Chapter 175: Building a Barrier
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
"Mr. Walter, do you know about Magic Barriers?"
Although he didn't know Walter's exact identity before, his status was clearly not low, and he might have some understanding of Magic Barriers.
Having lived here for so long, eating and lodging for free, he should contribute something.
Roger pondered, but his demeanor remained polite.
Walter's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this. "Is the Lord planning to set up a Magic Barrier in the territory?"
Ordinary castles usually only have basic barriers that can resist low-level dark creatures.
Even if they wanted to set up a stronger Magic Barrier, they couldn't afford the expensive Magic Core.
For a remote place like this, especially a newly developed territory, wanting to set up a powerful Magic Barrier was a bit of a fantasy.
Walter even doubted whether the Lord truly understood the terrifying cost required to set up a Magic Barrier.
That was definitely not something a nascent territory could afford; the core materials alone could cause a small kingdom's finances to tighten.
He carefully chose his words, tactfully reminding him. "Lord, setting up a powerful barrier that covers the castle requires an extremely precious Magic Core; otherwise, everything is empty talk."
"Are you referring to something like a 'Heart of Thunder Crystal'?"
Walter nodded. "Yes. But even with the core, that's just the first step. Subsequent rune drawing and energy guidance all require precious materials."
"Walter, do you understand barrier techniques?"
"I know a little. I was fortunate enough to participate in the construction and maintenance of several important barriers."
This humble statement, on the contrary, reassured Roger.
Someone who could participate in the construction of important barriers would never merely 'know a little'.
It seems he can finally be put to good use!
"Mr. Walter, would an extremely pure ice-element Magic Core work?"
"Oh? Does the Lord possess such a rare item?"
Such a treasure is quite rare even in ordinary countries.
"Actually, I don't know if it is. Mr. Walter, please follow me."
He led Walter back to the castle, asking a servant to bring a thick blanket and a pair of thick gloves.
They arrived at a storage room in the basement.
After Walter put on the blanket, Roger took out a metal box from a wooden crate.
Walter raised an eyebrow at the sight. "'deep sea dark iron'?"
"Mr. Walter also thinks it's a waste to make a storage box out of 'deep sea dark iron'?"
When he showed it to Morris, it pained him greatly, and he repeatedly exclaimed about the waste.
Walter nodded slightly. "It is indeed a bit extravagant. However, if the item stored inside is worth it, then it's not a waste."
He opened the metal box, revealing another metal box of the same material inside.
Walter narrowed his eyes.
To use two deep sea dark iron boxes nested together for preservation?
This layered protection made him realize that the item inside was probably even more precious or dangerous than he had anticipated.
"Mr. Walter, the item inside is very, very cold. You'd best be mentally prepared."
Walter nodded, wrapping the thick blanket tightly around himself, his gaze fixed on the metal box as it slowly opened.
A bone-chilling cold gushed out, and the temperature in the storage room plummeted instantly.
The breath exhaled by the two instantly condensed into frost in the air.
"What, what is this?!"
Walter's eyes instantly widened, staring intently at the crystal emitting a faint blue light from within the box.
"Frost Ice Soul?!"
His voice trembled with shock, and he suddenly looked up at Roger, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Lord, where did you obtain such a rare treasure?"
"It was just obtained by chance." He vaguely glossed over the origin, then closed the box, and the extreme cold in the room slowly receded.
"Mr. Walter, since you recognize this item, can it be used as the core of a barrier?"
"Absolutely!" Walter's voice carried an excited afterglow. "With this item as the core, let alone the castle area, the entire territory can be covered!"
This was beyond Roger's expectation.
He had originally thought that covering the castle area would be the limit, but he didn't expect it could protect the entire territory.
The value of this 'Frost Ice Soul' seems to far exceed his imagination.
Walter, however, frowned slightly and shook his head. "However, precisely because its power is too immense, the requirements for rune drawing, energy guidance, and the carrying materials are also higher."
"Then can you construct this barrier?"
Roger directly asked the most crucial question, his gaze fixed on Walter.
Walter pondered for a moment, not boasting immediately, but cautiously replied. "If the Lord trusts me, I am willing to try. But if I am alone, I'm afraid it will take a lot of time."
"Approximately how long?"
"If fast, five or six years; if slow, seven or eight years; at most, it won't exceed ten years."
This timeframe was not unacceptable.
After all, a barrier of this scale typically takes several years.
Moreover, if he was lucky enough to find several mages skilled in runology and energy guidance to assist, the construction period could be significantly shortened.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you, Mr. Walter. List the materials you need and give me the list; I will do my best to collect them. As for manpower, I will also keep an eye out for suitable mages."
"Is the Lord really going to start this project?"
Walter's expression was solemn.
"Forgive my frankness, but the cost required is astronomical. Even so, do you still intend to build it?"
"Build it, of course, I'll build it." Roger nodded without hesitation.
Security is the cornerstone of development.
Without strong defenses, accumulating too much wealth is like a child carrying gold through a market.
This investment is a necessary price to pay.
"Alright, in that case."
Seeing that Roger's mind was made up, Walter no longer tried to dissuade him.
"I will compile the list of required materials as soon as possible. Oh, and please, Lord, build a tall building at the center of the territory."
"How tall?"
"At least fifty meters high; the higher, the better."
Walter solemnly explained. "This tall tower will become the 'main node' and energy hub of the barrier. It needs sufficient height to radiate energy and cover the entire territory."
"Does the tower body need to be built with magic-conducting materials?"
"That's not strictly necessary. Even if it's built with ordinary stone or wood, there won't be too much of a problem."
He remembered Elicis saying before that although the star-patterned stones used to build the Astrology Tower she was in could conduct starlight, ordinary bluestone mixed with star sand could achieve a similar effect at only one-tenth of the cost.
Leaving the basement, Walter thought of another matter.
"The Lord's territory hasn't joined the Magic Association yet, has it? If you join the Magic Association, there will be discounts on purchasing magical equipment, which can save a lot of money."
Roger nodded; Nora had also mentioned this to him.
"Mr. Walter, have you forgotten that I'm recruiting those mages expelled by the Magic Association? Currently, dozens of 'traitors' and 'heretics' of the Magic Association have gathered in the territory. Will the Magic Association allow such a territory to establish a branch?"