The World Dragon's Heir

"Alright, I will approve the changes. Make that side a full on tractor factory. The carriage maker is a small shop, and never had room for more than one tractor at a time. If you use those five bays for the shop, then the end section for parts production and a forge, it still leaves us three doors to load trailers indoors, and storage space at the far side.

Five tractors at a time might be optimistic, but if we make new ones in two bays, we can shift repairs and loading between the others as needed.

I'm sure that the Guild will be overjoyed to find out that we've got indoor parking for them when the rains start." Dominic decided.

"I will get right on that. But what I really wanted was for you to check the kiln design we set up for the clay logs. The Techno Wizard has a spell to dry the clay, but he's not a potter." Sunni explained.

"We do have potters in town. But I know enough about the process to know that you just need to heat dry clay high enough to make it change. Did you want me to run it up?" Dominic asked.

"The heating device isn't ready yet, I just need a review of the design."

Dominic walked down the line, and stopped at the large dome that was the furnace.

"The size is good, and you've built it out of three layers of brick. That should hold in enough heat with the outer clay layer to prevent leaks. The top looks like a mechanical vent?" Dominic asked.

"It is. Twenty centimetres of clay inside a steel housing, opened from the outside. It should hold heat well enough. It will take all night to fire the clay pieces, but we weren't planning to run three shifts anyhow."

They didn't have enough workers for that, even if the factory supported it.

"I've got one more question. We've got all the right equipment here, but do you know anything about making canning jars?" Dominic asked.

"Sure. If they've got enough lids, we can use the same line that makes the logs for the fireplaces to make jars. Glass is traditional, but Obsidian is basically the same, though without the ability to see the contents. A simple change of spell orbs, and we could do canning jars and lids on this line as well.

Was there a need? They're not a popular trade good."

Dominic nodded. "It came up a few days ago. It also doesn't need anyone to build magitech orbs all day, so the line can start producing them while we train the factory workers. Harvest season is coming, and we will want as many as we can get so that nobody is short on stored food variety before next harvest."

Sunni nodded. "I will relay that to the others. The old Techno Wizard will be happy to hear that we're not waiting on his training before workers can start getting paid. Most of the line only needs a few people, it's the stations making the magitech Orbs that make up almost all of the staff."

"And that can't happen until they're trained, which means everything is waiting on him to teach them the basics of Magitech Engineering.

Is the factory ready enough for them to start in the next few days?" Dominic asked.

Sunni nodded. "This side is ready for practical testing as soon as the magitech is installed. Almost, anyhow. We're still waiting on the hydraulic presses to die cut parts. But those should be ready soon.

Pops is working on them now, as well as a steam hammer for the repair side."

"Perfect, I'm heading over to the forge to do some work today. I will check in with Pops while I work so that he knows what's up. There's nobody better than him at making rare tools, so I'm sure that he's doing well with the parts for the factory." Dominic agreed.

Sunni smiled. "In fact, they were his idea. We asked if he could make templates for a torch or something similar, and he suggested the hydraulic press with a cutting template. In theory, it should just stamp out a whole sheet of parts in a second."

"Which will be good for all sorts of things once we get it up and running. Alright, I will talk to you later. Good work, Architect."

Dominic made his way to the forge, which looked much more like a Techno Wizard's lab today, with mechanical parts scattered everywhere.

"How's it going, old man?" He greeted Pops as he walked in.

"Good timing. Grab the shovels from the storage room, and three rakes. Someone is coming over for them in a minute, and I'm busy." Pops replied.

Dominic chuckled as he grabbed the tools from storage and set them out front.

If there was one constant in the forge, it was Pops' reluctance to deal with the customers who actually commissioned the tools that he was making.

Why he hadn't hired a front desk clerk was a mystery, but Dominic suspected that he didn't want anyone in his forge who didn't belong in a forge, and finding a good apprentice was no easy feat.

He had worked alone for years before Dominic showed up, and now that Dominic had been promoted out of the forge, he was back to working alone again.

A few minutes later, a girl pulling a cart stopped out front and waved to Dominic.

"My Lord, it's a pleasure to meet you. Grandpa says you're a good boss." The girl declared.

Dominic examined her more closely and realized that she was one of the Alator Family children, so her grandfather would be General Alator, who was indeed an employee of the Duchy.

The job paid very well, and Dominic wasn't the demanding sort, but it was good to hear that he spoke positively to his family about his new Lord. The loyalty of a skilled General was not easy to earn, and it took more than just skill to keep a Duchy safe.