Chapter 112

Yah~

Luosen slightly increased speed, positioned himself in front of the old mage, blocking his way.

Master~~ I won't drive for you anymore, but I'm very interested in Cavendish Master's transmutation formation. How about we get on the carriage and discuss it in detail inside?

Seeing the old mage silent, he immediately said: "Not much, just take up half an hour of your time?"

Since that's the case, the old mage no longer declined: "Although I don't think there's much to say, but since the lord is so interested, we don't mind explaining it to the lord in detail."

He got onto the carriage.

Luosen, Cavendish, and Alshelt also got onto the carriage one after another.

Luosen deliberately lit a lamp on the carriage roof, making the carriage a bit brighter.

Luosen first quickly introduced himself: "As a mage, I have always been very interested in turning lowly ability into noble ability, and I have always regarded this as my personal highest arcane pursuit."

"But I have only managed to turn lowly ability into lowly ability so far, and due to long-term failure, I even doubt whether it can succeed."

"Now I suddenly heard that someone succeeded in turning lowly ability into noble ability, which made me feel extremely shocked and also very admiring, and thus I regained confidence."

The three mages were all taken aback.

The old mage Ges hurriedly asked: "Turning lowly ability into lowly ability? How is it done?"

Upon seeing the old mage interested, Luosen immediately knew there was an opportunity: "It's just fire turning into lightning, light turning into lightning."

As soon as he said that, the three mages stared at each other.

The old mage exclaimed: "Can fire be turned into lightning?"

Turning lightning into fire or light is very easy, but the reverse is as difficult as climbing to heaven; therefore, lightning is considered a more noble power than fire and light.

Especially turning fire into lightning, which most touched Ges's heart.

Because he had studied fire magic his whole life, he thought his understanding of the fire path far surpassed that of ordinary mages, and also believed there should be nothing about fire he didn't fully know.

Yet he never expected that, after arriving at the sea island for less than half a day, he would hear such news.

His younger son Alshelt said: "I've vaguely heard of turning light into lightning, but I've heard the related arcane experiments are hard to reproduce, have little practical value, and are not recognized by most mages."

His elder son Cavendish said: "Conversion can definitely be done."

"In my view, the essence of all powers is the same. The reason we can't convert is merely because we haven't found the correct method."

Upon hearing that, Luosen felt that this Cavendish, the arcane master, was probably the most impressive of the three father and son.

Thinking about it, if he weren't impressive, he couldn't have produced such an impressive transmutation formation.

At that moment, Luosen felt the old mage had something to say but held back; after a little thought, he knew the other party probably wanted to see the fire-to-lightning formation.

But also worried that after seeing it there would be nothing.

Luosen immediately laughed: "Because I've already put these two conversions into practical use, the specific conversion formation really can't be shared, but I can briefly explain the principle."

"Already put into practical use?"

The old mage widened his leopard eyes: "It seems the Baron has gone very far on the path of power conversion."

He felt he had greatly underestimated the Baron lord's arcane achievements.

Luosen sensed the three mages' thirst for knowledge, and not hiding it, he said: "After my experiments, I discovered something."

He paused, then after the three had fully focused, he continued: "I discovered that lightning is the fire of order, while fire is the lightning of chaos. And light is the tiniest fraction of lightning."

"In other words, in this world there is actually no fire or light, only different forms of lightning."

The three mages' eyes widened together.

Luosen continued: "I also discovered that light might be the fastest thing in this world."

Upon hearing that, Cavendish mage suddenly let out a low cry.

"Light has speed?!"

After shouting that, he slapped his thigh hard.

"Exactly! Why wouldn't light have speed?! As long as it exists, it definitely has speed!"

%$＃&

Cavendish kept slapping his head with his hand, and a string of bizarre terms began to spill from his mouth! Luosen inwardly thought: "This guy actually managed to have an epiphany."

Looking at the other two mages, they were also deep in thought.

Luosen patiently waited a moment, then after the three mages regained calm, he asked: "Master Ges, I dare to ask: what is your preliminary estimate of how much money needs to be invested in researching Cavendish Master's transmutation formation?"

This time Ges did not refuse to answer.

He let out a light sigh, brows tightly furrowed.

"Very expensive."

"Just to reproduce the light experiment result once requires 4000 Ogres; to continue deeper, it requires a huge site and massive resource investment."

"Even according to the most optimistic estimate, probably need to invest fifty thousand Ogres per year."

"This is still based on Kao's estimate; if on White Sturgeon Island, the cost would only be higher. And if not optimistic, then there's no bottom."

"Baron, although your territory is also fairly wealthy, I really don't think you can bear this expense; and even if you grit your teeth and come up with this money, we cannot guarantee any results."

"After all, this is something completely new. I'm afraid that in the end, money will be spent, time will be spent, yet nothing will be obtained, which would really be letting the Baron down."

Luosen understood, and from the data marked on the transmutation formation he had just seen, to realize it the cost is indeed very high.

It is indeed expensive, and Luosen also felt great pressure.

His current income is not small, but his expenditures are astonishingly high.

He merely barely maintains a balance between income and expenditure.

If we were to pull out fifty to sixty thousand Ogres to support Cavendish, then the progress of other matters would inevitably be delayed.

The key is, everything he is currently doing is important and will produce actual results later.

And Cavendish mage's research has an uncertain future; it's highly likely to be like controlled nuclear fusion, a perpetual fifty years.

If we don't wait for that day of success, then his money will all be wasted.

Sensing Luosen's hesitation, Gos let out a light sigh: "My lord, you don't need to force yourself; we'll look elsewhere."

Luosen, however, gritted his teeth and decided to invest.

Because Cavendish's research involves exploring the fundamental laws of the world, even if the transmutation formation yields no result, there will be other discoveries along the way; one of them may prove extremely useful in the future.

As for the money, the two tons of gold he buried in the mountain—it's time to take it out and use it.

Of course, he has his own ideas about how exactly to use this money.

He glanced at the three mages and said, "In my view, this transmutation formation is Cavendish's research, while the two of you are merely assistants, right?"

Gos nodded: "That's right. I originally mainly researched fire‑thunder magical weapons, the very thing King Dange has been working on."

"Now the entire White Continent is working on these powerful flame weapons; I am too, and I have some insights, but I believe no matter how well such a weapon is made, it remains merely a killing tool, its significance far inferior to Cavendish's transmutation formation."

Luosen silently sighed: "Talk about a godsend—I was just lacking a heavy‑artillery expert to bear the main load, and here one shows up directly."

"And what about you, Master Alshelt?"

"I am my father's assistant; he studies the magical weapons themselves, while I study the projectile—specifically, the fire‑thunder that is launched to attack enemies."

He worried Luosen wouldn't understand, so he gestured with both hands, trying to explain fire‑thunder.

Luosen chuckled: "I roughly know what fire‑thunder looks like—it should be a metal tube closed on one side, then you stuff the projectile into the open end and push it forward with blazing flame, right?"

Alshelt nodded repeatedly: "Exactly, exactly, exactly~~ Baron, your insight is extraordinary."

Having come this far, Luosen saw no need for small talk and went straight to the point.

"Three honored mages, to be frank, I am very interested in all your research and am willing to pour substantial funds into supporting it."

Without waiting for Gos to object, he turned to the old mage: "Master, if you worry my money will be wasted, why not team up with Master Alshelt to help me research fire‑thunder weapons?"

Before the other could refuse, he immediately added a sentence.

"I can see that, in the study of pure energy‑transformation formations, the two of you can't really help Master Cavendish much, can you?"

Master Gos swallowed the words he had been about to speak, for he knew Luosen was right.

He had two sons; his younger son's talent could only be described as above average.

But his elder son was truly a genius, the wisest mage he had ever seen, and had always been his pride.

This time, to help his eldest son achieve his life's ambition, he first approached Marquis Henry for support, but after exhausting all means and gaining none, he gritted his teeth and gave up the lifetime treatment the marquis had offered.

Now, this island Baron Luosen could see at a glance that the elder son was extraordinary, and the old mage thought Luosen had a keen eye.

Moreover, their earlier communication had made him very interested in the knowledge of flame‑to‑lightning conversion, and he was eager to investigate further.

Thus, he was reluctant to leave.

After a moment of silence, he voiced his final concern: "Baron, your insight is extraordinary and your willingness to invest heavily makes me very happy."

"I just fear that others on the island will be dissatisfied because of this, after all, this sum is truly not small."

Luosen, of course, could not say he had an unexpected windfall.

To boost their confidence, he waved his hand boldly and said, "I have the final say on this island, and most of the money is earned by my own strength."

"You may not know, but I am actually highly skilled in Transformation Technique; using this art I can earn a large amount of gold each year."

"My wife is the Dawn Princess, which you all surely already know."

"My wife's dowry includes a vast, fertile sea area, and I am about to conquer it; once I do, the territory's revenue will increase greatly."

"I can guarantee that if the three of you stay on my island, I will allocate thirty thousand ogres per year for research on flame‑thunder weapons; for Cavendish's research I will first provide twenty thousand ogres in the first year, then increase it annually."

The cannons need to be deployed quickly, otherwise we'll suffer in future naval battles, so we must increase investment.

Cavendish's transmutation research likely won't bear fruit in the short term; we can only treat it as a long‑term investment.

Although he would love to spend heavily to support Cavendish, as a lord he cannot be completely willful; twenty thousand ogres in the first year is his current limit.

Of course, if Cavendish makes rapid progress in later research, he will even tighten his belt to pour money into him fiercely.

Seeing the old mage's face look a bit unpleasant, Luosen immediately added: "Besides, I am willing to share with you the island's unique arcane knowledge, such as the conversion among light, flame, and lightning."

Hearing this, the three mages looked at one another.

Alshelt said: "Father, the Baron is far more generous than the marquis—he gave only ten thousand for fire‑thunder research, and he isn't even willing to spend on my brother's research, so—"

"Shut up!"

The old mage looked at Cavendish and asked, "What do you say?"

Cavendish turned to Luosen: "Baron, you just said light has speed—what is that speed?"

"About three hundred thousand kilometers per second."

Cavendish gasped: "That fast? How was it measured?"

Luosen really had a way: "Both measured and calculated."

"It can also be calculated?"

"Yes, it can be calculated; it's part of my lightning research."

Cavendish immediately turned to Gos, resolute: "Father, let's go with this!"

"Are you sure?"

Cavendish nodded: "Yes, because for my research to make major progress, I need not only experiments but also new knowledge to assist it, especially fresh insight into the world's fundamental laws."

"Clearly, in this regard the Baron can provide tremendous help."

Since that's the case, the old mage had nothing more to say.

"Baron, then let's sign the contract as you said."

Luosen secretly rejoiced: "Master Luowakado really gave me a great advertisement!"

Gos and Alshelt can now be of great use.

And a genius like Cavendish, who explores the world's laws, is truly a treasure capable of rewriting humanity's fate—a super‑super SSR character.

Initially it may require huge funding to nurture, but later its growth potential will absolutely explode.

Now that he has obtained it, he is so happy he just wants to dance.

Of course, talent is precious, but raising it is outrageously expensive—harder to raise than a princess.

The triangular sea strategy must be followed up immediately.

(End of chapter)