"You see, the two main elements used in the creation of Steam-Engines are Novarite and Crytalix."

Ezra’s calm voice echoed throughout the hall.

Even though he still spoke in his usual flat tone, nobody found his presentation boring.

In fact, many people were becoming more invested as he continued.

His explanations were straightforward.

Easy to understand and easy to follow.

There was no unnecessary complexity.

No attempt to sound superior.

He simply explained things in a way that allowed everyone present to keep up with his train of thought.

Scholars listened.

Craftsmen paid attention.

Business owners took notes.

Even nobles who normally cared little for engineering found themselves interested.

"Because of the non-boiling properties of Crytalix, the reaction that occurs when Novarite and Crytalix are combined within a Steam-Engine produces the steam required to power the system."

Ezra swiped his hand.

The holographic slide shifted.

A detailed image of a Steam-Engine appeared.

Internal chambers.

Pressure systems.

Coolant channels.

Energy flow diagrams.

All of them floated above the stage.

"The steam produced from heated Crytalix directly corresponds to the thermal output generated by the Novarite."

Another slide appeared.

Many craftsmen and production specialists immediately narrowed their eyes.

Several representatives from Steam-Carriage companies leaned forward.

Some had already begun discussing quietly among themselves.

"Now..."

Ezra pointed toward one section of the diagram.

"Because of the amount of heat being generated, a regulation system is required to prevent the Steam-Engine from reaching dangerous operating temperatures."

The highlighted section glowed.

"The method used to achieve this is coolant."

The word appeared across the holographic display.

Immediately...

Several members of the major Steam-Carriage industries exchanged glances.

Some had already begun trying to predict where Ezra was leading the discussion.

After all...

Everything he had said so far was basic knowledge.

Nothing revolutionary.

Yet that was exactly what made it more mysterious, because Ezra was clearly building toward something.

"What many people fail to realize..."

He continued calmly.

"...is that there are additional factors capable of increasing the heat generation of a Steam-Engine."

His gaze swept across the audience.

"And one of those factors is the focus of this presentation."

The atmosphere became quieter.

Curiosity steadily increased.

Ezra swiped his hand again.

The fifth slide disappeared and the sixth slide appeared.

Then he pointed toward the title.

"The exterior shape of a carriage and how it is affected by wind resistance."

Several eyes widened.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

"Wind?"

"What does wind have to do with Steam-Carriages?"

Even a few executives from the major carriage industries looked a bit puzzled.

Yet at the same time...Interested.

"People cannot see it."

Ezra’s voice remained steady.

"So, they often forget it exists."

It was a simple statement.

Yet many listeners immediately found themselves paying even closer attention.

"But every time a carriage moves, it is constantly pushing through an ocean of air."

The sixth slide expanded.

A detailed diagram appeared.

Airflow patterns flowed around a carriage model.

Colored lines demonstrated resistance forces.

Pressure zones formed around sharp edges.

The technical team immediately enlarged the diagram further.

A secondary holographic screen emerged beside the original display.

Everyone could now clearly see the airflow illustration.

The audience stared at the image.

Many people were seeing this type of visual explanation for the first time.

"Sharp corners split the airflow."

Ezra pointed at the diagram.

"And the air becomes unstable."

The airflow lines began vibrating within the projection.

"Which creates resistance."

Several Scholars immediately started writing notes.

A few Master Craftsmen exchanged surprised looks.

Meanwhile...

Many carriage manufacturers were beginning to understand the direction of Ezra’s argument.

"Most Steam-Carriage manufacturers design around the engine."

Ezra swiped back to the second slide.

The images of the three carriage classes returned.

"They focus on fitting the necessary components together."

His finger moved across the image.

"The engine, the piping, the passenger compartments, the suspension systems. They build around functionality."

The audience nodded in agreeance, because they all knew that was exactly how the industry operated.

"And then they stop."

The statement caused a few chuckles.

Some representatives even awkwardly avoided eye contact.

"The result..."

Ezra pointed at the carriage.

"...is a vehicle covered in edges, exposed joints, bolts, and uneven surfaces."

The moment those words left his mouth...

Several Master Craftsmen froze with their eyes widening.

A few top Craft-Based Alchemists immediately sat upright.

Even some Scholars suddenly looked at the diagrams again.

Something clicked in their minds, like a connection beginning to form.

"A lot of you are probably wondering..."

Ezra raised his hand slightly.

"...what any of this has to do with wind resistance."

He paused.

Allowing the discussions to spread.

Whispers immediately filled the hall, with people debating quietly among themselves.

Many already had theories, while many also didn’t.

Then Ezra spoke again.

"It has everything to do with it."

The hall quieted once more.

"When a carriage moves at speed, it forcibly pushes through the wind."

The airflow animation resumed.

Pressure waves formed around the projected carriage.

"You may not see it."

Ezra shrugged slightly.

"But you can certainly feel it."

His tone remained calm.

"If you stick your head outside the carriage window."

Several nobles immediately laughed.

The mental image was too familiar.

Many younger nobles remembered doing exactly that when they were children.

Some had even received scoldings from their parents afterward.

A wave of amusement spread throughout the hall, even Lara covered her mouth while laughing softly.

"That pressure creates resistance."

Ezra continued.

"And resistance increases the workload placed upon the Steam-Engine."

The diagram shifted.

Heat levels began increasing.

The engine glow intensified.

"The rougher the exterior...The greater the resistance...The greater the resistance...The harder the engine must work...The harder the engine works...The more heat it generates."

The audience followed every step.

The chain of logic became increasingly obvious.

"And eventually..."

Ezra paused.

The engine image turned red.

"The coolant begins struggling to keep up."

The projected temperature gauge rose sharply.

Then...

CLAP!

Ezra brought his hands together.

The sharp sound echoed throughout the hall.

Several audience members flinched.

"The Steam-Engine begins showing signs of overheating."

The holographic engine released steam.

Warning symbols appeared.

"And then..."

Ezra looked toward the crowd.

"...you refill the coolant."

A few carriage manufacturers suddenly looked uncomfortable.

Because they knew exactly how often customers complained about coolant consumption, but those complains were laid low from major news carrying it up.

Ezra calmly walked toward the Phantom Rolls.

His hand gently brushed across the smooth body.

"That is why I chose the smooth-body approach."

A faint smile appeared.

Small and subtle.

Yet visible.

That the audience immediately noticed.

"Because a smooth exterior allows airflow to travel naturally around the carriage."

The airflow diagram changed.

This time the wind flowed smoothly.

The resistance indicators dropped and the heat generation values lowered.

"Less resistance means less force is required to maintain speed."

His gaze moved toward the hidden exhaust vents.

"Which means lower fuel consumption, Reduced boiler strain, and Less wear on internal components."

The crowd became increasingly silent.

Not because they were bored.

But because they were now thinking.

Many of them had never considered the relationship between exterior design and mechanical performance.

At least not for Steam-Carriages.

Dirigibles already used similar principles.

Ships also benefited from streamlined designs.

Yet somehow...

Nobody had seriously applied the concept to land transport.

Several Scholars looked stunned.

Some Craftsmen visibly regretted not thinking of it themselves.

"Of course."

Ezra continued.

"We Britannians are fortunate."

He pointed toward an image of Britannia’s road network.

"Our roads are exceptionally well constructed."

The audience nodded proudly.

That was one achievement every Britannian respected.

"Which reduces many of the factors that could worsen this issue."

He paused.

"But..."

The word immediately regained everyone’s attention.

"Using this principle, I designed the Phantom Rolls with a smooth exterior."

The holographic model rotated.

The curves of the vehicle became visible from every angle.

"Which not only creates elegance..."

He pointed toward the carriage.

"...but also creates elegance during movement."

Several nobles visibly liked that statement.

After all...

A noble vehicle wasn’t only meant to look beautiful.

It also needed to move beautifully.

Ezra swiped toward the seventh slide.

A video immediately began playing.

The Phantom Rolls appeared on a road.

The crowd focused on the screen watching the vehicle accelerate smoothly, quietly and effortlessly through a road.

Gasps spread throughout the hall.

Even though it was only a recording, many people could see the difference.

The movement looked so fluid and natural.

The carriage seemed to cut through the air rather than fight against it.

The sound produced by the engine was noticeably softer than traditional Steam-Carriages.

"This is really amazing."

One of the Silver Wheels representatives blurted out without thinking.

His voice wasn’t quiet.

Several people nearby immediately turned toward him.

Yet nobody disagreed.

More whispers spread throughout the audience.

The live broadcast descended into complete chaos.

Comments flooded endlessly.

***

"I need one!"

Lex000

"Take my money!"

Stan22

"Mass produce it already!"

Joseph274

"This is the future!"

Steam_Carriage_Lover

***

Of course...

Only the families capable of affording such a vehicle could seriously make those statements.

"Now... for my final point."

Ezra swiped toward the last slide.

The holographic screen shifted smoothly.

The previous diagrams vanished one after another until only a single sentence remained floating behind him.

The entire hall gradually quieted.

Many people instinctively leaned forward.

Even those who had been busy taking notes stopped writing for a moment.

They wanted to hear how he intended to conclude his presentation.

"Elegance is not born solely from a carriage’s appearance..."

Ezra spoke calmly.

His voice wasn’t loud.

Yet after spending nearly an hour guiding everyone through his thought process, every person in the hall found themselves listening carefully.

The sentence appeared behind him in large glowing letters.

Several photographers immediately captured the moment.

"It is also born from how fluidly it moves through the wind."

Ezra allowed the words to settle.

The hall remained silent.

Many people found themselves unconsciously nodding.

After hearing the explanation regarding wind resistance and efficiency, the statement carried much more weight than it initially seemed.

A few scholars even hurriedly wrote it down.

Then...

Ezra paused.

His expression remained calm.

Almost blank.

Yet those who had been paying attention throughout the presentation could tell he was intentionally allowing the audience to digest everything he had explained.

Then he added one final line.

"Oh..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Subtle.

Barely noticeable, but it was there.

"And from the sound it makes."

The statement immediately drew laughter throughout the venue.

Not mocking laughter.

Appreciative laughter.

The kind that naturally appeared when a speaker ended with something memorable.

Many guests remembered the smooth and refined sound the Phantom Rolls had produced during its unveiling post.

The engine noise alone had already become one of the invention’s most discussed features across Skynet.

Then...

Ezra bowed.

"Thank you."

The moment those words left his mouth...

The hall exploded.

Thunderous applause erupted from every direction.

Cheers followed immediately after.

Some people even stood before realizing they had done so.

Others quickly followed.

Within moments, nearly the entire venue was on its feet.

The sound of clapping filled every corner of Glasco Palace.

Several nobles applauded openly.

Scholars nodded with approval.

Investors exchanged excited glances.

Representatives from major industries clapped while simultaneously calculating the potential value of the invention in their minds.

The live broadcast chat completely lost control.

Messages flooded upward so quickly that they became unreadable.

Ezra slowly straightened his body.

His dark eyes swept across the audience.

Then...

Following Lara’s training...

He offered a faint smile again.

Not too much.

Not too little.

Just enough to show appreciation.

He raised his hand and waved lightly toward the crowd.

The applause immediately intensified.

Many viewers watching through the Skynet took screenshots of the moment.

Several young noble ladies even covered their mouths while whispering excitedly among themselves.

Meanwhile...

On the second floor.

Several representatives from the Steam-Carriage industry wore complicated expressions.

Some were impressed.

Some were excited.

Some were worried.

And some were already calculating how much money the Phantom Rolls might take from their future sales.

"Wow."

Lara walked back onto the stage.

Her bright smile looked genuine.

Even she appeared impressed by how smoothly the presentation had unfolded.

"That was truly an incredible breakdown of how your invention came to be and why you chose smoothness as the foundation of its design."

She stopped beside Ezra.

The two stood near the Phantom Rolls while the applause gradually settled.

"I honestly learned quite a lot."

She placed a hand over her chest dramatically.

"For someone like me who spends most of her life riding around Britannia chasing the latest stories..."

She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye.

"...I finally understand why I spend so much money refilling coolant."

Laughter spread throughout the hall.

Many people immediately related to the complaint.

Even several nobles chuckled knowing how many times they have shouted at their drivers for being careless with the coolants.

After all, maintaining Steam-Carriages wasn’t cheap.

Lara allowed the laughter to settle before turning slightly toward the audience.

Then her smile became slightly mischievous.

"But..."

The single word immediately regained everyone’s attention.

She glanced toward the second floor.

More specifically...

Toward the representatives of the largest Steam-Carriage production companies.

Several of them immediately narrowed their eyes.

"Don’t you think your words might cause the value of present-day Steam-Carriages to decline?"

The question immediately caused murmurs throughout the venue.

Some investors exchanged glances.

Several business owners began discussing quietly.

The representatives of the carriage companies maintained composed expressions.

Yet many of them were already paying close attention.

Lara raised both hands.

"Now, don’t look at me like that."

She laughed lightly.

"I’m not a Craftsman."

She pointed at herself.

"Nor am I a Scholar."

She waved her hand dismissively.

"I don’t know much about Steam-Engines, metalworking, or invention development."

The crowd laughed again.

"But..."

She slowly turned facing the audience.

"I do know there are many people here who have been waiting patiently to ask certain questions."

Her eyes moved from one side of the hall to the other.

A smile remained on her face.

Immediately...

The atmosphere began changing.

The warmth left behind by the presentation slowly faded.

The excitement remained, but it was transforming into something else.

Something sharper.

Something more competitive.

Many Scholars adjusted their glasses.

Several Craftsmen sat straighter.

Investors folded their arms.

Merchants exchanged glances. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Even the nobles became more attentive.

Because everyone knew what came next.

Lara suddenly raised her voice.

"Yes, people!"

The entire hall focused on her.

"It’s time for the next program!"

The orchestra lowered its volume.

The lights subtly shifted.

The atmosphere became heavier.

Lara’s smile widened.

"The segment that has created fortunes..."

She paused.

"...and destroyed fortunes."

The crowd grew quieter.

"The segment that has increased the value of inventions..."

Another pause.

"...and shattered the value of inventions."

Several inventors seated among the audience unconsciously swallowed, even some experienced businessmen became serious.

Because this was where the true battle began.

The presentation was only the introduction.

What came after determined everything.

Lara raised her arm dramatically.

Her voice echoed throughout the venue.

"I would now like to commence..."

The audience held their breath.

"...the Scholar’s Bombardment!"

The hall erupted once again.

Cheers.

Applause.

Excited shouts.

Many people had specifically purchased tickets for this part alone.

Scholars eagerly adjusted their notes.

Craftsmen prepared questions.

Craft-Based Alchemists exchanged knowing smiles.

Investors sharpened their focus.

Merchants sat forward.

Everyone prepared themselves.

Because this was where brilliance would either stand firm...

Or collapse.

Ezra could feel their eyes.

Hundreds of gazes locked onto him simultaneously.

The feeling was almost physical.

Like countless wolves turning toward a single target.

Waiting.

Watching.

Searching for weakness.

Honestly...

After Ezra’s explanation, there weren’t many legitimate criticisms that could be aimed at the invention itself.

Even ordinary nobles could understand that much.

The logic was sound.

The presentation was clear.

The application was practical.

And the results were visible.

Yet...

The people gathered here weren’t ordinary people.

They were leaders of industries.

Masters of their fields.

Veteran Scholars.

Experienced Craftsmen.

Investors who had spent decades competing against one another.

Many of them had already made a decision before arriving.

The value of the Phantom Rolls couldn’t continue rising unchecked.

Not when its creator was still merely a Lowline member of a Duke Family.

Not when a thirteen-year-old boy was standing before them and threatening to reshape an entire industry.

Pride.

Greed.

Status.

Many reasons existed.

Some wanted cheaper access to the invention.

Some wanted leverage in future negotiations.

Some simply disliked the idea of a Lowline achieving such overwhelming success.

So, despite the applause.

Despite the praise.

Despite the admiration.

Ezra could feel their intentions.

They were coming.

Not with swords.

Not with bullets.

Not with bloodshed.

But with questions.

Questions designed to expose weaknesses.

Questions designed to create doubt.

Questions designed to lower value.

Questions designed to corner him.

This wasn’t a battlefield of blood.

Yet standing on this stage...

It felt strangely familiar.

Because this was still a battlefield.

Only this time...

The weapons were knowledge.

The ammunition was logic, and the battlefield was intelligence.

Ezra stared back at them.

His black eyes remained calm.

Expressionless and fearless.

The growing pressure surrounding the hall didn’t affect him.

The countless gazes didn’t affect him.

The hidden hostility didn’t affect him.

As usual.

He simply waited.