Chapter 360 - 359: Research Project

When Rebecca returned home all dirty, she was a bit anxious—because, in fact, she hadn’t noticed the stains all over her hands and face, having walked back from the Magic Guide Technology Research Institute covered in grease. It was only after she got home and a servant pointed it out that she realized she hadn’t washed her face, something that would usually get her a knock on the head in the past...

But after seeing what was on Gawain’s desk, all her anxiety and head-pounding worries vanished.

"A new machine design!" The moment she saw the blueprints on the desk, the girl jumped up excitedly and reached out to grab them, "Let me see..."

Gawain slapped her dirty hands away: "Look at your hands!"

"Oh oh!" Rebecca hurriedly pulled her hands back and wiped them on her clothes a couple of times (an action that would earn her at least five knocks on the head in front of Aunt Heidi), then cautiously leaned over the desk to look at the oddly shaped machine, "What is it for... hey, does it mean you put paper under this drum? Print things?"

Rebecca, who frequently dealt with various machines and equipment and had some understanding of Gawain’s thinking habits, quickly guessed its purpose upon seeing the printing press. This saved Gawain a lot of explanation trouble, as he nodded in confirmation: "This is a printing press."

"Printing, I know this," Rebecca nodded, "The textbooks used in schools, the grid and printed papers used in the office, and the labels used in the Alchemy Factory are all printed... Did you improve the printing equipment? But this... looks completely different from what’s being used in the territory."

Rebecca knew what printing technology was being used in the territory—essentially, it was the existing technology in Anzu. A wax plate was used, with text and patterns carved into it to form intaglio. Then, a mud-like mixture with Bitter Root Vine Powder was evenly poured onto the wax plate and heated. After heating, the muddy mixture would harden into a rigid plate while the wax would melt away, creating a raised text block suitable for printing.

However, this plate-making method had significant limitations. First, errors during carving would ruin the entire wax plate. Additionally, after the mud-like mixture covers the wax plate, it needs to sit for several hours to remove bubbles and initially cure before heating, and finally, the hardened text block was brittle and fragile, requiring extra care during use.

Even so, this printing technology was considered quite advanced—the aristocrats used this method to mass-produce stationery and official documents adorned with family crests, which was its primary application.

But using improved printing techniques to print books was pioneered by the Cecil clan for a simple reason—only here, there were enough literate people, people who needed to read...

In fact, the Cecil clan’s practice of mass-producing cheap books by printing text on inexpensive paper, without any metal or gemstone decorations on the cover, nor leather covers or straps to bind the spine, was seen by traditional scholars as "insulting sacred knowledge."

Many scholars, upon arriving at the Cecil clan and seeing those cheaply made, "shoddily produced" books, had their complaints. In their traditional views, books had to be made with exquisite parchment, at the very least with Whiteshade Paper, copied by hand or Quick Note Magic, signed by renowned scholars, and finally adorned with a vast array of luxurious, complex, expensive decorations.

But Gawain ignored all these pedantic voices—after all, as one of the founding ancestors, his words carried more weight than anyone else, and when it came to the matter of "having a voice," he feared no challenge.

Rebecca, full of curiosity, studied Gawain’s design. At first, she thought it was just an "improvement" on the territory’s existing printing technology, but she soon realized that the machine’s principles and efficiency were beyond compare to traditional printing techniques.

The basic idea of "plate-making and transcription" remained, but the machine’s operation was too advanced—"continuous printing" was a phrase that appeared in her mind for the first time.

Sometimes, what technical personnel lack is just a direction.

"The problem to solve now is ’plate-making,’ or rather how to quickly and conveniently transfer text onto this printing drum," Gawain pointed to the machine’s core part, discussing his current challenge, "My requirements are threefold: first, it must be quick and convenient, the process of transferring text to the drum must be faster than current plate-making technology; second, it should be easy to edit, unlike traditional carved plates where a small mistake ruins the whole thing, so this requires the text transfer process to the drum to be reversible, or that the text can be modified or reset before transfer; third, which relates to the second, is that the drum must be reusable, its impressions erasable, not only to reduce costs but also to increase the efficiency of this device."

"Wow..." Rebecca elongated her voice, "Sounds... very challenging."

"Yes, it is indeed quite a challenge," Gawain said seriously as he looked at Rebecca, "which is why it’s entrusted to you—or rather, to your Magic Guide Technology Research Institute to solve this issue."

Rebecca seemed somewhat understanding: "The Magic Guide Technology Research Institute..."

"The Magic Guide Technology Research Institute exists to tackle these applied technical challenges, and the way a large comprehensive laboratory operates is designed to solve such problems," Gawain nodded with a smile, "A variety of inventive craftsmen, mechanists, runemasters, and mages gather in one laboratory as ’Mage Technicians,’ using their ideas to create numerous concepts, discuss, assist each other, materialize collaboratively, verify collaboratively, deploying all resources for a single project. That’s the role of these laboratories."

He paused, noticing Rebecca’s thoughtful expression, and continued, "An individual’s creativity is ultimately limited, but when many people come together, they can unleash a creativity far exceeding the sum of their numbers. I’ll give you a direction, and then you can lead your team to fully realize it—bring every idea to the table for discussion, don’t fear mistakes, and you’ll soon discover the extraordinary power of a large laboratory."

Rebecca’s eyes widened, eventually sparkling slightly. She suddenly grasped Gawain’s arm with joy and shook it vigorously: "I understand! I get it! So this is the right way to use a large laboratory!"

"Hold on, hold on... you’re a Mage, yet your grip is this strong," Gawain gently knocked Rebecca’s head before easily freeing himself and said, "Before moving the project into the lab, tell me your idea first—do you have a solution in mind?"

"Emmmmm..." Rebecca pressed her finger to her lower lip and thought hard. She hesitantly spoke after a moment, "I do have a bit of an idea... I’m thinking of a Mage’s Quick Note Magic."

As Gawain anticipated, encountering this seemingly unsolvable mechanical problem, Rebecca’s first thought was indeed magic—this is the most typical approach for a Mage. Although Rebecca’s spellcasting talent is rather peculiar, the otherworldly logic of "using magic to solve problems" is still effective with her.

"Quick Note Magic, huh..." Gawain nodded slightly, "I know this spell; it’s considered one of the relatively low-level yet very useful formal spells. Should be from the Arcane Department, right?"

"Yes," Rebecca nodded while gesturing, "Quick Note Magic can directly transcribe the scenes clearly remembered in a Mage’s mind into words or graphics on magic-imbued parchments soaked with special potions. Without magic-imbued parchments, Mages can also use enchanted quills for less efficient ’quick notes.’ This spell also has another name, Transcription Magic..."

Gawain raised an eyebrow: "Your theoretical knowledge is decent, huh?"

Amber stuck out her tongue: "Couldn’t remember something as a kid and got my bottom smacked for it... Aunt Heidi said if a Mage can’t learn other spells due to talent limitations, it’s understandable. But if they don’t even know the theory, that’s just laziness and deserves a good punishment."

Gawain: "..."

"Quick Note Magic is probably one avenue, but it can’t solve the problem of quickly converting text lines into printed marks. Also, as I recall, Quick Note Magic doesn’t have an Array—it belongs to spells that need to be cast by a Mage," Gawain mused while sympathizing with Rebecca’s tough childhood. "Our current rune logic can’t handle it, and it doesn’t adhere to our principle of ’making it usable by ordinary people.’ However, let’s hold onto this idea for now. Go back and keep researching it."

Rebecca left with half-finished schematics of the printing press and a mind full of half-formed ideas, while Gawain casually walked to the study’s floor-to-ceiling window, watching the setting sun and pondering.

Just as he had thought before—his own knowledge base and creativity are ultimately limited. No matter the memory enhancements or his understanding of this world and era, he is still just a mortal.

He can propose the idea of the new printing press but can’t offer a precise, fundamental technological solution.

Yet he feels no regret because from the beginning, he understood this fact.

This world has its own technical systems, and its people possess their own wisdom and creativity. He doesn’t need to be a universal genius capable of inventing every technology and system. His role is to gather talented individuals in his domain, organize them properly, and give them a "direction."

Though he can’t conceptualize the creation of a swift and convenient printing device, he can inform the technical personnel in his domain, conveying the need for such a device—he can broadly outline the concept and technical requirements for this device, thereby significantly accelerating technical research.

He isn’t sure if this development method is correct, but he believes it’s most suitable for himself, the Cecil Clan, and the world’s growth methodology.

He withdrew his gaze, returned to the desk, and casually picked up a sheet of paper, swiftly writing a new plan.

Breaking through the technology of a new printing press won’t be achieved in a short time, but meanwhile, some things can certainly come out early, even if slightly less efficient.

Under Gawain’s pen, a bold line of text appeared:

Concerning the concept of newspapers, and distribution plan.

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