Chapter 547: An Earthquake?

Societal change is complex, yet from another perspective, its shifts within certain timeframes and under specific conditions follow discernible patterns—just as Emperor Typhon’s reforms were bound to threaten the interests of the landed nobility; just as the rise of industry inevitably gave birth to a new class whose capital was machines and factories rather than land; just as minor nobles who invested in capital would inevitably split from the great aristocracy; and just as traditional raw material regions would inevitably be exploited by industrial conglomerates… All of this forms a complete chain. Even if no one actively pushes it, these changes will naturally unfold.

The key lies in identifying the crucial links in this chain and giving them a slight nudge… and suddenly everything accelerates dramatically.

Daniel’s task was precisely that: to push at these critical points, or gently guide them, so that with minimal effort he could achieve the greatest results.

But even so, relying on a single old mage to influence the entire course of Typhon’s development was no easy feat. Gawain needed to be sure Daniel could carry out these bold plans smoothly.

When faced with the “Outsider Wanderer’s” doubts, Daniel did not hide his connections and influence within Typhon: “Though I’ve been away from the imperial capital for many years, I still have plenty of contacts within the Royal Mage Association… Some nobles in the capital are old acquaintances of mine… Many lower-ranking nobles are eager to get closer to the factionless mages of the Royal Mage Association. Since returning to the capital, I’ve already established ties with quite a few of them…”

“Good,” Gawain nodded slightly. “As I warned you before, you must build your own power base. What I ask of you cannot be accomplished by one person alone.”

“I have always followed your will,” Daniel bowed his head immediately. Then, hesitating slightly, he ventured, “My lord, I have a report regarding reinforcements.”

Gawain nodded. “Go ahead.”

“My apprentice, Mary—I believe she has passed her assessments,” Daniel said cautiously. “She has a strong talent in mathematics and physics. She has already mastered most of the knowledge you granted her, and her loyalty is assured. I think she meets your requirements.”

Gawain pondered briefly. “Mary, huh… You did mention her.”

He was familiar with several of Daniel’s apprentices, especially this one named Mary. Long ago, he had instructed the old mage to select talent from among his apprentices and teach them mathematical knowledge, hoping to increase available manpower. Mary seemed to be Daniel’s most promising student.

“In that case, bring her to meet me at our next gathering,” Gawain decided. “Coincidentally, we now have non-implant neural tether technology, allowing people to connect to the network without neural modification or the eternal slumber ritual.”

As he spoke, he waved his hand gently, and a holographic projection of an immersive neural cockpit appeared above the round table, accompanied by blueprints and detailed technical data floating around it.

Rebecca beamed proudly. “This is how we connect.”

“This is…” Daniel stared fixedly at the hologram floating in midair. In that instant, a flood of complex emotions surged through him.

This was the non-implant connection technology—allowing those without the Eternal Sleeper’s innate talent to enter the psychic network.

He thought of his physical body in the real world, of the implanted neural tethers that had turned him into something monstrous, of the lingering side effects that had nearly driven him mad—the hallucinations, the stabbing pains, the maddening noise…

The neural tethers were rooted in his spinal cord and connected to his brain. He probably would never be free of them in this lifetime.

But his “non-implant neural tether” had finally succeeded.

His line of thought, his theories, his research direction were correct.

At least Mary wouldn’t have to drill holes between her spine and brain like he did.

“All the data is here. I’ll also store it in this secure space for your easy access,” Gawain’s voice pulled Daniel from his reverie. “Some components were made using Cecil’s machines. You don’t have the corresponding manufacturing equipment, but I’ve marked detailed processing conditions. I trust that as a high-level mage, you can produce them.”

This was the advantage of the supernatural realm—though machines had many benefits, supernatural beings who were willing to invest time and effort could often craft industrial-grade products by hand. At least in the early stages of industrial development, it was possible for them to hand-make gears, levers, even engines or magi-tech vehicles.

Daniel bowed respectfully. “I will not disappoint you.”

…

In a spacious, well-lit laboratory, Amber sat beside Gawain, bored, fiddling with a small dagger while watching the immersive pods, all currently closed. Occasionally, she glanced at the sleeping Gawain and finally muttered, “These guys are going to sleep themselves to death, aren’t they…?”

A voice with a faint metallic timbre came from nearby: “That’s impossible. The life-detection runes show everyone’s vital signs are normal.”

Amber lifted her eyelids and saw a silver-white, comically shaped orb about a meter in diameter drifting between the pods, inspecting the equipment. She sneered, “Nonsense. The life-detection runes on Kamail’s side are dark.”

The orb, Nicholas, turned and looked at the ancient mage quietly floating beside a pod, connected by a dozen arcane currents. It buzzed softly: “But Kamail himself is bright.”

“You’re way too serious in places you shouldn’t be. Such a wasted smile,” Amber rolled her eyes, then grew curious, looking at the iron ball alien. “But speaking of which… don’t you feel a little regret?”

Nicholas looked puzzled. “Regret about what?”

“Many parts of these devices were made by you, but you can’t use them yourself,” Amber said. “Even Kamail can connect directly to the network by sensing magical energy, but you can’t… Isn’t that a pity?”

Nicholas was silent for a moment, swaying slightly. “It can’t be helped—my life form is too unusual. I don’t have a nervous system and can’t sense magical fluctuations. When Pittman made the neural tether, he tested it on me—I had no reaction at all. But honestly… I don’t feel regret.”

“Oh?”

“I know what kind of world is inside that psychic network,” Nicholas lowered his altitude slightly. “It’s the world of human dreams… but that’s their dream, not mine. My world isn’t here, nor in any of your dreams.”

This world had the Shadow Realm, the Phantom Realm, the Elemental World, and many fragmented outer spaces. For those who had access to such knowledge, “alien visitors” were not unimaginable. Yet even so, a being like Nicholas, utterly beyond common sense, was incredible. When the territory was first established, to avoid attracting too much outside attention, Gawain assigned this iron ball alien the identity of “Ancient Mage.” But that was only a public cover story. Among Cecil’s upper echelons and trusted core personnel, some knew a bit about Nicholas’s origins.

A truly extraordinary alien visitor.

Amber looked at this visitor and suddenly couldn’t help but ask, “By the way, don’t you want a companion?”

“…Huh?”

“Aren’t you lonely?” Amber’s thoughts wandered. “Maybe I should tell Old Zong to find you a companion…”

Nicholas’s entire sphere shook in shock. “Where on earth would you find me a companion!?”

Amber blurted out, “Machine lathe one up for you…”

Nicholas: “…Wait, I think you’re confused about something…”

But Amber was not so easily stopped. “By the way, are you a male ball or a female ball?”

“No, I think I’m fine as I am. My days at the mechanical workshop are fulfilling enough…”

Amber, now excited and rambling, suddenly took a keen interest in Nicholas’s personal matters: “I always thought you were a male ball, but come to think of it, do you even have genders…?”

Just then, a slight tremor interrupted Amber’s endless chatter.

Along with the tremor came a distant, faint rumbling.

Amber was the first to react. As a stealth operative, she was highly sensitive to any subtle movement. The following sound made her ears perk up sharply. Nicholas was slower to respond—floating in midair, he couldn’t sense ground vibrations well, so only when the sound reached him did he curiously ask, “Is something happening?”

“An earthquake…?” Amber stood up, her ears twitching as she turned toward every faint sound. Her hand rested on Gawain’s shoulder, ready to wake him at any moment.

But the tremor lasted only briefly, and the low, distant rumbling soon ceased.

“Seems like it came from far away, and it’s stopped now,” Amber glanced at Nicholas. “You stay here and keep watch. I’ll contact the outpost.”

The elf’s keen hearing told her the last sounds came from the south, which unsettled her greatly.

Nicholas didn’t waste words. “Understood.”

Amber’s figure quickly vanished into the air but didn’t go far. The Magi-Tech Research Institute had communication terminals for the magic network. She reached the nearest terminal room and immediately called the monitoring station set in the Dark Mountains.

A holographic image of the outpost appeared above the terminal. A tall, thin soldier appeared in the projection. “This is Dark Mountain Outpost One. Greetings, Director Amber.”

“Outpost, any situation on your end?” Amber asked immediately. “We just felt a tremor here.”

“Yes, we were about to report—there was an anomaly at the southern foot of the Dark Mountains, near the Black Forest border. Possibly an earthquake or a landslide.”

“Only near the Black Forest? No movement at the Grant Wall?”

“The Grant Wall is stable. The Sunwheel Observatory is normal. The magical environment is stable.”

Amber breathed a slight sigh of relief but still found it odd. “Earthquake or landslide? But I thought I heard something like an explosion…”

“We heard it too, but can’t see the source. It might be blocked by the terrain. Also, a sentinel saw an unidentified flash to the southwest but couldn’t confirm it.”

“I see,” Amber exhaled. “Regardless of whether it’s an earthquake or landslide, stay alert and keep an eye on the Grant Wall. I’ll report this to the lord.”

(End of chapter)