novelraw Chapter 76 : Early Investment
Chapter 76 : Early Investment
Chapter 76: Early Investment
After this, Levi more or less began living the life of a detective as seen on television.
And what was a detective’s life on television like?
Drinking (though Levi did not drink), reading newspapers, and horse racing.
Only, Levi was not watching horse racing, but car racing.
Human beings were naturally fond of competition and contests; everything was like that, and steam cars were naturally no exception.
Moreover, since this was the very first time steam cars appeared in this world, there was still no unified standard.
Thus, the steam cars that appeared on the racetrack came in every possible shape and form.
For Levi, this counted as a rather interesting pastime.
This was not to say that MI7 had nothing to do during this period.
On the one hand, after the Imperial Bridge case, Levi and the others were granted leave.
On the other hand, MI7 also needed to train other squads.
It was impossible for Levi alone to investigate all the mysterious cases in Mist City and even the Empire.
Therefore, according to Levi’s own classification, some cases that did not seem particularly dangerous were handed over to other squads to handle.
Of course, there was good news and bad news.
Although others did not have Levi’s system, the principle of physical exorcism was the same.
With the support of weapons like silver bullets and incendiaries, the other squads also eliminated some cases involving ghosts or evil spirits.
However, in nearly every case there were casualties, and sometimes entire squads were wiped out.
But this was considered a necessary sacrifice, something unavoidable.
As for the Imperial Bridge case, Levi was rewarded handsomely: three thousand pounds in bounty.
Hmm……… much less than when it was the Courtesan Killer, but not unexpected.
After all, the circumstances then could not be compared to now.
Besides, Levi was now inside the system, with many benefits hidden within political treatment.
If he had still been just an independent detective, perhaps the other side might have even given him ten thousand pounds—it would not have been impossible.
That would, of course, have included hush money……… which would not have been so easy to take.
Levi sat leisurely in the VIP grandstand, sipping tea, listening to the roar of the steam cars and the noisy cheers below.
He picked up a small telescope from the tray beside him and looked toward the starting line of the track.
There, all sorts of strange and bizarre steam cars were lined up in place.
Yes, truly bizarre—every kind imaginable.
For example, Levi spotted one “racer” that was basically a fishing boat with four wheels mounted underneath and even a sail hung up top—as if it intended to accelerate not only with steam but with wind power as well.
But the other steam cars were not much better.
Most of them were the size of trucks, and some had six pairs of heavy wheels—what exactly they were for, who knew.
There was even a car like the skeleton of a fish stripped of its flesh—just a bare frame, with almost nothing but the steam engine, having abandoned even the car shell, its whole design emphasizing lightness.
It was truly a case of the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their own powers.
Levi leaned back against the chair, stretching comfortably.
Let him see how the racing of this world fared.
But in fact, Levi did not watch for long.
By the time he returned home, it was still only mid-afternoon.
“You’re back, Master.”
Irene, who had been wiping down the furniture, saw Levi step out of the lift and hurried over to greet him.
“How was the racing?”
“Nothing worth watching.”
Levi sighed.
“Right at the start, one of the cars charged straight out, apparently unable to turn, and slammed into the grandstand, exploding. Then it was nothing but boring chaos and screaming—luckily no one died.”
Crude development, indeed—but this was far too crude.
Not to mention the other cars that then crashed into each other in a chain reaction, filling the entire racetrack with thick steam until it resembled a giant bathhouse.
Levi decided next time he had better go watch horse racing instead—at least it was popular and entertaining, and not nearly so dangerous.
“Uncle Hank just sent word—he says your car is nearly finished. Do you want to go take a look?”
“It’s done already?”
Levi patted his head.
He had not expected Uncle Hank to work so fast.
But thinking it over, it was not strange.
The steam cars of this era were nothing like the complex vehicles of later generations—big, bulky, and simple.
His only requirements had been about the exterior, nothing too complicated beyond that.
For experts in steam technology, it should not have been too difficult.
“Yes. After lunch, we’ll go see it.”
An hour later, after a hearty meal, Levi took Irene and once again headed to the steam factory on Iron Anvil Road.
Uncle Hank was already waiting there.
“I have to say, your ideas really are quite interesting.”
Seeing Levi, Uncle Hank greeted him with a broad smile and led him into the factory.
“We had to put in quite a bit of effort to make the design you wanted work. Of course, it may not be exactly as you imagined………”
As he spoke, the three arrived in front of the warehouse.
Uncle Hank pushed the door open wide, revealing the steam car parked inside.
“Wow………!”
Irene could not help but exclaim, and Levi also raised his brows in surprise.
When Levi had drawn several car shapes for Uncle Hank, it was just to see which they could build.
Levi had thought they would choose something convenient and simple.
But unexpectedly……… the vehicle before him went beyond his expectations.
How to describe it……… Compared to modern sci-fi style sports cars, this one displayed obvious characteristics of the steam age—solid iron and steel.
The body was geometric, with the two front wheels nearly fused together, encased within the flanks of the car’s nose.
Behind, the vehicle was supported by two wheels, each only slightly smaller than the body itself.
It was somewhat reminiscent of Batman’s Batmobile………
“How is it? Impressive, isn’t it?”
Seeing Levi’s surprised expression, Uncle Hank grew excited and patted the car.
“To make this vehicle, we put in a great deal of effort and came up with many ideas……….”
According to Uncle Hank, they had balanced aesthetics with practicality and performance, and thus ended up with this design.
They used two massive articulated arms to create a strong front suspension and fitted the front with heavy wide tires.
For the rear, they coupled two large tires together on each side, creating a 2X2 rear-wheel structure.
This way, even in the wilderness, if one tire deflated, it would not matter much.
As for power, Uncle Hank had used the latest compressed-power steam engine, equipped with 2X2 high-pressure gas cylinders on either side.
The latest compressed-power steam engine was small in size but had a very practical feature: not only could it drive using steam to pressurize the cylinders, but once the gas inside ran out, it could also reverse the process—using a pump to refill the cylinders with steam generated from combustion.
This meant that even if Levi’s car ran out of gas on the road, he need not worry.
As long as there was coal essence, he could simply find a lake or river, pour water into the tank, generate steam, refill the cylinders, and set off again.
Of course, this took time—at least a full day to refill one high-pressure cylinder with coal essence and water.
If using wood or similar fuel instead of coal essence, the efficiency was even worse—perhaps two or three days.
Indeed, coal essence was the very reason this world had developed steam power to such an extent.
Levi had already been in this world for a while.
If there was one thing it had that his original world did not, it was coal essence.
A single piece the size of a fingernail, with water, could power a three-to-four-meter-tall mech at full capacity for over two days.
Even gasoline probably could not achieve that efficiency………
What was the principle behind this?
Unfortunately, Levi had never studied science, so he had no idea.
Moreover, this world’s technological tree had branched in strange directions.
Perhaps because everything here was steam-driven, vibration and shaking were common.
As a result, anti-shock technology was highly advanced.
For instance, this car of Levi’s drove smoothly, almost silky.
Even over bumpy terrain, it easily kept balance with hardly any jolting sensation.
And the interior design of the car was quite peculiar.
Because the vehicle was V-shaped, narrow in front and wide in back, the driver’s seat at the front stood alone, while the second row had two seats.
Of course, as part of the steam engine system, between these two seats was a heated platform—for making tea or keeping food warm.
Not only that, but the chassis was also fitted with hot-water pipes, much like northern heating systems in apartments.
In winter, the valve could be opened to warm the whole car.
In summer, of course, it would be closed.
On top of this, Uncle Hank and his team had even designed a car air-conditioner per Levi’s request.
Though rather than a real air-conditioner, it resembled the water-blowing fans Levi had seen in his childhood: a rectangular box with a tank at the back.
Fill it with water, flip the switch, and air mixed with moisture blew out………
Calling it an air-conditioner was generous—it was really just a water-cooled fan……… But never mind, as long as it worked.
With all this, who needed bicycles?
“Very good, very good.”
After driving the car around outside and returning, Levi could not praise it enough.
“I’m very satisfied.
You all did an excellent job.”
“That’s good to hear……… but, um……….”
The previously straightforward Uncle Hank now looked a little hesitant and embarrassed as he glanced at Levi.
“Mr. Levi, if possible, could I ask a favor of you?”
“What is it?”
“We……….”
Uncle Hank looked at Levi, then at Irene, before gritting his teeth.
“I hope you can cooperate with us!”
“Cooperate?”
“Yes.”
Uncle Hank nodded seriously.
“Your designs match the current trends perfectly. We believe that if we manufacture according to them, we can completely dominate the steam car market in Mist City—perhaps even the Empire itself!”
As said before, steam car manufacturing in the Empire was still in a crude, chaotic stage.
If a fishing boat with four wheels could appear on a racetrack, what more could one expect?
But this was normal.
After all, this was the very first time steam cars had appeared in this world.
Everyone was still exploring: What did a steam car truly need? What was unnecessary? Which functions were essential? Which could be removed? Which were feasible? Which were impossible?
No one knew.
That was why so many bizarre steam cars appeared on the market.
Each steam tech company hoped the public would accept its own standards, but that was clearly not an easy thing.
Levi did not understand car design—his knowledge of cars was limited to playing Need for Speed.
But at least he knew what cars required.
Wipers, seatbelts, air-conditioning……… These were not present at a car’s birth, but gradually appeared later.
Having experienced the “complete” state of modern cars, Levi might not know all the parts, but he understood the functions—at least most of the common ones.
During the process of building Levi’s requested car, Hank had grown more and more excited.
He had keenly realized that this was a great opportunity!
If he could cooperate with Levi, his steam cars would definitely win market recognition!
But before that………
“You want me to invest, don’t you.”
Levi understood Hank’s meaning.
He did not know steam technology, but he did understand the market Hank described.
If successful, wealth would flow endlessly.
This world did have patents, but Levi’s ideas were not enough for that—he had only sketched shells and described functions.
It was Uncle Hank and his men who used their ingenuity to realize them.
So why didn’t they go it alone, but instead sought him out?
Because they had no money.
“Yes—one thousand pounds! The initial investment needs at least that much. In return, we can offer you forty-five percent shares and dividends!”
“Hmm……….”
Levi pondered.
One thousand pounds was not too much for him now.
Besides, the Empire was at the peak of the steam revolution—success was very likely.
And if Hank grew bigger and stronger, that would also benefit Levi.
Having a professional mechanical team for support was necessary, since MI7 could not possibly provide everything he wanted.
“All right. Bring me the contract—I’ll have someone review it.”
Levi agreed decisively.
Uncle Hank clenched his fists excitedly at the reply, letting out a low cheer.
Then he suddenly thought of something and quickly turned to Levi.
“Oh, Mr. Levi—would you like to give this car a name?”
“A name, huh……….”
Levi frowned.
That was indeed a tough question.
Hmm……… Should it be called Knight Rider? Or Mark V?