Chapter 261: Flying Over the Empire

New Era Calendar year 2529, early August.

The afternoon heat was sweltering; the spacious, bright workshop felt even more stifling. Even though a steam‑driven giant fan kept blowing to circulate air, everyone was drenched in sweat.

In the crowd, Lei En wore a loose, thin shirt that had already been soaked with sweat.

Beside him, Akaland was also sweating profusely.

The two stood on the open floor of the workshop, surrounded by several subordinates in management uniforms; everyone's eyes were fixed on the production line, where a brand‑new motorcycle had just been assembled and was undergoing a series of tests, about to roll off the line.

Expectancy shone unmistakably in Akaland's eyes.

Lei En, however, remained unruffled.

To others a motorcycle was a novelty, but to him it was nothing new at all.

More than five months ago, using memories and experience from his previous life and combining them with this world's mechanical technology, he spent half a month experimenting with metal activation and produced the prototype of the first steam motorcycle.

That vehicle was crude and its design simple, yet when he handed it to Akaland, Akaland fell in love with it at first sight.

The difficulty of a steam motorcycle lies not in the technology but in the creativity.

After receiving the prototype, Akaland spent another two weeks improving it together with Lei En, convinced the motorcycle would sell, and immediately decided to invest in production.

Site selection, factory construction, assembly line setup, worker recruitment… Akaland already owned an automobile factory, was familiar with the process, and as vice president of the Mechanical Guild he had abundant contacts and experience; in less than five months he built a brand‑new plant and got it running smoothly.

This motorcycle factory was located within the Gra Morgan Territory, and the site was chosen personally by Lei En.

He secured forty percent of the factory's shares by contributing the land's value plus the original technology; Akaland supplied manpower and a management team and handled the initial capital, also receiving forty percent.

The remaining twenty percent belonged to the Mechanical Guild.

In the Empire, any company whose business involves mechanical technology and requires a mechanic to participate in production must, to some degree, cooperate with the Mechanical Guild.

The heavier the reliance on technology, the larger the share handed over to the Mechanical Guild.

That is why the Mechanical Guild is so wealthy.

"Vice President, the test is complete; the vehicle's quality is fine," a mechanic in charge of the final test shouted excitedly.

Beside him, a jet‑black motorcycle sat on the ground.

Lei En examined it carefully; the body was about two and a half meters long, with two rubber wheels front and rear, overall looking much like the motorcycles of his past life, the most noticeable difference being the engine area.

Because it used steam power, the engine had been replaced with a steam engine, but not a pure steam engine—it incorporated rune technology to boost combustion efficiency and output while reducing size.

This rune‑steam engine was not Lei En's invention; the Mechanical Guild had been promoting it for many years, applying it to numerous machines such as cars, steam trains, and airships.

The puppets manufactured by the mechanics generally also ran on rune‑steam engines.

The fuel for the rune‑steam engine is also coal, but not the coal found on Earth.

The two differ greatly.

It is also mined from underground, abundant, and extremely versatile; its translated name is "gray coal," yet it is much harder than ordinary coal, its structure resembles a crystal, it is more heat‑resistant, and can release far more heat—its calorific value almost rivals gasoline.

Moreover, the ash residue from burning gray coal is minimal, like fine ash, with very low lingering hazard.

The coal gas refined from it is also highly burn‑resistant.

Lei En has been in Ai Lun E Si for almost a year, constantly burning coal to drive steam engines, and still hasn't figured out gray coal's composition.

He guesses gray coal must contain the fire element, which would explain its peculiarity.

"Let me try."

Akaland could hardly wait, jumped onto the motorcycle and twisted the handlebars to start it.

Instantly, the runes on the steam engine glowed red, generating a massive burst of heat that ignited the gray coal in the combustion chamber. The scorching temperature boiled water in seconds, steam drove the pistons, and after a few strokes the power was transmitted through the chain to the tires, making them turn.

Puh‑puh‑puh…

The exhaust pipe beneath spewed white steam backward, and the motorcycle surged forward.

Akaland pulled his foot off the footboard, rode the motorcycle in circles on the workshop's open floor, gradually got the feel after a few laps, then throttled up and sped out of the workshop.

Moments later, Akaland rode back, dismounted with a hint of reluctance, and laughed, "Lei En, want to give it a try yourself?"

"No need; there'll be plenty of chances later."

Lei En shook his head and declined.

He used to work at a library, riding his beloved little electric donkey every day through wind and rain, to the point of nausea.

The worst part was the battery had been stolen three times!

The steam motorcycle is a bit faster than the little electric donkey, but far less comfortable; the vibration is considerable, and the steam engine roars loudly—he doesn't want that trouble.

It still has plenty of room for improvement.

But that's not his concern; with a legendary mechanic like Akaland, he doesn't intend to meddle in the factory's management.

In fact, Akaland only handles research and development; he leaves management and sales to others.

Such a situation is extremely common in the Empire.

Owners of companies or factories are usually extraordinary beings or nobles; they are busy cultivating and enjoying life, rarely taking part in day‑to‑day operations.

A group of professional ordinary people handle those affairs, similar to managers in his previous life.

Ai Lun E Si is a world where the strong dominate; no matter how capable an ordinary person's managerial talent, they cannot overturn the rule of the extraordinary.

The extraordinary can comfortably delegate authority.

Even if occasional loopholes are exploited, once noticed they can easily force ordinary people to return both principal and profit.

Seeing Lei En had no intention to test‑drive, Akaland nodded, "I know you'll be leaving Mo Du soon; when you return, feel free to try it again. Come, I'll take you out."

Outside the workshop, a car was already waiting.

Lei En took the rear seat, about to depart, when Akaland suddenly said, "By the way, the steam motorcycle has been produced, but we haven't given it a name yet. Without a name it's hard to market; you're the inventor, so the naming right is yours."

"Uh…," Lei En thought for a moment, then smiled, "Then let's call it 'Mercedes', and design a logo for it to boost recognition."

As he spoke, he drew a steering‑wheel‑shaped symbol in the air.

"That name's good!"

Akaland clapped his hands and immediately agreed, "Nice meaning, easy to say—our product will be the Mercedes motorcycle from now on!"

"Ha… farewell."

Lei En burst into an inexplicable laugh and ordered the driver to start the car.

A moment later, the car entered the airship landing field on the seaside within the territory and stopped at one of the berths. Stepping out, Lei En saw an airship parked before him, and outside its hatch stood two fully‑armed Extreme Warriors, one on each side, like steel statues guarding the place.

"Boss!" the Extreme Warriors shouted in unison.

"Hmm." Lei En nodded in response and commanded, "Notify Xi Ka Liu Si, have the captain launch; we'll depart immediately."

"Yes!"

Excitement filled the voices of the two Extreme Warriors.

Lei En boarded the airship's deck; minutes later, the airship beneath his feet rose slowly, climbing higher above the ground and heading westward.

He was preparing to fly over the Empire, cross the Saien Plateau, and head to the homeland of the Makurag people!

New departure!

(End of chapter)