Chapter 548: Chapter 88

After completing the preliminary design, Sui Xiong spent some time modifying it, especially the energy source part. The next day, he went to Palin’s research center with something shaped like a broom.

The workers just needed to crush the iron ore into pieces and sweep over them with that broom, and then those parts with a higher iron content would be pulled out. After sweeping two or three times, the remaining residue had very little iron content and little value.

As for crushing the iron ore into pieces, there was nothing difficult in that. After all, when it came to iron-making, the smaller the pieces were, the better the effects it would have.

Palin liked the new design very much. After several tests, he offered some suggestions for a revision.

For example, Palin thought that there could be a wide belt that could move forward slowly, carrying the crushed iron ore. Then the belt could go under the tool called the mineral processing machine for a quick screen to find the better ore. That would help them get ore with better quality more effectively.

A dwarf craftsman thought that the mineral processing machine could be made differently according to the different types of magnetic strength so as to screen out ores of different purity and distinguish their grades.

There were many valuable suggestions. Sui Xiong listened to them one by one and then made the corresponding adjustments. He also made some auxiliary equipment.

Thus, the final product was a device quite different from his original design. It looked like a semi-automatic machine. First, a heavy hammer was lifted by the power of flowing water to crush the iron ore into pieces. Then these pieces would be transported to another room by the belt with rollers underneath. Through three sets of mineral processing with different magnetic strength, the raw material of three different grades would be screened out and transported by three other belts for separate storage in three places; the remaining residue was transported elsewhere.

Looking at this semi-automatic processing system that was the size of several rooms, Sui Xiong couldn’t help thinking of the factories he had seen before his space-travel.

Honestly, this system was rough and imperfect, but the rudiments of the modern industry could be seen from it.

Sui Xiong was somewhat touched by seeing how it worked—the iron ore was sent to the crusher by the workers, and then the crushed pieces were carried by the belt to three processing machines. After that, three different grades of iron ore were sorted out and stored separately. Finally, the waste was put aside.

Although he was not an engineering student, Sui Xiong was still very happy to see this industrial scene before him, like the ones on earth before.

He felt as happy as when he had successfully created movies and TVs here.

No, he was much happier than that. After all, the so-called movies and TVs were nothing more than adding a screen to a projector, which was essentially just the popularization of the projection magic. Compared to the movies and TVs that looked luxurious, the humble factories and production lines in front of him now were the real industry!

When will the factories on Earth actually appear in this world? The productivity of science and technology on Earth is far from comparable. If I can really promote the coming of the industrial era, I will surely be able to make adequate supplies for the people in this world, and that will help everyone to live a good life!

Sui Xiong sighed in his heart. Then he greeted the Rune God who had visited him again.

This time, the attitude of the Rune God was quite different from that of last time. He wore gorgeous armor as a formal dress and took several Oracle servants with him, and he even brought the token of the Dwarf God System—a hammer named the “Root of the Mountain.”

In contrast to the Human God System and the Orc God System, the Dwarf God System didn’t have a king. Instead, the Dwarf God System was much like a parliament. The patron saint of the dwarf clan was His Majesty the Holy Hammer who was a greater Divine Power. Although he enjoyed a high reputation among the dwarfs and was respectfully addressed as “Great Elder” by them, it did not mean that dwarfs would totally obey him when discussing important matters. They had never been scared of arguing with him.

So it usually took more time for the dwarf gods to discuss some major issues. Sometimes, it was not surprising to see them talk about something for a year and a half or even three to five years.

However, the Rune God went back to his God’s Kingdom just a few days ago, and in these few days, he finished the discussion and even managed to come back to Sui Xiong with the token that the dwarf gods used to make an alliance. That was very efficient!

Sui Xiong even wondered whether they had really come to a common conclusion after just a short discussion this time.

He asked that question, and the answer was yes.

Seeing the sample brought back by the Rune God, the dwarf gods took a little time to test it and decided that it was really useful and could make up for the biggest shortcoming of the Dwarf Breakers. It could also allow the mortal followers to be able to do something in the face of the Great Disintegration Spell.

In that case, the matter was generally settled. Next, what the Rune God and Sui Xiong were mainly discussing were the ways and costs of this cooperation.

“I had been planning to make an alliance with you,” the Rune God said with regret. “But after the reminder of the Great Elder, I realized that our dwarf gods were not good enough to do that. Even in the human world, our followers are not so helpful to your followers. Thus, making an alliance with you comes off as us just trying to take advantage of you. However, taking advantage of friends is definitely not our way of doing things. So we finally decided that we will send workers and materials to assist you and your followers in exchange for this special steel and its technology of production.” The Rune God laughed. “To be more frank, we are willing to work for you, for the Republic, in exchange for the material and technology that is helpful to us.”

What he had said was far beyond Sui Xiong’s expectations. That gave Sui Xiong a new and precise understanding of the degree of the dwarfs’ order-keeping spirit.

Faced with such a great opportunity, the dwarf gods considered not only their own interests but also those of Sui Xiong. They thought carefully about whether the dealing was fair and were unwilling to take advantage of the other party, even though their current situation was not good. If they could get Sui Xiong as an ally this time, they could greatly improve their situation.

It might be said that they were stubborn or silly, but behind that was something reliable to others. It was really nice to do business with such people. Thus, Sui Xiong couldn’t help laughing after hearing the introduction of the Rune God.

“You are as stubborn and honest as the legend says,” Sui Xiong laughed and said. “I’ll surely become friends with you guys!”