Chapter 24

In the restaurant, toasts were being exchanged.

"Brother, I really owe you one this time!"

Bryon laughed heartily, raising his glass high: "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know how long it would take before I could drink again! For the precious freedom, for the delicious ale, let's drink to that!"

Tang En's lips twitched as he clinked glasses with him. Before he could even take a sip, he saw Bryon gulp down the ale in one go, then he picked up the nearby barrel and refilled his glass, raising it to clink with Tang En again.

"Oh, brother, do you know, from the moment I saw you, I felt we had a special connection. I knew you weren't an ordinary human, and now look, you're a lord! — For the lord, for Ellington! I'll drink to that again!"

Bryon tilted his head back and downed another glass.

... He's definitely doing this on purpose.

Tang En felt that all Bryon's talk was just nonsense; his real goal was to drink to his heart's content.

"Brother, you don't know, in our place, because the grain yield is generally low, some small tribes sometimes go hungry, so there's not much grain left for brewing..."

"Why not just stop brewing then?"

"How can we not brew!"

Bryon immediately widened his eyes: "I'd rather go hungry for a day than go a day without drinking!"

"Then how did you survive these days without drinking while you were captured?"

Tang En rolled his eyes. Simply put, these dwarves hadn't reached the point of starvation yet. After all, as the children of the Earth Goddess Nisclair, when they were really in dire straits, the goddess would likely intervene, right?

It's so nice to have a golden leg to lean on...

While drinking with Bryon, Tang En began to think. To be honest, the grain yield in Ellington wasn't high, and there wasn't much grain left for brewing. However, once the influence of Hogg gradually disappeared, the situation in Ellington would gradually improve.

Tang En found it very strange that in this world, magic hadn't been popularized among the common people, but was isolated from ordinary people, much like military technology in his previous life.

If magic could be civilianized, it would certainly greatly liberate productivity, and the world would be more vibrant!

In Tang En's view, magic was a very special power that could easily achieve phenomena that were impossible on Earth. Most importantly, magic could be a clean and pollution-free power source!

On Earth, the principle of the internal combustion engine is to intermittently ignite atomized gasoline in a sealed combustion chamber, causing a small explosion that expands the air, which in turn drives the piston to operate the engine. It sounds complicated, but it can be explained in one sentence: combustion increases temperature, causing the air to expand and perform mechanical work.

Can this principle be achieved with magic? Absolutely!

And it can be done even better!

Because magic can achieve zero pollution!

This was the most exciting part for Tang En. Many things from his previous life, when combined with magic, would give birth to astonishing charm. He didn't know what it would be like, but he was very curious.

So he had already started planning how to combine Earth technology with the magic of Plandar. If magic could replace electricity and internal combustion engines as a power source, many machines from Earth could be transplanted here.

At that time, it would surely cause a huge wave, completely liberating agricultural productivity.

The importance of liberating agricultural productivity for social development and progress can be seen from the history of various countries on Earth.

However, to achieve this, Tang En still faced a very serious problem.

The materials and manufacturing processes were not up to par.

This world had many special magical metals with excellent properties, but they were very precious and rare, so it was unrealistic to forge finished products with magical metals.

The truly feasible approach was to use ordinary metals to smelt various alloys, or to add a small amount of magical metals.

Thinking of this, Tang En's gaze fell on Bryon, who was drinking heartily. If he wanted to create various alloys, there was no one better to ask than the dwarves.

Tang En suddenly smiled brightly: "Come, keep drinking, and these meat skewers, enjoy them. You might not get such good food when you go back. By the way, do you want me to ask the cook to pack some for your journey?"

Tang En didn't directly talk to Bryon about staying. The best scenario was for Bryon to stay voluntarily, enchanted by the life here.

Bryon was delighted: "Of course! Oh, brother, you're really too kind. If it weren't for the harsh conditions in your territory, I would have wanted to stay for a while!"

"..."

Tang En's lips twitched. This guy's mouth really needed a beating...

"Harsh conditions mean a challenge," Fiona said casually, "Besides, with Lord Tang En's leadership, Ellington will soon become prosperous and rich. Then merchants from all over will gather here, and all kinds of delicacies will appear. The living conditions in Ellington will naturally improve."

"Oh, oh!"

Bryon exclaimed: "Fiona, you really believe in the brother!"

"My name is Fiona!"

Fiona barely restrained the urge to hit him, sternly correcting Bryon's name: "I believe in Lord Tang En and in my own abilities!"

"Interesting, really interesting."

Bryon said, pouring himself another glass of ale.

Seeing that Bryon wasn't taking the bait, Tang En was getting a bit annoyed. Fiona, seeing this, racked her brains and suddenly asked: "They say it's hard to become an enemy of the Earth's people, and even harder to become a friend. Is that true?"

"Of course, of course!"

Hearing Fiona call him an Earth's people, Bryon's eyes curved into a smile: "Not to brag, but why is it hard to become our enemy? Because our enemies are all defeated! Why is it even harder to become our friend? Because no one can drink us under the table!"

Blow! Keep blowing! Blow harder!

Tang En looked at him with disdain, even more determined to create high-proof liquor. He would definitely show this guy what real alcohol was!

"But you call Lord Tang En 'brother,' does that mean you consider him a friend?"

"Of course, I and the brother hit it off at first sight and fell in love at second sight. Besides, the brother saved me, right? Come, brother, let's drink to that!"

Fall, fall in love!?

Fiona looked at them in shock, while Tang En expressionlessly clinked glasses with Bryon.

It must be a misunderstanding...

"Speaking of which," Fiona said, "you haven't repaid Lord Tang En for saving your life yet."

Unexpectedly, Bryon slapped the table very generously: "Ha, Fiona, what are you talking about? If we're friends, there's no need to talk about repayment. I know the brother doesn't care, right? Besides, a poor dwarf like me has nothing to offer as repayment."

This guy's face is unbeatable!

Tang En was amazed. If it weren't for the special nature of the precious two-handed warhammer, he might have been fooled by Bryon's acting.

Fiona forced a smile and said: "My name is Fiona. Besides, repaying a favor doesn't necessarily mean giving something. Ellington is short of talent. Dwarves are good at forging, so you could stay and help the lord."

"About that," Bryon burped, his seemingly honest face full of cunning, "I stand out too much as a foreigner in a human town. Let's just forget it."

Seeing that Fiona wanted to say more, Tang En gently waved to stop her, then smiled: "Fiona, don't be impolite. Bryon is a guest, and we can't force him to repay a favor."

Fiona turned away in a huff and kicked Tang En under the table.

I'm clearly helping you! How can you do this!

Tang En elegantly raised his glass and started chatting with Bryon, subtly steering the conversation to blacksmithing and forging.

"Brother, not to brag, but when it comes to smelting and forging, we're second to none! But I've never heard of such a metal! Light, strong, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, doesn't rust... How is that possible! If it were mithril or orichalcum, it might have these properties, but... mithril and orichalcum aren't light either!"

Bryon widened his eyes, with a look of "I've read a lot, you can't fool me."

Tang En calmly raised his glass and said: "You haven't heard of it because you lack experience... The metal I just mentioned is an alloy."

"Alloy?"

Hearing this unfamiliar term, Bryon became interested: "What's an alloy?"

Tang En's lips curled up: "Do you know what composite materials are?"

"Composite materials?"

Bryon looked puzzled.

"Combining the advantages of two or more materials to create a man-made material is called a composite material."

"Oh, oh! I know this. Sometimes we add a small amount of mithril and orichalcum to weapon materials to enhance enchantment effects. Composite materials? Alloy? Sounds like a fitting term. Brother, you're really something!"

Tang En smiled and tapped his fingers on the table: "Imagine a material that, when made into armor, is reliable, durable, and light and easy to carry. What kind of impact would that have?"

Reliable, durable, light, and easy to carry?

Bryon thought for a moment, and his breathing quickened. What kind of impact?

It would be a complete revolution!

Lighter armor would greatly increase marching speed, extend the duration of military campaigns, and support longer combat, meaning the army could control a much wider combat range.

"Oh, right, Fiona, almost forgot," Tang En clapped his hands, "Tomorrow, help me contact Ellington's blacksmith. I have some ideas I want to discuss with him... Hey? Bryon? Why are you looking at me? Drink up, you won't be able to drink so freely when you go back."

"Hehe... Brother, listen," Bryon came closer with a sheepish look, "I suddenly feel that not repaying a life-saving favor is a disgrace to our Earth's people. So I've decided to stay and help you!"