"Nothing important." Richard waved a hand dismissively. "I told Blade that I wanted to copy several important books containing secret spells from the Headmaster's hidden vault. In exchange for helping with the alibi, I promised to enchant a dozen military fighter jets with invisibility. Naturally, not for free. Fortunately, I've recently developed a new magical technology for that. Oh, and I also promised to sell them a couple of giant mechs."
"Giant mechs?" Gerald clearly had no idea what he was talking about.
"Enormous armoured humanoid robots," Richard explained.
Gerald's eyes widened in astonishment, and he exclaimed in a manner wholly unbecoming of an aristocrat:
"Why would the intelligence services need giant armoured robots?!"
"Dad, how should I know?" Richard shrugged. "Apparently they wanted a few flying mechs capable of reaching missile speeds, with plasma cutters extending from their arms, lasers firing from their eyes, and enough hardpoints to mount an entire arsenal on the chassis. It's no trouble for me to build something like that to order. Especially when they pay fifty million pounds per mech and the production cost is less than a million."
"If the intelligence services believe you can deliver machines like that, then I suppose I'll have to believe in these fantastical 'technologies' as well," Gerald said. "By the way, I almost forgot. I had some good news for you. Richie, you've been nominated for the Nobel Prize. You need to be in Sweden on the tenth of December. Hopefully Hogwarts will allow you to leave. I'll write a letter to your Headmaster."
"Oh!" A broad smile spread across Richard's face. "Excellent! Dad, I was planning to hold a major press conference this summer."
"Why?" Grosvenor Senior asked suspiciously.
I want to make a big public announcement about Grosvenor Junior's technological breakthroughs and expansion into several new industries. I'll reveal the company's plans to launch cutting-edge, safe, environmentally friendly cold-fusion power plants, build the world's first privately owned spacecraft, and deploy hundreds of satellites to provide global communications, navigation services, and free internet access to every person on Earth."
"Richie, the scientific community will laugh you out of the room," Gerald said, shaking his head disapprovingly.
"I know, but that'll give me even more publicity while also providing cover for the work of the company's 'secret research and development division'. Dad, the whole thing has to look ridiculous. Scientists should laugh, tap their foreheads, and call me mad. Then the power plants, spacecraft, satellites, and everything else will actually appear. Once that happens, nobody will be surprised—they'll simply accept it as reality and enjoy fast internet, affordable communications, and navigation services. Winning the Nobel Prize will work in my favour as well. It won't even occur to anyone that all my devices are actually magical artefacts. Besides, how many ordinary people understand how technology works? Nobody cares, so long as it works."
"This is madness, but I won't stand in your way," Gerald replied. "However, if you want permission to build power plants, you'll need to have a word with your grandmother."
"Surely she won't refuse me such a small favour..."
"She won't refuse. You'll merely have to part with ten percent of the shares in those power plants and present them to 'Grandmother' as a gift," Gerald said. "Now come along. We're going to reinforce, through practical demonstration, why a gentleman should not stick his head into trouble."
"Dad, couldn't we perhaps skip the belt this time?" Richard asked hopefully.
"No." The Duke shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not. I want you to use your brain next time. There are specially trained people whose job is to take risks. You were right to involve them, but you used that resource in a completely incompetent manner."
"It's always the same," Grosvenor Junior sighed mournfully. "You try to save the world, make it a better place, and all you get in return is a thrashing... Life is cruel and unfair."
***
Three days later, when Richard could finally sit down normally again, he launched himself into a frenzy of activity.
Far too many matters required his immediate attention.
Accompanied by Detective Potter and his bodyguard Stephen, Richie bounced via Portkey between Eaton Hall, Number 69 Grosvenor Street, and Grosvenor Workshop. He also made several trips to Diagon Alley and the offices of Grosvenor Group.
The foundations were laid for a number of new divisions.
G-Electrics would focus on energy production.
G-Skynet would handle artificial intelligence.
G-HoloNet would specialise in telecommunications.
G-British Cosmo, as the name implied, would oversee space programmes.
Galaxy Engineering would be responsible for the wholesale distribution of wizard-made products disguised as advanced microelectronics to various factories. Richard's plan was to have wizards produce microchips that could simply be installed on any circuit board. These chips would be marketed as quantum communication processors and would function accordingly. And, no doubt, other products would follow in the future.
Holovision would focus on holograms and holographic technologies. For the time being, the division would concentrate solely on developing the technology based on existing "prototypes"—that is, their magical equivalents—since manufacturing holographic projectors through wizarding means remained a handcrafted process, while Grosvenor Junior needed a product suitable for mass production.
Several grand construction projects were simultaneously launched on land in Scotland near Grosvenor Workshop.
First, a skyscraper was being built to serve as office space for newly recruited magical employees from around the world. Richie had no intention of limiting himself to British wizards; he intended to attract talented magical specialists from every corner of the globe.
Second, construction had begun on a vast multi-level bunker. This enormous facility would serve as the site for spacecraft construction while also providing a secluded location where wizards could enchant military equipment, build giant mechs, and carry out similar projects far from prying eyes.
There was plenty of work to be done above ground as well. A spacious car park had to be built, roads laid down, and an attractive park created around the nearby lake. After all, a respectable company could hardly leave its grounds undeveloped.
All of the facilities would be powered by a new experimental energy system based on the same magical principles used to propel the Hogwarts Express. Cheap—practically free—electricity opened up countless possibilities: electric lighting throughout the complex, climate control in every building, and much more.
In a structure as massive as a skyscraper, it was far easier to rely on technological solutions for lighting and heating than on traditional spellwork. Casting the necessary enchantments by conventional means would require the services of roughly a thousand wizards. The labor costs alone would far exceed the expense of purchasing a small batch of equipment and assigning a team of Grosvenor Workshop specialists to replicate and enchant it.
The result would be extremely inexpensive, durable, and long-lasting technology: lighting systems, heating equipment, and countless other devices that could be produced in large quantities at minimal cost.
(End of Chapter)
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