Chapter 481: The Ally of the Armed Great Graveyard

The old chieftain's sigh was not groundless; Campbell had indeed joined hands with the demons of Hell, it was just that the Campbell people themselves didn't realize it.

The one standing behind them was none other than the Demon King of Lei Ming County.

And at this moment, this respected Demon King was standing on the lawn in the backyard of the Andi Manor, talking and laughing with his dear ally, and looking with a smile at this Grand Duke who was fiddling with his new toy brought from "overseas."

Only to see beside a long table, Edward was holding a musket, examining it as if comparing a telescope.

His face carried deep interest, as well as a trace of imperceptible scrutiny, as if he were weighing his ally's strength.

Several loyal Campbell guards stood far away, their faces carrying awe and curiosity as they looked over here.

Regarding the legendary standard weapons of the Kelin Principality, they, as soldiers, and Grand Duke Edward were all full of curiosity in their hearts.

That streamlined rifle looked shorter than the standard flintlock muskets equipped by the Campbell Principality, and its body was also more lightweight; the dark wooden stock was polished smooth and warm, while the cold steel parts exuded a precise and dangerous luster, like a piece of art.

The appearance is not bad, looking much more elegant than those heavy flintlock muskets in the armory. It's just a pity that the barrel of this thing is too short; I'm afraid it will suffer a big loss once it enters the bayonet fighting stage.

Fighting against the Demon King's army, which is good at close combat, close-quarters fighting is a common occurrence, and what the Campbell people are best at is this. As early as the middle of the First Epoch, they were famous in the Old Continent as "mercenary phalanx spearmen," until later, during the Ai Sa Ke Dynasty, they became the most elite musketeers under Lin Te Ai Sa Ke, and unlocked the "Gunpowder Inheritance."

While several soldiers were silently giving evaluations in their hearts, Edward in his heart also gave a similar evaluation—

The ally's weapon looks like it's the real deal.

However, a rifle, after all, depends on power and rate of fire. I hope what this Prince Kelin brought is not just a flashy, useless thing.

"... Very interesting design; I didn't expect the production technology of the Kelin Principality to be so advanced, being able to make weapons like art pieces." Edward's face carried a brilliant smile, and he placed the musket in his hand gently on the table.

Luo Yan smiled lightly and said in a chatty tone.

"Haha, Your Highness, this is no art piece; its power is in no way inferior to the mainstream weapons of the Imperial Army."

"Is that so? That is truly something to look forward to." Edward's eyes indeed had a bit more expectation, that look seeming to imply he should demonstrate it for himself.

Luo Yan naturally saw his expectation, stepped forward, and took the musket Edward had put down into his hand.

"Please allow me to demonstrate for you, Your Highness."

While saying this, he took a strange bullet from a leather ammunition box on the table beside him.

The tail of that bullet was a rolled paper shell, which seemed to wrap gunpowder inside, while the front was a sharp lead bullet head.

Under the interested gaze of Edward and the Campbell soldiers, this magician gentleman skillfully pulled a metal lever located at the rear of the breech towards the back, revealing an empty cylindrical chamber.

Then he stuffed the paper-shell bullet into it, and then with a "click," pushed the lever back to its original position, and the chamber was locked.

The whole action was as natural as breathing, so smooth that it made everyone show an expression of surprise; the cumbersome loading steps could actually be simplified to this extent.

Compared to using a ramrod to clean the barrel, carefully pouring in a fixed amount of gunpowder, inserting the projectile, and then using a ramrod to pack it tight, and so on, a series of cumbersome steps... this was simply a child's game!

"Very simple, isn't it?"

Seeing Edward's heart move, Luo Yan handed the musket back to him, saying with a relaxed smile, "I want to give you the opportunity for a test shot; regarding its power, you will be able to fully feel it from the recoil."

"Haha, then I will respectfully obey."

Edward had exactly this intention, and didn't decline, smiling as he took the rifle from Mr. Kelin's hand.

Two servants quickly stepped forward and inserted a target on the other end of the lawn, about a hundred paces away from Edward.

After waiting for the servants to leave, Edward raised the gun, squinted his eyes to aim at the target, and pulled the trigger in his hand.

"Bang—!"

The explosion of gunpowder broke the tranquility of the manor.

For a Gold-level powerhouse, this bit of recoil could at most blow his collar, but it still surprised Edward in his heart.

This power is not to be underestimated!

And at the same time, a small pile of debris exploded in the center of the target in the distance.

While Edward was surprised at the power of this shot, the Campbell soldiers standing on the side were shocked at His Majesty's marksmanship, actually hitting near the bullseye!

Even if their Grand Duke was a transcendent, wanting to hit a target with a flintlock musket was by no means an easy thing. After all, in their cognition, firearms are different from bows and arrows; the flight trajectory of the bullet is very random, and it must rely on dense gun formations to form sufficient firepower.

Edward clearly also realized this point; this rifle's power was not only not inferior to the best flintlock musket in his army, but its accuracy was also a bit exaggerated.

He took this as a coincidence and decided to try again, so he learned Mr. Kelin's action, pulled open the metal lever, and opened the locked chamber.

And it was also at this moment that he was stunned again.

Only to see the spiral patterns faintly visible in that empty chamber, but uniquely, he didn't see any residual gunpowder residue!

No need to clean the barrel—

Can directly load the next one!

Gradually realizing something, Edward didn't hesitate anymore, almost instinctively picking up the second paper-shell bullet from the table.

His movements were clumsy, yet exceptionally rapid; he soon stuffed the bullet into the chamber, pulled the metal lever, and raised the gun to aim again!

"Bang—!"

Another shot!

The orange-yellow flame sprayed out suddenly, drawing a straight trajectory in the air, accurately hitting the target a hundred paces away!

Grand Duke Edward's movements became faster and faster, smoother and smoother, and his expression became increasingly surprised, as if he had seen an incredible miracle. 【481

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Crisp gunshots rang out in the backyard one after another, like a rapid drumbeat.

In just half a minute, this Grand Duke, skilled in horsemanship and charging, had transformed into the most elite musketeer in the Campbell army.

His fastest record was actually firing five bullets in a mere ten seconds, and every single one hit the target precisely!

No barrel explosion!

And no misfires!

The soldiers nearby were stunned; it was their first time seeing such an exaggerated weapon, to the point where they couldn't believe their eyes.

After emptying the magazine, Edward finally stopped and set down the rifle, its barrel already scorching hot.

Looking at the riddled target in the distance, his expression remained steady, but his heart was surging with turbulent waves.

Five shots in ten seconds...

What a terrifying rate of fire!

Even for the most elite line infantry regiment of the Campbell Duchy, firing four volleys in a minute was a feat worthy of a medal!

He couldn't even imagine what a terrifying presence Campbell's army would be on the battlefield if they were all equipped with such weapons!

Faced with a firepower of thirty rounds per minute, even a Gold-tier powerhouse would likely have to retreat... at least shift from the frontal battlefield to the flanks.

The emergence of muskets and cannons had actually limited the effectiveness of transcendent beings to a great extent, though the changes brought about were not yet obvious.

If this thing were to become widespread...

I'm afraid even the Trident Knights would have to exit the stage of history.

Although the Trident Knights were the pride of the Campbell Duchy, Edward felt no panic in his heart, but rather, was filled with pleasant surprise.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning emotions in his heart, and turned to look at Prince Kelin, his emerald eyes burning with intense flames.

"Prince Kelin, my dear friend, this is truly... an incredible weapon. Has the Empire's military technology advanced to such a terrifying degree? But why have I never seen it before?"

Luo Yan had already guessed he would ask that, so he shook his head slightly and said with a smile.

"Unfortunately, the Empire has not officially equipped this weapon. Even the Kelin Duchy only just received it from the Gustav United Kingdom... we haven't been equipped with it for long either."

In truth, the technical content of this rifle went far beyond what Edward understood; there were many aspects the Grand Duke couldn't grasp.

Such as the rifling design, smokeless powder, and so on.

However, since Prince Kelin was standing here, not Professor Kelin, there was naturally no need for Prince Edward and the surrounding soldiers to know the 'how' and the 'why'.

Before Grand Duke Edward could speak, he continued.

"According to my agreement with the Gustav United Kingdom, I shouldn't circulate such advanced weapons to the Old World and create bloodshed. However, you are my ally, and Princess Ailin's situation truly worries me. After I return, I will personally go to see their Queen and explain this matter."

Edward's eyes widened slightly, and a hint of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

He caught the information revealed in that sentence—

His ally intended to arm his army with this weapon, which was exactly what was gnawing at him most at this moment, though he hadn't known how to bring it up.

However, he didn't show his surprise on his face; instead, he revealed a touch of solemnity and placed his hands on Prince Kelin's arms.

"Your Highness, thank you for everything you have done for us... Princess Ailin and I will both remember your kindness."

A bashful smile appeared on Kelin's face, and he gave a light cough before saying.

"It is my honor if I can be of help to you and Princess Ailin."

Love-struck fools are truly terrifying...

The Campbell soldiers standing nearby were moved by the Prince's tenderness toward Princess Ailin, yet ashamed that this Prince had so easily gifted such a weapon to his ally.

Being under such a Prince, the people of the Kelin Duchy were quite unlucky; what if the Gustav United Kingdom didn't play along?

But thinking that it seemed to be a Queen, several soldiers fell silent for a moment, then began to worry about their Princess Ailin.

Thunder City had a developed economy, and its cultural industry was not inferior to the Shengcheng. The people of the Shengcheng liked painting, while they liked writing novels, and liked reading them even more.

Why does this story feel like I've seen it somewhere before?

Edward didn't think in that direction; his brain wasn't mush, and he understood very well that between nations, there were only interests.

Prince Kelin was helping him so much, and he would not forget this kindness.

At worst, he could concede two more steps to the Gustav United Kingdom on the issue of the Special Zone, give those lizardmen a little sweetness to taste, and buy over that Queen with benefits, wouldn't that work?

He certainly wouldn't make things difficult for Kelin!

Just as Grand Duke Edward was in high spirits, Luo Yan gave a look to Pangke, who was standing to the side. The latter immediately understood, stepped forward, leaned close to Grand Duke Edward, and said respectfully.

"Grand Duke! Although I am of humble origin, I also have a heart to serve the country. It just so happens that I studied a trade in the city's workshops for a few years and know a thing or two about machinery. In my humble opinion, although the structure of this musket is ingenious, it would not be difficult to replicate with Thunder City's industrial capabilities. As long as I have detailed blueprints, I am confident I can produce it for you!"

This Mr. Pangke was the very coachman Luo Yan had hired for the huge sum of one gold coin when he first entered Thunder City. Due to the ambition and learning ability he displayed, Luo Yan had taken him under his wing to manage his industries in Thunder City.

For example, the listing of the Kelin Group and the "Stock Exchange" on Queen Street were all operated behind the scenes by this Mr. Pangke.

For Edward, Mr. Pangke's proposal hit the perfect timing, fitting exactly with his urgent desire to master this technology himself.

Furthermore, since this Mr. Pangke was someone close to Prince Kelin, he was considered a trustworthy "insider" for both Prince Kelin and himself.

A smile indeed appeared on Edward's face as he looked appreciatively at this sensible businessman and said in an appreciative tone.

"Your patriotism is admirable, and I think your proposal is excellent! Of course, this matter still depends on Prince Kelin's opinion; after all, it is his property."

"How could I have any objections?" Mr. Kelin said with a smile, his tone gentle. "If Mr. Pangke is willing to serve our Grand Duke, that would naturally be for the best."

In fact, this was something he had ordered himself.

"Haha, since His Highness has said so, if I don't show some gesture, wouldn't it make the Campbell family seem too stingy!"

A joyful smile appeared on Edward's face. He immediately looked at Pangke, who was waiting with lowered eyes, cleared his throat, and announced in a solemn voice.

"Starting today, I entrust the casting of this new equipment to you. All the support you need—whether it be land, craftsmen, or startup capital—the Campbell Duchy will provide without reservation. Moreover, I can guarantee you that however many rifles your factory produces, we will take them all! The Thunder City militia will be the first to complete the equipping of the new weapons!"

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Yan Andi, who had been standing silently to the side; this head of the Andi family was also accompanying them.

"Mr. Andi," Edward instructed, "I know of your family's connections in Thunder City; you should also help him with some ideas on this matter. I believe your patriotism is no less than his, so for the sake of our Duchy, you must ensure this factory starts running at the fastest possible speed!"

A flash of surprise crossed Yan Andi's eyes, but he immediately returned to calm and bowed respectfully to his Sovereign.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Having said that, he turned to Pangke and revealed a kind smile.

"Mr. Pangke, please rest assured. Although the Andi Group doesn't have much involvement in the arms industry, we will do our utmost to provide you with assistance."

As he spoke, his thoughts raced, carefully analyzing the deeper meaning behind the Grand Duke's words.

The Campbell Duchy's military industry had always been a complex and sensitive field, mainly controlled by traditional nobles who possessed their own territories and blacksmith guilds.

After all, standing armies were mostly composed of a lord's private soldiers, and weapons and armor were naturally forged by the blacksmiths on their respective lands.

If Grand Duke Edward intended to use this opportunity to seize a portion of this lucrative industry from those conservative lords, or even establish a new army entirely under his own control, that would undoubtedly be a great thing for their Andi family.

They had long been coveting this industry held by traditional forces!

Pangke wore a look of moderate excitement and joy, hurriedly expressing his gratitude to Grand Duke Edward and Mr. Andi, while also casting a grateful look toward Prince Kelin.

Luo Yan nodded with a smile.

He was very gratified to see that during the time he was away, this former coachman seemed to have grown quite a bit.

Although his vision still couldn't compare to Yan Andi at Edward's side, his ability to read the room was already no weaker than the latter's.

This was the advantage of those who had climbed from the bottom to high positions.

They could endure hardship, possessed a worldly cunning, and were skilled at observation.

Although traditional nobles often looked down on such capable people who rose from humble beginnings, Luo Yan had never looked down on them.

On the contrary, many such people had gathered around him.

Just then, Luo Yan suddenly thought of something and cast a gaze filled with a hint of curiosity toward the ambitious Edward.

"Your Highness, your boldness leaves a deep impression on me. However, if I may be so bold as to ask, since you think so highly of this weapon, why not prioritize equipping the Duchy's most elite regular legions, instead of equipping the Thunder City militia first? If I remember correctly, they are all conscripts, right?"

This question seemed casual, but it was like a precise dart, striking the most sensitive core of the Campbell Duchy's internal power structure.

Luo Yan naturally knew the answer; he just wanted to hear for himself how Edward, this "chess player," viewed the cracks on his own chessboard.

The moment he heard this, the excitement on Edward's face indeed faded slightly, and a hint of imperceptible gloom flashed in his eyes.

Some things could be said to Kelin, who was also of royal blood, but were not suitable to be said to outsiders, even servants.

He subconsciously glanced at Pangke beside him, who was very perceptive and immediately bowed in salute.

"Your Highness, I will go and count the tools and samples I brought... Prince, please allow me to excuse myself."

Having said that, he tactfully retreated from the lawn.

Yan Andi naturally understood as well; without needing any hint from the Sovereign, he smiled and said, "I will accompany Mr. Pangke; it just so happens I can discuss the details of building the factory with him."

With that, he followed behind Pangke.

Watching the two of them retreat along with the surrounding guards, Edward cleared his throat and revealed his inner thoughts in a casual tone.

"To be honest with you, Prince Kelin, the internal situation of the Duchy recently... is actually not very stable."

Luo Yan frowned slightly.

"Is it... the King has done something again?"

"It has something to do with the King of En, but not that much; it's mainly a matter within the Campbell family."

He sighed, a hint of weariness on his face, walked with Kelin onto the lawn, and continued in a conversational tone.

"You should know that besides me, Ailin has another older brother, which is my younger brother, Jeluo Ke."

"I have heard of that gentleman; has your relationship... run into trouble?"

Edward shook his head slightly.

"It has nothing to do with our relationship; our differences lie mainly in our philosophy of governance. He has always regarded my father as a role model, adhering to the traditions of knighthood, just like Ailin. However, he is different from Ailin; Ailin knows how to adapt, while he longs for everything to remain as it was."

"Everything to remain as it was means..."

"Returning to the state of the past, with merchants as the lord's purse and farmers as the lord's farm tools. Of course, they would certainly use a different phrasing, such as... providing stability and shelter to farmers who have lost their land, even though they have never let their own farmers eat their fill."

Edward grinned, as if mocking his younger brother's naivety, or perhaps lamenting the unpredictability of fate.

Just as he was uniting the nobles of the Twilight Province to hollow out the King, the King had also come to his territory to do the same thing.

Quietly lighting a fire in his backyard.

That foolish monarch!

Besides his ability to play dumb, his talent for causing trouble was not weak either.

Luo Yan was silent for a while, casting a sympathetic expression toward him.

"Every family has its own difficult scriptures to recite."

"Indeed," Edward sighed and continued, "Perhaps I should have disciplined my younger brother more strictly, but it's too late to say that now, and besides... he has never liked me much, having been influenced more by our father."

"Since I ascended the throne, he has gone to the North Creek Valley County; you should have met that Count Delike at the auction in this manor."

"I have a slight impression; that gentleman seemed to be a sturdy and powerful knight." Luo Yan recalled carefully and did remember that Count.

"His skill is not just in martial arts; his shrewdness is also extremely deep." Edward's expression was somewhat gloomy, and he continued slowly, "My younger brother staying on his territory is not without the Count's instigation. And now that Ailin has gone north, he has an even more grand and official reason: to guard against the remnants of the Green Forest Army infiltrating the Duchy, and he even wants to transfer the Trident Knights over... yet you and I both know that that mob was finished long ago."

Having said this, Edward said no more.

He believed that with Prince Kelin's intelligence, even without him spelling out every detail, he could taste the complex flavor within.

Luo Yan naturally understood.

He pondered for a moment, sighed softly, and ultimately, standing from a friend's perspective, advised gently.

"You are family after all; it is better to value harmony."

Succession struggles have always been bloody.

Especially since the Campbell Duchy is standing at a critical historical juncture, and not everyone is happy to see the changes taking place.

Edward smiled perfunctorily, a hint of warmth seemingly rising in his eyes, but it also seemed absent.

"I hope so, and I also hope that kid can wake up a bit and not do anything stupid that makes people laugh."

He was not a cold-blooded person.

But if someone wanted to split his Duchy and hinder the reforms he was pushing, even if it were his own brother, he would never go soft.

Luo Yan said no more and shifted the topic unobtrusively.

He had already seen the determination he wanted to see on Edward's face.

The Kingdom and the Tribunal, the Duchy and the "New Covenant" forces... the two sides playing a game in the dark had already split into two distinct camps.

Now it was just a matter of who fired the first shot.

If possible, he would hope that day came a little later, so that at least the brave Campbell people could shed less blood.

The situation here was completely different from the Jiana Continent; the lizardmen of the Jiana Continent had nothing, so a long pain was worse than a short one, but the Campbell people had everything, and might not be able to bear that unbearable pain of life.

But Luo Yan also knew clearly.

Just like the unpredictable future in the Void, not everything could happen exactly as the "Heavenly Will" in the dark desired...