[{"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-105":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},1366813,1809,"Chapter 105 - 98: The March of the Old World","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>The south marched at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>War banners rose across the southern roads while nobles called their levies beneath the symbols of House Valcriox and its allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kingdom watched nervously as rumors spread from city to city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A grand coalition army was moving north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And its target was Elarion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Columns of soldiers stretched across frozen roads for miles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana cavalry rode beneath enchanted banners shimmering faintly through the winter air. Heavy mana-armored infantry marched in disciplined formations while mage detachments traveled beneath guarded escorts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them came:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>siege engines,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>supply caravans,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>artillery beasts,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>noble retainers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and endless infantry levies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Southern nobles watching the mobilization felt increasingly reassured by the sheer scale of the force gathering beneath their alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Berengar of House Valcriox stood atop a snowy ridge overlooking part of the advancing host while several allied nobles accompanied him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly sixty thousand infantry alone marched beneath the southern banners now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More forces continued joining daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble laughed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elarion actually refused surrender.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"arrogance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A third noble watched the marching mana cavalry proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No northern territory can survive this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confidence spreading through the southern alliance became almost absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because in their eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elarion possessed only one city,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>limited population,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>experimental weapons,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and a few rifle regiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile the south possessed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>elite knights,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mages,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>overwhelming manpower,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and centuries of military tradition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outcome already seemed decided\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Farther behind the main army, Kassian Valcriox rode silently beside the command convoy while studying the newest frontier reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the other nobles—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he noticed details others ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reports describing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>trenches,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>artillery fortifications,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>industrial logistics,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ammunition stockpiles,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and layered defensive systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien was not preparing for heroic warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One allied noble approached afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Kassian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The coalition commanders believe Elarion may collapse before full engagement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian looked genuinely unimpressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They thought that months ago too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underestimating Elarion had become a repeated southern habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And every mistake only strengthened Lucien further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian slowly looked northward toward the distant mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then quietly muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This war will not resemble what they expect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far to the north, Elarion continued preparing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The factories no longer slowed even at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel poured endlessly from the furnaces. Ammunition lines operated continuously. Workers moved through the industrial districts carrying coal, shells, rifles, and supplies toward the western frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire city now functioned like a machine built solely for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beneath Fortress Elarion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That machine finally delivered its newest weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the underground engineering halls, workers rushed between massive steel platforms while steam filled the chamber ceilings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today the atmosphere felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excited,too excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric entered beside Lucien while another distant explosion echoed through the facility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Please tell me that wasn’t important.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An engineer answered casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only partially.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the enormous steel doors ahead slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the first time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien saw the completed prototypes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first machine gun stood mounted atop a reinforced steel frame overlooking the underground firing range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike earlier unstable designs, this version appeared far more refined:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>water-cooled barrel system,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>reinforced ammunition feed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>stabilized mounting assembly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of ammunition belts rested nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker proudly stood beside it with grease covering nearly half his beard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It works now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric immediately narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Define works.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf crossed his arms proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It only explodes sometimes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That does NOT improve confidence!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien approached the weapon calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many rounds?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hundreds continuously if the cooling system holds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric stared blankly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Hundreds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarf proudly slapped the steel frame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Turns infantry formations into meat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One nearby engineer quietly whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We tested livestock first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric looked horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You WHAT?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien ignored the argument entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mass production capability?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker’s grin widened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With enough steel?\" \"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That answer alone changed the atmosphere completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because everyone present understood immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rifles already transformed warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Machine guns would transform slaughter itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the second delivery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive steel curtains at the far end of the chamber slowly lifted upward while heavy steam escaped across the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The landship emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fast\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steam-powered armored vehicle rolled forward heavily across reinforced tracks while its engine thundered through the underground hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick armor plating covered the machine almost entirely while black smoke poured from exhaust vents near the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what stood out most—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were the machine guns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One mounted at the front. Two mounted along both armored sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rotating firing mounts reinforced with steel shielding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original cannon design had been abandoned completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For good reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric stared upward at the moving steel monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Where’s the cannon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf the wizard looked personally offended by reality itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was removed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker burst into laughter from nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because every time it fired the entire front armor cracked apart!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One engineer immediately added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And it couldn’t hit anything!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another nodded seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The recoil nearly flipped the landship during the second test.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric slowly covered his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You tried mounting artillery onto a steam wagon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Gandalf answered proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was magnificent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It sounds suicidal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Magnificently suicidal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien studied the redesigned vehicle carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the cannon, the landship looked more practical now:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>armored troop breaker,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mobile suppression platform,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>rolling machine gun fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far deadlier against infantry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And much less likely to destroy itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf climbed proudly onto the upper hull afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The triple gun system works beautifully.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if summoned by those words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side machine gun suddenly discharged three accidental rounds into the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Ironbreaker shouted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"THAT COUNTS AS IMPROVEMENT!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien ignored the chaos entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Armor effectiveness?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf immediately regained composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent against rifles and arrows.\" \"Mana-enhanced blades still dangerous at close range.\" \"But against normal infantry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wizard grinned slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It becomes a moving fortress.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That answer alone made several nearby officers uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because suddenly they imagined:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>machine guns firing from armored steel walls,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>infantry advancing behind moving armor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>cavalry unable to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield itself was changing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally came the shoulder-fired explosive launchers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rows of reinforced tubes rested along weapon racks while specialized ammunition sat nearby under heavy guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien lifted one carefully afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavier than a rifle. Compact compared to artillery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One engineer nervously pointed toward the distant testing range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We reinforced the walls after the last test.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good sign honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very reassuring(Cedric feeling cold all over)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reinforced steel target was positioned nearly two hundred meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knight-grade armor plating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally capable of resisting most battlefield attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf gestured proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Observe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One soldier carefully loaded the launcher before aiming downrange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rocket screamed forward trailing smoke—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire steel target vanished in a violent explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments slammed against the reinforced stone walls while smoke filled the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complete silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric stared at the crater afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Mana knights are going to hate this city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien calmly lowered the launcher afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Production capacity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironbreaker answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Limited for now.\" \"But expanding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours later inside the fortress command chamber, reports arrived confirming the southern coalition army had officially begun advancing northward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war had started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers gathered around the strategy maps quietly while snowstorms battered the fortress walls outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen studied the newest reports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first coalition advance groups may reach the western frontier within weeks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric folded his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re still confident?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas gave a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They think overwhelming numbers guarantee victory.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far below the fortress, factory whistles echoed endlessly through the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked toward the frontier maps silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then toward the reports detailing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>machine gun deployment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>landship readiness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>artillery reserves,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and anti-armor launcher production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let them come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And far to the south—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old world marched proudly toward the north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completely unaware that Elarion had already begun building the next one.\u003C\u002Fp>",1304,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","8fb8886a63f151010f0a5d36f577a64436ac57e26a8751115d5958b836cf0098","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-106","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-104",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]