Throne of Magical Arcana

Lowi, who was listening nearby as an assistant, repeated curiously, “Reconstructing the ancillary computation circles according to the logic of regular thinking and calculation? Mr. Evans, thinking can be a really complicated process, which does not meet the demand of popularization, either.”

During the regular meetings, Lucien allowed everyone to speak freely as long as they raised their hands. This was meant to build an atmosphere of brainstorming where everybody could be inspired. It was also a way to improve himself. After all, Lucien knew very well what research achievements really belonged to himself so far. He could not slack off about improving his arcana expertise. As for the improvement on spells and alchemical items, Lucien believed that he had done quite an excellent job.

“Complicated procedures can be simplified. We finish every calculation by subdividing it into many steps. The thinking process is also the same. Here’s my idea. We can break down the processes of our daily thinking, control and calculation and look for the simplest procedures they have in common. Then, we can store them inside the ancillary computation circles as instructions. When we need to use them, they will be invoked and reassembled into a whole process. In such a way, most of the situations can be simulated.” Lucien did not direct his students but proposed the idea himself, because the idea was rather ahead of the current knowledge and trends.

Chelly was rather interested. “It sounds interesting. If the ancillary computation circles can simulate most scenarios, will they be able to mimic intelligent life in a rather convincing way? Is it possible that we cannot tell that it is a machine if we talk to it without being informed?”

“Mimicking an intelligent life without a soul? Sprint felt that Chelly was overthinking.

Heidi glared at him and defended her research partner. “What’s impossible? It’s just a simulation. As long as enough reactions are stored in advance, it will be barely possible to tell the difference.”

Layria frowned. “However, many complicated factors decide how someone will react to a certain issue. I don’t think it can be simulated.”

At this moment, Lucien nodded his head. “That’s an interesting thought. If you are interested in it, you can work on it later. If the ancillary computation circles are improved to the point of artificial intelligence, what will happen if the alchemical life is melted into it?”

As he spoke, passion flashed in Lucien’s black pupils under the monocle. Would it be Skynet?

Listening quietly nearby, Katrina raised a question. “Master, isn’t it too troublesome to break down a complicated process into many procedures and reassemble them according to a specific order? We could’ve done the same thing many times when the ancillary computation circles finished it once.”

As for the phrase ‘artificial intelligence’, they could understand its meaning literally and were not confused.

“This will be the research project for you.” Lucien smiled. “I have a preliminary idea. Since we can control the lights by designing different circuits, can we also apply them to the improvement of magic circles? The circuits have two states: on and off. Can we represent information with only the two states, like the esoteric passwords that many sorcerers made before?”

Ever since the school of electromagnetics was separated from the school of elements, circuit design was no longer new to everybody. Many sorcerers had applied them to improve the electric channels in their magic circles. Also, as more and more magic circles that could transform hydroenergy into electricity were established, the infrastructure of electric wires began on a large scale. The invention of magic circle lamps as well as electricity-powered alchemical items even informed the common civilians of what they were. Many new professions that based on the new inventions had been born, like ‘circuit maintainer’.

The rapid development of electromagnetism messaging also allowed for more and more encryption methods.

Heidi said in delight. “Electricity is much faster. It’s possible that a complicated process can be finished very quickly. However, how are we going to turn on and off the circuits?”

“Represent all the information with on-or-off states…” Chelly began to consider the binary system.

Heidi shook his head at Heidi’s question. “How can we control them? That’s what you need to work on. I think you can start from two aspects, namely magic and alchemical materials. Some elements we discovered recently show special conducting features. You can find them and see if they are helpful. Katrina and Layria are the authorities in that regard.”

The two girls had been working on superconducting materials and material changes in the extremely low temperature. They had also discovered many new features of elements by the way.

Hearing their teacher’s compliment, both Katrina and Layria shook their head, blushing. “We are no authorities yet. It was only because we had plenty of experiment materials…”

“Modesty is good, but you also need to be confident about yourself. Who’s willing to participate in this project of artificial intelligence?” Asked Lucien with a smile.

After the study on the improvement of ancillary computation circles was changed into the study on artificial intelligence, it immediately sounded high-end and sophisticated. That was exactly the ultimate skill that every specialist who was good at tricking funding must grasp.

Heidi and Chelly had been working on the direction besides the field of elements and atoms. Interested by the sound of ‘artificial intelligence’, they raised their hands. Katrina and Layria also wanted to join, but the projects in their hands all required abundant, repetitive experiments in order to yield results. Also, they had to study the new alchemy and the theory of relativity. They simply did not have the energy for a new project.

Sprint and Annick were uninterested. They had been completely enthralled by the microscopic new alchemy and the macroscopic theory of relatively, which were closest to the truth of the world. What could be more fun than exploring the mysteries of the world?

“Mr. Evans, I am interested. Can I participate in the project other than working as an assistant?” Lowi summoned his courage and asked.

Lucien nodded his head, giving his approval.

Alfalia had been Heidi’s assistant in the first place and was close to the delightful innocent girl. So, she also applied to join the project. Blake naturally followed her.

The meeting went on, and the subject returned to the new alchemy, on which the Atom Institution was founded. Everybody reported their experiment data and conclusions.

……

‘Mecantron’, the ‘Angel King’, walked inside the Realm of Gates gloomily. Suddenly, greyness gathered before him into a white-haired old man, who smiled at him. “You’re back from the Holy City?”

‘Mecantron’ looked at ‘Monster Viken’ and said, “How could anyone have barged into Mountain Paradise? Have you picked a good candidate, instead of knocking them out, transforming them, projecting into them and throwing them to me like you did to Sard?”

“Sard couldn’t infer the whole thing from the clues. Naturally, I could only throw him to you for you to ‘guide’ him. This time, it’s different. Lucien Evans has the Sun’s Corona. He could easily connect the clues after I directed Maskelyne to meet him. He didn’t disappoint me, either.” ‘Monster Viken’ grimaced. “Isn’t it good? This partner is much more promising than Sard. The force behind him is also much more powerful.”

“That’s why I am concerned. Will the Congress of Magic retain the Saint Truth and allow us to spread faith after they remove Viken? I fear that they will covet Mountain Paradise, too…” ‘Mecantron’ was also gloomy. “Why didn’t you project into his body to control him in secret?”

‘Monster Viken’ kept the mysterious smile. “I cannot see through Lucien Evans. There’s something in him that scared me. That’s why I didn’t dare to project. Also, he has the Silver Moon’s air. My projection would be removed when she arrives.”

“The Silver Moon?” Asked ‘Mecantron’ in surprise.

The monster nodded his head. “How could the Silver Moon not peep at the mysteries of immortality when there was a chance to? The guy from hell was behind, too! It was because I hoped that as many people could see the mysteries of immortality as possible that I didn’t bother them.”

‘Mecantron’ was even more surprised. “The Lord of Hell was here, too?”

“Mecantron, do you think Lucien Evans came here on his own? Do you think that the legendary sorcerers of the Congress of Magic were so unlucky? Even Maskelyne managed to reach the Furnace of Souls in secret, but they ran into the Room of the Holy Spirit ‘by accident’… Too many coincidences always suggest inevitability.” The monster sneered. He knew a thing or two about what happened in the Temple of Spirits although he could not leave the Realm of Gates.

After a brief silence, Mecantron said coldly, “It seems that the legendary spectres in the World of Souls are not only related to the North Church but also conspiring with the Lord of Hell…”

“They have too many partners. ‘My’ student the Original Fire, the Hand of Paleness in the Congress of Magic, the Dark Congress, the Vladimir family in the Schachran Empire, the Mother God of the Earth Cult…” The monster said unconcernedly. “There’s no need to worry about the Congress of Magic. When Viken is weakened, I’ll be stronger!”

“Let’s wait and see. I’ll heal my wounds in Mountain Paradise first.” ‘Mecantron’ nodded and passed through the grey halls, pushing open the gate of Mountain Paradise.

Looking at the world of overwhelming holy light, and thinking about the monster out there, ‘Mecantron’ put on a vague smile of mockery.

Then, his thirty-six white wings were unfolded, and he flew back to the seventh floor under the welcome of the angels and the holy spirits. Kneeling next to the foot of the ‘God of Truth’, he fell asleep peacefully.

In his palace in Antiffler, Rudolf II opened his eyes, and the air around him changed. He remarked with mixed feelings, “I’m finally back to the peak of legendary now.”

Inside the Temple of Spirits, ‘Ivan’, the northern pontiff returned to the Room of the Holy Spirit in frustration, even more impressed by the horror of the monster. He walked into the coffin while he asked in confusion, “What exactly is it protecting? Mountain Paradise, like the Lich King said?”

The cover of the coffin was moved back, and the Room of the Holy Spirit resumed peacefulness. However, nobody discovered that the coffin of ‘Geno’ was empty.

After a while, a cluster of smoke snuck in without a sound and crawled into the coffin of ‘Geno’ without alarming anyone.

In the Holy City, after confirming that the Angel King would not return for now, Benedict III spoke to the red robe who was waiting inside his library. “Inform the Grand Cardinals that we are going to have an emergency meeting.”