208 - Gunpowder

At Dennis's enthusiastic invitation, Theodore quickly hopped aboard, only to experience the alchemical steam car's "comfort" and "convenience." Yet, it was slow and jerky.

The alchemical cars produced in the workshop had this quirk, but as Lord Lynn had mentioned, adding a tyre to the wheels and smoothing the ground could largely alleviate the issue.

"What's that wheel over there?" Dennis wasn't in a rush to ask about the internal combustion engine; instead, he pointed to a towering wheel in the distance, curious.

The moment they entered Iyeta Harbor, he noticed it—towering over twenty meters, perpetually rotating.

"That's a water wheel used for irrigating farmlands, something Lord Lynn cares deeply about regarding the common folk..." Theodore explained with a smile, having answered the same question countless times, making it second nature. Soon, he delved into the principles behind this contraption.

Utilizing the inertia of water movement, it rotated spokes, lifting buckets filled with river water stage by stage. At the top, the buckets naturally tilted, pouring water into channels, ultimately irrigating the fields.

"Utilizing nature's own power... a sophisticated design." Dennis nodded, impressed.

"I heard the wizards of the Iyeta Academy created an alchemical contraption capable of reaching ninety kilometers per hour. Is that true?" Raphael, seated nearby, was quick to inquire.

His interest in Lynn's new research was profound; hence, he took this ride, also representing the council to evaluate the internal combustion engine.

"Absolutely true. In fact, there was another breakthrough just yesterday—the maximum speed limit has been raised to a hundred and ten kilometers." Theodore explained.

A hundred and ten kilometers? Isn't that increasingly far-fetched?

Dennis frowned, suspicious of whether the other was exaggerating.

Behind him, members of the alchemical society wore expressions of discontent. Before they could voice their objections, a sudden, violent explosion resonated.

Like thunder striking, the ground seemed to tremble abruptly.

"What's happening? Could it be an earthquake?" Dennis instinctively said.

The land of wizards atop the sea was prone to occasional earthquakes, the inspiration for vibration magic, though these wizards hadn't yet pinned down their source.

But soon, Dennis realized it couldn't be an earthquake; a thick plume of smoke billowed from a distance above the alchemical workshop's residence.

"Perhaps it's some alchemical apparatus exploding..." a jovial alchemist remarked. Even the earliest steam engines faced boiler explosions.

"No, it's likely Dean Lynn experimenting with the power of gunpowder..." Theodore explained, rubbing his ears.

Gunpowder?

The onlookers were stunned.

Only now did Dennis notice such commotion; the townsfolk seemed unperturbed as if they were accustomed to such events.

Theodore refrained from further explanation; after all, his knowledge of the matter was limited, understanding it merely as another highly potent weapon.

With myriad questions, Dennis and his companions swiftly arrived at the open area in front of the alchemical workshop. A large crowd had gathered here, and from afar, the terrain appeared pocked and blasted by flames, resembling the aftermath of a bombardment.

Lynn spotted the steam car arriving and led everyone in greeting.

"Long time no see, Master Raphael." Lynn immediately spotted Raphael disembarking and greeted him warmly.

"It has indeed been a while, but I've heard plenty about you in Greenville." Raphael smiled and then turned to introduce Lynn.

"This is the inventor of the alchemical steam engine, Dennis."

Lynn's eyes lit up; someone who independently invented a steam engine was undoubtedly a talent.

"It's an honor to meet you, Master Dennis. Your steam engine is truly a revolutionary invention." Lynn extended his hand to Dennis, already contemplating how to keep him in the harbor town.

Dennis furrowed his brow, momentarily unsure if the other's words were sarcastic or genuine.

The members of the alchemical society behind him clearly perceived Lynn's words as a provocation, their faces darkening instantly.

One male wizard stepped forward, unwavering. "Lord Lynn, we came to Iyeta to see your internal combustion engine, to verify if it's as miraculous as rumored..."

"Of course, no problem, but please wait a moment. The final experiment of the day is about to conclude." Lynn casually nodded and then signalled to Darren, indicating the last experiment.

Several dwarves/halflings immediately busied themselves, stuffing a heap of murky 'stones' into wooden barrels. Then, they arranged many packaged phosphorus and gravel, stacking them hundreds of meters away.

Darren's movements were incredibly cautious; he understood the danger of this stuff.

After placing the gunpowder and retreating to a safe distance, the dwarves' expressions turned expectant, all gazing at Lynn.

"Dean Lynn, may we proceed?" Lydia asked eagerly, pulling out a rocket and fixing it onto a specially crafted longbow.

Lydia stood at about one meter three, wielding a longbow not much larger, a somewhat comical sight, but the innate strength of her race wasn't a joke.

The longbow was drawn taut like a full moon, aimed skyward. As the bowstring was released, a fiery arrow shot out, tracing a parabola toward the distant barrels.

The wizard onlookers instinctively covered their ears.

What was happening?

The alchemical society's wizards were puzzled, but Dennis recalled the tremendous noise he'd heard moments ago.

Simultaneously, the rocket penetrated the wooden boards, igniting the black powder inside, exploding rapidly.

Boom. As if thunder had struck nearby, an incandescent flame soared into the sky, engulfing the surrounding land. Flames and debris flew as the target nearby shattered instantly.

Dennis keenly felt the rush of heat enveloping them; his ears were ringing. When the smoke cleared, the grassy field before them had turned to scorched earth. Due to the mixture of phosphorus, the flames continued, almost turning the surroundings into a fiery sea.