Mystery: The New Dark Emperor Arrives

Chapter 537 The Earl’s Light
After hearing Hobert's question, Plant immediately said: "Many people have had such an idea, but no one has taken action because..."

At this time, the light bulb on the other side of the generator suddenly flashed and went out.

The president of the Technical University spread his hands and said with a smile: "It seems that this light bulb has not been blessed by the God of Steam and Machinery."

This is a joke about electricity in the scientific and technological world, because how long the current light bulbs can be used depends on luck. If you are lucky, they can be used for dozens of hours, but if you are not lucky, they will break down in a few minutes.

So professors joke about light bulbs that have short lifespans and are not blessed by the gods.

At this time, the light bulb is basically used as a test pen. During the test, the status of the current can be judged by observing whether the light bulb lights up.

As for the role of light bulb lighting, it is not well known to everyone. The only commercial orders for lighting functions are military flashlights.

Hobert also bought one, but it was only used once when he and Mr. Azik were exploring the ruins. Later, it broke after being left there for a while.

It's not that the light bulb doesn't work, it's that the flashlight is broken.

Plant continued what he had just said: "Because electricity doesn't have many uses, the telegraph machine is probably the biggest use, but it doesn't use much electricity."

"I have a good idea that can make every household use electricity." Hobert asked: "In this case, will it require huge power?"

Bolant was slightly startled: "Use it there."

"illumination."

Plant's immediate thought was: "Have you found a way to extend the life of a light bulb?"

"That's right, we still need to conduct a series of experiments."

"How long can it be extended?"

"800 hours is no problem."

Boland was slightly surprised: "According to our calculations, when electricity shines, it can produce a high temperature of more than 2000 degrees!"

Hobert smiled and said, "Of course I know!"

Boland thought about it before saying: "As a friend, I want to remind you that the electricity market is not big.

"Because light bulbs and batteries are very expensive, they are not affordable for ordinary people."

Audrey on the side also nodded slightly. She had heard of batteries that could be used in wireless telegraph machines. To her, batteries were not expensive.But ordinary people really don't spend money on this, and even nobles may not be willing to spend this money.

Hobert was not surprised that the principal had no concept of laying wires: "That's why I'm going to see the professor of materials science in a moment."

He added: "I need a large generator now, but I only understand the principle, but I can't apply it in a short time, so I need someone who can build a large generator!"

This is the reason why he generously donated the 5000 pounds. In this era, the speed of information dissemination is not as fast as in the AD era, and it may not be possible to recruit the needed talents for a year or two.

The best way is to use gold pounds to clear the way and let professional people recommend professional talents.

Of course Portland also knew that this was the reason why the earl was willing to donate the 5000. He thought for a while and said: "I have a student who is proficient in electricity and mechanics. He just resigned last year due to personal reasons and only returned to work last month. Start job hunting.”

Hobert asked: "Can you tell me the reason for your resignation?"

"Seriously ill."

Hobert once again felt the characteristics of this era: without experiencing extraordinary power of treatment, some diseases, including treatment and cultivation, would take a year or two.

For example, in tuberculosis, although Russell invented so many things, he did not "discover" antibiotics.

Therefore, many diseases will torture a person for several years. People who can recover have really defeated the disease!But most patients do not survive the pain.

In this era, there were many special therapies for the treatment of tuberculosis, such as "mountain therapy", which established tuberculosis hospitals on some moderately high mountains and used the cooler climate on the mountains to cool down patients who had fever all day long.

Of course, in the Kingdom of Feneport, there are basically no such problems. As long as you regularly go to the Church of the Mother Earth to pray or donate a sum of money to the church, the disease can be "miraculously cured."

Polandt promised to write to the student this afternoon and ask him to go to the Lord's Mansion for an interview.

After chatting for a while about electricity issues, Hobert and Audrey stood up to leave.

Then they came to the teaching building. When Hobert was on the front page twice before, his portrait was included in the newspaper, so many students recognized Hobert and greeted the Earl.

Hobert also responded to their greetings warmly and without any airs.

As for Audrey, the students were so amazed that they only dared to look at her secretly from the corner of their eyes and did not dare to look directly at her.

In a small conference room on the teaching floor, Hobert met Professor Isaac, who had an academic reputation in materials science.

The professor was not very tall, wore glasses, and looked very stern: "Hello, Earl Hobert, I heard that you want to invest in my research project?"

Unlike Poland's half-politician and half-scientist status, this professor is a relatively pure scholar, so he speaks more directly.

"Yes, I plan to invest 3000 pounds." Hobert didn't even ask what project the other party was studying.

Professor Isaac adjusted his glasses and took a serious look at the generous nobleman.

Generally, nobles and wealthy people would need him to explain for a long time when investing. He was ready to explain clearly how his research would be profitable, but before he even opened his mouth, the other party directly invested 3000 pounds.

He praised: "You are a count who understands the true value of science."

Hobert smiled and said, "Can we sit down and talk?"

"Please sit, please sit!"

After the assistant served coffee, Hobert got straight to the point: "In addition to investing in your research project, I also renovated a laboratory in my manor to study the use of tungsten."

"Ah, that's a lovely element." Isaac said with a doting look, as if talking about his own child: "Its melting point is as high as 3400 degrees, and it is very malleable."

At this point, he frowned and said: "But the uses of tungsten element are very limited. I have also imagined using it to make alloy materials, but it can only be used in certain places that require high temperature resistance, such as steel."

Many people have a misunderstanding. They always feel that people in the past were stupid. They have obviously met all the technical requirements of an invention, but that invention has not yet come out.

In fact, this is a "futurist effect". Often the stage when an invention is created from scratch is the most difficult, because people in the future have become accustomed to the existence of that invention and no longer feel the difficulty of creating something from scratch.

Hobert discussed this issue with his friends when he was in the AD era. It may just be that people a few hundred years later find it unreasonable for people in the 21st century. The controllable nuclear fusion system is clearly there, so why use fire? Power plants and hydroelectric plants?
"I thought of a good use, but I don't know if it can be successful at the moment, so I need some experiments." Hobert smiled: Yes, I "thought of it". Tungsten filament can be used to make electric lamp filaments. .

He added: "I hope to have an expert in materials science to help me complete this experiment, preferably someone who understands electricity."

"I have quite a few students who are looking for jobs." Isaac said, "I can write to two or three of them and ask them to come to the Earl's Mansion for interviews."

Relatively speaking, the demand for talents in materials science is relatively small at this time, and many of Isaac’s students can only switch careers to other areas of research after graduation.

Hobert nodded and added without delay: "I also hope to study more uses of natural rubber. Do you have any students who are proficient in this area of ​​research?"

Hobert unconsciously recalled the military flashlight he bought. After the flashlight broke, he took it apart and took a look and understood what was wrong: it was this extraordinary world that caused the flashlight to not light up.

First of all, the casing of the flashlight is made of wood. Although it has been waterproofed, in a humid environment like Backlund, the effect of simple waterproofing is very limited.

Secondly, Hobert discovered that the electrolyte casing of the battery was actually made of oilcloth!Some leaks and corrosion have occurred.

The reason why these structures look so strange is simply because there is no oil in this extraordinary world!
In the AD era where Hobert lived, the casings of flashlights and electrolytes could be made of plastic.

The relationship between oil and plastic is like wheat and flour.

The fundamental reason why the Northern Continent has completed the preliminary industrialization process but has yet to enter the second industrial revolution is that chemical materials have not kept up with the development of the times.

In fact, at the beginning of the second industrial revolution, oil played little role as a fuel.

If there is an internal combustion engine structure, most vehicles can be driven by electricity and do not necessarily require oil.

The huge role played by petroleum is actually in the chemical industry.

And because the chemical industry involves all walks of life, such as polyester, acrylic, cotton, etc., which are widely used in the textile industry, more than 90% of the ingredients come from petroleum.

They do not need to wait for flax and cotton to grow and mature, and can continue production.

To Hobert, who came from AD, this was all common sense.

But for a world that has never seen plastic, the first thing that inventors can think of is a wooden structure that has been waterproofed. The first thing that inventors can think of is a waterproof-treated wooden structure. They can also think of a container for holding electrolyte, which is also a special oilcloth that is acid-resistant and corrosion-resistant.

Hobert had long been aware of this, so his solution was to replace petroleum rubber and some plastics with natural rubber.

More than 100 years ago, Russell laid the first telegraph line between the northern and southern continents, which was a metal wire wrapped with natural rubber.

People in the modern Northern Continent, even the top scientific and technological scholars, have never imagined spreading wires all over the streets because the cost of materials is too high.

It's acceptable as a telegraph line, but as a wire in the streets, no one can afford such an upfront investment.

The key is that the production of natural rubber is only so much. Even if it can pay this huge cost, it is limited by the production of rubber, and it will take a long time to achieve large-scale laying.

Hobert didn't know if Russell had ever thought about using extraordinary power to increase the production of natural rubber, but considering that the Republic of Intis and the Kingdom of Feneport were at war for a long time and could not get help from the Church of the Mother Earth, he believed that Even if he had such an idea, it would be difficult to implement it.

For a moment, Hobert's thoughts drifted far away.

"I also think natural rubber should have a wider range of uses." Isaac smiled.

Isaac's words brought Hobert back to his senses: "You are a scientific worker with a long-term vision."

After chatting for a few more words, and after Isaac promised to write to a few students who were doing research on rubber, Hobert and Audrey left.

On the carriage back, Audrey smiled and said, "Hobert, you have already spent so much money on your business before it has officially started. Is the return on this business so generous?"

"It's not as rich as you think." Hobert smiled: "The reason why I invested so much money is because I have other more important purposes."

He has already decided that the light bulb produced by the factory will be called "Earl's Light"!
Hobert also prints a simple drawing of Earl Hobert on the wrapping paper of each light bulb, in order to make everyone associate it with it.

When people think of light bulbs, they think of Count Hobert, just as when Hobert thinks of light bulbs, they think of Edison.

Audrey was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "If you are short of funds, I can persuade my father to invest in you."

Originally, she planned to invest in Hobert herself, but today she discovered that the business investment made by Hobert seemed to be very huge, and the [-] to [-] gold pounds she could use might not have much effect.

If more than 3 gold pounds are used, authorization from her father is required.

Hobert smiled and said: "It's not needed yet, but sooner or later we will have to ask other nobles to invest together, but not now."

His current financial situation is still good and he is unlikely to be short of money in the future.

Inviting other nobles to invest is using part of the profits to tie up part of Backlund's political power. This will avoid the trouble caused by jealousy among some people.

But he has to wait, wait until he can build up the brand effect first, then he can always control the company with other shareholders.

On the way back, Audrey fell into deep thought again. She could feel that Hobert's current career might bring some changes in the future, but so far, she still didn't understand what Hobert wanted to do. .

Audrey looked out the car window, the evening mist once again covered the streets, and she understood another truth: Although I can judge the authenticity of Hobert's words and deeds, I still cannot complete the real "reading" "Heart", everyone's inner world is like a barrier. Without the other person's knowledge, I can't judge the other person's intention at all.

Suddenly, she felt that a lot of her potion had been digested.

……

Back at the Earl's Palace, Hobert received a letter from Elliot. The Balk family had decided on the steam engine they wanted to buy.

There was a list attached to the letter. They planned to buy 21 steam engines of various types at once. Hobert directly called Todd, who was staying for dinner, and asked him to give a low price. The total value of these machines was about 18000 pounds.

The price of each steam engine was a low price that even Upton could not get. Hobert added 200 pounds to each unit and sent the quotation to Elliot.

With Hobert's current savings, it doesn't matter whether he earns the 4200 pounds or not, but the Balk family's method of payment must be gold, and Hobert has to liquidate it, which will definitely incur certain fees.

If the Tudor family or the Strigoi wanted these steam engines, Hobert would ask them for at least 3 pounds!

Hobert also hopes to use the financial resources of the Balk family to develop a number of light industries in the southern continent, so it is better to allow them to have a certain amount of capital flow for new investments.Late at night, Hobert looked at the empty bedroom, still not used to this kind of bedroom.

He thought that since he was planning to go to Jeffrey's Territory tomorrow anyway, he might as well go there tonight and make out with Forsi. Maybe he would fall asleep soon after the make out.

So Hobert went to the bedroom of the Lord's Mansion in Jeffrey City through the "Traveler's Gate" that had placed the portal on Backlund's side at the Earl's Mansion.

Forsi was sleeping soundly at this time. Hobert got into the bed and kissed and caressed her, causing him to wake up with rosy cheeks.

The two were about to get down to business when Hobert's spirituality suddenly sensed danger!
He was slightly stunned, wrapped Forsi in a quilt, and used the "Traveler's Gate" to push her to Backlund.

Forsi stood in front of the door of the Earl's Mansion and was stunned for seven or eight seconds before she suddenly came back to her senses and realized that there was danger in Jeffrey's territory.

"lady!"

Forsi was about to reach out to grab the door handle when Dophes' butler's voice sounded.

The bedroom door opened without any wind, and Dophis stood at the door holding a candle: "You'd better not go back yet."

Forsi also immediately understood that she would be a burden to Hobert when she went back. She said anxiously: "Then, what should we do?"

"If the earl is not sure about solving the danger over there, he will come with you." Dophis analyzed calmly: "I will ask the maid to bring some tea and snacks. Please wait patiently."

Forsi wanted to say something else, but in the end she found that there seemed to be nothing she could do except wait.

……

The naked Hobert looked towards the corner: "Who are you?"

At this time, the monster in the oil painting hanging on the wall stepped out, but before it had time to curse, it was completely swallowed up by the tide of shadows.

There were no lights in the room, and Hobert felt that the corner over there was like a dark bottomless pit, as if it was darker than darkness, as if it could swallow all the light.

A sinister male voice in the shadow smiled and said, "How disappointing. Originally, I wanted to see the lord and his wife having fun in bed."

Then he added: "I didn't expect there to be such a powerful sealed object in your bedroom. Although the monster just now was very weak, I can feel that its ability is more than that."

Hobert did not go to get the clothes immediately, but moved to the bedside, picked up the gloves on the bedside table, put them on and said with a smile: "It seems you know a lot about Jeffrey collar!"

"Fortunately, we have been neighbors for a while after all."

Hobert put on his gloves very slowly, as if he was afraid of disturbing an enemy who was not sleeping very well: "Are you from the Aurora Society on the other side?"

"Yes."

"Are you here to retrieve the member of the Aurora Society who was captured by us?" Hobert pretended to smile lightly: "You are late. I had ordered his execution a few days ago!"

"I know, he's just a 'secret prayer'." The sinister voice said, "I came here for other reasons."

"What's the matter?" Hobert started to put on another glove.

"Kill Hobert and Fors and completely control the entire South Colson area." The other party said without emotion: "My original plan was to taste your wife in front of you first, and then Killing you slowly.

"Unexpectedly, you are already a 'Fallen Earl'."

Hobert frowned: A bunch of lunatics!Sure enough, they should all be killed.

Before Hobert could continue to delay, the other party said: "Are you wondering why I suddenly came to kill you? There are two reasons. The first is that sooner or later you will kill on the other side of the river after you are ready. , why not we take action first and catch you off guard.

"The second is because we got the news that you have become the real owner of this land. As long as we kill you, we can completely rule the South Colson area."

Hobert had both gloves on: "Wishful thinking!"

"Maybe." The other party seemed to laugh sinisterly and said: "I know that your gloves must be magical items, but don't you want to know why I haven't interrupted the process of putting on your gloves?"

As soon as the other party finished speaking, Hobert saw his knife suddenly pulled out from his cane and slashed at him.

Holbert dodged the attack from the black knife and vaguely saw a black figure holding the knife tightly.

He immediately realized that it was his own shadow!

And the enemy in the shadow is a "Black Knight"! The demigod of the "Secret Prayer" path!
If Hobert doesn't advance, tonight will be really dangerous.

Suddenly, figures moved around in the darkness, and Hobert seemed to be in a dark crowd.

At the same time, Hobert could feel that an extremely evil force was controlling this group of dark figures, and they all cast hostile glances at him.

There are two closer figures, like tentacles, wrapped around Hobert's legs, and more black figures are like pythons, wrapping towards Hobert, trying to wrap Hobert to death. Or you want to entangle Hobert and let the shadow hack Hobert to death with a knife!
"Connection!" Hobert finally took action. He strengthened the connection between himself and the shadow.

The shadow holding the knife suddenly stopped there, as if he was suddenly confused. He didn't know whether he was Hobert's shadow or whether he belonged to the darkness like those figures.

"Weaken!" Hobert's attack was very cautious because he still couldn't clearly feel the opponent's position.

This is a "shadowing" promotion. Before the "Black Knight"'s body takes action, opponents of the same level will find it difficult to detect the opponent's position.

Although it was in the darkness, those figures seemed to suddenly fade, and the power surrounding Hobert also weakened.

"Twisted!" Hobert suddenly twisted the distance between him and the bed, and the shadows wrapped around his legs were torn in half, and each turned into ordinary darkness.

Hobert grabbed his clothes with one hand and took out a "Lost Control Stone" from his pocket!
After becoming a demigod, Hobert can already make the "Out of Control Stone" work within a range of tens of meters, and he can also choose the target of attack so that he will no longer hurt his own people.

The enemy seemed to feel the danger of the "Out of Control Stone", and another black shadow appeared in the corner, which was the shadow of the "Black Knight".

A layer of viscous black objects immediately appeared in the entire room. These liquids seemed to be formed by extreme corruption. Even the tables and chairs that had long been lifeless had black spots on them.

However, these mucus did not appear on Hobert. Apparently the "Black Knight" was a little out of control and seemed to have forgotten that "the fallen Earl" also represented "fall".

When Hobert took the potion, the black mucus representing "corruption" had already entered his body, and such corrupted attacks could not harm him at all.

"Out of control!" Hobert threw the "Out of Control Stone", and the shadow of the "Black Knight" flew towards him, holding the "Out of Control Stone" tightly before it burst out with the power to make the extraordinary characteristics go out of control. The ground is wrapped.

Hobert was slightly startled. This was the first time he had seen such an operation!

But the shadow suddenly trembled violently, its size expanded rapidly, and some strange-shaped objects grew out of its body, including tentacles, sheep's hooves, and cow's heads.

Eventually he turned into a monster with eyes flashing with black fire!

As soon as it raised its head, it howled silently and destroyed all the furnishings in the bedroom.

This shadow is out of control!
……

Jeffrey City at this time, Special Operations Department.

There were figures flickering in the yard, but no one could be seen.

In the darkness, it seemed as if some force pushed the door open, and evil forces invaded the room.

Suddenly, a light came on in the room, and under the light there were more than a dozen black shadows on the ground.

As Angus loudly announced: "No shadows allowed here!"

The black figures clearly paused, as if they had encountered some resistance.

Angus's strength, however, was increasing rapidly.

The black shadow simply returned to his normal human form and started fighting with the surrounding Extraordinary members.

According to Captain Dunn's training, the Special Operations Department has someone on night duty every night, and among the people on night duty every day is an "astrologer."

The "astrologer" on duty tonight sensed the danger, and after confirming the divination, he woke up the other members.

Angus’s first thought was to protect the lord, but Dunn disagreed: “You can’t help much even if you go to support, but if Jeffrey City does not have any extraordinary power, many people will definitely be killed!
"If something like that happens, you have truly failed to live up to Hobert's expectations of you."

Angus and Helen thought of Hobert's usual words and deeds almost at the same time, and felt that Captain Dunn's words made sense, so they stayed.

After this delay, before we could prepare seriously, the enemy's attack had already begun, and the enemy was either Sequence 6 or Sequence 7, and they were very powerful.

Fortunately, after establishing a complete "Sealed Artifact Application Rules", Lord Hobert left three Level 3 Sealed Artifacts in the Special Operations Department.

Angus and Helen each took one piece, and the other piece was given to a Sequence 6. Under their leadership, the situation was quickly stabilized.

It even forced a "Rose Bishop" to tear apart one of his "hermit" companions and protect himself by detonating his companion's flesh and blood.

At this time, three figures came out of the shadows at the entrance of the courtyard. The leader was wearing a hooded bishop's robe with a cross and a hanging man embroidered on it.

Angus and Helen looked at each other. These three people were definitely Sequence 5!

……

In the military camp outside Jeffrey City, there were already 500 people in the military camp. After a day of training, snoring resounded throughout the camp, and only the guards were still patrolling seriously.

The shadow under the brazier suddenly lengthened and rushed towards a barracks.

Just when the shadow was about to enter the door, a blue magma sword fell from the sky and was inserted in front of the shadow.

Archibald and his "adjutants" came over here in a hurry: "It seems that I have one more adjutant from the 'Secret Prayer' path."

He smiled and said: "Okay, come out, your positions have already been exposed!"

"Shading" cannot hide spiritual threads.

The "shepherd" who led the team was slightly startled. According to the information they obtained, shouldn't there be only some "low-sequence" Beyonders in the military camp?No matter how it seems, the momentum of the several staff officers is not weak.

Just when the "Shepherd" was wondering, one of the "Advisors" was surrounded by a light like the morning sun, and then a morning sword appeared in his hand, and he slashed at the "Shepherd".

"Shepherd" was about to dodge, but his movements suddenly became stiff.

……

In the lord's mansion, the hide-and-seek between Hobert and the "Black Knight" continues.

The "Black Knight"'s previous words sounded very crazy, but when he started fighting, he seemed to be very cautious and had been secretly observing Hobert.

In fact, if Hobert had such ability, he would also carefully observe his opponent before making a targeted attack plan.

Hobert had already understood the other party's thoughts, so his core abilities were not used. He did not even lift the seals of the two sealed objects.

If the opponent is forced out without using all his strength, then Hobert will win in this game.

If the "Black Knight" understands Hobert's reality in the next response, then the "Black Knight" will win.

But what the "Black Knight" doesn't know is that his hope of victory is slim, because the "Fallen Earl" in front of him is still the "creator". If he sees this, I believe he will be completely desperate!
Hobert dodges the attack of the "Black Knight" shadow. The shadow absorbs the power of the surrounding darkness and is getting bigger and bigger. Hobert can even feel the madness overflowing from the opponent!

Its most powerful attack is "Fall", but unfortunately it doesn't work on Hobert.

"Connection!" Seeing that the shadow was almost out of control, Hobert promptly strengthened the connection between the shadow and the "Black Knight" to see if he could transfer its out-of-control and madness to the main body.

wow~
There was a sound from the roof, and it turned out that the other party was not in the room at all.

The "Black Knight" had cut off the connection with his shadow just now, but now the faint sense of madness and loss of control coming from the shadow made him inadvertently expose his whereabouts.

"Zoom in!" Hobert, who had been waiting for a long time, finally took action. He jumped up and "zoomed in" his slap, causing half of the roof to fly off.

Then, Hobert "distorted" gravity, suspended in mid-air, and roughly determined the location of the "Black Knight": "Arrogance!"

Now "arrogance" is a ranged ability. In the darkness, a group of shadows suddenly surged, forming a figure that seemed to be covered in black armor. His two arms suddenly turned into long blades, heading towards Hobo. Specially cut.

"You lost!" Hobert smiled: "Chaos!"

　Yesterday I had more than an hour of writing time than expected, so I wrote more than 2000 words (*￣︶￣)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)