The Coffee Shop in a Different World Station

Two familiar people surrounded the table in a private room on the second floor of the coffee shop, the swordfish.

What is spread over it is a large drawing.

Both of them have wrinkles between their eyebrows, dropping their gaze on the drawing with a difficult look.

Then the sound of a ton of tongues and three knocks echoed in the room.

"Thank you for waiting. We've got your order of cinnamon coffee."

"Oh, this is hard work. Can you bring it over here?

Takumi bows her head to the words of an old man who accumulates a white beard in his mouth.

And I lined up a coffee cup in front of them, taking care that the drawings placed in the center of the table didn't get dirty.

The seductive fragrance rising from the coffee tickled the nostrils, soothing the hearts of the two who were showing a harsh look.

The two, who signaled silently with their eyes, took a long, fuzzy breath before taking a cup in each of them.

"As always, Takumi's coffee is excellent. It's so delicious today."

"Dear Sophia, I'm always afraid with excessive words. Thank you."

It was Sophia, the station manager and the young female banker (bunker), who was the chief of the station building, who was gathered on the second floor of the "swordfish".

The "station manager" urges Takumi to take a seat standing still with the tray in his hand.

"Now if you'll excuse me. I need to talk to you about something..."

"Uhm. Lord Sophia, can you explain?

Sophia, prompted by the “station manager," nods and opens her mouth.

"Well, you've already heard about the construction in front of the station square, haven't you?

"Yeah,“ the station manager said. Were we talking about making it serviceable and easier to use because it's getting a little narrow?

"Yes, yes. So, with that construction, there's one thing I'm trying to do... could I have a look at this drawing for a second?

Sophia said so, showing with her hands the drawings that were spreading on the table.

When Takumi looked again, it was a map detailing the whole of the city (Harpertown).

This map, delicately painted with roads, buildings, etc., is marked red by the way.

The first thing that catches my eye is the red square frame, which is written heavily on the portside.

Takumi, who knew where this frame was pointing, throws a question.

"Surely this is near the ice mill you're looking after, isn't it?

"Right. The ice mill will be here. So, this frame is where the new factory is being built. Hey, what factory do you think it is?

"That's right...... you just have no idea without a hint. Thank you."

Takumi surrenders with her hands up with a gentle bitter laugh.

Was that trick funny, Sophia holding her mouth and laughing off couscous?

"All the time, I'm sorry. That's the same thing, right? You don't know without a hint, do you? Tip, then. What you make here will be carried through the tubes you lay at this red line. Can you tell now?

The red line leading from the location of the new plant ran from Portside to the front of the station building to Spring Hills, a hot spring, via Central Street, trying to convey the boulevard.

Apparently this is what Sophia calls a 'tube'.

And by the red line, the potpouts and dots are struck.

I'm sure this is a tip too.

Takumi opened her mouth with a potpourri as she laid her hand on her chin and dropped her gaze on the map.

"Could this be... a gas pipe?

"How do you know already?!? Takumi, hey thats too awesome!! I mean, you used to know gas pipes!

Sophia gets to the right answer lightly and rounds her eyes.

Takumi began to explain why, even though she wondered if it had gotten inside her...

"There have been several“ gas lights ”topics in recent newspapers, so I thought maybe. I never dreamed I'd get it right."

"That's what happened. But it's great. That's Takumi."

"I am afraid. By the way, does being passed through a gas pipe mean that this one will have a gas factory built?

Takumi speaking while directing the earlier red frame.

To the words, I opened my mouth thinking that Sophia was um.

"I wonder if you're half right... It's a steam coal (coke) factory that makes it here. Recently, there have been a lot of factories in this area, so I need a factory to take on the supply of steamed coal to use there."

"I see. You did get gas when you make steamed coal, didn't you?

Takumi was recalling the explanation she received when working in the station building.

Steamed coal is used to steam coal to remove impurities and increase combustion efficiency.

It is also the most popular fuel in this world, such as being used around Takumi as a fuel for steam locomotives and station building heating.

And it is the flammable gas that arises as a by-product when making steamed coal.

Recent technological developments have gradually led to the use of lamps with this flammable gas —— gas lamps -- in this world.

According to information available from newspapers, gas pipe networks are already under way from urban areas like Roses City, lighting the city at night from boulevards and downtown areas where people gather.

"Exactly. If we're gonna get gas anyway, why don't we take advantage of that? There weren't any gas lights in this city yet, so I thought I'd start by arranging gas lights at people's gatherings and let everyone know."

"I see. Gas lights will certainly be rare in this city, and more importantly, you can reduce the danger if you can light up the night lanes. I think it's a good plan."

"Right? Besides, when I was talking to Mr. Liberto, I was talking about a new gas lamp being developed in that country. It's many times brighter than before, and the flames don't get up, so it's much safer. I'm just saying, if we could just make it a little smaller, we could use it indoors."

"That's great. I'd love to use it in this station building once it's practical."

To Takumi's reply, Sofia that shines her eyes.

I continued my words, happily playing my voice.

"Actually, I was just talking to Mr. Liberto about whether he could use it here, too. Look, the station building, this shop, it's got a lot of customers, right? I think if you could use a new gas light like that, you'd know how convenient this is."

"I think it makes sense. However, if you remain open now, it is difficult to have few customers at night…"

So far, the train runs until the time before sundown, and the 'swordfish' is closed accordingly.

Takumi feared that few customers would see it even when gas lights were installed.

However, the concern seemed to be Takumi's concern.

“Station Manager”, who was listening quietly to the two of them, speaks to Takumi.

"Well, if we can get enough lights in the station building, we have a slower train than ever before, and we have a better plan to run it at night."

"This is also Mr. Liberto's power. I've just been asked to make improvements so that I can install the new type of gas lamp that I told you about in my locomotive."

What a delight the look on Sophia's face to talk about Liberto looks like.

Takumi smiles so much inside, yeah gaveling.

"So if we can develop gas lights that can be mounted on locomotives and run while illuminating the tracks at night, we're going to start running at night."

"Doing so will also allow people to gather in the station building at night, giving them more opportunities to see the gas lights. Is that what you're saying?

"It is! That way, you think it's going to get more and more popular because it lets a lot of people know how convenient gas lights are. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Takumi repeatedly consented to Sofia, who spoke her thoughts enthusiastically as she sparkled her eyes.

People's lives would change dramatically if the city at night became bright and warm lights lit their houses.

The magnitude of the benefit brought from it was that Takumi herself, who had experienced (...) with herself, knew best.

"And, well, so far, it's been a good story. But..."

“Station Manager” clouds words and sends a gaze to Sofia.

Takumi, who showed some unexpected signs of the atmosphere, also turned her gaze to Sofia in surprise.

Sophia, stared at by both of them, sighed, taking the newspaper out of the bag and passing it to Takumi.

"This is the problem..."

Takumi glances at the newspaper he receives.

The article had told a welcome hotel in Roses City that a "new light” using the latest technology had been lit.

New lights with no flames and no ventilation required.

It emits a thousand times brighter than a candle and can easily be lit or turned off by anyone.

The lights were admired in the article as bringing daylight brightness even in dark nights when the moon was not out.

A well-read takumi spills words in a way that contains surprises somewhere.

"Arc lights...... I mean, are they lights"

To that word, Sophia shakes her head vertically with cockroach.

"Yes, the lights of electricity. I heard rumors that you didn't expect it to be put into practice so quickly..."

Sophia shows an indescribably sinister face.

You are going to regret that your own reading as a banker has come off.

"But from what I hear, while it's still expensive, isn't it just a few hours before it actually emits light? Isn't that like a toy compared to a gas light?

“Station Manager" speaks up so that Sophia can be deceived.

But Sophia denied the word by shaking her neck full and sideways.

"It may be now, but technology is bound to develop. And this is how the electric lights came into play faster than I thought. I mean, there's no denying that technology's rapidly evolving from here, and that's what catches up to gas lights all at once."

"Hmm, if that's the case, you can't invest too much in the gas light business."

"It is. I apologize to Mr. Liberto, but as a banker, you have to be more cautious about investing than you risk failing, that's the iron rule..."

"But then Lord Liberto would be sorry...... Well, I'm sure he'll understand."

"Yeah, this is a business story. So don't let your personal feelings dictate it. When I see you tomorrow, I'm going to tell you exactly."

Sophia gives an indescribable bitter look while spinning words.

The “station manager" calls out with a white beard on his mouth so that he can mock it.

"Well, don't be so stubborn. I mean, I guess it would be nice to know that even if the lighting of electricity - the technology of the lights - develops, the business of gas lights is okay?

"Well, that's true... but the evolution of technology still means..."

"Well, these things are a lot of opinions to ask. So what do you think, Lord Takumi?

“Station Manager," he says, sending his gaze to Takumi.

The look on Takumi's face, who was suddenly told the story, revealed a confusing color.