Chapter 113

Chapter 113

Restraint

Fortunately they only murmured from a far distance, novel-like matters of suddenly crowding and running didn't occur.

Just the words like 'cool' 'handsome', 'even if fainting good so want to talk once' faintly heard by the ears were unbearably cringy.

Somehow still lacking immunity to direct praise received from the opposite sex that talk.

"Hehe, the young friend is making a very troubled expression."

A quite hoarse voice was heard from my back side.

A voice I was hearing for the first time. But Mr. Edison seemed to know the owner of the voice.

He rubbed the swollen eyes with alcohol, then suddenly brightened and spread both arms and welcomed the new visitor.

"Ah, Teacher Thomson!"

"Is it Mr. Edison. My two eyes old and dim so by any chance saw a person wrong, but fortunately still seems fine."

Thomson? Who?

He was a very wrinkled and aged old man with slightly bent waist.

At a glance almost close to 90 years old, white-haired old man seeming hard to walk without a cane.

Considering people of the current era look over ten years older in appearance age than modern people, actually around 70 to 80 years old. That also longest life by current standards.

Seemed not seen in the Throne Room, came late even to the party hall?

"I'll introduce. Well might know this friend is the protagonist of today's party, Jean-Paul Durand. And this person is the former Royal Society president and natural philosophy professor of Glasgow University Teacher William Thomson. Uh, hmm, but Teacher also clearly title..."

"My title isn't particularly important. Does an American remember even other country's titles one by one? No need to even recall. But Sir Durand, you can know me as baron. Baron Kelvin."

Kelvin? Something a familiar word? Where did I hear? But I only know absolute temperature if Kelvin?

"By the way Mr. Edison, why are you here? Heard by rumor the sound of coming to London for business then fled as if chased. How did your direct current business turn out? Cheered but regrettable. I also have interest in direct current rather than alternating current."

"Ah, Teacher. That I folded now. Now interest arose in other matters."

"Interest?"

"Well... Jean, by any chance okay to tell Teacher this? Teacher Thomson is a renowned mathematician and physicist. Might add precious ideas to our research."

Mr. Edison glanced at my side and asked for permission.

"No relation. Anyway after today the existence seems will be widely known. Anyway doing a tasting too, right?"

Don't know what Chairman Balfour is plotting, but seeing saying will hold a draft beer tasting with the refrigerator at a place so many people gather, might be intending to put one line of article that a Briton in Britain invented the world's first electric refrigeration machine.

The fact that the one who invented the refrigerator is American, production also done in America, and the place airlifted also America isn't a particularly important problem.

I initially thought of fighting J.P. Morgan with patent rights, but if the country openly decides to tear and take such things honestly have no meaning.

No records so manipulating production and research dates is enough. And laundering the two people as dual nationals and insisting British through diplomatic lines is also honestly an easy matter, right.

Moreover thinking the original idea of this machine was also me, and the one who invested funds and helped is Sir Crookes not even no share at all.

Until now an era where the logic of power is absolute.

No matter the British Empire is gradually a setting sun, not an opponent a 2nd rate country like the United States can covet.

The situation was completely different from the old independence war. Current America has no proper ocean navy, no large standing army like modern, naturally the majesty of the thousand trillion country not yet revealed state.

If waging a dispute with Britain as is now, the side that collapses at once would naturally be America.

If having the heart to bluff up to there.

“Good, then Teacher Thomson. First there's something to show. Jean, no now Sir Durand, right? Since the party hasn't fully started yet let's Sir Durand also briefly go together. Curious whether real ice freezes there, right. Teacher, probably if seeing the invention I brought will be surprised."

"Don't know what so saying such words but interest slightly rises. Only don't walk fast. If age comes joints not good so putting walking speed fast is a bit hard."

* * *

We slowly moved steps to the palace kitchen Mr. Edison said finished installing the refrigerator.

And there, faced figures not particularly unexpected.

People who disappeared ghost-like as soon as the investiture ended.

Wondering where went, gathered right in front of the refrigerator and separately holding a 2nd drinking party!

No, when did everyone receive the hint and crowd?!

And that not one or two but officers, knights, marquesses, dukes even surrounding my refrigerator in threes and fives and in fierce discussion!

“Good! This time cognac! Let's take out cognac! Warm cognac and cold cognac, let's compare which more delicious!”

“Brandy! Make white burgundy wine cool and give! That best for my taste!”

“Kha! This scotch whiskey, drinking cold the smoky aroma spreading at the end amazing! Put other bottles too and take out after 30 minutes!”

Wasn't this originally said draft beer tasting?! The alcohol bottles in hands aren't draft beer?

And they as soon as I approached like some zombie horde feeling presence, all at once turned heads sharply.

"Durand! It's Sir Durand! Sir Durand! Have words! Very urgent matter!"

"Sir Durand! This machine! This machine on earth when sold?! Chairman Balfour said definitely ask Sir Durand!"

"Please sell to me first! Said scheduled price 15 pounds? I'll give ten times that! Or even hand over my villa in Belgravia. Sell to me first!"

On earth what seal did Chairman Balfour release?!

Drunkards who opened eyes to the taste of alcohol coldly frozen through the refrigerator, no, freezer crowded around me wailing!

Thud!

And at the same time Baron Kelvin's cane rolled on the floor. As soon as seeing the refrigerator dropped from the hand.

"T-this... Everyone briefly, briefly step aside! Have to see that machine a bit closer!"

"Oh?!"

The old professor who panted and pushed people and approached in front of the refrigerator, grabbed the cold metal surface of the refrigerator with both hands.

"Electricity! Motor sound turning with electricity is heard! This, this really implementable with current era technology...?!"

"Teacher Thomson."

"Mr. Edison! Quickly, quickly charge my knowledge desire! And give the answer I want! This, yes, is it correct that the second law of thermodynamics I advocated is realized here!"

Second law of thermodynamics? Isn't that entropy talk?! The person who made that was this grandfather?!

"Yes, so. Teacher. I also half doubted, but according to Tesla's opinion this is a device that moves heat from low temperature to high temperature. And that using electricity compressing and expanding refrigerant and moving heat. The important is that it's small."

"So. Hehe, yes, from the time I thoroughly researched electric energy I publicly said someday such a future might come out. But before I die... absolutely... a future technology that won't be realized that guaranteed."

"Luck was good. And everything is thanks to Sir Durand here. If not the drawing this friend first drew wouldn't have even imagined the structure."

The old professor's eyes rapidly reddened.

And he approached me and tightly held both hands.

“Thank you, Sir Durand! Thanks to you can confirm the fruit of my research with eyes and leave. If only having this technology various experiments I dreamed will become possible! This refrigerator, when about commercialization? Sorry but my age is age so want to experiment quickly! Various inspirations are vigorously rising!”

"Ugh..."

The old man's eyes that started burning with passion again!

I didn't even think would receive this kind of mental attack.

Just chased curious whether ice freezes in the real refrigerator?

How should I answer? Eyes too burdensome?!

“Uhm, well... If long seems will take about a month—”

"One month! Said one month! By any chance receiving reservations?!"

"Sir Durand! Investment! I'll invest! If anything I'll hand over the factory building I'm using whole!"

"By any chance can't shorten the deadline more?! I want to have this machine that talk! By any chance is there any interferer? I'll clear with the honor of the duke family so definitely inform! Only put me as the top priority..."

Shouldn't have mentioned the date!

No way my voice wouldn't be heard in the narrow room! The drunkards who heard those words started pressing me like a swarm of bees!

But what I can do was actually nothing.

Mass production and production speed solely depended on Mr. Royce of the workshop's hands, and sales also a matter the Edison-Tesla Refrigerator Limited Company does on its own.

Roughly considering Mr. Royce's work passion, just guessed would somehow cut in one month.

And Baron Kelvin who caused this incident, as if nothing happened completely ignored this side and started continuing the discussion about the refrigerator again.

"...Mr. Edison. This cooling device's indoor temperature seems to quickly go back and forth below zero. Efficiency very good. By any chance thought of other direction utilization?"

"What words, Teacher?"

“If opening the door cool wind comes out, right? Then if placing this machine in the room and circulating air can cool the indoor constantly that thought... If combining with the fan of the electric fan might be possible...”

"Fan words? Thinking about it there's a strange device called 'ventilation fan' at Sir Durand that friend's restaurant. Besides electric fan if applying that once..."

"Then that would become a kind of 'electric air conditioner'... If showing the design drawing I... And by any chance do you know the friend called Joseph John Thomson the physics professor of Cambridge? I'll introduce him..."

These people really?!

Nothing one can receive help from them immersed in research.

I spat the promise of contacting first if the sales plan is organized, then barely could escape from these refrigerator hooligans.

* * *

In the end returned to the party hall again.

But here also mountain beyond mountain.

While I briefly went to the kitchen the entire wide hall filled with invited guests, receiving the congratulatory greetings they hand one by one was also a very tiring matter.

If completely unknown people just face ignore, but in London too many celebrities one can't pretend not to know!

But from here the front line area with no more place to flee.

No good method to escape this situation?

While quickly scanning the visible space, strangely an area with one side open caught the eye.

Found. There is exactly my refuge.

I hurried steps that way and soon discovered a familiar face.

"You, why the expression?"

"Continuously tormented by people..."

"Oh dear. Still not used to. Cheer up."

And plopped down in front of Chairman Balfour.

Usually a chairman famous as a scary person, so at times like this also a helpful side.

First no one thinks of approaching around. That also means if only sticking well next to the chairman today no more people who can bother me.

The chairman took out one pipe from the bosom.

"Will you smoke even tobacco? A good item from Mexico."

"Tobacco not learned yet. No particular thought of learning either."

I shook my head.

"Regrettable. Nothing that relieves mood as much as this."

The chairman bit the pipe and sucked one puff, slowly exhaled smoke.

And I suddenly noticed the table he is sitting is quite different from others.

There no alcohol either, only one glass of bitter taste coffee he dislikes even putting in the mouth full poured.

"Chairman."

"Hmm?"

"This is just asking opinion."

"Hmm."

"Britons directly brew coffee beans and drink, right? Using things like French press."

"So."

“By any chance how about compressing only the essence of coffee with high pressure and making very small? An item that mixing with sweet drink and drinking only one sip brings the effect of drinking one cup of coffee. Can it gain popularity?”

The chairman slightly raised the eyebrows.

"You now coveting even the coffee area?"

"No well just curious."

In fact said thinking of the espresso machine.

Waited a long time wanting to drink Americano but still the machine not invented! Lazy Italian guys!

If the freezer becomes popular and one can obtain clean ice anywhere the drink market might also change greatly. Even if bothersome to do directly can dump idea degree, right.

"Well... I'll tell my opinion. Seems fun, but doesn't seem my taste."

"So."

Honestly speaking spat any sound because no talk to do with the chairman.

Smoking tobacco but not drinking coffee or alcohol should say excellent restraint?

Hmm, but if iced cafe latte degree the chairman also seems will be conquered.

Strange a workaholic not drinking coffee? If only improving that bitter taste fine, right?

"Have talk for you. This okay to see as top secret. A matter decided just now."

The workaholic long exhaled tobacco smoke from the mouth.

"We decided to give up Africa."

That moment my change degree exploded.