The door of the study room was opened, and an old mage wearing a black dark-pattern robe, hunched over, and artificial nerve cords squirming behind his back appeared in front of Rosetta Augustus.
This is not the first time they have met.
Daniel used to be a hermit mage who lived in the countryside, but before that, he was one of the high-ranking members of the Royal Mages Association, and today, he is the most outstanding expert of the Crafts Association, he is still The mentor of the president of the Royal Society of Mages, the creator of a large number of new technologies in the empire, and the master of technology sought after by many nobles in Aldernan today, he has won the trust of the royal family—including the trust of Rosetta Augustus himself.
Emperor Rosetta has always treated technicians with great courtesy. He didn't mind Daniel's scary appearance at all, and at the same time showed a slightly stiff smile on his face: "Master, I hope my summoning will not affect your work."
"It's my duty to work for you," Daniel said with a slight bow, "I'd be happy to answer your questions in the technical field."
Rosetta nodded. After the old magician sat down, he asked: "It is said that the imitation of the magic car has been successful?"
"Yes, the prototype will be tested in two days," Daniel replied. "If all goes well, we will make it into the practical stage as soon as possible."
"Your wisdom is the immeasurable wealth of the empire," Rosetta couldn't help but sigh, "With new means of transportation, coupled with a new railway system... we can finally solve the problem of transporting raw materials and finished products in factories .”
"My personal wisdom is not important. The imitation of magic vehicles is the result of everyone's joint efforts, and compared to our meager wisdom..." Daniel said, shaking his head lightly, "Perhaps we should admire the Ansu people more The wisdom is that they first created the magic guide, and then created a precise and powerful machine like the magic guide car."
"Strictly speaking, it is the wisdom of the Cecil people—I called you here today to discuss this matter with you."
Daniel lowered his eyelids, concealing the flickering light in his eyes with a gesture of respect for the imperial power. He lowered his head slightly: "Please speak."
"Magic technology originated from Cecil—including the magic net we imitated. Although the structure and unit specifications are different from Cecil's magic net, many characteristics are common," Rosetta said calmly. He said slowly, "In addition, there is also the railway system that is currently under construction in the west and south of Alder South. It is the product of the Cecil people, and all the core technologies are in their hands..."
Daniel raised his head: "Are you worried that these technologies originated from the Cecils will eventually threaten the security of the empire?"
"Even if you don't consider these things, it is inappropriate to hand over the lifeblood of the empire to outsiders, even if it is only part of it," Rosetta Augustus said solemnly, "The Cecilians are good at using the magic net energy, and now they have built railroads in the Empire - those powerful trains can transport goods, as well as weapons and troops, I can even conceive some plans for war based on railroads, Cecilians Impossible to think of."
How important is the railway? Before seeing the detailed information about the train brought back by the expedition team, Rosetta Augustus had only a general impression, but after seeing those detailed information, he realized this almost subversive almost instantly. What a terrifying power and potential application of our technology—
It can transport troops enough to capture a city to its destination in a short period of time, and can maintain logistics supplies at a very low cost. If it is for transportation to other countries, cutting off the railway can instantly make a city or even a region's supplies Paralyzed by supply—its transportation power is so great that many things unimaginable on traditional roads and horse-drawn carriages have become possible on railroads.
Last winter, the aristocratic parliament and the royal advisors were greatly shaken after receiving relevant information about the railway. They discussed the feasibility of laying a railway in the empire with shock and tension. They discussed for three days and three nights, and finally A ninety-plus-page report was presented to Rosetta. The entire report first confirmed one thing:
Typhon needs this advanced transportation technology because Typhon's factories need it.
Two of the most significant potential risk assessments are then presented in the report—
First of all, be wary of the Anzu people using the transnational railway to launch an attack on the empire - at the speed of the train, once the first wave of attack comes without warning, the guards at the pass may not even have time to blow up the track.
Second, how to protect the railways within the empire, ensuring that they are fully under imperial control and preventing them from being destroyed by the enemy.
As an empire that has emerged from the flames of war, Typhon has never lacked vigilance against wars, especially after the empire has developed to a certain...critical state, Ansu has become an imaginary enemy in the hearts of almost all Typhon's upper echelons.
Daniel looked at Rosetta Augustus silently for a few seconds, and then his slightly yellow eyes rolled slightly.
"Your Majesty, I'm just a technician, so I probably don't quite understand your military concerns, but from a technical point of view, I can give you some advice."
"That's exactly what I want."
"The key to the problem is energy, or the magic net," Daniel said calmly. "Whether it is a railway or a train, they all rely on the magic net laid along the way, and if the Ansu people, or Sisi The Er people really want to launch an attack on the empire, and many of their war memories also need to rely on the magic net to operate - the magic net they can carry must be limited, so preventing the empire's magic net from falling into the hands of outsiders is the key.
"I'm recently thinking about a control structure for the magic net. Maybe we can set up the overall control of the magic net in the core area of the empire, so that it can shut down the supply of the magic net in any area at any time, or even destructively. …
"Unless the enemy controls the core area of the empire and captures the imperial capital and the imperial palace, their energy supply will be cut off in any area of the empire..."
"... This plan is very good," Rosetta Augustus thought about it, and said slowly, "Well... very good."
As the Emperor Typhon spoke, he raised his eyelids and looked into Daniel's eyes quietly.
The artificial nerve cord behind Daniel was still squirming slightly, and his face was calm, facing Rosetta's gaze calmly.
"Master, I will leave this matter to you. Please come up with a plan as soon as possible and submit it to me for personal review."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The old magician left, and Rosetta picked up the materials she had put away before, and glanced at them casually.
"Ansu..."
He murmured the name of the ancient kingdom that was in the vortex, and his eyes were calm, neither hostile nor sympathetic.
Cecil's sudden rise was unexpected. Those incredible technologies and the existence of Gawain Cecil himself made him feel a long-lost threat. Therefore, this powerful ruler of the empire couldn't help but think of Some "defense" stuff.
But in essence, he still prefers to attack.
"After this battle is over, the blood of the Ansu people should be almost exhausted..."
Daniel left the emperor's study, left the long corridor in front of the study, and took a deep breath until he passed through the front hall of the Obsidian Palace, left the main entrance of the palace, and walked to the square in front of the palace. Then exhale slowly.
The artificial nerve cords crawling on his back squirmed quickly for a while, and gradually returned to calm after a few seconds.
Thanks to the knowledge bestowed by the master, he was able to control his emotions and reactions so successfully. If it was him who was nearly out of control before, it would be absolutely impossible to complete such a difficult negotiation.
After relaxing a little bit, the old magician raised his head and began to look for his apprentice who was supposed to be waiting for him in the square.
Mary was not standing where she should be.
Daniel frowned slightly, and couldn't help muttering while looking around: "That idiot...where did he go..."
He didn't look for too long, and after only a few minutes, he saw his familiar black-haired female apprentice—
At some point, Mary ran to the edge of the square. At this moment, she was squatting in front of a little girl who came running from nowhere. Looking over from a distance, Daniel even saw two magic balls of light jumping in Mary's hands.
Like a humble street clown, she ran into the square and performed tricks for passing children
Daniel was stunned for a moment, and then walked over angrily, and until he got behind Mary, the young female mage hadn't reacted yet, and was still vigorously conjuring magic light balls to tease the little girl in front of her , the latter opened her eyes wide and watched the performance of "Sister Mage" in amazement, but she finally noticed the old mage with a gloomy and terrifying face, and shrank her neck in fear.
It was only then that Mary noticed the familiar aura behind her, she trembled almost subconsciously, then quickly stood up, turned around, and saw the gloomy face of the instructor without any surprise.
She immediately lowered her head and twisted her hands together nervously: "Gu... tutor... I..."
"How is this going!?"
"The kid is lost and I... I just want to..."
Daniel's angry words were about to come out, but he couldn't help being stunned for a moment after hearing Mary's words, and then he looked down at the little girl.
A lost little girl, dressed reasonably, should not be a child laborer who escaped from a factory, but she is not at the level that can enter and exit the palace, most likely a citizen living nearby.
For some reason, another thought popped up in Daniel's mind—
A long time ago, when Mary ran into his mage's tower in a daze, she seemed to be the same size...
He raised his head and looked at the female apprentice who was looking nervous, even terrified.
Now, the little girl who ran into the mage's tower in a daze had grown up.
If Mary hadn't run into his mage's tower back then, what would she be like now? Will he look at an old magician with such trepidation, waiting for punishment? Either they will live peacefully beside their parents, or they are already married and have a husband...
Daniel's face moved, as if he wanted to squeeze out a pleasant smile, but his dry and stiff muscles seemed to be unable to do such complicated things, so he could only shake his head and stroke the little girl's hair: "No Running around and getting lost will make parents worry."
Then he raised his hand and beckoned to the guards near the square.
The guard immediately ran over with utmost hospitality, not daring to be slighted—even if the soldier didn't know the chief scholar of the Imperial Engineering Association, he had just watched Daniel walk out of the Obsidian Palace accompanied by his attendants. Be respectful.
"The child is lost. Take her to her parents—I will confirm this with your officer later."
Daniel ordered casually, and the soldiers agreed one after another.
After the soldiers and the children had left, Daniel glanced at Mary: "It's too stupid to be cured. Even with your status in the Industrial Association and the contacts you know in the noble council, you can command this street." You can't be any soldier on the battlefield, but you only know how to coax children with a few tricks."
Mary lowered her head, not daring to say a word.
Daniel's gaze then fell on Mary's neck, on the iron rune collar.
"Remember what I told you, what will happen if you leave the area I set for you at will?"
Hearing the tutor's words, Mary reacted in shock, and almost subconsciously reached out to touch the iron ring around her neck.
However, before some more terrifying thoughts emerged, she saw the mentor stretching out his hand towards her—the hand pinched the iron ring around her neck, and then there was a light click, which was the iron ring that had accompanied her for many years. The ring was opened lightly.
Daniel muttered: "I knew that bringing you this thing won't stop you from running around, so just throw this shit away.
"Throw away the neck rings of those idiots when you go back."