Chapter 339: The Process
Rex powered the suit down before walking back toward the group.
Ethan finally looked toward King Carson. "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
The King slowly exhaled. "They’re..."
He searched briefly for the proper word. "...marvelous."
His eyes remained slightly widened. "I’ve never seen anything remotely like this."
He looked back toward Ethan. "Walk me through it, how did you even arrive at inventions such as these?"
"What kind of mind conceives something like this?"
Ethan smiled.Becoming a Magi-Engineer while possessing EX-Talent had turned the class into something almost unreasonable.
It felt like, with the right resources, you could create just about anything
But not just the magi-engineer class.
In the last five months, every single one of his classes had reached their maximum attainable talent potential.
He looked back toward the King. "What you’ve just witnessed are our Mecha Assault Suits."
"They’re intended primarily for military deployment. And to properly understand why they’re important, you should first know something."
He gestured toward Rex.
"Rex here is only a Magi-Engineer, and possesses no combat class whatsoever."
He paused briefly. "Those suit is what grants him those combat skills you just saw."
King Carson looked back toward the armored engineer. "How?"
Ethan smiled. "Although I did have to bring a friend, Percival, into the project. He spent weeks running battle simulations."
"The movements and combat decisions were all recorded, then copied directly into the suit’s combat system."
The King’s brows rose slightly. "So...the armor is actually the one fighting?"
"Precisely." Ethan nodded. "Rex isn’t consciously performing most of those techniques."
"He simply provides the mana necessary for the system to operate."
He pointed toward the glowing core embedded within the armor’s chest.
"Although even that isn’t entirely necessary. The suit carries reserve mana cores."
"If Rex’s own mana begins running low during prolonged engagements, the internal cores automatically take over and continue supplying the systems."
"These suits were designed specifically for Magi-Engineers." He continued walking around the dormant armor.
"Although, they must possess at least D or C-Rank talent. But they’re the only class capable of properly understanding the operational mechanics behind the systems."
He looked toward Carson again. "And here’s the interesting part, the overwhelming majority of ordinary citizens across Gritnia belong to the Magi-Engineer class."
The King’s expression changed.
Ethan continued. "Until now, that class had almost no combat or military application."
"They became craftsmen, researchers, mechanics and manufacturers, but very rarely soldiers."
He rested one hand against the armor. "These suits change that. They allow engineers to become effective battlefield combatants."
"We have guilds and awakened individuals, but when it comes to maintaining military numbers, be’ve always struggled."
"But with this, Gritnia’s military suddenly gains access to a whole new recruitment pool."
King Carson looked thoughtful. "Hm...In light of certain developments, this may have arrived at exactly the right time."
Ethan looked at him.
The King continued. "Our military does require expansion, even the Imperial Guard could finally increase its numbers because of something like this."
Ethan frowned slightly. "Developments?"
Carson exchanged a brief glance with General Iroh before answering. "Over the last three months, my son and Captain Luther have submitted several independent intelligence reports."
His expression gradually became serious. "There is growing evidence that more demons may already be living among the citizens of Gritnia."
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. "Demons?" he asked. "I thought Rayleigh and some of the military had already blockaded the border."
Carson nodded. "They did. But that only covers the fastest and most practical route into Gritnia. There are other paths, though they’re considerably longer and far less convenient."
"Those other routes receive less military attention simply because of the time required to travel them."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"Even so, we’ve already discovered several who entered as illegal immigrants. As usual, they claimed to be refugees seeking a better life."
"And for the ones who truly were, I had the Verity Order confirm their stories and allowed them entry."
Carson’s expression hardened. "But for the others who carried ulterior motives... they were executed on the spot."
Immediately, Ethan found himself thinking about Ishtar and the Carrion Seal.
"What were their objectives?" he asked.
"The same reason infiltration has always existed," Carson answered. "Gather intelligence. Learn how the rulers of the Western Continent operate and observe our military strength."
He let out a sigh.
"As a matter of fact, I’m scheduled to attend another meeting of the Western Coalition regarding this very issue."
"I see..." Ethan murmured, his thoughts momentarily drifting elsewhere.
Carson, however, quickly looked back toward the suits. "This truly is marvelous," he admitted. "I’m very interested."
Ethan smiled. "Oh, that’s good to hear. These are only the beginning. We already have two more concepts that I believe would make excellent additions to Gritnia’s military."
Carson raised a brow. "Really?"
"Mhm." Ethan nodded. "Yes, your majesty"
"Then show me." He replied back.
Ethan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Well... we haven’t actually built them yet."
He chuckled. "But I’m fairly certain I have the blueprints somewhere."
He turned toward Lucy. "Lucy, could you bring me the designs for the next projects?"
"Right away." She said, before walking over to one of the nearby workstations.
After searching through several neatly organized folders, she returned with the blueprints and handed them over.
Ethan extended the first one to the King.
"This," he said, pointing toward the sleek aircraft sketched across the page, "is what I call a fighter jet."
Carson studied the drawing with visible curiosity.
"It’s essentially an aircraft designed purely for high-speed aerial combat. Far faster than dragons over long distances, with maneuverability focused entirely around aerial engagements."
He then unrolled the second blueprint.
"And this..." Ethan continued, "...is a heavier, more robust evolution of the Mecha Assault Suit."
Unlike the previous models, the illustration depicted a significantly bulkier frame with reinforced armor plating, enlarged shoulder assemblies, thicker limbs, and weapon systems integrated throughout the chassis.
Carson leaned closer while General Iroh stepped beside him.
The two quietly examined both blueprints together, occasionally exchanging low comments between themselves while pointing toward various sections of the designs.
Several minutes passed that way before Carson finally lifted his head. "Mr. Stark."
"Yes?" Ethan nodded.
The King glanced briefly toward Iroh before looking back at Ethan. "Would you mind giving the General and me a few moments? There are a few matters we’d like to discuss privately."
Ethan immediately nodded. "Of course."
He stepped back before gesturing toward Lucy and Rex. "Come on guys."
The three of them quietly walked away, leaving Carson and General Iroh to themselves.
After a few minutes, Lucy glanced at Ethan. "Do you think they’ll take it?"
Ethan didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he tilted his head ever so slightly, focusing his enhanced hearing toward the discussion.
A few seconds later, a smile slowly formed across his face.
He turned toward Lucy and gave a nod. Lucy smiled back, already understanding.
Rex, however, nearly threw both fists into the air before Ethan immediately shot him a warning glance. "Hey, be cool."
Rex instantly stiffened.
"Y-Yes, sir." Rex quickly composed himself, clearing his throat before folding both hands behind his back in an exaggerated display of professionalism. "My apologies."
A moment later, Carson and General Iroh returned to Ethan.
"As I said before," Carson began, "I’m interested."
Ethan smiled. "I’m glad to hear that, Your Majesty."
"However..." Carson continued, "...I do have one condition."
"I’m listening." He said
The King looked directly into Ethan’s eyes. "I don’t want these suits being sold to any other nation, nor do I want them in the possession of private individuals outside those I explicitly approve."
"For as long as Stark Industries remains their manufacturer, the Kingdom of Gritnia will continue purchasing them."
Ethan instinctively glanced toward Lucy before returning his attention to Carson. "That’s... actually a reasonable request."
"I completely understand the concern regarding foreign nations. I’d rather not become someone who profits from encouraging conflicts across the continent."
"But..." He raised two fingers. "There are two issues."
Carson nodded for him to continue.
"First, these designs aren’t actually complicated enough to completely prevent replication."
He gestured toward the testing grounds behind them.
"The entire point was making them operable by lower-ranked Magi Engineers. That simplicity also means that sufficiently capable engineers elsewhere could eventually understand the concepts and recreate similar technology for another country."
He shrugged lightly. "I can delay that process, but I don’t think I can prevent it forever."
Carson silently listened.
"The second issue concerns me personally. I fully intend to deploy some of these suits within the new industrial city Stark Industries is currently constructing."
"They’ll be protecting company assets. My factories, my workers and the territory as a whole."
"And..." He hesitated briefly. "...there may also be occasions where I’d want trusted friends or allies of mine operating them."
Carson exchanged a brief glance with General Iroh before replying. "As far as military secrecy goes, we’ll do everything within our power to ensure these designs never leave Gritnia."
He looked back at Ethan. "Unless, of course, the leak comes from your own side."
Ethan nodded.
"As for your second concern..." Carson’s expression softened. "You’re my son-in-law, I have no objections to your industries possessing them."
"Nor do I object to trusted friends or allies operating them."
He lifted a finger. "But, they must be citizens of Gritnia, currently residing within the country."
"And every single one of them will be registered as members of the Kingdom’s military, even if they never enter active service."
General Iroh nodded approvingly beside him.
"The individuals you authorize," Carson continued, "must carry a license personally issued by you."
"For that purpose, I’ll grant you operational authority over them. An authority that not even General Iroh will supersede."
General Iroh simply inclined his head.
"But..." Carson stepped forward before placing a hand upon Ethan’s shoulder. "...that authority will ultimately answer to me."
"I see" Ethan replied thoughtfully.
Carson gave his shoulder one gentle pat. "I’ll give you time to think it over. When you’ve reached a decision, come to the palace whenever it suits you. We’ll continue this discussion there."
Ethan smiled before extending his hand. "Very well, Your Majesty."
The two men shook hands.
After exchanging a final nod with General Iroh, Carson turned and departed.
Ethan finally let out a long sigh. "Man..."
Lucy couldn’t help laughing. She reached over and lightly patted the side of his arm. "You’ve really got your hands full with this one, Ethan."
Even Rex chuckled quietly as the three of them watched the King disappear into the distance.
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A/N: Thank You Guys for the tickets! I genuinely see and appreciate every single one of them.
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