Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 767 - 486: The Entrance to the Inner State_2

"To restore the glory of the Soda Kiln, we must send the people of the Soda Kiln back to the factory. I can help you with this. As long as there are business deals, the factory of the Soda Kiln will be able to operate at full speed. By that time, the whole Puluo State will be stunned. They’ll know that the finest Steam Engines are not at Black Stone Slope, nor in Greenwater City, but right here, in their original homeland."

The sound of hammering had ceased, and Shi Gongxing was staring blankly at his boiler.

Dick Chen seized the moment, saying, "Sir, I’ll just go take a look. I’ll definitely return within the time you specified. No one will know about this. After it’s done, I’ll bring in orders and place an order for a large batch of machines. The Soda Kiln’s factory will soon start operating."

Shi Gongxing remained silent for a long time as Dick Chen walked step by step toward the depths of the workshop.

As long as Shi Gongxing did not intervene, Dick Chen could keep walking to the very end of the workshop.

Da Boyins followed behind Dick Chen, but after only two steps, a crack opened in the tile beneath his feet, separating him from Dick Chen. This was a warning to them that only one person could enter the depths of the workshop.

Dick Chen told Da Boyins to wait right there, while he himself headed towards the end of the workshop. At the end of the workshop, there was a ladder leading down to a bottomless pool of water.

Dick Chen jumped into the pool and quickly dove.

The true volume of this pool, built within the factory, was much greater than its appearance suggested. In the water, Dick Chen could see neither the bottom of the pool nor the walls around it—a true testament to the principles of the Craftsmanship Method.

After diving more than a hundred meters, Dick Chen saw a crucian carp more than three meters long, its scales grey and black, in the water below. Dick Chen first gave the fish a deep bow.

The crucian carp swayed its fins, sizing Dick Chen up and down. Dick Chen presented a Gold Waist Badge to the fish with both hands.

The fish, with the limited light, stared at the badge for a moment, discerning its authenticity. It wagged its tail fin, indicating that Dick Chen could continue speaking.

In the water, Dick Chen respectfully responded, "Please help me convey a message. I need an important letter. I’ve reported on the related matters before. Please, believe me no matter what. Everything I’ve done is for our common glory."

Da Boyins had been waiting in the factory for a full three hours before finally seeing Dick Chen walking back from the end of the workshop.

Shi Gongxing was still under the boiler making technical improvements. Dick Chen greeted him and then left the workshop.

Outside the factory, Dick Chen asked Da Boyins, "Aren’t you curious about where I’ve just been?"

"I am curious, but I remember your teaching. Never ask about things that shouldn’t be asked about."

"Indeed, you shouldn’t ask about this place. But today, I want to tell you," Dick Chen said, turning to look back at the factory. "This is a door, an entrance to the Inner State."

Da Boyins exclaimed, "The entrance to the Inner State, here in the Soda Kiln?"

Dick Chen nodded. "The Inner State has many entrances; one of them is here at the Soda Kiln. Very few people know about this."

"So, the gentleman who repairs Steam Engines is..."

"He is the Local Deity of the Soda Kiln, named Shi Gongxing. He’s one of the most outstanding Craftsman Cultivators in Puluo State and, as I mentioned, a talent driven to utter despair."

Da Boyins could guess why the Local Deity was in such despair. He looked around at the abandoned factory and the many other derelict factory buildings. "What exactly happened at the Soda Kiln, and why does the home of the Local Deity have an entrance to the Inner State?"

"You’ve got it backwards. The Local Deity Shi Gongxing stays here because there’s an entrance to the Inner State here. Guarding this entrance is one of his duties, but after being disheartened for so long, his commitment to this task is now wavering."

Da Boyins recalled the earlier scene where Dick Chen had successfully persuaded Shi Gongxing. "From what just happened," he remarked, "it seems this isn’t his first time."

Dick Chen nodded. "Indeed, it’s not the first time. I’ve heard that he’s also taken bribes from the Inner State before, letting pure Inner State People enter Puluo State. When people are disheartened, it’s truly easy for them to become corrupt."

Da Boyins cautiously asked, "What did you go to the Inner State’s entrance for?"

Dick Chen shook his head. "You shouldn’t ask that question either. But since you’ve already asked, I might as well tell you. I’ve obtained a letter from the Inner State, intended for the Defense Agency."

Dick Chen handed a scroll to Da Boyins, who unrolled it to find it blank, without a single word.

"This type of letter, you must have seen it before. The Outside Provinces have unique devices that can decipher the content of the scrolls." Dick Chen put the scroll away and said, "Actually, the content isn’t anything special. The Inner State hopes that the Outside Provinces will help them break through the Boundary leading to Puluo State." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Da Boyins exclaimed, "The Boundary between the Inner State and Puluo State—the Outside Provinces can break through it?"

Dick Chen nodded. "Essentially, the Boundary between the Inner State and Puluo State is no different from the one between Greenwater City and Pants Belt Pit, just much thicker.

"The Boundary between Greenwater City and Pants Belt Pit is like a sheet of paper, whereas the Boundary between the Inner State and Puluo State is like a wall. Breaking through a sheet of paper isn’t difficult for the Inner State, but they can’t break through a wall.

"Breaking the Boundary is what the Inner State most expects from the Outside Provinces, and it’s also the Outside Provinces’ biggest bargaining chip with the Inner State. The Inner State and the Outside Provinces have negotiated this matter for a long time."