Lord: Stripped of My Inheritance from the Start - Chapter 384 - 358: Magic Castle
As Bellora’s guest, Ronin received a reception of the highest caliber.
A red carpet, a welcoming party, musicians—it was all there.
As a long-standing noble family with several centuries of history, the Silva Clan gave Ronin an entirely different impression.
Of course, the most striking difference was the style of this castle.
Compared to other castles, not even the Golden Feather Palace had an elemental aura as dense as Crystal Castle’s.
The Mage Tower, soaring into the clouds, seemed to symbolize Bellora’s achievements in Magic, giving off an unassailable air.
“Come, Ronin. This is the Mage Tower’s Magic Energy Ladder.”
Franz stood on a steel platform on the exterior of the Mage Tower, waving to Ronin. “If we take this, we can reach the seventh floor quickly.”
Ronin stepped inside, curious.
Franz pressed a mechanical button on the side, and as Magic Power flowed into it, the entire Magic Energy Ladder began to move.
Seeing Ronin’s curious and appraising expression, Franz felt a sense of satisfaction.
Many people had that same awestruck look when they rode the Magic Energy Ladder for the first time.
Ronin wasn’t shocked by the Magic Energy Ladder’s function; after all, he’d ridden elevators every day before he transmigrated.
What shocked him was its propulsion method. There was no electricity here.
“Is this Mr. Bellora’s invention?”
He watched in disbelief as the Magic Energy Ladder ascended at a steady, unhurried pace. “How does it work?”
“It’s simple. A massive wheel is installed underground. When the wheel turns, it retracts and releases the Magic Energy Ladder’s cables, allowing it to ascend and descend.”
Franz explained simply, “My great-grandfather has created many inventions like this.”
For the first time, Ronin felt a sense of admiration for the Great Mage.
Not for his power, but for his creativity.
He asked humbly, “You said there’s a massive wheel below. I was wondering, how is it made to rotate?”
Franz was clearly very knowledgeable about the Magic Energy Ladder, and he didn’t hide anything in the face of Ronin’s questions.
“You know of the Clear Wind Skill, right?”
As he spoke, he quickly drew the Magic Patterns for the Clear Wind Skill in the air, and a gentle breeze soon rustled Ronin’s silver hair.
“My great-grandfather combined the Magic Patterns of an Eighth-level Magic, Pressure Crush, with the Magic Patterns of the Clear Wind Skill. He modified it so the upgraded Clear Wind Skill could generate a much stronger wind. Then, he inscribed its Array in a sealed environment. When the wind blows, there’s only one channel leading to the outside, and the wheel is positioned right in that channel.”
Ronin understood.
Bellora had manipulated the wind this way to drive the wheel, thus enabling the Magic Energy Ladder to rise and fall.
As for the energy source, Ronin guessed it must be Magic Crystal Stones.
While he was thinking, the two had already arrived at the seventh floor.
Franz touched the button again, and the Magic Energy Ladder stopped. However, it wasn’t level with the floor, a clear sign that he didn’t have very good control.
Or perhaps, the Magic Energy Ladder didn’t have a function to stop at designated floors.
Although it was a bit crude, he had to admit its creativity and the impact it had on him.
He looked back at the Magic Energy Ladder, his thoughts starting to wander.
’If a device like this were installed on a ship, could it free the vessel from its reliance on Wind Power?’
He thought of the steam engine.
In reality, whether it was a steam engine or the power system Bellora had invented, there were quite a few similarities.
It was just that building a steam engine required extremely high standards for airtightness and hardware strength.
With the Wubei Territory’s current manufacturing capabilities, it was impossible to build one for now.
“I wonder how Mr. Bellora solved the airtightness issue for this power system?”
Ronin asked.
Although this setup seemed to have lower requirements for airtightness, it probably wasn’t so loose that it leaked everywhere.
How the wheel below was forged was also a question.
“Airtightness?”
Franz looked a little puzzled. “Sorry, this is the first time I’ve ever heard that term.”
He couldn’t help but study Ronin with a more serious expression. This peer, younger than himself, reacted quite differently to the Magic Energy Ladder than other nobles did on their first encounter. He seemed to grasp and accept the device with ease.
“I heard from my great-grandfather that you’re not only a Meteor Knight but also a Great Mage?”
Since it was just the two of them, Franz finally couldn’t resist asking.
Ronin nodded slowly. Since Bellora had already said so, he couldn’t very well deny it.
“I haven’t revealed my true strength to the outside world, and I didn’t use my full power at the tournament in the Golden Feather Palace.”
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Franz was filled with mixed emotions.
After losing the tournament the other day, he hadn’t actually felt that he was inferior to Ronin or Karda.
After all, he practiced Magic and Martial Dual Cultivation, so his energy was split between two paths.
If he had focused on only one, he was confident he could have done even better than Ronin and Karda.
But now, learning of Ronin’s true abilities, he finally understood the meaning of the phrase “never be complacent.”
The gap between him and Ronin was immense.
It wasn’t just him; even Crown Prince Garrett would be overshadowed by Ronin.
A dual-path Seventh-level practitioner at eighteen years old—no one could compare to such talent.
“You’re truly incredible!”
Franz gave him a thumbs-up.
Ronin smiled. “It’s nothing, just good luck.”
As they spoke, he followed Franz down a hallway and into the main hall on the seventh floor of the Mage Tower.
But before he left the area, he glanced back at the Magic Energy Ladder.
He planned to ask Bellora for this technology. Even if it cost him a few more Dragon Scales, he had to try to get it.
With it, it might be possible to create propeller-driven ships.
Ronin was also contemplating the feasibility of a steam engine.
Unlike the Magic Energy Ladder, a steam engine’s power source was steam, which came from boiling water.
’Setting aside the technical aspects like airtightness, just considering how to boil the water… could I arrange Flame Pillars to generate high temperatures and bring water to a boil?’
Ronin felt it was highly feasible.
After all, the Flame Pillar didn’t have the concussive force of Magic like the Fireball Skill or the Blast Flame Skill. It only produced high temperatures, damaging enemies with heat.
’But using Magic Crystal Stones as a fuel source is far too extravagant.’
Ronin shook his head, pushing aside these stray thoughts and focusing on his surroundings.
The main hall on the seventh floor of the Mage Tower was incredibly spacious, lined with shelves overflowing with a dazzling array of books.
“This is our family’s collection room for Magic Books, Combat Skills, and the like. It’s somewhat similar to the Library in the Golden Feather Palace.”
Franz explained, “We have everything from the Basic Level to the Seventh-level here.”
“What about the Eighth-level and Ninth Level?” Ronin asked.
Franz pointed at the ceiling. “They’re on the eighth floor. But my great-grandfather has set up an Array there, so you’ll have to let him take you.”
Ronin nodded.
When Ronin arrived, he had given Bellora a Dragon Scale, and the man had immediately sequestered himself in his laboratory. He probably couldn’t be disturbed right now.
However, Bellora had left instructions that Ronin could first look at the Magic Books and Combat Skills below the Seventh-level. He had also told Franz to show Ronin the goods from their clan and the Magic Energy Chamber of Commerce so he could make a selection.
“In that case, let’s start with the Seventh-level Magic of the Wind and Flame Attributes.”
