24: Chapter 0024 Music

Gele City ranked low among the nearly twenty thousand cities in the Crimson Soul Duchy, and was only considered upper-middle tier even within Monte Province.

This was closely related to the conservative governing policies of the Wiseman Family, the hereditary enfeoffed Viscounts.

In contrast, the development of most Duchy-directly governed cities was much better. As Instructor Felina explained, many advanced industries and technologies were actually absent in Gele City.

Perhaps this was the drawback of the feudal enfeoffment system; the enfeoffed nobles were not overly keen on developing their territories, focusing more on Family progress and individual strength.

The two chatted and laughed, and half a sorcery hour quickly passed. The silhouette of Gele City was already visible far in the distance.

On the distant horizon, more than a dozen slender, tall smokestacks stood erect, from which gray-black thick smoke billowed out. From afar, they looked like fifteen long snakes floating on the horizon...

As they gradually approached Gele City, the first thing they saw was vast stretches of plantations...

These plantations were mainly for growing raw Materials needed for inferior potions. These plants generally did not have stringent requirements for energy particles.

There were also some glass-house-like plantations, which required stricter cultivation conditions.

These usually required setting up some Sorcery Arrays to increase the concentration of energy particles in the air. This was the type of structure used to cultivate the raw Materials for genuine low-grade witchcraft potions.

After quickly driving past the large plantations came the industrial zone...

The tall smokestacks seen from afar were located in this section, faintly forming a circle around Gele City. One could basically see that Gele City adopted a ring-shaped structure, similar to the Imperial Capital in Li Size's previous life.

The industrial zone was filled with massive steel factories. The roar of machinery and the factory's high-pitched broadcasts carried faintly from a distance:

"Labor is glorious! Strive hard for 100 days to complete the 'Crimson Flame Army' order, and everyone's bonus will increase by 20%."

Li Size felt as if he had returned to the research institute.

Li Size looked at these factories. From afar, he could vaguely see that the products being manufactured were diverse, indicating very strong productivity and a scene of prosperity.

Yet, this was still Gele City, which ranked low in the Crimson Soul Duchy according to Felina. He wondered what the cities that ranked higher looked like.

After looking closely, he noticed about two or three factory buildings producing machinery. Li Size asked Felina, who was nestled beside him:

"Felina, weapon factories require Ore refining furnaces, medium-precision lathes, and forging machinery for production. Do you know which factories or merchant groups in Gele City sell these?"

Felina glanced outside and pointed to a factory far away bearing an 'S' shaped logo:

"For Ore smelting, that would be the 'Mountain Peak' Metallurgy Institute here. I heard that the high-level management of the institute belongs to a Gray Dwarf Family skilled in metallurgy. Gray Dwarves, as common intelligent humanoids, have already completely integrated into human society, so don't be surprised if you meet them.

"The furnaces at the 'Mountain Peak' Metallurgy Institute are of excellent quality and outstanding performance.

"You know, Wizard Apprentices need to smelt rare metals when studying alchemy. Most of the Wizard Apprentices I know buy their furnaces from the 'Mountain Peak' Metallurgy Institute."

She paused, and seeing that Li Size had no further questions, continued:

"As for medium-precision machine tools and forging machinery, I recommend the 'Crimson Soul Machinery Group.' This is a group under the military department that produces all sorts of machinery. They have a complete range and reliable quality."

Li Size smiled upon hearing this:

"So traveling with Instructor Felina is the correct choice. These things cannot be learned from books, and solving these problems myself would be a huge hassle."

Felina smiled faintly and asked:

"Then shall we go directly to find these two institutions?"

"No rush. Driving the witch box for so long is tiring. Let's first check into the Carnival and stay for two days to enjoy Gele City. Purchasing equipment is secondary; accompanying you is the main business."

Li Size smiled mysteriously. Driving the witch box did consume the driver's Mental Energy, though only minimally.

'Carnival' was a famous low-luxury hotel within the Crimson Soul Duchy, suitable for the middle class who valued quality of life.

One night wasn't cheap, costing about 10 Silver Coins, which was more expensive than an ordinary knight sword, but Li Size didn't want his woman to feel wronged.

'Carnival' was one of the few buildings in Gele City with more than 10 floors. Since it was the off-season, Li Size luckily booked the suite on the top floor, the 23rd floor, which offered a panoramic view of the entire city.

Li Size held the charming Felina close, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the bustling Gele City with her...

Sensing the unusual changes in the young man's body behind her, her body temperature rapidly rose, and a flush like that from intoxication appeared on her fair skin.

Li Size whispered in her ear:

"Instructor, let's rest for a while."

Felina turned, her eyes becoming hazy:

"Mm..."

Li Size lowered his head and kissed her, commanding:

"Call me Master today; after all, I served as your male servant for several days before."

Felina immediately lowered her head shyly, her voice like a mosquito's whine:

"Master, may I serve you in resting? Is that alright?"

This rest lasted for a day and a night...

(Harmonized) Tasting the sweetness...

It was around four or five in the morning the next day...

Li Size finally fell into a deep sleep when he truly had no strength left...

When he woke up, it was already close to noon. Felina had long been awake, looking at him with attachment, her slender jade hand caressing his chest.

Li Size secretly regretted it. He had planned to bring Felina to Gele City for an outing, but instead, the two of them went wild in the hotel for two full days.

They had to rush back to Gray Mist Mountain Town that night, and they still needed to negotiate the purchase of equipment in the afternoon. It seemed there was no time left for sightseeing; perhaps next time.

Felina, however, was very happy, completely satisfied with the time spent in their private world with Li Size, acting like a sweet young wife.

Li Size felt a slight tremor in his legs when he got out of bed...

The physical fitness of this Wizard Apprentice was truly terrifying. If he didn't improve his physical condition quickly, he feared he might die not on the battlefield, but at home...

The academy library had rich collections, and among the medical category, there must be some potion formulas for strengthening the body and consolidating one's foundation.

It seemed it was time to go to the library and use Pay-to-Win Analysis on one or two such formulas.

Li Size first took the blissfully happy Felina to the 'Mountain Peak' Metallurgy Institute branch in the city center and finalized the purchase of the smelting furnaces, ordering 4 sets at once.

The specifications of these smelting furnaces were customized based on volume, smelting temperature, and temperature control grade.

Based on his needs, Li Size ordered large furnaces capable of reaching 2400 degrees, with a temperature control grade of 50 degrees (meaning the temperature could be precisely controlled within plus or minus 50 degrees of the target temperature), costing nearly 8 Gold Coins.

Such a large order caused the institute's service staff to frequently hint that they could personally demonstrate furnace maintenance to Li Size that very night.

Li Size had to hastily sign the contract under Felina's human-like gaze, pay the deposit, and then flee in disarray...