episode_0199

Episode 199. Telegraph Line (1)

****

It was a cold and dreary day, but construction was still in full swing near the imperial capital.

The workers were working on tying black rope to the fence on the side of the road. Along with the road construction. It was a long and tedious job.

The weather was cold.

“You’re making me do construction in the winter, you high-ups. Just let me off the hook a little.”

“Thanks to you, we get to eat rice in the winter.”

The construction workers warmed their hands over a fire that had been lit. The weather was not yet spring. If they were not careful, their fingers would get frostbite.

“Still, there is such a thing as common sense.”

“Let’s do it roughly and go quickly.”

Construction on a road linking the duchy of the Cerulean family with the imperial capital. Orders were also given to lay ropes along the road.

“Does it make sense to work in the winter? Isn’t it just a waste of time and money?”

“I guess someone has something urgent to do.”

I don’t know why.

I need to create a long line connecting the duchy and the imperial capital. It could be a magic tool, or it could be for some other reason.

The laborers didn’t know any better.

It was simply decided from above, so we just did as we were told. It was simple, if you think of it as building a fence along the road.

There’s no need to overthink it.

Just do as you’re told on the magic tower. It’s a relatively simple construction, and the wizards have already done all the difficult work.

“What is this black line?”

“I don’t know. It should never be disconnected.”

But it’s fortunate that the higher-ups didn’t come to the scene. They weren’t under surveillance.

****

In fact, I was watching from afar.

The magicians of the Magic Tower were watching the scene from afar. The one commanding the scene was the Magic Tower Master’s assistant, the senior magician Oster.

A new communication technology invented by Professor Asterix and Matapju. It was called the telegraph.

An ambitious technology that would transmit information through electrical signals traveling through wires. I wondered if that made sense, though.

It seemed to make sense.

‘It was called the power in a box.’

Honestly, I didn’t believe it at first.

It seemed crazy to build a wire that would reach the ecliptic from the domain of Ceruleus. But they still built the wire.

In fact, there was no reason why it would be impossible to build a long wire if only time and resources were put in. There just wasn’t a reason to do it until now.

Why would there be an endless string of copper wires? It wasn’t a simple idea to connect different regions with wires.

I just found out this time that it’s possible.

‘what…….’

In the end, Matapju and Professor Asterix were right. The wires could transmit information instantly, regardless of distance.

If we do it the way Professor Asterix invented it, it would be a bit humiliating to think that someone who isn’t a wizard invented it.

It’s something that can’t change the facts.

Now it’s time to move on to the next step.

The experiments at relatively close range have all been successful. Now, we need to find a way to connect the two different areas with wires and communicate.

Rather than saying that you find a method, it would be closer to the truth to say that you actually try it. Because the method has already been written down by Professor Asterix.

“This is it.”

“Have you come, Lord Matap?”

The gray-haired man stood with binoculars at his side, watching the workers. He seemed satisfied that his plan was proceeding smoothly.

“Hey. How much trouble did we have to make that damn wire? But fortunately, everything we’ve tried so far has been successful.”

“Yes.”

Why did this gentleman come here?

A person who is as tall as a tower must have something else to do. Aside from watching other people’s construction.

Maybe he just came here to have fun.

“Ceruleus’s territory is relatively close to the capital and is also large in scale. The whole body will be useful in its own way, in addition to simply proving that it is a feasible plan.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Feasibility is not just about whether it can be realized, but also whether the operating cost is realistic, how many resources are required, etc.

There’s a lot to consider.

There was still a chance that this would end up as a toy for the higher-ups, depending on the operating cost or the actual perceived usefulness.

It may seem very useful now, but the user’s thoughts may be different.

In the end, is it better than a letter?

On the one hand, there was no need to worry about whether wireline communications would actually be useful, since there was so much news to be had at any given moment.

If all goes according to plan, the Gray Tower will be able to connect wires all over the empire and communicate within minutes. That was the plan for the Gray Tower.

I don’t know if I have the money for that.

“How much of that line can you lay? The empire probably doesn’t have that much money.”

“No. Once they feel its power, the nobles of each region will try to beat it up competitively.”

I see.

Making and laying wires is something that can be done if you have time and money. It might be possible if the nobles provide the money.

****

One mystery solved.

That’s a pretty serious mystery too.

-Princess, this is Elise.

-I sent a piano to Professor Asterix to express my gratitude for helping our family. Since I haven’t heard back, I’m wondering if you’ve received it safely.

The letter from Princess Elise continued with a mix of greetings and questions.

Ah. So it was Elise who sent the piano as a gift? Now that I think about it, it was exactly the kind of gift a high society lady would have sent.

In terms of being unnecessarily flashy and time-consuming. How many people in the empire can afford to just give a piano as a gift?

It’s ridiculous, but I got two pianos on the winter solstice. I found out who sent me one. Now I just need to find one.

How do you answer this?

‘I don’t play the piano.’

This would be the most reasonable answer, but I still wanted to give something positive in the spirit of Christmas. What should I say?

I rolled the pen I was holding.

-Thank you, Elise Youngae.

-I couldn’t focus on it because of the royal schedule and an urgent surgery at the end of the year. I ask for your understanding for greeting you late.

-I received the gift.

-It was Elise Youngae who sent me the piano. I was a little worried that it might be an excessive gift, but I am grateful and will use it well.

I made the letter short. I donated one to a school and one to a daycare center. I guess it’s not necessary to mention that.

****

With a knock, a man in robes entered the lab. No one is coming today, so who is it…?

I thought about it for a moment.

I think I know this person.

“Hello, Professor Asterix. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, but you look well.”

I scratched my head.

“Nice to meet you. But who are you?”

I looked at the man who had come. He was wearing a robe and a staff. He seemed to be a wizard, but I personally did not know any wizards.

Except for the rooftop terrace.

The young male wizard opened his mouth.

“Wizard Oster. I came from the Gray Tower. I saw you briefly last time when you were talking about the wire. The Master of the Tower said he sent you a piano. Didn’t you get it?”

That’s where one side of the piano came from.

Matapjudo is also a bit of a strange person.

“I see.”

Why did you come looking? Was there any progress in laying the wires? I thought it would take a long time, but it seems that Ma-Tap worked surprisingly quickly.

“The Tower of Heaven has now connected the wires to the Imperial City and the Cerulean Family as a trial. It appears that the communication attempt was successful.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

Still, I thought it would take years to save up money, lay cables, and do all that work. Did it take more magic than I thought?

This is already done.

“I wish Professor Asterix would come and see if it works as planned.”

“Okay.”

That’s why you came to the rooftop.

This time, after completing the construction, we plan to start a pilot long-distance cable communication linking the Serullis Territory and the Equator.

“But why the Cerulean family?”

“The Cerulean family donated a large sum of money after hearing Professor Asterix’s name. I heard that they also owed the professor a favor.”

I thought about it for a moment. There must have been one or two people who saved my life. Where was the Cerulean family?

Isn’t that where the group of crazy people were?

Ergot poisoning, mass hysteria, there was a lot of chaos, and then my youngest daughter had Wilson’s disease… Thinking back on it now, it was a really strange experience.

On the one hand.

The Cerulean family was close enough to be reached in a day’s ride by carriage, making it ideal for conducting experiments on connecting wires.

“Where should I go?”

“Because that’s ambiguous. I’ve set up a communications building with wires connected to one side of the capital. Just in case the wires can be installed in other areas.”

It was more serious than I thought.

“Then. I just need to go to that communications facility and check if the Serullis Territory is properly connected?”

“Yes.”

The royal family would love it. If this can be the fruit of a long-term investment… … .