Occasionally, light would shine through the glass in the dark tunnel, but it quickly disappeared. However, based on the senses, it could still be determined that the train was still traveling underground.
After a slight tremor, the train emerged from the tunnel, revealing a huge underground space in front of them.
The dome was equipped with numerous high-powered spotlights, illuminating the entire space as bright as day. There were dozens of tunnel entrances on the surrounding rock walls for the train to travel through. Countless tracks divided the space into various functional areas, where the train transported personnel, materials, and equipment. Signal lights flashed alternately, controlling the operation of various large machinery.
A large number of steel frames supported this huge underground space, resembling the skeleton of a dead giant, forming this steel forest-like underground city.
The train stopped on a straight track, and with the mechanical sound of friction, the track separated from the front and back, along with the platform supporting the track, quickly ascending with the heavy train, finally arriving at a temporary platform.
"Your Highness, we have arrived."
Chip slowly stood up, opened the door, and led Tiran and Aya onto the platform with a proud expression on his face. "Welcome to the real Sorcery City."
Rather than a train platform, this place was more like an observation deck. It was built in the best location of the entire underground space, overlooking every track, every functional area, and even the sparks emitted by the magical machinery during operation.
Not to mention Aya, even Tiran couldn't help but exclaim in awe at the sight. Such an underground city only existed in novels, even on Earth, right? At least she had never seen it with her own eyes.
The guards in the compartment behind also got off the train one after another, their faces filled with the same expression of astonishment. However, under Shuma's strict orders, they quickly stopped looking at the astonishing steel forest and refocused their attention.
Two researchers in white coats, similar to lab technicians, walked out of the passage behind. They impatiently led the guards to another resting area, while Princess Delua and Aya were led by Chip into the passage to meet the legendary Chief.
"As I mentioned before, Sorcery City was built based on precious relics left behind by ancient times. Only a small part of those relics is exposed on the surface, and the real core is underground, which is the current underground space."
Chip introduced as he walked, turning his head to introduce to the guests behind him. They were currently walking through a corridor similar to an aerial walkway, with a transparent floor underneath. Underneath the floor was a hundred-meter-deep abyss.
In fact, even without his introduction, Aya could sense the extraordinary nature of this underground space. The air was rich in magical elements, and if one could use magic here, it would definitely be twice the result with half the effort. Strangely, these magical elements seemed to be trapped in a whirlpool of water, and even the spiritual power equivalent to that of a golden dragon mage couldn't mobilize them.
"The attraction at the bottom is the magic array, right..."
Thinking about finding an opportunity to visit the magic array, a commotion came from the front of the road.
Another open space appeared, although it was far less spectacular than the steel forest just now, it was still the size of several football fields. It was divided into more than ten empty spaces by sturdy alloy walls, and there were busy workers running back and forth in several places. Various strange things were piled up on the workbenches.
"This is... the testing center for new products." Chip coughed twice and whispered.
In fact, even without his introduction, one could roughly guess because the style of this place was completely different from the research institutions in their impression... It looked extremely unreliable.
For example, in one of the testing areas, a young man wearing a testing suit was carefully standing on a tool that looked like a hoverboard, floating about half a meter above the ground. In the next moment, the hoverboard suddenly shot up into the air like a rocket, carrying the poor tester in the area to start a 360-degree, unrestricted movement, and even through the soundproof glass of the corridor, one could faintly hear the piercing screams.
What was even more speechless was that the other researchers in that area didn't rush to save the person, but instead gathered in groups of two or three, excitedly studying the flight trajectory of the hoverboard in the notebooks they held in their arms.
"Hey... I mean, is it really okay not to save that guy?"
Aya couldn't bear to watch anymore and asked anxiously, "Don't worry, that should be the latest civilian lightweight mobile vehicle. The test version doesn't have much Yuan reserve, so it can only fly for a few minutes at most." Chip calmly watched the unlucky guy still flying around.
As he said, in less than two minutes, the flying skateboard suddenly went out like a fire and fell straight down from a height of five or six meters. The only problem was that the tester's neck hit the ground at a horrifying angle.
It was only at this moment that the researchers called the medical team and gathered around with a hint of regret—not because they were worried about the tester, but because the skateboard didn't fly long enough to record more data.
"This..." Aya looked at Chip with a disappointed expression.
"We have the best medical institutions. As long as he's not dead, he can be saved. And the tester not only enjoys benefits comparable to official researchers but also has high personal accident insurance. Even if something unexpected happens, his family will receive generous compensation."
Chip coughed twice and explained, then his expression became distressed again. "But recently, we have tripled the benefits for testers, and we are still finding it harder and harder to recruit... The Chief Commander has started considering finding testers from the slave black market..."
Nonsense! Even with such good benefits, not many people would want to do such a job where they either die or become disabled, right?! The three people behind almost shouted out.
The other testing site, although not as chaotic as the flying skateboard area, was equally brutal in terms of intensity. On one side of the site, there were more than twenty humanoid metal targets, while on the other side, there were long metal platforms with various types of... firearms?!
"These are weapons developed for the guard army, tentatively named 'Magic Guns.' They come in portable models as well as super heavy models, but most of them are still in the testing phase..."
Tiran now understood why everyone said not to mess with the Sains. Although they only had a few thousand troops on paper, they had guns and cannons! Even if the regular army came in multiples, they would just be giving their lives away, right?
The Magic Gun tester was a well-trained elite warrior. From left to right, from pistols to submachine guns to rifles and shotguns, he calmly fired, leaving solid magic bullets accurately in the center of the alloy targets, leaving bullet marks.
Soon, he arrived at the last weapon, and his expression became serious. He took a deep breath, slowly lifted the heavy weapon with both hands, and pointed the muzzle at the target in front.
With a heavy grip, a large-capacity revolving magic storage, six long gun barrels, and a dark muzzle, the weapon began to rotate slowly. In the several-foot-long blue flame, a dense rain of bullets tilted out... Damn! Isn't this a Gatling gun?! And it's still spewing blue fire!
At this moment, Princess Tiran's mood could only be described as "What the f*ck." Did the technology tree in this world go askew? Magic Gatling gun?!
Although it seemed a bit ridiculous, it had to be admitted that this Magic Gatling gun had power no less than the original version. The alloy targets that could only leave bullet marks were pierced and shattered by the rain of bullets, and then pressed against the wall by the powerful kinetic energy of the magic bullets. After the firepower moved away, they turned into a pile of metal debris.
In just a few seconds, more than twenty metal targets were completely destroyed.
Just as the test was about to end successfully, it turned out that the testers were indeed justified in receiving generous salaries and benefits...
Continuous shooting caused the muzzle to become red-hot, and at the same time the last target fell, the Magic Gatling gun exploded with a loud bang.
The entire site was filled with smoke, and then the fire alarm and the sprinklers fixed on the ceiling started working, causing chaos in the testing site.
Too... too cruel...
"He has made contributions to the research of the Magic Guns..." Chip's face finally couldn't hold up, and he explained awkwardly, "We are working for the future of the world, so sacrificing a bit is normal."
"Yes, yes..." The three of them wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and nodded.
"By the way, Chief Commander often says that science and technology are the primary productive forces, so their sacrifices will definitely be rewarded..."
Science and technology are the primary productive forces? Tiran almost couldn't help but spit out blood. What are you producing? Severely injured and disabled people?
"Then... Chip, what are you researching?" Aya asked, as Chip seemed to be a researcher as well, so she couldn't help but be curious about what strange thing he was studying.
"Me?" Chip paused for a moment, then revealed a mysterious smile. "You will see, everyone."
