CHAPTER 265: CHAPTER 179: STAMPING AND FORMING IDEA (+1)

While talking, a Lizardman captive turned and bit the soldier next to him.

Luckily, the soldier on the other side reacted quickly enough and slammed the sword handle hard onto the Lizardman’s head.

The attacked soldier also realized he was under attack and turned to punch and kick the Lizardman.

"I was just about to say they’re like mad dogs and should all be muzzled, now this scene plays out right before me."

Durant shook his head, "Bloody affairs don’t suit me. You can deal with them; I’m going farming."

After saying that, Durant turned and left.

...

...

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Durant swung the hammer, continuously striking the Demonic Pattern Steel, while Vivian lounged on a chair, her face covered with Durant’s coat, feigning sleep.

The Blacksmith Shop was noisy, with people moving back and forth, yet everything was in perfect order.

The other blacksmiths were busy at the forging hammers and rolling machines, turning chunks of Iron Ingots into iron plates, which were sent to the cutting table to be cut into armor plate blanks according to templates.

The cut blanks were sent to Bard, who clamped the iron pieces, preheated them in a furnace, and then hammered them into human-friendly shapes.

Right when everything was peaceful and harmonious, Vivian suddenly sprang up and frowned, staring at the door.

Durant couldn’t help but pause, following her gaze.

Moments later, a little head with rabbit ears popped out from the side.

Vivian sighed helplessly and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes again.

"Fernie?"

Durant looked at the little Snow Rabbit People with a hint of mischief and asked, "Why did you come over here?"

Confirming she had found the right place, Fernie exclaimed happily, "Lord sir, I can release three Earth Spikes now!"

"Oh?"

Durant looked at Fernie with some surprise.

Four days ago, Fernie could only fully control two Earth Spikes, and now she can control three.

"See!"

Fernie turned around, looking at the stone by the roadside in front of the Blacksmith Shop, closed her eyes, and exerted force. Instantly, three one-meter-long Earth Spikes shot out and sent the stone flying!

Durant nodded in approval,

"Well done, Fernie, you’re learning faster and faster."

"Then what should I practice next, learn to summon a fourth Earth Spike?"

Fernie’s bright eyes stared intently at Durant.

Durant shook his head, "No, you can try something else."

"Your Snow Rui sister is digging trenches right now. The soil in those trenches is very hard, making it quite tough to dig."

"Perhaps you could try softening the soil, making it easier for your Snow Rui sister."

Durant said with a smile, "Or find other ways to help your Snow Rui sister make her work less tiring."

"What do you think?"

"Hmm!"

Fernie nodded vigorously.

"I knew you were the best behaved."

Durant ruffled her rabbit ears, then asked, "Did you come here for more than just bringing this news to me?"

"Is there something else you want? Speak up."

As Durant finished speaking, Fernie’s cheeks turned slightly red.

She bit her lip and said hesitantly, "Lord sir... I wonder how Riva is doing."

She lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, "It’s been so many days, I want to go see him."

Durant suddenly realized.

How had he forgotten about Fernie’s brother?

Durant sighed inwardly, feeling overwhelmed with his many responsibilities.

He spoke gently, "Don’t worry, Fernie."

"I’ll send someone to Black Stone Stronghold later, and if Riva is doing well, I’ll bring him over so you siblings can reunite."

"Really?"

Fernie’s eyes lit up and she said joyfully, "Thank you, Lord sir!"

She quickly bowed,

"I’ll go practice now!"

Durant nodded and asked, "Did you come here alone?"

Fernie shook her head, "Leia sister brought me here and handed me over to the Guard brother before she returned."

The Guards all knew Fernie, otherwise they wouldn’t have let her come in alone.

"Then I’ll have a Guard escort you back to the estate."

He called out softly outside, and the Guard quickly ran over.

"Escort Fernie back to the estate, and notify Durant to send a message to Black Stone Stronghold."

Durant instructed, "Next time when delivering iron materials, if Riva’s health condition permits, bring him along."

The Guard nodded in agreement,

"Yes, Lord sir!"

After speaking, the Guard took Fernie away, and Durant turned back to the Blacksmith Shop.

He picked up the hammer, just about to continue his work when he caught sight of Bard busily working nearby.

Bard was matching the hammered armor plates to a wooden dummy, muttering to himself.

Durant seemed thoughtful, then put down the hammer and curiously walked over.

The Bard, seeing him coming, immediately put down his work and stood respectfully to the side,

"Lord!"

Durant waved his hand, indicating for Bard to relax, but his gaze fell on the wooden rack’s dummy.

He squatted down, carefully examining the shape of the armor plates, his brow slightly furrowing.

"Lord, do you have any instructions?"

The Bard asked cautiously.

"Bard, have you ever thought about something?"

Durant held an iron plate against the dummy, "Perhaps we can directly press the iron plate onto the dummy, making it fit the dummy’s body shape."

"Huh?"

The Bard froze for a moment, then hesitantly said, "What you suggest is a good idea... but how to press it..."

Bard gestured for a while but couldn’t figure it out, somewhat helplessly saying, "Lord, I can’t think of anything."

"What if I make a stone mold for you?" Durant asked.

After thinking for a moment, Bard tentatively said, "But in that case, it can only flatten and can’t create such a curve, right?"

"Then if I make it yin and yang..."

Durant paused, realizing people here didn’t understand yin and yang.

After thinking about it, Durant changed his words, "Make it into two concave and convex models, like pressing dough."

As he spoke, Durant turned his left hand into a palm and his right hand into a fist, pressing them together forcefully.

"Oh my god!"

Bard instantly exclaimed, holding his head incredulously as he looked at Durant.

"Lord, you’re truly a genius!"

In an instant, images of two molds combining to shape the armor emerged in Bard’s mind.

Thud!

Bard’s legs weakened, and he instantly knelt on the ground, his eyes glazed over.

This scene drew everyone’s attention in the Blacksmith Shop, causing Hammer, the supervisor, to rush over with a worried expression.

"Forgive me, Lord, Bard didn’t mean to, please don’t blame him."

Hammer apologized directly, making Durant unable to help but laugh.

"He didn’t make a mistake; why are you apologizing?"

"Huh?"

Hammer was stunned for a moment.

He thought Bard’s behavior had offended the lord.

But looking at Durant’s expression, that was clearly not the case.

"Then what’s going on?"

Hammer asked, full of confusion.

"Help him up to sit down."

Durant instructed.

Seeing Bard like this, others might think he was bullying his blacksmith.

"Oh, okay, okay."

Hammer quickly followed orders and helped Bard up.

Bard muttered, "No wonder you had us measure the soldiers’ body sizes and design specific models, it was to prepare molds conveniently..."

Durant smiled without speaking.

Measuring sizes was for standardization, and standardization is the foundation of an industrial assembly line.

Molds weren’t initially considered.

Because armor can’t be cast, the idea of molds was directly thrown aside.

Durant only thought of stamping after seeing Bard’s gestures just now.

"Molds?"

Hammer asked Bard quietly, "What are you talking about, my Bard brother?"

Bard sighed, raised his hands to show the gestures Durant demonstrated,

"If there’s a sheet of iron between these two fists, it will become the shape of a fist."

"What a joke, Bard, how can fists and palms press iron sheets into the shape of a fist, it requires great force..."

Hammer’s voice suddenly stopped, his eyes widening as he looked up at Durant,

"This, this, this..."

Hammer couldn’t find words to speak for a moment.

Although he didn’t know how exactly to achieve it, he understood Bard’s meaning.

"It’s basically rough shaping, you will still need to fine-tune the details yourselves."

Durant said calmly.

Hammer nodded in confusion.

Fine-tuning... even hand-forged shaping requires fine-tuning.

There’s no armor that doesn’t need fine-tuning...

"Alright, you digest this first, the machine for bending and forming will need you to lead in the Blacksmith Shop."

Durant said to Hammer and Bard, "I’ll go draw the diagrams first."

After speaking, Durant turned to leave, unable to suppress a sigh,

"This cursed knowledge, my Demonic Pattern Steel Sword will be delayed again."