Hogg's return to command of Wushan Town as a reinvigorated Eighth-level Warrior had an immediate effect. Some vassals and minor nobles who had paid lip service to the steadily declining Baruch Clan immediately became exceedingly deferential. Following Lin Yinuo's advice, Hogg also began selectively approaching mid-ranking nobles in Fenlai City who had close military ties or were sensitive to developments along the border. The long-dormant Baruch name began coming to certain people's attention once again.
Meanwhile, Lin Yinuo's life at the Ernst Institute quietly changed as well. He made fewer public appearances, spending more time immersed in the library's restricted section and his own dormitory room. On one hand, he continued probing the mysteries of the [Incomplete Fire Elemental Law Fragment] and began using the knowledge in [Art of War], together with the information from [Yulan Continent Geography] in his mind, to project how a future war might unfold. On the other, through Ailina, he began making some extremely discreet preliminary preparations.
That day, in the stone pavilion behind the library.
"...That's the situation." Ailina lowered her voice, her expression grave. "Based on the scattered reports our 'Shadow Line' has gathered from the border and the Luo'ao Empire, the Luo'ao Empire has recently been moving troops frequently along the border and stockpiling provisions. Some large military pack beasts and siege engines are also assembling at the front. The signs of conflict... are very clear."
The "Shadow Line" she referred to was the fledgling intelligence network established using Lin Yinuo's ideas and funding. Though still crude and limited in reach, it could already pick up some more genuine indications of developments beyond official channels.
Lin Yinuo nodded, unsurprised. History's inertia was powerful.
"We need to speed up our preparations." Lin Yinuo's voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable resolve. "Use the Bolenas Family's commercial channels to acquire these materials as discreetly as possible." He handed Ailina a list of some unrestricted but rarely used metals and low-grade magic crystals needed to manufacture a simplified Magic Cannon.
Ailina took the list and skimmed it, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes. The combination of materials was very unusual, unlike anything used to make ordinary magical weapons or armor.
"These are...?"
"Components for something that can change the way wars are fought." Lin Yinuo offered little explanation. "Spread out the purchases. Don't attract attention. Store the materials you acquire in a warehouse outside the city that you trust, for now."
"Understood." Ailina asked no further questions. She trusted Lin Yinuo's judgment. Carefully putting away the list, she added, "As for funding, the profits from our initial operations will be enough to cover these purchases, with quite a bit left over. Should we recruit some people? Reliable ones who know the basics of magic formations or metal forging."
"Yes." Lin Yinuo gave Ailina an approving look. Her thinking always kept pace with his. "Be extremely careful with the selection. Better too few than unsuitable recruits. They don't need to know the full picture at first. They only need to carry out the basic tasks assigned to them."
The manufacture of the Magic Cannon must be divided into separate processes. I must keep control of the core energy-conversion formation myself. Ailina is the best choice to handle materials and recruit and manage the workers on the periphery.
"Leave it to me." Ailina nodded solemnly. She felt the weight of the burden on her shoulders and vaguely realized that Lin Yinuo's ambitions were considerable. This was more than a commercial operation; they were gathering strength for an approaching storm.
After seeing Ailina off, Lin Yinuo did not return to his dormitory. Instead, he went to an intermediate magic training ground within the institute, reserved for fire mages to practice. Reinforcement formations had been inscribed here, allowing it to withstand stronger magical bombardments.
He needed to test some ideas about combining his understanding of laws with practical applications.
Standing in the center of the training ground, he closed his eyes and focused his spiritual power intensely. The [Incomplete Fire Elemental Law Fragment] surfaced once more in his sea of consciousness, countless flame runes flowing, forming, and fading. Rather than pursuing complicated spell models, he immersed his mind completely in his understanding of the "explosive" and "condensed" aspects of "fire."
He slowly raised his right hand, loosely bringing his index finger and thumb together.
There was no incantation, nor even any obvious fluctuation of magical power. Yet between his loosely poised fingers, an intensely condensed spark, almost dark red, quietly appeared. Tiny as a bean, it radiated heart-pounding energy fluctuations, scorching the surrounding air with faint crackles.
Go!
At a thought from Lin Yinuo, the dark-red spark shot forward as though granted life, instantly striking a thick test target dozens of meters away that had been reinforced with sixth-level defensive magic.
There was no deafening explosion, nor any dazzling blaze.
Only a soft puff sounded, like a red-hot iron plunging into butter.
A fist-sized hole appeared where the target had been struck, its edges smooth, as though the material had been instantly vaporized! Around the hole, the material had a glassy sheen from melting at high temperatures and then rapidly cooling!
Penetrating power-penetrating power taken to the extreme! And the explosive force had been contained entirely within, concentrated at a single point and released in an instant!
This was not any known fire spell, but a technique Lin Yinuo had developed himself, based on his understanding of the law fragment, for using highly concentrated flame power! Its might far surpassed single-target attack spells of the same level. More importantly-it was almost instantaneous and consumed very little magical power!
It worked. "Condensed Flame Finger"... I've made a start at creating an attack of my own. It's still very crude, but the direction is right. The power of laws truly does far surpass ordinary magic.
As he looked at the pierced target, his own path became clearer in his mind. Powerful personal strength was the foundation for controlling everything. And the approaching war would be the best testing ground for his strength and plans.
Just as he was deep in thought, slightly hurried footsteps came from outside the training ground.
The newcomer was Mage Elwin, with a rare trace of solemnity on his face.
"Yinuo." Elvin approached. As his gaze swept over the pierced target, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, but he asked no questions and went straight to the point. "We just received word from the institute's senior leadership. A special envoy from the Imperial Military Department will arrive at the institute within the next few days to requisition a group of outstanding magic apprentices and low-level mages to go to the Chier Prefecture border... for 'practical combat training.'"
He deliberately stressed the words "practical combat training." Their implications went without saying.
Lin Yinuo's gaze sharpened.
Finally... it's coming. A little earlier than expected, but that's no matter. My Magic Cannon, my Art of War, and my newly taking-shape "Condensed Flame Finger"... it's time to take the stage.
He looked calmly at Mage Elwin, his tone entirely unruffled:
"I understand. Please assure the institute that the Baruch Brothers will not shirk their duty."
The first stirrings of wind had risen among the duckweed, and the scent of war was already in the air.
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