[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-426":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161957,1504,"Chapter 426: The Arms Race (Part 2)","ember-dragon-chapter-426",426,"\u003Cp>Chapter 426: The Arms Race (Part 2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clang!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another crisp sound rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin’s pupils contracted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, with enough gold, Kassande could have the same firepower! They could use it to shoot down enemy angelic scions!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go ahead, give our client a demonstration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogre artilleryman pocketed Battlefield Wheelchair’s silver coin, set the cannon on the ground, skillfully calculated the angle, and loaded the shell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shell arced beautifully through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It exploded hundreds of meters away, scattering shrapnel like blooming flowers—living up to the name \"fragmentation shell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin stared into the distance, astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Navin’s expression, Battlefield Wheelchair knew he had him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin couldn’t wait any longer and asked, \"How much for these rifles and cannons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battlefield Wheelchair, savoring the moment, smiled and asked, \"Do you know how much Thrace paid for their batch of weapons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Each rifle cost them 99 silver coins, and each cannon was priced at 30 gold coins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That cheap?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The price of a cannon was even less than a single Fireball spell scroll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. Our products at Klauberwu Group are always affordable and designed to give our customers the best experience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battlefield Wheelchair continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin nodded, already prepared to be charged a premium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, out of respect for the friendship between His Majesty Cassius and His Majesty Otis, we’re offering you a special rate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Each [Wyvern’s Flame-I] rifle is priced at 128 silver coins, and each [Thunder Hammer-IV] cannon is priced at 39 gold coins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battlefield Wheelchair clutched his chest as if it physically pained him to give this discount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is practically at cost price, the lowest we can go. How does that sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Navin could respond, Battlefield Wheelchair heaved a dramatic sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although Cassius remains neutral in this war, he has a favorable view of Kassande and believes that Otis is the rightful heir of Fadlan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, for the sake of His Majesty Otis, we’re willing to take a loss and offer you an unprecedented discount!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you place an order for at least 60,000 rifles and 7,000 cannons, you’ll receive a 20% discount!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Battlefield Wheelchair’s over-the-top performance, Navin’s lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But deep down, he was overjoyed. He was finally making a significant contribution to Kassande!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well. I’ll return immediately to discuss this with His Majesty Otis and give you a confirmed figure as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fantastic!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battlefield Wheelchair’s face lit up with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood. Thank you for the reminder.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navin nodded, not particularly concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Battlefield Wheelchair then produced a small, elegant wooden box and leaned in closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, would you be interested in this limited-edition pistol?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a favorite among imperial officers, and even Field Marshal Dolo is said to be quite fond of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, in this friendly atmosphere, Battlefield Wheelchair successfully completed another sale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days later, the Kassande delegation headed back north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Klauberwu Group received an enormous order from Kassande, surpassing even the one placed by Thrace, and it quickly became the talk of the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The order included 400,000 [Wyvern’s Flame-I] rifles and 36,000 [Thunder Hammer-IV] cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless rounds of ammunition and artillery shells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Totaling over 2 million gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, Battlefield Wheelchair was crowned Sales Champion of the Month, basking in glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, some questioned whether his success was due to his connections with Steel Tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in the vast southern regions of Fadlan, the war between Kassande and Thrace intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames of war spread from the Holy City to every inch of their shared border.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across Fadlan’s vast lands, smoke filled the air, and gunfire echoed as former citizens of the same empire slaughtered one another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Ember Empire fueling the conflict, war became a brutal game with new rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new era was dawning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>——\"Postscript\", Navin Besalius\u003C\u002Fp>",1030,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","1269c626024a2a7f002774dd93050b6e453e61ddaee632be1f030d04ac87c39c","ember-dragon-chapter-427","ember-dragon-chapter-315",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]