Exploring Technology in a Wizard World-Chapter 1429 - 1427: Three Years of Research

"Uh..." Moli responded to Richard’s words, constantly guessing in her heart what the so-called "let this world start anew" and the previously mentioned "world peace" meant.

After a few seconds of speculation, Richard, the fifth thinker, glanced at the calculation paper on the desk, as if an idea struck him. He stretched out his hand and forcefully slapped the table, creating a crisp "bang."

Moli was startled and instinctively looked over.

The fifth Richard, sensing her gaze, gave an apologetic smile, hurriedly drew a few strokes on the calculation paper with a quill, and then walked up to the fourth Richard.

He took the "walnut" which the fourth Richard had ground into powder using an instrument, and from the second Richard standing in front of the cabinet, he also took a few potion bottles and strode over to the third Richard, dumping it all into a beaker.

After stirring, the fifth Richard picked up the beaker and walked to the corner to the left of the first Richard, who had been busy in front of a heap of instruments from the start. He poured the liquid into the instrument, then helped adjust a few instrument levers.

"Buzz—"

The instrument began to hum, sounding for a minute, at the end of which it dripped half of a glass tube’s worth of brown liquid, with faint red spots dotted within.

The fifth Richard took the glass tube filled with liquid and approached the sixth Richard, who was talking with Moli. The sixth Richard glanced at it, nodded in satisfaction, and smiled.

In an instant, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth Richards all smiled simultaneously, approached the sixth Richard, then merged into the body of the sixth Richard one by one—six people becoming one.

The scene was extremely bizarre, causing Moli to involuntarily widen her eyes.

"Hoo—"

Taking a deep breath, Moli looked at the single Richard remaining in the laboratory and seriously said: "Okay, regarding Shaya, I understand what you mean next—it’s simply about waiting. We will not instigate anything, but if Shaya seeks to gain any advantage from us, that’s definitely impossible. Our goal is to make Shaya recognize a fact—in name, Shalin is part of the Alliance, but it possesses a high degree of autonomy. If Shaya opts for cooperation, we will welcome it, if Shaya chooses confrontation, then we will not fear it."

"Exactly," Richard nodded, holding the glass tube filled with brown liquid, agreeing with Moli.

"Now that this matter is settled, I’d like to ask you another question." Moli pressed her lips and pointed at Richard’s body, seriously asking, "What was that earlier? An illusion technique? It doesn’t appear so, then what method was it? I’m quite curious.

Moreover, I’m not only curious about your methods just now but also about the things you’ve researched these years. Over three years ago, through studying a series of things, you’ve reached an awe-inspiring level, and I believe you haven’t been idling these past three years, so what have you researched?"

Richard gave Moli a somewhat surprised glance: "Are you really curious? Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t care about these dry, boring matters."

"In my view, what you research is indeed dry and boring, but I also know it’s precisely your research that has brought Shalin to its current situation. As the ruler of Shalin, bound by a pact with you, I wish to understand the most fundamental things to some extent. Even if I can’t comprehend the specifics, I want to grasp an outline." Moli said.

"You’re quite rational."

"Hm?"

"What I research, due to your lack of sufficient knowledge, even if I were to directly impart the knowledge to you, you wouldn’t grasp the specifics in a short time; you can only get an outline." Richard said.

Moli: "..."

After two seconds of silence, Moli slightly widened her eyes and said, "Richard, Great Lord, perhaps I lack the knowledge you mentioned, but do you know that the matters I manage now are exceedingly complex, involving Shalin from top to bottom? Even if you are extraordinarily smart, if I announce dropping everything, there’s no way you’d smoothly take over Shalin immediately; it would be chaotic for a while."

"I merely spoke the truth regarding your lack of knowledge to understand the specifics of my research theories, and didn’t outright call you stupid, so why get angry?" Richard glanced at Moli.

Moli: "..." Silence again.

So indirectly calling her stupid is fine, isn’t it?

"Anyway, I’m short on time, so let’s quickly go over the basics of my research. Once you understand, I have another matter to attend to." Richard said.

"Please proceed, Richard, Great Lord," Moli, still not entirely sanguine, said.

"Then I’ll speak." Richard, not overly concerned, straightened his expression and began to speak seriously.

"You should know that from our first meeting, I have been researching certain spell principles and spell cores. In other words, I’ve been attempting to unravel how spells come into being, and after considerable effort, I’ve determined that the answer to this question is rooted in Extraordinary factors.

Regarding Extraordinary factors, my research has progressed relatively smoothly, and over three years ago, I established a rough framework, wherein several classifications under the framework—Wind Energy Extraordinary Factor, Blood Power Extraordinary Factor—were clearly mapped out.

The remaining task involves inserting content and details into this framework; if undertaken by myself alone, it might take decades to fully complete. But my discovery of a rapid means of imparting knowledge, coupled with the formation of numerous research teams serving around me, has massively accelerated the process. I only need to steer the overarching direction and solve a few bottlenecks encountered, while the research team members automatically fill out the framework bit by bit.

This way, with the certainty of fully analyzing the Extraordinary factor field being merely a matter of time, I began delving into more profound matters, attempting to research. As mentioned before, Extraordinary factors are categorized, with Blood Power Extraordinary Factor being one type, Wind Energy Extraordinary Factor another, while the others—Fire Power Extraordinary Factor, Water Power Extraordinary Factor—each differ, yet all serve as sources of Extraordinary Power and constitute parts of spells.

I started thinking whether there is something that can unify all Extraordinary factors, something that can advance further than Extraordinary factors in deciphering the mysteries of Extraordinary Power. For instance, could the Extraordinary factors be further decomposed into more minute, basic components, and does all Extraordinary Power have an indivisible essential source."

Upon reaching this point, Richard paused.

Not too abstruse, at least she could barely understand it... Moli thought after listening, then she heard the following.

"It’s widely known that ordinary atoms can be split into electrons and atomic nuclei, which in turn can be split into neutrons and protons; further, protons and neutrons can be split into quarks. Quarks are currently known as the smallest units of material composition, consisting of six ’flavors’ (a quantum number of basic particles): up, down, charm, strange, bottom, and top.

Different ’flavors’ of quarks combine to form composite particles known as hadrons, with the most stable ones being protons and neutrons. Due to the phenomenon of ’quark confinement,’ quarks cannot be directly observed or isolated, but can only be indirectly observed and tested within hadrons.

Many speculate that although quarks are known as the smallest units of material composition, they are not the true smallest units; they can still be divided further. Likewise, I believe Extraordinary factors should be similar. However, due to the inherent attributes of Extraordinary factors, it’s challenging to crush them with external forces. Therefore, I consulted the method of quark research and attempted to forcibly combine different Extraordinary factors into new hybrid factors to observe the phenomena."

Moli: "..."