Whether it was the transportation, unloading, feeding, or collecting of raw materials, the entire refining area had used steam power to replace manual labor. It was the most mechanized factory in Neverwinter.
Since it needed to consume a large amount of coal and crude oil, the plant looked like a huge rectangular square from above. The northern end of the square was directly facing the Redwater River, which served as both a special dock and a coal yard. Several conveyor belts connected to the steam engine continuously transported coal to the boiler room. The parallel black lines formed a sharp contrast with the gray cement ground around it.
The other end of the square was used to store marine oil from the Shoal. The tracks and the trailers that came and went formed the picture of this half of the square. When there was a shortage of coal, the boiler room could also directly use the unrefined oil as fuel.
The oil storage warehouse on the west side of the fractionation tower was half completed. The concrete warehouses lined up like fortresses. Their rough shape was incompatible with the residential buildings on the other side of the river, but they had an indescribable sense of beauty. At the same time, Roland knew that the technical content was not low at all. From the pressure relief valve to the inspection window, the conveyor pipe to the anti-static equipment, from the construction details to the operating procedures, it would not have been so smooth without the experience of the chemical plant.
To his relief, he only did the final review and approval of the overall plan, and the design process was completed by the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Chemical Industry. Obviously, the mines, the furnace area, and other projects had given them a lot of experience, and they boldly applied it to the new project. Since there was no unified industry standard in this era, from the elevator to the traction winch, each machine had to be processed and assembled by the factory after the parameters were determined on the spot. If one didn't have basic knowledge of engineering and literacy, it would be difficult for both sides to communicate with each other.
Two years after the compulsory promotion of universal education, the effect was gradually showing.
As the temperature of the boiler continued to rise, the oil that was heated to the state of steam gushed into the fractionation tower. This could be seen from the snow on the tower that turned into wisps of water vapor. At this moment, the northern wind had basically calmed down, leaving only the snow falling slowly from the sky. However, the people who came to visit did not move at all. They stared at the beautiful metal tower, their breaths echoing with the steam from the various machines in the square. In this cold winter where there was no sunlight, it actually formed a warmth that did not lose out to the wind at all.
...
"So beautiful." Edith stood on the steel bridge and murmured.
This place was about a few miles away from the Refinement Area, so there were not many people around. Occasionally, there would be people hurrying by, but most of them were heading towards the direction of the tower. Other than witnessing the birth of something new, they also wanted to see His Majesty. But when they passed by the Pearl of the Northern Region, most people would involuntarily glance at her and the person beside her. There was no doubt that in their eyes, the two women standing in the snow were breathtakingly beautiful.
Isn't this just a chimney? What was so beautiful about it? Cole thought to himself, but he didn't dare to say it out loud. "If you want to see it, why don't you go with City hall? Sir Barov clearly arranged a better position, and His Majesty also … "
Although the terrain here was relatively high and the field of vision was wide, due to the distance, he couldn't see clearly. More importantly, this was a good opportunity for people of the same profession to get to know each other. It didn't matter what they wanted to see. When all the officials of City hall gathered together, the point was no longer just to watch. In the words of the era of the nobles, it was like a banquet. The focus was definitely not on the food, but on the people you talked to and the new friends you got to know.
For his sister, who was extremely good at socializing, it was impossible for her not to know this. She had clearly said that he would train hard in City hall, but she deliberately missed such an opportunity. Sometimes, he really couldn't understand what was going on in her head.
However, Edith's slight twitch of the corner of her mouth made Cole shut up.
"Of course it's for you, my dear brother," she said softly and teasingly. "Do you really want to appear in front of the other officials in your current appearance?"
Wait, this is all because of your request!
It was fine to wear those clothes at home, but he didn't expect to be forced to wear them out. If he was seen by his acquaintances, he was afraid that he would have to jump off the bridge.
Ah ah! It was all his fault for being so bored. When he was holding his sister's clothes up and down, his sister suddenly came back and saw him, causing him to give in so easily. Otherwise, he wouldn't have so easily compromised.
Cole was about to express a little protest when he suddenly heard a frivolous whistle behind him.
He suddenly felt a heat on his face and subconsciously pulled his collar, wanting to bury his head.
"Well, this isn't the right way to deal with it."
A hand pressed against his chin, forcing him to look up again.
Then Cole saw the Pearl of the Northern Region turn around and look at the passerby contemptuously. Even he couldn't help but shiver when he saw the coldness in her eyes that kept people a thousand miles away. The passerby took two steps back and dared not say another word. He quickly walked out of her sight.
"Do you understand?" Edith shrugged. "This is also a test for you."
"… If I was dressed normally, I wouldn't have encountered this kind of thing," Cole muttered softly.
"But if you want to participate in politics, something irresistible like this will definitely happen. The only thing you can do is to accept it and try to control it." She paused. "Do you think that when Timothy entered the Northern Region, I welcomed him with a smile willingly? Everything in the world has different sides. The key is which angle you look at it from. Besides, you couldn't help but try on my clothes. In fact, you were also looking forward to this moment, weren't you? "
Cole couldn't help but choke. His sister could always explain some unreasonable actions clearly and logically. At this time, if he continued to argue, he would only be defeated. The right thing to do was to stay silent and wait.
As for the last sentence, he would never admit it!
However, was the beauty that she mentioned before also because of the angle?
After changing the topic and asking the question in his mind, Cole clearly saw a touch of redness on her cheeks.
"Do you still remember what the winter in the City of Evernight is like?"
"Er …" He was a little stunned, and a series of images suddenly appeared in his mind. However, he rarely saw the city in them. Most of the images were of warm fireplaces, ale, and banquets. Basically, he could only think of indoor scenes. After a while, he said with uncertainty, "Does it look … peaceful?"
"It's dead silent, as if the whole earth is frozen." Edith looked in the direction of the tower. "I always thought that was the normal winter, but now it seems that it's not the case." She exhaled a white breath. "What do you see now? The earth is breathing, and the fog is the best proof that it is still active. "
"I don't … quite understand."
"This proves that nature can be changed by people," the Pearl of the Northern Region said word by word. "People don't have to live by the sky, nor do they have to follow the rules of heaven and earth. They are suppressed by it because they are weak. When we become strong enough, we can even change the world. Isn't such power beautiful enough?"
However, Cole saw something else that was even more beautiful.
The woman who said these words seemed to emit an indescribable light. Her long green hair fluttered against the falling snow, which was more beautiful than any natural scenery. The redness on her cheeks was not as fierce as before, and her fair side profile looked extremely vivid.
He suddenly had a strong impulse. He wanted to know what the world in Edith Kant's eyes looked like.
…
"There, there's oil!"
As people around Tower One cheered, there was a commotion among the crowd.
"What's the oil?"
"I heard it's oil!"
"Is it for frying bread?"
"How can that be? What's piled up in the yard is coal, not fat meat."
"No matter what it is, since it's what His Majesty wants, it must be something special."
"So we can celebrate?"
"Yes, long live His Majesty!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
Soon, more people joined in the cheering. Even though they did not know the significance of the fractionation tower, they could not stop themselves from sharing the joy at this moment.
The cheering spread like waves. In just a few minutes, the entire refining area was boiling with excitement. Under this kind of atmosphere, the dreadful Months of Demons seemed to have lost its luster.
Looking at the black and white smoke rising from the riverbank and the silver tower flickering in and out of the smoke and snow, Roland's heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment.
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