[{"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-138":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},1366846,1809,"Chapter 138 - 131:The Demonstration part3","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-138",138,"\u003Cp>The moment the King’s permission was granted, the crew sprang into action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each member moved with practiced efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of coordination that could only be achieved through countless hours of training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sergeant Reed climbed into the driver’s position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others quickly followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hatches slammed shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, silence settled over the testing grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the engine roared to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound hit the audience like a physical force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep mechanical growl echoed across the field as the entire machine vibrated beneath the sudden surge of power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several horses tied near the rear of the observation platform immediately became restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few nobles visibly flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Warhound itself remained motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the sheer noise coming from the armored vehicle was enough to make everyone understand that this was no ordinary machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Cassian’s grin widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Marshal’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>King Alaric remained expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Royal Guardian simply sipped his tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The engine continued rumbling like some enormous steel beast awakening from slumber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the vehicle began moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly at first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive tracks rolled forward with surprising smoothness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dirt shifted beneath the treads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Warhound accelerated steadily across the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its size made the movement seem unnatural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nobles instinctively expected something so large to be slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead it crossed the terrain effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle reached the first obstacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trench nearly three meters wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nobles leaned forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the Warhound simply drove across.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front section dipped slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tracks gripped the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later the vehicle climbed out of the trench and continued forward as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murmur spread through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next obstacle was a steep incline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again the vehicle advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again it succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without difficulty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without requiring any assistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the Warhound completed the obstacle course, many of the generals were no longer watching with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were watching with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was always more valuable than admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concern meant they had begun imagining battlefields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagining consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagining what would happen if such machines appeared against their own forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Marshal was already doing exactly that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And judging by his expression, he didn’t like the answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle eventually returned to the firing range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale stepped forward once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We will now demonstrate the primary weapon system.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if destroying fortifications was simply another part of the day’s schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hundred meters away stood the first target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reinforced timber fortification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick wooden walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy support beams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sort of defensive structure commonly used throughout the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale pointed toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This structure was constructed according to standard military specifications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several engineers nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had personally inspected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No tricks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No deception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fortification was genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale raised a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gunner adjusted the turret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon slowly rotated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of metal moving against metal echoed across the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then everything became still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, complete silence settled over the range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gun fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explosion was deafening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nobles physically jumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shockwave rolled across the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bright flash erupted from the muzzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the shell crossed the distance almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact was devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reinforced wall simply exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wood shattered,Support beams snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments flew through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An entire section of the fortification vanished beneath a cloud of splinters and dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolute silence immediately among everyone\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nobles stared at the ruined target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then looked at the cannon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then looked back at the ruined target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if their minds refused to accept what they had witnessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shell had not damaged the fortification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had punched straight through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Marshal slowly lowered his binoculars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the first time anyone had heard him swear all day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old commander looked genuinely shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which only made the reaction more significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale calmly raised another hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second target stood farther away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This one consisted of stone barriers reinforced with timber supports.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again the cannon fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again the battlefield shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the shell struck,Stone exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fragments scattered in every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost like a rhythm\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barrier collapsed almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several military engineers exchanged stunned glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The calculations they had made from reports suddenly seemed to make lot of sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale waited until the dust settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Machine gun demonstration.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attention of the audience shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the cannon, the machine guns seemed unimpressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smaller,less dramatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That assumption lasted only a few seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of wooden silhouettes stood arranged across a distant section of the range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Representing infantry formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gunner adjusted his aim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then squeezed the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The MG-34 came alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BRRRRRRTTTTTTT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The iconic mechanical roar shattered the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A continuous stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wall of bullets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound alone caused several nobles to flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weapon continued firing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BRRRRRRTTTTTTT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wood exploded across the range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Target after target shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splinters flew everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entire rows of silhouettes disappeared beneath the storm of bullets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine gun finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, the audience simply stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble asked another\"how does this compares to our guns\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone visibly swallowed at this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the second MG-34 opened fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time the target were armored knight silhouettes consisting of steel armor widely used by kingdom knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BRRRRRRTTTTTTT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The targets were annihilated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens vanished within seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The firing ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke drifted lazily from the barrels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were visible holes within the armor many were just somehow hanging there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nobles finally understood why Elarion’s enemies spoke of machine guns with such fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble swallowed visibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice sounded oddly weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long can it maintain that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The response somehow made the situation worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Marshal folded his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression had become grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon alone would have been revolutionary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine guns alone would have been revolutionary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Cassian was the first to break the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many can you make?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every military officer present understood the question immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not how powerful or how expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because once a weapon proved effective, numbers became everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien met the prince’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then answered\"For now we produce 23 every month which can be ramped up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the first time that day, several nobles genuinely looked afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the number was far larger than they had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far larger than they had hoped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Far larger than they were comfortable with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Royal Guardian noticed every reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And silently filed them away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale rested his hand against the turret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Warhound carries ammunition for all onboard weapon systems and enough rations for crew to maintain tank operations without coming out of tank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the military engineers immediately raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much rounds can be stored for the main gun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A total of sixty rounds for the fifty-seven millimeter cannon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several officers began writing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The ammunition types vary according to mission requirements.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"High explosive rounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Armor-piercing rounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fragmentation rounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The exact ratio can be adjusted before deployment depending upon what suits the battlefield.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Marshal nodded approvingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was sensible choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battlefield weapon needed flexibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain then gestured toward the machine gun mounts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The MG-34 ammunition is belt-fed heavy machine gun and it also carries iron sights for range determination.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Each ammunition belt contains two hundred and fifty rounds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nobles looked confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military officers did not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They immediately understood what that number meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Additional ammunition is stored throughout the vehicle but if the situation demands we can store can spare belts on the tank outer shell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The standard combat load consists of approximately five thousand rounds for each gun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A murmur spread across the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even some officers looked impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One military engineer lowered his notebook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Five thousand for each gun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The engineer stared at the machine gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then at the destroyed targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then back at the machine gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time he began appreciating just how much sustained firepower the vehicle possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another officer raised a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reload time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The captain answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A trained crew can replace an empty machine-gun belt in 5-7seconds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officer slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grand Marshal folded his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long can it remain operational before requiring overhaul?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Hale looked toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Under normal combat conditions, a single Warhound can remain engaged for extended periods before requiring resupply and repairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old commander grunted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was military language for:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several nobles were beginning to realize something uncomfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon was impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The machine guns were terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the truly frightening part was that the machine could continue fighting long after most soldiers would have exhausted their ammunition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Royal Guardian noticed the reactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially among the military officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most weren’t impressed anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which was exactly what he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>",1503,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","13a0f53a2f32ec740297e607c4d7936c6facbabc26740edcb5408edf7cb8040f","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-139","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-137",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]