Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste
Chapter 98: Arrival at the Northern Territory

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Arrival at the Northern Territory

Although Perfikot has already completed preliminary theoretical research work, whether it is building materials for cold resistance and insulation or a new type of steam engine based on heavy water development, and completed preliminary related designs, she can only do so much.

The laboratory on the ship can only conduct some basic experiments. Although she said she could use the Philosopher’s Stone to carry out some more complex experiments, doing so would not only exhaust her energy and spirit but also lead to experimental results that are biased.

After all, experiments carried out through the Philosopher’s Stone yield optimized results, not the conventional experimental data Perfikot wants to obtain.

If she is the only one using it, then it’s not much of a concern, as she is already accustomed to using the Philosopher’s Stone as an aid.

However, if it’s used to promote and handed over to others for production, the accuracy of the experimental data must be ensured, as any bias could cause serious problems.

Besides, even with the aid of the Philosopher’s Stone, given the poor conditions of the ship’s laboratory, wanting to do more remains a luxury.

After all, there is no forge on the ship, no way to process metal, let alone manufacture large-sized mechanical parts.

While an alchemist can create the mechanical parts they need through alchemy, that is limited to meticulous craftsmanship. For items that genuinely require industrial mass production, they also rely on casting furnaces.

Perfikot is no exception. In her laboratory at Brandelis Manor, there is a forge built by her own hands that can produce any medium to small-sized metal mechanical parts she needs.

As for large parts or things she occasionally doesn’t want to make herself, she can order custom-made items from her alchemy workshop in Langton or procure them from other sources.

But after selling her alchemy workshop, she can only place orders through other channels.

Nonetheless, these methods adequately fulfill her needs.

But on the ship, the conditions of this limited laboratory indeed cannot satisfy Perfikot, or even generate a demand.

Thus, limited by conditions, Perfikot had to temporarily suspend her research work and focus her energy on the selection and construction of the so-called "forward base."

At this time, the expedition team had already traveled all the way north, arriving close to the polar circle. Although it’s merely early autumn now, the temperatures in this region have already gotten a bit cold.

Especially at night, the sea breeze blowing across the surface of the sea is a torment to anyone outdoors.

This is different from the pure cold encountered by the White Gem ship when coming to the New Continent through the northern route, where the temperature was so low that the moisture in the air had already condensed, and thick winter clothing could be relied on to resist the cold.

But now, since the temperature is not as low and not much clothing is worn, the sea breeze carries rich moisture, becoming a biting cold that is unbearable shortly.

Most members of Perfikot’s guard are from the Army, and since it was summer when they set out, they were mostly supplied with summer and autumn gear.

It’s not that the military department heads who formed the guard hadn’t considered winter clothing, but due to the haste of the departure, it wasn’t carried along, originally planning to send it over later when arriving at the New Continent or requisitioning the garrison’s supplies locally.

But the incident in New Shaker City, where Perfikot was assassinated, delayed the requisitioning of local troops’ winter supplies by the guard.

And as they ventured deeper into the Northern Territory, these soldiers from the army were indeed getting quite frozen.

For this reason, Samantha, responsible for security, had to adjust the number of sentries at night to ensure that every person standing guard could be allocated a coat to the maximum extent possible.

These coats were borrowed from the sailors on the ship, maritime coats, but their quantity was limited, only sufficient for a portion of the people.

Fortunately, the expedition team had prepared ample winter supplies before setting out. Although they allocated some winter clothes to these soldiers, they didn’t distribute too many.

After all, nearing the final exploration point, the expedition team members also need to work, and they require winter clothes too.

Samantha reported this matter to Perfikot, who ordered a telegram to be sent to the Empire’s mainland, asking for ways to send some winter clothes over, along with another telegram.

However, this telegram contained encrypted information, even the radio operator on the ship didn’t know what was sent out, only knowing a bunch of quirky numbers were transmitted.

Upon sending this telegram, Perfikot did not let the White Gem stop but accelerated to reach the final exploration point while the weather was not yet extremely cold.

A winding and narrow fjord, was their last obstacle before reaching the final exploration point.

Fortunately, this place had been surveyed by the Empire’s exploration company before, and the fjord’s depth was sufficient to accommodate the passage of the White Gem.

"How long is this fjord?" Perfikot stood on the bridge, holding a telescope, looking into the distance, unable to see the end of the fjord.

"It’s estimated to be dozens of kilometers long; no one has measured it." The expedition team leader beside her answered her question, then supplemented with an explanation: "The last time the company’s expedition team was sent here, they mainly explored the land, so they did not conduct more precise measurements, only measuring the water depth here."

"No matter, as long as it doesn’t affect our next actions," Perfikot wouldn’t nitpick over such matters; she merely required everyone to do their job well.

Putting down the telescope, Perfikot asked the expedition team leader again: "Does the fjord freeze in winter? We plan to stay here until spring of the following year. If it freezes in winter, the White Gem and accompanying warships cannot stay in the fjord over winter."

"We probably can’t answer that; the company personnel came here last summer. After surveying the terrain and mineral resources, they left." The expedition team leader showed a troubled expression, genuinely not knowing these details.

This area is near the Arctic Circle, and even local indigenous populations rarely act here.

Although the Empire conducted exploration here, they wouldn’t consider development in the coming decades.

After all, the New Continent is vast and sparsely populated, and the Empire hasn’t fully developed the warm, humid, and climate-friendly coastal areas in the South. Why would they venture into the Northern Territory?

"Is that so? It seems we need to consider how to spend this winter." Perfikot felt a sense of eagerness, although she had made numerous plans and calculations before, truly facing the harsh winter indeed stirred some emotion in her.