Chapter 188: Weapon Evaluation

Unlike Richard's excitement, the other wizards involved in creating the support vehicle were less optimistic. 

"Richard, honestly, I think this thing... is a bit strange," said Anna, Richard's senior sister. She had seen Richard's ingenious ideas before—his ability to achieve financial freedom as an apprentice with his wits alone was impressive. 

But seeing the Spell Support Vehicle left her puzzled. It was unlike any alchemical weapon she had ever seen.

Typical alchemical weapons prioritized high power and reliability. If you were to quantify an alchemical weapon's attributes, its attack power and reliability would far exceed other values.

However, Richard's Spell Support Vehicle differed.

Its spell power was not particularly strong, merely 350 energy units—something even a peak apprentice could cast. In terms of reliability, the magic stone cannons Richard designed would melt the casting components after just thirty seconds of full operation, effectively making them disposable.

This approach starkly contrasted with typical wizard alchemical weapon design philosophy.

Ellie, standing beside Anna, chimed in, "It does seem a bit odd. The spell power is quite low."

Unlike Anna, Ellie, an evocation wizard, believed the spell power Richard designed was too low, clashing with her understanding and aesthetics.

Evocation wizards typically fell into two camps: those who valued precise magic control and those who favored maximizing spell power. Ellie belonged to the latter—where a potent evocation spell was imperative.

Next to them, Chucks, who had come to join the fun after hearing about his junior brother's latest creation, shared his opinion.

"Junior brother, I think you should replace the lower part of this steel platform with a synthetic beast. Your treads aren't as agile as legs."

He took out a palm-sized arachnid synthetic beast from his pocket, ready to demonstrate the agility of flesh to convince Richard to embrace organic design.

Jolord, a master of synthetic beasts, would be the laughingstock if his apprentice turned to alchemical machinery.

Richard looked at his closest wizard friends and sighed.

"Don't you see the potential of this weapon? Imagine hundreds of these support vehicles on a battlefield. We could achieve spell volleys that would usually require thousands of wizards with just a few hundred."

"But the quality is too poor," Anna said helplessly. "The components melt after thirty seconds. I'd have smacked any other wizard showing me this with a staff."

"Warfare is about resource consumption," Richard argued, exasperated. "Wars consume manpower and materials. A few casting components aren't worth much. Isn't it worth it for readily deployable spell volleys?

Moreover, those components can be recycled and reused."

Despite Richard's explanation, the surrounding black wizards insisted the design was peculiar, leaving Richard frustrated.

"Fine, I'll invite my teacher, and you'll see."

Back in his tower, Richard used a long-range communication crystal to message Jolord, informing him of his strategic-level alchemical weapon as the guild's signature product.

Upon receiving the message, Jolord promptly delegated his teaching duties to Yelena and rushed to the Tower of Truth.

Half a month later, a disheveled wizard arrived at Richard's tower.

"Richard, where is it?"

Hearing the voice, Richard emerged from the lab to greet his teacher.

"Teacher, you came so quickly?"

Jolord tidied his appearance, speaking urgently, "With such a great invention, how could I delay? Show me."

Richard tapped the ground with his wand, revealing a tunnel entrance.

He led Jolord into the tunnel, soon reaching an underground hall.

Richard hadn't built the Spell Support Vehicle in the yard; the hall, though not large, was sufficient to house it.

Seeing the strange contraption, the well-traveled Jolord couldn't discern its use, guessing it might be some kind of magic stone cannon.

But a magic stone cannon was enough.

For their small guild, having a magic stone cannon and securing a contract with a White Wizard Corps meant a steady magic stone income.

Suddenly, Jolord's face changed, recalling something.

"Richard, tell me honestly. Did you steal the Lavoisier Type-II Magic Stone Cannon design?"

Richard was startled, surprised by the question. "How did you know, teacher? Even my senior sister didn't notice."

"You! Ah! I suspected as much!"

To Jolord, the cannon transformed from a goldmine into a potential catastrophe.

He should have realized it earlier when Vladimir mentioned his talented disciple; he thought it was Anna.

But now it seemed he meant Richard!

"Ah! Stealing knowledge is a grave crime!" Jolord lamented, "If caught, the White Wizard Corps will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"

Richard, however, was unfazed. "Teacher, don't worry. The Spell Support Vehicle's casting components, magical components, and parallel components are all my designs. Only a small part is from the Lavoisier Type-II Cannon.

There's plenty of room for legal interpretation."

Some components have an optimal design, making identical parts reasonable.

"Are you sure it's only a small part?" Jolord glared at Richard, eyes fierce like a dragon's.

"Of course, teacher. Don't you trust me?"

"Good." Jolord's tension eased, relieved.

His student had some sense.

Jolord patted the support vehicle, speaking slowly, "I'm no expert in alchemical weapons, but I invited a colleague to evaluate your creation."

"A colleague? You have friends in alchemical mechanics?" Richard teased.

Jolord shot him a look. "You know him too."

"Who?"

"Vladimir, who taught you battle alchemy."

...

Two days later, Richard met Vladimir for the evaluation.

Vladimir, pipe in mouth, greeted him:

"Kid, I hear you've made something impressive."

Vladimir was unchanged—a white wizard robe and the aura of life nearing its end. But off the battlefield, he seemed less intimidating, merely an eccentric old man.

"Master, please follow me."

Richard led Vladimir to the desert testing area, then opened a spatial rift, bringing out the Spell Support Vehicle.

"Hmm, it looks agile," Vladimir commented.

At four meters long, aside from the twelve lightweight magic stone cannons, the vehicle could pass as a civilian truck.

"Agility is one of its strengths," Richard replied, composed.

Vladimir inspected the vehicle, then tossed a small alchemical puppet into the desert, instructing it to walk away.

"That's the target. Show me the cannon's power and accuracy."

Richard hesitated, "Master, its purpose is a bit different."

"Different?" Vladimir frowned. "I recall you're not an alchemical mechanics wizard.

Ambition without knowledge isn't wise; you're not at the innovation level yet."

Vladimir's critique was typical of a lifelong alchemical mechanic, so Richard wasn't upset or angry.

He preferred letting results speak.

"Master, I'm indeed not specialized in alchemical mechanics, but please evaluate my work first."

Vladimir regarded Richard. He had a good impression of Richard, whose solid fundamentals suggested a steady character.

Perhaps he was simply blinded by inspiration this time.

"Fine, show me," Vladimir sighed.

Since he was here, he might as well take a look.

Richard, saying no more, adjusted the magic stone cannon's angle and calibrated the trajectory. As it was a test, he didn't fine-tune the firing coordinates, setting the target at three kilometers ahead.

He pressed the launch button.

Vladimir, standing before the support vehicle, pondered whether to gently or bluntly critique Richard.

Wizards, growing sentimental with age, often favored promising students.

The Spell Support Vehicle emitted a magical pulse, but Vladimir was preoccupied.

"Better be gentle; this kid's promising. Don't discourage him from pursuing alchemical mechanics... hmm?"

Boom, boom, boom...

The continuous explosions caught Vladimir off guard, freezing him in place as the pipe fell from his lips.

He watched in disbelief as the small alchemical device unleashed a barrage akin to a White Wizard Corps spell volley.

How... is this possible?