Chapter 215: Ammunition Depot, Muggle Wands
Compared to last year, Aaron's summer vacation this year was much more relaxed.
His teachers were less strict, and he had more free time, even managing to spend two or three hours in Diagon Alleyeach day.
He spent six days adapting to his new tutoring schedule, until the seventh day when Gines led him to the armory.
"I'm ready!" Aaron warmed up confidently. "What's today's after-dinner exercise? Earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, or high-altitude freefall?"
"None of those," Gines shook his head gently, pulling out a gray key engraved with the number three. "The second phase is enough to experience once or twice; it's not necessarily a good thing to get truly accustomed to it."
Aaron raised an eyebrow, looking thoughtfully at the third key in Gines's hand. "So I'm already entering the third phase?"
"Of course."
Gines inserted the key into the lock on the wall.
With a click, the entire Chamber of Secrets underwent a dramatic transformation.
First, the space expanded more than tenfold; second, the ceiling became a blue sky with white clouds, and the floor turned into a lawn; most importantly, all the weapons on the shelves were completely changed.
Bows and arrows, giant hammers, armor, swords, and spears all disappeared, replaced by various modern firearms: pistols, rifles, sniper rifles, grenades, rocket launchers, and so on.
Gulp!
Aaron swallowed, staring blankly at these modern thermal weapons, too stunned to speak.
This armory was definitely true to its name, but for a Wizardfamily with a heritage of thousands of years, learning this... would it even be useful?
"I believe young master has some understanding of these weapons, but understanding is one thing; knowing how to use them is another matter entirely."
"Uh... I understand the principle, but this, this... does it have any meaning?"
"Of course, it has meaning," Gines patiently explained. "These weapons are the Muggles' wands. Although their function is particularly singular, they are still enough to take a Wizard's life.
For this reason alone, young master, you must learn to use them."
Aaron pouted. To him, practicing swords and practicing guns were not much different.
He picked up a revolver from the shelf, spun open the cylinder, and saw it was loaded with six bullets.
"Quite new!"
"These are newly stocked goods from last year," Gines said with a hint of pride. "A specially customized batch from Gaius Industries."
Bang!
Aaron accidentally pulled the trigger. "Don't tell me Gaius also produces military weapons."
"The company was established around the last century, so it's considered an old-brand arms dealer.
However, your great-grandfather's purpose in developing military industries was simply not to let the Gaius family fall behind the times, so it wasn't given much importance. It only ranks among the top twenty globally."
Aaron's mouth twitched fiercely. He knew the Gaius family had many industries, but he never expected them to be in this kind of business, and seemingly thriving at that.
"My great-grandfather was truly cunning, no, wise, no, truly far-sighted!" Aaron exclaimed. "One decision he made back then added a third phase of training for us, three generations."
"To be precise, it was two generations, father and son. The old patriarch was already an adult at the time, and his connection with these firearms and ammunition wasn't that significant.
In fact, young master, you've actually gotten a bit of a bargain; at least your training conditions are much better than the patriarch's."
"But I don't think so," Aaron glared fiercely at Gines. "At least I have more to learn than Vico, and it's also harder."
"Don't be so serious," Gines teased. "Young master, you are a Wizard after all. Knowing how to use these weapons is enough; you're not required to be as proficient as a professional soldier."
"Hmm? I can reluctantly accept that. But can you tell me why the requirements are lowered?"
"Because the Muggle world is developing very fast, and weapons are updated quickly.
And young master, you are a Wizard; magic is the path you are destined to follow. There's no need to strive for perfection with Muggle weapons.
They become obsolete quickly, and there won't be a qualitative breakthrough in the short term. Simply understanding the basic operation is sufficient."
"I see," Aaron nodded thoughtfully, indicating his understanding.
Gines took out his wand, waved it with one hand, and a row of targets appeared on the grass directly in front.
"They are at ten meters, twenty meters, and fifty meters. After that, there will be a new target every hundred meters, covering the range of various firearms. If you get bored, you can switch to moving targets.
Each weapon has an instruction manual below it. Young master can explore and practice on his own. As for the bullets..." Gines glanced at the at least three ammunition boxes stacked next to each shelf. "Fire as much as you want; we can restock anytime you run out."
Aaron:...I probably won't even finish shooting; my hand won't be able to hold a wand anymore.
At this moment, he felt immense pressure. He was somewhat interested in these weapons, but there were too many of them.
It was fortunate that this course didn't have high requirements, otherwise, he really wouldn't graduate without a year and a half.
"Uncle Gines, you've been through this. Did my father have any tricks when he trained?"
"Yes, he did," Gines nodded seriously.
Aaron's face immediately lit up with joy, unable to contain his excitement.
He had just asked casually, not holding out much hope, but he didn't expect to actually get something.
"Why didn't you tell me this important information earlier?"
You didn't ask!
Gines secretly grumbled in his heart.
But he also knew he couldn't say that, after all, his young master wasn't someone to be trifled with and might just jot it down in his little notebook.
"I was just about to tell you," Gines puffed out his chest, appearing self-righteous.
Aaron looked at him deeply, always feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"What's the trick?"
"Young master, try injecting magic into it?"
Aaron's interest was piqued. Could these also be magicweapons?
He immediately did as told, and as magic power flowed in, a pale white magic circle appeared on the revolver's barrel.
As the wielder, he immediately understood that this magiccircle could adjust the angle of the bullet's trajectory, increasing the hit rate by at least twenty percent.
"My goodness!" Aaron couldn't help but exclaim, "I love magic!
But with so many firearms and ammunition, replacing a batch every six months is quite extravagant."
"It's not that much trouble," Gines explained. "This is just the simplest enchantment. A few professional Wizards can complete it in a day. Conveniently, Gaius Industries has cultivated talents in this area."
Aaron also felt his question seemed a bit foolish. This level of consumption was less than a drop in the bucket for the vast Gaius family.
"Besides improving accuracy, are there any other functions?"
"It can also increase power," Gines said, pointing to a rocket launcher with conviction. "If a Wizard uses it, the destructive power can be increased by at least thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?" Although Aaron was somewhat surprised, he wasn't entirely satisfied with the number. "Only thirty percent?"
"That's already not low," Gines said exasperatedly. "Firstly, these are just ordinary materials and can only withstand one enchantment, either to increase power or accuracy.
Secondly, these weapons are only prepared for young master's training. Except for a few Wizards who make a living in the Muggle world, almost no one would order enchanted firearms.
Thirdly, Muggles have no magic and cannot activate the formations on them. To them, these weapons have no special properties and do not help Gaius Industries' product exports.
Most importantly, weapons also need maintenance, and enchanted magic circles are the same. The return on investment in research in this area is predictable.
Of course, if Lord Weihe was willing to take action, then the situation would be different."
Aaron heard this and smiled faintly with disdain.
He thought it sounded nice, but Weihe wouldn't waste time on Muggle weapons. Unless it was a divine artifact, asking him for help would be a pipe dream.
"Sigh! I'll have to learn enchanting magic later.
With my talent, I should be able to improve accuracy or power by one to two tenths based on the existing foundation." Aaron shrugged, then picked up the revolver and fired five shots at the target ten meters away.
Thanks to his extraordinary physical fitness, aiming and shooting were seamless. All five shots hit the bullseye, scoring fifty rings.
Aaron's lips curved slightly, but his joy lasted less than three seconds before a commotion sounded beside him.
"Young master's shooting talent is good, but the third phase isn't that simple.
An excellent marksman is fed with bullets, and a terrifying marksman is fed with firearms." Gines placed a stack of ammunition boxes in front of him, and also brought over various pistols. "Try every type of weapon!
I've set a small goal for you, young master: you must empty one magazine from each gun, and for the ten-meter target, the accuracy cannot be lower than fifty percent."
Aaron looked at the pile of firearms, which resembled a small mountain, and forced a smile.
There were at least a hundred types of guns, meaning he would have to fire almost a thousand bullets in one session.
"Are you trying to exhaust me to death?"
"This subordinate wouldn't dare." Gines skillfully pulled out a bottle of bluish-purple Potion. "This is what I specifically asked Lord Lant to prepare for you. Just a dab will eliminate fatigue."
Aaron:... "How thoughtful."
"It's my duty as your subordinate."
Aaron rolled his eyes, tossed the revolver aside, and casually drew another pistol.
Bang! Bang! Bang... For over two hours, the gunfire never stopped.
Aaron agonizingly emptied one magazine, and Gines would promptly hand him a brand new pistol. Coupled with the target that always reset to its original state no matter how many times it was hit, it made him feel as if everything had fallen into an endless loop.
Lant's Potion did indeed play a significant role; his arms and fingers felt no fatigue, but the mental exhaustion was not easily remedied by Potion alone.
Moreover, the intermittent use of magic weapons for over two hours, with the continuous consumption of magicpower, was even starting to wear down him, a mid-level Magus.
Dropping the last pistol, Aaron cleared the dense pile of bullet casings at his feet and collapsed weakly onto the grass.
"It's finally over."
"Accuracy is around eighty percent," Gines recorded in his small notebook. "Congratulations, young master, you've barely passed the pistol section."
Hearing this, Aaron angrily turned his face away. "Stop with the sarcastic remarks. You try firing a gun for over two hours straight; if it doesn't exhaust you, it'll annoy you to death.
Besides, this is my first time using a gun, so this result is pretty good."
"Young master, you're being a bit too modest," Gines said with some dissatisfaction. "Do you remember your performance at Ollivander's wand shop two years ago? All the wands showed allegiance to you.
Mere Muggle wands..."
"Get lost!" Aaron grabbed a handful of bullet casings and threw them over. "'Mere Muggle wands,' you think it's a wand just because it's enchanted?
I'm already thirteen, don't try to fool me like I'm an idiot!"