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Chapter 510: The Massive Machine
"Dong! Dong! Dong!"
The sound of hammers striking resonated with a deep rumble.
Glowing red iron was casually kneaded, manipulated, and hammered into pre-designed curved iron plates.
Then, long mechanical arms, operated by workers, removed the red-hot iron plates and placed them under a massive forging hammer.
The specialized hammer pounded the iron plates again and again.
Sparks flew in all directions, scattering like fireflies.
The iron plates were hammered into grooves and dents, completing their preliminary shaping process.
The entire forging and pressing process lasted just 30 seconds.
One after another, roughly contoured chest plates emerged from the production line.
What followed were additional steps: coarse calibration, fine calibration, grinding, annealing, precision polishing, quenching, and final polishing—a total of 12 processes.
The entire production process took no more than eight hours, perfectly aligning with one work cycle.
Feeling slightly astonished, Hammerhand gently touched the silvery chest plate. Based on his hundred years of blacksmithing experience,
the quality of this chest plate was average—something any dwarf blacksmith could make.
However, a single dwarf blacksmith would require at least seven days to craft one piece of acceptable chest armor.
Training a dwarf blacksmith, moreover, required more than ten years of dedicated learning.
Yet, with this production line, 100 chest plates could be produced every day, equivalent to the output of 700 dwarf blacksmiths.
Moreover, maintaining the machinery was relatively simple. As long as raw materials were adequate, these machines, powered by mana channels, could operate continuously day and night.
In terms of efficiency, the machines were three times more productive than an ordinary dwarf blacksmith.
Three such production lines in the military factory were already operational.
Additionally, two more lines were under construction and expected to be operational in half a month.
By then, the military factory would be capable of producing 15,000 pieces of quality chest armor per month,
equivalent to the annual output of 30,000 dwarf blacksmiths.
Feeling a sense of disbelief, Hammerhand stared intently at the scenes of large mechanical devices at work,
listening to the rhythmic clanging of steel. He mumbled to himself:
"This place already rivals half the production capacity of the Royal Forge in Glory City."
"From construction to operation, it really only took nine months?"
The astonishing speed of development left even Old Village Chief Field, who had witnessed its transformation firsthand, feeling as if he were dreaming.
Nonetheless, this didn't stop Old Village Chief Field from praising the Lord of Bay Territory, his tone brimming with pride:
"That's right. The Lord gave the order to build it nine months ago."
"At that time, we only had about twenty hired blacksmiths from other regions. The rest were mere apprentices who had never touched a forge."
"Thanks to the Lord's focused efforts, Bay Territory's military factory now employs 5,000 workers, including 32 senior blacksmiths."
"The military factory is about to launch another expansion phase, and by the end of the year, the workforce is expected to reach 10,000."
"By then, even if you require more weapons and equipment, our military factory will meet your production needs."
"…"
Hammerhand couldn't help but feel a wave of envy at Ralph's confident tone.
He recalled a time when humanity, still without an empire, had eagerly learned smithing and metallurgy from the Dwarven Kingdom.
Now, although the Dwarven Kingdom's population had grown, its territorial influence had diminished compared to its former glory.
To the point that the Dwarven Kingdom now sought aid from the Netheril Empire. This stark contrast plunged Hammerhand into deep contemplation.
As he inspected the weapons and armor produced here, his gaze turned to the workers he hadn't paid much attention to earlier.
Upon closer observation, Hammerhand quickly noticed how they differed from dwarves.
Not only were they incredibly diligent, but they also actively gathered to discuss ways to improve their processes.
To an outsider, these workers might appear to be overcomplicating things.
Puzzled, Hammerhand sought an explanation from Ralph.
"Indeed, they're learning, researching, and improving techniques. Everyone is striving to excel."
"Any verified improvement in technology earns them at least a hundred gold coins in rewards."
"The Lord demands that all workers continuously improve their skills and knowledge…"
Magic is the ultimate production force!
However, magic is also just another form of technology!
Improving magic is no different from enhancing other technologies—it's all for better productivity.
Silently observing the workers on each production line, Hammerhand finally realized something.
Dwarven blacksmithing techniques have been steadily improving.
Countless master blacksmiths have contributed, propelling dwarven smithing to its peak.
However, even in the renowned Lava Fortress,
the majority of weapon production processes still relied heavily on manual labor.
Furthermore, even the most skilled dwarf blacksmiths fiercely guarded their techniques, teaching them only to their offspring or kin.
Hammerhand wasn't one to criticize this practice—it was how his own family operated.
Yet, after witnessing Bay Territory's open attitude toward technology and knowledge, Hammerhand felt uneasy.
In truth, what Hammerhand didn't realize was that the diligent and learning-oriented workers at the military factory weren't exceptions.
This was the norm throughout Bay Territory.
Every worker in every position was encouraged to learn new knowledge and skills.
Innovations that improved work efficiency were generously rewarded.
The average monthly salary for workers in Bay Territory had risen to 50 silver coins, thanks to advancements in technology and productivity.
In Bay Territory, basic necessities like food and clothing were incredibly affordable.
Grain cost 1 copper coin per pound, pork 3 copper coins per pound, fish 2 copper coins per pound, and vegetables 2 copper coins per pound.
A single silver coin could feed a family of six with meat and fish for three days straight.
Moreover, most jobs in Bay Territory provided lunch and dinner.
Even a single worker's income could comfortably support an entire family.
On top of their base income, workers received annual bonuses equal to 1–2 times their salary, based on their performance.
Any verified technical improvement earned at least 100 gold coins—
equivalent to a decade's income for most people!
This provided immense motivation for everyone in Bay Territory.
The pursuit of technological advancement was a constant in Bay Territory.
Especially with factory expansions, job openings, and enormous orders as incentives,
Bay Territory had transformed into a well-prepared production machine, now operating at full speed.
Over time, this machine would only grow larger, faster, and more efficient.