Chapter 119: First Solve the Problem of Non-Existence

And besides the acquisition price being irresistible.

Cecilia also promised that if the workshop proved its worth and showed market potential after the acquisition, she would consider an enormous additional investment to construct a modern factory complex for the company in the Empire’s most vital Ruhr industrial area.

Helga’s family, having confirmed on their journey that it was indeed the ‘Brilliant Crystal Queen’ who wanted to acquire their business, had virtually no resistance left.

After all, the offer was undeniably too generous.

Furthermore, both the founders and the veteran workers who had been with them for decades would be able to continue working at the company, ensuring their livelihoods.

Most importantly, they saw a promising future for their daughter, Helga.

To be so highly regarded by the ‘Brilliant Crystal Queen’ and the young war hero meant Helga’s talent would no longer be confined to a small town in Thuringia.

Instead, it would, as they hoped, blossom on the stage of the entire Empire.

For a family dedicated to firearms design, this was an honor more important than money.

Once the general matters were settled, Luna, Cecilia’s Chief Maid and personal secretary, displayed astonishing efficiency.

She quickly drafted a detailed acquisition contract: the terms were clear, and responsibilities were clearly defined, plugging every potential loophole.

With a lawyer, who had been hastily summoned to the manor, witnessing the agreement, both parties smoothly signed the contract.

Subsequently, Helga’s family began working with the professional financial and legal teams sent by Cecilia to handle the follow-up acquisition procedures.

Helga, meanwhile, was taken by Morin to a dedicated studio within the manor.

Here, she would begin executing the first work instruction given by her new boss.

“Miss Schmeisser, based on our discussion at the ball yesterday, I hope you can finalize the design blueprints for this air-cooled light machine gun and produce a prototype as quickly as possible.”

“Eh, we’re starting work already… But, no problem, Boss!”

Helga nodded vigorously. The moment work was mentioned, her entire demeanor radiated confidence.

The overall design concept would still follow Helga’s original plan.

However, based on Morin’s suggestions, the original open-bolt mechanism was changed to a closed-bolt for better reliability.

At the same time, a carrying handle was added above the barrel shroud to facilitate soldier transport during position changes.

Additionally, all prominent edges and components on the gun body were designed to be as smooth as possible to prevent snagging on soldiers’ uniforms or equipment belts in complex battlefield environments.

Regarding ammunition, both were in complete agreement.

To achieve combat readiness quickly and reduce logistical pressure, the new light machine gun would directly use the Saxon Army’s existing 7.92×57mm Mauser full-power rifle cartridge.

The feeding mechanism would also utilize existing canvas ammunition belts, along with two capacities of existing belt boxes.

One would be 100 rounds and the other 250 rounds, to accommodate different operational needs.

Morin had initially hoped to add a quick-change barrel function to address overheating issues from prolonged sustained fire.

But after some calculation and sketching, Helga indicated that incorporating this feature would require major redesigns of core components like the receiver and barrel extension, which would significantly extend the research and development cycle.

Morin had to temporarily abandon the idea.

One step at a time.

The most important thing now was to first solve the problem of non-existence.

When Helga’s family finished the handover process and prepared to return to Thuringia, Helga initially thought of moving back to her small rented apartment in Dresden.

But Cecilia smiled and instructed her to work comfortably at the manor.

“There are many rooms in the manor. They’re empty most of the time, and it will be livelier with an extra person.”

“I will have Luna procure all the daily necessities and clothing you need… And I believe the conditions in this studio, which I once used myself, are not worse than your rented apartment.”

“Once the company is officially established in Dresden and has its headquarters, you can move out if you wish.”

Faced with Cecilia’s gentle but firm will, Helga, the somewhat timid girl from the small town, naturally dared not object.

Thus, she temporarily took up residence at the Falkenstein Manor.

Another day passed. Only four days remained until Morin had to report to the Saxon War College.

That morning, the manor’s telephone suddenly rang.

The maid who answered quickly found Morin, who was in the studio discussing blueprints with Helga.

“Young Master Morin, Miss von Seeckt is on the phone.”

Morin took the phone. Patricia’s clear voice came through the receiver.

“Morin, the task you asked me to do is complete.”

“The visitor clearance for the Imperial Arcane Technology Research Institute has been approved. You can come over anytime.”

Morin was pleasantly surprised: “That quickly?”

He had expected the procedure for an outsider to enter such a sensitive national research institute to be extremely complicated, taking at least ten days to half a month.

He hadn’t expected Patricia to handle it so quickly.

Patricia on the other end of the line also seemed somewhat surprised.

“It is a bit strange, actually… I only submitted the application, but all the approval processes were fast-tracked with a green light. No one raised any objections.”

“When did the old traditionalists at the Institute become so agreeable?”

She mumbled softly.

Morin’s heart stirred. He vaguely guessed the underlying reason.

It seemed that His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince was leveraging his influence again…

He realized he absolutely needed to cling to this powerful patron.

After hanging up the phone, Morin greeted Cecilia and traveled to the Imperial Arcane Technology Research Institute located on the outskirts of Dresden.

The architectural style of the Institute was entirely different from the mysterious Mage Towers he had imagined. It looked more like a heavily fortified military complex.

The high walls and numerous guard posts clearly indicated the importance of the location.

When Morin’s carriage arrived at the main gate of the Institute, Patricia was already waiting for him outside.

She was not wearing an evening gown today but a well-tailored dark dress, topped with a white lab coat commonly worn by researchers.

Her blonde hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, shedding the delicate air of a noblewoman and embracing the intellectual beauty of a scholar.

“You’re quite punctual.”

Patricia looked at him, speaking in a level tone.

After undergoing a series of strict identity checks and security screenings, Patricia finally led Morin into the heart of Saxon Imperial arcane technology.

She did not take him to the core laboratories but to a less secure office area.

Morin was surprised to find that Patricia actually had her own independent office here.

Based on what Ludwig had told him, Patricia had only just turned 20.

To have an independent office at the Institute at such a young age demonstrated her astonishing talent in arcane technology.

And she wasn’t even a spellcaster…

Inside the office, Patricia gestured for Morin to sit wherever he liked, then pulled several thick tomes from a bookshelf.

“To make our subsequent communication smoother, I need to first tell you some basic concepts about arcane technology.”

She placed the tomes in front of Morin, speaking with the tone of a teacher addressing a student.

“You are a spellcaster now, so theoretically, your brain processes information faster than an ordinary person. You should be able to follow.”

Morin nodded, listening attentively.

Patricia quickly began to systematically explain the fundamental principles and developmental trajectory of this world’s arcane technology.

As she spoke, Morin noticed that his system’s

【Information】

tab began to rapidly refresh with new data.

【Information: The Origin of Mana】

【Information: The Essence of Spell Slots】

【Information: The Birth of Arcane Devices】

【Information: The Britannian Arcane Concept】

【Information: Ancient Mages’ Quantitative Research on Spell Slots】

“According to the research of scholars, the brilliant crystal ore, after crashing onto this world as a meteorite, spent a very long time gradually modifying our environment.”

Patricia’s voice was clear and pleasant, her logic precise.

“It caused a very sparse presence of ‘mana’ in the air.”

“But this ambient, free-floating mana cannot directly accomplish anything. It must reach a sufficient density to be channeled and released through specific methods.”

Morin listened intently. This was all new knowledge to him.

“When humans awaken as Mages, their bodies naturally acquire the ability to absorb and store ‘mana.’”

“Thus, the density of ‘mana’ within a Mage’s body reaches the standard required to cast spells.”

“Concurrently with awakening as a Mage, these individuals automatically comprehend a spellcasting system known as ‘Spell Slots,’ along with some basic spells, almost like an innate talent.”

“After a long period of exploration, Mages gradually developed—or perhaps discovered—various powerful spells.”

Patricia paused, took a sip of water, and continued.

“It wasn’t until three hundred years ago that a genius Mage in the Britannian Empire proposed a groundbreaking concept.”

Her eyes shone with reverence for the pioneer.

“He proposed: Can we use the world’s only mana-conducting material—brilliant crystal—to manufacture an external container to replace the ‘Spell Slots’ within a Mage’s body?”

Morin opened his mouth in surprise. This concept was truly ingenious.

“Through a special circuit constructed from brilliant crystal, the sparse ‘mana’ in the environment is slowly channeled into this external container, filling it with energy.”

“Then, a fixed spell model is externalized onto the container, and finally, the spell is released through a simple command.”

“As this concept eventually became reality, ancient Mages finally completed the quantification of the concept of ‘Spell Slots.’”

Patricia’s pace of speech quickened slightly, sounding excited.

“A ‘Standard Mana Unit’ was defined! Ancient Mages discovered through extensive experimentation that the energy required to cast a 1st-Circle spell is approximately an exponential multiple of this standard unit.”

“Thus, mana storage and output became quantifiable and designable.”

“Combining the study of mana-conducting materials with spell-form construction, the first generation of arcane devices was born.”

At this point, Patricia opened a book and handed the page to Morin.

“That was a very rudimentary arcane lamp. The spell model for

[Light]

was etched into its internal structure.”

“By inputting only a minimal amount of initiating energy into its brilliant crystal core, it could sustain light for a long time.”

Listening to Patricia’s account, Morin gained a general understanding of arcane technology.

Isn’t this the prototype for the industrialization of magic?

Transforming the unpredictable magic, which was once only accessible to a select few geniuses, into an engineering technology that could be calculated, designed, and mass-produced!

“Building on this foundation, generations of Mages continuously developed and refined arcane technology, ultimately leading to the situation we see today.”

Patricia summarized.

“However, the specific design, manufacturing methods, and core operation procedures for modern arcane technology and devices are strictly controlled by the spellcasters of each nation.”

“Excluding our Institute, all factories in the Empire related to the manufacture of arcane devices are directly or indirectly controlled by Mage organizations.”

“Anyone else wishing to use these powerful arcane devices must either be like my brother, the Armored Knights, or the soldiers of the General’s Guard, who undergo special physical modification to possess what Mages call ‘arcane affinity,’ allowing them to barely activate the arcane devices.”

“Otherwise, for large arcane weapons like the Magic Crystal Cannon, they cannot even operate at one-tenth of their power without a Mage assisting them.”

Hearing all that Patricia said, Morin realized that his earlier conjecture was correct.

The Mage communities in this world, within their respective nations, had likely formed massive and closed vested interests.

By monopolizing knowledge and technology, they adhered to a set of unspoken rules of conduct.

They also secured their current transcendent social status by establishing deep-rooted alliances with the ruling class.

Such a group, in the world Morin came from, had a specific term:

Academic Elites/Academic Barons.

As the conversation reached this point, Morin suddenly recalled a question that had been bothering him.

“Miss von Seeckt, I do not understand something.”

“Logically, the Empire’s spellcaster population is extremely scarce. As an awakened spellcaster, I should have attracted the attention of the Mage organizations you speak of.”

“But why is it that since my return, no one has come looking for me?”

Patricia’s face revealed a complex expression at this question.

She hesitated before explaining.

“That is likely because… the Imperial Spellcasters Association and our Arcane Technology Research Institute do not hold any academic research hopes for a soldier who awakened on the battlefield.”

“After all, in the eyes of those lofty scholars, your identity is somewhat peculiar.”

“How so?” Morin pressed.

“Firstly, as an Imperial officer who receives high attention from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, you would certainly not be willing to abandon your original identity and career, submit to their control, and start as a lowest-level apprentice, like other Mages who awaken in adulthood.”

Patricia sharply pointed out the core of the issue.

“But at the same time, your knowledge of arcane technology and magical theory is clearly considered by the high-ranking spellcasters to be far from the standard required to participate in their research.”

“Thus, you are in a very awkward position… They cannot control you, but they also do not believe you can contribute to their research, so they simply choose to ignore you.”

Patricia paused, then offered a deeper and more realistic reason.

“More importantly, Mr. Morin…”

She looked directly into Morin’s eyes and said slowly, word for word.

“Your older sister, Cecilia von Falkenstein, is the leading figure in the brilliant crystal industry.”

(End of this Chapter)