Dourk Tavern

0740, 24 Aug 2025

Dourk Tavern had undergone drastic changes over the past few months. In addition to its increase in size, the shop now also had an additional six waiters.

However, even though he now had an income equal to someone of the upper class, Old Man Dourk's way of life was still the same as before, simple and full of hard work.

He was also still diligent in helping homeless children and other people in need. It's just that now he had a larger number of funds. So he did it in a more organized manner with the help of monks from the Nemo Temple.

Every morning Old Man Dourk woke up long before sunrise. Then, together with Sturk he prepared various cheap but delicious sandwiches that were popular among people leaving for work.

Old Man Dourk had just finished making 50 servings of the third batch bacon sandwich, when a group of guests walked into the shop.

The group was led by a young man with a body like a barrel wrapped in luxurious clothes. He was accompanied by three old men in Maester robes and a dozen of Count Terrek's bodyguards.

Bad feelings gripped Old Man Dourk's heart as he walked out of the kitchen to greet Osvik Terrek, Count Terrek's eldest son and the only candidate to succeed in the leadership of Kandez Region.

"Ser Osvik, what honor has brought you to this lowly tavern?"

"Small talk about business."

Osvik then cheerfully sat down at one of the tables with the three Maesters.

"Old Dourk, I still remember that as a child you always made my favorite sweets. Daddy always said your sweets were not suitable for the nobles, but Mommy and I always stood up for you. Your sweet is not luxurious and elegant, but for us it is very delicious. For the sake of that memory, I will not take Amethyst Merchant's representative position and ice cube maker by force."

Osvik arranged a pile of gold coins in front of Old Man Dourk as he continued.

"Until a certain quota, you can still get Amethyst Merchant commodities. While the rest of the demand will be fulfilled by me. Starting today you also cannot communicate with Amethyst Merchant without my permission.

For the ice cube maker I heard you paid 7 gold coins. So I think the compensation of 10 gold coins is sufficient."

Osvik's tone was not arrogant or intimidating, but it didn't change the fact that he had just seized Old Man Dourk's business. While the 10 gold coins he offered were nothing compared to the attraction of ice cubes. Moreover, Dourk Tavern's monthly profit could reach 12-14 gold coins.

To be honest, Old Man Dourk realized that over the past month the pressure that the nobles had put on him had increased dramatically. Considering that the summer sales of Amur Beer and Lada Whiskey increased to the sky-high.

However, he never expected that there would be nobles who would take open action like Osvik. Moreover, he was the sole candidate for the position of Kandez Region's Leader.

Unfortunately, Old Man Dourk couldn't resist. He could only follow Osvik's wishes to prevent more damage.

"I only know how to operate the ice cube maker, the water pump, and the solar power plant that powers it. So Ser Osvik should call Amethyst Merchant workers if you want to uninstall and remove them."

Osvik smiled cheerfully before saying, "No need, I brought Maester Kallep. One of the best Maester of Mechanical Engineering from Makai Royal Academy. I'm sure he could handle everything."

The old man in a Maester robe beside Osvik immediately said confidently, "This old man may still not be able to create an ice cube maker as the one Amethyst Merchant has. But this old man is sure he can understand the working principle behind the mechanism because all technological products have the same roots and foundations, that is science.

So if it were just to dismantle and reassemble the mechanism, this old man was sure he could do it as long as he was allowed to study it carefully."

Old Man Dourk sighed silently. Others might complicate or even mislead Maester Kallep. However, he did not want to see Amethyst Merchant's device damaged.

So Old Man Dourk immediately took the manual left by Lieutenant Colonel Slane and handed it to Maester Kallep. "I will do my best to help if there is anything that Maester wants to ask."

His pride as a Maester of Mechanical Engineering made Master Kallep want to reject Old Man Dourk's good intentions. However, at the last moment he realized that what he was about to face was a completely new mechanism. So Maester Kallep forced himself to swallow his pride.

"Then, allow this old man to thank you for the help you offer." With sincerity, Maester Kallep accepted the manual handed over by Old Man Dourk.

---

Terrek Mansion, Walluo Castle.

1530, 24 Aug 2025

The two most prestigious educational institutions on the Amstell Continent were Makai Royal Academy and Horrep Royal Academy. The two educational institutions have 27 fields of study ranging from the military, politics, arts, trade, mechanics, agriculture, culinary, and other fields that were believed to be the foundation of human civilization.

The title of Maester would be given to people who have made the highest achievements in 27 fields of study, and for thousands of years the number of Maesters had never exceeded 200.

In short, for every field of study the number of existing Maesters had not exceeded one hand finger count. That's why it was only natural that a Maester had sky-high pride. Considering that they were a small group of elite who stood at the highest peak of the human civilization pyramid.

Actually, Maester Kallep and his two colleagues were not following Osvik or Count Terrek. A Maester was usually only willing to follow a Duke, the main member of the Royal Family, or a figure of equal influence.

The one who Maester Kallep and his two colleagues followed was Lady Yuuri. She was Osvik's birth mother, wife of Count Terrek, and owner of Merry Gold Union, the second-largest trading company in Kingdom of Makai.

Maester Kallep carefully studied the manual for water pumps, solar power plants, and ice cube makers. Then, with great care and thoroughness he supervised the dismantling and transfering of the three mechanisms to Terrek Mansion.

It was only after he had a precise understanding of the structure of the mechanisms that Maester Kallep began to work. It took four hours before he managed to reinstall the three mechanisms taken from Dourk Tavern.

An achievement that amazed Osvik because initially, Maester Kallep said it would take him 3-4 days to understand the working principle behind the Amethyst Merchant's mechanisms.

With great admiration, Osvik looked at the roof where rows of glistening solar panels reflect the scorching sun. He then turned his gaze to the pump installed above the main well and the pipeline connected to the bathroom, before finally looking at the large yellow box in front of him.

According to Maester Kallep's explanation, the bright yellow large box was the foundation of Amethyst Merchant's three mechanisms.

Osvik turned to Maester Kallep who was standing beside him and confirming the explanation he had previously received.

"The shiny board on the roof will harvest sunlight and channel it into this big box, which in turn converts it into energy called electricity, then feeds it to the ice cube maker and water pump for power."

Maester Kallep nodded firmly. "That's the basic principle, and I suspect there are many other mechanisms that are also powered by electricity. In short, the application of electricity has almost no limits."

'Looks like I just made the best decision of my life.' Osvik smiled as he remembered the wall clock he had also taken from Dourk Tavern.

At the same time Maester Kallep turned three knobs on the large yellow box. However, he instantly frowned because the needle behind the small glass he was watching stopped moving before it pointed to the number 900. Meanwhile, the other needle stopped before pointing to 220.

Drops of cold sweat started appearing on Maester Kallep's forehead. But only for a moment because his deep and wide experience made him manage to calm down in an instant.

"It looks like there is a connection that does not fit properly and must be tightened."

Without wasting time, Maester Kallep grabbed the gloves he had previously prepared. In the manual for solar power plants, it was stated that when checking the connections on the generator box special gloves must be used. This was because being electrocuted by a very large electric current could cause serious burns and even death.

Maester Kallep was not only an intelligent man but also a careful one. With all his heart he followed the guidelines written in the manual. He quickly put on the heat-resistant gloves that cooks use in the kitchen, and as an additional precaution he even soaked them in cold water.

After all the preparations were done, Maester Kallep confidently approached the yellow box which became the energy producer called electricity.

TZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!

As soon as Maester Kallep grasped the connector at the end of the cable, the hum from hundreds of beetles were suddenly heard. At the same time, Maester Kallep grimaced from ear to ear as his body stiffened from toe to head.

A moment later he collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Then lay stiff, still grimacing while white smoke came out of his head.

'. . . How dangerous!'

While looking at the unmoving and smoking Maester Kallep, Osvik swallowed hard.

*****