Chapter 54 : Son-in-law

"Ring?"

Jiude was caught off guard by the mention of the "trillion-dollar scale" and looked down at the ring Knight had placed on the table. It seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"It's the login device for the Magic Internet," Knight explained. "This is a second-generation magic network ring. You might not be too familiar with Internet magic, but—"

"Internet!" Jiude's eyes widened as he interrupted. "I heard about it just the other day! Are you saying... you're the creator of that magic?"

Knight was equally surprised at Jiude's knowledge. Unlike Lucy, Jiude wasn't a mage — just an ordinary man, though an extremely wealthy one.

"I didn't expect you to know about it already. That makes things easier," Knight said, refocusing the conversation. "The first-generation login devices could only be used by mages capable of controlling magic. But the ring on the table is a second-generation model — anyone, even ordinary people, can use it."

Jiude's curiosity piqued even further. Without hesitation, he picked up the ring and slid it onto his finger. Just two days ago, he had attended a gathering of wealthy individuals, where several guild wizards had demonstrated the magic Internet. The technology had captivated everyone in the room, and Jiude had immediately recognized its potential.

He had learned that the Magic Internet was the invention of a genius from Fairy Tail. To now discover that this same genius was sitting across from him — and possibly dating his daughter — filled Jiude with both excitement and surprise.

"How does it work?" Jiude asked eagerly, staring at the ring.

"See that magic crystal on the ring? Just press it lightly," Knight instructed with a smile.

Jiude did as told, pressing the crystal. Immediately, the ring released a small burst of magic. Two types of magic were activated simultaneously: the first, the Magic Internet itself, and the second, a simple soul-binding spell. The latter was harmless, designed to absorb a tiny fragment of the wearer's soul, binding the ring to them permanently.

Jiude felt a brief moment of dizziness, similar to standing up too quickly after sitting for too long. The feeling passed, and before he knew it, a registration interface appeared before him.

"You'll need to create a username for the Internet. I suggest not using—"

But before Knight could finish, Jiude had already entered his full name: Jiude Heartfilia.

Straightforward, Knight thought, though a bit too honest. Then again, being a wealthy businessman, Jiude's use of his real name might actually serve as positive publicity for the ring.

"I saw this two days ago," Jiude remarked as he navigated through the interface, reading various forum posts. "I heard guilds are accepting commissions through the magic network now. Is that true?"

Knight nodded. "Yes, but that's just one of many features. Let me give you a brief overview of the Magic Internet's functions."

Knight walked around the desk and guided Jiude step by step through the system, explaining each feature as he went. As a developer, Knight knew the system inside and out, and Jiude, being a quick learner, absorbed the information with increasing astonishment.

The more Jiude used the Magic Internet, the more his shock grew. The possibilities it presented were staggering. He had always been a keen businessman, and even though he wasn't a mage, he could immediately see the enormous potential of this technology.

When Knight finished his demonstration, he confidently added, "My next project is to develop 'Magic Network Express.' This will allow users to transmit small, lightweight objects through the network."

"Like teleportation magic?" Jiude asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Exactly," Knight confirmed with a nod. "I've mastered the principles of the Flying Thunder God spell, and with the right enhancements to the deep web's code, we'll be able to teleport small items through the network. Eventually, even teleporting people might be possible, but for now, the energy costs are too high to sustain that function."

With a snap, Jiude leaped out of his chair, grabbing Knight's shoulders with enthusiasm. "My dear son-in-law, you're the greatest wizard I've ever seen!"

Son-in-law? Knight blinked in confusion. Did Jiude just call him his son-in-law?

Jiude's focus shifted to business again. "Tell me more about this ring… What's the cost?"

"The second-generation rings cost about 50,000 J to manufacture," Knight said, regaining his composure. "I'm hoping we can work together to reduce the cost and distribute these rings across the continent. This ring will be as essential to daily life as food or water — a household necessity."

Hearing this, Jiude trembled with excitement. This could be the solution to all of his financial problems, the salvation of the Heartfilia family.

"Lucy," Jiude thought to himself, "if only you'd told me earlier that you had such a capable boyfriend! I wouldn't have gone to such lengths to arrange an alliance with the Renier family."

Jiude smiled broadly. "Don't worry. The materials used for the ring are high-quality. If we reduce the material slightly and scale production, we could bring the cost down to under 10,000 J."

Knight raised an eyebrow. "That's impressive."

"I'll handle the business side of things," Jiude said, his mind racing. "I'll take 50% of the profits. The only concern is maintaining the quality."

Jiude chuckled. "Don't worry about quality. In fact, if it's a bit less durable, people will need to buy replacements sooner. It's better that way."

Knight stared out the window, inwardly rolling his eyes. "Mr. Jiude, you truly think like a businessman. Quick to see an opportunity."

Jiude beamed at what he thought was a compliment, laughing heartily. "Hahaha! Dear son-in-law, why don't you stay for dinner tonight? I'll have the kitchen prepare a feast!"

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