novelraw #164 - Section 164
#164 - Section 164
Moreover, the Arcane Council is constantly coming up with new things every day, whether it's purely magically mass-produced new items or arcane equipment that combines magic and technology, all of which need to be tested in actual combat to prove they are qualified weapons.
Theory is just theory, and the laboratory environment can only simulate the complex battlefield to a limited extent. Only equipment that has been tested by the flames of war has the possibility of mass production and equipping the entire army.
However, the Empire has already announced that it has entered a stage of peaceful development and has no opportunity to use those big booms, super big booms, and super giant booms...
This has led to the Night Empress feeling like an internet-addicted girl who has learned a new build and a new way of playing, but is forbidden from playing games, and the words 'start a war' are always stirring in her heart.
The Empire is currently not suitable for openly launching large-scale wars, but testing weapons and equipment is a rigid demand. At this time, the captured Shark, the Crown Prince of the Mermaid Kingdom, provides a new entry point.
"We can use methods including but not limited to assisting with weapons and equipment, training magic troops, providing mercenaries, and supporting logistical supplies to help the Mermaid Kingdom defeat the constantly conflicting Naga Empire, using their money and lives to verify our weapons and equipment and complete the update and replacement."
"If Your Majesty is happy, you can also work as a mercenary and have the addiction of fighting..." Margaret followed the idea and gave Dio a thumbs up.
Once this idea comes out, it will definitely be appreciated by the Night Empress and put her nowhere to vent energy.
Moreover, this is not just about finding a new toy for the Night Empress. Verifying new military theories through proxy wars and achieving some strategic goals is no worse than the Empire directly conquering neighboring countries.
Even earn more!
The Mermaid Kingdom can also get strong support and solve a confidant problem.
Initially, they will definitely suspect that the Green Vine Empire has ulterior motives, and of course, the Empire does have ulterior motives.
In the initial stage, the Empire still has to play the role of an honest, trustworthy, and affordable arms dealer and military service provider.
It's just that as the Mermaid Kingdom becomes addicted to the taste of victory and becomes more and more dependent on the Empire's assistance, they will slowly discover that the relationship between the two sides is changing...
The supply-demand relationship is dynamically balanced. There are no suppliers in the market at the same level as the Green Vine Empire, and the Sea Kingdom can't beat the Naga by itself, so the Empire has the power to bargain.
The Sea Kingdom may make money now, but the Empire will never lose.
As long as the Sea Kingdom and the Naga fight a real fire, even if they know that the Empire has ulterior motives, they will choose to quench their thirst with poison.
The Little Hanging Fan thought the idea was wonderful. She had personally presided over large-scale battles and put forward many details on execution.
In the end, Roger was confident that the Night Empress would definitely agree to this proxy war proposal, and then under the leadership of the Little Hanging Fan, it would advance triumphantly.
In the end, the vast ocean will become the Empire's mining point and provide primary labor. The initiator, Margaret, will naturally be credited greatly, and there is no need to worry about losing Her Majesty's favor.
Because this homework can be copied repeatedly, copied in any area where there is conflict and dispute. The Empire does not have to bear the infamy of aggressors, and also enjoys the real benefits of aggressors.
Which emperor can refuse this temptation?
At that time, Margaret, a skilled worker, will also be particularly valuable to the Empire.
"Dio, let's submit this proposal together in our joint names?" Margaret took the initiative to suggest that she was unwilling to take advantage of this benefit alone.
Roger shook his head and smiled: "I just talked about a direction casually, and the details were all your supplements, so there is no need to write my name."
Tch, this kind of thing is simple to say, but the actual operation requires balancing all forces, which is still very troublesome.
With that scumbag Empress's character, as long as Roger participates, he will definitely be exploited twice as much.
Maybe a few more shadow puppets will be sent over that night...
So, this opportunity to show off should be left to an absolute loyalist like you to enjoy alone!
Margaret didn't know Roger's eternal salted fish heart. She thought he was giving her the best opportunity, and said shyly: "Isn't this inappropriate? I don't know how to repay you..."
Roger jokingly said: "There is indeed one way to repay."
"Y-You say it!" Margaret immediately became nervous, and her body straightened subconsciously.
If he takes the opportunity to coerce her into marrying him, should she agree directly, or should she be reserved for a while before agreeing?
Or bargain a bit and try to start as a couple first?
That way, she can be one step ahead of that blue-haired Madonna, right?
Roger didn't notice the subtle changes in Margaret's emotions.
For him, the exchange just now was like online armchair politics, like two P Society players exchanging game experiences.
Pleasure is of course very pleasant, but he will also forget Margaret's gender and completely forget to think about those delicate little daughter thoughts.
After all, we were just discussing battleships and cannons and how to conquer that ocean. Suddenly jumping to the Romeo and Juliet scene is very awkward, right?
So he still used a relaxed and joking tone: "Don't be so nervous, you only need to remember that the source of favor is to make contributions to the Empire, not to step on other people's limelight, and I will be satisfied!"
"Is that...so? Don't worry, I will definitely not forget it, hehe."
The corners of Margaret's mouth twitched, trying to squeeze out a smile, but the final expression was even more ugly than crying.
So, you went around in such a big circle, promising me great credit, just to advise me not to compete with Angelina?
Good fellow, it's really saving the country by a roundabout route!
Admittedly, this is friendly advice, and gratitude is still necessary, but Margaret felt as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly.
It's all Angelina's fault!
Roger looked at her expression and realized that something that was very simple for others was really difficult for this little devil who had been competing with all her strength to have everything she has today.
It is indeed not easy for her to work alone in the Empire to the extent she is today.
He put down the newspaper, his expression also became serious, and he said solemnly word by word: "Don't worry, I am not the kind of person who will stab my friends in the back, but I will definitely not stab my friends in the back. Next, I will advance and retreat with you in the cabinet."
The mixed-blood little devil tilted her head, looked at Dio, and showed an incomprehensible confused expression: "Friend, how many standards are there..."
Roger did not answer her doubts.
Everyone's standards are different, and everyone's expectations are different.
In human conventional cognition, making friends with demons is equivalent to a gamble.
But he is still willing to believe that even this little devil will have a side that yearns for the light, and treating people with sincerity will always reap sincerity in the end.
It's just that no one has ever given her such an opportunity before, so starting from himself, giving her a new possibility, maybe the little hedgehog can also give himself a surprise?
Margaret waited for a long time, thinking that Roger would continue to say some promises that they would not be born in the same year, the same month, or the same day, but would die in the same year, the same month, or the same day.
As a result, he had nothing to say.
Instead, he looked at himself with a loving elder's gaze, seemingly expressing that you are still young and will understand when you grow up or something like that.
"You, you are a bastard." Margaret stomped on Dio's foot in shame and anger.
I knew it, those chivalry novels are all lies. Men are all clumsy big pig trotters who can't even use sweet words to deceive people!
"What wind are you drawing today?" Roger didn't feel much pain, but was startled by her sneak attack.
"Hmph, I'm leaving, goodbye!"
Margaret didn't explain, raised her small head and left directly.
At least this bastard is still good to his friends. The disadvantage is that he is good to every friend...
Alas, so the strategy has not been successful yet, Margaret still needs to continue to work hard!
From an angle that Roger couldn't see, the little devil showed an exceptionally bright little face.
Anyway, she has friends in the future, and they are friends she cherishes very much!
......
......
Yinbing Manor.
Roger, Little Joey, and several important editors of "New Arcana" are interviewing a very unique job applicant.
This is a young red dragon. After using the transformation technique, her human form has wild and enchanting features, a tall and hot figure, and fiery red hair that reaches her heels.
If she dresses up seriously according to the Empire's fashion trends, she will definitely be a beauty who can amaze the entire upper class.
But now she is just casually draped in a straight robe, with many wrinkles pressed on it, and her hair is casually scattered.
Sitting in the chair is also crooked, looking like she might fall to the ground at any time.
Clearly at a good age of youth, but this Miss Red Dragon exudes a lazy taste of a middle-aged frustrated man wearing a vest and blowing a cool breeze while gnawing on a watermelon at the street corner.
Everyone can only be glad that she just looks sloppy, at least she doesn't emit a curry smell.
An editor asked: "What is the source of inspiration for your article?"
"Inspiration? There is no inspiration. I just wrote what I thought in my heart!"
Another editor asked: "What other articles do you want to write in the future?"
"I haven't thought about it yet. The manuscript fee should be enough for me to eat for at least a month, right?"
Another one asked: "Why did you come to the City of Arcana?"
Miss Red Dragon smiled: "Our patriarch is going to the Underdark to fight with the black dragon. I was too lazy to go, so I hid here - with the Night Empress here, even the ancient red dragon would not dare to catch me."
In other words, are you here in the Empire to desert?
The Empire people are martial, and they can't help but show contempt.
After three questions, most of the editors present drew a big × under the name of this Miss Red Dragon.
Although dragons are very lazy, this Miss Red Dragon named Che Guevara is simply the laziest of the lazy.
With her character, you can't expect her to go to work and clock in normally and complete the work progress, right?
At this moment, "New Arcana" has ushered in a new round of expansion.
The work of the Night Guards is getting busier and busier. Roger and Little Joey have too much energy involved there, and naturally more manpower is needed to top up the Yinbing Manor.
Correspondingly, the articles published in "New Arcana" are becoming more and more profound, and the experiments for verifying repeatability and authenticity are becoming more and more difficult. Naturally, more and more editors and assistants are needed, and the level of magic must also be higher and higher.
There is no way, we can only continue to expand the manpower to undertake more and more complex work.
The good news is that "New Arcana" and "Arcana Miscellaneous Talks" complement each other and have formed a fixed routine.
As long as you continue to create controversial topics, the number of subscriptions will never be low, and the goal of enlightening the Empire's mages can be successfully completed.
The Red Dragon lady in front of them is a job applicant who came to Yinbing Manor to apply for an editor.
Because she had previously written an article "What exactly do the mages rely on to output?":
[Rely on their own magic to output? Rely on the equipment they carry? Rely on your staff to swing people? Wake up, what are followers for, what are mercenaries for? Did I spend money to hire them to soak in lava?]
[Mages are noble professions, and 99% of the goals in the world are not worth us doing ourselves.]
[Our core output should be money, buy equipment, hire people, issue rewards! As long as you move your hands in the mage tower, the output will naturally be completed. This is the life a mage should live]
[It is impossible to fight, it is never possible to fight in person. Mages must have money, have money, and still have money. Those who need to fight themselves are destined to be reckless men of the times!]
Although her article is somewhat biased, and even has the suspicion of bombing a certain big shot, and is also suspected of professional discrimination.
But it is undeniable that her writing is very infectious and has caused a high degree of discussion in "Arcana Miscellaneous Talks".
Such talents, the editors are willing to give Che Guevara a chance.
But meeting is not as good as hearing about it. Seeing the real dragon, I only feel too newsy.
According to the process, Che Guevara was invited out to wait for news, and the editors had to discuss.
"There's nothing to talk about, next one?" Little Joey is rigorous in doing things and has no good feelings for this kind of lazy person.
Roger waved his hand: "I think she is very suitable to be the deputy editor of "Arcana Miscellaneous Talks"."
Everyone: ???
Roger supported his elbow on the table, his chin resting on his crossed fingers, and smiled: "Compared to Miss Che Guevara, the mages of our empire are generally too diligent and too warlike. Although her ideas are biased, they are just right to neutralize the bad habit of mages liking to rush to the front - the driving force behind technological progress is actually human laziness."
An editor said: "But President, we will be laughed at for hiring a lazy deputy editor..."
"We were originally ridiculed for being whimsical, and everyone should eat a hundred disintegrate spells, are you still afraid of being laughed at?" Roger laughed in feigned surprise.
"I agree with the president's opinion. Che Guevara's ideas are inflammatory and can stimulate more mages to transform into research and development and management positions."
Everyone stopped talking.
As everyone knows, the vice president will definitely not object to the president. She will support him even if he says that magic is not conserved.
In this way, Che Guevara got an offer.
For her, it should be called a long-term food ticket more accurately.
Roger doesn't care. There are many diligent and hardworking people in Yinbing Manor. Their subconscious spirit of enterprise will lead to deviations in the thinking of "New Arcana".
Che Guevara just neutralizes this taste, just like asking for the sky -
First give an extreme view that you can never accept, and then slowly adjust it back, won't everyone agree?
After signing a large number of backup talents for training, the headache came to an end.