As the banquet continued, Professor Philip also proceeded to introduce their product.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce the Energy quantifier!"
As he said, the group of researchers next to him uncovered a huge box they were carrying. And inside is some kind of staff with a magnifying glass on top, and it also has many engravings around it.
"What I am showing you people is a product of blood and sweat that I made with every fiber of my being... to catch that bastard."
Why so passionate? I think it has something to do with his last sentence. Too bad I didn't hear it.
"With this, you can now quantify other people's rank and power, as the name suggests, without needing to have a mana core. It shows the rough quantities of the mana they possessed, so you can say it is a handheld version of the appraisal crystal. And not just that, here it also analyzes a person's mana quantity, though only at a close distance where mana can be distinguished. "
Hee so we are seeing the making of the scouter huh? I didn't expect the professor to be a DBZ fanatic.
As I was thinking of that, a person raised his hand and asked.
"I would like to save the question for later, but okay, what is it that you want to ask Doctor Laberte?"
Huh, isn't he the doctor Quak who examined me?
Well, I would like to ask if there is any difference with my artifact, the clear monocle. "
"Ah, I see, but since your clear monocle is a very special artifact with a few copies, I think it is above the energy quantifier. But to make it better for the audience, why not tell us the difference?"
As Professor Philip said, he asked the people with him to pass the huge magnifying glass. But more importantly, he wasn't a quak. Let me please apologize to you, doctor. I was being skeptical. I forgot that it is a society where magic artifacts are common.
"Hmm, it's heavy, so I guess its handiness is not comparable to the clear monocles." Now could I ask for any volunteers? "
No adult volunteers, but instead the children raise their hands.
Why, though? But upon careful thinking, I guess the other nobles want to show off their children's growth and hide their own. The entire noble class in the empire is adamant about retaining their title and power.
"Well then, I guess I will choose a few batches from these younglings then."
"Yeah, I guess that's good. All of you help the children that the doctor chooses."
The professor said that the research team with him complied with Dr. Laberte's requests. And after a few minutes, the children who were chosen formed a line for all to see.
But then, as though he remembered something, the doctor called out to me.
"What you, your highness, it is a good chance to have you here as well. And this device could make something of your current situation as well.
I don't think it is necessary that my son has just recovered and I don't think that it is appropriate for him to show his condition to the public right now.
The one who said that just now was my mother, the empress. I remember her from Dustin's memory on just a few occasions when I visited him. And I think Dustin only saw her once when he was poisoned.
I am quite glad she said that on my behalf though, but I think she still has a reason. I think it is about our family reputation. But then someone spoke against her.
"Wait, your majesty, I think this is a good opportunity. It may not be as inappropriate as you think. "
The person who spoke up is the general of the Empire and the younger brother of the Father. One of the many Dukes of royalty who made a name for themselves. Though not as strong as their father, they still hold a certain degree of influence.
Then my father asked the Duke.
"What do you mean?"
"What I meant is that we are all respectable people here. This will not spread into the public, and I think the prince could also benefit from this. "
As he said, there is only one thing I would like to yell at him. Respectable, my ass! It won't get out in public; this is public!
"Duke i think-"
As my mother was about to say something, my father stopped her and said
"Hm alright, I guess it won't be a problem if it is just for a moment."
I don't know why my father agreed, but I saw him talk to my mother as they put their attention back on the children and me.
"Your highness, this was for you."
I followed the researcher who guided me to the last line of children . I suppose this is the worst case scenario for the last one, huh?
And as I waited, I heard the doctor speak in a somewhat amazed manner.
"Hmm, I'm surprised. You are right, although my clear monocle is superior, it is an amazing magic tool. This tool you call the energy quantifier. Am I right? "
"Yes, it's an energy quantifier, so can you explain how it is different from the artifact clear monocle?"
"Mhmm alright, I'll explain. It may be obvious to you all that the clear monocle is a very special artifact whose distribution is strictly controlled, and that those who use it in every royal household must became a eunuch. And all of you should know the reason for this, right? "
"Yes, of course, all of us know."
As Dr. Laberte said, a noble with a big belly answered with a hearty laugh. And if I remember correctly, magic tools and artifacts are very different from each other. Not by its use and capability, but by how and what it is made of. The magic tools are made by using modern magic knowledge and are mostly powered by magic stones and cores. While artifacts from a previous era have been discovered in lost historical sites, it is also a tool that does not require magic stones as a medium or a power supply.
Although I am curious, I think I know what they are talking about and that the clear monocle is an X-ray or some sort of device.
"What I am trying to say is that this magic tool energy quantifier could not obviously do what a clear moncler does, but if you close the distance, you can see clearly how the energy moves within the body."
"Oohhh, I think I know what you are implying there, Doctor Laberte."
"As expected, great minds do think alike. So how about it? "
"Let's talk after you examine all the children."
"Oh, I almost forgot. Alright, then let's continue. "
If I'm not wrong, after getting side tracked, they put aside their thoughts about some kind of collaboration for another time. And then the doctor continues to examine the other children.
Then, as he arrived at my cousin Nevin's, he was surprised.
"This is amazing. I am quite surprised to think that you can achieve this at your age. You have a good future for yourself, young lad."
"That's to be expected. I have the blood of a Sagallion within me. "
Said Nevin, who bragged about his bloodline. After that, he continued, and when he came across a girl, I think she was a foreigner because her looks are not common with us. And she was kind of pretty cute. She has blue-silvery hair and a cold aura around her.
"Young miss, I am surprised your strength is by far the best we have seen so far, but there is something I have to inform your parents. Is that ok with you?"
"Mm"She nodded as she answered back.
"Ok then, Professor let us also inform his majesty about this."
"I'll go and talk to him."
As that happened Doctor Laberte asked professor Philip. Something and as they stop talking they talk to one of the delegates. And they also informed my father about something.
"Sorry about that, let's continue."
As the talk was ongoing the Doctor continued the demonstration and along the way discussed the greatness of the magic tool and how it compliments his artifacts.
And as this continued until he reached the very last person which was me.
"Alright then let us see what we can do for you, your highness."
After waiting for a while they only give a confused look to each other.
"This is strange why the energy vanishes at the point of absorption."
"Can you use your clear monocle Doctor?"
"No, I don't think it is needed. I already memorized the body structure of my patients and it was only a few months after he was released from my care so I am sure there is no need to check again."
"Then can you tell us why"
"It might be because of that incident, though we can't see a person's power by any normal means, we do know a power can absorb and store mana."
"I see that the mana absorbed flowed inside the body but since the power roots are gone there are no ways to keep it inside vanishing to nothing."
"Yes, that may be the case. I'm sorry for your highness but please don't lose hope and live a good life. "
As he was done examining everyone, with me being the last, it was quite awkward. Though I do feel humiliated by all the stares that the people around me give, especially from my cousin's condescending look towards me.
But it is okay because they don't know that my roots are growing back. It is a good thing I am wearing this item under my clothes.
This is the product I made after two weeks of hard work. I have within me a chainmail-like shirt made from Titan's stone scales. And as an added bonus, I also made a short film just to be sure.
Man, that was a lot of hard work. Good thing it paid off. But if the clear monocle was really something else the doctor used, then it would be over.
As I was returning to my seat, I could see a lot of people discussing and looking at me. They were discussing something, and I could somehow feel malice from it.
But I didn't care and just minded my own business. So the banquet continued where it left off because of someone's intervention.
And after all the events were done, the banquet ended for the night.