Chapter 426: The Arms Race (Part 2)
"Clang!"
Another crisp sound rang out.
Battlefield Wheelchair patted the cannon resting on the ogre's shoulder and excitedly said, "And this one, the [Thunder Hammer-IV Series], a heavyweight product from Klauberwu Group!"
Navin's pupils contracted again.
This was the very thing they called "cannons"! These weapons played a significant role in the Sixteenth Holy City War, even injuring several Titan scions!
And now, with enough gold, Kassande could have the same firepower! They could use it to shoot down enemy angelic scions!
Battlefield Wheelchair lovingly stroked the cannon's body and continued, "This smoothbore cannon is made from a special alloy that effectively dissipates heat and prevents misfires."
"Even more impressive is this new type of shell, carefully crafted by the Imperial Armory. It's a fragmentation shell filled with gunpowder that explodes upon impact, maximizing damage to the enemy."
"Go ahead, give our client a demonstration."
The ogre artilleryman pocketed Battlefield Wheelchair's silver coin, set the cannon on the ground, skillfully calculated the angle, and loaded the shell.
"Boom!"
The shell arced beautifully through the air.
It exploded hundreds of meters away, scattering shrapnel like blooming flowers—living up to the name "fragmentation shell."
Navin stared into the distance, astonished.
In terms of pure destructive power, this was on par with a third-circle Fireball spell, but it had a superior range and impact area.
Seeing Navin's expression, Battlefield Wheelchair knew he had him.
With his hands on his hips, he proudly declared, "This is the Hammer of the Empire, the ultimate weapon on the battlefield, and the number one choice for large-scale wars!"
Navin couldn't wait any longer and asked, "How much for these rifles and cannons?"
Battlefield Wheelchair, savoring the moment, smiled and asked, "Do you know how much Thrace paid for their batch of weapons?"
Navin shook his head.
"Each rifle cost them 99 silver coins, and each cannon was priced at 30 gold coins."
Navin's eyes widened.
That cheap?
The price of a cannon was even less than a single Fireball spell scroll.
"Exactly. Our products at Klauberwu Group are always affordable and designed to give our customers the best experience."
Battlefield Wheelchair continued:
"The products I'm showing you today are far superior in performance and appearance to those sold to Thrace, so we've adjusted the price slightly—but I'm sure you'll agree it's reasonable."
"Of course."
Navin nodded, already prepared to be charged a premium.
"However, out of respect for the friendship between His Majesty Cassius and His Majesty Otis, we're offering you a special rate."
"Each [Wyvern's Flame-I] rifle is priced at 128 silver coins, and each [Thunder Hammer-IV] cannon is priced at 39 gold coins."
Battlefield Wheelchair clutched his chest as if it physically pained him to give this discount.
"This is practically at cost price, the lowest we can go. How does that sound?"
Before Navin could respond, Battlefield Wheelchair heaved a dramatic sigh.
"Sigh—"
"Although Cassius remains neutral in this war, he has a favorable view of Kassande and believes that Otis is the rightful heir of Fadlan."
"So, for the sake of His Majesty Otis, we're willing to take a loss and offer you an unprecedented discount!"
"If you place an order for at least 60,000 rifles and 7,000 cannons, you'll receive a 20% discount!"
Watching Battlefield Wheelchair's over-the-top performance, Navin's lips twitched.
But deep down, he was overjoyed. He was finally making a significant contribution to Kassande!
"Very well. I'll return immediately to discuss this with His Majesty Otis and give you a confirmed figure as soon as possible."
"Fantastic!"
Battlefield Wheelchair's face lit up with joy.
After a moment of thought, he pulled out an intricately designed gold coin. The front featured a lifelike dragon's head, while the back displayed a slit pupil and flames forming the Ember crest.
This was the newest coin issued by the Imperial Bank, now widely circulated within the empire. Officially named [Ginar],it was popularly referred to as "Dragon Head Gold" or "Emperor Coin."
"Lord Navin, I almost forgot to mention—we only accept payments in Ginar. You'll need to exchange your currency for Ginars at the Imperial Bank before completing the transaction."
"Understood. Thank you for the reminder."
Navin nodded, not particularly concerned.
He had examined the coin closely and found that its weight was only marginally different—he saw it as merely a means for the empire to profit from minting.
Battlefield Wheelchair then produced a small, elegant wooden box and leaned in closer.
"By the way, would you be interested in this limited-edition pistol?"
"It's a favorite among imperial officers, and even Field Marshal Dolo is said to be quite fond of it."
And so, in this friendly atmosphere, Battlefield Wheelchair successfully completed another sale.
Days later, the Kassande delegation headed back north.
Klauberwu Group received an enormous order from Kassande, surpassing even the one placed by Thrace, and it quickly became the talk of the empire.
The order included 400,000 [Wyvern's Flame-I] rifles and 36,000 [Thunder Hammer-IV] cannons.
Countless rounds of ammunition and artillery shells.
Totaling over 2 million gold coins.
Once again, Battlefield Wheelchair was crowned Sales Champion of the Month, basking in glory.
However, some questioned whether his success was due to his connections with Steel Tide.
Meanwhile, in the vast southern regions of Fadlan, the war between Kassande and Thrace intensified.
With the Ember Empire selling arms to both sides, Kassande and Thrace recruited large numbers of civilians, gave them brief training, and armed them with imperial rifles and ammunition.
The flames of war spread from the Holy City to every inch of their shared border.
Across Fadlan's vast lands, smoke filled the air, and gunfire echoed as former citizens of the same empire slaughtered one another.
With the Ember Empire fueling the conflict, war became a brutal game with new rules.
A new era was dawning.
"These rifles and cannons are the source of disaster. We kept purchasing more lethal and expensive arms, only to find our lands left in ruins."
"The former citizens of Fadlan killed each other, yet no one emerged victorious. Their blood nourished the monsters of the north, making them stronger until—its wings covered the entire continent."
——"Postscript", Navin Besalius