Chapter 120 How Can Anything Succeed With These Insects…

Morin initially heard this sentence and was confused.

He didn’t understand what this had to do with Cecilia, but as Patricia continued to explain, he roughly grasped the fucked-up situation.

“Although our Saxon Empire nominally follows a development path that combines brilliant crystal technology and arcane technology, these two technical paths have existed with fierce conflict and competition alongside their cooperation.”

Patricia’s tone lost its initial lightness and became somewhat subdued.

“Furthermore, with the continuous breakthroughs in brilliant crystal technology in recent years, the Empire has gradually shown a trend of fully favoring the brilliant crystal industrial route…”

“For those Mages, this means their influence is being continuously squeezed out.”

“So, you, as a spellcaster who has such a close relationship with the ‘Brilliant Crystal Queen,’ are simply too politically complicated in their eyes.”

Morin: “No… just because of that?”

“Of course, there are other reasons… You are a Junker military noble. Although your family is currently down on its luck, you are still a military noble, and currently, your career prospects in the military are extremely good.”

Patricia sighed, then continued:

“And the Mage community and the Junker nobility have always been at odds. You are also the first spellcaster with a Junker noble background, which is not good news for the Mages.”

Morin: “But that’s not right. Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig and you are also Junker nobles, but one of you is an Armored Knight, and the other holds a position in the Arcane Research Institute… and is not even a spellcaster.”

“No, no, no. Can a naturally awakened spellcaster be compared with a Knight who has undergone acquired physical modification?”

Patricia shook a finger, and her expression held more regret.

“Firstly, the Armored Knight is a product of unavoidable compromise. Secondly, with my research capabilities, if I were born into a non-Junker noble family, I would possess more than just an office here.”

“Oh my~ Miss von Seeckt, you are that capable?”

Morin said disbelievingly:

“Then would you be willing to help me miniaturize that Magic Crystal Cannon?”

Patricia: “…”

Seeing Patricia’s speechless expression, Morin smiled and changed the subject:

“Be that as it may, the application for visiting the Institute was approved quite quickly by these exclusive Mages.”

“Well, they still have to show respect to the Royal Family, don’t they? They are already at odds with the Junker nobles…” Patricia rolled her eyes dismissively.

“That is true.”

Morin nodded. Hearing this, he finally saw the bigger picture.

The internal situation of the Saxon Empire was far more complex than he had imagined.

Various factions were constantly in conflict due to differing interests, yet the external threat forced them to cling together to the tree named ‘Nation’…

The conflict over technological pathways, the struggle between vested interest groups, coupled with his own ambiguous background.

No wonder those Mages ignored him completely.

He took a deep breath, then summarized the situation in an utterly blunt tone.

“Miss von Seeckt, I think I finally understand.”

“The Mage community here in the Empire is just a bunch of insular, self-serving academic elites!”

“It is precisely because of their extremely exclusive, closed-off, and conservative behavior that the development of arcane technology has reached its current state!”

Morin grew angrier as he spoke, slamming his fist onto the table.

“How can arcane technology ever advance while they are all focused on their own petty academic politics!”

Morin’s sudden outburst startled Patricia.

Her emerald green eyes widened in surprise. She looked at the agitated Morin, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

In her memory, no one had ever dared to use an insulting term like ‘academic politics’ or similar words to describe the noble Mage community.

Especially not right in front of her, an employee of the Arcane Technology Research Institute.

“Hey, don’t… don’t be so agitated!”

Patricia instinctively wanted to argue back, but when the words reached her lips, she didn’t know what to say.

Because she knew in her heart that Morin’s words, though harsh, were spot on.

The Saxon Mage community’s conservatism and exclusivity had indeed severely hampered the development and application of arcane technology.

Many arcane technologies that could clearly be widely adopted were shelved solely because of the ridiculous reason that they ‘must not be easily grasped by ordinary people.’

Many of her own research projects were often suppressed without reason due to her background or because they infringed on the interests of certain older Mages.

Morin realized he had lost his composure. He took several deep breaths, calming his mood.

“I apologize, Miss von Seeckt, I was not directing that at you.”

He looked at Patricia, his eyes filled with sincerity.

“I believe that technology itself has no intrinsic quality. Its meaning is found in its application. From my perspective as a soldier, that means making this country stronger and ensuring that soldiers bleed less on the battlefield.”

“It should not be a tool for a privileged few to maintain their status and interests.”

“They hoard advanced technology but don’t think about how to convert it into national strength. Instead, they impose restrictions everywhere, afraid that others will learn and take their rice bowl… What else but academic insects could they be?”

Patricia fell silent.

She had been hailed as a genius since childhood and had experienced a smooth career path in arcane technology. Although she had felt the rigidness of the system…

She had never, like Morin, examined the issues of the entire Mage community from such a sharp angle.

The atmosphere in the office became heavy for a moment.

After a long time, Patricia looked up, examining the man before her with a fresh gaze, filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

“Morin, why… why do you understand so much?”

She couldn’t help but voice the doubt in her heart.

“The questions you raised—like ‘synchronized detonation,’ ‘miniaturization of arcane weapons,’ and your views on technological application—none of these sound like something an ordinary officer would think of.”

Morin: “It’s simple. Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. Everything I mentioned is something I experienced and thought about on the battlefield.”

“Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth…” ×N

Patricia softly repeated the phrase, suddenly looking somewhat dazed.

“Miss von Seeckt, are you alright?”

Morin waved his hand in front of the suddenly distracted Patricia.

“Ah, I’m fine… I just think your words make a lot of sense. But I was wondering, isn’t experimentation also a form of practice?”

“It is, but if you only stay in the laboratory, that practice is not thorough enough.”

Morin spoke, realizing that his discussion of these issues with Patricia flowed just as smoothly as it had with Helga.

“I have been fighting on the front line, constantly thinking about how to kill the enemy more efficiently, and how to keep myself and my soldiers alive. All sorts of strange ideas naturally popped into my head.”

Patricia accepted this explanation and did not press further.

She simply looked at Morin quietly, as if trying to see into his soul.

“Morin.”

She suddenly spoke, her tone unprecedentedly serious.

“Do you still hold to your idea of developing individual arcane weapons that ordinary soldiers can operate?”

Morin nodded without hesitation.

“Of course. And not only is it my idea, but it is also the future trend of warfare.”

Patricia: “What if you encounter resistance? You know who I’m referring to…”

Hearing Patricia’s words, Morin only smiled:

“I certainly understand what you are referring to, but the wheels of history are unstoppable. If someone tries to block the way, they will only be crushed and used to increase friction for the wheels.”

Patricia was stunned by Morin’s words.

She felt as if she could actually see a giant wheel rolling forward, crushing this fortress-like Arcane Research Institute…

And then crushing the Mage Tower farther away.

But she quickly recovered.

“Are you suggesting the end of Mages?” Patricia’s voice was dry, a hint of disbelief in her emerald eyes.

Morin shook his head.

“I don’t know if Mages will die out, but if magic—or arcane technology—is to be passed down, lowering the barrier and secularizing it is the only choice.”

He leaned back in his chair, his tone level, yet he spoke as if stating a foregone conclusion.

“Especially since the brilliant crystal ore in this world is finite. What will the Mages do if the brilliant crystal is completely mined out one day?”

“If the Mage community continues to maintain its current arrogance, believe me, without any external force intervention, the brilliant crystal industry will naturally and completely replace both magic and arcane technology over time.”

To be honest, after his brief conversation with Patricia, Morin didn’t hold much hope for arcane technology anymore.

The Saxon Mage community had made him laugh with their ineptitude.

They already had fewer Mages than Britannia, and barely any high-circle Mages to show for it, yet they were busy running petty cliques…

And all signs indicated that this was a sunset industry.

If the brilliant crystal industry developed for a while longer, true ‘industrial’ output would completely shatter the barriers of magic and arcane technology.

However, in the present context, magic and arcane technology could still provide some ‘shortcuts’ when encountering certain problems.

And for Morin himself, magic still offered considerable benefits in combat, at least increasing his chances of survival on the battlefield.

But his previous idea of getting a batch of Mages into the assault team or mass-producing low-level Mages was essentially unfeasible…

The only viable path was to use arcane technology for enhancement.

But Patricia’s description of the ‘academic barrier’ made Morin feel that this matter would likely require the assistance of the Crown Prince again…

After all, if even the Crown Prince’s power couldn’t budge the stubborn fortress of the Mage community, no one else stood a chance.

With this thought, Morin looked at the blonde young woman before him, with her unique perspective and original insights, and a bold idea suddenly struck him.

Since the Imperial Mage community doesn’t want me, why should I bother with them?

Can’t I find a way to build my own team?

Given the current situation in the Saxon Empire, the Royal Family and the Junker nobility would likely welcome the establishment of an arcane technology research team closer to them.

As for personnel…

Isn’t there one right in front of me?

After thinking for a moment, Morin didn’t hesitate and spoke directly:

“Miss von Seeckt, since you are also dissatisfied with the Institute’s current state, have you ever considered… changing locations?”

“If there were a place where you could unleash your talent without any constraints, would you be willing to switch jobs?”

(End of this Chapter)

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