The Dawn of Innovation: Kraken Watch, Part II
THE KRAKEN REVOLUTION: Breaking Free from the Shackles of Mana Stones and Recharging
This was the massive advertising slogan for the brand, Kraken.
This single sentence was shaking the entire Empire to its core.
Magic weapons and artifacts that functioned without mana stones.
An innovative feature that required absolutely no recharging.
The emergence of Kraken was shattering the long-standing stereotypes of the magical world.
In front of the Kraken store on Sage Street.
A queue of people waiting since dawn stretched all the way to the end of the street.
"Give me a Kraken Watch too, please!" shouted a woman who appeared to be a noble lady, her voice trembling with excitement.
Inside, the store was a chaotic madhouse.
Clerks bustled back and forth, frantically attending to customers' requests, while a relentless crowd swarmed the checkout counter.
"Did you know it would be this popular?" Lisa asked, her face painted with astonishment.
I smiled and nodded.
"Yes, I expected it to do well, but I didn't think it would be quite this crazy."
Our brand had first made a name for itself with the Kraken weapon series.
Now, with the release of our new product, the Kraken Watch, our popularity had reached its absolute zenith.
It received an explosive response, particularly among nobles, high-society ladies, and the youth, instantly cementing itself as the Empire's hottest trend.
Riding the coattails of the Kraken Watch's success, sales of our magic weapons also began to skyrocket.
I was sitting by a cafe window with Lily.
Outside, we could see people busily passing by.
Just then, the cafe door opened, and a woman walked in.
She scanned the room before sitting down at an empty table.
Checking her wrist, she let out a sigh.
A moment later, her Kraken Watch emitted a soft, gentle glow.
The woman checked the watch and smiled.
"Look over there," Lily whispered softly.
We glanced in her direction.
The woman was typing something into her watch.
A few minutes later, the cafe door swung open again.
A panting man rushed in and approached the woman.
"I'm so sorry, the meeting ran long," he gasped.
The woman smiled warmly in response.
"It's fine. I just got your message. Shall we order our coffee now?"
Lily watched them, filled with admiration. "Wow, it really seems like the Kraken Watch has become a must-have item for couples."
"It really has... and you know what? I heard it's even becoming a popular proposal gift."
I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket and showed it to Lily.
It was a draft for a new advertising poster.
Let Kraken deliver your love.
"I came up with this new slogan. What do you think?"
"Oh... that's actually really good! I think you have a real knack for advertising."
She pondered for a moment, then asked, "But how did you ever come up with the idea of short-range communication? Sending messages through a watch..."
I simply smiled.
To be honest, this was a classic modern-world cheat. Making a simple wristwatch felt a bit too boring.
"If a watch allows for even simple interactions, people won't just show up on time—they can coordinate their plans, and even express their love to one another."
It was, for all intents and purposes, a medieval smartwatch.
Now this is what I call innovation.
My plans now extended beyond magic weapons; I intended to expand into the development of magic engineering and artifacts.
The first step was always the hardest, but now, ideas were gushing out of me like a geyser.
Early on a weekend morning, the meeting room on the second floor of the workshop was buzzing with energy.
Our regular meeting, which had started at the crack of dawn, was in full swing.
Lily and I stood at the front of the room. Behind us, a massive blueprint of the Kraken Watch was projected onto the wall.
Intricate circuits and complex magic engraving diagrams were detailed across the display.
"...And so, the basic power generation relies on using Kraken alloy as the raw material, applying a mana circulation amplification technique to engrave the magic formula," I explained.
Lily chimed in to build on my explanation.
"By doing this, we bypass the need for expensive mana stones—which was our primary bottleneck—and can manufacture a lightweight product that sits comfortably on the wrist."
Seated around the conference table were Grover, our technical advisor; Lisa, in charge of sales; and Chloe and William, who served as both investors and employees.
William and Chloe were taking notes diligently, though it was clear they needed more time to fully grasp the complex technical jargon.
Up until now, these meetings had essentially been lectures, explaining the basic manufacturing processes to Chloe, William, and Lisa.
Chloe spoke up hesitantly. "Um... are we actually being helpful to the technical development? I feel like it's hard to take all this in at once."
William chimed in, agreeing. "Yeah, I'm not sure if we even belong in these meetings right now."
I shook my head.
"Just understanding the basic structure and production methods of our workshop's products is a huge help. It'll also help improve your own skills."
Chloe nodded, but William still looked unconvinced, scratching his head with his pen.
"Besides, you'll need a basic understanding for the next topic on our agenda," I added.
William looked up. "What's the next topic?"
"Shall we move on to the next item, then?" I asked.
Lisa took the cue and continued, "As you all know, the Kraken Watch is currently enjoying explosive popularity. For this next segment, I thought we could discuss potential improvements for the watch."
"Implementing the technology is something Lily and I can handle, but the more ideas we have, the better, right?" I said.
William's face brightened instantly. "Oh, if it's just brainstorming ideas, I can definitely do that!"
I nodded and turned to Lisa. "Before we discuss improvements, who is our primary consumer base right now?"
"Due to the high price point, it's mostly nobles who are buying it," Lisa replied. "It's especially trendy in high society. And because of the communication feature, it's incredibly popular among couples."
Chloe added, "When I visited my family home recently, everyone had one. Since nobles live in massive estates or castles, they said it's much easier to contact their servants using the Kraken Watch instead of shouting for them."
Ah, I see.
Hearing this from a genuine high noble made the feedback feel incredibly vivid and practical.
Just then, William raised his hand.
"Yes, William? Do you have an idea?"
"You mentioned it's popular among couples. What if we make different versions for men and women?"
"Hmm... so you're suggesting we diversify the designs?"
William nodded. "Exactly. The deep blue color looks luxurious and fits the nobles' tastes, but it would be great if we could cater to a wider variety of preferences."
Lily raised a concern. "Since the primary material is Kraken alloy, blue is the default. Wouldn't it be difficult to produce different colors?"
I fell into thought.
While creating a wide spectrum of colors would be technically challenging, pink seemed feasible if I substituted the primary slime ingredient with red clown slime.
After a brief calculation, I spoke up. "I think we can manage pink. Shall we create a pink line targeted toward women?"
Chloe looked puzzled. "Why would pink be for women?"
In that instant, it clicked.
Ah, right. This is a medieval fantasy world.
The gender association of pink and blue was a product of the modern era, popularized largely through fashion and mass media.
"Well... you see..."
I hesitated, my mind racing to figure out how to frame a marketing strategy that made sense for this era.
Then, inspiration struck.
"...You know how hearts are often used to express love between couples?" I began to explain. "A heart represents the physical heart, symbolizing the flutter you feel when you look at someone. Since the heart is synonymous with love, what if we use the pink of a blushing heart for a women's line, specifically marketing it for proposals?"
Lisa's eyes sparkled. "From a marketing standpoint, that's brilliant. Since the watch is an expensive item, positioning it as a proposal gift will help lower the psychological barrier to the price."
Just as diamond rings had successfully skyrocketed in demand by being marketed as engagement rings, I felt this could achieve the same effect.
"Oh... and there's another feature I plan to add to the Kraken Watch in the future. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it."
I spoke cautiously, laying out the new feature.
A moment later, everyone in the room wore expressions of utter shock.
Lisa's eyes went wide. "How... how could you even implement such a feature?"
Lily looked equally stunned. "Is that really possible?"
I replied calmly, "Yes. The blueprints are already mostly complete."
A heavy silence hung over the office of the Mana Stone Mining Association's president.
Sitting behind a massive desk, President Oliver Goldstone puffed on a pipe.
With his balding head and protruding belly, he was the very picture of a stereotypical successful businessman.
Oliver Goldstone.
He was the president of the Mana Stone Mining Association and the owner of the largest mana stone mine in the Empire.
Inside the smoke-filled room, Goldstone's eyes were fixed on the newspaper resting on his desk.
The headline, printed in bold lettering, commanded his attention.
He let out a heavy sigh, glaring at the paper.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by his secretary's voice.
"The VIPs have arrived, sir."
Goldstone bolted upright, a flicker of tension crossing his face.
"Bring them in immediately."
The door opened, and two figures stepped inside.
The first was Arthur Winterforge, a man with sharp eyes and a solid jawline that left a striking impression.
He was the CEO of Arcane Arms, the largest magic weapon manufacturer in the Empire.
Following closely behind him was a tall woman with long, silver hair.
It was Elena of Mystic Arts.
"Ah, welcome... Thank you both for making the journey here," Goldstone greeted them, rubbing his hands together.
Elena frowned at the smoke-filled room.
Without a word, she drew a small wand and waved it, flinging the windows and doors open. With another flick, the lingering smoke vanished in an instant.
"Always so efficient, Professor Elena," Goldstone said, offering a sycophantic smile.
Elena replied coldly, "Why did you call us here? I believe the supply price for recharging stones this year has already been settled."
Arthur, the head of Arcane Arms, followed up. "Summoning busy people like us means it must be something of grave importance, yes?"
His physique was so muscular that he resembled a warrior more than a mage, and his sheer presence was overwhelming.
Goldstone shrank back slightly under Arthur's imposing aura, but quickly picked up the newspaper from his desk.
"I'm sure you both have some idea," he said, pointing at the paper.
"Kraken. Because of this upstart, our sales have taken a significant hit. And if our sales are down... it means yours are as well."
Arthur asked coldly, "So? What do you propose we do about it?"
"That is precisely why I invited you both," Goldstone replied cautiously. "When it comes to magic weapons, Mystic Arts and Arcane Arms are undisputed at the top. Shouldn't we take action before that reputation falls into someone else's hands?"
Arthur glared at him with sharp, piercing eyes. "What kind of action? Speak plainly."
Goldstone lowered his voice to a whisper. "We must kill it."
Elena had been suffering from chronic insomnia lately.
Suppressing a throbbing headache, she fell into deep thought.
It wasn't that she hadn't harbored similar thoughts in the dark corners of her mind, but her conscience spoke to her.
She could never stoop to such methods.
Before she was a CEO, she was a professor.
She was a mentor who guided students onto the right path, and before founding her brand, she had truly believed teaching was her calling.
She had rationalized copying technology as a necessary evil for progress, but murder was a line that could never be crossed.
Elena stood up from her seat.
"If you called me here for such a purpose, you have the wrong person. I will pretend I never heard this."
She spoke firmly and walked toward the door.
President Goldstone clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. How does she expect to run a business like that? She should have just stuck to playing teacher... Don't you agree, Lord Winterforge?"
Slam!
Arthur Winterforge slammed his fist onto the table. It shattered instantly, sending splinters flying in every direction.
A sharp piece of wood grazed Oliver's cheek, leaving a thin line of blood in its wake.
"She has grown far too arrogant," Winterforge growled in a low voice.
Oliver stared at Winterforge in shock, touching the cut on his cheek. His fingers came away stained with bright red blood.
The Mana Stone Association had been raking in exorbitant profits by manipulating the supply of recharging stones.
However, because the Imperial Palace was also taking a cut of those profits, they had effectively surrendered control to them.
Winterforge continued, "We mages fight with our intellect. If they have invented a new magic, then we simply need to create something that surpasses it."
"B-but if we leave them be, we will all go under!" Goldstone stammered anxiously.
Winterforge stood up and walked toward the door, murmuring quietly, "That is how mages operate. As for what others do... well, that is none of my concern."
At those words, a sinister smile spread across Oliver Goldstone's face.
"Understood. I will make sure it is handled thoroughly."