[{"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-56":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},1366764,1809,"Chapter 56 - 52: The Heart of Iron","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>Night settled quietly over Elarion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow-covered rooftops reflected pale moonlight while furnace smoke drifted upward into the cold northern sky like dark clouds rising from the valley itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even this late—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The western workshops still burned bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers moved constantly between forge halls carrying steel, coal, tools, and unfinished rifle components while distant hammering echoed through the settlement without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The successful rifled weapon test had spread through Elarion faster than wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some called it a thunder rifle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others called it the spiral gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One drunk worker had apparently called it \"the armor hater.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name unfortunately gained support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the upper fortress chamber overlooking the valley, Lucien stood silently beside the window watching the lights below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in weeks—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things felt stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But stable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar blue light appeared before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hidden Quest Completed]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Quest: Develop a successful rifled firearm prototype]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Evaluation: Exceptional]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rewards Calculating...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s expression sharpened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system screen flickered again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Reward Granted]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Blueprint Acquired: Early Industrial Steam Engine]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For several seconds, Lucien simply stared at the notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then slowly closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam engine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Infrastructure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transportation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The implications struck almost immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rifles could strengthen armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But steam?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam could reshape civilizations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system information flowed directly into his mind afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Complex designs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressure chambers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pistons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heat conversion principles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mechanical movement systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his previous life’s knowledge, the sheer engineering depth overwhelmed him briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a toy design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a foundational machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You really want to industrialize this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system naturally gave no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Aurethar lazily lifted one golden eye from where the dragon occupied nearly half the chamber floor beside the massive fireplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You look troubled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien glanced back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I received another blueprint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon stretched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A weapon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That finally interested Aurethar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How does one become worse than weapons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked toward the valley again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Machines.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar stared for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then unexpectedly snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon actually sounded understanding now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That expression again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What expression?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The one intelligent races make before changing the world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve seen this before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Many times.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar rested his massive head against folded claws afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kingdoms rise. Discoveries appear. Mortals become excited.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then after a pause:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eventually someone invents something that makes older powers nervous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I suspect your machines may become one of those things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Aurethar wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rifles already threatened noble military supremacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But steam engines?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam meant scalable industry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mining expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mass production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transportation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once humanity reached that stage—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing would remain the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud knock interrupted the room moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas entered carrying several reports before immediately stopping mid-step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Why does the room feel ominous?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked toward him calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had an idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The administrator closed his eyes briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That sentence has become one of my greatest fears.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar nodded from beside the fireplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wise instinct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas sighed before placing the reports onto the nearby table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The rifle demonstration caused problems already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was fast.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Merchants started spreading stories before sunset.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The administrator rubbed his forehead tiredly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Half the territory now believes we invented thunder magic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That sounds beneficial,\" Aurethar commented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Lucas answered immediately. \"That sounds expensive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien walked toward the central table afterward while considering the new blueprint carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam technology remained impossible to introduce immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not without preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current workshops barely handled rifle precision manufacturing consistently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foundation now existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And foundations mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far below the fortress meanwhile, the western workshop district remained active despite the late hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially because the dwarves had refused sleep entirely after the successful rifle test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One dwarf currently stood beside the firing range while aggressively arguing with Cedric.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m telling you the range is wasted!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric crossed his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The weapon hit the target.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barely!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You punched through reinforced steel!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if the target was smaller?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another dwarf nearby grunted in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The eye struggles beyond that distance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cedric frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want soldiers shooting farther than that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first dwarf pointed toward the distant target field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If humans are going to make thunder rifles, then make proper thunder rifles!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby workers quietly watched the argument with growing amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lucien arrived alongside Lucas and Malen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarves immediately turned toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead smith crossed his arms stubbornly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The rifle works.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But accurate sighting becomes difficult at long range.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another dwarf grabbed the rifle from the workbench before aiming awkwardly toward the distant targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The projectile flies correctly now. Better than smoothbores.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he lowered the weapon irritably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But aiming remains terrible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien paused slightly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he understood the problem immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Primitive sights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Limited visibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distance targeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Modern solutions existed naturally in his previous world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here though—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even basic optical engineering barely existed yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly an idea formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not full modern scopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But simple magnified optics?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Potentially.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked toward the dwarves again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if you could see farther?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The workshop quieted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead dwarf frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That sounds like wizard nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf immediately looked offended from nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why does everyone blame magic for impossible ideas?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because magic exists!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is fair.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien picked up a piece of charcoal before sketching quickly across a metal plate resting nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple tube design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lens placement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basic magnification principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarves gathered closer gradually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then increasingly focused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One dwarf blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Glass?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Curved glass,\" Lucien corrected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another leaned closer toward the sketch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re trying to magnify vision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas stared at the drawing afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Absolutely not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead dwarf scratched his beard thoughtfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Theoretically...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then another interrupted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. The glass alignment would fail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not if mounted properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Precision grinding would take forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gandalf suddenly stepped forward excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know crystal shaping spells.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire workshop became quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lucien slowly looked toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You never mentioned that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old mage shrugged proudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nobody asked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas looked genuinely exhausted now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every conversation somehow creates more work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar’s laughter rumbled from outside the workshop entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mortals truly cannot stop yourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one disagreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because standing there beneath furnace light and drifting smoke—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Lucien could feel it now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elarion was no longer simply surviving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evolving.\u003C\u002Fp>",1060,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","67d0f302fa85fd1abd84e743da63a2a5a426ecfc0e2e8548b4792a9f3a661f86","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-57","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-55",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]