[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system":3,"chapter-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-100":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Exiled Duke's Lottery system",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366808,1809,"Chapter 100 - 93: Preparing the Furnace of War","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-100",100,"\u003Cp>Snow covered Elarion beneath a gray northern sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet despite the freezing winds sweeping across the mountains—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city moved faster than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factory whistles echoed constantly through the industrial districts. Steel convoys rolled day and night. Rifle drills thundered across the training grounds beyond the fortress walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassination attempt had changed something fundamental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not merely politically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Psychologically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Elarion no longer prepared \"just in case.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it prepared for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the central strategy hall of Fortress Elarion, officers and administrators filled the chamber while massive maps covered nearly every wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frontier routes. Supply depots. Artillery positions. Industrial output estimates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere felt sharp. Focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wasted movement remained anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien stood beside the northern operations table while reports arrived continuously from:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the western frontier,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frostpeak mines,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>artillery foundries,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and rifle factories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric leaned against the map table while reviewing military summaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The southern frontier camps expanded again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re building permanent fortifications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas looked tired already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wonderful.\" \"So now everyone is preparing for war while pretending they aren’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair observation honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien calmly continued reviewing production ledgers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we accelerate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That answer no longer surprised anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Economic pressure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expand production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military pressure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expand logistics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assassination?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expand security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point half the officers privately suspected Lucien would respond to dragons by building larger furnaces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly not impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien finally looked up from the reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Current rifle production?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A logistics officer answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Improved furnace output increased steel allocation by thirty percent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another officer continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ammunition reserves stable.\" \"Field cannon production continues.\" \"Coal reserves remain sufficient for winter operations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Expand stockpiling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several officers immediately began writing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Triple ammunition reserve targets.\" \"Prioritize artillery shell production.\" \"Expand western supply depots.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room grew quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because those were wartime logistics orders now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not precautionary measures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen noticed it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peak knight stepped forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You believe conflict is unavoidable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien answered calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somehow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That felt heavier than any dramatic speech could have.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far below the fortress walls, Elarion transformed rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers reinforced roads leading toward the frontier. New warehouse districts expanded beside the rail planning yards. Artillery crews trained constantly despite snowfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even civilian districts changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Volunteer militias formed. Emergency shelters expanded. Food reserves increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which honestly frightened outsiders more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Elarion prepared for war the same way it built factories:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Systematically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later that evening Lucien descended into the lower industrial district accompanied by Cedric and several guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive forge halls glowed orange against the snowy darkness while steam hissed through iron pipes overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers moved continuously between:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>furnaces,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>steel presses,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>machining stations,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and ammunition workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the main forge complex—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker the dwarf stood atop a steel platform screaming at three exhausted engineers simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No!\" \"If the pressure valve explodes again I’ll throw ALL OF YOU into the furnace personally!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One young engineer raised a shaking hand weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Ironbreaker... technically it only exploded twice—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"TWICE TOO MANY!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nearby steam pipe burst loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently this happened often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric watched silently for several seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...How is this city still functioning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A passing worker answered casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We stopped questioning that months ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very fair honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker finally noticed Lucien approaching and climbed down from the platform while wiping grease from his gloves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bah.\" \"You arrived at a bad time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric looked around the forge hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is considered bad?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf pointed angrily toward a partially dismantled steam mechanism nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That idiot apprentice nearly turned the pressure chamber into shrapnel.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice immediately defended himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was a controlled failure!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker looked ready to commit murder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien wisely ignored the argument.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long before expanded rifle production stabilizes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf crossed his arms proudly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With the new furnace?\" \"Two months maybe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That fast?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The south keeps threatening war.\" \"So we stopped sleeping.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again— fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien studied the forge hall quietly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then almost casually asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the machine gun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complete silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nearby engineers immediately looked upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One apprentice pretended sudden interest in a wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric slowly turned toward Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker stared for several seconds before scratching his beard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Still unstable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Cedric looked even more concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s a WHAT being built?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf ignored him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Feed system jams.\" \"Barrel overheating.\" \"Ammo cycling still problematic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then after a pause:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His grin slowly widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...it works.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric looked deeply alarmed now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does ’works’ mean exactly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One engineer answered nervously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It fired continuously for nearly twenty seconds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strategy officer stared blankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Twenty seconds?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker puffed proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before exploding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric pointed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There!\" \"That part seems important!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf waved dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minor engineering issue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nearby worker quietly muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It killed the test dummy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker looked offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That means it succeeded!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly difficult logic to argue against.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien remained calm through the entire conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Estimated completion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker thought briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want reliable battlefield deployment?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rubbed his beard slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Six months maybe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric immediately interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No?\" \"What do you mean no?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric pointed directly at Ironbreaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are NOT giving him rapid-fire weapons before I emotionally prepare myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker looked deeply disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien ignored both of them and turned toward another section of the forge hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf the wizard stood surrounded by scattered parchment blueprints, half-disassembled pipes, and what looked suspiciously like a cannon attached to wheels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old wizard adjusted his glasses while muttering to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No no no... if the recoil launches the operator backward again then the angle is wrong...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Why is the wizard building artillery?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf looked offended immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is NOT artillery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He proudly pointed toward a long metal tube resting on a wooden support frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is a portable anti-armor directional explosive launcher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You made a shoulder cannon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Precisely!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien stepped closer calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The shoulder-fired weapon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf nodded proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The prototype works.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric immediately looked suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many people died testing it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard coughed lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is not the important question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...How many?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Three.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric covered his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The kingdom is actually doomed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf ignored him completely while pulling open another enormous blueprint across the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one showed something far larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive iron plating. Steam pressure chambers. Tracked movement systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A landship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even unfinished on paper, it looked monstrous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien observed the design silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The steam tank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf’s eyes gleamed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\" \"Now THIS is genius.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker shouted from the other side of the hall:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"YOU SAID THAT BEFORE THE LAST EXPLOSION TOO!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard waved dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Minor setbacks build character.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric stared at the blueprint carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That thing is enormous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It must be,\" Gandalf answered proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Armor thickness requires weight.\" \"Weight requires stronger engines.\" \"Stronger engines require larger boilers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then excitedly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And larger boilers require glorious engineering!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One nearby engineer quietly whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He hasn’t slept in four days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reasonable honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien studied the blueprint carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf rubbed his beard thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For movement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Combat capable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard became noticeably less confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric immediately nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent.\" \"Very reassuring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gandalf pointed toward the blueprint proudly anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When completed, normal cavalry will become obsolete.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That statement silenced the nearby engineers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They realized the scale of what Elarion was attempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not improved warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A completely different kind of warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the massive steam tank blueprint silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Accelerate development.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric looked personally betrayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"WHY DOES EVERY CONVERSATION END LIKE THIS?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1249,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","21a3dc0ce90ceb135990e2655b013220a3f38087d032aa5918d763f5aed1bc5c","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-101","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-99",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]