Exploring Technology in a Wizard World-Chapter 1444 - 1442: Black Sun Castle

Shalin, somewhere underground.

The Ninth Institute.

In a long corridor made entirely of metal, a warlock dressed in a deep black robe was patrolling.

You can see that every few dozen meters in the corridor, there’s a heavy gray metal door, with a palm-sized high-strength transparent glass embedded more than a meter above the ground.

Through the glass, you can see inside the door are sturdy steel shelves lined with numerous creations resembling artillery shells. The creations are nearly as tall as a person, and their cold-colored shells are painted with yellow and black patterns that look like a gear, though the gear has only three teeth.

Beneath the pattern, there is a line of small text—Blanco Leshoulei.

This is not someone’s name but an ancient language, translated into the common continental language, it means... Black Sun. In short, it’s "Black Sun".

Black Sun weapon is the general term for these creations, and the place where they are stored is the Black Sun Armory. The people who manufacture, maintain, improve, test, and manage them are called Black Sun members, and all this belongs to the Ninth Institute.

The Ninth Institute is also called the Black Sun Castle, though only a few in Shalin know of it.

Black Sun member John Fermi walked past one metal door after another with steady steps, occasionally stopping to carefully inspect the items on the shelves inside.

Inside the doors, there are not only person-high, shell-shaped "trinkets" but also "big guys" with diameters of one meter and lengths of three to four meters, and even giant creations with diameters of two meters and lengths close to ten meters.

These are respectively small Black Sun weapons, large Black Sun weapons, and super large Black Sun weapons. In official archives, they are referred to as Tactical Level, Strategic Level, and Destruction Level, with further subdivisions like first generation, second generation, third generation, fourth generation Black Sun weapons, etc.

Fermi squinted at these cold and dangerous creations inside the door, fully aware of how terrifying their power would be once activated and detonated. Even a tiny portion would be enough to blow up the entire Ninth Institute... no, the entire Shalin.

Regular patrols and periodic maintenance of these creations truly tested his spiritual strength, though luckily, he didn’t need to get too close when patrolling.

In fact, even if he wanted to, he couldn’t get close, as the armory doors are specially designed with multiple layers of protection, which even a Level 4 Wizard cannot forcibly open in a short time. To open them according to procedure, at least three high-level Black Sun members are needed to hold special keys and go through two password verifications.

This ensures there’s no worry about spies sneaking in.

Fermi couldn’t help but think, suddenly sensing something, he stopped patrolling and reached into his bosom to pull out a Communication Crystal Ball, seeing three purple flashes on it in succession.

Seeing this message, Fermi was initially stunned, then his expression hardened as he quickly turned and strode toward the end of the corridor.

...

A few minutes later.

Fermi appeared in a conference room within the Ninth Institute.

The conference room had a conference table over ten meters long, surrounded by dozens of middle and senior Black Sun members, almost all gathered together.

The high-level Black Sun member sitting at one end of the conference table—Arthur Osheimer, in his fifties, wearing the same black robe, swept his sky-blue eyes across the room and spoke in a chilly voice, "Since everyone has gathered so quickly, you must have received the information. Indeed, after waiting for so long, the ’Star Spirit Mirror’ on the other side of Institute 361 is finally nearing completion. We can next proceed smoothly with the task assigned by Lord Richard. So, please prepare yourself."

The Black Sun members nodded.

Osheimer turned and looked toward a corner of the conference room.

There was a high stool with a young girl sitting on it, her cheeks white and flawless yet showing a bored expression. Her slender legs were swinging in mid-air.

Seemingly aware of Osheimer’s gaze, the girl stopped swinging her legs, glanced over, and yawned, asking, "Hmm, what’s up?"

"Miss Bibi, next we need to open the armory," Osheimer said expressionlessly. "I, Mr. Robert Albert, and Mr. Han Kaoke von Neumann can provide the three keys to open the armory. Mr. Rudolf Pole will provide the first password verification, while the second, final password verification needs to be provided by you. Additionally, by regulation, the process of opening the armory requires your oversight, given it’s your duty."

"I see." Bibi frowned, "Do I need to provide the final password verification? But... I’ve forgotten it, what now?"

Osheimer’s eyes flashed: "Miss Bibi, are you kidding?"

"No, I’m not, I’ve really forgotten," Bibi explained. "A couple of days ago, I absorbed some new knowledge, and it seemed to have influenced me, causing me to lose the memory of the password."

Osheimer’s expression suddenly turned serious: "If that’s truly the case, then this is quite serious, and we need to immediately consult Miss Pandora."

With that said, Osheimer promptly moved to exit, without delay.

Bibi quickly called out: "Hey, wait a minute!"

"Hmm?"

"Just kidding," Bibi shook her head, sighed, and said, "Can’t you just play along for once?"

"Sorry, that’s not my responsibility," Osheimer replied coldly. "However, since Miss Bibi is joking, it indicates you can provide the final password verification. Please follow me to open the armory."

"Alright," Bibi exhaled.

Osheimer once again headed outside, taking Bibi and the previously mentioned people with him.

As he was about to leave the doorway, Osheimer glanced at the people left in the conference room and said, "The rest of you, prepare to start the first test in two hours."

"Yes," everyone responded.

...

More than five hours later, in the darkest moment before dawn.

Somewhere in Shalin, on an empty plain, a rumbling sound suddenly emerged from deep within the earth.

"Rumble, rumble..."

The sound grew louder, and with a loud "crack," a ten-meter-radius section of ground bulged and split open.

Then, with a "bang," a burst of flame lit up the night. A large metal lid more than two meters in diameter, previously hidden in the soil, was blasted high into the air by the pre-installed high explosives, revealing a gaping round well below.

A louder roar erupted from the depths of the well, as if something was ascending, forcing air out of the well opening and stirring up a cloud of dust around it.

The metal lid that was blasted away spun and fell a hundred meters away, landing with a heavy thud. Almost simultaneously, a blinding beam of light shot out from the well, piercing the sky and quickly disappearing.

"Rumble, rumble!"

The light had barely vanished when figures dressed in black robes appeared around the well, efficiently retrieving the displaced metal lid and repairing it, restoring the bulging ground to its previous state in just a few minutes, then quietly leaving, as if nothing had happened.

Then, after another ten minutes or so.

On a small island in the center of a saline lake, deep in the North Wilderness far from Shalin, a dense cluster of buildings stood, including thatched huts, wooden buildings, stone buildings, and bunkers.

This building complex, devoid of any inhabitants or life, had a certain peacefulness under the cover of night.

But a second later, a sudden light descended from the sky, exploding with a mushroom cloud rising and unleashing terrifying power.

"Boom!"

Everything on the island was instantly leveled, the entire island shattered, and a massive plume of water was raised, evaporating and creating great white vapor columns, leaving large salt stains on the shore.

"It seems the first test... was successful..." Almost simultaneously, a cool voice spoke in a room in the Ninth Institute.

...

"It was successful..." Not long after, the same voice emanated from a moving carriage.

Richard, holding a crystal ball, squinted and lifted the carriage curtain, looking outside at the emerging light on the horizon. The silhouette of a majestic city gradually became visible ahead on the road—that was Shaya.

As promised before, after taking care of his current affairs, as the one-month deadline approached, he came here alone.

If nothing unexpected occurs, after meeting the Alliance Emperor inside the city, he should be able to secure at least three more years of development time for Shalin, allowing him to uncover the secret of the High Spirit and truly unveil part of the world’s truth.

But if there are any unexpected events...

Richard lightly shook his head... There would be no unexpected events, at most, just setbacks. And the greater the setbacks, the longer the time Shalin would secure... until permanent peace...

"Rumble, rumble..."

The hired coachman drove the carriage quickly forward, approaching the city gates of Shaya, which were opening slowly in the morning hours.

...