James, now inhabiting the body of Arthur Pendragon, felt the weight of his plans for change pressing on his shoulders. As he walked toward the throne room with the folded parchment containing his industrial vision, he couldn't help but imagine the future he was about to shape—a world that would leap forward from the medieval age into a new era, all beginning with the humble beginnings of iron and steel.
The idea of revolutionizing agriculture and industry seemed like the key to transforming not only Pendralis but the entire world around him. As he approached the throne room, he knew the conversation with his father, King Cedric Pendragon, would be crucial. He had to present his ideas carefully, for such radical changes could be met with resistance.
When he arrived at the throne room, the guards opened the heavy wooden doors, and Arthur entered to see his father seated at the head of the long, oak table. The King was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern but kind face. His mother, Queen Eleanor, sat beside him, her warm smile a reminder of the family love and support that Arthur had always known.
"Father, mother," Arthur greeted them respectfully, bowing slightly.
King Cedric nodded in acknowledgment. "Arthur, my son, what brings you here today? You seem unusually serious."
Arthur stepped forward, his heart racing with both excitement and apprehension. "Father, I've been thinking about the future of our kingdom, and I believe there is a way to make Pendralis stronger, wealthier, and more powerful."
The King raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Go on."
Arthur placed his drawings on the table and turned to his father. "Father, I have designed a furnace that will allow us to produce cheap, fast, and abundant steel," he said confidently.
Cedric examined the drawings while Arthur continued explaining the details of the plans. He described the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the furnace, emphasizing its potential impact on steel production. After a while, King Cedric looked up and asked, "How much steel can this furnace, based on your plans, produce?"
Arthur, with assurance, replied, "It can produce between 3 and 5 tons of high-quality steel in a single day."
His father was momentarily taken aback. Cedric immediately called out to the guard at the door, "Summon the castle's chief engineer, Master William."
Arthur, hearing his father's command, felt a surge of excitement. Cedric resumed examining the plans while they waited. Shortly after, the chief engineer, William, entered the room. Arthur noted that he appeared to be a serious-looking, middle-aged man.
Cedric showed the drawings to William and asked, "William, these are Arthur's designs for a furnace to produce steel. Could it really work as he claims—producing affordable and high-quality steel in such a short time?"
The chief engineer studied the plans with growing interest. Turning to Arthur, he said, "I have a few questions about the materials and mechanisms involved." Each of Arthur's answers seemed to excite William further. However, after a few minutes, King Cedric, growing impatient, interrupted them. "So, will it work or not?" he asked curtly.
Realizing his enthusiasm, William composed himself and apologized. "Forgive my excitement, Your Majesty," he said. Then he added, "Yes, the design drawn by Prince Arthur can work."
Cedric's eyes lit up as he turned to his son. "Then I approve your proposal, my son. I will provide the funds, manpower, and resources needed to bring these designs to life."
Arthur smiled with gratitude. "Thank you for trusting me, Father," he said. Then, he left the room with William to begin coordinating the project.
As they exited the room, Arthur turned to the engineer and noticed the man looking at him intently. "If there's something you're curious about, feel free to ask," Arthur said.
The middle-aged engineer, speaking in a tone that was both curious and respectful, asked, "My prince, did you create these designs yourself?"
Arthur replied with a smile, "Yes, I did." Unlike his father, Arthur knew that the engineer possessed the knowledge to recognize just how revolutionary these designs were.
"Do you have any other designs you're working on?" the engineer asked, No matter how hard he tried to hide it, his curiosity was evident
Arthur's expression grew serious as he responded, "Yes." He then added, "You seem to understand the magnitude of the changes these designs could bring. Will you help me lead this kingdom into a new industrial age?"
The engineer was momentarily surprised but clearly excited. "It would be an honor to help you achieve your goals, my prince," he answered enthusiastically.
Later that day, Arthur selected a suitable site outside the castle for the furnace's construction. He gathered carpenters, blacksmiths, and masons to explain his plans. After ensuring that everyone understood their roles, he delegated the management of the construction and equipment assembly to Master William, entrusting him to oversee the project. Satisfied with the progress, Arthur returned to the castle.
When he entered his room, he stood before the mirror and examined his reflection. He noticed that he was slightly overweight and recalled that his predecessor had disliked knightly training, often skipping sessions. "I should start training tomorrow," he thought to himself.
After changing his clothes, Arthur left his room to join his parents for dinner. He headed to the throne room, where he greeted them and took his seat at the table. As they ate, his parents discussed recent skirmishes over the Maraz Strait. Arthur listened attentively, gaining a deeper understanding of the world.
In this world, humans had yet to explore the oceans. Trade routes on the Altharion continent were fraught with dangers such as deserts and bandits, making maritime trade across the White Sea the preferred option. The sea stretched from east to west, rendering overland trade routes nearly obsolete.
Arthur thought to himself: If I want to control trade in the future, I will need to dominate the White Sea. That means I'll have to contend with established powers. To do so, I'll need a powerful navy. He also recalled that the island's navy was currently small and focused solely on defense. He made a mental note to prioritize naval expansion and the creation of trade fleets after establishing steel production.
After dinner, Arthur returned to his room. Exhausted from the day's activities, he quickly fell asleep, his mind filled with plans for the future