A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 160 Trial Operation of the Magic Nuclear Power Plant

While Luo Xia wasn't particularly happy or excited, there was much more to come once the prototype was completed.

If they were to finalize the model and begin mass production, the design specifications, various drawings, and technical standards would be a nightmare for Rorschach.

Of course, in this society that has not yet completely abandoned handicrafts, Rorschach and his colleagues in the Alchemy Department could make a few refining machines by hand and use them to accumulate experience while building and using them.

"The initial plan has been realized, so going to Bain can be put on the agenda. Before setting off, we need to contact Mr. Pierre." Rorschach was so busy lately that he hadn't paid much attention to the negotiations between the "Hercules" beverage factory and the Bart family. He only knew that his partner, Hassai, hadn't left Valuvana yet.

However, Rorschach was still unable to get away and was pulled into the office by the alchemy department staff to start drawing blueprints together. The current finalized version does not require a modular design with an inner liner, but based on Rorschach's experience, he still suggested that they use porous materials to make the inner wall.

"This allows the alchemical ink to penetrate from the outer wall to the inner wall."

"Why go through all that trouble? Finished products should be made with high-end stuff!" Snow waved his hand, holding up the gentian violet, and directed the entire alchemy department to turn the warehouse upside down.

Want better ether conductivity? Use a doped alloy! Alchemy ink is too watery and can only hold a small amount of ether per unit volume. Use molten metal! Cast it as a single piece and then use magic to shape it!

The metalworking department used all sorts of materials and processing methods, and Rorschach never expected to see foot-driven lathes and milling machines in this world.

"Why not use a steam engine?" Rorschach immediately asked a stupid question. The fact that such an obvious improvement had not been realized must have been due to insurmountable obstacles.

"The output is hard to control, and if the rotation speed is too fast, it will break the screw and gears." Sigh, in the end, it's still because of my lack of materials science knowledge.

A robust man drank the concentrated gentian violet in one gulp and began his work. He rolled up the sleeves of his robe and pedaled the lathe with a whooshing sound, but he was very careful during the process, cutting little by little.

According to calculations by the alchemists, mithril receiving ether should have a certain taper for higher efficiency. Pure mithril has good ductility and is softer than alloys, making it possible to machine on a lathe. Furthermore, compared to magical shaping, controlling the tool path can reduce dimensional differences in duplicate parts.

In the underground workshop of the research building, outsiders would never guess that the sorcerers, who symbolize wisdom, are working hard on machining. Even though it is not yet fully warm in March, the guys here are already sweating profusely, radiating sweat and heat.

Just like people working, the lubricating grease in the operating machines constantly evaporates under the action of frictional heat, filling the air with a strange smell of metal, sweat, and machine oil.

I wonder if the "Wonder Warrior" Singhlev would cry out "By the Dwarf King!" upon witnessing this scene.

"How come I didn't know there were underground factories before?"

"What would people think of our Alchemy Department if just any random person or mage apprentice walked in?" Snow patted Rorschach on the shoulder. "The impact on our image would be immeasurable."

"Then I..." Rorschach and Snow said as they walked. They passed a stamping press, and the force field array on it was instantly activated. The preheated brass ingot was spread into a curved sheet. The alchemy department's [Levitation] combined with [Mage's Hand] took it off, surrounded it, and welded it together to form the outer shell of the transmutation dust collector.

"Master Rorschach, now that you've stepped into this place, you're one of us in the Alchemy Department." Snow glanced at the stamping machine. The force field array had been adjusted to stamp out specific shapes. As long as there were enough raw materials, hundreds of suits of armor could be made overnight.

Using it to manufacture the outer casing is a waste of its potential.

With Rorschach as the original designer, Snow as the chief engineer, and the Alchemy Department's team working tirelessly day and night, the first mass-produced "Transmutation Dust - Ether Collection and Conversion Device" was assembled in just two weeks using a combination of machine-made and handcrafted techniques and a lot of magical technology.

It was several times larger and thicker than the one Rorschach built in the lab, and the materials and engraving techniques were incomparable; it was practically an Ultra Pro Max version.

The brand-new brass casing had a luster comparable to gold, while the gleaming interior used a large amount of materials even more precious than gold. Rorschach finally took a deep breath when he held the design parameter sheet and cost report. Sixteen pounds of mithril alone were used, and the total cost could wipe out all of Rorschach's available funds.

Suddenly, I realized that building my own mage tower wasn't such a rush anymore.

"How much mithril does the Alchemy Department have in reserve?"

"Hehe, we just used leftovers from the previous project. As for what project it was, that's a secret."

Where are our own people? Rorschach had no idea that he had already experienced one of the results of the secret project.

To ensure maximum safety and prevent the device from becoming a transmutation dust bomb, the Alchemy Department used magic to quickly create a new underground space, partially immersing the entire machine in a pool of alchemical liquid, while also setting up a blue light barrier on the pool walls.

So at this moment of the commissioning ceremony, Rorschach, Snow, and the other guys were looking down at the unit. As the blue light barrier lit up during the pre-start, the transparent pool of alchemical liquid shimmered. Rorschach felt as if he were looking at a nuclear power plant reactor.

In terms of function, they are quite similar, just a little less powerful. Once the transmutation dust eruption gets out of control, the portal to the bottom of the astral layer will close, so it is impossible for it to continue leaking in the event of an accident, and the transmutation dust itself will not cause radioactive contamination.

Rorschach shuddered.

Snow, oblivious to the mid-level mage's unusual behavior beside him, gripped the railing and issued the command: "Activate!"

After a brief hum, the entire basement went dark, with only the faint glow of the blue light barrier penetrating the liquid to illuminate the device. But this was not an accident; rather, the energy of the research building and its underground space was being switched.

The magic lights turned back on one by one, and the guy watching the gauges shouted, "Stable output, everything's normal!"

Applause and cheers erupted, along with the clinking of glasses—the sound of energy potions colliding, of course.

However, there is another route leading to the opposite direction of the research building; this underground unit is located between the Starlight Torch Tower and the research building. A stream of output ether flows towards the base of the tower, then, as pre-programmed by the Alchemy Department, illuminates the entire tower with magical light.

It was evening, and all the pedestrians were drawn to the dazzling buildings.

Kano, who was having dinner and enjoying a drink while gazing at the night view outside the window, had come to the restaurant of the Starlight Torch Tower, where he was enjoying his meal while looking down at the crowds below, finding great pleasure in his own company.

Rorschach hasn't been in the lab these past few days, I wonder what he's been up to. I hope he doesn't get corrupted by Pascal. He's a good teacher who cares about his students' future, standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Then, the good teacher, Cano, was blinded by the sudden light emanating from the tower. Although only the outer walls were illuminated, the outward-sloping glass effectively refracted the light pollution.

"What's going on?"

"Let's turn off the lights on the Starlight Torch Tower. Who came up with this fancy trick? It's too ostentatious." Snow, who was underground, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had sensed a murderous aura. He ordered the maintenance manager to cut off the ether output to the tower.

*Snap!* The entire building, including the restaurant, went dark.

"I'll go check out the research building." Having roughly guessed who was behind it all, Kano flicked out several orbs of light that floated on the restaurant roof, illuminating everyone.

(End of this chapter)