Sven wanted them to test the wrong chemical formula so they would waste more time.
Every single month they wasted failing to build a musket was another one hundred silver coins added to his pig farm savings.
Minister Hugo walked inside.
"Report your progress immediately." Minister Hugo ordered. "Emperor Louis the Germanic demands a working iron musket by the end of this month. We must equip our knights with these weapons before the Iron Kingdom marches on Paris."
Gerard placed the seamed iron barrel on a testing stand. He secured the metal tube with thick iron clamps.
"We are ready for our very first live test, Minister Hugo," Gerard stated. "We have loaded one ounce of Bernard's balanced powder into the back of the iron barrel. We have inserted a round lead ball weighing exactly one ounce. I will now ignite the powder using a torch to test the firing mechanism."
Sven stood up from his stool. He took twelve steps backward until his back touched the stone wall.
