Chapter 50: Assembling a Car

The purchase of equipment itself did not waste much of Levi’s time—or rather, he had not spent any time at all.

“I hope I can buy some equipment, instruments, and materials needed to manufacture small devices like puppets.”

Levi directly presented his request to Uncle Hank.

Facing Levi’s straightforward demand, Uncle Hank was a little surprised.

“Just this? No other requests?”

“No. But it’s best to have everything in one go.”

“That’s not a problem……………”

Uncle Hank scratched his bald head, looked at Levi, then glanced at Irene.

“But about the price………”

“Price is not an issue.”

“Alright then.”

Seeing Levi agree so readily, Uncle Hank no longer hesitated.

“I’ll immediately send someone to handle it. At most one hour, and it’ll be done!”

After saying this, Uncle Hank turned and left.

Levi, feeling a little bored, began wandering around this massive shop-cum-factory.

Irene followed at his side, introducing the equipment to him—it was clear she was quite familiar with all of this.

As Irene explained, Levi also formed a rough concept of this era’s steam technology.

The steam engine of this world was the same as in Levi’s era, using steam as power (of course, that was obvious).

However, the source of steam power here was somewhat different.

In Levi’s world, steam engines used coal and water to generate steam, which drove machines.

But in this world, steam power came from a material called “Coal Essence.” According to Irene’s description, Levi felt that it was similar to coal, but its burning time and energy efficiency were hundreds of times—or even higher—than coal.

For example, those two-man-tall steam machines on the streets outside, resembling mechs—just one fingernail-sized piece of Coal Essence, together with a 1000-liter water tank, could generate enough power to last several days.

Of course, as times progressed and technology advanced, people also devised many methods to extend the running time of steam machinery and reduce consumption.

The most common method was the “Steam Storage Method,” which stored large amounts of steam in high-pressure tanks, then used these tanks to drive machines.

If the steam ran out, one only needed to refill at a gas station.

Most civilian vehicles and steam machines were powered this way.

If one didn’t want to waste time refilling, they could simply replace the tank—just like swapping out a battery.

Convenient and fast.

Of course, this wasn’t entirely without danger—once it exploded, the person sitting inside might experience a one-way, no-return high-altitude jump………

Still, compared with other dangerous flammable and explosive gases, it was relatively less prone to explosion.

“Hm?”

However, just as Levi circled around a dismantling machine being assembled and came to the other side of the factory, he saw something that looked a little familiar.

It was a four-wheeled steam car.

But unlike the steam cars Levi had ridden before, this one was much closer to the style of Levi’s original era.

Levi had already ridden several steam cars of this age.

They were certainly faster than horse-drawn carriages, and their stability was not bad either.

If Levi had to complain, it would be about their appearance.

Perhaps out of inertia, the steam cars of this world looked to Levi like someone had simply taken the head and first carriage of a steam train, shrunk it down, and slapped it together.

Naturally, this meant a chimney stood upright in the front.

And there lay the problem: sitting inside the car, with a chimney right in front of you—what could you possibly see?

Some steam cars solved this by placing the chimney to the side of the front, so as not to block the driver’s vision.

But……… once you opened the window, steam would gush straight into your face.

Not pleasant either.

But since steam cars in this world were all designed like that, Levi could do nothing about it.

This particular car, however, looked to Levi very much like a jeep from his own world.

Square, tall, with a broad body—and best of all, no chimney sticking out of the front.

It looked much more pleasing……… though it was not entirely exempt from convention, as its exhaust ports opened on both sides like the gills of a shark.

“Are you interested in it?”

While Levi was examining the car up and down, Uncle Hank’s voice came from the side.

Levi glanced at him and nodded.

“That’s right. I quite like this design. Is this the new model you intend to build?”

“Something like that. Although I’m confident I can solve these problems, I’m not sure whether such a car would be popular………”

At this, Uncle Hank looked a little embarrassed.

Irene giggled beside him.

“Uncle Hank is the best steam mechanic on this street—there’s nothing he can’t make!”

“Oh……………”

Levi stared at the steam car before him and thought for a moment.

“Can I go in and try it?”

“Of course, please.”

For such a wealthy-looking customer, Uncle Hank naturally would not refuse.

Levi quickly opened the door and sat inside.

Under Hank’s guidance, he tried a few operations.

Steam cars of this age were fairly simple—driving them was not much different from driving a tractor.

After some testing, Levi had a good grasp of it.

He stepped out of the car and looked toward Uncle Hank.

“Mr. Hank, I’d like to discuss a deal with you.”

“Please, Mr. Levi.”

“I hope you can build a car according to my requirements.”

Levi’s request left Uncle Hank somewhat surprised.

“According to your requirements………? Mr. Levi, you mean………”

“I don’t understand steam dynamics, so I can’t give you technical specifications……… Hmm, Irene, fetch me pen and paper.”

Irene quickly brought over writing tools.

Levi walked to the table and, with a few swift strokes, sketched something before handing the paper over.

“I want you to build a car with this shape.”

“This is………?”

Uncle Hank curiously took the paper from Levi—and immediately widened his eyes in shock!

No wonder—because the car drawn on the blueprint was something he had never seen before!

The cars of this world were all large and blocky, very much like miniaturized steam trains—probably because they evolved from them.

But the design Levi had drawn was flat!

Though Levi raised the chassis to account for road conditions here, to Uncle Hank, this strange form was utterly unconventional—beyond imagination!

If not for the four wheels on the drawing, he would have doubted whether it was even a steam car.

What Levi presented, of course, was a supercar from his own world.

Driving one had always been his dream.

Before falling ill and being hospitalized, one of his biggest wishes was to earn enough to buy a supercar.

Now, of course, real supercars could not be bought here—but with this world’s technology……… could one be assembled?

“This truly amazes me……… Mr. Levi………”

Uncle Hank carefully examined the blueprint, while Irene anxiously tried to peek, but at only average height she could not see over Uncle Hank’s 1.8-meter frame.

She could only hop impatiently on the side.

“You mean……… to build a steam car like this?”

“That’s right.”

“But where would the steam engine and gas tanks go? The front doesn’t seem to have any room.”

“Put them in the back, no?”

“And what about the exhaust chimney………”

“Can’t you run a few pipes and vent it from underneath?”

“Underneath?”

Naturally, Levi knew nothing of steam dynamics.

His knowledge of cars came only from playing racing games.

So all his requests were amateurish at best.

But he didn’t care—he only wanted a supercar built to his design.

The rest—that was for experts.

He was a detective, not a car maker.

Food, clothing, housing, and transportation were basic human needs.

Levi had solved the first three—now only transportation was left.

He certainly didn’t mind spending money to make life more comfortable.

Yet these broad, almost naïve suggestions only made Uncle Hank more and more excited.

If not for his smoke-blackened face, one might have even seen it glowing red.

What Levi said, though still far-fetched in this era, was to Uncle Hank like a door opening into an entirely new world!

Not doors that swung sideways—but doors that opened upward.

A flat, streamlined body.

A rear-mounted drive system and exhaust pipes………

The power problem could be solved with the latest steam engines and high-pressure tanks.

Technology was advancing—steam engines were becoming smaller, tanks were becoming larger.

Once the power issue was handled, the other challenges were not insurmountable.

And right now………

The more Uncle Hank thought, the more he felt—this could work!

Most importantly, this wasn’t his daydream—it was a commissioned order.

Which meant it would definitely sell!

“Can it be done?”

Seeing Uncle Hank fall silent, Levi curiously asked.

He was mentally prepared: if not, then stepping back to have an off-road vehicle made was acceptable……… Though supercars were truly a man’s dream, if the technology wasn’t there……… so be it.

“It can.”

Fortunately, Uncle Hank did not disappoint.

He nodded firmly.

“But this will cost a lot of money, since we’ll need to purchase the latest steam engine and pressure tanks, as well as conduct experiments………”

“How much.”

Levi didn’t want to hear the process—he skipped straight to the conclusion.

He wouldn’t understand anyway.

“……………Including the equipment you ordered earlier, it comes to 500 pounds. Because your requirements involve the newest technology, the price is rather steep………”

“No problem.”

Levi directly took out a punch card, placed it into Uncle Hank’s hand, and interrupted his rambling.

Uncle Hank stared at the citizen-numbered bank punch card, swallowing hard.

“You……… really decided just like that? You should know, this isn’t a small sum.

What if I ran off with your money………”

“You were recommended by Irene. I trust Irene.”

Levi glanced at the uneasy Irene.

During her time working for him, she had performed well, and he was satisfied with her.

“Besides, I am a detective.”

Levi put his top hat back on, looked Uncle Hank in the eye, and smiled faintly.

“I have some confidence in my professional abilities.”

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