Ch. 348 - The Birth of the Atomic Energy Research Institute
Mage AdamThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Notes
Translator's note: The author said he'd skip to the main story line as soon as he could.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Translator's note: The author said he'd skip to the main story line as soon as he could.
“And funding will be a big problem. We need to apply to the Mage Council for an initial round of funding—a substantial amount,” Adam pointed out.
“How much are we talking?” Yurius asked.
After a quick calculation, Adam gave an approximate figure. Yurius waved it off. “Funding’s not an issue. I can cover it myself if needed. What we really need are people.”
“That’s non-negotiable,” Adam insisted. “A project of this scale can’t be done with just the two of us. We need skilled researchers.”
Yurius scratched his head, clearly irritated by the logistical challenge. “Fine. Write up a list of the types of mages we’ll need. Leave the recruiting to me.”
…
To study atomic energy, the first priority was understanding the structure of the atom, including the nucleus, protons, and neutrons. Neutrons, in particular, were critical as they would be the cornerstone for nuclear structure research.
Adam had a general roadmap for conducting the experiments, but executing them would require a diverse team of mages with expertise in various fields.
Magic provided a unique advantage—tasks that required complex machinery on Earth could often be achieved more efficiently through magical means.
However, creating something like an atomic bomb in the Mage World wasn’t simple. It required uranium enriched to over 90% U-235 content, a process that even with magic would take considerable effort.
Yurius believed that radioactive elements held the secret to helping him ascend to a Great Archmage. Adam, however, wasn’t so sure.
Nuclear fission alone seemed an unlikely pathway to transcendence. On Earth, atomic bombs were devastatingly powerful, but their destructive force paled in comparison to the might of a high-level mage, such as Maxis the Great Archmage, who could raze entire cities with a wave of his hand.
If fission wasn’t the answer, perhaps fusion held more promise. But Adam suspected that even fusion wouldn’t suffice. He began to wonder: what exactly was Yurius sensing within these radioactive minerals?
As Adam pondered, it became clear that Yurius’s deep connection to gravity magic and his status as a transdimensional mage from the Second Tower made him uniquely suited for this kind of research. He could bypass challenges that would stymie others.
For Adam, ascending to transcendent rank was a different journey.
Anne had explained the common barrier between thought and matter faced by transdimensional mages. But Adam’s path bypassed that entirely. Once he perfected his magic and gathered the remaining fifth of his soul’s essence with the Origin’s power, his ascension was all but guaranteed.
Adam’s real interest in the atomic energy project lay in its potential applications for magical energy. Magical energy was second only to ether as a vital resource for mages. It was consumed through a process akin to combustion, releasing energy in bursts. If fission or fusion could be integrated into this process, it might dramatically amplify a mage’s power output.
…
Yurius wasted no time assembling a team. Within days, he had gathered a group of mages to assist in the project. Judging by their expressions, these were reluctant recruits, likely acquaintances strong-armed into helping due to Yurius’ reputation rather than genuine enthusiasm.
Many of them looked skeptical. It was clear they didn’t share Yurius' confidence in the project’s success. But Yurius, unfazed by their lack of optimism, saw it as an opportunity.
The harder it was to convince them now, the sweeter the moment of vindication would be when the project succeeded. That thought alone fueled his determination as he pushed the team into action.
Adam couldn’t shake the feeling that the team was still too small. However, it was likely the best Yurius could muster with his current network.
For now, their focus was on achieving a single breakthrough. Success would draw the attention and talent they needed—just as the personal chip project had.
The mages assisting didn’t appear to have any issues with Adam. Most were seasoned members of various Towers and familiar with his prior accomplishments. Their demeanor toward him was respectful and professional, making it easy for Adam to take the lead.
Yurius, to his credit, kept his promise not to interfere. He acted as though he were merely an assistant, leaving Adam free to issue orders and organize the work as he saw fit.
…
The team’s first task was uranium enrichment. Several transdimensional mages from the Fifth Tower specialized in gas diffusion techniques, making them ideal for the job. Using their magic, they could substitute any mechanical equipment required for the process with ease.
Cthulhu’s environment, saturated with radiation, offered an unexpected advantage. Its radiation-infused creatures naturally produced uranium hexafluoride, a critical component for enrichment.
Adam explained the principles of the process, ensuring the mages understood the method.
To Adam’s surprise, the mages showed mild astonishment at his ingenuity. They admitted that, while they had considered refining the minerals, they hadn’t thought of using such an efficient approach. That Adam, a level-four mage, had devised it, earned their genuine respect.
…
Next came the alpha particle scattering experiment, an essential step for understanding atomic structure. Known on Earth as the gold foil experiment, it was straightforward to replicate in the Mage World, thanks to magic and abundant resources.
Cthulhu’s radioactive minerals provided a ready source of alpha particles, and even the radiation-infused creatures outside could serve as emitters.
Adam used polonium as the alpha source, encasing it in a lead box.
A thin sheet of gold foil served as the target, while a fluorescent screen, paired with an amplification spell and a vacuum environment, completed the setup.
As alpha particles struck the gold foil, the results were clear. Most particles passed straight through with minimal deflection, but a small percentage scattered at wide angles, some even rebounding at angles as steep as 150 degrees.
The gathered mages stared at the results, their expressions growing grim. While their knowledge of subatomic structures was rudimentary, they understood enough to see that something extraordinary was at play.
“What’s happening here?” one of them asked, breaking the heavy silence.
Adam, unfazed, instructed his personal chip to log the data and calmly explained, “This demonstrates the existence of subatomic particles. If you’ve read the papers I uploaded earlier, you’ll recall my discovery of a particle called the electron. It exists inside atoms.”
The mages, now burning with curiosity, quickly accessed the Mage Network or activated their personal chips to retrieve Adam’s work. Despite the steep fees for accessing such research, they eagerly devoured the content.
The room buzzed with activity as they read, their expressions shifting from intrigue to astonishment. None had anticipated that a level-four mage could uncover such profound truths.
When the murmurs subsided, Adam continued. “The electron is incredibly small, with a mass less than one 7,400th that of an alpha particle. When alpha particles collide with electrons, the trajectory barely changes—it’s like a bullet hitting a speck of dust.”