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Wearing Power Armor to a Magic School (96/?) WiP 1
🕑 Added 2024-08-24 22:30:33 +0000 UTCHey everyone! Here is the Work in Progress for Chapter 96 I hope you guys enjoy! :D
The Vunerian met my gaze with a wide-eyed disbelief, prompting me to cut to the chase, and to sharpen the needle poised to burst his Nexian-grade ego-bubble.
“It would seem as if we both went through a similar paradigm-shift event, Ilunor. A point in which this shiny yellow metal just finally stopped holding its own value; where it no longer held its own… weight in gold.” I reiterated, announcing those words loud and clear for the Vunerian, hoping that the EVI was able to translate that bad attempt at humor to something at least discernable in High-Nexian. “Gold as it currently stands, has lost its historical value. It’s no longer the rare be-all and end-all metal. It has, using your own words — lost its luster.”
Thalmin had finally returned with Thacea just as I’d finished making that bold statement, the prince seemingly adamant on making this entire exchange one which all parties were privy to.
Ilunor didn’t pay them mind however, as his gaze was locked onto me, his features contorting into one of genuine disbelief, before finding itself back in a signature look of incredulous scrutiny.
“You’re bluffing.” He retorted. “There is no means for an adjacent realm, for any realm other than the Nexus, to have both discovered and matured the art of pinnacle-transmutation.”
I raised a brow at this, cocking my head to overcome my emoting handicap. “Pinnacle-transmutation?”
“The alchemical art of transmuting one form of inexpensive and readily-available matter, into an otherwise rare form of matter, using mana and other mana-based materials as a catalyst.” The blue thing helpfully clarified.
This prompted me to feign a moment of thought, bringing up my fingers up to my chin.
“You know what Ilunor, you’re right!” I nodded, eliciting a smarmy grin from the deluxe kobold. “We don’t have magical transmutation, at least not in the way that you think, let alone your whole lead-into-gold style magical alchemy.” I quickly expanded, garnering more self-satisfied looks from the Vunerian; as he reached that point of peak smugness. “But we didn’t really need it.” I clarified, pulling the rug right from underneath the Vunerian. “Moreover, it didn’t stop us from achieving the same state of precious metal devaluation that you went through.”
“Oh dear Majesty, not this again…” He responded emphatically, before diving back into the thick of the conversation. “There exists only two means of acquiring gold.” The Vunerian snarled out. “One — through brute force, by mining into the earth itself and laboriously collecting this beautiful, shiny, irresistible metal.” He almost went into a sort of trance for a moment there, but managed to pull back before continuing unabated. “Two — by transmutation. The latter is what has caused gold to become so readily abundant, so… unexpectedly worthless. And since you admit to lacking the latter… are you expecting me to believe that you have achieved our current state of abundance through the former?”
“Yes.” I replied immediately, and a matter of factly. “That’s exactly what I’m expecting you to believe, because that’s exactly what happened. Through good old fashioned sheer brute force… or more specifically, by expanding our operations to scales and extents never before seen — we turned gold from an object of indescribable value, to a chunk of pretty yellow metal.” I took a moment to let that sink in, as my mind went to ponder a second, more technical talking point.
I mean, we technically have ‘transmutation’, or at least, a sci-tech equivalent of it… but it’s just woefully impractical and more of a gimmick compared to efficiency harvesting space-rocks and dwarf planetoids.
I decided it was probably best to skip that talking point for now, at least, until a foundation could be built to discuss that can of worms.
A few seconds of silence punctuated my first point, as it was clear Ilunor was taking the time to actively consider it.
“And I’m assuming you’re going to claim to have brute-forced the accumulation of metals, both precious and utilitarian, from the surface of your world; to the point of complete exhaustion?” The Vunerian shot back in an almost rhetorical way through a desperate chuckle. Though that series of dismissive laughs was barely able to hide the fear which underpinned it. A fear which was blatantly obvious from the furrowing of his brow ridges, and the narrowing of his slitted pupils.
A fear that this line of questioning would lead to an answer he simply didn’t want to hear.
A fear which was reflected even in the eyes of both Thacea and Thalmin.
A fear… that would come to pass with a single-worded answer.
“Yes.” I answered simply.
Color once more drained from the Vunerian’s face, as he seemed to almost lose his footing atop of his nest of gold.
It was at that point that he broke his gaze, his expressions shifting from tentative disbelief, to frustration, before landing back on what I was beginning to call his resting Nexus-face — a look of superiority that resulted from either active denial, or a root error in fundamental systemic incongruency.
“Alright then.” He retorted, sarcasm oozing through each and every syllable. “Let’s suppose this is all well and true. Where is your gold? Where is your silver? If you truly have broken the shackles of earthly scarcity, then surely you must have more!” He continued, as he maneuvered himself with several high-pitched yips and yaps, through the gold, and back onto solid ground. Eventually, he managed to find the gold he’d plinked in my general direction, holding it high above his head. “I am willing to entertain your ridiculous claims, so in lieu of any long-winded displays, show me just how much your people have given you as instruments of trade and barter for this journey. Because this—” He paused, waving the gold coin around. “—is a pittance for any self-respecting newrealmer hoping to forge relations.”
I took a moment to quickly grab the cylindrical precious-materials dispenser (PMD), holding the hefty oversized candy dispenser in my hands for a moment, before lobbing it over towards the Vunerian.
The deluxe kobold managed to hold on to the object like a pro, as he examined the rather simple device, eyeing it from every possible angle.
It didn’t take him long to figure out how it worked, as those greedy little grabby-hands found their way towards the bottom ‘slot’, pinching it sideways, resulting in a satisfying — CHA-CHING! — reminiscent of ultra-vintage cash registers; something the engineers back at the IAS claimed wasn’t intentional.
Though I had my own reservations on that.
A single silver coin, exactly an ounce in weight, was gently ejected from the unassuming cylindrical device.
On it, was the Greater United Nations’ seal sans its signature fourteen stars, flanked by raised lettering which read ‘Greater United Nations - Peace and Prosperity for All’. Flipping the coin to the other side, the Vunerian would find the missing fourteen stars, which was then flanked by a series of smaller raised lettering which read ‘Minted Under Special Order 32-7. FOR EXCLUSIVE USE IN DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS’.
Comments
Michael Halpern
Troy ounces for (no longer) precious metals
Legijas
I really think humanity would have stopped using ounces 1000 years into the future
Michael Halpern
Nexian script isn't inherently magical except for the script used in certain contract materials, and Emma can write (with EVI's help) in Nexian.
Brachy LP
I was thinking it might be that...
Michael Halpern
there's presumably multiple slots for different coins
Michael Halpern
welcome to Work in Progress chapters
Michael Halpern
thinking about it self filler fountain pens may have overtaken ballpoints by Emma's time, as part of getting past the disposable goods culture. ballpoints and other roller pens, even the refillable ones basically have the actual pen part replaced, because the ink will dry in the mechanism, clogging it. they may have some form of ink/laser jet pens as well that require electricity, to make it refillable with just ink, but those wouldn't be for trade.
Michael Halpern
no but i have done pen turning, fact is though, you want something that is familiar enough to the locals to understand, hard enough to make to establish value, and small enough to carry enough on person to barter with easily. Luxury watches and pens have traditionally filled this niche where direct currency exchanges aren't practical. Watches are out because we don't know how the Nexus marks the time, without the mechanical justification its probably not a perfect 24/60/60 split where one would only have to adjust the balance wheel of an existing mechanical movement to get a working model for the Nexus, that leaves pens. Keep in mind while we have a lot of disposable pens today, thanks to the Bic Crystal (which apparently originally sold for $2 a piece) throughout most of history anything more convenient than a dip pen was a significant investment.
Bbobsillypants
Are you a pen salesman or something? I genuinely love your enthusiasm for pens and was wondering.
Michael Halpern
Gold and silver are likely the easier access slots, there's probably also copper, platinum, tin and aluminum, other metals in her raw materials supply, Rare earths on their own aren't that valuable, until you know what they can be used for, there's probably also a gem dispenser. Iridium would be more useful for traditional pen nibs especially fountain pens, with either funnel or self fill mechanisms the advantage here over ball point is that ink quality can be a bit more flexible.
Brachy LP
Is it me or does this One feel Like half is Missing?
Michael Halpern
on the ca-ching well considering its a mechanical device, simple enough to be robust and easy to service, I mean they could have just not bothered to make the mechanisms quiet.... and instead made them a bit louder.
Michael Halpern
nuclear transmutation is a thing today, that is where plutonium comes from
Lokyar
Has the peer group encountered human writing before? Because if not, I'm expecting for the discount kobold to mock humanity's attempt to "forge a manaless version of High Nexian" or some other hint to human and elf resemblance.
Michael Halpern
i would go with all metal pens, but the thing about ballpoints (and rollerballs) is that they are examples of extreme precision.
Kirk Childers
That would reduce the amount of pure gold in the coin, and thus it's potential value as a metal.
Bbobsillypants
Plastic is likely much more rare in the nexus than gold i will admit.
Michael Halpern
ill say it again, ballpoint pens
bonk proof
Probably does contain plenty of rare element samples, just that good and silver are the first in it for practical reasons.
Bbobsillypants
A pez dispenser of gold and silver doesnt seem like much of a flex unless the device contain a wider variety of metals like platinum, irridium, and all the other funny named metals that are indeed more valuable than gold. Its possible she has something rare enough that the nexus never developed a transmutation method for, that being said if they did then they would likely be using that for currency instead, unless it was so rare using it for that purpose would be impratical. Allso the ias engineers are slowly making themselves out to be a bunch of little menaces. Giving the armor literal glowing red eyes, making the money disoenser go ca-ching. Whilst forgetting important things like making sure the armor can actually like sit down without destroying furniture.
Bbobsillypants
Probably quite a large sphere of influence since i believe its been stated that the G.U.N has discovered mytiple lifebearing worlds just no sentience.
Michael Halpern
depends on how highly they value rare coins
Michael Halpern
colonizing 13 solar systems.
Patrick Booth
True, but solid gold is tremendously soft, so I figure 24k would be more sensible for a potentially long mission
Casualscifienjoyer
I’m assuming solid gold considering that gold has lost all its value.
architectural engineer
i wonder what the conversion rate of that coin to high nexian is. great chapter! so good i always almost type episode! 🤣
Ciberj1
I think it's the systems GUN has controll over
Patrick Booth
Also, are these 1oz gold coins, or are they 1oz of gold surrounding some other metals?
Alexander
I mean, why should she bring more coins (or even any coins) than one of each metal, without knowing if they are worth anything to the Nexus?
Neo3602
I loled at "greedy little grabby-hands"
Patrick Booth
It's a shame the coins don't have that modern day holographic that a lot of currencies do, except that it's controlled by her suit and can change the lettering to high Nexian so they can read them
Willow Arkan
So atomic synthesis is a thing, but as expected just not worth the effort, with a universe out there to mine. Do we know do the stars represent planets, systems or are they just metaphorical of a collection of planets larger then 1?
