Wizard: I Can Refine Everything-Chapter 194 - 24: The First Order

The sound of spells exploding continued without pause, each blast felt as if it struck right at Vladimir's heart.

"Sixty, seventy... one hundred one, one hundred two..."

Vladimir counted each explosion, and by the end, he had even become numb.

Thirty seconds quickly passed, and Richard emerged from the cockpit to Vladimir's side:

"Master, what do you think of my Magic Support Vehicle?"

"Three hundred six... what did you say?" Vladimir seemed startled by Richard's question, his voice suddenly rose sharply.

Richard repeated his earlier statement, somewhat helplessly: "Master, what do you think of my Magic Support Vehicle?"

"Oh, you mean an evaluation..."

Vladimir was somewhat flustered. He subconsciously reached for the pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth but found nothing.

Seeing the pipe lying at Vladimir's feet, Richard picked it up and handed it over to him.

Vladimir took the pipe, his left hand trembling slightly as he struck up a flame and lit the pipe.

Wisps of smoke rose from the pipe, Vladimir took a harsh drag, then slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Your name's Richard, right?"

"Yes, Master."

"I take back what I said earlier; you are an unprecedented genius. Your creation... even I can hardly understand it."

Clutching the pipe with keen eyes like an aged eagle, Vladimir scrutinized Richard.

"Thirty seconds, three hundred and sixty Fireball Techniques. Your... Magic Support Vehicle is only so big, how did you solve the overheating issue? I did some calculations, even if you reduced the magic power loss to ten percent, based on the cooling structures I've seen, your machine could at most sustain for forty-five seconds.

Beyond that time, your spell-casting components would melt, and the magic conducting parts would need to be reshaped."

It must be said, Vladimir, who had studied alchemy machines for a lifetime, had an exceptionally sharp eye. He instantly identified the problem with the Magic Support Vehicle.

But at this moment, he was still confined to the traditional thinking of an Alchemy Wizard, believing that an alchemy weapon must be durable and dependable, which was why he raised such a concern.

Thinking is a critical issue.

Richard shrugged: "Master, I didn't solve the overheating problem. Thirty seconds is the maximum operational limit for the Magic Support Vehicle at full load. Its spell-casting components have already melted and need to be replaced."

"You didn't solve the overheating?"

Upon hearing this, Vladimir first frowned, then seemed to sigh in relief.

Even geniuses have their limits.

If Richard had solved the overheating issue, then perhaps Vladimir himself might have passed away on spot.

"I must say, your Magic Support Vehicle is stunning. However, thirty seconds is indeed a bit too short," Vladimir exhaled another puff of smoke. "Having to replace the spell-casting components in such a short time, the army's senior ranks might not agree to purchase it."

War is a business for wizards.

All wizards are thinking about how to gain the maximum benefit with the least amount of magic stones.

"So... do you believe my creation passes?" asked Richard.

"Passes?" Vladimir shook his head solemnly. "Your creation is not merely a pass, it's breathtaking! If it can continuously improve and evolve, maybe your name will be passed down alongside those of Zeppelin, Tesla, and Fermi. Your name might be chanted countless epochs later."

"Master flatters me," Richard said, somewhat in awe.

The names Vladimir mentioned were thunderously known among Alchemy Wizards: Zeppelin, the inventor of the existing Magic Airships and the first War Airship; his appearance greatly promoted the shipping development of the Wizard World.

Tesla, the founder of Tesla Heavy Industries; eight out of ten members of the Wizard World's White Wizard Army are equipped with weapons from their commerce. He is recognized as the number one war merchant of the Wizard World.

And Fermi, this was an even weightier name. All existing Floating Cities draw their power from a prototype created by Fermi.

Vladimir's comparison of Richard with these figures underscored his satisfaction with the weapon.

These giants, how could such a junior wizard like himself be compared with them?

He would have to wait until he became a Great Wizard before he could earn such praise.

"No, no, no, you are still young, and have not experienced so many battlefields. You don't realize how useful this thing can be," Vladimir shook his head, "I've only seen such dense firepower on the fortresses of the Magic Statue Army, but those..."

Suddenly Vladimir sighed:

"Those are out of reach without some serious backing."

Encouraged by Vladimir's assessment, Richard then demonstrated the mobility and off-road capability of the Magic Support Vehicle.

But these features seemed somewhat unimpressive compared to the firepower that was like Heavenly Fire.

After the test, Vladimir stepped out of the cockpit and closed the notebook in his hands.

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This notebook recorded all the data from Vladimir's experience, which would be his tool to persuade the military's high ranks.

"I'll go back and discuss with the senior ranks of the legion now, hoping they'll accept your ideas."

On the road testing mobility, Richard introduced Vladimir to his vision for the Magic Support Vehicle and also ran through the vehicle's cost breakdown.

Wizards care about benefits, so the cost breakdown is the most powerful persuasive tool.

According to Richard's calculations, the Magic Support Vehicle could greatly reduce casualties among White Wizards in secondary battlefields. And as an offensive combat alchemy weapon, it could also help wizards reduce casualties on the frontline.

Calculating the wizards' pensions and the value compared to directly replacing the spell-casting components, the former was much more expensive.

Richard's algorithm was quite novel to Vladimir, and for the alchemy wizards who valued durability and robustness, Richard's consumable-oriented approach was decidedly unconventional.

But on the battlefield, orthodoxy was irrelevant; usefulness was the only truth.

After seeing Vladimir off, Richard returned to the laboratory and took out a metal rune base plate.

"Phew, after toiling for about five years, this thing is finally wrapping up."

The rune base plate in front of Richard was a component of the Dream World Communication Equipment he had been working on; a few years ago, he was sidetracked by a sudden inspiration on the Pioneer Crystal, which halted the progress of his Dream World Communication Equipment for nearly five years.

Now that the Magic Support Vehicle had been constructed and had even received high praise from Vladimir,

it was time for his energy to return to the Dream World Communication Equipment.

"However, with the Pioneer Rune One, it looks like these rune base plates of mine should be remade. Not only would this reduce the cost of magic stones, but it would also decrease the size of the equipment and prolong its lifespan."

Looking at the rune base plate before him, Richard couldn't help but feel a headache.

Sometimes new discoveries brought more than just benefits.

...

A month later, Richard received a magic message from Vladimir: the Clear Frost Number One Legion invited him to demonstrate the power of the Magic Support Vehicle to the high-ranking officers of the legion.

The upper echelons of the White Wizard Army seemed somewhat skeptical of Vladimir's assessment, so in the message, he told Richard to make sure there were no mishaps.

If everything went smoothly, he would help Richard refine some minor issues with the Magic Support Vehicle.

Naturally, Richard agreed to this good fortune with pleasure.

Three days later, Richard arrived at the Clear Frost Number One Legion's quarters, located on the twenty-third level of the residential layer.

Although it was called quarters, this place was, in fact, a wizard community of the Clear Frost Wizard Academy, with a large number of wizards from Clear Frost Wizard Academy residing there, including the Clear Frost Number One, Two, and Three Legions.

These legions had once fought alongside Richard on the Insect Nest Battlefield.

Upon arriving at the community, Vladimir was already waiting in front of it. He wasted no words and directly took Richard to the wizard testing ground on the twenty-third level.

The testing ground was also a desert, and at one corner of the desert, the high-ranking officers of the Clear Frost Number One Legion were already in place, but... there seemed to be a lot of them.

Richard, observing the observation group that numbered in the dozens, couldn't help but look towards Vladimir.

Vladimir said indifferently, "Don't worry about that crowd; the second and third groups have also come. As long as you don't mess up, I guarantee you'll make a fortune this time!"

Upon entering the field, Richard exchanged greetings with the many high-ranking legion officers.

These wizards, the weakest among them at the entrance-level of the Three Rings, with a few so powerful that their presence even reached the pinnacle of Three Rings—if they had enough luck and wisdom, becoming a Great Wizard was not impossible in the future.

"Are you the founder of Richard Jolod's Commerce? You seem young and promising," a Great Wizard at the pinnacle of Three Rings commented with a smile to Richard.

"Master Vladimir has been singing high praises of your weapons in front of us—make sure your demonstration doesn't stumble."

Richard gave a Wizard's Salute to these wizards and then opened the Secret Realm Rift, from which he drove out the Magic Support Vehicle.

Seeing such a little contraption being brought out by Richard raised the eyebrows of a few higher-ups from the other legions.

"It seems that Master Vladimir wasn't boasting—this thing is indeed compact," said one of the higher-ups offhandedly, "But can such a small thing really achieve the concentrated magic fire effect that he described?"

The Legion Commander of the Clear Frost Number One Legion, Andre, looking at Richard, replied casually,

"I don't know, but I recognize this kid. The last time Susanna pulled one over on me, this guy was right there. He must be a student of some master from the Black Tower Wizard Academy."

"But there's no master known for alchemy machines in Black Tower Wizard Academy; isn't Master Jolod known for researching Synthetic Beasts?"

"Let's make a bet—I wager that this machine can achieve half of what Vladimir described."

One of the higher-ups shook his head, "Half? I think it could manage two-thirds. His commerce is named after Jolod; perhaps he is Jolod's student as well.

Although Master Jolod's research focuses on Synthetic Beasts, many of his students have achieved notable success in alchemy machines too."

"A thousand Magic Essence? I'll take the half."

"I'm in for two-thirds."

"I'm also betting on half; this kid's too young, probably doesn't have much accumulated knowledge."

...

While the high-ranking officers of the legions were making their bets, Richard finished adjusting the Magic Support Vehicle.

With his mind focused on the aiming components, the twelve lightweight Magic Stone Cannons loaded on the Magic Support Vehicle began to move.

"Let's aim three kilometers straight ahead."

After adjusting the trajectory, Richard pressed the button.

The high-ranking officers sensed the fluctuation of magic power and turned their attention to the Magic Support Vehicle.

In the next moment, Heavenly Fire appeared.

In thirty seconds, three hundred and sixty fireballs bombarded the battlefield three kilometers away.

The high-ranking officers were left utterly silent.

"It seems our Master Vladimir wasn't boasting this time," one of the officers murmured, "Three hundred and sixty shots, exactly three hundred and sixty, not a single one missing."

The three Legion Commanders exchanged glances, and then Andre suddenly burst into laughter.

"This kid seems to have some kind of edge over me; he just made a tidy profit off me, and now he's about to make another big score from my pocket."