Nikita couldn't interject when she saw Roland and Isabel chatting about the deed, and she couldn't help but feel a little sour in her heart, and asked loudly with confusion: "A clock is just a complicated timekeeping tool, what is it that deserves so much attention from you?" ”

"My dear Nikita, a clock is more than just a timekeeping tool!" Roland held her hand, his face was extremely solemn, "On the premise of not considering magical creations, clocks and watches are almost the most sophisticated and complex mechanical devices in our time, if we realize the industrial production of clocks and watches, we can solve most of the problems in the field of machining in this era, and if we can make precision clocks with machines, we will have the ability to produce most other mechanical devices in the factory!" ”

Nikita doesn't know much about the history of human technological change and doesn't understand what the industrial production of watches and clocks means, while Roland, who comes from an earth that has completed three industrial revolutions, certainly does not ignore this important milestone in the history of human technological change!

Scholars on the earth who study the history of human technology generally emphasize the importance of mechanical clocks, believing that mechanical clocks are both a symbol of technological progress and a deep-seated cause of technological progress. As Mam Ford puts it, "It is the clock, not the steam engine, that is the key machine of the modern industrial age." ”

Mamford's statement may be an exaggeration, but anyone who knows anything about the history of human technological progress cannot but agree with the following assertion:

Clocks are mechanical, automatic, and require a high level of precision in their design and maintenance, making them suitable as a model for all other mechanisms.

The clock creates order and organization, creating a shared set of objective information.

The clock makes it clear that the difference in efficiency is visible: more productive workers and better appliances and tools are visible, and more product can be produced per hour.

Clocks make it easier to compare productivity, and in turn, to choose between faster and slower.

Watchmakers set new standards of precision and sophistication in the manufacture of mechanical inventions, and many of them played an important role in subsequent inventions in other industries.

Based on the above general laws, Roland deduced further conclusions based on the conditions of the Far East.

"A watch involves hundreds or thousands of precision parts, and in order to produce these parts, a complex upstream industrial cluster needs to be formed; The clock itself is the core element of many more complex mechanical devices, which can extend to a larger and more complex downstream industry group to form a complete industrial chain. ”

Roland's words were calm and powerful, as if announcing a prophecy destined to come true, and his gaze turned from Nikita's face to the distant sky, his eyes deep and bright, like a magnet to attract the people in the courtyard to him.

"After that, you will find that high-end equipment related to the national economy and people's livelihood, such as magic locomotives, airships and mechanical armor, can also be included in the downstream of this industrial chain, and most of the precision parts required for it can be manufactured in this industrial cluster established by the production of clocks and watches!"

Roland started out as a strategic explanation to Nikita about the importance of the watch industry, but eventually turned into a lecture for all young mechanics.

Were these prophecies made by him far-sighted or the whispers of madmen? It remains to be seen. But for these young people who were born in the "land of clocks and watches" and are committed to becoming warlocks, the scene described in Roland's words is undoubtedly the beautiful blueprint they dream of.

There was applause behind him, and Roland looked back to see Matwi Wittgenstein applauding what he had just said. This old man, who has always given people a strict stereotype, could not hide the excitement in his eyes at this moment, and his wrinkled face was also flushed with excitement like a young man.

Roland smiled a little embarrassedly: "Mr. Matway, all the ideas I had just now were inspired by the lesson you just said, and I would like to ask you for more advice if you say something wrong." ”

"His Royal Highness the Prince said it very well, his horizons are far wider than that of me, an old man in a reclusive town, and I am the one who is really inspired." Matvey turned to Isabel and said, "I have some things to do next, and you can do it for me in the next class." ”

"Uh, okay, teacher." Isabel looked stunned.

Mayor Qianjin is the only girl in the school, but she has been learning mechanics with Matvey for ten years, and she is the first in her class in terms of seniority and level, and it is not the first time she has served as a substitute teaching assistant. But in the past, substitute teaching was due to Matvey's illness and was unable to attend classes in person, and this was the first time that this kind of short notice had been given, which was contrary to his strict and punctual style, which gave her a vague premonition that the teacher's ordinary life in a secluded town for many years was about to take a major turn.

Matvey arranged the teaching work, turned to Roland and Nikita and said, "I have nothing to do all these years, and I have tinkered with some small inventions, are you two interested in taking a look?" ”

"It's an honor." Roland laughed.

Matvey led the way, followed by Roland and Nikita, and when they made eye contact, they both looked curious: what would be the "little invention" of the quasi-legendary trap warlock?

Out of the courtyard gate, there is a small river not far away. There was a large house on the riverbank that looked like a warehouse, and Matvey took the key from his pocket, opened the warehouse door, and pushed it open.

"Your Royal Highness, Miss Nikita, please come in."

Curious and expectant, Roland walked into the windowless, dimly lit warehouse, and vaguely saw a huge machine displayed in the center of the clearing, the outline of which was somewhat familiar.

"It's pitch black everywhere here, you can't see anything......" Miss Mage's eyes were not as sharp as Roland's, and she held his hand tightly for fear of falling. As she whispered, Matvey raised his hand and tapped the wall lightly, and the chandelier on the ceiling lit up immediately, illuminating the warehouse with the glow of the "Undying Flame".

After adjusting to the change of light in the room a little, Nikita's eyes were immediately drawn to the simple, heavy-looking, visually striking steel in front of her, and she couldn't help but exclaim.

"It's ...... Magic locomotive?! ”

"It is indeed a magic locomotive, but from the appearance, it seems to be different from the mainstream magic locomotive models in the countries of Varess today, and it should have been modified by Mr. Matvey himself."

Roland looked closely at the big guy quietly displayed in the warehouse, and his eyes were unusually bright.