Kapitel 45: Fax Machine, Plans For Monopoly, and Omake (?)
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Back to the time when Quinn was still in Hogwarts, and he had some time at hand. He stood in his workshop flipping through a small notepad, looking for ideas. The tiny notepad in his hand was where Quinn noted down the random project ideas that came to him.
"Let's see... typewriter, hmm, not today."
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"A charmed pair of hands for a piano duet? Maybe when I am bored out my mind."
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"Thermal vision eye drops... oh, this sounds interesting. Ah, but I don't have the ingredients."
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"Artificial magical eye... Na, this will need a lot of research."
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After bouncing off some ideas, Quinn finally found something that interested him and was doable for the time constraints.
"Fax machine," spoke Quinn, rubbing his thumb over the page.
"Fax machine... meaning a scanner and printer. Two or more nodes connected to each other," Quinn began mumbling as he sat down on the barstool in his workshop.
After contemplating for a few minutes, Quinn stood up and clapped his hands, "Okay, let's go with this."
He closed his notepad and took out a sheet of paper for drafting the rough idea.
"First, let's decide how to connect two device nodes to each other," said Quinn as he uncapped his fountain pen and started to write.
"I would have to make use of the Protean charm to synchronize the two devices, but what should be the part to be synchronized."
Quinn got up and moved towards a drawer full of scrap metals. He took out two spare pieces of copper from his scrap pile and transmuted them into identical square chips.
With his chin resting on his palm, Quinn charmed the square chips with the Protean charm.
"Here we go," said Quinn as he touched one of the copper chips, and it turned to show a picture of an eagle. He glanced at the other copper chip and saw the same eagle picture on it.
Protean charm was the charm that Hermione Granger used to link fake coins to communicate with the members of Dumbledore's Army. A change in one fake Galleon, in her case, a master coin, would be magically reflected in the others so that when Harry Potter transfigured his charmed coin to show a new date for a D.A. meeting, all the other coins would also exhibit the same changes.
"I will need to formulate a customized version of Protean charm," noted Quinn as he thought of things to accomplish.
Quinn needed to create a charm that would be scalable, which meant that he needed to figure out a way to add new devices to the existing networks of fax devices.
"I also need to figure out how to direct and isolate signals to particular devices."
Another challenge was that, unlike in Dumbledore's Army coins, Quinn didn't need a master device that signaled all other coins. Quinn needed to create a method to send signals to intended devices so that not everyone would get a message for just one device.
"Well, that wouldn't be much of a problem. At least, I hope it wouldn't be a problem," murmured Quinn.
Arithmancy models were needed to develop a customized version of a spell. He needed to define how the magic would be molded to create the intended effect.
Then there were things like if he wanted to use runes in the artifact or if he wanted to stick to charms. Then there were things like how he was going to use Protean charm for scanning and printing.
In the Dumbledore's Army coins, the changes happened when the master coin was transfigured, but Quinn needed the device to detect the ink on paper and work from there.
There were many things that Quinn needed to consider for making the entire system work.
"Let's start from the top up," said Quinn and started to draft the schematics for the plan.
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- (Scene Break) -
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George looked at the two pages in front of him, and other than the slight difference in ink, the contents on the pages were precisely identical.
He looked up from the pages and asked, "How does it work?"
Quinn pulled a stool and sat in front of the table. He pointed his fake wand at the magical fax machine, and all heard a click from both the boxes.
The copper insides of the devices levitated out their wooden frame and floated for all to see.
"I won't go into details, but the device is a clever usage of Protean charm, transfiguration, some light spells, and few other things needed to sum up all of it," Quinn said as he took a blank page and drew a letter envelope on it.
Quinn waved his fake wand, and the lower part of the paper tray slot came out, revealing the upper wall of the paper slot.
"You can't see it, but the upper wall of the slot where you insert the paper has thousands of pores thinner than human hair, and just above the upper wall of the paper slot, there is a hollow space filled with ink."
He placed the paper on the top of the scanner of the other fax prototype and said, "Now, watch."
There was a blue glow below the paper before it turned green. When the light turned green, George and Lia watched as the exposed upper wall of the second fax prototype transfigured to make a protrusion in the shape of the drawn envelope.
"You see the shape of the envelope? The next part is when the pores in the copper would open up to eject a tiny amount of ink, every pore in this envelope-shaped outdent would eject some ink to print the envelope onto a new sheet. Right now, I froze the ink inside, so you can't see the ink come out," explained Quinn.
He had taken the impression of the printer part of the magical apparatus from the inkjet printer technology and imitated the way they printed images onto paper.
"Whatever text or image is scanned on the first machine, the second would copy it out on a new page. And, you noted the speed; it completed the process within seconds," spoke Quinn as he reattached the removed part of the paper slot and lowered the copper insides into the wooden case.
George tapped his finger on the table before asking, "The idea is interesting, but this won't work in the real world. This is too limited."
Quinn smiled and pointed at the magical fax replica, "This right here is just a proof of concepts. I have schematics and models for a practical version ready to be constructed. I just need the materials, and I can deliver in a week tops."
The practical version would be much like a traditional photocopier with different paper sizes, protocols that would not allow printing if there were was no paper.
Lia chimed in and asked, "How many of these can you connect to each other? And, do you have a way to specify who the copy goes to?"
Quinn smirked and responded, "There is no limit to how many of these I can connect to each other. Even if we create as many as magicals on this planet, there will be no problem in connectivity."
Magic didn't have connectivity issues like electric and phone lines. There would be no busy lines or slow connections. The only limit was how fast Quinn's magical printer could print the pages. Everything else was instantaneous as magic didn't have the processing limitations of a computer.
"And, yes. I have a way to decide how to send the message to a specific person. I am thinking of using a combination of three letters and five digits. That would give us a total of over a billion (1,757,600,000) combinations to assign, meaning we can create a billion of these machines. The sender would dial in the code assigned to the receiver to send the message to the correct person."
George hummed before asking, "How long will it take someone to copy the product?"
Quinn shrugged and replied, "It depends. If it is someone smart, they can figure it out within a couple of months. If I put in some effort, then I can extend that by a couple of months. If I really put my mind to it, it would take someone much better than me closer to a year's worth of time."
George stayed silent for a moment before saying, "That is an excellent margin. We can work with that. How much time would it take to train some people to build these?"
Quinn shrugged, "Once again, it would depend on the person's skills. I can build these myself till you can train some people. I will build a manual for that."
George nodded, and Lia suggested, "How about we first test these out in our offices and shops. Get their opinions and see if it works well in a real workplace environment."
Quinn was okay with that and actually supported it. Getting the product tested before rolling it out to the public was standard procedure, and it would help the product development. In the end, the product would improve before the initial release.
George and Lia started to discuss how to proceed from here on, and Quinn just smiled.
'They didn't notice,' he thought before revealing the greatest feature of the product, one that was much bigger than a simple scanner and copier.
"Grandfather, Lia, you are missing something out," said Quinn.
Both of them looked at Quinn, and Lia asked, "What are you talking about?"
"You asked me how a sender will send the message to a particular person," spoke Quinn.
Lia nodded, "You said that every piece would be assigned a code. But, what about that?"
A smile bloomed on Quinn's face, "And, we will be the one to assign those codes to the devices and add those pieces to the network..."
George's eyes widened as he continued for Quinn, "... A network that would be maintained by us, but that means..." He understood what Quinn was talking about.
Quinn chuckled and said while looking at George, "It doesn't matter if some copies our design and launch a product of their own. We control the network that connects all the devices. Without the network and connections, they are nothing but scanners and copiers with no communication capabilities. And, anyone could use a Geminio charm if they want a temporary copy."
"...Even if someone copies our product, they would be too late as we already have an established network, and if they want to sell their version, they would have to come to us for the connection," Lia spoke with a thoughtful look on her face.
"I have designed a runic artifact that would work as connection hubs for the entire network. In easier words, it works like the ward stone used to anchor the wards and protective charms to a building or area. These will also solve the distance problem with faraway countries."
Ward stones were an application of runic magic to cast powerful wards and protective spells to an area. The ward stones provided the protective wards and spells the magic to keep working and were a versatile piece of magic.
Hogwarts had a ward stone that held numerous wards like anti-apparition wards to protect the castle.
Quinn stood on from his stool and bowed, "And, with this, I finish my sales presentation."
George and Lia stared at him with a shocked expression. Quinn had just given them something that would establish them as a monopoly in this business. A monopoly share or complete market domination in an industry with extremely high potential.
Quinn turned towards the door from where Elliot was watching and walked towards him with one hand raised high. Elliot raised his hand in response, and the two shared a loud high five.
"That's how you do it," said Quinn with uumph in his voice and a grin in his voice.
After that, he turned back and asked, "Oh yeah, how much are you going to pay me for this?"
George stared at Quinn and asked, "How much do you want?"
"Double the amount in my student trust vault," responded Quinn, staring into George's eyes.
"Deal," finished George, not taking any time to consider the offer.
"Nice," said Quinn, giving his grandfather a thumbs-up.
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- (Omake: Extra | "I don't know ...") -
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Quinn and Lia came out from a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark and asked, "So, how did you like it? It was good, right?"
His eyes twinkled as he looked up at Lia, expecting a glowing remark from Lia.
Lia hummed in response before speaking, "It was nice, but Indiana Jones didn't play a part in the movie."
Quinn frowned but then chuckled, "Oh, Lia. You must misunderstand things. The person with the fedora and the whip is Indiana Jones. Oh, Lia, what would you do without me." His eyes shined, and he suggested, "On that point, let's get me a fedora. I want to see how they are made so that I can make my own."
Lia sighed and said, "I know who Indiana Jones is, but if he weren't in the movie, the Nazis would have still found the Ark, taken it to the island, opened it up, and all died... just like they did. Indiana Jones didn't need to be in the movie."
Quinn's jaw dropped as he stared at Lia in shock.
He raised his index finger and uttered, "Uh...," but had no point to make.
Lia gently placed a finger under Quinn's chin and slowly closed his mouth for him, "Sorry about that, kiddo."
Quinn just stared at Lia, his mind going blank for the shock he just received.
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Lia had boggled Quinn's mind, so to un-boggle it, he did what was required; he spent hours to completely immerse himself in the film's memory. The film Raider's of the Lost Ark was one of the few memories on which Quinn had accomplished complete immersion. He could recall every scene of the movie in his head.
But it wasn't enough; Quinn went a step further and went to a couple more screenings that showed extra footage to find any clue. He attended every screening that promised to show unshown footage. Quinn talked to fellow enthusiasts about the film, and sometimes in frustration, he would tell them what Lia had said to him, destroying their moods in the process.
The question plagued Quinn's thoughts as, over time, one of his room's walls was covered with plot points, sketches of scenes straight out of memory, questions that needed to be solved, discussion with people he met during the screening, and gatherings he visited.
A bright red yarn connected everything on the walls, making it seem like an investigation board of a crime in the police station.
And finally, one day, he found something. A ray of hope that illuminated his world arrived. A scene that didn't make it to the last cut and gave the proof that Indiana Jones had some influence on the final result.
"Hahahahahahaha!" laughed Quinn, maniacally. He immediately set afoot and sent a message to Lia through the magical fax machine, which they were currently calling the West-mail.
[
Dear sister,
I wholeheartedly believe you are wrong, and it relates to a scene that isn't in the movie. I know for a fact that nazis had the incorrect length staff because they only had one side of the headpiece.
I saw this scene in an extended cut of the movie.
Not only that, but the second side of the headpiece contains more info than just the 'correct' staff length. Also written on the backside are instructions not to look into the Ark...this is how Indy knows to 'KEEP YOUR EYES SHUT' when the Ark is opened.
So, in theory, I am correct, and you are wrong.
Take that!
Love,
Quinn.
]
Quinn smirked when he sent the message, glad that he had shown that the masterpiece film couldn't be wrong.
Her reply came later that evening in a brief message.
[
Quinn,
Huh, what are you talking about?
Lia.
]
Quinn stared at the message in his hand. It made him realize he might be the only one getting worked up on this topic.
He looked at the wall with red yarn and loads of paper on the wall and then looked at his hands.
"What have I become..."
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Quinn West - MC - Would go down in history as the inventor of West-mail or W-mail - Also had a brief spell of madness.
Lia West - Business Women - Ruined the official cut of Raiders of the Last Ark.
FictionOnlyReader - Author - Tried something because he couldn't find a way to end the chapter.
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