Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 662 - 661: Unbridled

This ancient yet young country has endured a disaster akin to a rebirth through flames. Although the road ahead is still shrouded in a layer of gloom, a ray of sunlight has already pierced through the clouds, casting its light on this land that is burgeoning with vitality.

In Cecil Castle, the atmosphere on the eve of the celebration is becoming increasingly intense. Bright flags have already been hung along the main avenues, and municipal workers are hanging red and green streamers on the street lights and buildings lining the streets. Children wave scraps of streamers they picked up by the roadside, laughing as they run across the wide concrete streets. Meanwhile, newly dressed citizens are discussing recent news on the street corners and alleys, some with smiles, others with serious expressions.

Newsboys with satchels run through the streets, loudly hawking the latest issue of the Cecil Weekly or other publications. Newspapers with a fresh ink scent peek out from their bags, with bold headlines that are exceptionally eye-catching—

"Anzu Royal Power Ends Peacefully, St. Soniel Temporary Government Office Announces Emperorwide: The Great Cecil Empire Is about to Be Established"

At the Magic Technology Research Institute, on the third floor of the main building, Cohen Bell watched the newsboy running past outside and withdrew his gaze with a smile, shaking his head. "These newspaper-selling kids must be getting happier recently, one big news story after another."

A tall man with slightly balding hair shrugged. "The taverns and game rooms are also getting happier. Every day, countless ’newspaper clerks’ and ’broadcast governors’ discuss the future there, and I can’t find a quiet place to while away my post-work hours."

"Going to taverns and game rooms for quiet was your first mistake," Cohen glanced at his colleague. "I suggest you try that new ’café’ on Jin Fang Cui Street, opened by a northerner. The environment is good, and the drinks are... unique."

The two researchers chatted idly, but their conversation was soon interrupted — the door to the laboratory was suddenly pushed open, and a lively voice came from the doorway: "Yo! Good morning, everyone... Are we ready for today’s tests?"

With her hair braided, Rebecca greeted as she walked into the laboratory, her neat braid swinging with her steps. Her whole being exuded a cheerful air — in fact, she had been in such high spirits for quite some time recently.

Those familiar with her knew the reason for her good mood: her ancestors led the crusade, and her aunt was stationed at the Administrative Office. With both elder members busy, all the affairs of the Magical Technology Department fell into the hands of this Marchioness (currently still a Miss Marchioness), and thanks to wartime priority for research and military funding, the department had abundant funding for their projects. For Rebecca, who often had surprising ideas, this was practically a dream come true.

She had been on the loose for almost two months now, and it looked like she would continue her spree for a while...

Grand Governor Heidi might get a headache seeing Rebecca like this, but those working in the research department were very happy to see their head (director) in such a state. Rebecca, in her unrestrained state, always had a sharp mind, unlike that of ordinary people, and the progress of several research projects had been quite outstanding recently — this was undoubtedly due to the collective efforts of researchers, but Rebecca’s leadership was also indispensable.

"Miss Rebecca," Cohen bowed along with the others, with a smile on his face, "everything is ready, and we can start at any time."

"Not bad, not bad~~" Rebecca maintained her cheerful smile and walked straight to the large platform in the center of the laboratory. Around that platform were numerous magical devices, and on the platform stood a metallic ring device about two meters in diameter and a palm’s width, embedded with many magic symbols and crystals on its surface.

The group members gathered around, each taking their work position. The slightly balding tall man adjusted the energy supply to the experimental platform and casually asked, "Miss Rebecca, did you see today’s newspaper... Ah, you must have known the news before the newspaper came out, right?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the mage technicians paused their actions, showing expressions of interest as they leaned in slightly. However, Rebecca, at the center, froze for a moment, "Ah? I haven’t read it... Mr. Marin, what’s the news?"

Cohen had an expression of "I knew it", slightly helpless as he rubbed his forehead and reminded, "About the Cecil Empire... You should know that the Anzu Royal Power has ended."

"...Oh!" Rebecca took two seconds to react suddenly, clapping her hands, "Right! I heard Aunt Heidi mention it at dinner yesterday... She said something else too... But my mind was full of formulas at the time, so I didn’t remember it..."

"You..." Mage Technician Marin opened his mouth but suddenly realized he didn’t know what to say. This should’ve been a good "work break topic", but the unexpected reaction of the person involved made the topic awkward. So he had to hint, "We might soon have to address you as Princess..."

Rebecca thought for a moment, taking another two seconds to react.

"Ah, it does seem so..." She finally came to her senses, recalling that Aunt Heidi had mentioned a lot about relearning etiquette, grammar, history, and her expression gradually became colorful.

"No... no one said a princess must retake etiquette classes, right?" Rebecca widened her eyes like a startled rabbit, nervously speaking to Marin, "You’re the nephew of Viscount Leslie, so you know, right?"

"This... even if you ask me, I wouldn’t know..." Marin looked bewildered, indeed being the only one besides Rebecca Cecil in the laboratory with any noble blood, though merely because he had an uncle who was a Viscount. How could he answer Rebecca’s impending ’Princess’ title questions? But thinking about it, given the past rumors surrounding this Cecil successor, considering how she was once a laughingstock in the southern aristocratic circles, it seemed understandable for her to consult him, "I guess there’s no need to retake it... After all, the aristocratic system has been thoroughly reformed, and the ’Empire’s system must be new too, so the old aristocratic etiquettes probably aren’t that important."

Rebecca immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "That’s good then..."

Marin thought for a moment and added, "But while you don’t need to relearn the old, you’ll definitely have to learn the new..."

Rebecca: "..."

To be honest, she almost unleashed a fireball at that moment, but the high cost of the laboratory’s many precision instruments and her aunt’s stern reminders helped her calm down.

"Let’s... not talk about this anymore..." The future empire princess forcefully cut off the topic like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, "Let’s begin... begin the experiment."

The mage technicians, seeing her reaction, tactfully ceased the topic and began adeptly preparing for the upcoming experiment.

Although more and more immersion capsules are being put into use with the gradual application of Immersion Pod Technology, and more elite researchers can enter the "Origin Laboratory" virtual space to conduct experiments, virtual laboratories still have limits in simulation, and real-world testing remains an essential stage in many later experimental projects. Especially for complex rune patterns, black box spell restructuring, and other projects that aren’t so "physical", actual testing is crucial.

According to experience, these projects show the most "real-world deviation" in the Origin Laboratory.

Under the skilled cooperation and operation of the project team members, the surface of the platform in the center of the laboratory gradually revealed the faint glow of magic symbols. Various detection, control, and recording devices around the platform also got ready, while the ring-shaped metal device atop the platform lightly trembled with the infusion of Magic Power, emitting a very faint, pleasant humming sound.

"Alright, prototype of the Anti-Gravity Ring. Total test count is six hundred and twenty-seven, and this is the twelfth test in reality." Rebecca stood beside the experimental platform, her expression becoming serious as everything began, and she gave instructions in a steady voice, "Maintain the magical power field, check the ring body."

"The Anti-Gravity Ring has started operating, current load is normal, interference with the magic symbols is within safe values," Cohen quickly checked the monitoring device in front of him — the so-called monitoring device was a crystal panel set beside the platform. The panel had solidified Detection and chaotic magic feedback spell effects; it could observe the distribution of Magic Power on the experimental platform and promptly show signs of Magic Power loss of control. "Lifting force has already appeared... very stable."

Rebecca kept her eyes on the situation on the experimental platform: "Slowly release the constraint lock."

An operator immediately responded: "Yes, releasing the constraint lock."

A slight clicking sound was heard from below the experimental platform, after which several lock devices that had been firmly fixing the metal ring were gradually released—the metal ring etched with complex magic symbols began to slowly rise, while underneath, it was still secured by several sturdy steel cables to ensure safety throughout the process.

The Anti-Gravity Ring rose to about half a meter above the platform and remained stable there.

However, everyone in the laboratory did not relax, instead, their expressions became even more tense and serious.

"Levitation spell successful, Anti-Gravity Field stabilized," Cohen continued to report the situation, "interference with the magic symbols is within safe values."

"Test the load."

Several steel cables gradually tightened, and the Anti-Gravity Ring above the platform gently oscillated slightly up and down but soon stabilized again.

"Load increased to two hundred and twenty kilograms, still stable."

"Maintain this load for now," Rebecca said while checking the status of various devices, "Next... let’s try to move it a bit. Marin, move it sideways, make sure to keep the amplitude small."

Marin Leslie nodded, took a slight breath, and then began to cautiously control a part of the magic symbol structure engraved on the Anti-Gravity Ring through a non-contact magical power field, attempting to achieve its lateral movement by changing the direction of the Anti-Gravity Field and resetting the way loads are distributed across the ring.

The Anti-Gravity Ring emitted a slight hum, the magic symbols on its surface rippled like flowing water, then it gently quivered, starting to move to one side.

Rebecca watched with wide eyes, almost holding her breath as she observed everything.

The next second, a strong light suddenly flashed on the surface of the ring, and the entire metal structure emitted a piercing shriek amidst intense quivering, then abruptly shot upwards—

"Snap snap—"

Several hooks used to connect the steel cables and ring snapped successively, and the Anti-Gravity Ring surged towards the ceiling amidst a strong flash of light. With a loud "boom," it collided solidly into the ceiling.

Rebecca reacted instantly as the ring went out of control, slapping the emergency stop button beside the experimental platform to cut off the magic field supply to the ring. However, everything happened too quickly, the ring had already hit the ceiling—even though the energy supply was interrupted and the magic symbols on the ring’s surface dimmed, it didn’t fall down.

It was already embedded up there.

Dust and debris rained down in the laboratory, a group of Mage Technicians scurried, dodging the falling debris from above. When the dust finally settled, this group of dust-covered individuals returned to the experimental platform, looking up dumbfoundedly at the Anti-Gravity Ring embedded in the ceiling.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

After a while, Cohen Bell finally broke the silence in a small voice: "At least... now we know that once this thing is overloaded, its maximum lifting force is immense, although it can only be maintained for a fleeting moment..."

"Perhaps we should replace the hooks and steel cables with more robust ones..." Marin added from the side.

"A device that can only ascend and descend vertically is practically useless..." muttered a junior researcher quietly, but since the laboratory was already very silent, everyone heard her mumbling.

"Maybe we should try my original plan," Rebecca pondered, pinching her chin and saying, "Flying while firing fireballs towards the rear, although it’s a bit slower and consumes more..."

Cohen immediately broke out in a cold sweat and quickly advised against it, "Your plan is more dangerous than the Anti-Gravity Ring going out of control, and I’m afraid Heidi won’t agree to it..."

"Aunt isn’t from the technical department... Alright," Rebecca started to argue but quickly slumped her head halfway through, sighing, "Let’s tidy up here, organize the information and such, and we can research and ponder what exactly went wrong. Besides, everyone should also think about other safer alternative solutions after going back."

After speaking, she finally lifted her head, once more glancing at the metal ring embedded in the ceiling.

"Cohen, later on, try to... pry it down. Additionally, who wants to come with me upstairs? Go and explain to Master Kamel that there was no explosion this time... No one? Alright, I’ll go myself..."