Chapter 109: Automobile
Most of the purchases of concrete came from businesses that dealt with construction. Those companies bought concrete in bulk, requesting houses full of concrete liquid for their own use.
However, even the normal farmer or business owner wanted to buy some concrete as well.
With how easy and fast construction could be using concrete, the farmers could build shacks and barns by themselves and waste no money having them constructed by someone else. Meanwhile, businessmen immediately reserved a batch for themselves as well because concrete could allow them to expand their companies faster and cheaper.
"When can we expect the order of our concrete?"
"I need it this month!"
"We'll pick them up ourselves. Where is your warehouse located?"
Castelle addressed their concerns with a smile.
"Do not worry, dear customers. If you order a batch of concrete today, then we will deliver your batch directly to your location!" she said with confidence in her voice.
This left the crowd confused and wondering how that would be possible.
But just then, they suddenly heard a rumbling sound coming from the road to the walls.
Everyone's eyes widened as they saw box-like vehicles running through the streets without a single horse pushing them forward!
The horse carriages strolling through the streets couldn't help but stand aside as the automobiles rolled past them, startling the horses into submission.
"What are those?!"
"They look like carriages, but it's too different…"
"Is it using magic to move?!"
Castelle waited as the first line of automobile trucks stopped right in front of the Reborn company office, making the crowd of spectators move backward to make way for these strange vehicles.
Finally, the HobMankeys and the Dwarves stepped out of the vehicles and started to unload the main ingredients of the concrete, mainly cement, sand, and aggregates into their storage warehouse behind the office.
To store concrete for a long time, it was better to let it remain in its powder form and only mix it once it was needed.
Castelle then began to instruct the Rebornians to deliver the batch of concrete to the customer's direct location, delivering it all over Kingsbridge City.
This little stunt was like hitting two birds with one stone. For one, they were showing everyone how fast they could deliver cement anywhere they wanted. And second, they were showcasing the full use of automobiles, creating a lot of intrigue and curiosity as the cars drove all around the city.
And the best part was that this was happening all over the territories in the Kings region. Whether they be a small village in the countryside or a big city nearer the Queens region, every Reborn office showcased both their new products: the concrete and the automobiles.
Castelle didn't even have to catch the attention of customers. They willingly entered their offices to ask about the strange horseless carriages that they used to deliver concrete all over the City.
Once it was spread out that the cars needed no magic nor horses to work, it gathered a lot of gossip and conversations about the Reborn company's newest inventions.
But perhaps, things picked up only when people realized how fast automobiles were compared to horse carriages.
For example, soon after automobiles were introduced into the City, Castelle immediately started a service that allowed people to hitch a ride to a faraway place, just like how long-ride carriages were used to shuttle a lot of people out of the territory.
"You're saying we can ride in this strange vehicle and it will take us to Grass Valley?" the peddler asked.
"Yes, that is right. Would you like to buy a ticket? The bus automobile leaves in about 2 hours," a female HobMankeys said, looking at the watch on her wrist.
This kind of service wasn't strange because there were a lot of horse carriages that offered the same service. However, this 'automobile' was no ordinary carriage.
He and plenty of other peddlers and wanderers got curious about this new horseless carriage and bought a ticket.
After two hours, the HobMankey driver started the engine, startling the passengers onboard.
As the car started moving, the peddlers noticed that the automobile was much smoother than a normal carriage, with the bonus of it being a lot faster.
At this pace, the normal four-day journey towards Grass Valley would only take about three and a half days.
But, when they finally left the walls of Kingsbridge City, the automobile suddenly started speeding up!
Now that they were on the flat concrete roads that the Reborn company made, the HobMankey driver could finally bring out the 'beast' in the automobile's engine.
"Hey! Hey! What is this?!"
"We're going to crash!"
"I feel like a cannonball!"
The passengers were terrified. But as they traveled through the flat roads, they suddenly realized that it didn't even seem like they were riding a carriage at all. If they closed their eyes, they wouldn't even know that they were moving!
"What… we're so fast…"
"Look! That's Grass Valley on the horizon!"
"That's impossible! We haven't even traveled for one day!"
The peddlers were awestruck once they finally arrived at the Grass Valley village.
They traveled so fast that they weren't sure if this was even the right place.
But as they entered the valley, they were met with the same herb market that the Grass Valley was so famous for.
They saw turmeric being sold on markets. This piece of herb was cheap here but expensive in Kingsbridge City because of how long the travel was between the two territories.
But now, they could buy turmeric and go back to Kingsbridge in just under two days!
The peddlers quickly bought all the precious herbs they could carry and left the Grass Valley village market.
Once they walked to the outskirts of the village, they saw a line of Reborn automobiles parked alongside the walls, ready to journey out as soon as possible.
"Hello, would you like to purchase a ticket back to Kingsbridge City? The next bus leaves in another hour!" the female HobMankey asked with a smile on her face.