Chapter 62

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Chapter 62: On Never Losing in Debate

The crowd’s attention swiftly turned to Chaoyang, curiosity evident in their eyes.

The merchant, noticing Chaoyang’s simple attire, couldn’t help but sneer, “Cough… And what exactly do you propose to solve this? Are you going to replace those Nepheid miners yourself?”

A wave of mocking laughter rippled through the gathering.

Chaoyang remained undeterred, his voice clear as he addressed the crowd. “Since we’ve already created marvels like steam trains, why persistently rely on human labor for mining? Machines possess greater strength than humans, and their efficiency is astonishingly high—they can work tirelessly day and night. If we were to introduce wondrous constructs into our mines, the efficiency of our mineral extraction would increase exponentially. Therefore, there’s no need to worry about not benefiting from the conveniences these constructs bring—even without exploiting wild Nepheids as laborers, things will only improve, not worsen!”

The woman’s expression visibly softened, and she nodded towards Chaoyang, agreeing, “He makes sense! Theoretically, such machines could indeed be built.”

But the merchant wasn’t ready to back down. He glared at Chaoyang, his tone sharp, stiffening his neck as he retorted, “It’s not that simple! I doubt either of you has ever set foot in a mine. It’s dark, damp, and filled with airborne dust—most machinery simply can’t operate under such harsh conditions. Gearboxes, for example, are prone to getting jammed by mineral debris.”

This person seems to know quite a lot… Chaoyang was slightly surprised; not only did he have knowledge of mechanical devices, but it appeared he wasn’t an ordinary merchant.

“The issues you’ve mentioned are all technical problems, which can naturally be addressed through technological solutions.”

The merchant scoffed. “So, you think you understand, do you?”

“Of course I do,” Chaoyang replied without hesitation. “For example, by adding water injection systems at the excavation points, we can effectively reduce airborne dust. You’ve likely experienced this yourselves, It’s like how you sprinkle water on the floor before sweeping to keep the dust down.”

The crowd nodded collectively, recognizing the simple logic behind Chaoyang’s words. While they may not have expertise in mining machinery, most had either performed or witnessed indoor cleaning tasks.

“Additionally, instead of relying on gears, we could modify the transmission mechanism to a hydraulic system, utilizing fluid pressure to drive the machine. This would resolve most of the sealing issues that plague gear-driven systems.”

“Hydraulic… what’s that?” someone asked, clearing puzzled.

“Well,” Chaoyang explained, “Fluids are difficult to compress, as I’m sure everyone knows. If you don’t believe me, try squeezing a soft leather bottle filled with water—it will just spray out from the opening.”

Chaoyang smiled and continued, “Hydraulics take advantage of this property, transmitting force applied on at one end completely to the other. Naturally, if we alter the sizes of the two containers, it can even amplify the force exponentially, similar to how a lever works…”

Though the explanation was sound, many in the crowd still seemed confused, the concept a bit too abstract for them.

Only the young woman suddenly furrowed her delicate brows, seemingly lost in thought.

Chaoyang didn’t intend to delve too deeply into technical details, knowing well that once the issues with power source was resolved, various machines capable of handling heavy and arduous tasks would eventually be developed over time.

“What’s worse,” he continued, “is that exploiting Nepheids as slave labor actually hinders the development of innovative wondrous constructs. The reason is simple—when current methods suffice, why spend additional resources on trying new approaches?” He raised both hands, a gesture often used in speeches to signify sincerity and openness, effectively enhancing his persuasiveness. “Therefore, what the shipping company is doing not only lacks benefits but also harms the adoption of new technologies! It may seem inconsequential now, but in reality, it casts a shadow over the future of every individual here!”

“Hmm… he does have a point.” murmured someone in the crowd.

“But there’s no reliable wondrous construct yet that can replace slave labor for mining, who knows if such a thing even exists?” another voice chimed in.

The spectators were no longer unanimously siding with the merchant. Some had started to reconsider their stance, showing support for the young woman again. However, Chaoyang was evidently unsatisfied; clenching his fists, his voice resonating with conviction as he declared, “But these are not the most crucial reasons!”

“We don’t support the shipping company or treating Nepheids as slaves mainly because each one of you here today is civilized!”

He understood that saying this might sound insincere, but at least it didn’t betray his true beliefs.

“What does it mean to be civilized?” Chaoyang continued, his tone sincere. “It means always being willing to extend a helping hand to those who are weaker than ourselves. Can wild Nepheids not be educated and integrated? Of course they can—some have already assimilated into our society! If that’s the case, then why can’t we offer just a little more goodwill to redeem these lost, pitiable souls?”

The crowd’s attention was locked on him as he continued, “On the Old Continent, we gradually abolished slavery step by step, which symbolizes our civilization. Shouldn’t we, as civilized individuals resist regressing into barbarism when we come to the New Continent? When I see all of you here, I am confident that the answer must be no!”

Emotion flickered across the faces of the men and women surrounding him.

Chaoyang knew victory had tilted in his favor. “Similarly, these bloodstained Moonstones, wrapped layer upon layer with lies, absolutely do not place in the realm of civilization! Whenever you consider keeping them as mementos or gifts, think about the stories behind these stones. You’ll discover that beyond fraud, enslavement, and greed, there is nothing. Do you truly believe such vile objects can be cherished like flowers?”

“No! I refuse such vile objects!” Zhu Di was the first to shout out, “Praise civilization!”

Well said, just as expected from you! Chaoyang praised her internally.

With Zhu Di leading the charge, other tourists quickly joined in.

“That’s right, we are civilized individuals; I don’t want these anymore!”

“I…I agree too…”

“Sir, can we get refunds?”

The merchant, seeing his sales unraveling before his eyes, tried to protest. “Oh no, you can’t do this! Goods sold are not returnable! Hey, don’t throw away my merchandise!” But his voice was drowned out by the growing demands for refunds.

This is human nature, Chaoyang mused. Regardless of whether these privileged youngsters were genuinely kind-hearted or not, once their basic needs were met, they would invariably strive to maintain a positive image. Simply put, it’s about saving face. Moreover, many were accompanied by romantic partners, and leaving a good impression on them undoubtedly mattered more than a small souvenir.

If the crowd had been composed of those from the lower strata of society, his speech likely wouldn’t have resonated as strongly

“Thank you for your support; your speaking style is truly unique.” At that moment, the woman with long orange hair approached Chaoyang and extended her hand, “My name is Elise, what’s yours?”

“Chao.” Chaoyang replied, shaking her hand. The touch her hand was not overly soft but firm and strong, with distinct muscle definition.

“A single name? I presume it’s a pseudonym. Are you an esteemed scholar?”

“Uh… probably not.” Chaoyangsaid tilting his head, unsure of what exactly she meant by “esteemed scholar.”

“Mr. Chao, you have quite a sense of humor,” Elise laughed lightly. “Not an esteemed scholar yet you possess a deep understanding of mechanics… Your background truly piques my curiosity.”

“I prefer self-learning.”

Doubt clearly showed in her eyes, but her smile remained unchanged. “Mu’er.”

At her command, an attendant standing nearby stepped forward. He swiftly produced a card in his left hand while retrieving a pen from his breast pocket with his right. With fluid grace, he began writing on the spot. Even during this task, his posture remained perfectly upright, like a taut bowstring.

“Please accept this.”

Swiftly completing the note, the attendant handed the card to Chaoyang, who took it, feeling slightly puzzled.

“I know a better place for conversation than here. This is an invitation. When the time comes, I hope you can join us; I’m genuinely interested in hearing about your self-learning experiences.” Elise waved her hand and turned towards the returning carriage.

Chaoyang examined the card and found it indeed contained an address along with a time: 7:30 PM. “What does this mean?”

“It means she’s taken an interest in you!” Zhu Di exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Didn’t I say? Besides promoting your ideas, debates can also attract like-minded individuals. This is an opportunity for you to enter her social circle and become one of them!”

“Lord Chao doesn’t need such methods to elevate himself…” Dunn interjected with a light cough, his tone carrying a hint of formality.

“Aiya, I’m just giving an example!” Zhu Di pouted playfully, though her words held a note of sincerity. “Moreover, accepting this invitation could benefit Lord Chao, as it would allow spreading the gospel of the Lord of Paradise through upper-class circles. Whether you go or not is entirely up to you, but for anyone else, it would be an incredibly rare chance.”

“Let’s discuss it later… We’ll be quite busy these next few days,” Chaoyang replied noncommittally, slipping the card into his pocket. He hadn’t helped Li Yizi solely to gain her attention; rather, since the event was going to be reported, he hoped the content would portray the Nepheids in a favorable light.

After all, his initial fortune had been intertwined with Haiya’s kindness, and this was his way of showing a small token of gratitude.

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