Chapter 426: Arms Race (Part 2)
“Clang!”
Another sharp, metallic ring echoed through the air.
Battlefield Wheelchair Man patted the cannon slung over the Ogre’s shoulder, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “And here’s another one—our Claudew Group’s flagship product, the Thunder Hammer IV!”
Navin’s pupils contracted once more.
That was the thing—the Cannon. In the sixteenth Holy City War, these weapons had played a decisive role, even felling several Titan Divine Offspring.
Now, all it took was enough gold coins, and Cassander could possess such power too—enough to bring down an Angel Divine Offspring of their own.
Battlefield Wheelchair Man ran a reverent hand along the cannon’s barrel, continuing: “This Smoothbore Cannon is forged from Special Alloy Craft, engineered to dissipate heat efficiently—preventing Barrel Explosion under sustained fire.”
“And this new shell? Even more impressive. A masterpiece of Empire Armory: the Fragmentation Shell. Its core is packed with Fire powder—upon impact, it detonates violently, scattering shrapnel across a wide radius. Maximum damage, guaranteed.”
“Come on, let me show you.”
The Ogre Artillery accepted the Silver Coin from Battlefield Wheelchair Man, then carefully placed the cannon on the ground. With practiced precision, he adjusted the angle, loaded the shell.
Boom!
The shell arced through the sky in a perfect curve—then exploded hundreds of meters away in a brilliant burst. Shrapnel scattered outward like petals blooming in a sudden storm. No wonder it was called the Fragmentation Shell.
Navin stared into the distance, his expression stunned.
In raw destructive power, this was already on par with a Third Circle Fireball Spell. And in range and area coverage? It utterly dominated.
Noticing Navin’s wide-eyed reaction, Battlefield Wheelchair Man felt his confidence soar. He crossed his arms, grinning triumphantly. “This is the Empire’s Hammer—the ultimate weapon on the battlefield. The undisputed choice for launching mass warfare!”
Navin, eager, asked: “How much for these Rifles and Cannons, then?”
Battlefield Wheelchair Man paused, feigning thoughtfulness. “You know… how much did Thrace Kingdom pay for their batch of military fire?”
Navin shook his head.
“Each Rifle cost them 99 Silver Coins, and each Cannon was 30 gold coins.”
Navin’s eyes widened.
That cheap?
Even the price of a single Fireball Scroll couldn’t match that of one Cannon.
“Exactly,” Battlefield Wheelchair Man said, smiling. “Our Claudew Group has always offered premium quality at unbeatable value—delivering the best experience for every customer.”
He gestured proudly. “Now, the two items I just showed you? Their performance, their craftsmanship—far superior to what we sold to Thrace. So naturally, we’ve adjusted the price slightly—fair, isn’t it?”
“Of course,” Navin nodded, already mentally bracing for a hefty markup.
“But—since you’re a friend of King Kai Xiusu and Otis the Emperor, we’ll give you a Friendship Price.”
He leaned in, lowering his voice: “Each Flying Dragon Flame-I Model at 128 Silver Coins. Each Thunder Hammer IV at 39 gold coins.”
Battlefield Wheelchair Man clutched his chest, feigning agony. “This is practically our cost price—our absolute limit. What do you think?”
Before Navin could reply, Battlefield Wheelchair Man let out a dramatic sigh.
“Ah….”
“In this war, King Kai Xiusu maintains neutrality… but he holds great affection for Cassander Kingdom. He’s long believed Otis the Emperor is the rightful ruler of Fadalan.”
He paused, eyes gleaming. “So, for Otis’s sake… we’ll go even further. Let’s call it a loss leader—a one-time offer you won’t find anywhere else!”
“If you place an order for over 60,000 Rifles and more than 7,000 Cannons in a single transaction, we’ll give you an 80% discount!”
Navin’s lips twitched as he watched the exaggerated performance. But deep down, he was thrilled. At last, he could make a greater contribution to Cassander Kingdom!
“Agreed,” Navin said. “I’ll return immediately to consult with Otis the Emperor, and get you a concrete number as soon as possible.”
“Excellent!” Battlefield Wheelchair Man beamed, his joy palpable.
But he paused, then reached into his coat and pulled out a finely carved gold coin—its obverse bearing a lifelike, regal dragon’s head, the reverse engraved with a vertical pupil and the Ashen Flame Sigil.
This was the Imperial Bank’s newest issue—the Golden Nael, officially known as such, but widely nicknamed the Golden Dragon Head or Emperor Coin due to its distinctive design. It was already circulating widely across the Empire.
“Navin, my friend,” he said, “I almost forgot—Claudew Group only accepts payments in Golden Nael. You’ll need to purchase the equivalent amount from the Imperial Bank before completing the transaction.”
“Understood,” Navin nodded, not overly concerned. He’d already noticed the coin’s weight was solid—just another way the Empire profited from its currency system.
Then, with a flourish, Battlefield Wheelchair Man produced a small, intricately crafted wooden box.
“Oh—before I forget… would you like to see this Collectible Pistol?”
“This is a treasured piece carried by many Imperial Generals—even Marshal Dolo himself can’t put it down.”
And so, in a warm, cordial atmosphere, Battlefield Wheelchair Man sealed another successful sale.
---
Several Days Later, the Cassander Delegation set out north once more.
And Claudew Group received a new order—one that dwarfed even Thrace’s previous purchase. The nation erupted in renewed excitement.
400,000 Flying Dragon Flame-I Model Rifles, 36,000 Thunder Hammer IV Cannons. Millions of rounds of Ammunition and Shells.
Total value: Over two million gold coins.
Battlefield Wheelchair Man was once again crowned the Sales Champion of the month—his fame soaring.
Yet some whispered that it wasn’t just skill—his close ties with Steel Tide were the real reason he kept landing such golden opportunities.
---
Meanwhile, in the vast southern reaches of the Fadalan Region, the war between Cassander and Thrace intensified.
With the Empire of Ashen selling weapons to both sides, civilians from both nations were hastily mobilized, rapidly trained, and armed with Rifles and Ammunition bought from the Empire.
The war, once confined to the Holy City region, now spread across every inch of their shared border.
Over the Sacred Fedran territory, the air was thick with smoke, pierced by the thunderous roars of cannons and rifles. People who had once stood tall for the same Empire now slaughtered each other in bitter conflict.
Under the Empire of Ashen’s quiet orchestration, war—once a brutal game—had evolved. A new era was dawning.
“These rifles, these cannons—they are the source of disaster. We keep buying weapons that kill more, cost more… yet we find our land beneath our feet is already shattered.”
“The people of Fadalan once fought each other—but no one won. Their blood fed the monsters of the north, making them stronger… until, at last, their wings darkened the entire continent.”
—Afterword by Navin Bessalious
(End of Chapter)
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