Chapter 124: The Apartment Complex (1)
“My lord, it looks like we are almost there.”
The guard knight’s voice coming from outside woke the great palatial dwarf master, Wells Corgidus. He opened his wrinkled eyes, and his gaze darted outside the window to an unfamiliar scene. The Frontera barony, the destination of his journey.
This place is undeniably rural”
There were no proper buildings or anything like them. It was just a patch of fields amid a vast plain lot. However, Corgidus loved it.
At last, I can breathe in some fresh air.
It had already been forty years since he started working in the palace as the master craftsman. How many times did he go out of the capital during those times?
Only a handful of times. And the last time I stepped out of the royal capital was 15 years ago”
Due to the years he spent residing in the capital, he was used to its high-rise buildings that stood compact with one another and bustling crowds that existed anywhere he went. And that was probably why he felt refreshed by this tranquil and unruffled landscape.
Well, though I didn’t come here for vacation.
Corgidus’s thoughts flew back to the event that happened a few days ago. It was late at night. The queen had called him to the palace, which was unusual for her. He had served three monarchs in his lifetime, so the relatively young queen treated him in a respectful manner. Thus, she never once called him into the palace past midnight. This was why Corgidus thought to himself that something special must have happened on his way to the palace.
And I was right.
The moment he paid his respects, the queen immediately asked something that caught him by surprise.
“What is the biggest object you have constructed so far?”
“It is the suspension bridge,” answered Corgidus, “we constructed last summer, Your Majesty.”
“Are you interested in constructing something far bigger than that?” asked Queen Magentano.
“Please do tell me what can be bigger than a suspension bridge.”
“A city for instance,” the queen stated.
“…”
Her suggestion to construct a city sounded like gibberish in his ears. Then, the queen went on to explain further”
Lloyd Frontera. That arrogant yet talented prick. She asked if I’m interested in working with him to build a new city.
Corgidus didn’t have to think about his answer. He immediately nodded, and for a simple reason. The offer was a great opportunity to try something he had never done before and experiment with a new kind of construction project. As such, he started to pack. 20 master blacksmiths working in the royal forge were selected. And at last, after a hectic 15-day journey with them, Corgidus arrived at this barony.
“Whew… My… My back aches so much,” Corgidus grumbled”
One of the young dwarf masters, who was seated across from Corgidus, grinned and spoke.
“Indeed. I never expected that we would be on such a rough journey without a single break.”
“Right? Sitting in a rattling carriage all day long is a hard job in itself,” Corgidus said.
His entire body felt sore and joints rattled in pain. He wondered if this was what delivery parcels went through during the several days it took to get delivered. But even when Corgidus arrived and hopped out of the carriage, rest was not granted to him.
“You are here. I have waited for you day and night.”
A voice welcomed Corgidus even before he could get out and get a breath of fresh air after being stuck in the carriage for so long. He wiggled his thick and bushy brow and turned to the voice, and when he checked who it was, he flew into a rage.
“Wait for me?” huffed Corgidus. “I don’t trust a single word you say, you prick.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Of course.”
The voice belonged to Lloyd, who grinned as though he was here to escort Corgidus, but the latter scoffed and huffed through his nose at the young master.
“How can you say you’ve been waiting day and night when you came out here alone, eh?” pointed Corgidus. “Be honest with me, you prick. You simply happened to spot us on your way somewhere else, am I wrong?”
“Woah,” said Lloyd, “since when did you learn to read minds?”
“Read minds, my butt. It is too obvious.”
“Haha. Had I known you’d react like this, I would have hung a welcome banner at the entrance of the fiefdom along with some flowers,” joked Loyd.
“Why, do you want me to die from embarrassment? Leave it,” Corgidus groped.
“And that is why I didn’t prepare anything. This is the beautiful thoughtfulness of humanity at work. Thoughtfulness.”
“Yeah, right. I’m so thankful that I’m tearing up.”
“You’re not alone. My eyes are also getting wet at finally meeting you,” Lloyd quipped.
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s not a lie. I’ve been waiting for you. So…”
Lloyd stopped and held out a wad of paper. Doubt flashed through Corgidus’s eyes.
“What is this?”
“You will find out once you see it.”
“…”
The 20-or-so pages of papers were rolled up, and Corgidus took and opened them up. His ears picked up the wily voice of Lloyd.
“While I was waiting for you day and night, I drew up some designs. Let’s be honest. We don’t have a use for banners or bouquets. I think these papers are better suited for you,” Lloyd said.
“Better suited for me? This?” Corgidus asked.
“Yes.”
“What makes you think so?”
“Your nose. It flared when you opened the paper.”
“…”
“Come on. I know you actually like them deep inside,” Lloyd insisted.
“…”
“Aren’t you honestly glad that I’m welcoming you with these blueprints?”
Lloyd’s voice grew more suggestive, and at last, Corgidus scoffed.
“Yeah, I like it, you prick. This is what I came to see. Happy now?”
“Yes. Look as much as you want.”
“Haha. But kid, what if I leave after I finish looking at these designs to my heart’s content? Where is your confidence coming from?” Corgidus asked.
“Um, isn’t this the first time you’re seeing anything like that blueprint?”
“What?”
“You’ll have trouble sleeping at night if you just leave after taking a peek,” Lloyd said with confidence.
“Me? Why?”
Corgidus spoke as his brows pulled upward. Lloyd brightly smiled.
“You will want to make it.”
“What is that…?”
“You will want to make it so much that those blueprints will appear in your dreams. Your desires will softly whisper into your heart… ‘Oh, oh, I want to make it! I want to tap the metal, ignite the fire, and fine tune it! I want to see the designs completed and operate in real life!’ Things like those.”
“What sort of nonsense are you spewing-”
“And every night, you will be tossing and turning in bed with regret, thinking about how you should have constructed the design on the blueprint and wishing to turn back time. Oh, how pitiful your blanket is. It’s going to be all bruised up but never have any time to heal,” Lloyd said.
“What? Why would I toss my blanket-”
“So,” Lloyd interrupted, “are you in or not?”
“…”
“It’s going to be super fun if you take the job. It’ll give you a strong purpose in life and plenty of impressive things to brag about later on. Are you sure you are not in?”
“Tsk. Fun, meaningful, and impressive, my foot. It’s either I do it, or not. There’s no need for your mumbo jumbo.”
“Does that mean you are in?” Lloyd said, his voice dripping with joy.
“Come on, you prick, I need to hear what this building is for before I go and make it,” muttered Corgidus.
Flip. Flip.
Flipping the blueprints quickly, Corgidus said, “Now, do explain them to me. What is this cylinder with one open side, and what’s that large container that leads from there? What on earth is this for?”
“Oh, that’s a mixer.”
“A mixer?”
“Yes, it’s to mix the cement,” Lloyd said as he nodded.
Everyone has seen a truck stirring and moving ready-mix concrete (remicon) in construction sites while going down a road. Specifically, the so-called mix truck with a round, slowly turning barrel attached on its end. The vehicle was a key component in many constructions as it was used to build anything from small homes to large commercial structures.
“But this object appears familiar in my eyes. Why is that?” Corgidus asked.
“What do you mean that it’s familiar?”
“Isn’t this just an upsized treadwheel?”
“Yes, it is.”
“It is?” asked Corgidus.
“Yes. It will move using the power Ppodong generates as he runs.”
“…”
Corgidus was at a loss for words. Lloyd continued to explain.
“The concept is simple. Ppodong will run the treadwheel, and the power from it will be transferred following the axis, which will turn the body of the mixer.”
“Okay, but what are these spiral-shaped structures inside here?” asked Corgidus.
“Those are meant to continue stirring the cement and maintain its form.”
The mixer turned to prevent cement from hardening and getting mixed with rain and other unwanted particles in the batter. Moreover, it kept the quality of the cement consistent.
“There’s something called the ‘Brazil Nut Effect.’ And its goal is to prevent that,” Lloyd expounded.
“Brazil… Nut? What?” Corgidus asked, cocking his head to the side. It was his first time hearing the concept.
Lloyd grinned and went on, “It’s a real thing. To explain briefly, it refers to the phenomenon where small particles sink to the bottom when big and small particles are randomly mixed together.”
“Hmm. Small particles sink to the bottom, you said?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you have a point there. I have seen it happen quite a lot when I dealt with soot and sand.”
“You did, right?”
The Brazil Nut Effect. It was a phenomenon proven by science. Anyone could check this by throwing thick beans and small rice into a bottle and shaking it up. Otherwise, they could use small Lego blocks and a box. Unlike how most people expected the large particles to sink to the bottom, it was the opposite. They sat on the top.
Well, but there’s a counter effect depending on the conditions.
Anyway, this Brazil Nut Effect was to be watched out for when mixing and depositing cement. The cement had to be kept under watch even after it was mixed. Otherwise, large particles in cement would float up, sinking the smaller ones to the bottom. And when this type of cement was used to construct a building, it brought about a disaster.
Cement cannot harden when its quality is not consistent. Sometime later, the building will crack, break, tumble, and crumble to dust.
Such an event was to be prevented come hell or high water. It was especially so for this construction.
This apartment complex is different from the structure I’d built underwater in Cremo. And it’s also different from the bridge tower I’d constructed back in the capital. Pouring fresh cement as soon as it’s made is an absolute no in this project.
Lloyd recalled the construction projects where he used cement. The artificial ground in Cremo and the basic structure of the bridge tower in the capital were different from this project. The previous structures were gigantic but simple. All Lloyd needed to do was pour cement by loads into the empty frame. That was why he was able to pour and pour the cement as soon as it was made. But now…
The conditions are different.
The apartment complex he would be working from now on had a more complex structure. The floors, walls, ceilings, and stairs inside had to be taken into account separately. The intricate and elaborate structures were weaved one another, so their formworks had to be equally small and elaborate. Lloyd could no longer mindlessly pour cement into a formwork as he did in previous jobs.
If I do that, the cement won’t properly cover all the corners. There will be unfilled cracks and bubbles in cement. That would be troubling.
In actual construction sites, the task of depositing concrete fell on the shoulders of the most skilled workers. It was an elaborate and detailed job that required dexterity and skill.
That’s why the job takes a long time. But what happens when cement is deposited without a mixer? The whole thing will harden and be divided into components even before one can start depositing. That’s why we need the mixer.
The mixer was meant to mix the concrete well and keep it consistent. As such, the equipment was indispensable to the apartment complex construction.
“Oh, and this one is the pump for pouring cement,” Lloyd said.
“A pump?”
“Yes.”
Lloyd pointed at the other blueprint.
“Connected to the mixer, it will pull up the cement. Since we’ll be building a high-rise building, the pump will suck the cement all the way to the top.”
“Hmm. Did you get the idea from the screw-type pump used in waterwheels?” asked Corgidus.
“Yes. That’s precisely correct. I’m thinking of manufacturing a human-powered pump.”
“Perfect. That doesn’t seem too complicated,” Corgidus complimented.
“So can you make them for us?”
“Ha. Are you doubting my ability?” huffed Corgidus.
“Of course, not. How would I dare to,” Lloyd smiled greasily”
This caused Corgidus to frown.
“Tsk.”
Every conversation he had with this prick was the same. He talked to him, and before he knew it, he was already on board with his plan.
“My goodness. Come to think of it now, you expected me to be here and drew a blueprint in advance. It seems like I’m always the one who’s losing out. You’re so cunning as if a big serpent lives in your still-developing brain.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”
“Cunning and brazen.”
“So, Master Corgidus,” Lloyd said, “how long do you think the manufacturing will take?”
“Tsk. I shall let you know after I make one. Show me our studio first.”
“Of course.” Lloyd then led the way quickly.
Ten more days passed, and indeed, the skills of a royal master were on another level. And besides, the Great Master Corgidus was the one leading the project, and Bangul’s best steel dungs, which Lloyd had regularly made sure to collect, were being used. These three elements compounded to bring about the best possible result. On top of that, the treadwheel was 65 feet in diameter, and the size of the axis and mixer body connected to it was considerable as well. The sheer size of the large structure was something impossible for the blacksmiths here in this fiefdom. But to Corgidus and his team, the job only took ten days. And it operated extremely well.
“Ppodong!”
Vrrr… Ppodong got on the treadwheel after eating the red sunflower seed. The 65-foot treadwheel started to heave.
“Ppodong?”
A large smile appeared on Ppodong’s face. He was running on a treadwheel for the first time in his life. It was more fun than he had expected. Thanks to his enjoyment, Ppodong’s speed gradually increased, and the rotation of the treadwheel grew more violent.
Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!
The 65-foot treadwheel rotated with Ppodong’s power alone. This ferocious rotation power coursed through the axis and to the mixer.
Fwish!
The mixer rotated heavily, and the cement in it danced and fluctuated. At the same time, Lloyd’s hope increased along with it.
Jackpot. It’s working perfectly.
Thanks to the dwarf masters the queen had dispatched, the key construction equipment was finished. Now, it was time to kickstart and construct the apartment complex.