As night fell, the city of Sedona was enveloped in darkness, its vibrant energy giving way to a serene calm. The bustling streets, once alive with activity, now saw only a handful of people hurrying along, their steps quick and purposeful. These were the latecomers rushing to catch the shadow puppet show, the only source of nightlife entertainment in Sedona City, a fleeting escape into a world of flickering tales and artistry under the dim glow of lanterns.
In the castle's study, Lucas, having just finished his dinner, was engrossed in administrative duties. His focus was on reviewing the final details of a pontoon bridge project, a structure meant to serve the city reliably for years to come, not some flimsy, disposable construct. He scrutinized the plans with care, knowing the bridge's durability was paramount.
Of course, a great flood would be an entirely different matter. No pontoon bridge could withstand an overwhelming surge of water, a natural disaster beyond his calculations. Such an event would render even the best-laid plans futile, a humbling reminder of nature's unpredictable might.
[A pontoon bridge, also known as a floating bridge, is a structure that floats on water, supported by buoyant pontoons (or specialized boats/floats) to provide a temporary or semi-permanent passage across a waterway.]
The pontoon bridge will span the Sedona River, connecting the eastern and western districts to facilitate trade, movement of goods, and pedestrian traffic. The bridge is designed to be durable, capable of withstanding river currents, and heavy loads (e.g., carts, livestock, and foot traffic). The structure will be modular for ease of maintenance and repair, with a focus on local materials and labor to minimize costs.
He had taken many factors into consideration while making the plan like location, Whispering river, approximately 200 meters wide at the chosen site, with a depth of 2-4 meters and a moderate current. Banks, stable, gently sloping banks with clay and gravel composition, suitable for anchoring.
It would need to support daily pedestrian traffic, carts, and occasional livestock herds.
And environmental factors like Seasonal flooding (up to 1 meter above normal levels), occasional strong winds, and ice formation in winter months.
He asked many experts on Earth about the bridge and the best way to make it. They asked questions and he answered them like length and width of bridge, load capacity and deck height.
The length is 210 meters (to account for bank anchoring). Width is 5 meters (to allow two-way cart traffic and pedestrians). Load Capacity is 2 tons per section to support heavy carts and crowds. Deck Height is 1 meter above water level to avoid submersion during floods.
As for materials, he would need 40 wooden boats (5m long, 1.5m wide, 1m deep), constructed from ironwood for durability. And tar and pitch for waterproofing seams.
For the deck, ironwood planks (10 cm thick, 30 cm wide) for the main deck, treated with linseed oil to resist weathering. And Crossbeams (15 cm x 15 cm) to connect pontoons and support the deck.
As for the anchoring system, Lucas bought them from Earth like Iron anchors (50 kg each, 20 units) with 10mm iron chains. And he learned about stone-filled gabions for bank anchoring.
And many other important things like ropes for additional stabilization. Wooden posts with hemp rope railings on both sides for safety. Iron nails, bolts, and brackets for securing planks and beams. And last tools (saws, hammers, chisels) and Makeshift Caulk Gun for waterproofing.
Blueprint
Cross-Sectional View
--------------------------------------------------
| Deck (Planks) |
|-------------------------------------------------|
| Railing | Crossbeams | Railing |
|-------------------------------------------------|
| Pontoon (Boat) | Pontoon |
|-------------------------------------------------|
| Anchor Chains | Riverbed | Anchor Chains |
--------------------------------------------------
Top-Down View
Bank [Gabions] --- [Rope/Chain Anchors] --- Pontoon --- Pontoon --- ... --- Pontoon --- [Rope/Chain Anchors] --- [Gabions] Bank
| |
| Deck (5m wide) |
| |
Railing -------------------------------------------------- Railing
Construction Plan
Phase 1: Preparation (2 Weeks)
Material Procurement:
- Source striped fir and cedar from local forests (50 trees, ~10 cubic meters of timber).
- Acquire 1,000 meters of hemp rope and 200 liters of tar for waterproofing.
- Collect 100 cubic meters of stones for gabions.
Labor Recruitment:
- Hire 200 workers: 30 carpenters, 140 laborers, and 30 boatwrights.
- Appoint a master engineer to oversee construction and ensure quality.
Site Preparation:
- Clear vegetation and debris from both riverbanks (20m x 10m area on each side).
- Level the banks to create stable platforms for gabion placement.
Phase 2: Pontoon Construction (3 Weeks)
Boat Construction:
- Build 40 wooden boats Sedona's shipyard.
- Reinforce boat hulls with cross-bracing and seal with tar.
- Test pontoons for buoyancy and leaks in shallow water.
Pontoon Placement:
- Float pontoons into position, spacing them 5 meters apart across the 200-meter river span.
- Secure each pontoon with two anchors (one upstream, one downstream) using iron chains.
- Connect pontoons with hemp ropes to maintain alignment.
Phase 3: Deck and Railing Installation (2 Weeks)
Crossbeam Framework:
- Lay crossbeams across pontoons, securing them with iron brackets.
- Ensure beams are level using spirit levels and shims.
Deck Laying:
- Nail planks to crossbeams, leaving 2mm gaps for water drainage.
- Treat the deck with linseed oil to prevent rot.
Railing Installation:
- Install wooden posts every 2 meters along both sides of the deck.
- String hemp ropes between posts at 0.5m and 1m heights for safety.
Phase 4: Anchoring and Testing (1 Week)
Bank Anchoring:
- Place stone-filled gabions (10 per bank) to secure the bridge ends.
- Connect gabions to the nearest pontoons with iron chains and ropes.
Load Testing:
- Test the bridge with a 2-ton cart and 50 pedestrians to ensure stability.
- Check for pontoon buoyancy, chain tension, and deck integrity.
- Adjust anchors or ropes as needed to correct any sagging or misalignment.
Maintenance Strategy
- Weekly Inspections:
- Check pontoons for leaks or damage; repair with tar as needed.
- Inspect chains and ropes for wear; replace frayed ropes every 6 months.
- Seasonal Maintenance:
- Reinforce anchors before flood season (spring).
- Remove ice buildup in winter to prevent pontoon damage.
- Long-Term Upgrades:
- Replace wooden pontoons with metal ones after 5 years for increased durability.
- Reapply linseed oil to the deck annually to maintain weather resistance.
Timeline
- Total Duration: 8 weeks (2 weeks preparation, 3 weeks pontoon construction, 2 weeks deck installation, 1 week testing).
- Start Date: To be determined by Lord Lucas.
- Completion Date: 8 weeks from start, weather permitting.
Contingency Plan
- Flood Risk: Store spare pontoons and ropes in Sedona's warehouse for quick repairs.
*
"Phew… done," Lucas exhaled, a wave of relief washing over him as he carefully gathered the several pages of the pontoon bridge blueprints. He had meticulously annotated the designs, noting every detail that this era's builders needed to heed. Starting from scratch meant there was no room for error—without clear instructions, the inexperienced crew might cobble together a bridge that would collapse the very night it opened, a fleeting marvel turned to ruin in hours.
"Master, take a break," Mina said, her voice light as she munched on crispy fried fish, perched casually on the corner of the desk. Her long legs dangled, swinging gently, while her cat-like tail flicked playfully now and then, betraying her relaxed demeanor.
"Mmm," Lucas responded lazily, leaning back in his chair with a soft hum. His brow furrowed as he pondered a critical question: who should he entrust with constructing this bridge?
"Mina, look into who in the city has experience building bridges—wooden ones will do," Lucas said slowly, his tone deliberate. Even a sliver of experience was better than none; a novice with no knowledge risked disaster.
"Got it," Mina replied, clapping her hands together. She pulled a small notebook from her pocket and jotted down the task, ready to relay the order to the intelligence network come morning.
"Oh, and where's today's report?" Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow. Whenever time allowed, he made a point to review the daily happenings in Sedona, keeping his finger on the city's pulse.
"Right here," Mina said, passing him a neat stack of documents from the desk. Each file was carefully categorized, grouping similar incidents together—rumors in one, brawls and disputes in another, and so forth, making it easier for him to digest the city's affairs.
"Hmph," Lucas's dark eyes narrowed as he scanned one report, his voice turning cold. "Selling salt on the black market, huh? It seems wherever there's profit to be made, someone's always bold enough to take the risk."
"Master, we've identified the culprits—seven of them," Mina said, her tone icy. "They've been buying salt from civilians at low prices, then smuggling it out of Sedona in small batches." A dagger appeared in her hand, twirling deftly between her fingers. She despised those who schemed for personal gain, siphoning off wealth that rightfully belonged to her master's city.
In Sedona, citizens with identification could purchase a pound of salt for just five copper coins—a system ripe for exploitation. Unscrupulous merchants could buy from civilians at a slight markup, then resell the salt in other cities for a fortune, reaping profits at Sedona's expense.
"Send the list to the Guard Office. Have Ryan arrest them immediately and sentence them to five years of mining," Lucas ordered, tossing the file onto the desk with a flick of his wrist. "As for the civilians selling salt illegally, fine them and lock them up in the Guard Office for a few days to reflect. Register their IDs and restrict their salt purchases to one packet every three months for the next three years."
His tone was unyielding, a clear message to the citizens: the privileges he granted were not to be taken lightly. Abuse them, and they could be stripped away without hesitation.
"Understood," Mina said, scribbling the instructions down. The intelligence would be passed from the Security Office to the Guard Office for swift action.
Lucas turned to another file, his expression darkening with each page. By the time he finished, his frown was deep enough to crush a fly caught between his brows.
"Three days ago, someone started spreading rumors about expelling slaves. Have we traced the source?" Lucas asked, a chilling glint in his eyes.
The rumor was vicious, designed to sow discord and undermine the harmonious atmosphere he had worked tirelessly to cultivate in Sedona. It was a ticking time bomb, planting seeds of division between citizens that could erupt into chaos, with discrimination against slaves sparking unrest that could destabilize the entire city.
Sedona's population was divided into four groups: nobles, merchants, commoners, and slaves. The nobles were few—Lucas himself, along with Bryan and a handful of other minor noble offspring, largely overlooked by their families. Merchants were more numerous, with most being outsiders, though Lucas had supported a few local ones to establish shops in the grand marketplace.
The commoners were the most complex group. Local commoners made up roughly half of Sedona's population, about five thousand people. The other half consisted of outsiders—beastkin, humans, and freed slaves who had become free citizens, totaling another five thousand. The freed slaves, like the beastkin Lucas had rescued from Sakura City, had been granted freedom by his decree, elevating them to the same status as commoners.
The slaves, on the other hand, numbered eight hundred, rescued from the city of Blade City. They were bound to work for Lucas for a few years before gradually earning their freedom.
The trouble stemmed from the freed slaves. Someone was targeting them, amplifying their former slave status to stir up a toxic sense of superiority among commoners. Words could be a deadly weapon, invisible yet sharp, fostering resentment among slaves and inflating the egos of ordinary citizens. Left unchecked, this could ignite conflict, tearing apart the fragile balance of Sedona's society.
"Master, the rumor's spread was limited and short-lived. We've only managed to pinpoint a few suspects—they're highly cautious," Mina said, her face serious.
"Limited spread…" Lucas murmured, closing his eyes as he leaned back, deep in thought. The rumor's purpose wasn't to destabilize Sedona outright but to pressure someone specific. If it targeted freed slaves, was there someone among them who stood out?
"Wait…" Lucas's eyes snapped open, a cold light flickering in his dark gaze. "They're targeting Ayesha. This rumor is aimed at Ayesha."
"What?" Mina stared at him, her blue eyes narrowing. "Master, are you saying someone's after Ayesha?"
"Exactly. Ayesha is a freed slave too," Lucas said, his expression grim. He suddenly understood why Ayesha, the straightforward beastwoman with horns, had seemed so melancholic earlier that day. She must have overheard the rumors and taken them to heart. Her absence from her usual patrols wasn't due to negligence but fear of facing those whispers—because she cared, they cut deeper.
"Damn it, who's behind this?" Mina's face turned icy, her hands gripping two daggers now, her urge to hunt down the rumor-mongers almost palpable.
"Who has Ayesha crossed recently?" Lucas asked, his voice low and dangerous.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.