[{"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-106":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},1366814,1809,"Chapter 106 - 99: Before the Storm","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-106",106,"\u003Cp>Two months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two months of marching, preparation, and growing tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern coalition reached the western frontier of Elarion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first scouts arrived before dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Riders emerged from the snowy tree lines overlooking the northern valleys before immediately retreating southward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By midday—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horizon itself began moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long columns of soldiers emerged through the mountain passes beneath countless noble banners snapping violently in the freezing wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana cavalry rode beneath enchanted standards glowing faintly through the snow while ranks of mana-armored infantry marched in disciplined formations across the valleys below.\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>mage detachments,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and tens of thousands of infantry levies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coalition army spread across the frontier like an ocean of steel and banners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was enormous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the southern nobles loved every second of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trumpets echoed across the valleys as the army established massive encampments within sight of Elarion’s defensive lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rows upon rows of campfires soon covered the snow-covered plains while soldiers erected command tents and siege positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coalition commanders gathered atop a ridge overlooking the northern frontier shortly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the first time—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saw the trenches of Elarion in full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long defensive lines scarred the frozen valleys. Razor wire stretched across killing fields hidden beneath snow. Artillery bunkers overlooked the mountain approaches. Layered trenches connected through tunnels and reinforced strongpoints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One younger noble frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That is a lot of fortifications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another immediately laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They dug holes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several surrounding nobles chuckled openly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One mana knight scoffed while looking toward the trench systems below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cowards hide underground.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another noble pointed toward the razor wire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What even is that supposed to accomplish?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop rabbits perhaps.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter spread again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern aristocracy simply could not take the defenses seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because to them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wars were won through:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>knight charges,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mana superiority,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>elite cavalry,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>overwhelming numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not dirt walls and steel wire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the discussion shifted toward rifles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somehow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrogance became even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One southern commander adjusted his fur cloak dismissively while staring toward the northern trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So these are the famous rifle armies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another noble smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flintlock peasants.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several officers laughed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One mage commander shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I watched one during testing months ago.\" \"Slow reload.\" \"Smoke everywhere.\" \"Poor accuracy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another noble added mockingly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They miss half their shots beyond proper bow range.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More laughter followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the southern nobles, rifles still looked primitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unrefined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inferior to:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>mana-enhanced archers,elite knights,magical warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One cavalry commander snorted openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They rely on noise and fear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another nodded confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mana barrier alone reduces half their threat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then one older noble spoke dismissively:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, perhaps rifles are troublesome now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze moved toward the trench systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if this is their greatest weapon...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave a cold smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...what happens when they face real armies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agreement spread immediately afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern commanders simply could not imagine firearms evolving further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To them—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rifles had already reached their limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loud. Crude. Inaccurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble even laughed while looking toward the distant trenches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If these weapons truly improve someday...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...then perhaps they become dangerous in another century.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More amusement followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because none of them understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still viewed rifles as strange support weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the future foundation of warfare itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Kassian Valcriox remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ducal heir stood slightly apart from the others while observing the trenches carefully through his spyglass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the others—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overlapping firing positions. The hidden artillery placements. The suspicious silence from the trenches themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No panic. No scrambling soldiers. No visible confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just calm preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That unsettled him slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One allied noble noticed his expression afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You seem unconvinced, Lord Kassian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian lowered the spyglass slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think Lucien prepared more thoroughly than you realize.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another noble snorted dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For trenches?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the same noble laughed openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"War?\" \"He has flintlocks and factories.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian’s gaze remained fixed northward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noble smiled arrogantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And we have armies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That single sentence summarized the southern coalition perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They still believed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>manpower,noble lineage and traditional military superiority\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>would overwhelm everything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They did not truly understand what Elarion had become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far across the frozen valleys, Elarion observed the southern encampments from fortified ridge positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thousands upon thousands of enemy campfires now filled the horizon beneath the snowy darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One young rifleman stared quietly from the trench walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...There are so many.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, another soldier calmly adjusted ammunition belts for a nearby machine gun nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger soldier blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The veteran nodded toward the southern camps below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They packed themselves tightly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The younger rifleman slowly looked toward the machine gun position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then toward the artillery bunkers above the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the central frontier command bunker, Lucien stood beside the operational maps while reports continued arriving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enemy encampments completed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mana cavalry concentrated on the eastern valley.\" \"Siege forces preparing deployment positions.\" \"Assault formations expected tomorrow morning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric folded his arms nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re confident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas gave a dry laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They think trenches are weakness.\" \"And rifles are toys.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far below the bunker, another machine gun test echoed faintly through the frontier lines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien remained calm afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arrogance shortens wars.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because honestly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern coalition had already made its first major mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at Elarion’s defenses and saw fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at rifles and saw crude weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked at factories and saw strange northern experiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of understanding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old world stood at the edge of extinction—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And tomorrow morning it would begin dying in the snow.\u003C\u002Fp>",934,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","aad3cc8e01cd9fc6809aab8ffe05e9ee277c1bf90e2757d679423a70683be009","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-107","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-105",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]