If someone were to survive in a minus forty-degree environment, Oliver would have once thought they were out of their mind.
After all, who would normally think about living in such extreme cold?
Even the Inuit and Frost Clan near the Arctic Circle only live in warmer areas where plants can grow on the surface during summer.
No one in their right mind would live in the eternally frozen tundra, covered by snow even in summer, where food is scarce; survival seems like a pipe dream.
Even Roshar, who likes to exile people to such places, only sends criminals to Hyponia.
There, although winter is indeed deadly cold, in general, people can still survive.
But according to Perfikot's calculations, three years later, Langton will be as cold as Hyponia's winter, even in summer, making survival akin to playing wild survival in the Arctic.
"That's why our work is incredibly important." Perfikot explained to Oliver, also telling him what to do next, "The Empire has realized the seriousness of the issue. Although those nobles are still wasting time with their squabbles, we can take action ahead.
Her Majesty the Empress has given me special full authority; the so-called Arctic expedition plan is just a guise, a cover for our true purpose.
Using the excuse of conducting Arctic research and establishing a permanent station, scientists are developing and researching relevant materials and thermal building technologies.
Meanwhile, establish a forward base on the New Continent to test these technologies and assess how humans can survive in extremely cold environments."
"So, your ladyship hopes I accompany you to the New Continent for this?" Oliver sorted through his thoughts, and with his keen business mind back online, he quickly understood what the situation and the opportunity he speculated entailed.
It was indeed an opportunity that, if missed, would have him punching himself in the dream afterward.
But similarly, missing this opportunity, there would be no such future to dream of.
Oliver did not think he, merely a merchant, could survive in the extreme cold of minus dozens of degrees.
The experience of going to Hyponia years ago was already the worst memory of his life; he never thought he would face that horrific white hell again.
However, fate loves to play a nasty, hellish joke, now that the entire world is turning into that terrifying white hell, Oliver did not think he could escape.
So he quickly composed himself and asked Perfikot, "So your ladyship, where should we start?"
"Just call me Brandelis as before; I'm not used to being called a lady just yet." Perfikot considered briefly before saying to Oliver, "Regarding dealing with the apocalyptic disaster, I already have a complete plan, so you don't need to worry.
The ancient East separates people's daily needs into four aspects: clothing, food, housing, and transportation. We are dealing with the apocalyptic disaster starting from these four aspects.
I've already commissioned Langton University's Alchemy and Physics Departments to develop and research cold-resistant materials, while the Engineering Department is working on rapidly constructing houses in extreme cold, so the 'housing' issue need not worry, given Langton University's research capabilities, it's enough to solve this problem."
"If there's a warm little house to withstand the cold winds, even the extreme cold wouldn't be so unbearable." Oliver nodded slightly at this.
Having been to Hyponia, he understood without a windproof, warm shelter in such freezing environments, survival wasn't a question; death would be inevitable.
"Besides 'housing,' 'clothing' is the simplest, but clearly in extreme cold, 'clothing' does not simply mean clothes." Perfikot had a comprehensive plan for all this, but she wanted to hear Oliver's thoughts at the moment, so she asked him, "Do you have any good ideas on this point?"
Facing Perfikot's inquiry, Oliver thought for a while and said, "I've been to Hyponia; its winters are astonishingly cold, to combat such cold requires warmth and wind resistance."
Though unwilling to recall his experience, Oliver shared his thoughts with Perfikot because he understood it was not only her test of him but also a way to save more people.
"So is fur the best choice?" Perfikot looked at Oliver with a deep gaze.
However, Oliver shook his head and said, "Fur is warm, but in Hyponia's extreme cold, it hinders movement, and we can't give everyone a fur coat.
I recall a small heater sold on the market in recent years, light enough to be hung on the body, if it could be popularized..."
"You're talking about this, right?" Perfikot pulled out a small metal box from a nearby cabinet and then shook her head, "I've had my eye on it when it first appeared on the market and researched it, but it's very impractical."
With that, Perfikot handed it to Oliver.
Receiving the compact device, Oliver fiddled with it and soon understood why Perfikot said it wasn't practical.
With Oliver's insight, he quickly recognized it was made through alchemy, and opening the device confirmed his judgment.
The device's interior was a complex clock-like mechanical structure, with a groove in the middle, containing some ashes.
"Its operating principle is to place ignited coal or charcoal in this groove, then use the internal complex mechanism to maintain the slow burning of the charcoal or coal, thus steadily releasing heat." Perfikot explained to Oliver, but her expression seemed rather disdainful, "The mechanism inside makes the heat released while fuel burns maintain within a one-meter radius around this small device; a fist-sized smokeless coal generally supports this thing burning for an hour.
I've calculated its manufacturing cost; without considering using the Philosopher's Stone, it requires about twenty gold pounds, while a handheld brass hand-warmer, even the most exquisitely crafted on the market, costs only five gold pounds.
Moreover, the former requires at least a union-level alchemist, while the latter needs just a skilled coppersmith."