How to conduct academic exchanges secretly?

Chapter 28 How to conduct academic exchanges secretly?

"The text isn't encrypted?" Rorschach was stunned by the straightforward Common Language alphabet.

He "froze" the entire leather armor and began to quickly copy down the contents.

He quickly understood why encryption wasn't necessary: ​​in addition to handwritten, messy text, there were also hand-drawn diagrams, long strings of equations, and even scribbles were preserved.

It's more like some kind of magic or technology was used to make a copy of someone's manuscript...

The chaotic layout and illustrations made it more difficult for Rorschach to copy, so he could only interpret and extract parts of the transcription at the same time.

"Spellcasting...rhythm...frequency"

The author of the manuscript believed that every spell was like a song, and he likened the gesture of casting a spell to vibrating "strings" to cause external magical influences in the environment to vibrate, creating a melody and making the spell take effect...

Such arguments were common in the works of predecessors, and Rorschach, having finished reading, did not waste paper by taking notes. He continued reading:

Each spell has a specific melody, and the correct spell effect will only be achieved by playing the complete melody.

Some spells have several syllables, while another type of spell has only one "note," and a skilled mage can create a symphony...

Spells have casting steps, and there are also basic spells, which are displayed as "affixes" on the panel. This is interesting, Rorschach thought, pressing on to read further.

Each "note" corresponds to a magical vibration; the amplitude determines the amount of energy, while the frequency is the characteristic that corresponds to each "note".

In other words, each spellcasting step triggers a fluctuation of magic at a specific frequency? Rorschach guessed that the author might be a mage of noble birth who had received a good musical education.

and many more…

Rorschach's eyes widened as he read the following text repeatedly, several times in total:

"If we designed a machine or a magic spell, could we crack the casting animations of all spells? Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to accurately measure the fluctuation frequency yet..."

Just when Rorschach thought it was over, the author abruptly changed the subject:

"Yes, I have invented sophisticated instruments to detect the occurrence of magical fluctuations. In fact, even novice mages can sense some of them."

But the instrument detected the time gap between the magical vibration and the spell's effect! Although it was so minute that our bodies couldn't perceive it!

What follows is the author's self-indulgence and boasting, with the specific methods omitted due to space limitations...

Are you Fermat? Rorschach noticed a small print next to it, and he tried to decipher it:

"If the fluctuations of magic can be amplified and canceled out like other waves, could we cancel out the fluctuations before the spell takes effect, thus interrupting the casting?"

"That's nothing special. Restrictive spells and divine magic can also do that, although I haven't mastered it and don't understand the principles... but I have a more ingenious idea..."

Since each spellcasting step causes fluctuations at a specific frequency, is it possible to cancel them out with waves of a specific frequency?

No, no, no. Since the specific frequency is unknown, we can simply change the frequency quickly and emit canceling waves on all channels. As long as the frequency change time is shorter than the spell's activation time and the output power is high enough, it won't produce a spellcasting effect, but rather…

Suppress and ban all magic.

Rorschach closed his eyes and thought of the rainy night in Andorella.

The smell of burning grease is still fresh in my memory. What calmed the raging storm stirred up by the chaotic Mother Earth?

Whether it was the author of the manuscript or not, Rorschach now understood that someone had succeeded. Not only could they block magic, but they could also block the power of gods.

The author later recorded that through experiments, he obtained the frequency range of several minor spells, but as he said, there were no precise results.

After Rorschach copied it down, the temperature rose, and the leather armor returned to its original state. He then cast [Touch of Ice] again, only to find that the relevant content ended there. The blueprint next to it described a "genius machine" that "is activated by light magic and breaks an egg with the most perfect force after passing through a complex mechanism."

The technology to sense magical light is indeed impressive, but why is the goal to break the egg?

Rorschach found that he could not fully understand this genius author; the manuscript was piece by piece, and the genius's flashes of inspiration were popping out one by one like bubbles.

"This guy is really casual," Luo Xia remarked as he copied. He used Chinese characters, but the most important part, in addition to Chinese characters, also used formulaic expressions from his previous life.

The transcribed text was more logical, and Rorschach added his own understanding of the spellcasting steps and basic spells: "Although I don't keep a diary, it should be helpful if some fellow villagers travel through time and get my copybook in the future. Hmm, preferably someone with a science or engineering background." After finishing transcribing, he put it into his storage ring.

"Young Master Rorschach, dinner is ready. Shall I have someone bring it up?" There was a knock on the door. It was Singh calling Rorschach to dinner, still hiccuping from drinking.

After finishing reading the "document," Rorschach wanted to relax his mind. He put his leather armor back on and went out: "No need, I'm here."

The door creaked shut.

In the corner of the room stood a tall wardrobe, which Rorschach hadn't noticed was slightly gapped between the top and the ceiling. From this gap crawled another figure—no, now it should be called a gray-clad figure, covered in dust. He cautiously glanced at the tabletop, then silently and nimbly leaped out the window.

"How is it?" Outside the hotel, the sound of the wind masked their conversation.

"There is indeed something on the leather armor." The gray-clad man dusted off the dust on his body.

"How did the newcomer crack the code?"

How would I know anything about magic?

"What about the contents? Did you see them?"

"Brother Rorschach studied it for a long time and even copied it down."

"and then?"

"I recognize the words on the leather armor, but I can't understand them. I can't even understand the words on what you copied, bro!"

The other person grew impatient: "Are you illiterate? How come you know nothing when I ask you this!"

"It has notes, songs, and melodies written on it; it's probably a nobleman discussing music."

"Why would you need to sneak around to the Holy Kingdom to get this stuff? You're illiterate, do you think you can get the boss to believe that?"

If Rorschach heard this, he would nod in agreement. These days, having to conduct academic exchanges in secret is too shady!

……

For ordinary people on this continent, dinner is a meal that is optional, while cultivators can only drink water after sunset.

Only monks, nobles, and merchants who had social activities or business to attend to at night were guaranteed a regular dinner. Inns, on the other hand, prepared three meals a day to accommodate caravans that arrived at any time, but don't expect the quality to be too good.

Is this a carb meeting? A small slice of dark bread, a bowl of wheat porridge without milk cooked into a grayish-yellow paste, and...

Bang! The boss brought over a new bowl of paste. The sound of it hitting the table indicated that it was quite heavy. Stirring the red paste revealed the ingredients that hadn't completely separated yet—flat, granular beans.

"This is a specialty of our shop, featuring local farm-style cuisine." The owner, with his red nose, whose color matched the specialty dishes, generously served a bowl to everyone present.

Rorschach and the others carefully scooped up a small spoonful to taste it; it was sour and astringent, followed by the aroma of beans.

"Salted bran and taro! Oh, I haven't had this in so long!" Only Singhlev devoured the food, loudly praising it as "delicious." The owner was so pleased that he gave him a glass of beer brewed at the monastery.

(End of this chapter)