Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 623 - 622: Safety Recommendations

The door to the study opened, and an old mage, dressed in a black robe with hidden patterns, hunched over, and with artificial nerve cords wriggling behind him, appeared before Emperor Rosetta Augustus.

This was not their first meeting.

Daniel had once been a recluse, a hermit mage, but before that, he was one of the senior members of the Royal Mage Association. Today, he is the most outstanding expert of the Constructers’ Guild, the mentor to the president of the Royal Mage Association, a creator of numerous new technologies in the Empire, and a master of technology eagerly sought after by many nobles in Aldernon. He has gained the deep trust of the royal family—including Emperor Rosetta Augustus himself.

Emperor Rosetta has always treated technical personnel with great courtesy. He did not mind Daniel’s frightening appearance, showing a slightly stiff smile: "Master, I hope my summons did not affect your work."

"Working for you is my duty," Daniel said, bowing slightly with considerable respect. "I am more than happy to address any questions you have in the field of technology."

Rosetta nodded, waiting until the old mage took his seat before he asked, "It is said that the imitation of the Magic-guided Vehicle has been successful?"

"Yes, the prototype will be tested in two days," Daniel replied. "If all goes well, we’ll move it into the practical phase as soon as possible."

"Your wisdom is an invaluable asset to the Empire," Rosetta couldn’t help but sigh. "With the new mode of transportation, and the new railway system... we can finally resolve the transportation issues of raw materials and finished products for factories."

"My personal wisdom is unimportant; the replication of the Magic-guided Vehicle is the result of everyone’s collective effort. Moreover, compared to our insignificant wisdom..." Daniel said, gently shaking his head, "perhaps we should admire the wisdom of the Anzu, who first created magic and then developed such precise and powerful machines as the Magic-guided Vehicle."

"Strictly speaking, it is the wisdom of the Cecil Clan—I have brought you here today to discuss precisely this matter with you."

Daniel lowered his eyelids, masking the fleeting glimmer in his eyes to maintain a respectful stance toward royal authority, and he slightly bowed his head: "Please speak."

"Magic Guide Technology originated from the Cecil Clan—even our imitation of the Magic Web, although different in structure and unit specifications from the Cecil Clan’s, shares many general characteristics," said Rosetta leisurely. "In addition, the railway systems being constructed in the western and southern parts of Aldernon are the products of the Cecil Clan, with all core technologies under their control..."

Daniel raised his head: "Are you concerned that these technologies originating from the Cecil Clan will eventually threaten the Empire’s security?"

"Even without considering this, placing the lifeline of the Empire in the hands of outsiders is ultimately inappropriate, even if it is only a part," said Rosetta Augustus solemnly. "The Cecil Clan is adept at utilizing the energy of the Magic Web, and now they are building railways within the Empire’s borders—those powerful trains can transport goods, and they can also transport weapons and armies. I can already conceive strategies for warfare based on railways, something the Cecil Clan surely has also thought of."

How significant is the railway’s role? Before seeing the detailed information brought back by the survey team about the trains, Rosetta Augustus only had a vague impression. But after seeing those detailed materials, he realized almost instantly the terrifying power and potential applications of this transformative technology—

It can transport enough forces to capture a city to their destination in a short time, maintain logistical supplies at minimal cost, and if used against another nation, cutting off the railway could instantly cripple the supply of goods to a city, or even a region—its transport power is so strong that many things unimaginable on traditional roads and carriages become possible on railways.

Last winter, the Noble Congress and royal advisors were greatly startled after receiving information related to the railway. They discussed the feasibility of laying railways within the Empire, shocked and tense, for three days and nights, eventually producing a comprehensive report over ninety pages for Rosetta, which first confirmed one thing:

Typhon needs this advanced transportation technology because Typhon’s factories require it.

The report then presented two major potential risk assessments—

First, to be wary of the Anzu launching an attack on the Empire via the cross-border railway—with the speed of the trains, if the first wave of attack arrives without warning, the guardians at the pass might not even have time to destroy the tracks.

Second, how to protect the railways within the Empire, ensuring they are entirely under the Empire’s control and safe from enemy sabotage.

As an empire that emerged from warfare, Typhon has never lacked vigilance toward war, especially after the Empire reached a certain... critical state, Anzu has become the hypothetical enemy in the minds of nearly all Typhon elites.

Daniel quietly observed Emperor Rosetta Augustus for a few seconds, then his slightly yellowish eyeballs shifted slightly.

"Your Majesty, I am but a technician, so I may not quite understand your military concerns, but from a technical perspective, I can offer you some advice."

"That’s exactly what I want."

"The crux of the problem is energy, or rather, the Magic Web," Daniel said calmly. "Be it the railway or the trains, their operation relies on the Magic Web laid along the route, and if the Anzu, or the Cecil Clan, truly plan to attack the Empire, much of their war machinery would also depend on the Magic Web to function—it is certain that the Magic Web they can carry themselves is limited, so preventing the Empire’s Magic Web from falling into foreign hands is key.

"I have recently been conceptualizing a control structure for the Magic Web, perhaps we can establish a central control over the Magic Web in the Empire’s core area, allowing it to shut down the Magic Web supply to any region at any time, even destructively...

"Unless the enemy controls the core areas of the Empire, capturing the imperial capital and royal palace, they would have their energy supply cut off in any region within the Empire..."

"...This plan is good," Rosetta Augustus pondered, slowly stating, "Yes... very good."

This Typhon Emperor spoke as he raised his eyes, quietly staring into Daniel’s eyes.

Daniel’s artificial nerve cords continued to writhe gently behind him, his face calm as he openly met Rosetta’s gaze.

"Master, I entrust you with this task; please produce a proposal as soon as possible for my personal review."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The old mage took his leave, while Rosetta picked up the documents he had set aside moments before and casually glanced through them.

"Anzu..."

He whispered the name of that ancient kingdom now caught in a vortex, his eyes calm, without hostility or sympathy.

The sudden rise of the Cecil Clan was unexpected, and the existence of those incredible technologies and Gawain Cecil himself made him feel a long-lost sense of threat; hence, this mighty ruler of the Empire couldn’t help but think of some "defense" matters.

But in essence, he still preferred to attack.

"Once this battle is over, the Anzu blood should just about be drained dry..."

Daniel left the emperor’s study, passed through the long hallway in front of it, crossed the foyer of the Obsidian Palace, exited the main gate of the palace, and walked onto the square in front of the palace. It was then that he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

The artificial nerve cords crawling on his back writhed rapidly for a moment and gradually calmed down after a few seconds.

Thanks to the knowledge granted by his master, he was able to successfully control his emotions and reactions. If it were his previously near-mentally unstable self, he would never have been able to complete such a difficult negotiation.

After relaxing his mind slightly, the old mage lifted his head and began looking for his apprentice, who should have been waiting for him in the square.

Mary was not standing where she should be.

Daniel’s brow furrowed slightly. As he looked around, he couldn’t help but mutter, "That fool... where did she run off to..."

He didn’t search for long. Within just a few minutes, he saw his familiar black-haired female apprentice—

Mary had somehow wandered to the edge of the square and was squatting in front of a little girl who had appeared from who knows where. From a distance, Daniel could even see two magic light spheres jumping in Mary’s hands.

She was performing tricks for a passing child on the square, like a lowly street clown?

Daniel was momentarily stunned, then angrily strode over. Not until he reached Mary’s side did the young female mage notice him, still engrossed in conjuring magic light spheres to amuse the little girl. The latter looked wide-eyed in amazement at the "wizard sister’s" performance, but eventually noticed the dreadful expression of the old mage and shrunk back in fear.

Mary finally noticed the familiar presence behind her, shuddering almost subconsciously, and quickly stood up. Turning around, she unsurprisingly saw her mentor’s gloomy face.

She immediately looked down, nervously twisting her hands together: "Men... Mentor... I..."

"What is going on?!"

"This child got lost, I... I just wanted to..."

Daniel was about to vent his anger, but upon hearing Mary’s words, he paused, then looked down at the little girl.

A lost little girl, dressed respectably enough not to be from a factory, but not quite of a status high enough to access the palace, most likely a citizen living nearby.

For some reason, another thought suddenly emerged in Daniel’s mind—

Long ago, when Mary stumbled into his mage tower, she seemed about the same age...

He lifted his head and looked at the female apprentice, who was both nervous and fearful.

Now, the little girl who stumbled into the mage tower has grown up.

If Mary hadn’t stumbled into his mage tower back then, what would she be like now? Would she be looking fearfully at an old mage, awaiting punishment? Or would she be living peacefully with her parents, or perhaps already married, with a husband...

Daniel’s face twitched as if trying to force a benevolent smile, but those withered and stiff muscles seemed incapable of performing such a complex action, so he just shook his head, reached out, and patted the little girl’s hair: "Don’t run around; getting lost would worry your parents."

Then he raised his hand and beckoned the guards near the square.

The guards hurried over, not daring to neglect their duty in the slightest—even if they didn’t recognize the Chief Scholar of the Imperial Construction Association, they had seen Daniel emerge from the Obsidian Palace, accompanied by an attendant, and thus treated him with respect.

"This child is lost; take her and find her parents—I will confirm this matter with your officer afterward."

Daniel casually instructed, and the soldier complied with a series of promises.

Once the soldier and the child had left, Daniel looked at Mary: "Hopelessly foolish. Even with your position in the Constructers’ Guild and the connections you have in the Noble Congress, you could command any soldier on this street, yet all you know is how to use magic tricks to amuse children."

Mary kept her head down, not daring to make a sound.

Daniel’s gaze fell on Mary’s neck, on the iron magic symbol collar.

"Remember what I told you? What would happen if you randomly left the area I designated for you."

Hearing her mentor’s words, Mary finally reacted with a start, almost instinctively reaching for the collar around her neck.

However, before more terrible thoughts could surface, she saw her mentor reaching out toward her—the hand grasped the collar around her neck, and with a soft click, the collar that had accompanied her for many years was effortlessly opened.

Daniel muttered, "I knew it; putting that thing on you couldn’t stop you from running around. Might as well get rid of this useless thing.

"After you go back, get rid of those collars on those fools as well."