Sword of Dawnbreaker - Chapter 220 - The One Who Truly Profits
The magic web was the cornerstone of the magic industrialization, the foundation that allowed magic to be guided into every household. That Cecil territory was able to make such rapid developments was mainly due to the magic web.
Gawain didn’t mind imparting this technology to others; in fact, if it was possible, he hoped that the magic could be quickly laid down in the entire southern region or even the entire Anzu Kingdom.
He knew very clearly that the magic web was a cornerstone of the magic industrialization, but it wasn’t the entirety. In order to build up this massive system, an advanced mindset was required. It required the coordination from a research and development setup as in-depth and elaborated research was needed to understand the basic theory. Only after having such things would the new magic equipment become relevant. Without those things, then the magic web would only be a shell of what it could be.
Viscount Andrew saw the newly laid-down honeycomb magic web on the northern side of the mining hamlet. There were rune arrays that were in a neat and orderly hexagonal shape, and they were drawn on the brick foundation. After they were done with the setup, it would be covered with a layer of protective plate, and finally, cement would be used to seal up the entire installation. This wonderful and orderly rune array was different from any magic circle that Viscount Andrew knew of. He naturally treated this as another miraculous “ancient Gondor magic technology”.
“I can send out craftsmen to help Tanzan Town lay down the basic magic web and also teach your people how to extend them.” Gawain looked at the tempted Viscount Andrew and smiled. “I will also give you a technical handbook. Magic is a rather severe thing, and it must be installed according to the instructions on the technical handbook in order for the magic web to exhibit its effects and would then be able to link with the Magic Powered Engine.”
Viscount Andrew didn’t believe that such a blessing would fall out of nowhere. “These will… probably cost more right?”
The “technology” of this magic was priceless, and it was even more so for ancient magic technology. The northern Violet Kingdom’s mages viewed their puppet-spell and magic-circle technologies as treasures. Every single piece of magic equipment sold to the Anzu Kingdom would be for an expensive price, and they were installed with complicated self-destructing mechanisms. It was to prevent knowledge from leaking out, and in Viscount Andrew’s opinion, these ancient Gondor technologies were just as precious.
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“The price is less than you think. Apart from the labor fee and the cost to install the magic web, I only hope to have a tighter collaboration with Tanzan Town. Tanzan Town possesses one of the White River’s larger trading ports, and it is the gathering place for adventurers and mercenaries in the southern region. I hope to obtain some freedom to use the trading port and the opportunity to set up a merchant association in Tanzan Town. The Cecil Clan is establishing our own business, and we found a trade route to the north. As for the west…”
“The Leslie Clan is willing to collaborate.” Viscount Andrew understood Gawain’s intention and immediately nodded with a smile. “But the details will still have to be discussed with my business advisor as I am not an expert in this aspect.”
The business negotiation between the two sides was very jovial.
Viscount Andrew didn’t stop for long. He might be very curious about this amazing place, but he was looking forward to seeing his own mine use those miraculous machines. In order to quickly complete the trade, he had returned to his territory on the same afternoon to prepare the funds and to welcome the “magic-web technical-guidance team”. When Viscount Andrew left, Gawain didn’t return to his feudal lord residence; instead, he headed to the Mechanical Manufacturing Facility together with Heidi and Amber to inspect the new rotor-type Magic Powered Engine’s prototype assembly.
“Is it really fine to sell the magic web technology and the Magic Powered Engine to the Leslie Clan?” Just like Amber, Heidi was also doubtful of Gawain’s decision. She didn’t reveal it earlier as she could vaguely see some of Gawain’s ideas; therefore, she only raised her question now.
Gawain took a glance at Heidi, Rebecca, and also Amber who was following beside him. He smiled and said, “It seems like there is more than one doubtful individual.”
“Yesterday, you explained plenty of things to me, but I feel that you still have more to say!” Amber glared and said, “I went back and pondered carefully yesterday night and felt that you have some very deep scheme!”
“Tell me, after our neighbor obtains the Magic Powered Engine and the magic web, will they be able to reverse-analyze the rune logic and magic industrialization theories?”
“Absolutely impossible.” Heidi shook her head immediately. “It is impossible for them to succeed in reverse-analyzing it. It would be like looking at a piece of paper and being able to find out the name of the worker who produced that piece of paper. However, I am worried that Viscount Andrew would make copies of them. He shouldn’t be able to produce the Magic Powered Engine and their machinery components as he doesn’t have the required factories and machining technology, but he could make the magic web. Especially when you are selling the magic-web technology information to him. The magic web’s material and craftsmanship isn’t complicated. With the blueprint and some guidance, he would be able to lay down the magic web in any place he wanted. He could even privately sell the magic web to others…”
“If that is truly the case, then I will be waking up from my dreams with a smile,” Gawain replied happily, and his smile was so dazzling that it nearly blinded Amber’s eyes. “I hope he will go and lay down some magic webs and convince everyone in the world to also do so.”
“Why?” Rebecca blinked her eyes and couldn’t understand what was going on.
Gawain laughed and asked them in return, “With the Cecil territory’s current capability, how long would we need to be able to lay the magic web throughout the entire kingdom?”
“Throughout the entire kingdom?!” Rebecca got a shock and said, “It isn’t possible in this generation! Putting aside the normal places, what about the marshlands, forests, rivers, and lakes…”
“Erm… I didn’t mean to lay them everywhere…” Gawain’s attempt to act cool had been interrupted by the foolish girl’s blunt speech. However, he was already used to such incidents, and the topic just carried on. “It is obvious that the Cecil territory wouldn’t be able to complete such a large project alone. It would require the hard work of countless people.”
“Our magic-industrialization technology is established on the magic web. With the magic web, our machines and equipment would be able to operate endlessly. Our soldiers will also be able to obtain energy replenishment at the fastest speed. We are the ones who are researching magic machineries. Therefore, the ‘usable value’ of the magic web is something that no one will be able to compare with us. Even if they develop faster with the assistance of the magic web, the amount of usage for our products will always be greater than theirs.”
“When the magic web is in the hands of Viscount Andrew and others, it will only be a magic web. The magi-technological details contained within it is too little as all the research and principles are hidden in the invisible black box. Furthermore, with the limitations of the traditional mages’ research methods, they will only be able to copy and extend the magic web. During this process, they will only make use of the magic web’s most superficial functions, like supplying energy for their mage towers or magic crystal lamps, or conducting some magic research within the range of the magic web. —But we are able to do much more.”
“I did give Viscount Andrew some set technological information, but it is also a set of rigid criteria. These criteria will become the basic instructions for anyone to lay down the magic web. In other words, all of the magic-web technology that is disseminated will be exactly the same. Be it the Leslie territory, the Kant territory, or any other noble clan territory in the southern region, the magic web that they lay down will be fully compatible with our industrial or military equipment… There are things that I don’t have to say too clearly. You should already understand them yourself.”
Rebecca pondered for a moment before raising her hand. “But I don’t understand!”
“I understand now.” Heidi had already realized it, and her eyes didn’t have any more doubts as they were replaced with astonishment and hints of reverence. “Ancestor, did… did you…?”
“The magic web’s simplicity and advantages are obvious, and it will soon be circulated and laid down in the entire south region or even the entire kingdom. There will be a day when every territory will have the energy source ready for Cecil industrial and military equipment. It doesn’t matter if it is our friends or our enemies who laid them down. They will be helping us do everything. Furthermore, I am looking forward to the completion of the magic web and the moment when it will connect with the Cecil territory.” Gawain smiled and looked at the rotor-type Magic Powered Engine that was having its final adjustments being made. “However, that is in the future. At the current juncture, we only need help from Viscount Andrew to sell mining equipment to each of the mining territories in the southern region. Cecil territory’s development requires more resources, and these territories’ current mining speed is simply too slow.”
Amber finally understood everything that was happening and had associated it with everything that Gawain had done. This was the first time she was able to see all of the gains and losses that Viscount Andrew went through in the process. When she got to the conclusion, she was extremely shocked. “Wait a moment. I just realized that the large sum of money you spent to purchase three years’ worth of magic-conducting materials from Tanzan Town has all been returned through the Viscount purchasing your mining equipment. Furthermore, they are purchasing the phased-out first-generation machines…”
“The magic mechanisms in the machines are also made from the ores purchased from Tanzan Town,” Gawain supplemented.
“From now on, there will be more places learning the technology to lay down the magic web and purchasing your machines. They will help you to mine, to farm, and to lay down the magic webs for you. During this process, they will be paying in other ways!”
Gawain nodded. “In order for my conscience to be at ease, I will give them a 20% discount.”
Amber: “…”
In the center of the assembly workshop, the final inspection worker had already left the massive and advanced Magic Powered Engine.
It had a beautiful gray outer shell, looking like a steel lion crouching there silently. Its swelled up “abdominal cavity” was forged with exquisite steel and a series of curved force plates that were installed on the central axis of the rotor structure with great precision. A total of 18 repulsion devices were installed symmetrically on the inner walls of the outer shell of the rotor. A stable and firm rod was installed for the rune triggers to control all of the repulsion devices, along with a speed adjuster.
A silver metallic ball floated away from the group of workers. He stopped at the control platform of the new rotor engine and turned around to face Gawain while slightly hovering up and down.
In such a stern atmosphere, even that comical individual seemed… Alright, he was still rather comical.
That comical egg pulled the first set of control levers seriously. A low buzzing sound was heard, and the runes started to work. The rotor in the middle of that engine started to spin.
