Book 2: Chapter 26


    <strong>Son-con  Vol. 2 Ch. 26 (Added Chapter)</strong>


    Since you elders are here today, lets not let what happened a few days ago happen again. I see that General Kurt and Federline are also here. What do you two have to say today? Ah, right, before that, Kurt, I want to know how Andres arrangements for the parade you had nned for my son areing along.


    The empress sat behind the ck veil and spoke in a cold tone without a hint ofpassion. Kurt turned around to look at Andre, and Andre froze because he seemed to be put on the spot. He fidgeted around a bit and then answered in a shaky voice: Your majesty I I overlooked the fact that the garrison guards had just finished their exercise. The soldiers and horses are worn out and are not in condition to put on a parade


    The empress shouted: Useless!


    Andre shivered with fear. His formerly steady eyes became filled with terror in a split moment. He knelt down with a thud, his entire body quaking, not knowing what to say.


    The empress angrily stood up and violently shouted: Useless scum! Does the army get vacations?! If enemies were to attack our imperial city, are you going to tell them that our troops are fatigued, ask the enemy to let them rest for a few days and ask to fight at ater date? The parade is to be conducted the day after. You have one day to rectify the situation with the army. Ill kill whoever doesnt look in optimal condition on the day of the parade! Youre not exempt!


    Andre trembled as he replied: Understood!


    The empress sat back down on her throne, took in a deep breath and then said in an annoyed tone: I led the army for ten years, and never once did I hear the soldiersin of fatigue. Why is it that there are more and more problems after you generals tookmand? Youin about this andin about that. I didntin once when I had to face armies with more than five times the armoury or supplies. I gave you my trust, so I hope that youll return my kindness with merit!


    General Kurt bowed and respectfully replied: I will, your majesty.


    Andre is themander of the imperial army. In terms of ranking, hes lower than Kurt. The empress changed her legs position and then said: Kurt, Federline, what are your opinions on the matter with Castor? I dont want to hear your analysis, just give me your conclusions.


    Understood, your majesty. Umm


    It took quite a bit out of Federline to get his fat body off the ground. He raised his hand which had jewels fitted on every finger and said: Your majesty, I am a merchant. Based on my judgement, if we try to control the business front solely, then our empire will suffer great losses. I believe that only bybining our efforts with the army will we achieveplete victory.


    Your majesty, I believe that it will not be a problem for our troops to capture that city. Their navy is of no significance to us as we can sink their ships when the war starts. Kurt looked in the direction of the empress and firmly continued: Castor is but a mere city. If we can destroy a country, conquering a city is but childs y.


    General Kurt. If I needed that city, I wouldve conquered it years ago.


    The empress supported her face on her hand as she sat on her throne. She sounded tired as she said: What I want right now isntnd. Our empire has enoughnd and territory. Castors religions, their peoples lifestyle, their culture and traditions arepletely different to ours, so its very easy for us toe into conflict. If we act rashly, our businesses there may run into the ground. I want to maintain its status quo. Does our army have the ability to siege their city and force them to surrender?


    I believe it will be very difficult as they have sea ess.


    Federline answered first. With an idea in mind, he said: We cannotpletely trap Castor, but if we point our heavy cannons at the city gates towards them then that will serve to threaten them. That will benefit us during our negotiations.


    The empress pondered his suggestion for a while. She then sighed and said: Forget it. Well discuss this againter. Theres nothing else for today. You may all leave.


    Bang Bang Cough! Cough! Cough!


    Cough, cough! How dare you y with guns in my workshop, you brat! Go outside and test your gun!


    The revolver I created stopped working after firing two shots No, its not because it cant fire consecutively, but because my nose was overwhelmed with the smell of the smoke in the workshop which was released from my gun after I fired the two shots. The entire room was covered in white smoke. I was choking so bad I was tearing up. The red-haireddy also suffocated; she grabbed me by my arm and threw me out of the shop.


    The door of the shop which hadnt been opened in a long time finally opened, albeit for the sake of getting rid of the suffocating and blinding smoke. I took in big breaths of air. Nah, this wont work. This ck gun powder isnt suitable for consecutive shots. If I actually fire six shots, Ill die from smoke inhtion. It looks like I need to create gun powder that doesnt release smoke


    Even Nier was choking and coughing non-stop. She held her chest with her hands as she gasped for air, and while looking at me with contempt, said: I dont know what you invented, but it looks like its capable of choking its wielder to death. If youve finally thought it through andmitted to suiciding, please go into a small room and use it yourself.


    I smiled helplessly as I fanned the gun-smoke and asked: Would I need to choke myself to death if I used this to kill myself?! Couldnt I just put a bullet in my head instead?


    Nier looked at me with anticipation and said: Please go ahead then.


    I wont die!!


    I still dont want to die yet, sorry!


    Despite themotion, the creation of my revolver was very sessful. It may not be aspact as a modern one, but its not a bad revolver. It can fire six shots consecutively, except I wont be able to see anything in front of me afterwards because my vision will bepletely covered by white smoke


    Loading the bullets is also extremely difficult. Thats just one of the problems with revolvers that you cant do anything about.


    To be honest, you continue to surprise me, prince.


    The red-haireddy leaned her back on the wall. She took out a pipe from her pocket, put some tobo leaves in, and said: Where did you get that idea from? The elves have never been renowned for their use of machinery. And judging from your handiwork, handling and thought patterns, its fairly obvious youre an experienced gunsmith. Where did you learn this from in the past? I think that if you were to run a workshop, youd truly be able to change this world.


    Youre ttering me. These are actually ideas I usuallye up with, I just never acted on them is all.


    I looked at the revolver in my hand and then tucked it into my belt. I then smiled and said: Before I leave, I have another idea to share. I hope to see this long gun model made.


    It was the rifle I wanted to make for Lucia. I dont know why myself, but while I was making this revolver, I wanted to make Lucia a rifle that belonged to her alone as well. I believe that Lucia would be formidable with the gun since she has the assistance of wind elves who could assist with bullet trajectory. Shed probably have a one-hundred percent uracy rate.


    As such, I wanted to make Lucia a rifle with rtively high uracy.


    Rifling isnt a problem since this red-haireddy already knows about it. What came to mind therefore was a rifle with high uracy and a greater range. And that would be none other than the Sharps rifle that the United States cleverly crafted.


    But before I create that sort of rifle, I need to make gunpowder which doesnt release smoke first


    The red-haireddy knocked on her pipe, looked at the street, coughed, and faintly said: But a war will probably start soon, wont it?


    I got surprised and asked: WHY?!


    Because Federline runs this street. Hes already ordered gunsmiths to begin making artillery. There has also been someone buying Castor coins at the market recently. Its obvious that something big is about to go down.


    That fatso owns this street?! Hes a firearms merchant?!


    Firearms merchant?


    Someone who sells firearms.


    Hes involved with everything. He originally was an arms manufacturer. Afterwards, when the empire didnt need to go to war, he turned his attention to other stuff. But since hes gone back to manufacturing artillery, its an indication that a war is about to start.


    I nodded, and lowered my head to think about it carefully. Kids who grew up in my generation dont associate any positive adjectives with firearm merchants, because theyre essentially people who incite wars for mary benefits. But I didnt hear anything about a war starting I didnt know about this as the prince. And when I met that fatso yesterday, I didnt realise he was a firearms merchant.


    Then why do they need to buy Castor coins? Whats buying Castor coins got to do with waging a war? Oh Right After Castor bes upied, they wont need their coins anymore But But something like that shouldve been an order passed down from the royal family. I didnt hear anything about it.


    The red-haireddy waved her hand and said: It wasnt someone from the royal family. I havent seen the person whos buying the coins, however, judging by the looks of things, it doesnt seem like hes on the same side as that fatso. Also, I dont think its correct to call it buying. Its more like converting, as in taking Castors coins and then exchanging them for bronze or gold coins.


    Huh? Whod buy Castor coins? Why would they buy Castor coins? Does that mean that something is going to happen to that currency? Is Castor about to face some sort of problem and they coincidentally happen to be preparing for war? I just met with the Envoy from Castor yesterday and I didnt hear anything about the two countries rtionship bing tense.


    I stood up and asked: Wheres the person whos buying Castors coins?


    Why would they buy Castor coins if a war is about to break out?


    Nothing about this is normal!


    Nier,e with me!


    I want to find out what the problem with Castors currency is!


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