Magic Industrial Age

You have to admit, a third-tier transcendent mage has the right to be direct.

Plus, Loy just became an Earl, and hasn't yet developed the aloof habits of the nobility.

So, he didn't find Mennon Becker's almost 'interrogative' tone to be inappropriate.

Shrugging, Loy said, "As you know, I only arrived yesterday, and I've been busy all day, without much rest in the evening.

So, I really haven't had time to inquire about the matter of detaining imperial staff."

After a pause, he asked, "Is there a specific reason why Master Mennon is so concerned?"

"My granddaughter, Christina Becker, is working as a technician among these people, and has been stuck here for a long time.

Most importantly, you're not fulfilling the previous contract, nor are you letting them return, and this place is so chaotic.

Tell me, shouldn't I be worried? Shouldn't I inquire?"

After a pause, Mennon Becker glared at Loy and said, "Otherwise, why would I take this job and run so far?"

Douglas Hill, standing beside them, gave an awkward smile and interjected, "Lord Mennon, could we be a little more tactful?

You're here to ask for help, to ensure your granddaughter's safety, not to cause trouble, right?"

"I..."

Mennon Becker looked at Douglas, his beard bristling and eyes wide, seemingly very angry.

But when he turned to face Loy, he forced a smile: "I'm just a little anxious, Christina is my only granddaughter."

"And, I don't know what you're trying to do anyway."

"This cooperation, you could say the Raymond family begged for it, and the Empire offered significant concessions.

And it's turned into this?"

"If you ask me, the Empire shouldn't have bothered with you, all this talk about industry matching, and winning over allies, is nonsense."

Douglas Hill quickly said, "Lord Mennon, please, we talked about staying calm, staying calm, and shouldn't we avoid discussing imperial policy?"

"Oh, oh! Right, right, calm, communicate peacefully..."

Loy was amused by this old man. Perhaps because he was focused on magic, this mage wasn't used to the nobles' hypocrisy.

If it were a true noble, they might have gotten angry, or even retaliated!

But Loy just waved his hand, tilted his head slightly, thought for a moment, and asked, "Lord Mennon, do you have any understanding of the personnel the Empire sent this time?

For example, if I wanted to negotiate, who could I talk to?"

"You're asking about the Imperial Ambassador, right?"

"Yes!"

"If I remember correctly, it should be Lord Robin Water, a court noble.

He's experienced, prudent, and deeply trusted by His Majesty."

"Then can you help me make contact? I'd like to talk to him face to face."

Loy said, "Lord Mennon, I studied in the Empire, and made many friends.

My recognition and focus on magical machinery is beyond doubt.

I believe that magical machinery will change the world, change the Old Continent, so I intend to continue to execute the contract between the Empire and the Raymond family."

"Of course, you've seen the actual situation, so some adjustments will definitely be needed.

And for that, I need to have a good talk with the Imperial Ambassador."

"Originally, I was planning to handle some administrative matters, restore order to Freshflower Territory, and then find a way to contact the Imperial Ambassador.

But since Lord Mennon has come, that's naturally for the best, you can be our bridge of communication."

"I'm here to find my granddaughter..."

"Of course, during the negotiations, I can ask Lord Robin Water to bring your granddaughter along, so you can rest assured."

The old mage was satisfied with this. He glanced sideways and said, "I don't know Lord Robin Water, but I'm familiar with some of the mages under him.

I can contact them first, and then communicate with the Lord, it shouldn't be a problem."

"That's good!"

Loy nodded and said, "Now, let's first discuss the construction of a long-range transmission magic array that surpasses the traditional one, shall we?"

"Alright!"

Speaking of his old profession, Master Mennon's eyes lit up, and he said, "I have three options here, Lord Earl, see which one you want..."

In Loy's understanding, the Hapsburg Empire's magical machinery has already been involved in all aspects.

Transportation, shipping, mining, smelting, processing, textiles, weapons, navigation, everything!

Only in the field of communication, let alone radio or telegraph machines, even the simplest wired telephone has not appeared.

The reason is that classical magic has already achieved amazing performance in this area.

In Master Mennon's introduction, Loy learned that the long-range transmission magic array he brought actually had three specifications.

The lowest level is letter delivery. Each time the magic array is activated, it's equivalent to opening a two-way space folding channel.

You can throw the letter you want to send over in one minute, and you can also send the letter you want to receive back.

Of course, one minute is the absolute limit. Unless it's a special magic array, basically it has to be maintained within this time.

In fact, most of the long-range transmission networks laid by the Empire are of this type.

Mainly because it's cheap enough, the materials are relatively simple, and maintenance is not too troublesome, making it the most cost-effective.

However, according to the principle of spatial instability, this type of transmission magic array can only be opened and closed three times a day at most.

If it's exceeded, it cannot be used and must be repaired for twenty-four hours before it can be opened again.

So, if there are too many letters, it may cause congestion.

Especially in the main cities of the Hapsburg Empire, communication with each other is extremely frequent, and various information interactions are rapid.

The Empire has even opened magic post offices that citizens can use.

As a result, this type of transmission magic array is completely insufficient.

The second-tier transmission magic array was designed and upgraded by the Imperial Ministry of Magic to solve this problem.

Its effect is to maintain the space folding state for a long time, keep the space channel stable, and freely transmit items within a certain size range.

If there is an emergency, you can even have two people standing next to the magic array, chatting face-to-face, conducting rapid and high-frequency information exchange.

Of course, good things are often expensive. Maintaining a long-term space folding state requires a considerable amount of magic materials and magic crystals.

As for the highest-level transmission magic array, it adds a crystal ball imaging function.

You can actually see real people and communicate synchronously by transmitting sound.

If you describe it, it's like a video call!

This type of transmission magic array is of course the most expensive, and it only exists in the imperial center and important locations.

Often, when it's activated, the great Hohenzollern III is issuing extremely important orders.

Of course, since Master Mennon said it, it means he can also build it, but the price is so expensive that Loy was speechless.

It is worth mentioning that all of the above are point-to-point single-line connections.

Even if it's built, it's impossible to connect to the Empire's transmission system, which is not allowed.

It's equivalent to opening a separate local area network!

Loy was actually tempted to choose the second option, once it's built, communication would be relatively simple.

However, even he chose to give up after seeing the expensive cost.

It's not that he can't afford to build it, but the maintenance cost is so high that it would be a waste without enough business volume.

Fortunately, Master Mennon gave a fourth option: with an additional thousand Guilders, he can build the first transmission magic array, but leave enough expansion interfaces.

If you want to upgrade to the second option, you only need to invest some resources later, which will be much more convenient.

Loy immediately decided, that's the way to go, and the location of the transmission magic array will be in this Lionheart Manor for now.

Of course, the construction of the transmission magic array is not an easy task.

First of all, the site selection is very particular.

People are in space and cannot feel the difference in space. In fact, some places have solid space, and some places have weak space.

Transmission magic arrays are almost always located in relatively weak places, which can reduce the magic energy consumption when opening.

This weak point is relatively common and numerous, but you must constantly explore and locate it within a certain space.

Master Mennon took a lot of tools and wandered around the entire manor.

And each time after determining the approximate location, he even had to take measuring tools and measure the height little by little.

Some of the first few points he found were even ten meters above the ground, and sometimes only three inches above the ground.

These are not suitable.

Until the end, he set a point, which was actually outside the stable, about one meter above the ground, which was considered the best location.

However, for this reason, the stable had to be moved or a new door had to be opened.

Because, a defense system must be built outside the circled area, even including a protective magic array.

If the long-range transmission magic array encounters an attack when it's turned on, especially when elemental forces collide, it will be very troublesome.

If it's not good, it may even cause an explosion and cause a huge shock wave.

Therefore, the external protection work is essential.

As for the entire construction process of the transmission magic array, it's very complicated, and Loy really couldn't understand it.

But what he knew was that after Master Mennon finished here, he had to go to Auckland City, select a location, and complete the transmission magic array.

Then, he had to constantly debug it, and there had to be a mage here to cooperate, until it reached a matching frequency fluctuation, then it would be considered a success.

For this reason, Loy still invited Ms. Palacios and asked her to communicate with Master Mennon.

Although Ms. Palacios is not proficient in transmission magic arrays, as a fourth-tier disaster, based on her understanding of magic, she can still assist and determine the operation process.

Furthermore, Master Mennon's small temper can't be shown in front of a fourth-tier powerhouse, so he behaved very respectfully.

Loy, in turn, dragged the obstructive Douglas Hill over.

They found a sunny place, had Butler Hoover bring some food and tea, and started chatting.

No matter how they met at the beginning, now they are good friends, and even in this foreign country, they can talk about almost anything.

Loy told Douglas about his experiences along the way, the attacks he encountered, the battles between disasters, his experiences in Auxerre City, the slapping in the face of the noble council, etc.

Douglas listened with admiration, as if listening to an adventure story.

Of course, Douglas also told Loy about many things in Auckland City.

However, without Loy, Auckland City seemed to have fewer all kinds of messy things, and it became more stable.

However, the various plans left by Loy have not changed, but are being implemented in a real way.

For example, the Lightninger Magical Machinery Factory has undergone another expansion.

Mainly because the magic hammer forging machine is too popular, there are too many orders, and if production is not expanded, it cannot meet market demand.

However, this time, in addition to the magic apprentices drawn from the Philant Magic Academy, the training classes in the machinery factory have also been quite effective.

Many workers and blacksmiths have successfully accumulated magic power after completing the basic meditation class and the assistance of spices.

They lack a complete understanding of magic, and have not taken formal magic courses. It's an exaggeration to call them magic apprentices.

However, they are skilled workers, and after having magic power, the role they can play in production is different.

In fact, they are even faster to get started than those newly recruited magic apprentices.

Of course, to really compare, the development of Ortis Pharmaceutical Company is even faster.

Because, compared to the peak of magic machinery, Soul-Stabilizing Spice is really produced as much as it is consumed, with almost no surplus.

This spice has become the Empire's most sought-after material, without exception.

Even those who are older are trying to use spices to assist in entering a meditative state and accumulate magic power.

In the entire society, there are actually many rich people, but they can't complete basic meditation.

Now, with the opportunity, no one will give up!

Therefore, if it weren't for the Empire strictly controlling prices and not allowing speculation, the price of Soul-Stabilizing Spice on the black market would have soared to the sky.

Of course, the only advantage is that pharmacists are not as valued as mechanical magic apprentices.

Mrs. Linda searched throughout the northern Empire, offered generous wages, and really recruited a lot of people.

So, in comparison, the expansion of the pharmaceutical company is more restricted by the raw materials of the medicine.

Although it seemed like ordinary materials before, after large-scale use, there was a shortage.

Now, purchasing the required medicinal materials from outside the Empire, from other countries in the Old Continent, is a big business.

Then there is the construction of Douglas' magical steelmaking furnace, which is Douglas' proudest thing.

After the drawings left by Loy were finalized, he almost immediately began to build the factory. For this reason, he mobilized almost all the connections and resources he could mobilize.

Even, in order to quickly build the factory building, he found more than twenty earth-based proficient mages, who used the two magics 'Fossil to Mud' and 'Mud to Stone' together.

And in order to rush the production of various magic-powered machines, he drew away at least a thousand skilled blacksmiths, even spending a fortune to hire specialized alchemists to be stationed there.

All of this was to speed up the construction period!

The reason he was rushing so much was because a production accident had indeed occurred.

His experimental furnace had exploded!

Although Loy emphasized safe production, he didn't stop the work for the sake of the construction period, nor did he make any rectifications.

In that kind of environment, when it reached the critical point, the dust in the air accumulated, and then burned and exploded!

The only fortunate thing was that Douglas was there when it happened.

He was the first to notice the problem and then evacuated the workers. Although the aftermath of the explosion destroyed the entire factory building,

and even the Lightninger Magic-Powered Machinery Factory was damaged,

none of the workers were injured!

Speaking of this, Douglas still felt lingering fear. He really didn't expect that this explosion would be even more terrifying than a failed magic experiment.

This made him emphasize production safety almost obsessively when rushing to work later.

Indeed, as the saying goes, people can't be taught by others, but they learn from experience, and once is enough!

It's just that after this small boiler exploded, the demand for rails became tense again.

Of course, although Douglas came alone, he brought letters from everyone.

For example, Gary Mills's letter was all about asking if your place was fun and inviting him to stay for a while!

Mrs. Linda's letter mainly talked about the development of the pharmaceutical company and some directional issues.

Mira Greenman provided a qualified financial report, letting Loy know how much more Guilders he had earned and how much his assets had increased.

Maruna provided a report detailing the development of the industry.

Lien Vasquez, the great bow-wielding man, reported on the construction of the group's security department.

He also had some ideas, and he divided the security department into three parts.

The regular security personnel do the security work, the security guards of each factory, residence, and manor.

The second part is to recruit powerful people, at least second-tier combat professionals, and even including two formal mages.

They are like a special force raised by the group, usually training, and only taking action when needed.

They solve relatively tricky troubles!

Of course, these people can only be dispatched after he, Maruna, and Mira all approve.

As for the last part, he organized a group of staff members who possessed magic but didn't want to screw screws in the factory and let them train with magic-powered firearms!

They may not be able to be of use, but if they are really pushed to the brink, a group of people pulled out, armed with magic-powered firearms, would definitely be very scary.

At the end of the letter, Lien Vasquez also patted his chest and said that he had been working very hard recently and was expected to reach the third tier soon.

Of course, what Loy valued most was Baron Miller's letter.

The obvious thing here is the report on the railway construction situation.

It can only be said that the progress is surprisingly fast, the efficiency is extremely high, and the quality is not compromised.

Although this railway has not been completely completed, the efficiency shown has been recognized by the Empire, and along with the recognition, of course, is this joint venture model.

Therefore, Hohenzollern III has already indicated in his letter to Miller that he wants to reuse him.

However, the specific position is still under discussion.

His Majesty the Emperor gave two choices: one is to be promoted within the transportation system, directly in charge of railway construction and the promotion of new models.

In this regard, Miller has enough experience and can do well.

However, Miller is worried that the top boss of this position is the Minister of Political Affairs.

He had already offended this person before, and he was afraid of being suppressed.

The other is to transfer Miller to the Empire, first to work in the court, and follow the instructions of His Majesty the Emperor.

It can be said that both of these paths are stepping stones to advancement, which shows how much Hohenzollern III values him.

It's just that Miller himself is a little unsure.

This letter is more about asking for Loy's opinion.

After Kavin went out for a walk and cleared his head, there was not enough time left.

A 5000+ word chapter is barely a two-in-one.