Chapter 759

Paul's words left Mariana deeply worried.

"Paul, I have to remind you that, as an organization with a long heritage, the Secret Art Society possesses tremendous power. Now that it has complete control over the Gabella Empire, the Northwest Bay alone has no hope of standing against it."

She said solemnly, "I know you can create many novel things here, such as muskets and cannons. I admit that they are tremendously powerful and can easily defeat traditional armies, but have you ever considered this? These things were created by ordinary people, but the Secret Art Society has a natural advantage. They can do everything ordinary people can do, while what they can do—magic—is something ordinary people cannot. They can steal your technology and manufacture muskets and cannons, but you cannot steal their magic. Even if I stand on your side, even if I am as proud of my skill in magic as I can be, I still cannot help you stand against such a massive organization. You possess only technology, while they can possess both technology and magic. That puts you at a one-to-two disadvantage."

Paul's expression remained calm. "Mother, although you know about muskets and cannons, I have to say that those things are merely the end of a chain. This chain will grow longer and longer, eventually evolving into a vast system. It is impossible to create one overnight."

Mariana was stunned. "That sounds rather complicated?"

"Of course! I took you on a tour of the ironworks. Based on what you remember from that visit, do you think you could replicate an ironworks somewhere else?"

The Self-Strengthening Movement of the late Qing Dynasty, post-independence India, and the United States' reindustrialization—did they work hard? They did, but their results were meager. Once an industrial system became sufficiently complex, replicating