r18novel Chapter 421 The Clerk
Chapter 421 The Clerk
Chapter 421 The Clerk
"Is this Parliament City?"
François stared at the city before him, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The roads were clean and tidy, which was not surprising; the Commonwealth people always liked to make things neat and orderly.
This may be a good thing, but it also brings many inconveniences.
But what surprised him most were the puppets in front of him.
Yes, dolls, some dolls made of mechanisms and metal.
My God, what kind of genius could create something like this?
They walk like humans, and apart from being much stiffer than humans, François could not see any difference between them and real people.
In addition, steel tracks are being laid on the ground.
François had heard that mines would lay tracks to facilitate the transport of heavy ore.
But what is the purpose of laying tracks in the city? Is it for a mine in the city?
François didn't quite understand.
And the pedestrians would also carry something that would make a ticking sound.
That thing was called a "table," and it was the clerk who led them there who introduced it to François.
A watch, a type of clock, is capable of accurately recording time.
The official had one and even showed it off to François.
François found it interesting, but it looked expensive, and he couldn't bear to spend the money.
A melodious bell rang out from afar, and the official said:
"Look over there! That's the sound coming from the clock tower!"
In the center of the city stands a tall tower, like a giant pillar supporting the sky.
François felt that if it collapsed, the sky would probably fall down.
At the top of the clock tower is a disc-shaped structure that is extremely similar to a "clock".
"That's the largest seed in the world," the official said. "It's also a benefit of Parliament City. You know, residency in Parliament City is very rare. Here, anyone can accurately control their time."
The steward taught François and Mr. Rand how to read a clock, and he went on and on about what a spring was.
"The future belongs to Clockwork," the affairs officer grinned. "I have no doubt about it. Right now, Clockwork technology only exists within Council City, which is a technological secrecy measure. We will absolutely not let outsiders know about Clockwork's existence until we have achieved even greater results."
If this is the future, François feels he must be dreaming.
The officer guided them on their way, explaining the basics of wind-up mechanisms.
He was clearly very proud, and François also thought the technology was incredible.
They walked through streets where almost everyone was looking at sheets of paper.
The official added, "Ah, newspapers. Recently, after the self-printing machine was invented, the investor in this technology immediately opened a newspaper factory, which he called a 'newspaper company'."
"The newspaper produced the paper, which published all sorts of news and bizarre stories. What happened there the day before yesterday was known to everyone in the city."
"Now the parliament is also starting to pay attention to this technology, and is discussing with the investor about making the technology public or seeking cooperation."
"A few days ago, the council tried to publish a reward in the newspaper. A fugitive in an academic theft case was captured shortly after the newspaper published the story."
"Therefore I believe that if the Federation wants to announce the policy of Xi again, it will no longer need to go to the execution platform in the city, but will publish it in the newspaper."
After speaking, the officer looked at François and Rand, seemingly wanting to hear their opinions.
Rand's expression was serious; he simply nodded slightly.
Oh! That's not right! Mr. François Rand thought to himself—I need to learn to read the room.
Therefore, François said, "I believe this is a technology that will change the times."
Sure enough, the officer's expression relaxed again, and he continued to grin:
"Not at all. Although the invention of the printing press was astonishing, its achievements were still based on the core mechanism of a clockwork mechanism. Long live the clockwork mechanism!"
This call surprised François somewhat.
He knew beforehand that the Commonwealth people valued knowledge and placed less emphasis on military matters.
During his time living in Daman City, he had indeed noticed these changes.
However, their beliefs were also something François could imagine, the Wise Man.
In the kingdom there was also a wise man.
This is the Lord, who became a teacher to enlighten foolish humanity.
Only after nightfall, when the stars are scattered across the sky, will the Wise One descend to earth and become a mentor.
However, most federal citizens would not accept this claim.
Nevertheless, this was something François could not understand.
However, this official's faith seemed to be detached from divinity, and instead focused on "winding up" things.
François realized something terrible.
If technology can truly plunder faith.
So a new world may really be on its way.
Finally, they arrived at a city within a city.
Beneath the towering, dark brown city walls, there was a ditch about ten feet wide.
The wide and heavy door panel was slowly lowered after the clerk performed a series of hand gestures.
He turned to François and said:
"Currently, a team of instructors from Ouroboros University has contracted to upgrade the technical aspects of the Parliament Building. In the future, a stone pier will be installed on this side of the river. Simply inserting a key will activate the wind-up mechanism, alerting the people inside the city to lower the drawbridge, eliminating the need for such complicated gestures—oh! Of course, it's the lowered drawbridge that will also 'wind up'."
"A clockwork mechanism is truly capable of anything!" François couldn't help but exclaim.
"yes!"
The clerk grinned; he was clearly a hardcore clockwork maniac.
As he led the two onto the suspension bridge and into the hall, he continued to share his own views:
"Ouroboros University's most famous research right now is the development of perpetual motion machines."
"A perpetual motion machine?" François asked curiously.
"Yes, it's an idea formed by using gears and a spring," the officer said. "I'm not entirely clear on the specific principles, only a vague outline. Basically, with just a small force applied, the device will rotate endlessly due to the rotation of the axles and gears!"
François was puzzled: "But what's the use?"
"My God, you can't even figure this out! If it can keep running, doesn't that mean it has infinite energy? At that time, the perpetual motion machine will become the power source of everything! Ha, of course, we're still a long way from achieving results in this research. You could say that the perpetual motion machine will be the end of the road!"
Just then, they stepped off the drawbridge and passed through the city gate.
The parliamentary hall that the official had mentioned appeared before François's eyes.
It was a single building, yet it was much taller than the city wall.
It is also spacious, stretching as far as the eye can see.
It then settled comfortably within the city.
Like a sleeping, purple behemoth.