Chapter 91 (1/2)
“It’s too early to be surprised.”
A smile appeared on Mazelan’s face, satisfied by Isaac’s surprised expression. He waved at Isaac to enter the elevator, and the doors closed the moment Isaac stepped into the elevator.
“… I see it only leads to one floor.”
“Part of its function is to act as the Royal Family’s secret escape route in emergencies.”
“Escape? Does that mean there’s another form of transportation underground?”
Mazelan made a wicked smile in response.
“You’ll know when you see it.”
“… This is madness.”
It’s just as Mazelan said. Isaac felt the elevator move, and it reached its destined floor within moments. When its door opened, Isaac was greeted by a train stationed by a platform .
“Like I said. We’ve already finished researching and replicating most of your technology. We are simply waiting for the right time to release it. But that doesn’t mean we should let these wonderful things sit around doing nothing right?”
“But a subway…”
“It’s not exactly a subway… Hm, what did the Queen call it? Magnet? No. Le, le…”
“A maglev?”
“Yeah! A maglev. She said it travels at the speed of 600km/h and faster according to your world’s scale all the while generating no noise or vibrations.”
“That’s insane… You succeeded in ma.s.s-producing superconductors?”
Isaac remembered the shallow knowledge he glimpsed through in the sea of information that was the Internet. Maglevs were theoretically possible, but the high cost of producing superconductors and the inability to create a superconductor that could function in high temperature barred it from commercial use. Yet one was right in front of him in plain sight.
“This must be using magic right?”
That word really was the solution to everything.
“Huh? Of course. What did she say? It was developed by utilising the magic circles of polar forces, was it?”
‘… Of course. Wait, isn’t this dangerous?’
No matter how capable Yoo-rah was, developing a superconductor was a feat impossible to do alone. Especially since she was lacking a proper research facility in this place. Isaac remembered the enchantments he imbued on his crossbow. Magic circles applying the forces of push and pull. She probably didn’t need superconductors since magic in itself behaved like a magnet. But the scale of its utilisation was enormous.
What would the Expeditionary Force do once they find this information? Just the utilisation of magic alone solved what would supposedly cost a great fortune to develop such technology. That fact alone was enough reason for the Expeditionary Forces to cling on to this Middle World, even if they had to give up on mana crystals.
The major powers of the other world may be working secretly to monopolise the gate for now, but if they changed their stance and began a full scale a.s.sault, just defending the gate like they were doing so now wouldn’t be the end of it.
‘Wait a minute. I just gained another useful card, haven’t I?’
While Isaac pondered how he was going to get the most out of this, Mazelan got on the train and called out to Isaac.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“Yes, yes. I’m coming.”
With Mazelan and Isaac on board, the train slowly started to move.
“Is there no driver in this thing?”
“Who would we a.s.sign here, a top secret facility requiring absolute confidentiality? Do you think we would waste an agent of Central to drive a train we use once in a blue moon? That’s just wasted potential. We used a single b.u.t.ton to solve the issue, since it only travels between two destinations.”
Isaac nodded in response to Mazelan’s explanation and scanned the insides of this tiny train. He then walked over to the front of the train, seeing the view that laid of him. The train slid silently through the tunnel, floating atop the tunnel floor where the train rails were laid. The tunnel was lit up by light bulbs on the roof, and Isaac could tell how quickly the train was traveling, seeing how the light from these bulbs blurred into a line of light.
“Man, feels like I’m in warp s.p.a.ce.”
Isaac smirked, remembering how the stars turned into lines in sci-fi dramas during warp speed. Isaac walked back and sat on one of the empty seats lining both sides of the train. Isaac asked Mazelan.
“Can I smoke in here?”
Mazelan gagged as if an insect crawled into his mouth. He flicked his hand at Isaac, allowing Isaac to do whatever he wanted. Isaac smirked and immediately placed a cigarette in his mouth. After lighting the cigarette, Isaac inhaled one deep breath and called out to Mazelan, who was looking away from Isaac with his arms folded as if he was trying his best to ignore Isaac.
“Shouldn’t you let me know where we are heading at this point?”
“… We’re going to New Port City.”
“From here? That’s going to take a while. Don’t tell me you didn’t bring any snacks or drinks for such a long trip.”
“Who said we’re going to New Port City by train alone? In fact, how could we possibly dig a tunnel all the way there, considering how far away it is?”
“Then what? Don’t tell me we’re going there in a car.”
Mazelan scorned Isaac with his eyes.
“Like I said. It’s too soon to be surprised.”
“… You’re telling me there’s something more surprising than a maglev?”
“Of course.”
“… This is madness.”
All Isaac could do was to let out an empty laugh. The destination of the train was a hazardous region where the mountain range of the Minolen Mountain, which acted as the boundary splitting the North and Centre of the Empire, met with that of Adelin Mountain. In its corner operated Central’s secret base.
“This base was created for resupplying and transporting our agents in addition to letting them recuperate.”
“You should call it an airport, not a base. Unbelievable… I’m so shocked that I don’t know what to say.”
Would anyone believe that atop the eternally snow covered mountain range there existed a basin and a small city constructed on top of it?
Countless shops, restaurants, theatres and entertainments were visible within the city, aimed at providing rest for the agents. Although there wasn’t an airstrip, Isaac could see many airs.h.i.+ps and propeller planes taking off and landing in an endless cycle. Isaac couldn’t help grabbing at his head after seeing one of these planes taking off.
“I’m going mad. To think I’d get a culture shock here of all places…”
Mazelan snickered away watching Isaac writhe in pain. Isaac quickly flicked his head toward Mazelan, staring at him as he spoke.
“This is all magic too right?”
“Of course.”
“Can’t believe that the word ‘magic’ is all that’s needed to explain everything. The word really is magical.”
Many who worked in the field of magic would denounce Isaac’s statement, but the word ‘magic’ really was all the explanation that was ever needed.
“How many of these base cities do you have?”
“We have one in every strategic location in the continent.”
“So it’s a system where you stock up necessary supplies with trains and distribute them with planes. The agents will also be deployed using these planes, but seeing how they all takeoff vertically, you don’t need an airstrip, do you? Only a small landing zone centred at these base cities, right?”
Mazelan unknowingly gulped after hearing Isaac’s mumbling. Isaac had deduced most of the operating system after taking one glance at it. More and more, Mazelan was starting to doubt if involving Isaac with Central was the correct move.
Maybe the best choice was to shove him into a rural village? Mazelan considered filing that request once more, but quickly shook it away. It was already too late. The decisions of the Grand Council could not be overruled. Especially when they’ve played the practically unheard-of card founding a whole new Directorate. If they undo all of this so soon, all of the Central’s agents would rise up, questioning their decision-making capabilities. So the best choice was to control this man as best they can.
‘Can she really do it?’
Mazelan recalled Rivelia. At first, the stubborn and strict Sword Master Rivelia was the limiting factor of Isaac that everyone could accept, but Mazelan had seen her being pushed around by Isaac too many times in the past. Mazelan shook it off back then since she was still young and inexperienced, but was it any different now? The experiences they’ve had were of different dimensions.
“Now this is an unexpected appearance.”
After a three-hour flight, the plane arrived at the base located opposite to Lake Levonen, where an airport and a dock operated in tandem.
Mazelan insisted that Isaac stay put and lay low before disappearing back into the plane. Isaac waited alone, waiting for his s.h.i.+p destined to New Port City. But onboard the silently approaching s.h.i.+p that sailed through the night fog was an incredibly unexpected individual.
“Let me introduce myself again. I am agent Soland of Directorate of Strategy, manager of Project 401 in New Port City.”
“That’s funny. So it’s Smarta.s.s after Reisha. Who’s next?”
“I don’t think that’s a question I should answer. Nor do I know anyone else.”
Isaac smirked as he put his coat back on. Soland’s response was polite but also drew a clear line. Seeing Isaac was ready, Soland led him out of the room to the s.h.i.+p. On the way, Isaac asked.
“So what’s Project 401?”
“It’s cla.s.sified. If you want to know, you can submit a formal request for clearance to the higher-ups and receive approval.”