"No significant progress," Lillian shook her head, "We have searched all the minerals on the market, but we haven't found any that are similar to charcoal and can burn, as the junior mentioned."
"Without stable fuel, creating a steam engine that does not rely on Magic Stones and is practically useful is very difficult..."
Colin nodded, also feeling somewhat troubled.
Without coal and no known sources of oil... Fuel is obviously crucial for steam engines, although using Magic Stones with some Witch Array runes could provide a stable energy source.
But Magic Stones are only affordable by wizards, lacking practical conditions to be popularized among regular people.
'However, if we really can't find a cheaper fuel, we may have to use Magic Stones, first producing various large machinery to enhance the productivity of Tilamei Plain.'
After all, these matters were secondary, and Colin soon put them out of his mind.
