Chapter 511 — Into the City
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
As he spoke, Kade gazed through the opened side panel at the streets of Cecil: "...This is a city of flowing gold..."
Almost the instant Kade's words fell, the great mechanical clock at the city center sounded a resounding chime—eight o'clock exactly.
One after another, the Magic Net terminals installed in every plaza and at the major street intersections started up at the same time.
Magical power poured into the bases, resonating and echoing among the intricate magic patterns and runes, and was then channeled into the projection crystals. Shimmering light and shadow surfaced in the air along the streets and alleys, quickly condensing into clear holographic projections. In the projection stood Jibril, smiling, greeting everyone: "Good morning, citizens of Cecil. It is now exactly eight o'clock, Cecil time. 'Witch' Jibril wishes you good day.
"Today, our wise and esteemed mechanical scholars, arcanomechanical technicians, and rune masters will bring us a brand-new arcanomechanical device. The exhibition will be held at Pioneer Plaza in central Cecil, and the Magic Net terminals everywhere will also bring you a live broadcast..."
Inside the carriage, Kade, who had just witnessed this, stared wide-eyed and gasped in a low voice: "What is this thing?!"
Young Parr was startled too. He had already opened the panel all the way and was craning his neck to look outside; it was a long while before he remembered to answer: "Father, I've heard of this—they have it in Kant too! It's called a Magic Net terminal!"
"I've heard of it too... the peddlers from the south described it to me..." Kade murmured. "So this is what it is..."
"Father?"
"It's still early for the audience—let's go to that Pioneer Plaza first."
A crowd had long since gathered at the central plaza.
Those who lived around the plaza had noticed the commotion at first light: soldiers standing guard around the square, technicians in white robes and blue coats gathering as well, and a street nearby cleared in advance, supposedly to transport a large machine—none of which would be unfamiliar to a mature and experienced Cecil citizen.
It meant that the great lord and the wise scholars had yet another new creation to show everyone.
Common folk elsewhere might not care what their lord was up to, but the Cecilians were different. They knew that the things the lord exhibited in this plaza were basically all closely tied to their daily lives—usually new arcanomechanical machines, sometimes things like books, periodicals, and newspapers. Either way, they would soon become part of everyone's daily life, and more often than not would bring great benefits to it.
People gathered, watched, and discussed what might be exhibited today. Yet until the time announced by Miss "Witch" drew near, they still saw nothing on the platform at the center of the plaza.
The crowd began to whisper, and just as the murmuring grew louder, a sharp, loud, strange sound from beyond the plaza suddenly cut off everyone's conversation.
It sounded like something made of brass; it was very loud, and almost everyone gathered in the plaza was startled—and when they made out the great thing that was crossing the edge of the plaza and driving along the path the soldiers had cleared toward the center, they got their second shock.
What on earth was that thing—
It was a colossal contraption of forged steel, nearly a size larger than a carriage. The wheels around it seemed to show it was a vehicle, yet in front of it there were no draft animals to be seen: this monster actually moved on its own!