Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 207 The Forgotten Frost in the Tide of Technology-Driven Development
The temperature on Bailu Plain is dropping day by day, and the wind is already carrying a biting chill.

Norton arrived at the factory gate early and took a deep breath of the unique smell of engine oil and molten metal in the air.

For the dwarf master, this was like a fragrance that permeated his soul.

During this period, the old dwarf spent all his time in the factory except for very little sleep. The roar of the machines captivated him. In Norton's eyes, he did not see cold, lifeless machines, but a living, breathing, and powerful life form forged from steel.

The conveyor belt is its blood vessels, the robotic arm is its tentacles, and the heavy vehicle is its arms...

You are its soul!

The old man obediently completed the security check, touched the exquisite employee ID badge on his chest—【Xuanshui 0001】—and walked into the workshop with his chest out and head held high.

This is an honor system that Chen Mo set up specifically for the old man after he arrived.

Norton was a master blacksmith among the traditional dwarves, but he had a serious lack of understanding of the modern industry in the current Hanhai, so he made a lot of jokes at the beginning.

Dwarves are not well-regarded in the north, and there are many dwarven slaves enslaved by orcs. After all, skilled and capable dwarven artisans can make a living by blacksmithing in any country, so why would they need to gamble their lives in orc territory?
Therefore, even though we know this dwarf seems to have some skill, he can't even speak our language and can't understand the blueprints, so what's there to respect about him?

However, Chen Mo was different. After communicating and exchanging ideas with Master Norton Ironbrows and seeing several of his works in person, the lord highly recognized the skill of this dwarf master.

Therefore, the lord did not hesitate to use his own status to highlight the dwarf master's position.

The most typical example is this employee ID card system.

At the Xuanshui phased work development meeting, Chen Mo emphasized that in the government system, one should look at the rank of the official position; in the military system, one should look at the rank of the officer; and in the industrial system, one should look at the employee number.

Xuan Shui 0001 is the dwarf Norton, and Xuan Shui 0002 is Lord Chen Mo himself.

The lord has made his meaning so clear, so if anyone still doesn't understand, it's not just a matter of disrespecting Master Norton, but a matter of disrespecting the lord himself.

As a result, the old man was able to obtain the full cooperation of all departments in the industry.

Chen Mo needed to ask the old man to come and solve two main problems. First, the installation and trial operation of the precision instruments always had some problems. The manual and videos could only handle a small part of them. Han Hai Ling actually lacked the ability to discover, analyze and solve problems on its own.

The second aspect is the yield rate of industrial products.

That's right, it's too low. If quality control is tightened even slightly, the yield rate is generally below 60%, and for some special parts, the yield rate is even less than 20%.

When Norton was asked this question, the old dwarf chose to first watch the entire production process of the industrial component and then take the finished component, which, once installed, caused the machine to shake uncontrollably as if it had Parkinson's disease, into his hands.

Bring your eyes close to examine it, sniff lightly with your nostrils flaring, and then gently run your thick, radish-like fingers over every seam, every hole, and every line of the part.

Seeing the calluses on the dwarf's hands, which seemed even rougher than the rough edges on the surface of a machine part, it was hard to imagine what could be gleaned from them.

But Norton did provide an accurate answer.

"By Grandi, this is far too rudimentary!"

"The difference between this and the sample is like the difference between fur and stone!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the old dwarf, without looking at the blueprints or reading the tolerance requirements, carefully examined the sample parts sent by Dongxia, and then took out an ordinary little hammer and a few common files.

"It's not a problem with your skills, it's just that the 'feeling' isn't right."

"It's beautiful! But not beautiful enough!"

The old man muttered to himself as he fixed the parts to the clamps, took a deep breath, and his wrist trembled slightly in a strange rhythm.

Ding... Ding ding... Ding...

The small hammers fell like raindrops, striking different parts of the component, producing crisp and varied sounds, almost as if carrying a strange rhythm.

After tapping for a few minutes, the old dwarf switched to a file, probed into the recess of the part, and began to file back and forth as if in a high-frequency vibration.

During this time, Norton would occasionally mutter a few words in a low, soft voice in a language that no one could understand.

After tapping and filing for over twenty minutes, the old man carefully cleaned the parts and handed them to the head of the final assembly line.

"try again!"

Once installed and turned on, hey, the machine stopped shaking!

"This...how is this possible?!"

The workshop quickly exploded. Although everyone's skill level wasn't particularly high, those who could become skilled workers were the best selected by Han Hai Ling and had undergone training with Dong Xia's meticulously compiled teaching materials. Naturally, they were hundreds of times better than these street blacksmiths, both in theory and in practice.

So, what just happened?
Seeing the incredulous looks on the faces of the people in charge of each process, Norton snorted, his mustache twitching upwards with smug satisfaction.

“Metal is alive, kid! It breathes, it gets anxious, it gets tense.”

"You have to make it relax and happy so that it can find its place!"

Next, Norton Ironbrows immersed himself in the workshop and, while the iron was hot, spent two and a half days completing the so-called process modification, attaching a series of strange auxiliary measures to the processing of this core component.

The dwarf master's handcrafted clamps were fixed in certain parts of the production line, so much so that Chen Mo had to personally adjust the robotic arm's program bit by bit according to the instruction manual.

During the stamping and bending process, the outer edge of the machine table was painted with intricate lines using magic powder and an unknown liquid, and the old man even chiseled out a few small pits in some places.

Finally, the old man also taught a set of eighteen syllables of incantation, which he required to sing to "it" before the last step in the processing of the parts.

As Norton demonstrated, Chen Mo vaguely felt that the dwarf was treating the parts as if they were his own children, and was having a gentle conversation with them.

Then, something strange happened. After the production process was adjusted, the yield rate of the production line jumped from 36% to 92%.

Chen Mo had anticipated changes, but not to this extent. The data was so exaggerated that Chen Mo wondered if the quality control personnel had lost their minds. He even went to the production line to observe for several hours.

As it turns out, metaphysics is a kind of science on the Starry Continent.

We must commend them, and commend them wholeheartedly.

This was just the beginning. The old dwarf didn't care about honors, red flowers, certificates, or honor rolls, but his desire for new equipment and processes was almost endless.

After Chen Mo further granted Norton Ironbrows Master access, the old man simply slept in the workshop.

Thirsty? Take a sip of wine. Hungry? Take a sip of wine. Tired? Take a couple more sips of wine!

Norton's three dedicated translators and two technical assistants couldn't keep up with his pace, so Chen Mo had to threaten him that if he didn't rest, he would be forbidden from contacting the internal combustion engine production line. Only then did the old dwarf reluctantly go to sleep for a few hours.

The next day, Norton, refreshed and ready to give everyone a great performance.

A small piece of equipment that had undergone high-intensity extreme testing, resulting in severe wear of the precision threads and a cracked spindle, rendering it unusable, was dragged back from the scrap yard by the old dwarf.

“Great Granni, such a great creation, how can it be left to weep in a corner?”

"Let me take a good look at this poor child!"

"Oh, don't be afraid, Granny is protecting you, you will get better." The old dwarf rambled on, holding the machine, and used a dark gold carving knife to rhythmically move across the seemingly scarred metal surface, bit by bit, as if he were carving a work of art.

Under the watchful eyes of the surrounding high-definition cameras, the almost worn-down threads gradually became clearer, deeper, and more three-dimensional, eventually stretching out anew.

That's right, it wasn't that the threads were engraved, but rather that they "grew" back out.

Chen Mo, who had been staring at the enlarged image, couldn't help but blurt out, "Holy shit!"

As for the engineers and technicians at Hanhailing who had only studied half-baked materials science and engineering, they all stood up, ready to directly lift the coffin lids of those physics pioneers in their textbooks.

Faced with the wide-eyed, incredulous expressions of the entire audience, the old dwarf grinned, revealing a childlike smile.

Then, Chen Mo specially approved the document, granting Norton access to browse and learn from the Dongxia Basic Industry textbooks and videos.

Now, the Dwarf Master completely forgot about the "crying children" in the scrap yard warehouse. Like a severe electronic device addict, he was glued to his tablet and wouldn't let go, and he even stopped going to the workshop to provide process guidance.

The dwarves' personality is truly hard to describe.

Chen Mo tried to persuade him twice, but seeing that the old dwarf was so engrossed in industrial videos that he neglected his job, he had no choice but to pull out his trump card.

“Chief Engineer Norton, you need to take charge of this part of the factory. Only when the foundation is solid can we have larger, taller, and heavier equipment and machinery in the future.”

"Here, take a look at this video. We've only just gotten started. The future is the limit!"

Chen Mo showed Norton a video about "oversized cargo transportation".

The first thing that came into view was a vast, boundless wasteland, followed by a deep, powerful rumble that grew louder as it approached. As the scene drew closer, Norton held his breath.

what is that? !

A long steel dragon is slowly ploughing across the land with an unstoppable yet remarkably steady motion!

Its main body is a huge, silver-gray cylindrical metal structure, reflecting a cold and heavy metallic luster in the dim morning light. Beneath it is an incredibly long flatbed transport vehicle, supported by more than a thousand giant tires, so long that it cannot even fit a single screen.

Even disregarding the cargo being transported, this transport vehicle itself is a mechanical marvel!
Each tire is nearly as tall as a person, closely packed together to share the immense weight. The complex multi-axis hydraulic suspension system, like the limbs of a giant beast, flexibly adjusts its posture, conforming to the undulations of the ground.

A lead vehicle cleared the way, a heavy-duty tractor provided assistance, and engineering vehicles escorted the way on both sides. In order to make a clear comparison, there were also two or three staff members on the ground around.

Having already watched many videos and learned about the vehicle's dimensions, Norton struggled to visualize the size of this behemoth in his mind.

The modular transport vehicle moved extremely slowly, yet it carried an indescribable, exhilarating sense of power throughout. The video switched between different perspectives—close-ups, long shots, and aerial views—providing a comprehensive and unobstructed view.

The background music is a grand and rhythmic symphony, mixed with the radio calls of the on-site conductor, the continuous deep roar of the engine, and the dull sound of tires rolling over the road, making the whole process not like a transportation, but a ritual, a declaration ritual of human industrial power to the scale of nature!
“Granny’s Heart of the Furnace…”

"Is this a moving mountain range?"

"This is industry? Industry without magic?"

Chen Mo nodded heavily.

"Yes, that's the power of industry—it has no magic, but it surpasses magic!"

"If we work hard, perhaps one day in the not-too-distant future, the colossal beasts you created will walk on the starry land like this!"

The power of such meticulously edited videos is something that hardcore industry enthusiasts will understand once they see it! Master Norton, like a donkey that has been starving for three years and has been given a carrot, runs wildly.

The strong involvement of the chief engineer of the Norton Iron Eyebrows project was like a shot in the arm for Xuanshui Industry. Many technical bottlenecks that had previously stalled progress and were struggling even with remote guidance from Dongxia have been resolved and advanced to varying degrees.

During this period, Norton also offered a unique lubricant formula that included an important magical plant dust that significantly reduced engine wear during the initial break-in period.

More importantly, when this thing was sent back to Dongxia, its effect was outstanding and far superior.

It is evident that many things in the Starry World are not unusable in Dongxia, but rather that the right methods have not yet been found. Who would have thought that a type of angiosperm, after being ground using a special method, could be used as a top-grade lubricant?

Recently, in Xuanshui Industrial New Area, the overall industry has shown a leapfrog progress. The resolution of a certain problem at a certain point in time has propelled the overall progress forward by a large margin.

Chen Mo was almost completely immersed in the joy of this industrial leap until a hesitant reminder came.

"Chen Mo... I've arrived at the Vast Ocean Territory, but I haven't seen you!"

"Are you very busy over there? It's okay, I can wait a little longer..." Her voice sounded a little aggrieved, but she pretended to be indifferent.

Chen Mo slapped his forehead hard.

Spending all his time in the industrial area with Norton, he completely forgot about his promise to help Liu Shuang advance in her trial.

Because this was a private agreement between the two, none of the staff at the lord's manor knew about it, and no one reminded him!

"Wait a moment, something came up and I'm a little delayed. You can rest in Hanhai for a few days, I'll be there soon!"

He hurriedly greeted Norton, but the dwarf didn't take the lord seriously at all, waving his hand impatiently: "Go away, go away, don't bother me, I'm busy!"

Okay, so it seems like my presence or absence doesn't really matter the progress of this industrial zone, right?
That afternoon, escorted by a fully armed guard, Chen Mo rushed to Hailuokou and boarded the "Qiming" ship to return to Hanhai.

Leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, one sees the boundless sea stretching out below and the vast Bailu Plain receding into the distance behind.

The vast ocean ahead is the starting point of hope!
Suddenly, a cool sensation landed on Chen Mo's nose.

The young lord was slightly taken aback and looked up.

Snowing!
In the gray sky, tiny white specks began to fall, growing denser and denser, as countless snowflakes emerged from the deep sky, fluttering and dancing down.

The first snow of the year in the vast desert has arrived as scheduled!

　I recommend a new book, *The Covenant of Heavenly Principles*.

　　I've always admired people who can come up with such good short book titles!
　　The content is as follows:

　　[Urban Fantasy] [Genius Stories] [Hot-Blooded] [Decisive and Ruthless]

　　Aihara, who suffers from visual impairment, inherited the Feng Shui Hall left by his second uncle. He uses fortune telling to help his customers overcome difficulties and get on the right path in life.

　　Years later, he became a renowned master of fortune telling, but the sudden barrage of criticism from the media enraged him.

　　"I've run this shop for so many years and I've never seen any monster. You're just spouting nonsense! Open your eyes and look at this beautiful young lady next to me. Is she a monster? She's such a delicate and lovely girl, so pitiful to behold. She's in the prime of her youth. How could she possibly be a monster?"

　　Faced with unfounded accusations from the world, Aihara stood with the beautiful girl beside him: "You can slander me, but you can't tarnish my profession, and you certainly can't insult my customers!"

　　The crowd trembled as they looked up at the colossal dragon with the bronze mask coiled around him. None of them had ever seen such an ancient and ferocious creature, like ants looking up at a god.

(End of this chapter)