"Stop." Tsubasa suddenly sneered, "What would happen if Lei Baotian were struck by lightning?"
Sweat instantly beaded on Asuka's forehead, and the model trembled slightly in his palm. "During testing, it was discovered that... when subjected to a cumulative lightning strike of over 100,000 volts, the rune matrix experiences an energy disturbance for 0.7 seconds..."
"So what I need are mechs that can roam freely in thunderstorms, not junk that leaks electricity." Tsubasa tossed a gilded lighter on the table, its Kakkō flickering in his eyes. "Here are three directions for improvement: First, add a dual-attribute rune converter to the energy circulation system, requiring it to absorb and convert lightning, fire, and frost energies, with a conversion rate of at least 65%; Second—" He suddenly crushed the lighter, copper shavings falling onto the documents, "The new material must withstand a 200,000-volt lightning strike, with an insulation index of T1 level, and modular disassembly testing is required. The core component must be replaced within 30 minutes; Third, develop and research the Hokage Series Computer system to achieve an automated control system..."
"Automated control system!" Asuka interrupted excitedly, his glasses gleaming with excitement. "Connecting to the Third Hokage Series Computer does enable supersonic flight, but the requirements for the pilot are extremely high..." He suddenly lowered his voice, " The Anbu Ninja reported that the control interface consumes a lot of mental energy. If the speed is too fast, ordinary ninjas will experience dizziness, headaches, and vomiting after operating it continuously for two hours..."
"Speed is always our pursuit. The main reason for developing aerospace research is to explore the cosmos. We need to research brainwave buffering equipment to protect our pilots at supersonic or even faster-than-light speeds." Tsubasa casually tossed over a jade slip Cursed Seal. "These are some of my ideas. In three years, I want to see mechs that can rampage through thunderstorms."
Asuka caught the jade slip with both hands, her fingertips touching the cool runes. Suddenly, she straightened her back. "Yes, finally, regarding civilian applications— the Hokage Type III ' computer has achieved 512KB of memory, a clock speed increased to 8MHz, and a new graphical user interface added to the operating system, capable of running three programs simultaneously... The daily production capacity of the automobile production line has exceeded 200 units, and the Black Flame Type 2- 2' locomotive has a range of 800 kilometers, employing..."
"That's enough. Leave these to the Secretariat. I only care about the most cutting-edge scientific research results." Tsubasa waved his hand and suddenly tossed a document from his drawer. "Broaden your thinking in scientific research. This contains many of my various conjectures, including quantum mechanics, nuclear fusion, nanotechnology, and hundreds of others. These are mostly research directions. Of course, focus your energy on the most important things right now."
Asuka looked down at the menacing flame patterns on the document, a muffled laugh escaping her throat, "Yes, Your subordinate will take care of it right away." As she turned, her briefcase accidentally tipped over, and several yellowed mechanical blueprints slipped out—on the chest area of the latest version of the mecha, a gear-shaped symbol was clearly drawn.
Tsubasa's fingertips traced the rim of the teacup. He suddenly looked up, his pupils flashing with two clusters of golden light. "Speak, the data report on the medicinal herbs and pills. I want to hear the most truthful account."
Akira Senju's thumb unconsciously brushed against the clover emblem on his cuff, a unique embroidery of the Medical Department. He leaned forward, the scent of sandalwood mixed with herbs wafting towards him. "Let's talk about the herb garden first. This year, we developed over 3,000 mu of cultivated land in the south, planting the most common medicinal herbs. We used a triple ripening process, producing 800 jin of fresh herbs per mu annually, which yields 220 jin of dried herbs, far exceeding the village's pharmaceutical factory's daily production of 30,000 pills." He took a scroll from his waist, unrolled it, and tapped it in his palm, making a soft tapping sound. "But the real treasure is in the suspended herb garden on the northern mountain of the inner village."
Tsubasa raised an eyebrow at the scroll, and Akira Senju immediately added, "Twenty-seven towering rune pillars supported the barrier, and hundreds of precious medicinal herbs, including snow ginseng, ice toad flowers, resurrection grass, and blood ginseng, were planted in the cloud layer three hundred feet above the ground. Each inch of the snow ginseng's tendrils contained three strands of ice spirit veins. If five thousand plants were planted, three hundred catties of ginseng tendrils could be harvested each year—but the plants you instructed not to be pulled up are now only five feet three inches long, with tendrils just enough to make three turns."
"Five feet three inches?" Tsubasa suddenly laughed, tapping the celadon brush washer on the corner of the table with his knuckles. "The ginseng seed I planted three years ago has only grown this much? Did you write the ripening spell backwards?"
"How could I dare!" Akira Senju waved his hands frantically, a bandage slipping from his sleeve to reveal a pale blue Cursed Seal on his wrist—a mark of backlash from adjusting the formation. "The suspended herb garden is windy and covered in snow year-round; ordinary formations simply can't withstand it. We're using your improved ' Five Qi Returning to the Origin Array,' drawing the runic springs you inscribed upwards. Each snow ginseng has a top-grade moonstone the size of a pigeon's egg buried beneath it, gathering thirty percent of the moonlight at night..." He suddenly lowered his voice, "However, judging by this growth, it will take at least seven years and three months to reach full maturity."
"Continue to increase the planting of spiritual herbs. Now, let's talk about the situation with pills that aid cultivation," Tsubasa asked.
Akira Senju remained calm, though the bloodshot veins in his eyes were visible under the white light of the runes. He said wearily, " The Agriculture Department is short-handed. I'm applying to recruit people from other villages." Tsubasa nodded in agreement. Akira Senju Sho continued, "Speaking of pills to aid cultivation, that's the real trouble. ' Spirit Gathering Pill ' can produce 100,000 pills daily, containing 30% of the essence of Spirit Opening Herbs. A ninja refining Chakra who takes one can meditate for half a night—but last week, news came from the Anbu that many Genin resist their greed and swallowed five pills in three days, resulting in three blockages in their meridians." He pulled a crumpled prescription from his sleeve. "Now it's been improved into 'Spirit Gathering Medicinal Liquid,' with half a portion of snow ginseng root added, slowing the release of Spiritual Power by 60%. Although the efficacy is weaker, the safety is improved, but there's a risk of addiction."
"And there's also the Origin Solidifying Pill'." Akira Senju rubbed his fingertips on the scroll. "It uses the ear gland fluid from the Golden Toad. Each pill contains three milligrams of toxin and must be taken with an antidote. The production line now produces 30,000 pills daily for ninjas practicing Taijutsu —but guess what? Some guys grind the pills into powder and mix them into their rice balls, literally eating medicine as food, claiming it stimulates muscle activity." He suddenly smiled bitterly. "As a result, the Medical Department receives at least seventeen cases of food poisoning every day, all caused by ourselves, but it's still rampant. Those ninjas say high risk means high efficiency."
Tsubasa suddenly opened a scroll he carried with him and took out a prescription and a medicine bottle. The bottle was engraved with fine incantations. "This is Toxin Cleansing Powder ' that I casually researched in the Shikkotsu Forest. Have the Pharmaceutical Research Center check if it can neutralize the toxins." He paused, then added, "Don't tell anyone about the Toxin Cleansing Powder yet. Just say it was researched by the Medical Department and is very valuable. Otherwise, those crazed body-cultivating ninjas will become even more frenzied. I don't want to see any unnecessary deaths."
Akira Senju twirled the jade bottle three times. He subconsciously reached for the cap, but Tsubasa raised his hand and pressed it down. "We'll study this later. Let's talk about the pill inventory first. You just said a hundred-year supply?"
"Yes." Akira Senju swallowed hard. "The ordinary medicine warehouse has three thousand shi (a unit of dry measure), the cellar still has seven hundred and seventeen hundred-year-old ginseng plants, and four hundred and twenty ice toad flowers—but the most valuable thing is ' Dragon Life-Extending Dew.' We traded thirteen jars for it from Ryūchi Cave, and now, diluted with Shimizu, we can divide it into twenty thousand small bottles. Each bottle can keep a dying person alive, and we can sell it..."
"Stop, strategic pills are not for sale." Tsubasa suddenly stood up, his robe sweeping over the prescription on the table. "Starting tomorrow, reduce the production of Spirit Gathering Pill by 70%, freeing up production lines to make Beauty Pills. You personally oversee the formula. Add peach blossom dew, pearl powder, and half a part snow ginseng root—remember, add snow ginseng root at one-thousandth of the amount; too much will easily cause facial swelling." He walked to the door, then turned back, a cunning glint in his eyes. "Tell everyone this is ' Youth-Preserving Liquid,' each dose will sell for fifty taels of gold, buy three get one free, and use the profits to develop the Agriculture Department."
Akira Senju smiled and said, "Okay, I'll definitely handle it well. Our Agriculture Department finally has some income. Otherwise, we always have to ask the villages for funds and be at the mercy of the Administrative Department..."