. \""

"The warehouse."

"Its name is just this."

"Beneath its ordinary name lies A Ru Cun's greatest secret location."

"It is also the most heavily guarded place in the village; even someone of Luo De's status cannot casually approach it."

"There, not only does the village store its emergency rations accumulated over the years, but also various items usable in crises, as well as the Red King mechanisms passed down from their ancestors."

"With Kantisi's words and Uncle An Pu's tacit approval,"

"this means there will be no further trouble with this matter."

"Luo De smiled satisfactorily."

"It was also at this moment."

"The door of Uncle An Pu's house was knocked on."

"Immediately after,"

"Uncle An Pu's guard Beierkasaimu walked in and said: \"The female scholar who visited the village earlier has come again; this time she brought many people and specifically asked to see Luo De. \""

"Upon hearing this news,"

"Luo De's smile grew brighter: \"Look, this is another piece of good news. \""

"(End of chapter)"