[{"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-101":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},1366809,1809,"Chapter 101 - 94: The Shadow of Iron","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-101",101,"\u003Cp>The rumors began spreading long before the machines were completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers whispered about:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>rapid-fire rifles,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>moving iron fortresses,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>explosive launchers capable of destroying knights,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and strange experiments beneath the lower forge districts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people assumed half the stories were exaggerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other half terrified them anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Elarion no longer resembled a normal northern territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It resembled a civilization racing toward something unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep beneath the industrial quarter, hidden below layers of reinforced workshops and steel vault doors—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elarion’s experimental division expanded continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower engineering halls thundered with noise:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>steam hammers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pressure boilers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>rotating machining systems,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and endless testing explosions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly controlled explosions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mostly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric walked through the underground complex beside Lucien while covering one ear after another distant blast echoed through the tunnels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Please tell me that was intentional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An engineer nearby answered immediately:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We think so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric looked exhausted already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wonderful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The underground facilities had grown massively over recent months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entire sections now focused purely on military experimentation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>reinforced steel,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>pressure engines,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>chemical propellants,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>advanced artillery mechanisms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at the center of it all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the primary testing hall, Gandalf stood before a gathering of engineers while massive steel sheets covered the walls behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard looked unusually excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which honestly worried everyone nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today,\" he announced dramatically, \"we test mobility systems for the steam landship!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You named it already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\" \"It deserves glory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enormous machine resting at the center of the hall looked barely functional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive iron plating covered the outer frame while thick steam pipes ran across its sides like exposed veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tracked movement system remained incomplete. One side was visibly larger than the other. Several engineers stood nearby holding emergency shutdown levers nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien studied the prototype calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pressure stability?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker answered from atop the machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stable enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric immediately frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those words should never exist together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf climbed dramatically onto the side platform afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Begin ignition!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several engineers immediately activated the boiler systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam erupted through the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal groaned. Pressure valves hissed. One apprentice quietly started praying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steam tank moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive iron machine rolled forward several feet while thick black smoke poured upward into the chamber ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every engineer froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then erupted into cheering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker roared triumphantly from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"IT LIVES!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric stared blankly at the moving metal monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That thing weighs more than a fortress gate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf looked deeply proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And someday it will carry cannons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sentence caused visible concern among several nearby officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because unfortunately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone there could imagine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armored landships crossing battlefields while riflemen advanced behind steel walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even incomplete, the machine already looked unnatural beside traditional medieval warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien observed it silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine immediately stopped moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam burst sideways. A gear exploded loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tank tilted slightly to one side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker slowly climbed down covered in soot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Still improving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric pointed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See?\" \"That!\" \"That is why speed matters!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere inside the underground complex—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another testing chamber prepared for live weapon trials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the steam tank hall, this area looked heavily reinforced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick steel walls. Protective barriers. Emergency sand pits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which honestly inspired very little confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf proudly carried the newest launcher prototype toward the firing position while several engineers followed nervously behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long tube-shaped weapon rested across reinforced supports while explosive warheads lined the nearby tables carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric stopped walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I suddenly understand why the walls are thicker here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard ignored him completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today we test armor penetration!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked toward the reinforced steel target positioned across the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick plating. Knight-grade steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normal arrows would shatter against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even rifles struggled somewhat at range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf loaded the launcher proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Observe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One engineer quietly whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone stand farther back this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good advice honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard ignited the firing mechanism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one second—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then fire exploded backward violently while the rocket projectile screamed across the chamber trailing smoke and sparks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steel target vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments slammed against the reinforced walls while dust filled the chamber instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complete silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric slowly lowered his hands from his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One nearby engineer looked pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The armor plate was six inches thick.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker stared at the smoking crater quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That single word somehow carried genuine concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because now even the dwarf understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This weapon changed things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy cavalry? Knight charges? Mana-armored infantry?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly all seemed far less invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf looked absolutely delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It works!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric pointed toward the crater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You just erased a wall!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is NOT reassuring!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien remained silent while observing the destroyed armor plate carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then finally asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reload time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The engineers blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because honestly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the terrifying question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not whether it worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How quickly it could work again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later that night, reports from the underground facilities reached the upper fortress command chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military advisors reviewed the new experimental results carefully beneath dim lantern light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere felt strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One officer finally muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These weapons don’t fit the current world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one disagreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Elarion was no longer improving existing warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was beginning to replace it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rifle regiments already challenged knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machine guns threatened infantry formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>steam armor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>explosive launchers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>industrial artillery,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and mechanized warfare concepts emerged simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen folded his arms afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If war begins now...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes moved toward the weapon reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...the south has no idea what it is walking into.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far above the city atop the fortress walls, Aurethar watched the industrial glow beneath the snowy night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon’s golden eyes reflected:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>furnaces,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>smoke towers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>moving trains,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and endless factory fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien stood beside him silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For several moments neither spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Aurethar finally rumbled softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are changing warfare faster than kingdoms can adapt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below them, another experimental explosion echoed faintly from the underground districts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon blinked once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Should I be concerned?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien answered calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep thunderous laugh rolled across the fortress cliffs while smoke drifted from his jaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh this will be entertaining.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far to the south, House Valcriox continued preparing for eventual war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they still imagined:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>cavalry charges,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>noble banners,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>knight formations,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and traditional battlefields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still did not understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next war would not resemble the old world at all.\u003C\u002Fp>",1065,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","82e2a3979407da5954e58f2d96bce141126f831949d08fffd6d7dfe54fefb993","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-102","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-100",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]