Chapter 389: Safety Measure
Jayden and Martin had already unloaded the balloon from the carriage. They spread it out and began inflating it with bellows.
It was a long process. Half an hour later, the balloon stood upright.
Then they heated the air inside.
As the air grew hotter, the balloon slowly lifted off the ground.
"It’s flying! It’s flying!" The ministers cheered excitedly.
Hughes remained calm, but even he was surprised to see such a huge object rise.
Alaric tried to keep his dignity, but everyone saw how shocked he was.
Then an even more shocking moment: Jayden and Martin climbed into the balloon. When soldiers released the ropes, the balloon began to rise.
"Simon, this balloon is amazing! Can I ride it too?" Alaric asked excitedly.
"No, Father. The balloon might fall. Without safety measures, I can’t risk your life." Simon said quickly.
Jayden and Martin’s courage was remarkable. Others didn’t know the risks, but Simon and his Oxford Academy classmates did.
"Fall?!" Before Simon could answer, Lancet suddenly shouted. He had ridden a hot air balloon before, and the warning made everyone sweat.
Alaric’s face was a mix of awe and worry. Today’s demonstration was impressive; one weapon was inaccurate, the other risky.
Though amazing, their practical battlefield use remained uncertain.
Seeing Lancet’s shocked face, Simon smiled and said. "Father, want to buy a hot air balloon for fun? If handled well, it won’t explode. It’s also good for scouting before battle."
"Right. Your Majesty, we placed lots of grass under the balloon. Even if it falls from thirty steps high, it should be fine." Lancet said. Despite being scared, he was tempted by the balloon’s battlefield reconnaissance use.
Alaric hesitated, then looked at Simon’s sly face and asked. "How much silver for one balloon?"
"Father, it’s not expensive: one hundred thousand caps. I can also train balloon operators for you." Simon said.
The balloon’s design was simple and cost less than three thousand caps to make. Simon was charging a high price.
He realized it was better to put the court’s silver into his own pocket than let corrupt officials pocket it.
"One hundred thousand?" Alaric hesitated.
Simon continued. "Father, after I prepare safety gear, you can try riding the balloon yourself and decide if it’s worth it."
He then told Liam. "Get the spring mats ready."
"Yes, Your Highness," Liam replied and brought out several small spring mats stacked together.
Brambleford could produce spring steel, so making springs was easy. For safety, they made spring mats like sofas, with wood blocks pressing the springs, and cushions on top.
When Liam set it up, Simon jumped onto the mats. When he landed, the mats bounced him up again.
"What, what magic is this?!" The ministers exploded in surprise.
To them, Simon had jumped and then magically bounced up, like a ghost.
Alaric’s face turned serious.
Seeing their shock, Simon said. "Don’t be surprised. This is just springs."
He lifted part of the mats to show the ministers.
At that moment, Jayden and Martin controlled the hot air balloon. Simon stopped explaining springs and invited Alaric to climb the balloon.
Together they rose higher, Eldora’s scenery gradually coming into view.
Alaric felt scared but excited. Seeing the city calm and wide, he began to relax.
Simon took the chance to ask. "Father, how is it? Is the balloon worth buying?"
"Yes! Buy it!" Alaric laughed heartily.
A giant hot air balloon slowly rose above the castle.
Standing on the balloon, Emperor Alaric relaxed as he looked through a telescope over Eldora, like a fierce tiger patrolling his territory.
"Father, if you buy this balloon, you won’t regret it. It can scout and watch over the whole city from high above. And if there’s danger, you can escape by balloon. One hundred thousand caps is really cheap." Simon kept persuading.
Alaric had already been tempted, and now Simon’s words made him more determined.
"You’ll return to Brambleford after your wedding. Then I’ll send you the silver. But you must train operators to control the balloon." The Emperor said.
"Father, you can rest easy about that." Simon smiled secretly. "By the way, does the army need balloons?"
"Of course. Give one to my left and right guards; they’re my personal protectors. Also, how much does each musket cost?" Alaric asked directly, raising all questions at once.
"The muskets are cheap, one hundred caps each," Simon replied. He didn’t dare ask for a higher price since muskets were needed in much larger quantities than cannons. By his calculations, making one matchlock musket cost about six caps of silver. Unlike flintlocks, matchlocks were simple tubes without complex firing mechanisms. A hundred caps was already a high price, a greedy merchant’s price.
"So five thousand muskets cost five hundred thousand caps." Alaric frowned, thinking about cannon and musket materials. One cannon could produce over a hundred muskets.
The musket price should be closer to thirty or forty caps, so Simon was definitely marking up the price.
Although aware, Alaric wasn’t going to haggle. "One hundred caps it is. Buy five thousand first. If they work well, we’ll buy more."
Simon was very happy. "Father, that’s just the musket price, not including ammunition."
"I understand. Isn’t that how your cannons are priced?" Alaric’s eyes shone. Suddenly, he said. "Your price is high, but I accept it. Do you know why?"
Simon was surprised. He expected the Emperor to bargain down to around forty caps.
"Father, you are wise and see through everything. I’m ashamed." Simon said humbly.
Looking over Eldora’s bustling scene, Alaric said. "Because of your merits, from today on, I no longer have to pay tribute to the northern tribes.Those yearly millions of caps of silver are better spent on you."
Simon suddenly understood the Emperor’s thoughts and smiled.
"Father, your insight is admirable," Simon said happily. "As long as you support me, I guarantee no tribe will cross Snake Pass again. And if the tribes dare attack the Ravencrest Region, I will lead cavalry to cut off their supplies."
"Good. That’s exactly what I want. You’re the only one who can fight the tribes head-on. With strong forces at Snake Pass, the tribes dare not move. Simon, the empire’s safety rests on you. Whatever you want, as long as it’s not too much, I’ll give it to you. Just don’t let me down." Alaric said earnestly. This was his true feeling now.
He was old and worn out, wanting only a peaceful rest of life, no more upheavals.
"I promise, Father. I will protect the Eldorian Empire thoroughly." Simon said, secretly rejoicing. The Emperor’s words meant he was officially the favored court insider; he could ask for almost anything.
Alaric nodded with satisfaction and continued. "The Castle Gate has traced the assassin’s link to merchants from Lionel’s domain, Ohare merchants. The answers are only two: either the Second Prince did it, or the tribes conspired with the Ohare merchants. The investigation is ongoing and will soon reveal the truth."