"More precisely, I wanted to establish a Ray Gun main-body workshop, a Spell Model module workshop, an Energy-Storage Rune workshop, and... an Energy-Storage Rune Charging Workshop!"
When Viscount Rost reached the end, his voice noticeably grew heavier. "I could even accept not producing Ray Guns at all and specializing solely in charging their energy-storage units, though that would be the worst-case scenario."
He could not be certain that he had the ability to manufacture Ray Guns. After all, there was no "production manual" this time. But he knew that Ray Guns would inevitably become widespread, and the number of Energy Storage Modules would definitely far exceed that of other modules.
Under such circumstances, charging Energy Storage Modules would become a major problem. Yet for them, self-charging modules could solve it perfectly.
The Wild Mage was also stunned by Viscount Rost's idea!
Magic items could be used like this?
Sure enough, in the age of magitech devices, everything would change.
A quick-witted partner was more important than any resource—more important even than ancient knowledge. Knowledge could be acquired through other channels, but partners were not so easy to find.
The two spoke directly until late into the night, basically finalizing the arrangements for the Ray Gun industry before returning to their respective residences, planning to continue the next day.
Watching Viscount Rost leave, the Wild Mage took out his Magic Net...
Graycastle Empire.
Imperial Palace.
"Father, that Wild Mage rejected our recruitment offer." Prince Wilson, heir to the Graycastle Empire, looked helplessly at his father. "The terms I offered would have tempted even a Legendary Mage."
"Do you know why he refused?"
The Graycastle Emperor did not seem surprised by this at all. He merely posed a question to his heir.
"This... Perhaps he does not want to leave the place where he is used to living? The concept of national identity in the Dawn Kingdom is far weaker than in Gray Fortress, and as a Wild Mage ostracized by the Mage Association, he should have nothing worth clinging to." Prince Wilson looked rather bewildered.
"Think carefully." The Graycastle Emperor was deeply dissatisfied with his heir's answer, frowning slightly. "Go invite Archmage Andrew, the president of the Royal Mage Guild, and the commander of the Mage Legion."
"Yes!" Prince Wilson bowed slightly and quickly departed.
Gazing at the empty palace, the Graycastle Emperor sighed. "A new era... it has arrived far too quickly. I just wonder whether the Dawn Kingdom can survive this crisis..."
After replying, the Wild Mage—the fuse that had ignited all of this—prepared to rest, but he could not fall asleep no matter how he tossed and turned.
Viscount Rost's words continued echoing through his mind... There was more to it than just that?!
Then would conversion be a good idea?
Dawn Capital.
A carriage bearing the crest of the Rogers Family raced through the night.
Berlion Rogers, Hand of the Kingdom, wore a grave expression as a strong sense of crisis spread through his heart.
Just moments ago, he had ordered mages skilled in necromancy to perform a series of magical procedures on the black-robed men killed by Destructive Fist. They had confirmed that these people... actually came from the Tiele Chiefdom!
Their primary mission was to attack supplies being transported from the capital to the Westlands and, if necessary, launch a direct assault on the capital, thereby weakening the kingdom's ability to control the Westlands!
Berlion was deeply worried about war, especially at such a critical juncture.
Whenever he recalled his last meeting with His Majesty, when the king's mind had already become unclear and he had muttered constantly at a mirror, Berlion felt a chill run down his spine.
He remembered a rumor.
The royal family of the Dawn Kingdom, the Franz Family, had once been followers of the War God. Yet during one divine war, they had betrayed the War God and thrown themselves into the embrace of the God of Light. From then on, the War God's curse had continued to spread within the Franz Family.
No one knew the exact nature of the curse. They only knew that it brought sounds ordinary people could not hear and visions ordinary people could not see. The curse would make them violent... and its prelude was the current loss of sanity!
If his respected king remained mentally unclear, then Berlion could manage the kingdom, mobilize resources, and face enemy nations, perhaps keeping the losses under control. But if His Majesty passed through this stage and entered the violent phase...
Thinking of the third prince, his expression became even uglier.
What he did not know was that the third prince he had watched grow up had already become the most sought-after Technology God!
Within the Divine Kingdom.
Betty watched everything with a smile on her face. "Very good. Our Ray Guns should soon be on the agenda. Rost and that Wild Mage are both quite capable... But why has that Wild Mage still not chosen to convert?"
"Whether he converts does not depend on us, and it will not affect the overall situation." Roger sat in an old armchair nearby, smiling broadly. "As long as they can promote Ray Guns as well, my magitech devices will be firmly established, and my position as the Technology God will be secure!"
"What next? Continue developing weapons?" Betty looked curiously at Roger. "How about developing a Super Big Gun that can fire Annihilation Bullets?!"
Annihilation Bullets?
Super Big Gun?
That was a super cannon, all right?!
Even a Legendary Mage might not be able to fire a single shot like that.
Roger fell into brief thought. Making a super cannon was not impossible. Used on the battlefield, its effect would definitely be extraordinarily good.
Even if it could not move, placing it on a city wall would still produce an extraordinary effect!
At the very least, it certainly would not be weaker than the scene of tens of thousands of Mana Bombs being thrown out before.
But after thinking it over carefully, Roger shook his head slightly. "Now is not the time to spread Truth. I still have too few followers, not enough to promote mana cannons. I think our next step should be to civilianize magitech devices."
"Truth? Civilianize?"
Betty looked at Roger in confusion.
A whole bunch of terms she had never heard before had suddenly appeared in that sentence.
"Dignity exists only on the edge of a sword; Truth exists only within the range of cannon fire." Roger seemed to be in an excellent mood and explained with a smile. "Once we introduce mana cannons—the Super Big Guns you mentioned—the nature of warfare will change."
"That makes sense... As long as something is within a cannon's range, the cannon's owner is Truth." Betty fell silent for a moment before showing an enlightened expression. "Then what does civilianization mean?"
"Magitech devices do not necessarily have to be weapons. If they can be used for mining, smelting steel, and producing all kinds of creations, wouldn't they influence even more people? That would be a great thing for gathering faith..."
Roger explained his ideas as clearly as he could. "Unfortunately, we still have not found a way for people without mana to use magitech devices. Otherwise, if anyone could use them, the difficulty of gathering faith would be greatly reduced."
Before you continue