Chapter 92: The Best Defense Is Offense! (13)

The underground Magic Method Center on the island, the potion research lab.

"I plan to build a warship, but I don't plan to build it out of wood."

Facing this potion master with a lovely doll-like face but unfortunately a mature figure and cold demeanor, the current head of the island's Magic Method Department, Luosen, said:

Weige crossed her arms, propped her chin with one hand, thought for a moment, then countered: "Are you planning to use steel, my lord?"

Luosen wasn't surprised by this answer, because ironclad ships had already appeared in this world, and they had already begun to discuss the feasibility of all-steel warships.

Weige was extraordinarily knowledgeable, the most learned mage under his command, so she naturally should know this.

Luosen nodded: "Yes."

Weige immediately began listing the difficulties of building ships from steel.

"First, steel is naturally far stronger than wood, but once production scales up, iron is not any cheaper than wood."

"Not only is the material costly, but the subsequent smelting and processing expenses are exorbitant; there are currently no suitable smelting techniques, and even using transformation magic wouldn't work, because the scale is too large."

"Second, there isn't enough power to propel a steel warship forward quickly; it's entirely foreseeable that a steel ship of the same size would be extremely heavy."

"Finally, seawater corrosion is also a troublesome difficulty."

These are all very real problems.

Luosen nodded in agreement to each point.

"So, from the very beginning I had you research steel elixir, intending to use magical steel to replace actual steel."

This remark made the sternness on Director Weige's face deepen a little.

She blinked her long-lashed dark-blue eyes, giving Luosen a cold stare, which was her usual demeanor when discussing magical matters.

"My lord, your idea isn't novel; many mages have had similar thoughts, some even receiving strong support from the king and great nobles. Yet none have succeeded, because this runs contrary to current magical common sense!"

"I think you should know that the effect of steel elixir never exceeds three hours. Even if you apply costly stabilization magic, facing constant seawater erosion and wave impacts, the stabilization power will be depleted in an instant."

"Currently, using an exceptionally improved advanced stabilization technique and merely soaking in seawater, the effect lasts at most two months—let alone the harsh operating environment of a warship."

"Moreover, what if the opponent dispels the elixir's effect?"

This is a very frightening problem.

Mbabate's Steel Giant Lizard had just been dispelled.

Luosen lightly clapped his hands, wearing an expression of admiration: "Miss Weige, your extraordinary insight fills me with respect; truly you are worthy of being my most relied-upon Magic Method Director."

But he shifted the topic.

"Regarding stabilization technique, Kao's Stabilization Master Wolan had once proposed the concept of a 'magical fence'."

"He said, the essence of a magical effect is like pushing a round ball up a slope, and all stabilization techniques do is set up a fence around the ball to prevent it from rolling down the slope."

"He went on to say, the sturdier and higher the fence, the safer the ball."

This is common knowledge; basically every formally graduated mage has heard it, and Weige is no exception.

She fluttered her lashes and calmly reminded: "The sturdiness and height of a single fence are both limited, my lord."

Luosen nodded: "Indeed."

"But I've been wondering, could we add a fence to a fence, then add a fence to that fence, and keep adding fences indefinitely, forming multi-tiered stabilization?"

Weige immediately replied: "That idea is somewhat novel, but many mages who specialize in stabilization have had similar thoughts."

"I admit that multi-tiered stabilization yields remarkable results, but as the number of tiers increases, the improvement in stabilization effect diminishes. Beyond six tiers it ceases to be mana-efficient, after all stabilization magic is costly."

Then Luosen produced his own genuine creation.

He twitched the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of a proud smile.

"My Magic Method Director, that's because they haven't developed the 'Lightning Stabilization Technique,' nor have they developed the 'Conjugate Stabilization' magical skill."

Weige startled, the iciness on her face instantly collapsing by half.

"I somewhat understand the former, but what does the latter mean?"

Luosen just loves seeing Weige's astonished expression, because such opportunities are rare.

He explained: "I devised a method whereby one fence maintains another fence, while at the same time, the fence being maintained also maintains the fence that maintains it."

"The two fences lock onto each other, mutually maintaining, thus forming a kind of infinite-tier stabilization in a sense."

Weige completely lost her composure; upon hearing the explanation she knew that this baron lord before her had likely produced something extraordinary.

She swallowed and asked: "My lord, what exactly is the effect?"

Regarding this achievement, Luosen also felt quite proud.

The reason he brings it up now to tell Weige is that the conditions have matured, and the subsequent plan requires her strong cooperation.

So he began to detail the effects of his original stabilization technique.

"My stabilization technique can boost the stabilization intensity of certain specific elemental-enhancement-type spells by nearly two orders of magnitude, and it can also be recharged at any time to replenish the 'fence's' loss intensity."

A series of highly professional and astonishing terms were thrown out by Luosen, leaving the young female Magic Method Director dizzy and blurred.

She struggled to repeat: "At least two orders of magnitude improvement for elemental-enhancement-type steel elixir is elemental-enhancement-type; how much can it increase?"

Luosen raised a finger: "In a complex seawater environment, the best stabilization technique currently can maintain steel's effect for 60 days; and if I were to use fourfold conjugate—uh, the concept of 'fourfold' is very complex, I can't explain it right away, but basically it's coordinating with advanced magical techniques based on conjugation."

"Ultimately, it can be increased to 20 years."

"Furthermore, if we also install a Lightning House and add a specially trained Lightning Charging Mage, we can replenish the stabilization technique's consumed power at any time, making a 100-year duration no problem!"

Weige inhaled sharply upon hearing this, feeling especially absurd.

After a moment of silence, she used Transformation Technique to scoop a lump of solid clay from the ground, then applied a simple Fortification Technique to it, making it very hard.

"My lord, demonstrate the anti-dispel effect."

Luosen gladly complied.

He gripped the fist-sized spherical clay lump with both hands, then cast the spell.

Only saw a faint blue electric glow appear around his hands, lasting several minutes, after which he placed the clay lump on the table.

"I just used medium-intensity sixteenfold conjugate. Feel free to dispel it; if you can dispel it, I'll abandon the idea of building ships with steel elixir."

Hmph~ I know twelve kinds of Dispel Spell!

Weige's competitive spirit was aroused.

She picked up her staff and cast various types of Dispel on the clay on the table.

She not only tested the types, but also the quantity, continuously testing twenty-six Dispel spells, almost exhausting her advanced magical power.

Even after applying it to the solid clay block on the table, it remained as solid as before; only the surface luster slightly dulled, but once that surface layer was ground away, the inside shone bright as new.

Weige was completely convinced.

She let out a long breath: 'I finally understand the lord's original intention in having me improve the steel potion.'

She looked at Luosen, her dark blue eyes showing genuine admiration.

'As long as the improved steel potion can strengthen enough types, we can pick the cheapest material from various kinds to build ships, right?'

Pat—

Luosen snapped his fingers: 'Exactly. But not just ships—also houses, roads, and bridges.'

Weige's heartbeat quickened slightly as she heard Luosen's words, for she saw a very grand vision in them.

'But is this Constant Spell expensive?'

'Lightning Constant, the Lightning Power comes from the Lightning House, and the controlling power comes from the mage. Taking the most ordinary double conjugate Constant as an example, the consumption ratio of magical power to Lightning Power is 1:260.' Weige listened, somewhat dazed.

'The cost is actually less than one percent of the universal Constant Spell!'

This already has the foundation for large-scale promotion—shipbuilding, house construction, bridge building, and road construction can all use it! Therefore, the steel potion combined with Lightning Constant contains the power to change the world.

For a moment, she felt a bit dizzy.

It took a while before she recovered.

She also took out her recent research results.

'I have recently developed ten kinds of improved steel potions, and their effects are decent.'

'But the potential for increasing steel power is huge; it's a completely new branch of spellcraft, and I feel there's still a very long road ahead.'

Weige obviously developed great interest in steel power.

Luosen immediately assured: 'My steward, you open up your research, and I will support you with all my strength.'

'But right now, we need a construction potion and a shipbuilding potion. Which two do you think are suitable?'

Weige then picked two.

'This one can steelify yellow clay, the potion cost is low, suitable for large-scale construction.'

'This one can steelify black clay, the potion cost is slightly higher, but the steelification effect is good and the strength high. For shipbuilding, vessels under 500 tons should be fine.'

Luosen was very pleased: '500 tons~~ more than enough.'

'I need these two potions mass-produced. Of course, I will also give the utmost support.'

Weige had already been completely convinced, and she was very cooperative.

'I'll send two apprentices over to help you set up a potion factory. These two potions are simple; they've completely mastered them. As long as there are enough materials and manpower, output can increase very quickly.'

'Great, let's do that!'

He was about to leave the potion room, but in the instant he turned around, he suddenly noticed Weige hesitating to speak, as if she had something to say to him.

In the end, she still didn't speak.

Luosen didn't urge her either, because he already understood Weige very well.

When she feels the time is ripe, she will naturally speak.

Leaving the potion room, he then went to Alonso's forging room.

Alonso and dozens of apprentices were tinkering with some electrical devices.

Their expressions were all very focused, like a child who had found the world's most fun toy.

'Master Alonso, do you find lightning interesting?'

Alonso nodded without hesitation: 'Interesting~ especially interesting~ more interesting than any other spell!'

He paused, then added an exaggerated comment: 'I think this isn't some lowly ability—it's the power of creation!'

Luosen chuckled, took out a small electric motor: 'Look at this.'

He connected the motor to the positive and negative poles of the Lightning House.

The motor began to buzz, and the wooden propeller on its shaft spun quickly, immediately blowing out streams of cool air.

Alonso's eyes widened, and after a while he said: 'Oh~ this little thing is ingeniously designed!'

He is extremely studious and has a very strong learning ability; under Luosen's guidance, he has already gained a deep understanding of lightning.

So, he quickly understood the principle of the small motor.

Luosen smiled: 'I plan to use it to propel warships forward, so they can break free from the limits of sails.'

Upon hearing this, Alonso's eyes, which had just returned to normal, immediately widened again.

'Oh~ this is truly a genius idea! No, it's an idea capable of changing the world!'

Luosen, however, sighed: 'I need someone to scale it up, increase its power—the bigger the better, because this little thing's power is far from enough to drive large ships.'

'Leave it to me to research!'

Alonso readily accepted the task.

Luosen had been waiting for these words: 'I'll call it "Great Strength God". This is the forging manual for Great Strength God; study it well, and if you have any needs, just come find me.'

'Good good good~'

Alonso gave a perfunctory reply, his eyes fixed on the forging manual, unable to look away.

Luosen didn't need him to produce results right away either.

Because he had already used an assembly line to produce a batch of finished motors, enough for the short term.

Alonso and his lightning apprentices are talents being cultivated for the future.

His forging workshop, perhaps it should be renamed the "Electrical Machinery Department" from now on.

Luosen no longer bothered him, instead going to the weapons research lab.

"Gentlemen, the Lightning Torrent Ballista is already extremely powerful; our warriors carrying these can shatter any enemy who sets foot on the island."

As for landing enemies, Luosen is no longer particularly afraid of them.

What can now inflict great harm on him is the enemy blockading his maritime trade routes.

He said earnestly: "The best defense is offense."

"So, I need a Lightning Torrent Ballista that can be mounted on warships."

"Moreover, in the future we should not only research stronger lightning ballistae, but also fire ballistae, or faster and stronger projectile-type torrent ballistae, or, alternatively, somewhat slower but emphasizing single-strike power, the breaching ballista."

"In short, unleash your imagination, and I will do everything I can to support your research."

The three mages listened, their eyes almost glowing with excitement.

Gatelan thought for a moment, then immediately said: "I've always had an idea—to create a spherical lightning house. In battle, we would hurl the lightning house at the enemy."

Upon saying that, he looked at everyone: "The lightning house contains immense power; once shattered, it erupts in fierce flames that even water cannot extinguish, making it absolutely suitable for use against wooden warships!"

Upon hearing it, Luosen gave a thumbs-up: "Great idea~~ really a great idea~~ just a bit costly, haha~"

So, we still need talent; only with united effort can we build a stronghold.

After a pause, he put forward specific requirements: "For the ship-mounted Lightning Torrent Ballista, we need as long a range as possible, great single-strike power, and increased bolt magazine capacity—any problems?"

Gatelan said without hesitation: "Just scale it up a bit. No problem at all; at most ten days to finish the product."

"Excellent, if you have any needs, just let me know."

Then, the materials for building warships, the power to drive them, and shipborne weapons all began preparations for production.

Its follow-up research will certainly consume vast resources and also require a large amount of talent as support.

It's also impossible to instantly build giant warships and cannons; it must be a process from nothing to something, from small to large, from large to strong.

A large part of this is investment for the future, but he urgently needs a batch of combat vessels right now.

He does not demand oceanic hegemony, only coastal denial, and incidentally having effectiveness against fish-people.

What to do? Of course there is a way.

In fact, Luosen already has a very mature concept.

(End of chapter)