"I take it you're suggesting we use state-led projects to generate employment?"
Jin, sensing Reinhard’s train of thought, spoke up first.
"Exactly, Jin. If you were to do everything from start to finish, it wouldn't benefit the people in the long run."
Jin felt the same way. It was an insight born from his travels through Mitsuho, Fusou Island, and New El. If he simply provided finished products, people would grow accustomed to them and become idle; as a result, civilization would stagnate.
While it might be arrogant to think he could control it all, Jin wanted to expand things in a way that truly benefited the people as much as possible.
"I suppose it's a bit late to start worrying about that now, though."
"No, I still think it’s the right path to take," Rodrigo agreed immediately. He, too, wished to continue developing ships through his own ingenuity whenever possible.
"Well then," Jin said, shifting the focus back to the matter at hand. "Regardless of who builds them, the strengths and weaknesses of these systems remain the same. I’ll list them as they come to mind, and I'd like to hear your opinions."
With that opening, Jin began his explanation. "My biggest concern is accidents."
Since they were introducing vehicles the world had never seen, Jin’s primary concern was public safety.
"With trucks, you'll inevitably have collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles. With railways, you have accidents at level crossings and derailments."
While such risks were inherent to high-speed transport, he didn't believe the public could adapt immediately if such systems were suddenly thrust upon the world.
"Then there's the matter of maintenance. Whether it's a railway or a truck, you need systems for upkeep and repairs."
Dedicated maintenance personnel would be a necessity.
"There's also the issue of national borders."
For distribution to flourish, they would need to connect different countries. Ideally, people and goods should be able to move freely between nations. He also had in mind the diplomatic relations between the Shouro Empire and Mitsuho, which were set to begin soon.
"And finally, I worry about them being repurposed for war."
In the event of a conflict, these systems would inevitably be used to transport soldiers and weapons.
"That's about everything that comes to mind for now." Jin finished his summary and looked around the room, inviting their thoughts.
"Regarding the accidents," Saki was the first to speak up. "Even now, people get run over by carriages or kicked by horses. Aren't you worrying a bit too much, Jin?"
"No, because with these kinds of transportation systems, an accident is far more likely to turn into a catastrophe." Jin briefly explained the potential scale of a railway collision.
"I see... No, Jin, it seems my understanding was too naive."
"Not at all. I’d prefer you to speak your mind just like that, Saki. If we overthink things, we lose our creative freedom."
"Jin-nii, if you're worried about level crossing accidents, you just shouldn't make level crossings," Elsa suggested.
"Hmm, that would mean elevated tracks or a subway. The construction would be difficult... but maybe we could manage?"
Since this was a world with magic, heavy construction would be significantly easier than on modern Earth.
"Wouldn't that make transporting cargo a bit inconvenient?" Saki asked. Indeed, if stations were located underground or high above the ground, the labor required for loading and unloading would increase.
"Hmm, and what about the trucks?" Rodrigo asked, shifting the conversation.
"In that case, we would first need to develop the infrastructure," Jin explained, noting that roads where carriages could barely pass each other were insufficient. "We'd need them to be at least twice as wide as they are now."
"That sounds like a major undertaking in itself," Toa said with a grimace, crossing his arms.
"Furthermore, if we're aiming for mass transport, we have to consider high-speed movement or larger vehicles. For that, the flatter the road surface, the better."
Reinhard nodded in agreement. "That’s true. And doing that would take a significant amount of time and money."
"Oh, so every single option has pros and cons that make them useless!" Marcia cried out, sounding distressed.
"That's exactly why I'm consulting all of you," Jin replied, his expression somber. "If we used the power of Hourai Island, we could develop railways and roads in no time. If we used golems, we could minimize accidents, and with recovery medicine, we could mitigate any injuries."
He paused, taking a breath. "But that isn't real progress. I know it's a bit late for me to be saying this."
Up until now, Jin had been introducing advanced technology to this world one piece at a time, but his mindset had shifted after witnessing the local developments in Mitsuho, Fusou Island, and New El.
"It's a difficult problem. Listen, Jin. If there's no immediate deadline, why don't we try a test case somewhere for trial operations?" Reinhard suggested.
"I see, a test case. Like laying a railway on Hourai Island from Tatsumi Bay to the laboratory?"
"No, that wouldn't be much of a test. It would be better to use a place where people actually live their daily lives."
"Where people live, huh..."
Then Elsa offered a different perspective. "Jin-nii, what was it like in your homeland?"
"On Earth...?" Jin considered her point. "The spread on Earth started with railways, followed later by truck transport."
However, that path had its own unique circumstances—specifically, the engine. On Earth, the steam engine had gained popularity first, and steam engines were far better suited for massive locomotives than for early automobiles.
"Now that I think about it, there were also horse-drawn railways..." Jin muttered. They were essentially streetcars pulled by horses instead of engines. "Then again, there were also rickshaws and kago..."
Jin felt himself becoming increasingly muddled.
"Gah, honestly!"
It was a natural frustration. He was trying to present technology that was centuries ahead of its time, bypassing the normal stages of historical development.
"Hehe, Jin, you should cool your head a little," Saki teased.
"Indeed, Jin-sama."
"Jin, I think it's better not to overthink it," Marcia added.
Saki, Berche, and Marcia each comforted him in their own way.
"Right, right. It might even be best to return to the origin of the problem," Toa remarked casually.
The comment made Jin give a small start. "...The origin, huh?"
"Jin-kun, what do you mean by that?" Vivienne asked.
Jin began to explain slowly. "In short, the objective is simply to move people and cargo in large quantities in a short amount of time."
"Well, I certainly understand that much," Vivienne said with a nod, earning a wry smile from Jin.
"I was just reflecting on how much I've been trapped by my own preconceptions."
The "preconceptions" Jin referred to were his insistence on choosing between Earth-style railways or trucks in the Ars world—a world where magic was a fundamental reality.
"I should have been thinking more flexibly."
Stearena perked up at this. It was a sentiment that resonated with her as a magi craftsman. "You mean we should start by focusing on the goal without limiting ourselves to specific methods?"
"Exactly. And I realized it would be best if we could build upon the technology that already exists in this world."
"Hmm, that's certainly one way to look at it," Reinhard agreed.
"As you know, I wasn't born in this world," Jin said, "so I want to hammer out the details while listening to everyone's input. Is that all right?"
"Of course it is!"
"No objections here."
"Hehe, leave it to us!"
The entire group agreed with a smile.