NOVEL NEXT Chapter 158
158. The Gray High Mage (3)
****
Today, the master of the Gray Tower, Kanatus, has arrived.
I asked him to collaborate on a project using my new invention to set up a telegraph network.
His reaction seemed positive at first—though whether he’ll actually spend big money remains uncertain. It did take quite some time to develop antibiotics too.
Anyway, it was unreasonable for me to handle everything unrelated to medicine all by myself. If the mage tower helps out, that’s great news.
“So, please follow me.”
Since the High Mage has agreed to cooperate, I need to show him something proper—not just a toy sitting on my desk. Rising from my seat, I gestured towards him.
“Where are we going?”
“I’ll show you the results.”
Standing up, I led the High Mage toward Professor Bernstadt’s experiment room. The mage trailed behind me slowly.
Why isn’t the High Mage a cute girl? That thought briefly crossed my mind, but only briefly—it wasn’t something I seriously considered or voiced aloud.
We arrived, and I opened the door to the lab.
Inside, numerous animal corpses hung around, along with piles of copper wires and metal plates stacked high into the air.
I didn’t expect this much clutter! Looks like Professor Bernstadt has been working harder than I thought. Maybe I should’ve consulted him first.
Sitting on the table, I tapped the preserved frog carcass hanging nearby.
“Well, let me explain…”
“Yes?”
“My senior… no, not exactly a senior. Mary Shelley, author of *Frankenstein*, wrote about reviving dead bodies with lightning and breathing life back into them.”
The mage immediately chimed in.
“That’s an interesting concept. Can you really use trapped lightning to breathe life into a corpse? Doesn’t seem likely.”
I pondered this carefully before answering:
“It’d probably work if someone dies within two minutes… though realistically speaking, that’s another matter entirely.”
As I mentioned earlier, Galvani’s theory of bioelectricity is flawed. Electric shocks have nothing to do with creating life—but I understand why people think that way.
“Hmm… maybe possible if done within two minutes after death. But again, practicality is another issue.”
“Have you tried it?”
In my past life, yes. But obviously, since coming here, I haven’t attempted it yet. Without CPR equipment, reviving anyone seems unlikely anyway.
“It gets complicated. For instance, if you cut open a frog, you must apply electric shock within one minute to make it move. Same principle applies to humans.”
This relates to defibrillators. Instead of leg muscles, we aim to stimulate heart muscles.
“What’s the novel about?”
“A monster created against natural laws gains intelligence, realizes its own monstrosity, and kills its creator… pretty philosophical stuff. Not a paper, though; it’s fiction.”
If I had plagiarized novels instead of academic papers, would things have gone better? Probably not. Classic works don’t gain fame through plagiarism.
Anyway, enough digressions.
“Let’s turn on the battery then.”
“Yes.”
Wet-cell batteries don’t have an off switch. Just immerse the metal rods in the solution to generate electricity, remove them to stop it.
A large tub filled with acidic liquid sat on the floor. When the metal rods were submerged, it generated strong enough current to transmit signals over long distances.
I handed both ends of the wire to the mage and dipped the metal rods into the solution.
This kind of wet-cell battery was used historically as well. Judging by how quickly bubbles formed, it must be an acid rather than saltwater.
The mage squinted.
CRACKLE! A proper spark passed through. Being significantly larger than the small battery on the desk, the electricity was clearly visible.
“I see now. The idea of trapping lightning makes sense when you can see it visually.”
“That’s right, same principle.”
The High Mage extended his finger and caught the spark moving between the wire ends. Somehow, using magic, he managed to hold it.
“Amazing. Perhaps, as you said earlier, reviving a corpse with lightning might not be far-fetched after all.”
I simply nodded.
Footsteps approached from behind, so I turned around. Was someone supposed to come here?
I glanced at the door.
“Oh, what are you doing here?”
Click-clack, click-clack. Professor Bernstadt entered the lab wearing shoes. Seeing him, I looked back at him—and he stared wide-eyed at me, silently asking why I was there. Right, this is his lab.
“Professor Bernstadt. We’re using your lab for research. Would you mind coming back later?”
“Yes, I’ll return later…”
But then, turning around to leave, Professor Bernstadt suddenly spun back toward me with disbelief written across his face. No way, don’t believe it.
“No, wait a moment. This is MY lab.”
I shrugged nonchalantly.
“I was experimenting with inventions. Remember the battery research announcement last time? And this gentleman here is the High Mage, Mr. Kanatus.”
High Mage Kanatus waved politely at Professor Bernstadt, who froze momentarily. He must be incredibly famous among mages.
“H-High Mage?! I’m a physicist and mage, Professor Bernstadt. It’s truly an honor to meet such a wise sage!”
“Ho ho, nice to meet you too.”
Kanatus smiled warmly. Thankfully, this old wizard seems equally shameless. Fits right in with me.
Professor Bernstadt began discussing something animatedly with the Great Sage—alchemy techniques for making batteries, runes to carve, silent spells controlling lightning…
****
Their conversation continued for a while.
Eventually, Professor Bernstadt returned to my side. The High Mage glanced at the battery again. Then, looking at me, he spoke:
“How did you bring him here?”
“He came willingly.”
“Because of the battery?”
“Seems so. Though he didn’t elaborate much, so I’m not sure exactly what he’s thinking.”
“Interesting. Is Professor Asterix connected politically?”
That could be true. While Kanatus appeared more academically curious than anything else…
“So, we’ve decided to collaborate with the mage tower to build telegraph networks everywhere. Specific methods still need figuring out, though.”
“Did you get paid?”
“He offered an advance payment, but honestly, that’s secondary. What matters is how we’ll collaborate and which direction we’ll go.”
Time passed. Finally, the High Mage turned to me, satisfied.
“You weren’t lying, Professor. Your ideas seem feasible indeed… we’ll invest accordingly.”
“Thank you. We’ll ensure success.”
I bowed respectfully to the mage. Although running the business will largely depend on the mage tower, technically speaking, that’s beside the point.
“How much funding do you plan to allocate?”
The High Mage paused briefly to think—or pretended to.
During our stay in the lab, he must’ve already decided roughly how much. After remaining silent for some time…
“At most, 30,000 gold coins currently. My resources aren’t infinite either. However, I’ll send it directly to you personally.”
An unexpectedly large sum.
Especially considering it’s being given directly to an individual… especially in this pre-industrialized era where money doesn’t flow infinitely like in modern society.
“That’s more than expected.”
“Ultimately, this involves negotiations with the Imperial Palace too. Half of the royal charter company belongs to the palace. Creditworthiness matters.”
Saving money holds no meaning.
****
Istina walked into the lab, looking unusually tired.
Her youthful appearance contrasted sharply with her exhausted expression, giving her the look of someone returning from war.
Her hair was tied loosely, and her skin pale enough to resemble a cave-dwelling salamander or albino Upupa.
She doesn’t look well… clearly, we need more graduate students. At this rate, even those I’ve recruited might die.
Istina dropped her bag and sat down.
“Good afternoon, Professor.”
“Istina. Long time no see.”
“What brings you here this time?”
“A royal inspection. Also solved a murder case.”
Explaining everything again felt exhausting since I’d already recounted these events multiple times to different people.
“I heard somewhere. Did you diagnose a skeleton? Isn’t that exaggerating things a bit?”
“There was a broken bone.”
“I see…”
Does forensic science exist in this world? Examining corpses and drawing conclusions might itself be considered a groundbreaking innovation.
Istina flipped open her notebook and scribbled something, appearing deep in thought.
“This is new to me. You mean you can examine and diagnose dead people whose words and pulses cannot be detected?”
“You need to inspect the body thoroughly.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
She didn’t seem convinced. Later, I should write to the Imperial Palace bragging about the mage tower agreeing to help with the telegraph network setup.