Chapter 622: Security Recommendations

The study door creaked open, revealing an elderly mage clad in a black robe embroidered with subtle dark patterns. His body was hunched, and behind him writhed a cluster of artificial neural cables. He stood before Rosetta Augustus.

This was not their first meeting.

Daniel had once been a reclusive countryside mage. Before that, he was a senior member of the Royal Mage Association. Today, he was the foremost expert of the Imperial Engineering Guild, mentor to the president of the Royal Mage Association, creator of many of the empire’s new technologies, and a technical master highly sought after by the nobles of Aldernan. He had earned the royal family’s deep trust—including that of Rosetta Augustus himself.

The Emperor of Typhon always treated technicians with great respect. He showed no discomfort at Daniel’s grim appearance, instead offering a faint, somewhat stiff smile. “Master, I hope my summons did not interrupt your work.”

“To serve Your Majesty is my duty,” Daniel bowed slightly, his tone respectful. “I am happy to answer any questions you have regarding technology.”

Rosetta nodded. Only after the old mage took his seat did he ask, “I hear the replication of the magi-car has succeeded?”

“Yes. The prototype will be tested in two days,” Daniel replied. “If all goes well, we will move quickly to put it into practical use.”

“Your wisdom is an immeasurable treasure to the empire,” Rosetta said with admiration. “With this new mode of transport, combined with the new railway system… we can finally solve the problem of transporting raw materials and finished goods to and from factories.”

“My personal wisdom is insignificant. The replication of the magi-car is the result of collective effort. And compared to our modest intellects…” Daniel shook his head gently, “perhaps we should marvel more at the wisdom of the Ansu—they were the first to create magi-tech, and then the magi-car, such a precise and powerful machine.”

“Strictly speaking, it’s the Cecilian wisdom,” Rosetta said slowly. “That’s why I summoned you today—to discuss this very matter.”

Daniel lowered his eyelids, masking a fleeting glint in his eyes with a posture of reverence toward imperial authority. “Please, Your Majesty.”

“Magi technology originated in Cecile. Even the magi-networks we’ve replicated, though structurally different and with varying unit specifications, share many common features,” Rosetta explained deliberately. “Moreover, the railways now under construction in western and southern Aldernan are Cecilian inventions. All the core technologies remain in their hands…”

Daniel looked up. “You worry that these Cecilian-origin technologies will eventually threaten the empire’s security?”

“Even without that, entrusting the lifeblood of the empire to outsiders is unwise, even if only partially,” Rosetta said gravely. “The Cecilians excel at harnessing magi-net energy. Now they’re building railways within our borders—those powerful trains can transport goods, weapons, and troops. I can already envision war strategies based on railways. The Cecilians surely have thought of this.”

How significant was the railway? Before seeing the detailed reports brought back by the inspection team, Rosetta had only a vague impression. But after reviewing the data, he immediately grasped the terrifying power and potential applications of this near-revolutionary technology—

It could transport enough troops to capture a city in a short time, maintain logistics at minimal cost, and if used against another nation, severing the railway could instantly paralyze the supply of an entire city or region. Its transport capacity was so immense that many things impossible on traditional roads or by horse-drawn carriage became feasible on rail.

Last winter, after receiving the railway data, the noble council and royal advisors were deeply shaken. They spent three days and nights debating the feasibility of laying railways within the empire, finally producing a report over ninety pages long. The report first confirmed one thing:

Typhon needed this advanced transport technology because its factories required it.

Then, it outlined two major potential dangers—

First, the risk of Ansu using transnational railways to launch attacks on the empire. Given the speed of trains, if the first wave of an attack came without warning, border guards might not even have time to destroy the tracks.

Second, how to protect the empire’s railways to ensure they remain fully under imperial control and prevent sabotage by enemies.

As an empire forged in war, Typhon had never lacked vigilance, especially after reaching a certain critical stage in its development. Ansu had become the imagined enemy in the minds of nearly all the empire’s upper echelons.

Daniel studied Rosetta for a few quiet seconds, then his slightly yellowed eyes shifted subtly.

“Your Majesty, I am but a technician, so I may not fully grasp your military concerns. But from a technical standpoint, I can offer some advice.”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

“The key issue is energy—or rather, the magi-net,” Daniel said calmly. “Railways and trains rely on magi-networks laid along their routes. If the Ansu—or Cecilians—really intend to attack the empire, much of their war machinery depends on the magi-net to function. Their portable magi-net capacity is limited, so preventing the empire’s magi-net from falling into foreign hands is crucial.

“I’ve been devising a control structure for the magi-net. Perhaps we can establish a central control in the empire’s core regions, allowing us to shut off magi-net supply to any area at will—even destructively.

“Unless the enemy controls the empire’s core, capturing the capital and palace, their operations anywhere within the empire would be cut off from energy supply…”

“This plan is excellent,” Rosetta mused slowly. “Yes… very good.”

The Emperor of Typhon spoke as he lifted his eyelids, quietly locking eyes with Daniel.

The artificial neural cables behind Daniel writhed gently. His face remained calm, unflinching under Rosetta’s gaze.

“Master, I entrust this matter to you. Please prepare a proposal for my personal review as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The old mage departed. Rosetta picked up the documents he had set aside and flipped through them casually.

“Ansu…” he murmured the name of the ancient kingdom now caught in turmoil, his eyes calm and devoid of either hostility or sympathy.

The sudden rise of Cecile was unexpected. Their incredible technologies and the presence of Gawain Cecile himself stirred a faint, long-lost sense of threat within him. Thus, this powerful imperial ruler could not help but contemplate some “defensive” measures.

But at heart, he still preferred offense.

“Once this war is over, the Ansu blood should be nearly drained…”

Daniel left the emperor’s study, walked down the long corridor, passed through the obsidian palace’s main hall, exited the palace’s front gate, and finally reached the plaza before the palace. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

The artificial neural cables crawling on his back twitched rapidly for a moment before gradually calming.

Thanks to the knowledge granted by his master, he could now control his emotions and reactions with remarkable success. His former near-psychotic self would never have managed such a difficult negotiation.

Relaxing slightly, the old mage looked up, searching for his apprentice who should have been waiting for him in the plaza.

Mary was not where she was supposed to be.

Daniel frowned slightly, scanning around as he muttered, “That idiot… where did she run off to…”

He didn’t search long. Within minutes, he spotted his familiar black-haired apprentice—

Mary had somehow wandered to the edge of the plaza, crouched before a little girl who had appeared from nowhere. From a distance, Daniel even saw two magical light orbs dancing in Mary’s hands.

She was performing tricks for a passing child like a humble street jester?

Daniel was stunned, then stormed over angrily. Even as he approached, Mary hadn’t noticed him yet, still busily conjuring magical orbs to entertain the little girl, whose eyes were wide with wonder at the “sorceress sister’s” performance. But when she finally noticed the old mage’s grim expression, she shrank back in fear.

Only then did Mary sense the familiar presence behind her. She shivered almost instinctively, quickly stood, and turned around—unsurprisingly meeting her mentor’s dark gaze.

She immediately lowered her head, nervously twisting her hands. “Ma… Master… I…”

“What is going on here!?”

“This child got lost, I… I just wanted to—”

Daniel’s angry words were about to burst out, but hearing Mary’s explanation, he paused, then glanced down at the little girl.

A lost little girl, dressed decently enough—not likely a factory child, but not someone with palace access either. Probably a local resident.

For some reason, a different thought suddenly popped into Daniel’s mind—

A long time ago, when Mary had stumbled into his mage tower, she had been about this small…

He looked up at his apprentice, who now wore a face full of nervousness, even fear.

That little girl who had wandered into his tower so cluelessly had grown up.

If Mary hadn’t run into his tower back then, what would she be like now? Would she be trembling before an old mage, awaiting punishment? Or living peacefully with her parents? Or perhaps married, with a husband…

Daniel’s face twitched, as if trying to force a gentle smile, but his dry, stiff muscles couldn’t manage such complexity. So he shook his head and reached out to pat the little girl’s hair. “Don’t wander off. Getting lost will worry your parents.”

Then he raised his hand and beckoned to the guards near the plaza.

The guards immediately hurried over, extremely attentive—not daring to show the slightest neglect. Even if they didn’t know the chief scholar of the Imperial Engineering Guild, they had just seen Daniel leave the obsidian palace accompanied by attendants, so naturally they treated him with respect.

“This child is lost. Take her to find her parents. I will confirm this with your superior afterward.”

Daniel gave the order casually, and the soldiers responded in rapid succession.

After the guards and child left, Daniel glanced at Mary. “Hopelessly foolish. Even with your position in the Engineering Guild and your connections in the noble council, you could command any soldier on this street. Yet all you know is to entertain children with a few tricks.”

Mary kept her head down, not daring to utter a word.

Daniel’s gaze then fell on the iron rune collar around Mary’s neck.

“Do you remember what I told you would happen if you left the area I set for you without permission?”

Hearing her mentor’s words, Mary suddenly snapped to attention, almost instinctively reaching up to touch the iron collar around her neck.

But before darker thoughts could take hold, she saw her mentor’s hand reach out—grasping the iron ring at her throat. With a soft click, the collar that had bound her for so many years was casually unlocked and removed.

Daniel muttered, “I knew putting that thing on you wouldn’t stop you from running off. Might as well get rid of this useless piece of junk.

“When we get back, we’ll toss those idiots’ collars too.”

(End of chapter)