Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 119: First, solve the problem of starting from scratch.

Besides the irresistible acquisition price...

Cecilia also promised that if the workshop could demonstrate sufficient value and market potential after the acquisition, the acquisition would proceed.

They will also consider making a huge additional investment to build a modern factory for the company in the Ruhr industrial region, the most important industrial area in the empire.

After confirming on their way here that it really was the 'Queen of Radiant Crystal' who wanted to acquire their company, Helga's family no longer had any objections.

After all, the other party gave too much.

Moreover, both the founders and the long-time workers who have worked for them for decades will be able to continue working in the company and will not lose their jobs.

Most importantly, they saw a future for their daughter, Helga.

With such high regard from the 'Queen of Radiant Crystals' and that young war hero, Helga's talent will no longer be confined to a small town in Thuringia.

Instead, they will shine on the stage of the entire empire, just as they expect.

For a family passionate about firearms design, this is an honor more important than money.

After the general matters were settled, Luna, the head maid who served as Cecilia's chief secretary, demonstrated amazing work efficiency.

She quickly drafted a detailed acquisition agreement with clear terms, well-defined responsibilities, and plugged all possible loopholes.

With a lawyer who had come to the estate as a witness, both parties successfully signed their names on the contract.

Afterwards, Helga's family worked with the professional financial and legal team sent by Cecilia to coordinate the subsequent acquisition matters.

Helga, on the other hand, was taken by Morin to a studio attached to the manor.

Here, she will begin to carry out the first work instruction given by her new boss.

“Miss Schmeisser, based on our discussion at the cocktail party yesterday, I hope you can finalize the design of this air-cooled light machine gun as soon as possible and produce a prototype.”

"Hey, so we're starting work already? No problem, boss!"

Helga nodded vigorously, radiating confidence whenever she talked about work.

The overall design concept remains the same as Helga's original design.

However, at Morin's suggestion, the original open-bore firing mechanism was changed to the more reliable closed-bore firing mechanism.

At the same time, a carrying handle was added above the barrel sheath to facilitate soldiers' carrying when moving between positions.

In addition, the various protruding edges and parts on the gun body should be designed to be as smooth as possible to prevent them from snagging on soldiers' clothes or belts in complex battlefield environments.

Regarding ammunition, the two had completely identical ideas.

In order to achieve combat readiness as quickly as possible and reduce logistical burden, the new light machine gun will directly use the Imperial Army's readily available 7.92×57mm Mauser full-power rifle cartridge.

The ammunition supply system also uses readily available canvas ammunition belts, and then uses readily available ammunition belt boxes of two different capacities.

They are 100 rounds and 250 rounds respectively, to meet different combat needs.

Morin had originally thought about adding a quick-change barrel function to address the barrel overheating problem caused by prolonged continuous firing.

However, after some calculations and sketches, Helga stated that if this feature were to be added, the design of many core components, such as the receiver and barrel extension, would need to be significantly modified, greatly extending the development cycle.
Morin had no choice but to give up for the time being.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

The most important thing now is to solve the problem of creating something from scratch.

When Helga's family finished the handover and were preparing to return to Thuringia, Helga was thinking of moving back to her small rented apartment in Dresden.

But Cecilia smiled and told her to stay at the manor and work in peace.

“There are many rooms in the manor, and they are usually empty anyway. It will be more lively with more people.”

"I'll have Luna get you all the daily necessities and clothes you're missing. Besides, I'm confident that this studio I used to work in is no worse than your rented apartment."

"Once the company is officially established in Dresden and has its headquarters, it's okay if you want to move out later."

Faced with Cecilia's irresistible gentleness, Helga, a somewhat timid girl from a small town, naturally dared not refute her.

And so, she temporarily settled down at Falkenstein Manor.

Another day passed, and there were only four days left until Morin was to report to the Saxon War Academy.

That morning, the manor's phone suddenly rang.

The maid who answered the phone quickly found Morin, who was in the studio discussing blueprints with Helga.

"Young Master Morin, it's Miss Seeker calling."

Maureen took the phone, and Patricia's clear voice came through the receiver.

"Morin, I've done what you asked me to do."

"Your visitor permit for the Imperial Magic Technology Research Institute has been approved. You are welcome to come anytime."

Morin was pleasantly surprised: "So fast?"

He had assumed that for outsiders to enter such a classified national research institution, the process would be extremely complicated, taking at least ten days to half a month.

I didn't expect Patricia to get it done so quickly.

Patricia on the other end of the phone seemed to find it somewhat unbelievable as well.

"It's a bit strange. I just submitted the application, but I didn't expect that the entire approval process would be smooth sailing and no one would raise any objections."

"When did those old fogies at the research institute become so easy to talk to?"

She muttered something under her breath.

Molin's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely guessed what was going on.

Behind this, it's likely that His Highness the Crown Prince is pulling the strings again.
It seems we have to cling to this powerful figure.

After hanging up the phone, Morin said goodbye to Cecilia and then took a car to the Imperial Magic Technology Research Institute located on the outskirts of Dresden.

The architectural style of the research institute was completely different from the mysterious mage tower he had imagined; instead, it resembled a heavily guarded military fortress.

The towering walls and numerous sentry posts all underscore the importance of this place.

When Morin's carriage arrived at the main gate of the research institute, Patricia was already waiting for him at the entrance.

She wasn't wearing an evening gown today, but rather a well-tailored dark long dress with a white lab coat, a common choice for researchers.

Her long, golden hair was tied into a neat ponytail, which made her look less like a spoiled aristocratic lady and more like an intellectual scholar.

"You're quite punctual."

Patricia glanced at him and said in a flat tone.

After undergoing a series of rigorous identity verifications and security checks, Patricia led Morin into the heart of the Saxon Empire's magical technology.

Instead of taking her to the core experimental areas, she went to an office area with relatively low security.

To Maureen's surprise, Patricia had her own private office here.

It should be noted that, according to Ludwig, Patricia was only 20 years old this year.

At such a young age, to have her own office in the research institute is enough to prove how amazing her talent is in the field of magic technology.

Moreover, she is not a spellcaster.
Once in the office, Patricia gestured for Morin to sit down, then pulled several thick books from the bookshelf. "To ensure our communication goes smoothly, I need to first explain some basic concepts about magical technology to you."

She placed the book in front of Morin and spoke in a tone like a teacher lecturing a student.

"Now that you're considered a spellcaster, your brain should process information faster than an ordinary person, so you should be able to understand."

Morin nodded, listening attentively.

Soon, Patricia began to systematically explain to him the magical technology of this world, its basic principles, and its development.

As she recounted her story, Maureen also noticed that the "Information" tab in her mind was starting to refresh with a large amount of new information.

[Information: The Origin of Magic]

[Information: The Essence of Spell Slots]

[Information: The Birth of a Magical Device]

[Information: The Magical Concepts of the Britannian Empire]

[Information: A quantitative study of spell slots by ancient sorcerers]

"According to scholars' research, after the magic crystal ore fell into this world as an extraterrestrial meteorite, it took a very long time to gradually transform our environment."

Patricia's voice was clear and pleasant, and her logic was sound.

"It creates an extremely faint 'magic' in the air."

"But these sparse magical energies floating in the environment cannot do anything directly. They must reach a sufficient density before they can be guided and released in a specific way."

Morin listened attentively; these were all areas where his knowledge was lacking.

"After we humans awaken to become mages, our bodies will naturally gain the ability to absorb and store 'magic power'."

"Therefore, the density of 'magic power' in a mage's body will also reach the standard for casting spells."

"Upon awakening as mages, these individuals will also spontaneously comprehend a spellcasting system called 'spell slots' and some basic spells, much like a kind of innate talent."

"After a long period of exploration, the mages gradually developed or rather comprehended all kinds of powerful spells."

Patricia paused, picked up her water glass, took a sip, and continued.

"Until more than three hundred years ago, a genius mage from the Brittany Empire proposed a revolutionary idea."

Her eyes shone with reverence for that pioneer.

He proposed: "Could we use the world's only magic-conducting material—magic crystal—to create an external container to replace the 'spell slot' inside a mage's body?"

Morin opened his mouth in surprise; this idea was indeed genius.

"Through a special circuit constructed with magic crystals, the sparse 'magic power' in the environment is slowly introduced into this external container, filling it with energy."

"Then, outside the container, the fixed spell model is materialized, and finally, the spell is released through a simple command."

"As this idea finally became a reality, the ancient sorcerers also completed the quantification of the concept of 'spell slots'."

Patricia spoke faster, sounding somewhat excited.

"A 'standard unit of magic' has been defined! Ancient mages discovered through numerous experiments that the energy required for a 1st-level spell is approximately an exponential multiple of this standard unit."

"Therefore, the storage and output of magic became calculable and designable."

"By combining the science of magical materials and the science of spell configuration, the first generation of magical devices was born."

At this point, Patricia also opened a book, turned to a page, and handed it to Maureen.

"It was a very rudimentary magic lamp, and the spell model of the [Light] spell was constructed inside it by etching."

"As long as an extremely small amount of activation energy is input into its magic crystal core, it can continue to glow for a very long time."

Listening to Patricia's explanation, Morin gained a general understanding of magical technology.

Isn't this a prototype of a magical industrialization?
It transformed magic, which was originally an elusive art belonging only to a few geniuses, into an engineering technology that can be calculated, designed, and mass-produced!
"Based on this, generation after generation of mages have continuously developed and improved magical techniques, which has eventually led to the situation we see today."

Patricia concluded.

"However, the specific design, manufacturing methods, and core operating steps of magic technology and equipment are now firmly in the hands of spellcasters in various countries."

“Apart from our research institute, all factories in the empire related to the manufacture of magical equipment are directly or indirectly controlled by mage groups.”

"Others who want to use these powerful magical devices either need to undergo special physical modifications, like my brother's armored knights or the soldiers in the general's guard, to give their bodies what mages call 'magical affinity' so that they can barely activate the magical devices."

"Or, like a large magical weapon such as a magic crystal cannon, it can't even unleash one-tenth of its power without the assistance of a mage."

After hearing everything Patricia said, Maureen finally realized that her guess was correct.

The mages in this world may have formed a large but closed community of interests within their respective countries.

They operate by monopolizing knowledge and technology, following certain unspoken rules of conduct.

At the same time, they established ties of interest with the ruling class, which stabilized their current superior social status.

In the world before Morin's time travel, there was a specific adjective for this group.

Learn valve.

As the two were talking, Maureen suddenly thought of a question that had been bothering him for a long time.

“Miss Seekert, I don’t quite understand.”

“Logically speaking, spellcasters are extremely scarce in the Empire. As an awakened spellcaster, I should have attracted the attention of the mage groups you mentioned.”

"But why is it that since I returned to China, it seems like no one has come to look for me at all?"

Patricia's face showed a somewhat complicated expression when she heard the question.

She hesitated for a moment before explaining.

"That must be because the Imperial Spellcasters Association and our Magic Technology Research Institute don't have any hope for academic research on a soldier who awakens on the battlefield."

"After all, in the eyes of those high-ranking academics, your status is rather special."

"What makes it special?" Morin pressed.

"First of all, as an imperial officer who is highly regarded by His Highness the Crown Prince, you certainly wouldn't be willing to give up your original identity and career like other mages who only awaken after reaching adulthood, and accept their control, starting as a lowly apprentice."

Patricia astutely pointed out the crux of the problem.

"However, at the same time, your knowledge of magic techniques and magical theory is clearly far from meeting the standards for participation in research in the eyes of the higher-ups of spellcasters."

"So you're in a very awkward position. They can't control you, but they don't think you can help their research either, so they simply ignore you."

Patricia paused for a moment, then finally revealed a deeper and more realistic reason.

“More importantly, Mr. Morin.”

She looked directly into Morin's eyes and spoke, word by word.

“Your older sister, Cecilia von Falkenstein, is the head of the Glamour Industries.”

(End of this chapter)