The so-called “Eternal Well” plan aims to restart nuclear energy research.
After all, exploring the stars and oceans solely with magic power is definitely not reliable. Magic power is convenient, but the current magic power is all a legacy from the Golden Age. No one knows how much fusion energy is left, whether magic stones will mutate in the future, or if magic power will decrease further.
Nuclear energy is not a perpetual motion energy source, and what’s more, magic stones are the product of combining waves with nuclear energy. If the Empire wants to develop, it must vigorously exploit magic stones, but it is evident that magic stones are limited. The Obelisk can only provide a semi-perpetual cycle and still requires human maintenance; energy will eventually be exhausted one day.
In this situation, restarting nuclear energy research is quite necessary. This is not only for the stable development of humanity but also the first step for humanity to step into the stars and oceans.
However, even now with various incredible materials and the assistance of magic power, recreating the fusion devices from the Golden Age is still fraught with difficulties.
Lind sets aside time every day to immerse himself in cooling liquid and communicate with 550C to ensure that the initial phase of the Eternal Well plan proceeds smoothly.
This time, it is impossible to produce miracles through great efforts, and the Eternal Well is an incredibly long-term plan. Even if Lind is still young, he has no guarantee of being able to witness any progress in his lifetime.
However, what one generation cannot achieve, they will pass on to the next, and if the next generation cannot achieve it, it will be passed down to the following generation. Now, all over the place, education is being vigorously developed. As long as the educational system arranged by Lind and 550C can be maintained, one day, the Eternal Well will eventually be completed.
Of course, the premise is not to have some major disaster occur during the lengthy sleep period that leads humanity to self-destruction, but Lind still chooses to believe in humanity.
The new fleet returning from the Solun Continent has already docked. This time, in addition to bringing gold and silver from the Solun Continent, there are also a large number of magic stones, which have excited many adventurers working in the port.
Magic power can be said to be the blood of the new Empire, while magic stones are the framework supporting the Empire. Even though there is an Obelisk now that can achieve semi-perpetual magic power, the price of magic stones remains high. One piece of magic stone can directly help a family escape poverty.
According to the crew that came back, due to the low efficiency of magic stone mining on the Solun Continent, a large number of hands are still needed to help. Furthermore, there might be magic stones present in other areas of the Solun Continent.
Whether it is the official aid from the Ajal Empire in mining or distant individuals looking to pan for gold, it could be an opportunity for wealth, prompting many adventurers to start planning.
Of course, if such opportunities actually exist, the first to benefit would likely be the original gold panners from the Solun Continent. Currently, many gold panners are providing Sean with scattered magic stones in exchange for rewards and better equipment and weapons.
The main goal is to encourage more people to go to the Solun Continent, to help populate Sean’s territory, and mining on the Solun Continent is not without profit; it’s just not as easy as the crew claims.
However, Lind is more concerned about the report brought back by Sidney. The Black Sail engine has confirmed Sidney’s theory: although the Chaotic Sea is disorderly, it is still possible to perform certain operations using magic compared to the thin and disordered magical sky.
If the Empire has the ability, it could completely connect the Empire and the Solun Continent step-by-step through ships and islands to establish communication bases.
One cannot deny that Sidney’s proposal is quite ambitious, but he also stated that it is not suitable to do so at the moment; after all, with the current technology, the communication distance over the Chaotic Sea is significantly shorter than on the mainland. If the two continents are to be connected, the required investment will reach a terrifying number.
Thus, Sidney recommended waiting until the technology matures before investing in construction.
“Is there any news from Sean?”
Lena, already heavily pregnant, scooted closer to Lind, and the two sat together on a seat. Although her due date is approaching, Lena is not the least bit anxious; instead, she becomes even more clingy.
“Yes, Sean is making good progress over there, having taken an important magic stone mine. The next fleet can bring him more production equipment.”
Lind pulled out the report written by Sean and continued, “Moreover, a queen from Castia has proposed to Sean, and this mine was gifted to him by that queen; however, Sean didn’t agree immediately.”
Lena picked up the information about Aelto, frowning as she said, “That queen’s intentions aren’t pure.”
Although she couldn’t specify what the issue was with Aelto, Lena felt something was off about her, perhaps with ulterior motives.
Lena remains a bit naïve like in the past, but that’s merely due to her limited perspective and experience. When it comes to crucial matters, Lena often exhibits an extraordinary intuition.
“That’s right; she’s more interested in relying on the Empire’s weapons and technology to help solidify her territory. The magic stone mine originally doesn’t belong solely to her, but nominally it has become a gift for Sean, essentially a half-empty hand concealing a wolf.”
Lena tilted her head, seeming to not fully understand Lind’s explanation, and simply asked, “Sean won’t agree, will he?”
“Definitely not. In fact, I would say that Aelto didn’t expect Sean to agree from the start. If he did, it would awkwardly complicate matters.”
However, seeing the worried look on Lena’s face about her brother being deceived by a bad woman, Lind added, “But I will still remind him, so don’t worry. If anything really happens, Sean will contact us through the Goddess.”
Among the information brought back this time, aside from the situations concerning Sean and Sidney, Lind is most concerned about the report written by the Laurence family’s bigwig.
The countries on the Solun Continent are even more fragmented than Lind expected. It seems that the information previously provided by the Gray Robes was not entirely accurate; standing from the perspective of those high-level professionals and nobles, everyone still appeared to be in a seemingly indestructible alliance against the Avar people.
However, the common people underneath have little sense of nationhood. Once the Avar people lose their threat, without a unified national identity, the people will fall into confusion, especially with the situation where the nobles and the royal family of Castia are actively dividing.
From the start, Lind may have overthought it. Perhaps it doesn’t require Rosalind to lay the foundation; Sean could have simply gone over to seal the deal directly. Nonetheless, as long as Rosalind is present, she can provide legitimacy for Sean and the Empire.
Whether for breaking through the fog to reach other regions or genuinely exploring the stars and oceans, the power of the Solun Continent is a necessity. This continent must be under the Empire’s control.
