Technology Beyond This Era

The most direct way to measure the strength of a territory is to look at the level of its Mechanical City's technology.

The most direct way to compare the skill levels of mechanics is to bring out a combat mech and compare them; the difference will be immediately apparent.

Combat mechs are the culmination of a mechanic's mechanical knowledge. Typically, only "Senior Mechanic" have the ability to independently design combat mechs. However, creating a fully-fledged mech without any weaknesses is extremely difficult, requiring countless hours of complex knowledge accumulation and practical experience.

The Oma Empire's proudest combat force is the "Royal First Mechanical Legion".

For centuries, this army has possessed near-invincible combat power in war. And as is well known, the Mechanical Knight Legion relies heavily on its various mechanical equipment. "Combat mechs" are of paramount importance.

All the technological support for the Oma Empire's army comes from the Oma Royal Academy of Sciences. This "holy land of Steam Machinery" possesses the world's most advanced Steam Machinery technology and the most advanced combat mechs.

Of course, this was before Black Dragon City suddenly appeared.

Karl took out his "Raccoon Combat Mech" and put it on.

When the Eight-cylinder Power Boiler started up and white smoke billowed from the exhaust pipe, everyone in the venue was stunned.

All eyes were fixed on the miniature power boiler on the back of the mecha, and an uproar instantly broke out.

"This is Eight-cylinder Power Boiler?"

"That's impossible! Our college's Six-Cylinder Boiler is still in the experimental stage, this..."

"."

Karl's designs, as always, did not conform to popular aesthetics.

Compared to the mainstream "dark style" combat mechs on the market, this is clearly more like an iron toy.

But this time, among the more than a thousand people present, even those who harbored doubts, no one dared to mock them.

If it weren't for that musket competition, everyone who saw this boiler would probably have thought it was just a four-cylinder boiler with modified gas pipes. In fact, many black market mechanics like to do this to make the miniature boiler look more valuable, but it doesn't actually enhance the kinetic energy system at all; it's just a mediocre mechanic's attention-seeking modification.

But now, everyone feels that things are developing in a direction they can no longer control.

In fact, some well-informed top-level mechanics had already learned through special channels about the rumors that "Six-Cylinder Boiler" were being sold in Black Dragon City.

But it was just a rumor, and no one ever saw the actual item.

Moreover, they simply do not believe that there is any technology on the market more advanced than their Omar's.

But to my surprise, I've now seen an actual boiler that's not six cylinders, but eight cylinders.

If it's true, then this would likely be the biggest crisis in the thousand-year history of the Oma Royal Academy of Sciences.

This top-notch technology didn't come from their Oma Academy, but from a small Black Dragon City.

"Firearms" are just one branch of the mechanical field. No matter how amazing a firearm is, it is ultimately within the scope of what people know.

However, the technology of this eight-cylinder boiler is at least a decade ahead of that of the six-cylinder boiler!

Or rather, they were more than a decade ahead of the mechanics like Aoma in terms of understanding.

This is the most terrifying thing.

On stage, Karl introduced his combat suit, saying, "This is my 'Little Raccoon.' Although I designed it, many of the technologies were invented and improved by my grandfather. For example, this Eight-cylinder Power Boiler and the recoilless gun system."

He truthfully described his combat suit.

This statement did not elicit any further objection.

Combat mechs are not like firearms. A mechanic can independently manufacture hundreds or thousands of firearms, but it is impossible for one person to manufacture a complete mech.

A complete mech may require tens of thousands of parts and involve hundreds of patents, making it more than a thousand times more technically difficult than manufacturing a musket.

It's impossible for every part to be handcrafted by a mechanic.

What a mechanic can do is combine all the knowledge and resources he has to give the mech the strongest functions.

Karl's introduction contained too many technical terms and unfamiliar academic words.

Rein, a complete novice in mechanics, was already utterly bewildered.

Not only him, but also the apprentices and even the mentors of the Oma Academy were dumbfounded.

This "Little Raccoon" has too many advanced technologies that they can roughly guess its purpose from looking at it, but which have never appeared in textbooks.

Eight-cylinder boiler, energy circulation supply system, magic pattern noise reduction cooling, ancient alchemy enchantment, etc.

Unfamiliar terms, technologies that don't currently exist.

This mech contains many scientific research problems that even the various laboratories of their Oma Academy have been working hard to overcome.

While we're still researching, the other side has already produced a finished product?

Gradually, the shock in everyone's eyes turned into doubt: Was what this boy named "Karl" said true?

If two colleges have a slight technological advantage, it can be understood as the other being exceptionally talented, allowing them to excel in certain areas of research.

However, if the overall technology is too far behind, it feels somewhat unreal.

They simply couldn't believe that there was still an existence in the world that could crush their Oma Academy in the field of combat mechs for more than ten years!

Moreover, the "advanced technologies" he mentioned have no record of any patents in the Mechanist Guild. Could it be just empty talk?

However, since it was a competition and exchange, the OMA side naturally also put on a piece of their work.

This represents the reputation of the Oma Academy.

But now the exchanges are completely beyond the students' control. Even the academy's instructors have to be careful if they want to "win" this competition.

Ultimately, after discussion, Omar's side decided to send a high-level apprentice with the academy's most advanced single-soldier mech to the arena.

They knew very well that regardless of whether what Karl said was true or not, they had to take it seriously.

Otherwise, if they lose this "exchange" again, the Oma Royal Academy of Sciences will be completely disgraced.

The mecha that the apprentice brought up was the laboratory version of the OMA military mecha, which was far superior to the most advanced mechas on the market in terms of both technology and materials.

The six-cylinder Steam Boilers, equipped with a single-soldier cannon, and its materials, enchantments, and other technologies almost represent the highest level of Omar's current combat capabilities.

"This is the 'Dark War God'."

The Omar apprentice who came on stage also introduced the five-meter-tall mech next to him.

But there was a clear lack of confidence.

After all, an apprentice could never participate in the design of a mecha of this level.

The person sent was a mechanical apprentice, but in reality, Karl was facing the pinnacle of technological achievement in the entire academy.

The significance and charm of "machinery" lies precisely in this.

A mechanic's combat power lies almost entirely in their mechs. Unlike other Extraordinary Profession, they don't need to have a high rank to be powerful. As long as they know how to pilot a mech, they can unleash tremendous combat power.

Rein saw that Oma Academy's actions were clearly "cheating" but did not raise any objections, leisurely sipping his coffee.

The combat effectiveness of Mechanical Armor cannot be determined by mere words; it's not that simply piling on top-tier technology guarantees superiority.

Ultimately, a match is needed to make things clear.

Because of the impending battle, a magical light barrier was erected on the arena in the communication hall to prevent accidental injuries from explosions.

On the arena, Karl, dressed as a "Little Raccoon," and the student dressed as a "War God" stood on either side, their sizes vastly different.

One is less than two meters tall, and the other is five meters tall.

Size and tonnage are also one of the most important advantages of combat mechs.

Generally speaking, the larger the size, the stronger the performance.

Although the "War God" uses Six-Cylinder Boiler, the larger boiler provides more energy. Its robust Mechanical Skeleton allows for greater load-bearing capacity, a more stable mechanism, and stronger armor.

The audience below watched the fierce battle about to erupt on stage with anticipation in their eyes.

Even the trainees had mostly never seen just how powerful the "War God" was in the laboratory.

This is the only time in countless exchange meetings over the years that other colleges have forced Oma Academy to reveal their most advanced mechs.

Who do you think will win?

"It's definitely our academy. Since the instructors have brought out the 'War God,' we can't possibly lose."

"I also think we will definitely win. After all, the tonnage difference between the two mechs is more than double. Putting aside the weapon systems, once we are locked in a contest, even if that 'Little Raccoon' really has an eight-cylinder boiler, it still can't beat us."

"I don't think so. Didn't you hear what that guy from Black Dragon City said about it? He said it's an 'agile' mech. Do you think he'd be stupid enough to try and wrestle with the 'War God'?"

"Heh, agility type? Agility is a weakness of combat mechs anyway. How agile can it be? Besides, this is on the arena. The movement distance is so short that it's not enough for him to hold you back. Don't worry, once you stick to it, the battle will be over."

"."

The trainees whispered among themselves, speculating about the outcome of the competition.

From initially overwhelmingly supporting their own academy, some people now believe that Black Dragon City can win.

Almost everyone had high expectations for this competition.

Meanwhile, in the audience, Grandmaster Oliver's eyes gleamed with a cold light, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.

Looking at Karl's armor, he muttered in a voice barely audible to himself, "Just as the intelligence said, that Tuster guy has mastered mechanical technology that's ahead of our time."

"The competition begins!"

The host gave the order.

The two mechs on the arena suddenly moved.

Because of its massive size, the "War God" was designed with two shoulder-fired individual cannons. The moment the competition began, the muzzles of both cannons lit up with flashes.

With two loud "booms," two shells were launched at extremely high speed.

The two mechs were less than 200 meters apart. Even if they missed, the shockwave from the explosion would be enough to knock the other mech to the ground. Then, the "War God" could charge forward and subdue the other mech before it could regain its footing.

It must be said that the pilots of the "War God" were very skilled, and their tactics were flawless.

As everyone expected, the battle ended quickly.

The host had just announced the start of the battle when an explosion rang out, and it was over in the next instant.

However, it was Karl's "Little Raccoon" that won!

The instant the cannon fire illuminated the battlefield, Karl's mech, swift as an assassin, dove at breakneck speed. He precisely evaded the cannon fire, and in the blink of an eye, appeared face-to-face with the "War God"!

Just as the opponent's mech gears were still clicking and rattling, trying to grab him with its Mechanical Arm, Karl nimbly sidestepped aside, then flashed onto the back of the "War God" and directly used the two black short knives to insert into the gap of the opponent's mech's power boiler, instantly causing the boiler to explode!

The whole process was just like a high-level assassin killing a clumsy grizzly bear, giving the opponent no chance to fight back.

The battle ended much faster than anyone expected.

Below the stage, time seemed to stand still.

The spectators were just wondering who would win, and their eyes had just caught a glimpse of the cannon fire, when they never expected the battle to end so suddenly.

The sound of a boiler explosion rang out, and the powerless "War God" collapsed on the field, bringing everyone back to their senses from the shock.

We lost?

The students looked at each other, as if they were in a dream.

"That's impossible! How could a combat mech be so sensitive!"

"This reaction speed is probably comparable to that of High-tier Extraordinary. Can a machine really achieve such sensitivity? How powerful must its kinetic energy transmission system be?"

"And what material is that black knife made of? How could it slice through the 'War God's' alloy-encased power boiler in one strike?"

"."

Seeing this result, everyone realized that the world had changed.

An overwhelming victory, which means there is a huge gap in technological level between the two sides.

The entire venue was completely silent.

Even the host didn't know how to smooth things over at that moment.

This is a blatant slap in the face.

It's the kind of thing that makes it impossible for someone to regain face.

However, for the vast majority of mechanics, "science and technology" is the only truth.

Advanced technology deserves humility.

"Good! Very good!"

Just then, a cloaked figure sitting in the last row stood up.

Upon lifting the cloak, they were surprised to see an old man with a white beard.

He made no attempt to express his reverence for science, nor did he hide his praise for Karl, saying, "The technology in young friend Karl's armor can absolutely be called the pinnacle of mechanical technology in this world. Even I am ashamed to admit my inferiority!"

These words immediately caused a huge uproar.

The students recognized the old man and exclaimed, "Grandmaster Jürgen!"

So this was Jürgen Yvelin, one of the three "Grand Mechanical Master" of our time. He was also the teacher of Pierre, the "Mechanical Grandmaster" whom Ymir had taken to the "Karatva Basin" to transform the Mechanical City!

In fact, there are factions within the academy as well.

Where there are factions, there will be conflict.

Not everyone was satisfied with Dean Breidan's actions.

Breidan's willingness to use such despicable means to frame Tuster demonstrates that, regardless of his academic abilities, his character was certainly questionable. Over the years, he has also made many enemies within the academy, exhibiting nepotism, arrogance, and the suppression and exclusion of political opponents.

And this Grandmaster Jürgen was the one who was ostracized!

Although all three Grandmaster of the Royal Academy of Sciences are loyal to the Oma Empire, they each have their own political stances. Dean Breidan is loyal to the Empress, while Jürgen is loyal to the Old Emperor!

The fact that he could send his grandmaster disciples to establish new territories alongside Ymir is enough to demonstrate his stance.

For Black Dragon City, even if it's not a "friend," it's at least "neutral."

Rein hadn't expected that Grandmaster Jürgen would stand up for Karl at this moment.

However, upon seeing him, a relaxed smile appeared on Rein's face.

Actually, one reason Rein came to the Oma Royal Academy of Sciences was to seek justice for Old Master Tuster. On the other hand, he also planned to bring a group of mechanical engineers back to Black Dragon City.

This Grandmaster Jürgen was one of the key candidates.

After Black Dragon City was opened to the public, Master Pierre had secretly contacted his teacher, wanting him to help with the territory's development. However, Grandmaster Jürgen had not made any promises.

Because he was loyal to the Oma Royal Family.

As long as Omar is alive, he will not leave.

But now, things are different.

Because Rein knew that Omar's political situation was already a mess.

Once the Old Emperor dies, the empire will most likely split, and the Oma Empire may cease to exist.

While Black Dragon City currently boasts the top-tier mechanic, Master Tuster, it is facing a shortage of capable successors.

The territory's explosive development has also gradually revealed some shortcomings. Whether it's the construction of the Mechanical City or the Black Dragon City Academy, there's a great need for mechanical talent, especially high-level talent.

And this Grand Mechanical Master in front of us, if we take him away, we can take away nearly a third of the heritage of the Oma Royal Academy of Sciences!

I was in poor condition; this photo seems a bit weak, sorry.