The Mechanical Era

Sitting inside of a tavern alone on a round table, was a 5'11 inch man, wearing a nestle-leaf gray hemp cloth to cover himself up, Decan Hurst. He was a 54-year-old tall bald man, with only facial hair and a large brown beard on his sleek face. Although, he did have some freckles on his cheeks, and wrinkles on his head.

On his hand was a large wooden mug full of beer he used to keep himself company as he waited for a few friends to drop by. Facing his front left and front right, were two empty chairs with no backrests.

As he takes another small sip, he listens in to the background noise that is going on. The establishment seemed to be full today, with people talking about their small but fulfilling life and a little bit of gossip.

Decan himself focused on the gossip. He hears some things about families being ordered to send their fully able-bodied children to come with them. Thankfully, the ones with disabled siblings or loved ones can stay, considering they would need them to be their breadwinners and caretakers. He also heard stones from people trying to dodge the conscription. The people here have succeeded, while a lot of others failed.

Just then, a tall man, about 6ft, approaches the front right chair. Decan turned his head to face the man, to tell him that the seat was occupied. However, as soon as both of their eyes met, Decan instantly recognized him, causing him to smile alongside his friend.

The man, who was in his 50s, with short messy hair along with a black goatee on his square-shaped face. One of his rare green-gold eyes had cataracts, making it look as if he had a white eye. He was wearing an acorn-gray coat, along with a pair of black breeches.

"Melor! It's good to see you!" he said as he opened his hands. Melor sits down in his rightful place and replies back to Decan.

"I am doing fine Decan. It has precisely been a month and a quarter since the day you got blackout drunk and started spewing out the ways you made love." Melor smiled.

"Good times, weren't they?" he asked. Decan nodded awkwardly while some turned their heads, giving them weird looks.

"Did you have to bring that up?"

"Not really. I just wanted to mess with you. So... where the hell is Lenin? He isn't always late."

"I mean..."

"Oh yes. My bad. Guess we can catch up on what we have been doing..."

Just before they managed to get into a meaningful conversation about their lives, another man sat right beside them.

"Sorry guys, I am late. How are you doing Hill? Hurst?"

Decan and Melor turned their heads to face the man. He had a heart-shaped face, that made him look like he had a large brain. His eyes, contrasted with Decan's coco brown eyes, possessed Caribbean-blue eyes. His most remarkable feature was his giant forehead, which had 5 wrinkles in total.

The man looks at both their faces. A wave of horror comes across his face.

"What fellas? How late was I today?" he asks. The two other men blinked twice.

"You are on time," they said.

"Oh thank god! Phew," he replied as he whipped the sweat off his forehead. Melor leaned into Decan's ear.

"This is the first time this motherfucker is this early. You think he is on some self-improvement coach or something?" he whispers into his ear.

"Don't know. Whatever it is, I welcome it," Decan replied. Lenin then sat straighter on his chair.

"So... Decan, what is this... opportunity you mentioned in the letter you want to discuss with me and Melor?"

"Yes, what is this all about?" Decan coughs before answering both of their questions.

"Well gentlemen, considering you are all here, I may begin. In the last few months, I had been commissioned to build a school by the prince-in-charge. He told me to use his new product called cement to get the job done.

Nearly 2 months later, I managed to design, construct, and finish a building encompassing a new architectural style he called... Arteco? Ardeco? I think. I can't remember the name. It has been a while. Something like that.

The building was beautiful, and he loved it. Thanks to my success, he commissioned me to build another building. This time it was a much more complicated and large structure, which he hope to use new materials to create called concrete and reinforced concrete.

What you two need to know about these two materials, is that concrete is made from cement. While reinforced concrete will have us pour concrete over bars of steel."

"Steel, isn't that expensive?" Lenin asked.

"Yes, for now at least."

"What do you mean?" Melor questioned Decan.

"The prince told me he will come up with something. He came up with the cement."

"Are there any other inventions that he came up with?" Melor asked again, a bit skeptical about the prince's abilities, and rightfully so. Sure, he has heard some great stuff about the man, but nothing too much to waive suspicion off of him.

"Well, in the place itself, I saw some impressive stuff. There was this mechanical device that assisted him in typing. There was also this whitish-colored paper that also existed. Then there was the swivel chair..." Decan went on about the many things he saw during his visits.

"Ok, is there an invention, that could have a great impact, that you know for sure, he had invented?" Melor finally asked. Decan remained silent, unable to brainstorm any ideas. However, Lenin decides to raise his hand.

"I think I know."

"Then, please. Speak your mind."

"I have a craftsman friend who got to visit the prince. They invented something called a 'steam engine'. It is this device that can create power on its own. At least that is what I think."

"You got a craftsman friend?"

"I do, yes."

"Is this friend of yours reliable?"

"More than I ever will be."

"Alright then, but how does that apply here?"

"The thing is, my friend thinks that it could find a use in multiple applications. Theoretically, it could be used to build an automated hammering machine. And since folding molten iron is the way we can get steel, it usually works!" Lenin added in.

Melor thought of what Lenin told him. Considering the friend of his friend, who is an expert in the field, is vouching for the prince's genius, he decided to give in.

"Alright, you convinced me. Decan, continue to your proposal." Decan took a while to recollect where he left off, and then started there.

"Alright, using the new materials that we hope he will invent, he commissioned me to design this large building for the... sciences.

Considering the scale of the building, I told him that I would need a team of stonemasons to help me come up with designs. Considering how large the project was, the 80 gold coins were not enough.

I was thinking... maybe we all could partner up." The two other men lean back and think about Decan's deal.

"Not sure my man. The risk is high. I am not if I want to enter this deal." Melor said.

"Same here. Although, do you have a way of mitigating it?"

"I do, yes. We can use a corporation."

"A corporation?"

"A legal entity that separates the owner and the business itself. I have been thinking... maybe the three of us could start one?"

"Like a new business?"

"Yea, exactly. If we make a profit, it will go to all three of us. If we make losses, we are secured from it. It's the basics of how it works. Who knows, if it is successful, we can even hire some newbies, expand the firm and make a lot of money.

So... what do you say now?" There was a moment of silence between the three men as they think through this new deal Decan was proposed.

"Alright, I am in. And you Melor?"

"... I guess I accept the offer Decan."