Regulus of Hogwarts: Lord of the Stars

Chapter 481 The Black Family's Business Planning

Regulus's thoughts drifted into the distance.

The receiving range of this device is about a hand's width above the screen; it only registers when you place your hand on it, and it doesn't register anything if you're further away.

But what if we expand the receiving area?

The copper disk is made larger, the receiving circuit is made denser, and the sensitivity is increased, expanding from the size of a palm to ten meters, then to the area of ​​a room, and then to enough to cover an entire area.

A wizard was miles away, and before he could even appear in sight, the disk reacted. Spots of magical radiation appeared at the edge of the disk, getting closer and brighter.

That's radar, the radar of the magical world.

In theory, it can detect all sources of magic within its range, including wizards, magical creatures, magical items, their location, distance, and approximate intensity.

Of course, there are countermeasures. Skilled wizards can suppress their magic to the point where it doesn't leak out, and some high-level alchemical items can also shield or weaken magic radiation.

There's also the invisibility cloak from the Deathly Hallows. If the legend is true, that cloak allows the wearer to disappear right under the nose of death, and the resonant disk probably can't do anything about it.

But radar has always been used to deal with conventional targets. It is estimated that more than 90% of wizards do not have the ability to suppress their magical radiation to a level that instruments cannot detect. For them, radar is an unsolvable problem.

Nighttime operations, covert infiltration, ambushes, and sneak attacks—any tactic that relies on stealthy approach will be ineffective against radar.

The strategic significance is greater than the tactical significance; radar can turn the battlefield from fog into a map.

When the location and movement of all magic sources on the battlefield become visible in real time, ambushes are no longer ambushes, and covert assemblies are no longer covert assemblies.

The moment information goes from vague to transparent, all tactical systems that rely on information asymmetry will collapse.

Whoever sees the big picture first can mobilize their forces first, and the balance of power shifts from who is more capable to who knows where to strike first.

Radar is changing the way warfare is conducted, not only making individual battles easier to fight, but also making the entire war more asymmetrical.

But knowing the location isn't enough. If a point of light appears within the detection range, is it friendly or hostile? Is it passing by or infiltrating? Is it known or unfamiliar?

Radar can detect when someone is coming, but it cannot identify who it is, so it also needs to have identification capabilities.

Each wizard's magic has unique characteristics.

The specific texture, density distribution, fluctuation frequency, and core structure of the magical texture can be called a magical signature. Like fingerprints, no two people are exactly the same.

If the identity matching function is combined with the resonant disk, the disk surface detects a magic source and automatically compares it with the known magic signature database.

If a match is found, the identity is displayed; otherwise, it is marked as unknown.

Regulus suddenly thought of something: the Marauder's Map.

Sirius and Potter won't start working on that thing until fifth or sixth grade; there's no sign of it yet. But he understands the magical principles behind the Marauder's Map.

The concept of the Manifestation Charm, the method of spatial mapping, and the logic of identity anchoring are scattered across different magical disciplines, such as Transfiguration, spellcasting, and the family magic of the Black and Potter families.

When Sirius Black was involved in the production, he most likely used the Black family's knowledge about identity anchoring.

The Marauder's Map function can be broken down into five parts.

Spatial mapping maps the three-dimensional structure of physical space onto a carrier. His spatial perception is naturally capable of doing this, and his experience in developing spatial magic makes him an expert in three-dimensional structural mapping.

Magic Detection continuously scans all magical living things in space; it's an extended version of the resonant disk, changing from receiving data from the disk surface to scanning a region.

Identity anchoring binds the magic source to the real identity and reads the magic signature; this part is available at home.

Markup display, which converts information into readable text or graphics, is a problem of display technology and is relatively easy to solve.

The system requires real-time updates and continuous operation, necessitating a stable supply of magic power and sufficient loop capacity.

If all these modules are integrated into an alchemical device, it becomes the complete Wizard Radar, which displays the location and identity of all magical sources within a specific area in real time.

But the current prototype with copper sheet and moonstone is far from accurate.

Circuit design can be further improved. The standard circuits in textbooks use universal nodes, which anyone can draw and use. The accuracy depends on the skill of the practitioner.

To create a better version, we need better materials.

Copper has its limits in terms of magical conductivity, and moonstone also has its limits in terms of display resolution. The ceiling of materials is there, and no matter how detailed the loop is drawn, it's useless.

Moreover, he has something that others don't: star trail meditation.

The orbits of the six stars, the gravitational parameters between each star, and the dynamic balance of the entire system—this is the unique structure of his mental space.

If we map the operating mode of this structure onto the alchemical loop, and use the intersection of star orbits and gravitational equilibrium points as node templates, the receiving accuracy of the resonant disk becomes directly linked to his spiritual perception.

The more detailed his perception, the more detailed the display on the screen.

Star trail meditation has elevated his innate perception to a higher level. The position of the node corresponds to the gravitational balance between stars, and the direction of the loop corresponds to the trajectory of the stars.

The circuit itself is a physical projection of his mental structure, homologous and isomorphic, without translation loss, and its accuracy is directly calibrated by his soul and will, rather than by craftsmanship.

If we're going to do it, we should do it dynamically. The star trails are in motion in the mental space, and the entire system maintains stability in a dynamic equilibrium.

If the alchemical circuit is also dynamic, with nodes moving slowly inside the material, mimicking the movement of star orbits, the receiving accuracy will be higher and the coverage area may be larger.

However, conventional materials cannot create dynamic loops. Copper, tin, gold, silver, and even magical alloys have internal structures that are too rigid and inflexible. Once the nodes are engraved, they are fixed and will not move on their own.

Therefore, materials with an internal structure capable of supporting the dynamic operation of magic are needed.

Star iron, meteorite iron, iron that fell from the sky.

In the Hermetic tradition, meteorites are the connection between heaven and earth. They form in space, pass through the atmosphere, and fall to the ground, thus completing a transformation from a celestial being to a material on earth.

Meteorite iron has a natural Widmanstätten pattern inside, a lattice structure formed by slow cooling in space over millions of years. After being cut and polished, the cross-section shows geometrically intersecting metallic patterns.

In the magical world, these natural patterns are natural magical pathways, requiring no artificial carving; they inherently possess extraterrestrial power.

He didn't know what would happen if his mental structure circuits were engraved on the Star Iron, combining the natural magic circuits with the artificial mental circuits, but he wanted to try.

It's impossible now. Star iron is rare and extremely expensive. A single piece of meteorite iron, enough to make a resonant disk, costs more than he's paid attention to, but it's definitely beyond what his allowance can cover.

However, he could ask for it and go back to tell his father.

The Blake family has the channels and resources to acquire things through their family network. This may involve the private collections of other families, and may require political exchanges or economic costs, but they always manage to get their hands on them.

Regulus raised his hand, his fingertips gently pressing against his chest through his robe, where there was a small, warm spot.

Meteorite amulet, made of silver, with a small dark gray stone inlaid in the center, and the surface has the texture of a fusion crust.

His father gave it to him before he started school at the age of eleven. It was brought back from Northern Europe by the Black family ancestors and was said to have come from outer space.

For hundreds of years, no one has figured out what magical properties it has, except that it doesn't get dusty and always stays warm.

Knowing that his son had an unusual interest in the starry sky since childhood, his father gave him this amulet. It had nothing to do with whether it was valuable or not; he just felt that this thing was destined for his son.

This piece is obviously not suitable for cutting; it's not big enough, and it was a gift from my father, so it can't be disassembled. However, it's fine to examine it.

He pulled the amulet out of his collar, unfastened the silver chain, and placed the dark gray stone on the surface of the resonant disc.

The light patterns emerging from the moonstone layer were unlike any of the previous materials. They were extremely dense, with incredibly complex patterns, and the geometrically intersecting lines were layered upon each other, slowly rotating.

He stared at the pattern for a long time.

These things are indeed expensive and rare in the magical world, but there are quite a few in stock among Muggles.

There is a meteorite called Hoba in Namibia, lying in the open, weighing more than 60 tons, the largest in the world, and Muggles treat it as a tourist attraction.

In Campo del Silo, Argentina, there is a large area of ​​meteorite debris, with thousands of fragments scattered across the plain.

There's also the Bacubirito meteorite from Mexico, and the Willamette meteorite in the American Museum of Natural History. Muggles put them in exhibition halls, light them up, and write explanatory signs so that anyone can see them.

No one knew that it was a top-tier material for alchemy, which could fetch an astronomical price in the magical world.

Of course, there are costs to taking the meteorite out of the Muggle museum: the Ministry of Magic's investigation into the transnational theft, the risks of international secrecy laws, and the handling of Muggle public opinion.

However, that's a technical issue, and technical issues can be resolved.

He took the amulet off the plate and hung it back around his neck; the silver chain pressed against his skin, and the stone was still warm.

The resonant disk solves the most fundamental bottleneck in alchemy: the standardization of measurement.

If this tool were mass-produced, a low-precision version made of ordinary materials would suffice, allowing any ordinary wizard to accurately see the magical patterns inside the material.

No talent or years of sensory training are required, which would significantly lower the barrier to entry for alchemy.

The French alchemy industry is built on the systematic education and selection of individual talents at Beauspatton.

Those with enough talent become alchemists, doing high-value-added work, including complex transformation designs, custom-made advanced circuits, and in-depth processing of rare materials.

People who lack talent can only do the most basic operations, such as material sorting, circuit diagram drawing, and quality control inspection. Even after ten years, they are still just skilled workers because their perception accuracy is stuck there and cannot be improved.

With a resonant disk, these basic tasks no longer require talent.

You can judge the quality by placing the item on the plate and observing the light pattern. After drawing, you can check it on the plate to see if there are any deviations in the light pattern. Once the finished product is placed on the plate, you can tell at a glance whether it is up to standard or not.

Basic, low- to mid-level alchemy work can be taken from France.

The British magical community is a wasteland when it comes to alchemy; it lacks teaching traditions, an industrial base, and a market.

However, with the resonant disc, even British wizards without formal alchemical training could enter the profession, wielding tools and getting things done—anyone could do it.

The Black family's mastery of the method for manufacturing resonant discs is tantamount to possessing a ticket to alchemy.

We can't compete in the high-end market; Lemaître's level of expertise is always a matter of personal cultivation, and tools can't replace genius. But in the mid-to-low-end market, we can definitely carve out a piece from France.

When starting an industry, money is one aspect, but more importantly, it's about establishing a foothold and a solid foundation.

Political standing depends on choosing sides; choosing the wrong side can lead to collapse at any time. Industrial standing depends on technological barriers; as long as you have the technology, whoever comes to power will have to use your products.

Whoever possesses tools that others lack forms the foundation of that field.

The Black family is not short of money or political influence, but no one would complain about the hard power they possess, which is rooted in their industries and does not depend on taking sides or political trends.

To be honest, this thing was too simple in Regulus's eyes. From the moment he had the idea to the moment he finished making it, it didn't take him much time.

It's not that others can't imitate it; take a closer look and you'll see the difference.

But then again, not just anyone can copy the Black family's things.

There's also the soul and Betelgeuse; he created something that had never been made public before, a tool that could potentially change the underlying logic of a discipline.

If we can truly develop the industry and transform the British alchemy market from a desert into something as barren as it may be, even if it's just a few blades of grass, the breadth and depth of its impact will be greater than any battle.

The impact of the battle is temporary, but the impact on industry is lasting.

When I get back to England, I'll talk to my father about materials, manufacturing, and industrial planning, taking it one step at a time.

He stood up and walked to the window. The evening light bathed the hillside in gold, and the tender leaves of the old vines rippled with silvery-green waves in the wind.

Baruch peeked his large head out from the edge of the table, made sure Regulus was gone, then furtively put his front legs on the edge of the table and slowly brought his spider head closer to the resonant disk.

Eight amber eyes examined the copper and moonstone pieces one by one, first using the primary eye, then turning the head to look with the secondary eye, and then going around to the other side of the table to look down from above.

Its chelipeds gently touched the surface of the plate, causing a burst of light to erupt from the moonstone. It then withdrew its chelipeds and tried again with the other cheliped, playing happily.

Regulus ignored it.

Quiet, still quiet, but the restlessness is gone. My mind is filled with too many things: the resonant disk, star iron, industry, soul, Betelgeuse.

He was even somewhat grateful for the quiet; if he hadn't been left idle in the Provençal sun for half a month, he wouldn't have had time to think about these things.

His lips twitched slightly.

Of course, those who are meant to come will come; it wouldn't be right to let them go empty-handed after waiting for so long.

When the person actually arrives, he won't cause them too much pain.