Chapter 425: Arms Race (Part 1)
Kai Xiusu, now in human form, casually waved his hand.
With a ripple of the Weave of Magic, the impenetrable space—so solid even the legendary Cassander Mage had failed to breach—was torn open, revealing a Portal.
Seated upon the Throne, Kai Xiusu smiled.
"Give my regards to King Otis. Though the Empire remains neutral in this war, I support him as the rightful heir of Fadalan."
"Go ahead. Pay enough gold coins, and you’ll get exactly what you desire."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Navin Bessalious exclaimed with palpable excitement, bowing deeply before stepping through the Portal.
The Emperor holds Cassander in high regard!
He even personally showed his support!
Navin’s heart raced with anticipation as he stepped through, unaware that Kai Xiusu’s interest was not born of loyalty—but of admiration for Cassander’s overflowing national treasury and its deep-rooted legacy of Fadalan’s past.
Outside the Portal, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man had been waiting for ages. Seeing the arrival, his face lit up with a broad grin. He gave a flawless Fadalan bow, then stepped forward with exaggerated warmth.
"You must be Lord Navin! I’ve heard so much about you."
"I’m the Battlefield Wheelchair Man—your dedicated Product Consultant for this transaction. Please, follow me."
"Of course. Thank you."
"Please, no need for such formality. It’s my duty. The Claudew Group always treats our customers as… uh… distinguished guests."
A slight twitch curled at the corner of his lips.
The man’s over-the-top enthusiasm made Navin slightly uncomfortable, yet he nodded politely, masking his unease.
Days earlier, the Battlefield Wheelchair Man had received intelligence confirming that the unassuming man before him was none other than Navin Bessalious, secret emissary of the Cassander Kingdom.
This is a golden opportunity!
No, not just a golden opportunity—a prime client!
Ever since his last successful sale to the Thrace Kingdom, which had brought him a massive commission, he’d unlocked a whole new world. Since then, his success had been unstoppable.
Now, he was the Gold Medal Product Consultant of the Claudew Military Industry Group, leading in sales performance, having won the Sales Champion title for multiple consecutive years—on his way to becoming Group Sales Manager.
This world, Ailezegai, is so real, so vivid.
Battle and adventure aren’t the only paths.
Every player can find their place.
And for the Battlefield Wheelchair Man, lacking natural talent for the battlefield, he’d chosen another path—the battlefield of commerce.
Boom! Boom!
Distant thunderous detonations echoed across the landscape, but the people around were utterly unfazed. The Battlefield Wheelchair Man walked ahead with calm confidence, while Navin, intrigued, scanned the surroundings with keen curiosity.
They stood just outside Isdalia, where the towering altar loomed high on a cliffside in the distance.
The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke.
Scattered across the open field were rows of humanoid target dummies—some upright, some prone—while further out, the ground was pockmarked with dense clusters of shell craters.
Along the wide road, columns of Great Goblins marched in formation, rifles slung over their shoulders.
The Battlefield Wheelchair Man explained, “This is the Imperial Army Range—used not only for infantry training, but also for testing our new products.”
"Come this way. I’ll take you to the dedicated testing grounds."
"Very well."
Navin watched the Great Goblins in training, thoughtful.
Their weapons differed noticeably from those used by the Thrace Kingdom’s soldiers.
But he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he followed the man down a side path, leading into a new area.
"Here we are."
Clap! Clap!
The Battlefield Wheelchair Man clapped his hands.
"Show our new client what our group has to offer!"
At once, a squad of Great Goblins approached, carrying wooden crates. From afar, several Ogres heaved forward massive cannons on their shoulders.
Turning back to face Navin, the man’s eyes burned with intensity.
"Lord Navin, you’ve traveled far. What kind of product are you seeking today?"
"Rest assured—Claudew Group’s products are unmatched in quality across the entire Feiansuo Continent. We guarantee satisfaction."
Navin paused, reflecting.
"I trust your weapons are top-tier."
"After all… those weapons you sold to the Thrace Kingdom? We Cassander Kingdom suffered real losses because of them."
"I need weapons capable of arming mortals—enough to match the strength of Thrace’s army. Can you still deliver such power?"
"Oh-ho!"
The Battlefield Wheelchair Man dramatically slapped his thigh.
"You’ve come at the perfect time!"
He signaled with a glance. The Great Goblin behind him opened the wooden box, revealing a long spear coated in oil.
Navin leaned in, eager.
The man seized the moment, playing the part of the master craftsman.
"You may not know this, but the rifles Thrace received were the Break Enemy Fire-III Model—a model we’ve long since retired. Our assembly lines stopped production entirely.
To be blunt, they’re nothing more than scrap we piled in our warehouses."
"But this?"
He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"This is our latest breakthrough—the Flying Dragon Flame-I Model, the King of the New Era Battlefield!"
He lifted the spear from the box, expertly loading ammunition, then raised the rifle and aimed at a distant target dummy.
Bang!
The dummy’s forehead erupted in a clean, smoking hole.
The Battlefield Wheelchair Man didn’t even glance at the target. He spun around, tapped the barrel of the rifle with a confident flick, and began his pitch with flair.
"This, my lord, is the cutting-edge infantry weapon of the Empire—the revolutionary Flying Dragon Flame-I Model."
"Compared to its predecessor, this model introduces smokeless ammunition, delivering dramatic improvements in range, armor penetration, and firepower. It’s earned immense praise within the Imperial Army."
"Even the Five-Star General—no, the Imperial Marshal Dolo himself—has declared: ‘A soldier without a Flying Dragon Flame-I Model is not a true qualified warrior of the Empire.’"
"Th-this is…"
Navin’s breath caught.
Shock surged through him—then, a wave of exhilarating triumph.
So the Thrace Kingdom received only the worst, most outdated weapons!
But I—
I can take the Empire’s most advanced, highest-rated gear back to Cassander!
With this, Cassander will gain a decisive edge over Thrace!
Right now, Cassander’s military stood evenly matched against the combined forces of Thrace and Seleucus.
Even the smallest advantage could tip the Balance of Power—and possibly turn the tide of war.
Yet the Battlefield Wheelchair Man’s voice continued, a stream of polished sales rhetoric, and Navin forced himself to remain composed, listening closely—though most of it was empty flourish, nothing but hollow, ornate words.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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