Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 511 The Vast Ocean Expo: Electronic Storm and Industrial Baptism
The expo venue is located in the convention center in the east of Hanhai City, about 1.5 kilometers away from Emerald Bay Wharf.

This place was once used to welcome Cersei, the Tidebringer of the sea creatures. In order to hold the grand "Tidebringer" ceremony, the sea leveled the land here, set up a plaza, built a high platform, and erected a steel frame, which can be considered the prototype of a large venue.

The relationship between Han Hai and the sea creatures has always been good, so Han Hai left this place behind. Perhaps they will have frequent interactions in the future?
As it turns out, not all sea creatures appreciate such elaborate etiquette. Once they get to know each other, they're all the same, and Cersei wandered around the vast ocean in her slippers.

Ma Tianheng chose this location for the exhibition and arranged for the Hanhai Engineering Corps to expand it.

The planned HanHai International Convention and Exhibition Center will cover an area of ​​over 100,000 square meters, with a 30-meter-high dome in the main exhibition hall. It will become a large-scale stage for countries and forces across the continent to promote, showcase, and trade.

It will be a long time before the project is completed, and since this event mainly showcases HanHai's own products, only a small portion of the exhibition area has been put into use.

But even this small part is enough for everyone who sets foot here to feel an industrial beauty from another world.

Upon entering the gate, the first thing you see is a huge screen wall with a giant screen embedded in it, currently playing several videos on a loop.

The flowing images illuminated everyone's eyes.

Han Hai Ling Hang's aerial photography captures the verdant land, the newly opened train line in Xi Yue, the vast forests of Jingling Yin Yue, and the desolate landscape of the northern wilderness...

In those rapidly zoomed-in shots, golden waves of wheat were bent low by the wind, the plump grains almost hitting the lens, so close you could almost smell the fragrance of the wheat. An insect of unknown species circled around, its wings vibrating and its body vibrating, appearing so vibrant and full of life in the frame.

Fanxing also has imaging equipment like the Magic Gimbal, but in terms of both clarity and the dynamic feel of the image, it is significantly inferior to Dongxia's top-of-the-line equipment.

Without a doubt, this video wall, created by Dongxia Modern Industrial Technology, immediately captivated the attention of all the viewers present from the very first moment of the event.

No one knows that this promotional video underwent dozens of cuts and revisions.

According to the original design, the explosions of artillery shells, the hail of bullets from machine guns, the dust kicked up by tanks, and the roar of fighter jets flying overhead... were indeed spectacular and eye-catching enough. However, Ma Tianheng clearly pointed out that such scenes were suitable for domestic propaganda but not for international propaganda!

Old Ma personally oversaw the review, removing all sensitive information that might involve the Vast Ocean Territory, the originally prepared thrilling war scenes, and the footage of ruins on the orc wasteland.

We are not here to demonstrate, but to build a harmonious and prosperous world of trade!
And so what remains is this magnificent and beautiful landscape.

Turn around this wall, and behind you is Hanhai's main exhibition hall.

The main purpose of this event was to promote Hanhai's electronic products, so Lao Ma didn't use any tricks like praising by first criticizing or taking a roundabout approach; he simply put the core products right in the center.

The first item on display is the "Wind Whisper" series radio, which is manufactured in Hanhai.

At present, Hanhai is still in a special stage where plastic is more expensive than steel, so the 【Wind Whisper】series radios use a retro shell that combines walnut wood and brass.

It's clear that the designers put a lot of thought into the appearance. The wooden chassis surface is polished to a silky smooth finish with clear and flowing grain, and the edges are inlaid with exquisite metal corner protectors. The front features a perforated, carved patterned mesh.

Some envoys familiar with the emblems of the continental nobility recognized at a glance that what was engraved on the chassis was the cloud pattern, the emblem of the former Cloud Mist Territory.

This is a territorial imprint that has completely disappeared from the history of the mainland and is being gradually forgotten.

[Whisper] The radio's tuning method is somewhat unique; instead of a knob, it uses a snap-on lever, providing only three fixed listening frequencies. Undoubtedly, these three levers correspond to the listening frequencies of Channel 1, Channel 2, and Channel 3 of the "Fanxing Radio Station," which belongs to Hanhai.

According to the current plan, Channel 1 will be a news and general programming channel, Channel 2 will be a mainland poetry and music channel, and Channel 3 will be a local story channel.

The person in charge of the on-site demonstration was a young military academy student, who showed each step to the onlookers in extremely slow motion.

Take out two silver-white cylindrical batteries from under the display case. Then open the clips on the back of the radio, carefully insert the batteries, and fasten them.

Then, he gently pressed a button on the top, and a soft green light lit up behind the front panel of the radio, indicating that it was powered on.

Slowly pull out the retractable silver antenna, and finally, push the latch lever representing "a set" into place with a "click," then use another knob to amplify the volume.

A few short, hissing electrical buzzes rang out, followed by a clear, melodious female voice, like a nightingale's song, flowing from the wooden chassis and instantly filling the entire exhibition hall.

"Good morning, listeners. This is Star Radio Channel 1, News and General Channel."

"At this moment, I am on the White Deer Plain, bringing you today's weather forecast from Dingshan County. Today, Dingshan City will have sunny skies with a low of 11 degrees Celsius and a high of 25 degrees Celsius. A southwest wind of force 2 is expected. This sunny weather is expected to continue for the next three to four days..."

At first, everyone just found it somewhat novel.

It can play sound, and such a clear and mellow sound at that, making it a pretty good "magic tool".

However, they were soon told that the sound was neither stored in advance on the Wind Whisper radio nor was it a sound transmission hidden in some corner of the surrounding area; the source of the sound was the White Deer Plain in the north.

Moreover, it's broadcast in real time.

Next, we will conduct on-site verification.

Han Hai had prepared a teleportation altar in advance and invited priests from the Misty Moon Divine Court and scholars from the Magic Society to witness it. The main altar was placed on site, while the secondary altar had already been sent to the Dingshan County radio station.

After the priests and scholars had examined the parchment in turn, and it had been certified by the names of the Seven-Eyed God and the God of Wisdom respectively, the staff invited the chief representatives of each national delegation to write a word on a piece of parchment, which was then examined by everyone in turn. The parchment was then passed through the altar to the vice-chairman.

A few seconds later, that clear and melodious sound rang out again.

"Good morning, listeners. This is the news and general channel of Star Radio. Thank you for this gift from Hanhai City. Let's listen together to this voice from afar, carrying friendship and greetings."

"Seven-Eyed God, Twilight City, Human Glory, Crystal River, Thorn Armor, Breath of Nature, Long Live the Chairman, Iron Oath, Eternal Pact..."

The parchment handed over contained more than twenty words, which were read aloud slowly by a woman's voice, word by word, in perfect order.

Moreover, when the announcer read it, he used the language corresponding to the written word for each word.

For example, Twilight City was written in the script of the Qiyue Dynasty by the representatives of Qiyue, and when it was read, the common language of Qiyue was used.

The phrase "Long Live the Chairman" is written in Xiyue script and recited in the local Xiyue dialect.

Elder Zegen of Xiyue chuckled and squinted as he heard his handwritten pledge of loyalty read aloud with clear and resounding words. He then asked, "Is this... a teleportation altar that can transmit sound?"

The military academy guide shook his head slightly: "This is not the same as an altar."

"The altar is bidirectional, but there's a long interval between uses. This [Wind Whisper] is unidirectional and has no time limit!"

"As long as someone speaks over there, we can keep listening here!"

This is getting interesting!

After asking a series of questions, everyone basically understood its effects. Meanwhile, the radio played a piece of music and a legend from the mainland told by a famous bard.

The combination of music and story ignited the nobles' inherent pursuit of pleasure and prestige, which greatly enhanced their interest.

"However, gentlemen, there are two prerequisites for a radio to receive a program: first, there must be a program being broadcast by Hanhai; second, the location of the radio must be able to receive Hanhai's transmission."

The narrator briefly explained the principle of the radio: "Like the earth-transmitting drum of the orcs, this radio also receives sound transmissions from distant locations. However, since countries are far apart, spanning thousands of miles, and there are many mountains and rivers on the continent, the sound transmission may not reach some places, or may be inaccurate."

"Therefore, in order for [Wind Whisper] to work even in places where there is no sound transmission, it has another function."

The narrator pressed a button, and a small door popped open on the back of the radio. Then, he took a flat little box from under the display case and put it inside.

The small box has two toothed holes on the front, which fit perfectly into the hinge. With a crisp "click," the small door closes.

This thing is practically extinct in modern Eastern Xia, but older people can recognize it at a glance; it's called a magnetic tape.

Okay, [Wind Whisper] also functions as a media player.

That solves the problem. Even with a poor signal, you can still listen to music, songs, and stories.

Why did HanHai choose magnetic tape technology?
The primary reason, of course, is the simplicity of the magnetic tape manufacturing process.

Compared to optical discs, which require cleanrooms, precision injection molding, vacuum coating, and spin coating processes, and USB flash drives, which require flash memory chips and drivers, magnetic tapes are easier to produce and have less equipment dependence.

With its simple magnetic particles and baseband structure, the playback device only requires a magnetic head and a drive mechanism. Even if Dongxia doesn't provide any further support, Fanxing can continue to produce magnetic tapes thanks to its existing technology and mechanical expertise. Another important reason is the low capacity of magnetic tapes.

Low capacity means high usage; it's such a simple principle.

Once you see the price quote, you'll understand the benefits of this thing.

【Wind Whisper】The radio, or more accurately, a radio and playback dual-purpose device, was not intended to be a source of profit for Han Hai; in fact, it was intended to lose money. The price was extremely low, only ten copper coins.

In addition, the Bloodstained set comes with a cassette tape, one side of which plays familiar historical ballads sung by a famous bard, and the other side contains a collection of stories from the Vast Ocean Territory accompanied by music.

Anyway, if you listen carefully, you'll find hidden agendas lurking in every nook and cranny.

Of course, there are also tapes without any hidden agendas, but they are a bit more expensive, costing ten silver coins per tape.

Finally, Hanhai also accepts custom orders. For example, if you want to record your emperor's own bragging skit, that's fine too, ten gold coins per episode.

It's a very simple business tactic, but everyone is very enthusiastic and flocks to it.

This is just human nature!
Having been exposed to the world of radio, people were still amazed when they saw television, but they were somewhat prepared.

A little research reveals that this thing works on almost the same principle and functions as a radio; the only difference is that one has a picture and the other doesn't.

Televisions with images were naturally reserved for the elite, so this type of device, known as "Xuan Ying," was priced slightly higher.

One gold coin per machine, yes, but only slightly, not excessive.

Of course, just like a radio, if there are no TV programs to watch, you can watch videotapes. Hanhai's TVs have integrated videotape playback functionality.

It follows the same formula as the radio, so there's no need to explain further.

In the future, selling tapes and videotapes, as well as accepting custom orders, will undoubtedly become a long-term and huge business.

The commentator took out a videotape labeled "Epic Masterpiece: War of the Gods," inserted it into the cassette slot on the side of the television, and then pressed the play button.

On the screen, the image suddenly changed.

That was a scene of a prehistoric war meticulously crafted by AI based on the creation myths circulating in the Starry World.

On the vast, scorched battlefield, Titans wielded spears forged from lightning, each step causing mountains to crumble and the earth to split; Elven cavalry drew their emerald longbows, their arrows shooting like meteors tearing through the sky; Human knightly legions swept across the land like a tidal wave, while Orcish war beasts roared as they rammed into the enemy…

And the sea tribes chieftains on the ocean are wielding their scepters, stirring up towering waves...

As all sorts of heroes took the stage, the audience could no longer remain rational.

The intended orders are already full. Once these guys take the samples back, this electronic trend will sweep across the world.

However, the first two items are just appetizers.

Next up is the real bombshell.

The staff carefully carried up an exquisite display stand. On the stand were a row of jet-black iron boxes, about the size of two human hands or a bear-like orc's hand.

A short, thick antenna extends from the top of the box, and the front features a smooth, mirror-like black crystal panel with rows of buttons labeled with numbers.

【Tianyin】Satellite phone.

Currently, there are no signal towers, base stations, or any infrastructure on the Starry Continent. Therefore, radio communication will be very poor outside the control range of the airships in the Vast Ocean.

However, the presence of satellites in the Hanhai area makes ultra-long-distance communication a possibility.

To avoid communication disruptions caused by poor signal during certain periods, Hanhai also equipped it with a pager called "Feihua".

This is another device that disappeared in Dongxia, but it doesn't matter. All you need to know is that when you can't get through by phone, you can leave a message on the pager. The person holding the pager will know who is looking for them and what they want.

Why not use text messages?
Not everyone can afford the expensive Tianyin mobile phone. In this case, the lower-priced Feihua pager is a perfect alternative.

It can capture another mid-range market, and it's also convenient to integrate other small devices.

Almost all the representatives of various ethnic groups immediately realized the value of this thing, especially its military value.

Many representatives instantly understood that this was the core weapon behind Hanhai's invincible success.

Although Hanhai said that the battery of this thing consumes quickly and needs to be replaced frequently, and the battery also needs to be sent to a location designated by Hanhai for charging, this is a high cost.

Although Hanhai said that both calls and messages are charged by the second, and the farther the distance, the higher the charge, a single call could cost an astronomical sum.

Although Han Hai also said that to accurately locate people, this thing must be matched with a number, and the selection of numbers is charged, especially numbers that represent honor and prestige, such as 0001, and numbers that symbolize the seven-eyed god, such as 7777, which require additional money and bidding.

But no matter what, nothing could stop the delegates' fervent emotions.

In this almost boiling atmosphere, Hanhai presented the grand prize of this exhibition.

【万象】Smartphone.

On a single, velvet-covered tray, lay quietly an object the size of a palm, crystal clear, with a ring of silver metal inlaid around its edge.

It adds three functions to the basic satellite phone.

You can listen to the radio, music, watch TV programs, and other videos directly on your phone.

It integrates several mobile mini-games, all of which are top performers that have emerged from the fiercely competitive gaming market in Dongxia.

Oh, and there's also a photo-taking function with a beauty filter.

【Vientiane】is a limited edition, with only 666 units available in the first batch.

An absolute symbol of status!
Despite HanHai's repeated emphasis that it is not suitable for every country's environment and that testing is required, they do not care.

One thousand gold coins per machine? I don't care!
I don't care about exorbitant call charges, service fees, or game recharge fees!

They'll force you to buy HanHai's specially made screen protectors, phone cases, phone covers, and phone straps? No way!

Is this about money?
All the delegates know one thing: in the future, if any prominent family doesn't have one of these, they'll be too embarrassed to greet people when they go out.

The narrator glanced at the teleprompter in his hand, swallowed hard, and shouted, "Distinguished representatives, I know you may need to consult with the Lord. Rest assured, this expo will last for two months. Before the expo ends, you may place additional orders or cancel orders at any time without incurring any liability for compensation!"

"How about you all take a sample set and send it back to China before making a decision?"

After seeing these flagship products, the remaining products no longer piqued the interest of the representatives from various countries.

But it doesn't matter, there are still chambers of commerce, mercenary groups, minor nobles, and local tycoons.

Bicycles, mechanical watches, binoculars, compasses, lighters, thermos flasks, folding umbrellas, soap, mosquito coils...

Of course, there are also products from Fanxing itself, such as standard weapons, armor, tools, magic circles, and scrolls.

This is a true expo, a grand event for the entire continent!
As the last rays of the setting sun shone through the tall glass windows of the exhibition hall onto the bustling crowd, everyone understood that they were witnessing a piece of history.

This day will be repeatedly mentioned by countless historians and bards, defined as the starting point of the "New Era of Stars." It also has a more widely known name—the "Moment of the Vast Ocean."

In just one day, products from Dongxia forcefully knocked on the tightly closed gates of the Starry Continent in a domineering and alluring manner.

It showcases a devastating blow from industrial civilization.

(End of this chapter)