[{"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-63":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},1366771,1809,"Chapter 63 - 59: Buying Time","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-63",63,"\u003Cp>Snow fell quietly across Elarion by the time southern reports finally confirmed what Lucien already expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital had started firearm production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas stood inside the upper strategy chamber holding the intelligence letter with a deeply troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They actually copied them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien sat near the map table reviewing steel output reports calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course they did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas looked up sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sound disappointed they didn’t fail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They won’t fail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That answer made the administrator even more concerned somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamber remained warm from the massive stone fireplace while distant winds rattled faintly against the fortress windows outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen stood silently near the balcony entrance as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar occupied nearly half the room beside the fire while pretending not to listen despite very obviously listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas placed the report onto the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The prince established hidden workshops beneath the capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Expected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re producing flintlocks already.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Good?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That finally pulled Lucien’s attention away from the reports in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The administrator stared at him for several seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then pointed toward the intelligence letter like it had personally insulted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are literally reproducing our weapons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Outdated weapons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then slowly narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realization started forming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You planned this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen’s gaze shifted slightly toward Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Aurethar opened one golden eye from beside the fireplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien leaned back calmly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The capital fears Elarion because they think we’re pulling ahead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t we?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That honest answer somehow made the room quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But fear creates urgency.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured toward the report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So now Prince Cassian is doing exactly what I wanted.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas frowned deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spending enormous resources building flintlocks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The administrator stared down at the intelligence papers again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then finally exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You gave them a technological dead end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien shook his head once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just temporary.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That difference mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flintlocks still represented revolutionary weapons compared to traditional armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Elarion had already moved beyond them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rifling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Improved steel quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marksman doctrine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Optics research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And eventually—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Much more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar suddenly rumbled with amusement beside the fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Humans truly are manipulative creatures.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas pointed immediately toward Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This one especially.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien ignored both of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The capital has advantages we don’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resources. Population. Infrastructure. Money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they focused entirely on catching up to our current level,\" Lucien continued, \"they could become dangerous too quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen finally spoke quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So instead...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien’s eyes settled on the map of the kingdom spread across the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We encourage them to spend years perfecting technology we already intend to surpass.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the logic was brutally effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital now believed it possessed the future of warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant: royal funding royal workshops military adaptation supply investment\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All directed toward flintlock systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile Elarion kept advancing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas slowly sat down afterward while rubbing one hand across his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I genuinely can’t decide if that’s brilliant or terrifying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Aurethar answered immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The administrator glared at the dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are incredibly unhelpful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am ancient. Not helpful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malen quietly crossed his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How long before the prince notices?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Longer than he should.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room grew thoughtful afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the fortress windows, distant rifle shots echoed faintly through the snowy valley while workshop smoke continued rising endlessly into the northern sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elarion never stopped moving anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone bought them advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas eventually looked toward Lucien again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s still risk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If southern engineers improve the designs...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You sound strangely calm about that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien stood afterward and walked toward the frost-covered balcony doors overlooking the valley below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers still moved through the industrial district despite the late hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forge fires glowed through drifting snowstorms like scattered stars across the mountainside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The first nation to industrialize wins eventually,\" Lucien said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because none of them fully understood what that sentence truly meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except perhaps Lucien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And maybe the dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurethar watched the settlement below through narrowed golden eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You’re changing this world very quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien rested one hand against the cold stone railing outside the balcony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not quickly enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragon studied him silently for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then surprisingly asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you ever intend to stop?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien looked toward the endless snowy north stretching beyond Elarion’s borders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The abandoned mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The growing factories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rifle regiment training somewhere below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simple answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honest answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Lucas quietly muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At least the kingdom’s future collapse will probably be very organized.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Malen almost smiled at that one.\u003C\u002Fp>",763,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","325293e465dc153c37448416fdd94a08adef9be4ec46b097447429fb0e6a3841","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-64","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-62",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]