Struggle in the Steam Age

After boarding the airship, Lawrence appeared in front of a corridor illuminated by electric lights. This was also the first time he saw a lighted electric light after he came to this world. He had seen electric lights when he went to some places before, but because it was daytime at that time, he only saw some light bulbs.

"Our ship is a fully electrified ship, which is extremely rare in the whole country." The sailor who led the way introduced proudly with his chest out, and then made a gesture of invitation. "Please come with me, I will take you to the cabin where you will live in these two days first."

The floor is covered with a carpet made of some kind of flame-retardant fabric, and on both sides of the corridor, except for some structures that are the internal load-bearing structures of the airship, they are built of some kind of strong and light metal. Other partition walls are not the usual metal or wood, but made of light alloy frames stretched with animal leather. Obviously, this is done to reduce unnecessary weight.

However, considering that the people who can take the airship are either rich or noble, a large number of travel-related murals are drawn on the leather of these partition walls, making the entire corridor full of artistic atmosphere.

After opening the door of his own box, Lawrence found that this box was about the same size as the bathroom with shower facilities in his house in Eagle Fort. There is no window except for a door, and the furniture is only a simple combination cabinet embedded in the wall, a folding table, a folding stool and two bunk beds fixed on the wall.

Out of consideration for the aerodynamic shape, the cabins where the passengers move are arranged inside the huge airbag. After the place by the window is occupied by the sightseeing platform and the restaurant, the guest rooms can only be arranged in the interior. All the rooms, therefore, have no windows, are ventilated only by vents, and are illuminated by two electric lamps.

"It feels like the confinement room when I was in the girls' school. Fortunately, I don't have claustrophobia." After stuffing the luggage into the locker, Safiel complained in a low voice. Judging by her familiarity with the confinement room, Lawrence felt that she should not have been a quiet master in the girls' school back then.

"I just climbed over the wall and went out to eat some delicious food. Every time the old woman caught me, she locked me in confinement for a day or two." Looking up and seeing Lawrence looking at him with a playful expression, Sai Feier quickly explained: "The girls' school only provides very little bread, butter and vegetables, and I can't even eat enough. And I exercise a lot—"

"Why did you give this little food?" Lawrence was a little surprised. When he was in college, he was much fatter than when he was at home. It's not that his adoptive father didn't let him eat enough, but that in this era of inconvenient transportation and no cold chain transportation, there are only a few kinds of food that can be eaten in a small town like his hometown, which is obviously not as good as in a big city. There are many, not to mention that all the food in universities in this era is subsidized, and you can eat a lot of delicious food at a low price.

And Safir went to a local boarding school for girls that catered to the upper class. In theory, it would not even have money for students to eat. So Lawrence was a little shocked that Safiel didn't have enough to eat when he was in school.

"Unlike your university, our old continent classical boarding school for girls traditionally doesn't feed the students enough." Seeing the puzzled expression on Lawrence's face, Safiel immediately explained The reason for this. But Lawrence heard a strong resentment from her words.

“They believe that self-control and self-sacrifice induced by hunger can help young people develop habits of self-sacrifice and enable them to become moral human beings. Girls in particular should learn to use willpower to curb their appetites. Beginning of the first school year When I was lying in bed, I was often so hungry that I couldn’t fall asleep and wanted to eat, even when I fell asleep, my dreams were full of food.”

"It's really hard work for you, but this kind of old and backward view in the old world is completely wrong. Hunger is not good for people's body and mind. For example, the universities in the new world firmly believe that young people need to eat well when they grow up. , balanced nutrition. So the dishes in my university cafeteria are quite rich." Lawrence shook his head lightly, and then asked. "By the way, you just said the first school year, so the days after that—"

"Because I became a transcendent after that. Since then, I have never been caught by the dean again when I climbed over the wall." Sai Feier raised his small face with a proud look. "At that time, I ate all the stalls and small restaurants around the school, and I have to say that the food made by the Frans is really delicious."

The two of them sat by the bed together and recalled their respective study experiences after being separated a few years ago, until the bell rang on the airship nearly half an hour later, accompanied by a notice that the airship would take off in five minutes.

Naturally, Lawrence and the others didn't want to miss this moment, so the two of them took the little doll Nora who just got up after a comfortable sleep, and went to the observation channel to watch the airship take off.

As soon as they came to the viewing corridor, Lawrence and the others saw through the window three people in windbreakers hurriedly running up the gangway from a distance, and then rushed in before the flight attendant closed the door. Presumably they came straight here after buying tickets in an emergency, but they almost missed the airship because of the tight schedule.

"It seems that this airship is indeed suitable for those who are in a hurry." Seeing the anxious expressions of the three people in windbreakers from a distance, Safiel immediately guessed what was going on with them, "But buy The ticket time is so tight, what if I miss it?"

"Please don't worry, miss." A waiter who heard what Safir said explained to her, "This ship has powerful and diverse communication methods, and keeps in touch with the ticket office at any time. If time really allows passengers If you can’t catch up, that ticket will not be sold.”

After finishing speaking, the waiter stood on the stage and shouted: "The airship is about to take off, and the airship may vibrate during takeoff. Please be prepared, all distinguished passengers."

Most of the people standing on the viewing platform seemed to be taking an airship for the first time, so everyone excitedly grasped the railing on the side of the observation window and looked around, and some acquaintances were still talking to each other.

With another bell, the gangway was pushed aside, and the ropes used to fix it on the ground were also opened one after another. After a slight vibration, the airship quickly rose vertically toward the sky. Through the window, you can see that the figures and buildings below are gradually shrinking, and finally disappear into the darkness. You can only see the lights in the city shining like stars in the night sky.

Since the magic lift engine achieves its effect purely by the anti-gravity force generated by the various runes on the metal ring and the magic circle, there are no moving parts on the entire engine. In this way, there is naturally no vibration, and the whole airship flies swiftly, quietly and gracefully.

The people around looked a little excited at first, and Lawrence even heard several small exclamations from the crowd. But after a while, when it climbed to a certain height, the surrounding wind made the airship shake like a ship on the sea. Soon, the faces of the gentlemen and ladies around became a little ugly.

However, the staff on board had long been experienced in this kind of thing, and soon a waiter brought them brown sugar ginger water to help them ease their current situation.

After drinking the sugar water, Lawrence and Safiel returned to their cabins to rest. After all, it was already early morning, and they were a little tired after a busy day.

Fortunately, after lying on the bed, the shaking of this airship is like a hammock, which lulls people to sleep. In addition, the previous travel consumed too much energy. So after lying in bed for less than ten minutes, Lawrence and the others all fell asleep.