Chapter 2455: An Unforgettable Journey

Puman fell silent, simultaneously focusing more of his attention on the two researchers in the vehicle, listening to them discuss the steam car issues as if they were researching a spell. A moment later, he finally found a breakthrough to convince himself:

"Lord Xia Duo, those two young people just mentioned the fixed procedures of the Alchemy Array; they aren't ordinary people, are they?"

If the researchers were not ordinary people, then it was only natural that the inventor was not an ordinary person either. Puman thought to himself that something like a steam engine ought to have been invented by a Spellcaster!

To this, Xia Duo did not refute him, only saying, "If Your Excellency Puman insists on thinking so, that is fine, but when we arrive in the south later, don't be too surprised!"

"Is there something else different in the south?" Puman asked curiously.

He had been to Nan Jing a few times before, specifically to investigate Xia Duo's Territory for the Seven Towers, but as it was a private investigation, he could not delve too deeply.

Of course, even so, he could see the vast difference between Daxia Territory and other parts of Netheril.

However, Xia Duo did not answer his current question directly, instead letting him see for himself, which made him somewhat disappointed, but also more expectant.

……

The steam car traveled along the road with a "clatter-clatter" sound. Although not fast, the speed was very stable. Combining the distance between the two locations, anyone with a little arithmetic foundation and common sense could calculate the time required for the entire journey.

Although this was Puman's first time traveling this road, a Mage's intuition allowed him to quickly deduce the true length based on the length of the road on the ground as seen from high altitude.

As for the speed, that was even less of a problem; this was almost an instinct for every Mage who had mastered Flight. Although in Netheril, few Mages would specifically calculate the flight speed of others, they were at least very aware of their own speed.

Halfway through the journey, Puman was already completely like an old hand who had ridden the steam car many times. He began to walk around the carriage, occasionally sticking his head out of the rear window to observe the road conditions behind, and occasionally leaning over to the driver to ask about the operation methods of the steam car.

The driver of this experimental vehicle originally belonged to the Territory Guard of Daxia Territory, later transferred to the Civil Affairs Department of the Territory, and would likely serve as a full-time driver for the Territory's public transportation in the future.

Although he did not know that Xia Duo was on the vehicle, he had received special instructions from above and knew that the two people who had boarded were important guests of the Territory.

Therefore, when Puman felt curious about the steam car and asked about the operation method, he did not refuse, but patiently introduced:

"This vehicle is mainly controlled by the steering wheel in front and the control levers on the left and right hands. The steering wheel controls the axle under the locomotive, and the control levers control the power transmission of the steam engine."

"Can you let me try?"

"This—" The driver hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and agreed. He could not refuse the request of an important guest. Furthermore, during the time he had been a locomotive driver, he had also learned the maintenance of common locomotive failures from the researchers, and he did not believe a novice could do much damage to this vehicle.

Thus, Puman did not even wait for the car to stop before he exchanged positions with the driver. In the moment the driver was stunned, he pushed the control lever on his right hand hard. With a "creak," it seemed that a certain mechanical part moved with difficulty.

The next moment, the vehicle jolted violently and then visibly increased its speed, but—

There was a reason why the driver had previously driven this vehicle at that speed. Now that it had suddenly accelerated, the sound of the steam engine venting became significantly quieter, but the clanking sound of the mechanical parts became more rapid, and then with a "click," a certain part jammed.

The next moment, the steam engine inside the car suddenly spat out a large amount of white mist. Fortunately, there were special connecting pipes leading to the outside; otherwise, the people inside would have ended up in a sorry state, even if they weren't scalded.

At the same time, the vehicle body, which had been accelerating, suddenly lost speed. After sliding for a distance, it stopped in the middle of the road.

The two researchers looked at each other in dismay, and the driver was also at a loss. Just then, Xia Duo walked to the front of the steam car. He checked it briefly and then made a judgment:

"It's still a problem with the transmission structure. Once the output is too high, it easily leads to transmission failure. This problem needs to be studied carefully."

Saying this, Xia Duo signaled for the two researchers and the driver to begin inspecting the locomotive, while he pulled the somewhat embarrassed Puman out of the driver's seat.

"Let's stop experiencing the driving of the steam car here. When we get to the south, I'll give you one."

"Sorry, I delayed your time," Puman sent a Sending.

"It's fine, the teacher hasn't arrived yet, we have enough time."

The reason for saying this had to do with the way Yinaole had come to Nan Jing. Xia Duo did not explain too much; in fact, if he were to explain, Puman should know better than him.

……

Soon, the locomotive failure was cleared, and the old driver took over again, traveling at the previous conventional speed. However, this experimental trip seemed to have bad luck; even traveling at a conventional speed, another failure occurred before they had gone far.

This time it was still a transmission problem, or rather, steam locomotive failures were basically transmission problems, while others were mostly problems with the steam engine itself.

Fortunately, the steam cars at the current stage were still very primitive, and the two researchers and the driver had rich experience in troubleshooting, so the group was soon back on the road.

In the back of the carriage, Puman and Xia Duo chatted casually, and before long, the two got off at the station at the southern end of the 【Daxia-Saville Passage】.

"This really was an exceptionally unforgettable journey!" Puman sighed after getting off the car, watching the steam car that had finished refueling and was heading away again.

"As long as Your Excellency Puman is satisfied."

Saying this, Xia Duo pointed to the Patrol Airship hovering in the northern sky and said to Puman, "Next time you come, Your Excellency can also experience an airship cruise!"

"Oh, I almost forgot. Although most of Netheril's airships come from Leisen Territory and are also related to Lord Xia Duo, I bought an airship myself. I was quite excited at first, but later I rarely played with it. I don't know if it's because it flies too slowly."

"Your Excellency Puman has also purchased an airship?"

"Yes, actually not just me; the Seven Towers purchased one immediately, and even sent it to the Tianshui Plane to be imitated. I am no stranger to this airship."

"Haha!"

After the joke, Xia Duo invited Puman to Chang'an City. Although Chang'an City was currently parked at a very high altitude, it was always connected to the Portal on the ground, and it was right at the Code Plaza next to the station.

But when passing the Code sculpture in the plaza, Puman stopped in shock. He first bowed to the sculpture, and then said to Xia Duo, full of surprise:

"Since when did Nan Jing have a Divine Miracle of the Lord of Radiance?"

"This has been here for some time."

Saying this, Xia Duo made a judgment in his heart about the time Puman came to Nan Jing; it was at least two years ago. No wonder he hadn't even seen the Code sculpture.

Moreover, it was not synchronized with the Seven Towers' intelligence. In fact, many people from the Inner Land had already come to Nan Jing to visit, but those people might not have been able to tell that this was a Divine Miracle.

But the Seven Towers should have known, yet Puman did not know; what this meant was self-evident.