Chapter 84

Sizzle~~~~~~~~sizzle~~~

This is an onomatopoeic sound; it should be rendered as a sound effect like 'Sizzle~~~~~~~~sizzle~~~'.

In the arcane laboratory, on two runic silver forks spaced several meters apart, tiny metal electric arcs appeared simultaneously.

In the Magic Method Laboratory, on two runic silver forks spaced over ten meters apart, tiny metal electric arcs appeared simultaneously.

Strangely, Rosen infused power into only one of the silver forks, while the other had no source of power at all.

Translate: "Strangely, Luosen clearly infused power into only one of the silver forks, while the other fork clearly had no source of power." Keep "Luosen". Output: "Strangely, Luosen clearly infused power into only one of the silver forks, while the other fork clearly had no source of power."

You must be playing some kind of trick, secretly adding something to this silver fork.

Translate: "You must have played some trick, secretly adding something to this silver fork." Keep quotes? The line includes Chinese quotes. We should keep the quotation marks? Probably we should output the translation without the Chinese quotes, just the sentence. The instruction: translate lines. So we output English sentence. No need to keep Chinese quotes. Output: "You must have played some trick, secretly adding something to this silver fork."

Selena wore an expression that said, "I don't believe you."

Translate: "Selena wore an expression of 'I don't believe you'." Or "Selena had a look of 'I don't believe you' on her face." We'll output: "Selena had a look of 'I don't believe you' on her face."

Rosen smiled and asked, "How come you feel a magical surge on the second fork?"

Translate: "Luosen smiled: 'How come, do you feel magical power fluctuations on the second fork?'" Keep Luosen. Output: "Luosen smiled: 'How come, do you feel magical power fluctuations on the second fork?'"

He asked this because mages are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in magical power, and the higher their ring level, the more sensitive they are.

Translate: "He asked this because mages are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in magical power, and the higher the ring number, the more sensitive they are." Output: "He asked this because mages are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in magical power, and the higher the ring number, the more sensitive they are."

As a fourth‑ring mage, Selena believed that hardly any mage could hide their magical fluctuations from her, especially since her husband was only a second‑ring intermediate mage.

Translate: "As a Four-ring mage, Selena believed that few mages in the world could hide their magical power fluctuations from her, especially since her husband was only a mid-level Two-ring mage." Output: "As a Four-ring mage, Selena believed that few mages in the world could hide their magical power fluctuations from her, especially since her husband was only a mid-level Two-ring mage."

So she was puzzled.

Translate: "So she was puzzled." Output: "So she was puzzled."

I didn't sense any fluctuation, but I think you must have tampered with the metal fork, perhaps hiding a tiny lightning device inside.

Translate: "I didn't detect any fluctuations, but I think you must have secretly tampered with the metal fork, like hiding a tiny lightning house inside it." Output: "I didn't detect any fluctuations, but I think you must have secretly tampered with the metal fork, like hiding a tiny lightning house inside it."

Rosen gave a slight smile and said, "My dear, you can certainly inspect it yourself."

Translate: "Luosen gave a slight smile: 'My dear lady, you can certainly examine it yourself.'" Output: "Luosen gave a slight smile: 'My dear lady, you can certainly examine it yourself.'"

I intend to examine it thoroughly.

Translate: "I am going to examine it thoroughly." Output: "I am going to examine it thoroughly."

She picked up the utterly simple runic silver fork, examined it from every angle, and even used transmutation alchemy to roll it into a ball, stretch it into a thread, and flatten it into a sheet.

Translate: "She picked up this simplest-structured runic silver fork, examined it from every angle, and even used Transmutation Alchemy to knead it into a ball, stretch it into threads, and press it into sheets." Output: "She picked up this simplest-structured runic silver fork, examined it from every angle, and even used Transmutation Alchemy to knead it into a ball, stretch it into threads, and press it into sheets."

The result was that, aside from plain silver metal, nothing else was found.

Translate: "The result was that, aside from pure silver metal, nothing was found." Output: "The result was that, aside from pure silver metal, nothing was found."

How strange.

Translate: "How strange." Output: "How strange."

Rosen laughed and said, "Now put it back the way it was."

Translate: "Luosen laughed: 'Please restore it to its original shape.'" Output: "Luosen laughed: 'Please restore it to its original shape.'"

Selena did as he said and returned the fork to its original place.

Translate: "Selena complied, and placed the silver fork back in its original spot." Output: "Selena complied, and placed the silver fork back in its original spot."

Rosen then invoked power into the fork in his hand once again.

Translate: "Luosen once again infused power into the silver fork in his hand." Output: "Luosen once again infused power into the silver fork in his hand."

Sizzle~~~sizzle~~~

Translate: "Sizzle~~~sizzle~~~". Output: "Sizzle~~~sizzle~~~"

The two silver forks again simultaneously produced electrical light.

Translate: "The two silver forks again simultaneously produced electric light." Output: "The two silver forks again simultaneously produced electric light."

Selena finally understood.

Translate: "Selena finally understood." Output: "Selena finally understood."

There is an invisible electrical force transferring from the fork in your hand over here, just like the 'ghost transfer' phenomenon of psychic power, right?

Translate: "There is an invisible lightning power that transferred from the silver fork in your hand, just like the 'ghost transfer' phenomenon of spiritual power, right?" Output: "There is an invisible lightning power that transferred from the silver fork in your hand, just like the 'ghost transfer' phenomenon of spiritual power, right?"

Snap~~

Snap~~

Rosen snapped his fingers and said, "Exactly—this is the 'ghost lightning' phenomenon I accidentally discovered during my arcane experiments."

Translate: "Luosen snapped his fingers: 'Exactly, this is the 'Ghost Lightning' phenomenon I accidentally discovered during magical method experiments.'" Output: "Luosen snapped his fingers: 'Exactly, this is the 'Ghost Lightning' phenomenon I accidentally discovered during magical method experiments.'"

Selena, a bit puzzled, remarked, "It's fascinating, but the efficiency of the power transfer seems very low."

Translate: "Selena was a bit puzzled: 'Very wonderful, but the efficiency of power transfer seems low.'" Output: "Selena was a bit puzzled: 'Very wonderful, but the efficiency of power transfer seems low.'"

Because the electrical glow on Rosen's fork is noticeably brighter than on the other, the transfer efficiency is less than one percent.

Translate: "Because the electric spark on Luosen's silver fork is obviously brighter than that on the other fork, the transfer efficiency is less than one percent." Output: "Because the electric spark on Luosen's silver fork is obviously brighter than that on the other fork, the transfer efficiency is less than one percent."

Rosen smiled and said, "Indeed it's low—basically useless for combat, but it can be used for long‑range communication."

Translate: "Luosen smiled: 'Indeed it's low, basically unusable for combat, but it can be used for long-distance communication.'" Output: "Luosen smiled: 'Indeed it's low, basically unusable for combat, but it can be used for long-distance communication.'"

Selena, also a well‑learned mage, immediately replied, "There are plenty of long‑range communication spells; I know of several dozen myself."

Translate: "Selena, also a very learned mage, immediately said: 'Long-distance communication spells are not few; I know of over a dozen myself.'" Output: "Selena, also a very learned mage, immediately said: 'Long-distance communication spells are not few; I know of over a dozen myself.'"

The farthest‑reaching 'Dream Rendezvous' spell can even reach a thousand miles away.

Translate: "The farthest, 'Dream Meeting,' even has a chance to transmit over a thousand li." Output: "The farthest, 'Dream Meeting,' even has a chance to transmit over a thousand li."

It is indeed far, but the 'Dream Rendezvous' spell is extremely unstable, isn't it?

Translate: "Indeed it's far, but 'Dream Meeting' is extremely unstable, right?" Output: "Indeed it's far, but 'Dream Meeting' is extremely unstable, right?"

When the conversation turned to magic, Selena became energized.

Translate: "When discussing spells, Selena became spirited." Output: "When discussing spells, Selena became spirited."

If you want stability, the third‑ring 'Mind Resonance' spell can transmit steadily within thirty kilometers and hardly consumes any magical power.

Translate: "If you want stability, the Three-ring 'Spiritual Resonance' can stably transmit within thirty li, and it doesn't consume much magical power either." Output: "If you want stability, the Three-ring 'Spiritual Resonance' can stably transmit within thirty li, and it doesn't consume much magical power either."

All you need is to place a mage outpost every thirty‑plus kilometers, and you can relay a message to tens of thousands of miles away in an instant.

Translate: "Just need to set up a mage watchpost every thirty-plus kilometers, and the message can be transmitted to tens of thousands of li in an extremely short time." Output: "Just need to set up a mage watchpost every thirty-plus kilometers, and the message can be transmitted to tens of thousands of li in an extremely short time."

In fact, such dedicated psychic communication routes are numerous across the Witt continent, and many psychic mages and specialized psychic communication stations have even appeared.

Translate: "In fact, the White Continent has many such dedicated spiritual communication routes, and even many spiritual communication mages and dedicated spiritual communication stations have appeared." Output: "In fact, the White Continent has many such dedicated spiritual communication routes, and even many spiritual communication mages and dedicated spiritual communication stations have appeared."

While listening, Rosen had a black‑clad iron guard bring two black boxes, each about the size of a small bookbag, to his hand.

Translate: "Luosen listened while having a Black-Iron Guard under his control deliver two black boxes the size of small backpacks to his hand." Output: "Luosen listened while having a Black-Iron Guard under his control deliver two black boxes the size of small backpacks to his hand."

After Selena finished speaking, he held up two fingers and said, "I've also heard of psychic relay stations, but this technology has two major drawbacks that are hard to overcome."

Translate: "After Selena finished speaking, he held up two fingers: 'I've also heard of spiritual communication stations, but this thing has two drawbacks that are hard to overcome.'" Output: "After Selena finished speaking, he held up two fingers: 'I've also heard of spiritual communication stations, but this thing has two drawbacks that are hard to overcome.'"

First, it must be operated by mages for both transmission and relay.

Translate: "First, it must be carried out by mages for transmission and relay transmission." Output: "First, it must be carried out by mages for transmission and relay transmission."

Selena shrugged and said, "The Mind Resonance technique isn't difficult, and there are plenty of high‑level mages who know it."

Translate: "Selena shrugged: 'The Spiritual Resonance technique isn't difficult; there are plenty of high-tier mages who know it.'" Output: "Selena shrugged: 'The Spiritual Resonance technique isn't difficult; there are plenty of high-tier mages who know it.'"

Rosen immediately countered, "But each link can be at most thirty kilometers long—how would we cross the 200‑kilometer‑wide Amber Gold Strait?"

Translate: "Luosen immediately countered: 'But each node can be at most 30 kilometers long—how do we cross the 200-kilometer-wide Amber Gold Strait?'" Output: "Luosen immediately countered: 'But each node can be at most 30 kilometers long—how do we cross the 200-kilometer-wide Amber Gold Strait?'"

Selena insisted, "We could set up ships in the sea."

Translate: "Selena stubbornly replied: 'We can set up ships in the sea.'" Output: "Selena stubbornly replied: 'We can set up ships in the sea.'"

But what about storms? And how would we maintain real‑time contact with moving ocean‑going vessels?

Translate: "But what about storms? And how can we maintain real-time contact with moving ocean-going vessels?" Output: "But what about storms? And how can we maintain real-time contact with moving ocean-going vessels?"

Selena was left speechless, knowing her husband was right, and she turned her gaze to the black box in his hand.

Translate: "Selena was speechless, because she knew her husband was right, and so she turned her gaze to the black box in his hand." Output: "Selena was speechless, because she knew her husband was right, and so she turned her gaze to the black box in his hand."

So, is this the communication device you built based on the 'ghost lightning' phenomenon?

Translate: "So, is this the communication artifact you crafted based on 'Ghost Lightning'?" Output: "So, is this the communication artifact you crafted based on 'Ghost Lightning'?"

She walked over and examined it closely.

Translate: "She walked over and examined it carefully." Output: "She walked over and examined it carefully."

The main body is a black box with an extendable metal rod on one side, fitted with a strap, indicating it can be carried on the back.

Translate: "The main body is a black box, with a retractable metal rod on one side, and a strap on the other side, indicating it can be carried on the back." Output: "The main body is a black box, with a retractable metal rod on one side, and a strap on the other side, indicating it can be carried on the back."

She lifted it and found it had some weight—about ten to twelve catties (roughly five to six kilograms).

Translate: "She also lifted it and found it had some weight, about ten or so catties." Output: "She also lifted it and found it had some weight, about ten or so catties."

Your lightning device isn't just ordinarily heavy.

Translate: "Your lightning artifact is not ordinarily heavy." Output: "Your lightning artifact is not ordinarily heavy."

Rosen smiled and said, "Of course it's heavy, because inside is a small solar‑charged lightning chamber."

Translate: "Luosen smiled: 'Of course it's heavy, because inside is a small solar-charged lightning house.'" Output: "Luosen smiled: 'Of course it's heavy, because inside is a small solar-charged lightning house.'"

Selena instantly grasped the device's advantage and asked, "So ordinary people can use it too?"

Translate: "Selena immediately understood the advantage of this artifact: 'So, ordinary people can use it?'" Output: "Selena immediately understood the advantage of this artifact: 'So, ordinary people can use it?'"

That's right—anyone can use it, even monkeys or cats. As long as they can press down and bring the two metal plates together, it easily achieves the 'ghost transfer' of lightning.

Translate: "That's right, anyone can use it, even monkeys and cats. As long as they can press down, making the two metal pieces contact each other, it can easily achieve the 'ghost transfer' of lightning." Output: "That's right, anyone can use it, even monkeys and cats. As long as they can press down, making the two metal pieces contact each other, it can easily achieve the 'ghost transfer' of lightning."

If placed on a higher spot, like a hilltop, the ghost lightning can reach up to 100 kilometers and be reliably received by another black box.

Translate: "If placed at a slightly higher location, such as a mountaintop, the ghost lightning can transmit up to 100 kilometers away, and be stably received by another black box." Output: "If placed at a slightly higher location, such as a mountaintop, the ghost lightning can transmit up to 100 kilometers away, and be stably received by another black box."

Selena's face lit up with amazement: "100 kilometers—that's enough to cover the whole White Sturgeon Island!"

Selena's face showed amazement: "100 kilometers—that's enough to cover the whole White Sturgeon Island!"

White Sturgeon Island is a long oval, somewhat resembling the front claw of a rooster diagram, but its north‑south length is just over seventy kilometers, its land area about three thousand square kilometers, and it can be easily covered.

Translate: "White Sturgeon Island is long and oval-shaped, somewhat resembling the foreleg of a rooster diagram, but its north-south length is only a little over seventy kilometers, its total land area about 3000-plus square kilometers, and it can be easily covered." Output: "White Sturgeon Island is long and oval-shaped, somewhat resembling the foreleg of a rooster diagram, but its north-south length is only a little over seventy kilometers, its total land area about 3000-plus square kilometers, and it can be easily covered."

Rosen added with a smile, "The Wind‑Cease Strait is sixty kilometers wide, which can also be easily crossed."

Translate: "Luosen added with a smile: 'The Wind-Rest Strait is sixty kilometers wide, which can also be easily crossed.'" Output: "Luosen added with a smile: 'The Wind-Rest Strait is sixty kilometers wide, which can also be easily crossed.'"

Selena nodded slowly, but she still had reservations: "Is this reliable? Could it be intercepted?"

Translate: "Selena nodded slowly, but still had concerns on her face: 'But is this reliable? Won't it be eavesdropped?'" Output: "Selena nodded slowly, but still had concerns on her face: 'But is this reliable? Won't it be eavesdropped?'"

Upon saying that, Rosen raised one finger.

Translate: "Upon saying that, Luosen raised one finger." Output: "Upon saying that, Luosen raised one finger."

"Eavesdropping—or leakage—is the second major drawback of psychic communication."

Translate: "'Eavesdropping, or leakage, is the second major drawback of spiritual communication.'" Output: "'Eavesdropping, or leakage, is the second major drawback of spiritual communication.'"

"Even without eavesdropping, the signal could mistakenly reach other mages—or even ordinary people's minds."

Translate: "'Even without eavesdropping, it could be misdirected to other mages, or even into ordinary people's minds.'" Output: "'Even without eavesdropping, it could be misdirected to other mages, or even into ordinary people's minds.'"

The reason is simple: everyone has a mind, so everyone is a potential signal receiver, and inevitably a few people will happen to resonate.

Translate: "The reason is simple: everyone has a spirit, so everyone is a signal receiver, and there will inevitably be some people who happen to resonate." Output: "The reason is simple: everyone has a spirit, so everyone is a signal receiver, and there will inevitably be some people who happen to resonate."

Speaking of this, Luosen suddenly laughed.

I can guarantee that using lightning communication will absolutely not repeat the tragedy of the Sith.

Upon hearing this, Selena 'pfft' laughed out loud. 'The probability of that is very low, and not everyone is as absurd as Aaron's Sith mage.'

Aaron's Sith mage was a palace psychic communication officer thirty years ago, dedicated to serving the king of the Aaron Kingdom.

Once, while he was having an affair with his female assistant, an urgent communication task came up; in his haste he made a mistake and actually transmitted a pleasure signal into the king's brain.

The king happened to be in an important meeting with his ministers, and he made a huge fool of himself on the spot.

The king flew into a rage, locking the Sith mage together with a sexually aroused female donkey, and ordered that unless the Sith could get the donkey pregnant within a month, he would be physically castrated.

This incident is known as 'the tragedy of the Sith.'

Luosen tapped the black box again and said seriously, 'As psychic communication mages become more numerous, the frequency of leaks will only increase, but this thing has no such problem.'

Selena finally began to take it seriously: 'How do ordinary people send messages? Do they just speak to it?'

Luosen shook his head: 'Of course not; it uses a set of cipher.'

Actually, this device is a telegraph machine from another world's magic, and Luosen plans to use it to transmit a Morse code adapted for otherworldly script.

It's very primitive, but it's sufficient.

And more advanced sound transmission, even image transmission, would have a truly complex structure; he couldn't whip it up in a short time.

To achieve that, relying on him alone isn't very realistic.

He would need to spend money to cultivate relevant talent, then have him propose the guiding ideas, invest large sums of funds, and let a large wave of talent help him work to achieve rapid iterative upgrades.

Getting back to the point.

While speaking, he took out a codebook and handed it to his wife, while also placing the two telegraph machines on opposite sides of the laboratory, 20 meters apart.

Then Luosen, on this side of the room, continuously sent codes via the telegraph to Selena opposite him.

The code's content was: 'Madam, you are as beautiful as a flower.'

Selena listened to the telegraph box's 'beep-beep' sound while painstakingly translating using the codebook.

After Luosen repeated it several dozen times, Selena's excited voice sounded in his mind: 'I understand~~ah~~This is quite fun, just a bit troublesome.'

'It's a bit troublesome, but reliable and works over long distance.'

'Then I still have a question.'

'If others also have this device, wouldn't they be able to receive the signal?'

'Indeed they could, but lightning signals can also be encrypted.'

'I have currently developed two encryption modes: one encrypts the signal itself, the other encrypts the message. With both methods, there's no need to worry about eavesdropping.'

'The former is using a separate electromagnetic band; the latter is cryptography.'

Selena began to get a bit lost, but she knew her husband's research on lightning communication had probably reached a very profound level.

And upon recalling his previous actions, she suddenly saw a vague developmental context.

'Dear, you seem to be breaking free from reliance on pure magical power.'

Luosen gave a slight smile: 'That's right, I am doing that, but it's far from just me doing it.'

Saying this, he stood with arms crossed, his face showing a subtle expression, somewhat urgent yet also somewhat expectant.

'My beautiful lady, over the past thirty years, especially the past ten, a trend has emerged in the White Continent's arcane community.'

'Using lowly ability to replace noble ability, using the scale of lowly ability to replace the quality of noble ability.'

'And mages have gradually transformed from providers and controllers of power into pure controllers of power.'

Selena heard this for the first time, and her heart instinctively felt shocked.

But shortly after, she recalled a story she had heard a few months ago from the Aaron Kingdom.

The story says that a commoner alchemist mage developed a surprisingly powerful red fire clay.

A chunk the size of a baby's fist can produce power comparable to a second-tier fireball spell.

She also heard that after Dange learned of this, he extraordinarily bestowed an honorary knight title upon that commoner mage and summoned him into the royal Lion's Fang Workshop.

Before she didn't find it frightening, but now she has witnessed the lightning torrent crossbow created by the mage Kao.

With just over 300 people, suffering almost no losses, they slaughtered over 2000 Forest Spirits in under five minutes.

Suddenly she felt that story had become extremely terrifying.

Seeing his wife's expression change, Luosen felt a stir and asked: 'Madam, are you thinking of Beier, the Knight who invented the Flame Earth?'

Selena was not at all surprised that her husband could see through her thoughts, for he is such a perceptive person.

She lightly nodded: 'I worry that the Cold Water River massacre might also happen in Dawn City.'

Luosen nodded solemnly: 'Weilan has already fallen far behind; if we don't hurry, it really could happen.'

Having said that, he patted the telegraph black box.

'This is also the biggest reason I insist on implementing the new policy on the island. And this lightning communication box is the most crucial aid in implementing the new policy.'

The first key element in guaranteeing the effectiveness of central rule is the high-speed transmission of information within the territory.

It's like a person, who is merely a collection of cells governed by the brain.

If the transmission speed of the brain's neural signals were as slow as a turtle crawling, that person would be useless, unable even to live.

Selena of course knew the new policy's content, but she previously found it shocking and hard to accept; now, however, her mindset has changed.

She felt that the current Weilan is like an elderly person nearing death, and her husband's new policy might be the elixir that could rejuvenate Weilan.

She walked to Luosen's side, flung herself into his embrace, and softly said: 'Dear, I now fully understand your thoughts.'

Luosen gently stroked his wife's smooth long hair, feeling quite pleased: 'Quite good, quite good; my princess wife is very receptive to advice.'

But Selena suddenly thought of another question: 'In the future, will noble abilities become useless?'

She has studied only noble abilities, and she feels a sense of being eliminated by the times.

Luosen shook his head: 'Of course not; arcane, mental, strength, and even the newly obtained steel energy all have unique and powerful effects.'

'It's just that lowly abilities are easy to cognize and utilize, so they are promoted on a large scale. When the day comes that noble abilities are also deeply understood, they will naturally shine brightly.'

(End of Chapter)