A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 415 Battle of the Mud

Richard quickly took the box and the transmitter assembly using his storage ring and left.

The Valois officers and communications soldiers couldn't comprehend what was happening. They inhaled the poisonous fog, and soon their mouths, noses, and throats burned intensely, their eyes watering uncontrollably and unable to open. Even more terrifying, as the raindrops fell, an inexplicable chill seeped into their bodies, slowing their movements and gradually bringing their lives to an end.

Unable to scream for help and powerless to resist, a military knife pierced through the blue and white uniform, embedding itself in the middle of the officer's left chest. The method of insertion was skillful, the blade angled to avoid the knife getting stuck in the ribs.

Richard drew his sword, silently thinking: It's raining now, and the poisoned [Death Cloud] spell can't last long. He turned and left, but when he returned to his side, the proud Byrne hunter was gone.

Right behind them, at the very spot where the [Death Cloud] spell had been cast, various spells came from all directions in quick succession. These were Valuwa mages, who were also part of the army, and they launched their attacks as soon as they got their target.

Fortunately, Richard judged that the strange object he had captured was of high value, and after obtaining it, he did not linger to fight or confirm the officer's identity or survival status. He retreated along the edge of the battlefield, by which time the infantry on both sides had become entangled.

The National Guard, attacking in skirmish formation, wore uniforms that were styled after those of the Sun King. Even when covered in mud, the distinctive blue of their outer coats and the white lining were still visible. Most striking were their bright red trousers, which, after being mixed with the mud, revealed a deep purplish-red color, like vein blood.

The main force of the Imperial Army, dressed entirely in greyish-blue, blended better into the earth once the grass was mostly turned over. All the infantry wore round helmets, these small iron caps without wide brims, but with spikes on top.

The difference in the uniforms of the two armies reflected a difference in ideology. Valois firmly believed that brightly colored uniforms would help soldiers muster courage, a point that the Istanians also agreed with. The Imperial Army, on the other hand, learned from actual combat and chose uniforms with low visibility, as well as helmets that protected the head and removed the cumbersome brim.

This may also illustrate the subtle difference in steel production between the two countries.

As the battle lines shifted against the Empire amidst the stalemate, Richard, after a brief observation, disappeared into the bushes beside the battlefield, using the vegetation as cover to return to the rear of the lines.

And so, the radio station, making its first appearance on the battlefield, fell into the hands of the Imperial Army. However, faced with the complex mechanism, they didn't immediately understand how to use it. Ironically, the mage who had originally attempted to draw lightning recorded a series of signals.

"Long, short, long, short." In the command post, the technical sergeants and mages looked at each other, having witnessed the signalman's use, and reported it in detail. Combined with the mage who discovered the signal, the general and staff confirmed that the enemy was using it to quickly transmit battlefield orders.

"It has a greater range and is more covert than [communication techniques]. Unfortunately, they seem to communicate using code names and encrypted systems, so even if we intercept these ticking signals, we won't be able to decipher them in a short time."

Because the telephone had not yet been developed, the experimental military radio continued to use telegrams, which actually increased the difficulty for the Imperial Army to crack its secrets. If it were plaintext communication, the common language would expose all battlefield orders.

The Alchemy Department and Archmage Poincaré opted for shortwave signals to be broadcast across the battlefield. While individual units had low-powered radios that were manually charged to their lead-acid batteries, the command post had three large silver-mercury battery banks supporting the main station, capable of transmitting top-level commands that would overpower signals from other units.

In Valois's military tradition, orders from superiors are inviolable, so the characteristics of the radio currently meet the army's needs. Furthermore, as a professional army, the Imperial Army has highly qualified junior officers who are given more discretionary power on the battlefield.

"If we can't crack it right away, let's not waste our energy on it. Instead, let's think of a way to stop them from using this thing again." After making his assessment, the general instructed the lightning-summoning mage to continue his plan.

"Report: The second front has been breached, and we have also lost the mountainous area on the left."

"Organize a feint attack on the lost high ground to draw the enemy's attention, while the other troops prepare to retreat into the 'turtle shell'." The general gritted his teeth. The fortifications built by the engineer regiment "Richard Hench the Turtle" were naturally called "turtle shells." Originally a derogatory term used by other officers, these temporary fortifications had now become the hope for defense.

"May it be as sturdy as a tortoise shell!" the general prayed silently.

"Look at the needle, you're speeding!" Pascal reminded Paul to take good care of his new equipment.

They had captured the crucial Right Hill No. 2, and their artillery battalion comrades were pushing rapid-fire cannons up there, along with shotguns, in case the Imperial troops attempting to retake the position returned. Artillery alone couldn't hold the hill, so Paul requested reinforcements from headquarters.

It seems that the more urgent things are, the more likely accidents are to happen, such as when they discover that the battery is dead.

Paul needed to remove the battery from the radio and connect it to the crank to generate electricity. To protect the circuit, the hand cranking speed was limited; it couldn't be too fast or too slow, and the pointer of the simple ammeter had to be within a specified range.

Pascal was instructing Paul while flipping through the manual, which annoyed his junior: "Stop nagging, I wish I could use the [Electric Claw]." As he spoke, electricity began to flow through Paul's right hand.

"Then you should still crank it quickly by hand. It's better than the uncontrollable current from the spell burning out the circuit." Pascal finally gave in, letting Paul unleash the speed to charge it like crazy. The silver mercury batteries in the command center were charged with magic, but the battery capacity and the materials used in the circuit were worlds apart. If Paul really swung his claw at them, the artillery battalion's radio would be ruined.

However, after the connection was established, it was the main station that was repeatedly sending messages.

"Station 3 is missing, communications suspended?" Paul's face turned green, and at this crucial moment, he grumbled, "Can't we use the backup code?"

Pascal quickly flipped through the manual: "When there are mages on the battlefield, you need to use the anti-divination cipher."

Looking down from the high ground, the mages on both sides are now fighting, and there are occasional small-scale attacks such as flying sand and stones, thunderstorms, ice and fire on the battlefield.

"Then let's use the anti-divination cipher."

Pascal opened the manual for Paul to see; it had two blank pages, as if to say, "To be continued." The senior shrugged: "As an experimental product, the manual is also a work in progress. And I suspect that what kind of ciphertext can reverse divination is a question that needs further research."

"The Alchemy Department! They missed a crucial opportunity; they deserve a court-martial! When I return to the capital, I'll have Snow's head on the guillotine!"

"And what about Poincaré's head? Can you hold it down?" Pascal said as he saw enemies charging toward the high ground. He grabbed his short-barreled shotgun, but when he pulled the trigger, it sprayed oil instead.

"Senior, modifying standard equipment without authorization is a violation of regulations!"

"Don't be so rigid. I'm just using this to my advantage on the battlefield." Pascal put away his gun, looking at the results with satisfaction: the combination of [Greasy Technique] and the rain successfully made the climbing enemy tumble back to the foot of the hill.

(End of this chapter)