The Queen Villainess Eavesdrops on My Heart and Won’t Let Me Slack Off – Chapter 193

Chapter 193: The Construction of the Imperial Industrial System

Demiplane, Chapter of Imbalance.
While the two major overlords of the Sea Kingdom were engaged in their struggle for dominance, the Empire continued its steady development internally, systematically implementing the widespread adoption of second-generation magic crystal machinery. By leveraging their superior performance and competitive pricing, these new machines gradually displaced first-generation models from the market.

This process proceeded remarkably smoothly.
The widespread adoption of Soul-Shaping Bracelets, coupled with a 40% magic talent acquisition rate, rendered the minor drawbacks of second-generation magic crystal machinery insignificant in the face of their substantial price advantage. In any world, within a free market, commercial competition is fierce, and price is one of the most potent weapons.

It was precisely because of the upgrade in magic crystal machinery that Frankenstein found herself exceptionally busy. The Chapter of Imbalance served not only as the Empire’s most crucial mechanical design and research hub but also as the architect and overseer of the entire imperial industrial system.

An increasing number of mages within the Empire were now opting for entrepreneurial ventures. Even mages within the Arcane Society were voluntarily relinquishing stable positions to dive headfirst into the entrepreneurial wave, aiming to become trendsetters in a broader world.

The Empress of Eternal Night did not prohibit such actions; on the contrary, she actively encouraged them. Roger had previously advised her that industrial development required competition; only through a thousand flowers blooming would true prosperity emerge. Everyone should contribute their insights. A single entity dominating without rivals would ultimately lead to a degenerate and decaying ruin.

Although the number of competitors was growing, and their strength and products were maturing, the Chapter of Imbalance remained the jewel of imperial industry. It led the forefront of research and development capabilities and also controlled the manufacturing standards for all magic crystal machinery.

The newly established Ministry of Industry, with Frankenstein as its concurrent minister, championed the Empire’s unified approach, steadfastly promoting Roger’s initial emphasis on standardized production. From the universal interfaces of the Rabbit Harvesters and the transmission gears of internal mechanical components to the magic pressure and frequency of the core magic crystal output arrays, everything produced within the Empire, from the smallest nut to the largest war machine, was designed to the same standards, ensuring parts were interchangeable and universally applicable.

This was as vital as standardizing weights and measures; if all carriage wheels were the same width, roads could be built to accommodate far more vehicles. Industrial standardization was, in fact, even more critical. While it might seem like an unnecessary expense in the early stages, its benefits in the mid to late stages were immeasurable. As industries became increasingly complex, unified standards were essential to mobilize the entire nation’s strength and concentrate societal resources for tackling monumental projects. It was then that the Empire’s ongoing industrial reforms would truly blossom.

Consider projects on Earth like the Manhattan Project, the lunar landing, the Two Bombs, One Satellite, or the International Space Station. Without unified production standards, parts manufactured by different factories could not be assembled. While coordination was possible, wouldn’t it be far superior if they were unified from the outset? Even a minor time synchronization issue could trigger a “Y2K” type of catastrophe, leading to systemic collapse.

Therefore, the industrialization of magic was not merely about building numerous factories and increasing steel production by a certain percentage annually. The ultimate goal was to establish an entire comprehensive system that permeated all aspects of society, leaving no room for sloppiness.

Despite Earth’s numerous nations, only four regions – China, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Europe – possessed complete industrial systems. Other countries adrift within these production systems, regardless of their current prosperity, would struggle for long-term independence. Look at a certain “graveyard of empires”; while it crippled dozens of countries, it was reduced to a collection of guerilla forces itself. What kind of bright future could such a place have? When the lighthouse imposed trade restrictions on the rabbit, the rabbit grit its teeth and endured. However, for any other nation, the collapse of international trade could directly destabilize their domestic market order. The post-dissolution Soviet Union’s significant shortcomings in civilian life constrained its industrial power, making it increasingly resemble a lame duck reliant export of resources.

In a highly competitive economic order, the first-mover advantage is virtually limitless. While one-sided leaps forward might occur, comprehensive catch-up and overall surpassing would require centuries of sustained effort. Mastering standards and setting the rules of the game is what first movers must and inevitably will do. While the advantage might not be apparent in everyday life, it becomes overwhelmingly potent during conflicts and competition, allowing those who control the rules to dismantle any challenger.

The most familiar example is the standardization of 5G. The debates and controversies that arose were constant. Why was the establishment of this standard so crucial? Because it was far more than just a mobile phone; it encompassed a vast array of new devices centered around the phone. It represented enormous economic benefits and opportunities, touching upon information security, future development, industrial upgrades, and many other fields. Once the standard was set, latecomers had two choices: either adhere to it and pay patent licensing fees or be unable to even compete for market share. The devices on the market were produced according to their standards; attempting to create an entirely new standard without compatible products would be futile. This would require building an extensive network of related industries and rallying the entire supply chain to follow suit, engaging in a standards war. This is the pinnacle of bloc competition, a winner-take-all scenario where the first-mover advantage is immense.

Even for buyers, no matter how compelling the marketing, switching to an incompatible new standard is not an easy decision. Economic costs, time investment, and learning curves can all hinder the promotion of new standards. Tenuous improvements might ultimately prove less beneficial than simply patching up existing systems within the original standard framework, demonstrating the power of controlling standards.

The flame of magic industrialization in the Eternal Night World had just been kindled. Individual mages, working in isolation and producing unique items, saw a blue ocean and began transforming their knowledge and skills into industrial components. For instance, they could collaborate to establish factories, replacing manual labor with machinery and assembly lines for the production of various magic crystal machinery. Even manufacturers of components with performance advantages or producers of price-competitive light industrial goods could make these “scholars” transition into capitalists. In this era, where countless blank fields awaited pioneers, a single new invention could birth a unicorn company.

Both the Azurevine Empire and Terra were striving to cultivate such an environment, offering various policy and tax incentives to encourage innovation. Terra had even prepared to forgo agricultural taxes, relying solely on its prosperous commerce to enrich the Tasika government. The Azurevine Empire, holding the greatest first-mover advantage and gathering the world’s most numerous and talented mages, naturally aimed to emulate the US and the USSR by becoming the standard-setter in all aspects. This was also a crucial consideration for national security.

The Imperial Ministry of Industry, in close cooperation with the Chapter of Imbalance, charted the direction of the Empire’s industrial development, established and enforced various network standards, and supervised their implementation, ensuring the Empire’s core interests and long-term development. All newly planned factories within the Empire, from assembly line construction to product parameters, were now required to conform to the same production and quality inspection standards. Factories not meeting these standards were prohibited from construction, and substandard products were barred from the market. The entire industrial system had to be standardized, orderly, and regulated.

Many mages opposed these regulations, viewing them as constraints on their creativity. Standardized parts placed a heavy burden on their designs and their capacity for innovation. Completing a proud creation would then require modifying design drafts to incorporate various standard components, comply with the Ministry of Industry’s numerous standards, and meet specific material conditions. This entire process could transform a potentially revolutionary and competitive new product into something mediocre, stripping it of its original competitive edge, or vastly increasing its cost. If they were lucky, production might continue, albeit with reduced profits. If they were unlucky, the final cost analysis might reveal a design failure, leading to outright rejection.

Mages had previously crafted their equipment freely; acquiring any piece was fortunate, and only those with considerable wealth could afford to be discerning about magical equipment. Now, the Empire had directly stripped them of this freedom. To create something new, they had to be tethered by the Ministry of Industry, naturally drawing criticism from many mages.

However, no amount of opposition could change the course. Standardization was the predetermined path for the Empire’s magic industrialization; there was no question of abandoning it due to minor negative impacts. Why did the Empire so generously aid the Kingdom of Terra, trusting Tasika to manage its affairs? She had steadily accumulated vast wealth, absorbing speculative capital from established powers, and in a short period, built Terra into a more prosperous and vibrant entity than the Empire itself. It wasn’t out of personal affection, as individual feelings held little weight on a national level; it was based on the certainty of Tasika’s absolute loyalty.

The Empire’s confidence stemmed from the fact that Terra’s development opportunities were profiting from magic industrialization, and the core standards of magic industrialization were firmly held by the Empire. This included the Totem Bracelets, which were entirely manufactured to imperial standards. Several indispensable core components had to be imported from the Empire, or costs would skyrocket, and performance could not be guaranteed. Eris Demonic Worms, used to construct the Blissful Illusion, were supplied to the Kingdom of Terra as infertile, neutered breeds. They also lacked the capability to venture into the Astral Plane to replenish wild populations. The same applied to other magic crystal machinery. Although factories were being built one after another, and Terra could supposedly replicate anything the Empire sold with explosive technological prowess, the reality was that core technologies were tightly controlled by the Empire, with each step interlinked. The Kingdom of Terra was essentially an assembly plant. To maintain its current promising future, it could not detach itself from the Azurevine Empire’s production order.

This was not merely restricting supply; it was stifling to the point of suffocation. If the Kingdom of Terra dared to defy the Empire’s intentions, the desertification control efforts, even if half-completed, could be halted. The improved desert crops, which were truly fast-growing and capable of transforming soil conditions, were also incapable of reproduction. If the Empire prohibited their export, Terra’s previous investments would be in vain. Without continued cultivation to achieve complete transformation, the desertification would worsen again within a few years.

These were all means by which the Empire could subdue Terra without resorting to war. When the barbarians of the Empire began to ponder, they would understand the immense advantage they held by having already alleviated domestic class contradictions and liberated the creative potential of their mages. War? Only fools would engage in war at such a time. “Your Majesty, we possess a hundred methods to cripple the backward major powers of this world through non-warfare means.” This was the foundation of the Azurevine Empire, which controlled industrial standards and was fully embarking on the magic industrial revolution.

Tasika understood this perfectly. Despite turning herself into a financial queen by speculating on real estate in Terra, she strictly prohibited a large influx of domestic capital into the property market. She was well aware that housing did not genuinely enhance national strength; it merely created a colossal bubble. The moment the Azurevine Empire issued a threat of war, and Terra’s security was jeopardized, property prices would undoubtedly collapse. Therefore, she consistently channeled capital into genuine technological advancements and pursued the Empire’s most sophisticated production processes. She even invested back into the Empire, actively discouraging the sweatshop model and ensuring substantial investment in research and development. Even if she could never overcome the Azurevine Empire’s first-mover advantage, she had still outpaced her surrounding peers by half a step. When this grand performance concluded and the Orcish territories became new imperial provinces, Terra would become a free port with immense economic power. As the era of great change roared to life, some had already mastered the rules, while others feigned sleep, clinging to the illusion that their glory had not yet ended.

In such an atmosphere, Frankenstein was ten times busier than before, but she was happily busy, basking in a sense of triumph. There were major projects in industry and in the military, with various funds converging on her. Experiments she had only dared to dream of were now within reach. Especially the absolute military advantage; could Lydia achieve the power of the Chapter of Imbalance? Her rivalry with Lydia dated back to their student days; the black-haired loli, with superior magical talent, had consistently outperformed her in overall academic achievements. But this era was different. In the competition between the Chapter of Imbalance and life-level advancement, the Chapter of Imbalance held an absolute advantage with the widespread adoption of magic crystal machinery! Lydia? She was just a fool who gambled her life on drawing cards daily. What did she know of industry?

Thus, amidst this busy yet joyful atmosphere, Frankenstein, after a long day’s work, opened her Hyper-Dimensional Drawing Board. In her leisure time, she would engage in casual chat with friends in different locations, and among them was the largest client for her military orders – she certainly had to cater to them! Just as Lydia prepared to enjoy the combat feedback from her latest masterpiece and revel in how many mermaids she had bullied…

“What, did my equipment suffer a complete defeat?” Frankenstein, upon seeing Nicole’s message reporting that the Swordfish Submarine’s debut operation was thwarted by the Sea Kingdom’s Biochemical Fish, let out an incredulous cry of defeat. “I can’t accept this!”

“The ‘Crazy Thunderbolt Harvester,’ a mere modification, could charge rampageously through Sea Kingdom territory, with an agricultural machine nearly driving them back to land. The Pink Rabbit is forever divine!” The Swordfish Submarine was her prized product, fully designed for deep-sea operations, incorporating many of the Arcane Society’s latest technologies. It was arguably the pinnacle of the Empire’s current technical achievement in small submarines. Yet, in Nicole’s combat report, it was perfectly countered on its maiden voyage, with half the fleet lost. The questioning of its combat value instantly sent Frankenstein’s blood pressure soaring. It felt like enjoying hot pot and singing when suddenly being waylaid by bandits! What was meant to be a casual chat before bed to relax and induce sleep had instantly jolted her brain awake, making her more alert than if she’d downed ten cups of coffee.

“Master Copperbeard, we need more and better equipment,” Nicole replied instantly. She had just retreated to a temporary camp and had a plethora of matters to attend to, while also waiting for Frankenstein to come online. “Without the Master’s provided equipment, the Naga wouldn’t have achieved their current results.”

With the next battle imminent and Neptune suddenly obtaining a batch of new equipment, Nicole’s immediate thought was to seek help from “Master Copperbeard.” The Master’s equipment was unparalleled throughout the Eternal Night World. Although occasionally flawed, it would undoubtedly help the Naga achieve ultimate victory. Therefore, when Frankenstein inquired, Nicole provided detailed feedback on all the weapon’s exposed flaws during combat, without a hint of impatience. This was a condition she had agreed to in exchange for purchasing equipment from the Kingdom of Terra.

Although recalling failure made her angry, Nicole was a good child who valued promises. As a saintess, she often had to placate many unreasonable believers. Frankenstein was merely feeling dejected; their communication was rational, and she steadfastly worked to answer Nicole’s numerous questions.

Nicole concluded: “Although the surprise attack failed, the Swordfish Submarines played a significant role in the frontal assault, cooperating to suppress enemy firepower and provide cover during retreats, proving irreplaceable in their value.”

“That was their intended purpose. I just want to know how my submarines were taken down so quickly! Explain it slowly, don’t miss any details!”