[{"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-80":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},1366788,1809,"Chapter 80 - 74: Thunder Across the Valley","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-80",80,"\u003Cp>Kael Draven remained in Elarion for six days before sending his first report south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He omitted half of what he had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not intentionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply lacked words precise enough to explain it properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The northern territory no longer resembled anything familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factories operated through the night beneath towering smoke stacks. Workers moved with strange efficiency. Steel production never seemed to stop. And the soldiers—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers disturbed him most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because of numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every patrol moved with purpose. Every guard carried advanced rifles. Every checkpoint functioned with military precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not a recovering frontier territory anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was becoming something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael sat quietly inside a rented upper room overlooking one of Elarion’s outer industrial districts while finishing another coded report for House Valcriox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Lord Kassian Valcriox\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The northern reports are accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Industrial development exceeds expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firearm technology significantly surpasses southern capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military organization highly disciplined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civilian loyalty toward Lord Lucien remains exceptionally strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further observation required.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Kael Draven\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael stared at the finished report for several seconds afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then added one final line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recommendation: Do not underestimate Elarion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight sealed the document quietly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because for the first time in years—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He genuinely felt uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside his window, Elarion remained awake despite the late hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam hissed endlessly from massive pipes running between factory buildings while workers continued transporting steel under torchlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city never rested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That unsettled him deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning only worsened things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military activity increased before sunrise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entire sections of the western valley became restricted while rifle regiments moved through the roads in organized formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael observed everything carefully from a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Workers cleared sections near the outer artillery range while soldiers established layered security positions around the valley walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too much preparation for ordinary drills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Kael noticed the cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance they resembled ordinary magical artillery pieces used by larger noble houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kingdom already possessed cannons powered through mana crystals and rune formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those weapons were rare. Expensive. Heavy enough to require massive transport crews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And worst of all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A magical cannon could destroy fortress gates or obliterate charging formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after firing once, the barrel required cooling and mana stabilization before firing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some needed several minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That limitation had always prevented them from completely replacing traditional warfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the cannons positioned across Elarion’s western range looked different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No glowing mana circuits. No visible crystal arrays. No runic stabilizers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long reinforced barrels mounted upon heavy field carriages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael frowned slightly while observing the crews moving around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far too efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly two hundred soldiers handled the artillery positions with practiced coordination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Powder loaded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barrels adjusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elevation corrected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crews moved quickly enough that Kael immediately noticed the difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not how magical artillery teams operated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the targets arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large steel-plated defensive slabs dragged across the valley floor by heavy horses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armor penetration testing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael’s expression hardened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why would Lucien prioritize anti-armor artillery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer came moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An officer raised one arm sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"FIRE!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The valley exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blast slammed across the mountainside with terrifying force while smoke erupted violently from the cannon line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael instinctively braced himself against the rocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not magical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure explosive force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And far louder than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steel target shattered apart instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not damaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twisted fragments scattered across the valley floor while nearby soldiers shouted in celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael stared silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destructive power alone rivaled magical artillery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was not what frightened him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crews began reloading immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traditional magical cannons required stabilization after every shot. Mana pressure distorted the barrel interiors. Cooling periods slowed repeated firing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Elarion’s artillery crews simply continued working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Powder. Shell. Ram. Adjust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another cannon fired less than a minute later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second target vanished beneath the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael slowly felt genuine unease creeping into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he finally understood the danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien had not created stronger cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had created practical cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weapons weaker than the kingdom’s largest magical siege artillery perhaps—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But cheap enough to mass produce. Mobile enough for battlefield deployment. Fast enough to dominate conventional armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That realization disturbed him far more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One magical cannon threatened a fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An entire line of these weapons could erase armies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artillery crews continued firing afterward in disciplined rotation while smoke rolled across the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One officer standing below turned directly toward Kael’s observation ridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from this distance, the movement felt deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officer calmly raised one hand toward the hidden knight in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then simply walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence settled around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold realization followed shortly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew someone watched them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And instead of hiding the artillery—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They demonstrated it intentionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not a secret accidentally discovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien wanted House Valcriox to see this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanted them cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanted them aware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The confidence behind that decision unsettled Kael deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because only someone absolutely certain of his position would reveal military strength so openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That evening, Kael abandoned further infiltration entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no longer a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already seen enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, the elite knight departed Elarion beneath heavy snowfall while the industrial smoke of the northern valley continued rising endlessly behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And during the entire journey south—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thought refused to leave his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Elarion continued developing at this pace for another few years—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the great noble houses might no longer match it militarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>House Valcriox.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian read Kael’s full report in complete silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The study remained quiet except for rain tapping softly against the tall windows nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphine stood opposite the desk while Kael waited nearby with arms folded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally Kassian lowered the report slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Rapid-fire field artillery.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not stronger than high-grade magical siege cannons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But mobile.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And mass-producible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael hesitated briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I believe so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That answer darkened the room immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because everyone present understood the implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kingdom’s magical artillery remained powerful precisely because it was rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Difficult to craft. Expensive to maintain. Limited by mana resources and specialized operators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lucien’s weapons bypassed all of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steel. Powder. Industrial production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian slowly stood afterward before walking toward the northern territories marked upon the wall map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He showed you intentionally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meaning he wanted House Valcriox to understand his military capability.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kael nodded again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then finally Kassian spoke quietly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...He’s becoming uncontrollable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time nobody disagreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that silence alone said enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heir of House Valcriox stared toward the distant north while rain continued falling beyond the manor windows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then slowly reached his conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If observation changes nothing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere inside the study became heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Then we begin applying pressure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the era of passive watching had ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because kassian had finally realized something dangerous:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien was no longer merely rebuilding the north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was changing warfare itself.\u003C\u002Fp>",1166,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","b07490e73870e3b810b5b029683dd58220614a5e657fe1e73c08adfd337d894b","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-81","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-79",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]