novelraw #150 - Section 150
#150 - Section 150
Furthermore, his boldness and fearlessness led to his assignment to oversee the intelligence system of the Arcane Capital.
Incidentally, he also took over a batch of intelligence personnel, related industries, and top-secret files from the military...
While internal power struggles existed within the Empire, the handover had been confirmed by the Eternal Night Empress. Even if Margaret was dissatisfied, she wouldn't dare to make things difficult for Roger again.
The threat of solid-liquid separation was something she would never forget.
As Hicks's authority within the Night Watch system increased, the amount of information he could access also grew.
He not only witnessed the political changes within the Empire—the supremacy of the imperial power, the nobility yielding ground, and the rise of the commoners—
But also, as he acquired more and more new equipment, he felt the true, vibrant vitality of the Empire in the shadows.
The increasing number of incredible equipment and tools astonished him, and they weren't even expensive.
At least, they weren't expensive for the Night Watch, falling within the scope of mass procurement.
If this equipment were fully deployed, it would definitely increase the combat power of the Empire's regular army several times over.
Even though Hicks had killed hundreds of mages, he had to admit that mages were the darlings of this world, the group that could truly change the world and lead the advancement of the era.
From high-level weapons and equipment to meditation and cultivation methods for warriors to advance to Sword Saints, tracing back to the source, they were all inextricably linked to spellcasters.
In the Empire after the publication of "New Arcana," perhaps the outside world was unaware, but Hicks could see the Night Watch and the military updating a series of equipment.
There was also the multiple consumption of various minerals, the increase in production brought by state-owned farms, and the quiet emergence of a new type of building called "factories," attracting a large amount of labor...
These changes appeared in every corner of the Empire in an extremely short period, so fast that Hicks was a little afraid to recognize this world.
For example, the Night Watch's reconnaissance auxiliary tools were updated three times in a month.
First was the "Druid's Eye" used by Roger, which used magically modified creatures as detectors.
This set of equipment has now been popularized to every Silver Sleeve squad, allowing them to gain an infinitely high intelligence advantage before acting.
Then there was the alchemical camera "Righteous Gaze" series, installed in fixed locations and capable of obtaining vision without magical fluctuations, which has gradually been rolled out and installed in the streets and alleys of the Arcane Capital.
To ordinary people, it just looks like there are some cute little sculptures on the roofs and streetlights.
But in reality, the Night Watch is watching you.
Righteous Gaze has increased the Night Watch's control over the entire capital by several levels.
Many crimes involving extraordinary powers that were impossible to solve in the past can now be resolved in minutes by looking at the surveillance.
A week ago, the latest generation of eavesdropping equipment, the "Sentry Bee" series, was prioritized for the Night Watch in the Arcane Capital area.
Each of the Silver Sleeve squads under him has been equipped with several sets, which look almost the same and function similarly, but according to the Arcane Society, there are various subtle differences between the Sentry Bees.
"Forget it, you don't need to worry about the specific indicators. Just tell me in a month which set is the most stable and durable."
The head of Sentry Bee's R\u0026D, looking at the bewildered expressions of Hicks and other combat professionals, gave up on continuing to introduce the differences between the several models of his masterpiece.
Although he didn't quite understand, Hicks still recognized the function of the Sentry Bee.
Its receiver is about the size of a magazine and looks like a tablet computer.
It uses electromagnetism as a transceiver device, but the core control and storage are still based on magic, which can be regarded as a fusion of two technical systems.
The transmitter is a purely technological creation, only the size of a button, with a quick-drying adhesive on the back, making it easy to stick to the target's carriage, room furnishings, or even personal belongings.
For a nimble high-level thief, this operation is much simpler than taking a secret letter from the lining of the other party's clothes without anyone noticing.
The Sentry Bee's transmitter is a completely electronic device, without any magical fluctuations, pure electromagnetic waves, and will not cause the target the slightest vigilance.
However, there are also many shortcomings, such as limited power and a signal transmission radius of only one kilometer.
This is still a theoretical value. In the Arcane Capital, it is also interfered with by various inexplicable magical devices, the wall material affects, and so on, and the actual use distance is shorter.
But for this size and this function, what more could you want?
A group of foreign spies who checked the magical aura of the room and discussed confidential matters with a soundproof magic circle, every word they said was clearly monitored by the Night Watch outside the room because of the Sentry Bees that had been set up in advance.
Who dares to say that this kind of intelligence advantage is not big enough?
In a month's time, being able to miniaturize pure electronic equipment to this extent, Roger had to admire the alchemists of this world. Their hands-on ability is simply outrageous.
Which of the real alchemy masters is not a fierce person who superimposes more than a dozen magic circles in a small dagger, brooch, or magic ring?
On Earth, the advanced technicians who engrave rocket fuel with hand-made industrial mother machines are like this.
In terms of the manufacturing precision of human hands, there may be no limit in this world.
After all, manufacturing purely electronic structures only requires that there are no magical fluctuations during operation. There is no need for the manufacturing process to be purely physical. Alchemists can still use various magical aids.
As long as they are patient enough, it is not a dream for these mages to hand-craft integrated circuits, and the artifact spirits can kill all the artificial intelligence retards on Earth in seconds.
After all, the artificial intelligence that people on Earth are playing with is essentially still a program.
But the artifact spirit may have really been a person before death.
In this era, the concept of human rights and scientific research ethics has not yet appeared, and large and small wars will never stop. Mages play much more unscrupulously than scientists.
Not to mention how the Necromancy School developed and grew, even the Druid School, which claims to be the most崇崇尚 nature, do you think they have enough anatomical accumulation when they perform the transformation between the human body and magical creatures so that they will not be stuck as abominations?
So, what has a great mage done? Don't think about it, don't think about it.
Electronic equipment made by mages may sound awkward, but if you understand that there are no restrictions on the manufacturing process, the difficulty will only be lower than hammering out an extraordinary piece of equipment.
Of course, the current Sentry Bee has not yet reached the level of mass production. It is only a small amount of equipment used by the Night Watch to test the effect, and there is still a series of processes to go through, such as collecting feedback, improving the design, and finalizing the design.
Only then will the production line be created, mass-produced, and applied to more intelligence personnel.
The Chapter of Imbalance is still very happy to manufacture arcane equipment, at least in terms of the raw materials required, it saves a lot of trouble.
They are all common minerals, and there is no need for strange feathers, special magical beast blood, or mysterious plants...
Alchemists often encounter the embarrassing situation of holding peerless recipes but not collecting all the materials for hundreds of years.
The big difference between modern industry and high-precision magical equipment lies in the difficulty of obtaining raw materials and the convenience of standardized processing and mutual replacement of raw materials.
In fact, whenever Hicks gropes for new equipment, the mages in his mercenary group automatically appear in his mind, playing too hi with some experiment.
The mages of the Empire should have been inspired by the "New Arcana" with new ideas, plus the Empire's unlimited support of gold coins and materials, and then constantly carry out new attempts, enjoying it?
For them, it's like a game in a long grass period, suddenly updating the DLC, adding new maps, new plots, new wives, and even a brand new mechanism...
Suddenly, the extinguished enthusiasm was instantly rekindled.
According to the commander, the new wave of thought brings dividends. These mages can "think" of many interesting new things by playing the exhaustive method with their eyes closed.
Of course, the new equipment that the Night Watch constantly gets also needs training and running-in, spending time doing more experiments, and conducting targeted training to fully control and adapt to the new equipment, familiarizing themselves with this work mode that is like opening the whole map, and maximizing the advantages brought by the new equipment.
[A group of people who have played the Purgatory mode too much, and the micro-manipulation and positioning are engraved in the DNA, and suddenly opening the cheat will not lead to brainless rushes, but instead lead to inefficient idiots!]
Official Tucao from a certain commander.
While familiarizing himself with the equipment, a Bronze Sleeve under Hicks overheard a conversation between several suspected members of the Tianming Army.
Every imperial citizen is extremely vigilant about this terrorist organization that once created a city massacre in the empire and announced its responsibility.
Without any extra instructions, this Bronze Sleeve immediately reported the situation, and then followed secretly from a distance.
The discovered Tianming Army members were actually just peripheral members, not any strong people, so naturally they didn't realize they were exposed.
They had been dormant for a long time, and recently finally waited for the Tianming Instructor's order to encircle and arrest Dio, and then began to be active in the capital to carry out preparation work.
The discovery of the Bronze Sleeve was reported all the way up, and became more and more valued.
The nobles are class enemies, and it is still necessary to distinguish between good and bad, but Veronica, a remnant of the former dynasty, is definitely not a problem to kill a group if you see one.
No one wants to see the tragedy of Ashford City staged again in the Arcane Capital.
Even in the eyes of the empire, that is the core hinterland of the former Veronica, and the accident is also the liquidation of the former dynasty rulers against the former dynasty traitors, a nest fight.
But the culprit who created the excitement came to their doorstep, and the empire would definitely not let them wander around casually.
The information about the Tianming Army reached Hicks's desk, and he immediately arranged the action himself, drawing five of the fifteen Silver Sleeve squads guarding the Arcane Capital to keep an eye on them throughout the process.
The request was to investigate the reasons and action goals of the Tianming Army's appearance in the imperial capital without alarming the target.
Finally, report to the commander for a decision on the next step.
So far, this intelligence station has been exceptionally smooth.
Electronic equipment is completely a blind spot in the thinking of the strong in this world, which makes the tentacles extended by the Night Watch as invisible, covering the Tianming Army members and monitoring their every move.
No matter how cautious Xia Di is, she will not think that her actions are still in the preparation stage, and the other side has already opened the whole map, observing and analyzing all their actions.
As a believer of the God of Knowledge, everything she does is beyond prediction, and she also arranged cautious action rules for her subordinates, which are super hidden before the action.
It's like before a suicide operation, who knows that a cute little girl is strapped with bombs?
But all the conversations of this child's parents were monitored, and they triggered sensitive words such as 911 frantically without any scruples. Who else would you stare at if you didn't stare at you?
So the next day, Roger knew the news that the Tianming Army was going to encircle and arrest Dio.
In addition to feeling wronged, he also felt inexplicable, and after being inexplicable, he also got angry.
Before, Josda wanted to kill himself, or it was an attached goal after the Blood Night in the Arcane Capital.
Now the Tianming Army has held back for so long without any new actions. They have invaded the Arcane Capital on a large scale for no other reason than to catch themselves?
Is it a bit too much? There are so many people in the Arcane Capital. Do you think I'm easy to bully?
"It seems that we have to use a trick to give Gou Sheng a little fun."
Having worked for Xia Di for several weeks, targeting her style and means, Roger can easily come up with a lot of counter-measures, backup counter-measures, and backup measures for backup measures...
You tell me how to lose in a spy war with the whole map open?
Chapter 132 Gou Sheng has lost value
The life of the Sea Country Prince Shark suddenly became busy, but his mood was very wonderful.
Because Xia Di was finally going to catch Roger, and he finally felt the hope of returning home.
The sea is calling!
Xia Di is worthy of being a Tianming Instructor. Her IQ completely crushes him. Since "seeing through" Roger's true identity and establishing the goal of arresting Dio, their preparations have been completed very smoothly.
The security forces enjoyed by an ordinary civilian cabinet official are completely different from those of the Duke's brother and the Night Watch commander.
Even if Dio is bound to have arrangements and hidden protection forces, the hidden forces must be hidden in the dark after all, and the absolute number will be greatly limited.
Moreover, the security standards for Dio's residence and daily activities are more relaxed than those of Roger.
"Because his greatest protection is his hidden true identity. If he makes a big show, it will arouse suspicion instead," Xia Di summarized.
After a series of operations by the Night Watch against the aristocratic class, Roger's reputation among the imperial people is at its peak, but a large number of nobles whose living standards have seriously declined hate him to the bone.
These people can't retaliate against the Eternal Night Empress, but they may have some regrets and try to retaliate against Roger in every possible way.
There are also those who fled the Green Vine Empire, wandering outside, reminiscing about their past good lives. At that time, they may want to exchange their lives with Roger.
As an exiled princess of the former dynasty, Xia Di can empathize with the thoughts of these nobles very much.
In the black underworld, the bounty for Roger's head has reached as high as tens of millions of gold coins, but no killer or organization dares to take it.
The powerful combat power shown by the Night Watch and the illustrious reputation of the Eternal Night Empress are enough to make even legendary assassins flinch.
There are many ways to make money. Why take the risk of losing your life?
But even so, with the bounty there, Roger's travel is bound to be affected.
The security forces provided by the Eternal Night Empress and her sister also make his life a lot more inconvenient, and he will be extra careful when going out.
In Xia Di's view, the Eternal Night Empress is a cunning and calculating person, and she arranged Dio's fake identity for Roger early on.
So those nobles are really a bunch of pigs, completely falling into the Eternal Night Empress's calculations without knowing it.
Without the nobles' restraint, the Eternal Night Empress directly manages the Green Vine Empire, and the difficulty for the Tianming Army to launch an uprising has greatly increased. Xia Di is also headache for the subsequent actions.
It's all the fault of these damn nobles, who collectively fell into the series of tricks arranged by the Eternal Night Empress.
A certain empress who is having a lot of fun: A series of tricks? Meow meow meow? What are you talking about?
In short, Xia Ti felt that Roger's caution was, to some extent, reminiscent of her own style.
On the surface, he uses a magically super-resistant magical puppet as bait to attract the enemy's attention, and anyone who actually tries to attack will inevitably run into a brick wall.
The real Roger, on the other hand, operates as an ordinary citizen, living a free and easy life, with minimal impact on him.
It's a pity, I've already seen through everything, and Dio will have nowhere to escape!
Xia Ti had already conducted a thorough analysis of Dio's surrounding environment, security forces, and daily activity routes.