Ranch Story: Start Over

Feng Ling briefly described his work arrangements after borrowing someone from Yun Feifei today, and then talked about the bus plan. Thomas listened very carefully and nodded continuously.

Feng Ling also specifically spoke out about the pros and cons, and Thomas nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Feng Ling. We did consider this before, but as you said, we can't keep the bus running after we bought it. The energy consumed by the magic stone is too great. This is a headache. Although the tax profit from your contribution to the Mineral Town government during this food festival has reached more than 512 million, our current tax revenue can only be used to implement the bus plan when it reaches a higher level. In the final analysis, we don't have the money."

Looking at Thomas' helpless expression, he spread his hands. There was no other way. The magic bus not only required energy, but also daily maintenance. This thing is generally only used in the core cities of each region.

Feng Ling looked at Thomas' helpless expression and said carefully:

"What if buses can consume light energy?"

"Light energy? Hahaha, Feng Ling, you think too much. The method of using light energy is the way of the mechanical civilization continent. That method is not applicable to our magic continent. Countless alchemists have studied it before. But for some reason, the method of using light heat to integrate high temperature and then convert it into steam as a working fluid is too inefficient, not to mention driving power generation."

"Uncle Thomas, what if we can just keep it running? For example, we can design a bus that only needs one day of sun to keep it running for a day. Are you willing to try?"

Thomas was extremely surprised. Looking at Feng Ling's appearance, it seemed that the other party had some ideas in this regard. Was it because he had stayed in the Mechanical Civilization Continent for some time before?

"really?"

"really!"

"In this case."

Thomas needs to weigh the pros and cons. Although many people have been to the mechanical civilization continent over the years, everyone has hidden their existence very well. Even if they are discovered, they will be evaded by the people over there. Therefore, many people have returned after completing their studies.

However, there are very few people who have achieved academic success. There are many people as determined as Feng Ling, but most of them obtain funds from above in the name of defrauding funds, and then secretly divert the funds for other purposes. The key point is that these alchemists divert the funds for other purposes for construction and development, which makes the big guys above very angry.

Research so far has shown that as long as the energy is injected into the magic stone, the power is strong and the endurance is also good. The only difference is the amount of magic stone. Natural magic stones can be mined, but they are all taken over by the government.

Artificial magic stones are purely infused with magic power. It is a bit tiring, but the monthly income is not low. Many children from poorer families will start to cultivate their children's talents in this area early on. If they are lucky and their children are confirmed to have magical talents, they will have better prospects and development.

As for the energy that is not separated from the magic stone, it includes the use of light energy, water energy, and wind energy. Forget about electrical energy, there is no such particle. After these corresponding hybrid locomotives were built, they were used by the lower-level scoundrels to fool the big guys. Imagine that with an investment of 1 million yuan, the power locomotive built using light energy can't run for two or three hours.

Then the designer said with a grin that it would be possible to start the machine by adding a magic stone, and then it could run for a while after all the energy from the magic stone was used up.

Feng Ling felt like laughing as he listened to Thomas's story. Isn't this the principle of a power-assisted bicycle?

"But there have been very few people going there in the past two years. You actually went there. You're quite unique."

"What's wrong Uncle Thomas, what happened over there?"

"The pollution is too serious. The ecological environment over there is too corrosive to us. Now everyone has no idea about that place. The pollution is too serious and has a huge impact on cultivation. Kid, don't tell me that you have been stuck at the second-level magic swordsman stage for so many years because you have been to the mechanical civilization continent for too long?"

Seeing that Thomas seemed to have reacted, Feng Ling quickly shook his head:

"That's not the case, Uncle Thomas. I'm fine. This is to hone my foundation. As you can see, my control over magic and martial arts is very strong."

Thinking back to Feng Ling's performance last night, Thomas nodded. He didn't want the genius he just liked to give him a bolt from the blue.

Thomas strolled around again, and then said to Feng Ling seriously:

"Feng Ling, don't try to cheat me out of my funds like the people above you did. You know, it's been many years since Mineral Town has had such a high tax rate for an event. I estimate that when Xiao Lin'er finishes the statistics, the government's tax revenue from this event will be around 4000 million."

"That's a lot, Uncle Thomas. Can I apply for research funding?"

"No, you little brat!"

Thomas pounded the ground a few times with his gentleman's stick and said with disgust:

"Every year, a whole row of people are arrested for cheating on funds. They are all beaten up by the ninth-level alchemist. Because it cannot be equated with the crime of embezzlement, as the elder's disciples, they will be put in solitary confinement for 5 to 10 years."

"Isn't this just partiality?"

"Protecting? Not really, he's there. The people below are caught right under his nose to do research, and even more so, with that big boss watching over them, they produce a lot of research results every year.

Otherwise, why do you think the magic technology and martial arts of our Huaxia Principality can be called the strongest? It was forced out by that big guy!"

Feng Ling listened with joy. As expected, people who engage in scientific research are always the purest group of people. In their view, nothing can stop their desire to explore, and this starting point is not a crime punishable by death.

It’s just that in the process of exploration, it’s inevitable to discover other amazing things, and then the feeling comes, and without anyone watching, there will indeed be some situations where the technology tree is wrong.

"So, kid! Don't do this kind of thing, or I'll arrest you too. Mineral Town's funds must be used effectively. Just last night, for the Summer Food Festival, I turned on all the street lights in Mineral Town. Do you know how much it cost?"

"Well, that thing shouldn't consume any energy, right? Uncle Thomas, why don't you just apply to buy some makeshift solar lighting?"

Seeing that Feng Ling had no idea about the inside story, Thomas poked Feng Ling on the back of the head in anger.

"The street lighting system in Mineral Town operated for 10 hours last night. A total of 500 street lamps consumed 50 magic stones. The solar lamps you mentioned cost twice as much as magic stone street lamps!"

“Hehehe, this…”

"What the hell, you think the magic stone is suitable for use in such cheap industrial products? Don't have any bad intentions, I am very sensitive to this aspect."

It's not that Thomas is too sensitive. It's mainly because he was defrauded of funds by an alchemist when he was in office. Therefore, after being beaten by the society, he has become extremely cautious. When it comes to applying for scientific research funds from above, Thomas's response can be summed up in one sentence.

No need for money! It's a life-threatening situation!

Looking at Thomas's rogue expression, it's really hard for him to be the mayor to this extent just to protect everyone's jobs.

"Hey, Uncle Thomas, I didn't come to you this time to apply for research funding."

"Oh, what is that?"