Chapter 211: The Famous Single-Tube Telescope!

Sensing the situation was peculiar, Marshal Mi Xiusi and Adli showed no urgency.

Marshal Mi Xiusi smiled and presented the single-tube telescope before Prince Bruce.

"My lord, because we possess this, we already discerned Wickes and Anthony's deployment before the battle even began!"

"This tube?" Prince Bruce looked surprised.

The nobles in the crowd also erupted in murmurs.

Earlier, everyone had indeed seen Marshal Mi Xiusi and Adli holding tubes, constantly gazing toward the opposite hill.

Yet they had carefully examined these tubes—merely crude copper shells with no distinguishing features.

Thus, though strange, they paid it no mind.

"My lord, this is called a single-tube telescope; it can magnify distant scenery immensely, making hundreds of meters appear as if right before your eyes!"

"And scenes two or three li away become crystal clear through it—so Adli and I used it to spot the defenders' deployment!"

"We simply played along with their act, waiting until they grew lax, then delivered our 'fatal strike.'"

Huh?

"Magnify scenery a hundred meters away to appear before your eyes? Is that real?"

"Yes, could this be a magical item? But then, why don't I see any inscriptions or sense any magic?"

Prince Bruce finally grew curious and took the tube to examine it.

"My lord, this is not a magical item, yet its effect is real—you simply need to extend it and hold it to your eye…"

Hou Jue Marshal Mi Xiusi began instructing Prince Bruce on how to use it.

Prince Bruce, though well-traveled, immediately showed astonishment as he raised the single-tube telescope to his eye and gazed toward the opposite forest.

He then repeatedly lowered and raised the telescope to observe the scenery.

After several such repetitions, he could no longer hold back his firm praise: "Amazing—truly amazing! No wonder you could see Wickes and Anthony's deployment so clearly!"

"They lost fairly!"

Coming from Prince Bruce, this was already the highest praise.

"So, is what Marshal Mi Xiusi said true? Can this copper tube really magnify distant scenery?"

"Of course it's true—the prince himself confirmed it!"

"Good heavens, I'm dying to know what the opposite side looks like through this copper tube!"

"I'm curious too!"

"Since you're all curious, take a look! Marshal Mi Xiusi and Adli won fairly and squarely!" Prince Bruce simply handed the telescope to the crowd.

This was also to definitively establish the reason for Marshal Mi Xiusi and Adli's victory, preventing any later disputes.

Marshal Mi Xiusi and Adli had already promised Gervas to help promote the telescope.

So they handed out Adli's telescope too, and loudly declared:

"Feel free to look—this single-tube telescope was gifted to us by a young noble, who also asked us to help promote it!"

"So if anyone likes it, feel free to come find us later!"

"Oh? So this single-tube telescope can be mass-produced?" Before the nobles could react, Prince Bruce's eyes lit up.

He had planned to ask these very questions soon anyway.

After all, this battle had perfectly demonstrated the telescope's utility.

"Yes, my lord, this single-tube telescope can be mass-produced—I hear at least thirty are made each month!"

"Thirty? That's impressive—how much does each cost?" Like Marshal Mi Xiusi's initial reaction, Prince Bruce's interest deepened.

"Five gold coins!"

Prince Bruce froze, astonished: "Five gold coins? Marshal Mi Xiusi, are you certain?"

Clearly, Prince Bruce thought the single-tube telescope shouldn't be so cheap.

"My lord, the young noble said so—but I believe if we decorate it more attractively, we could sell it for more, perhaps even ten gold coins without exaggeration!" said Marshal Mi Xiusi.

"Even without decoration, ten gold coins wouldn't be too much!" Prince Bruce remarked.

"By the way, Marshal Mi Xiusi—who is this young noble you mentioned? Is he a junior member of your family?"

"No, my lord—he's from a minor noble family and is now the lord of Stormhold on the southern border."

"He was also the top contributor in the recent campaign against the southwestern barbarian tribes—his name is Gervas Gale!"

"Oh? Him? He's the same person?" Prince Bruce had naturally heard of the kingdom's top contributor in this campaign.

He hadn't expected this single-tube telescope was also produced in his domain.

More importantly, he was merely from a minor noble family.

"Marshal Mi Xiusi, get me ten of these single-tube telescopes from Gervas—I'll have someone deliver the gold coins to you when we return to the city!"

"Yes, my lord!" Marshal Mi Xiusi immediately smiled in reply.

Finally, he'd helped that Gervas kid secure sales—this wasn't a wasted gift after all!

Of course, this was only the beginning.

As the nobles began taking turns testing the single-tube telescopes,

Upon feeling the extreme magnification, a chorus of exclamations rose from the slope.

"Hou Jue Marshal Mi Xiusi, I heard this single-tube telescope costs only five gold coins—is that right? I want to buy two!"

"I want to buy three!"

"I want to buy…"

…

On the eastern coast of the kingdom, Viscount Falek's estate.

Today, the viscount's estate is hosting the tenth anniversary celebration of the Black Bear Trading Company.

Thus, all the partners of the Black Bear Trading House attended the celebration in full solemnity.

And because Overseer Ku Po once again returned with the Luminous Pearl, and through premium pricing brought the trading house a profit of over ten gold coins,

he earned the favor and recognition of the current viscount of his family, Viscount Leo.

And was brought along to this banquet.

As he felt the surrounding crowd, all dressed in luxurious ceremonial robes, Overseer Ku Po's heart swelled with excitement.

This was a noble banquet!

In his commoner status, he would never have had the chance to attend one in the past.

This time, thanks to his outstanding performance and the viscount's favor, he was able to come.

Among those present, only five or six others enjoyed such an honor.

They were all the top managers under the partners.

And this banquet alone would give him enough to boast about for years to come.

As Overseer Ku Po savored the noble cuisine he could never normally taste, a commotion suddenly erupted at the front of the hall.

Upon closer look, he saw his own Viscount Leo quarreling fiercely with another noble, faces flushed.

Overseer Ku Po was startled and dared not delay—he hurried toward the main table at the front of the banquet hall.

As he drew nearer, he understood what was happening.

The noble quarreling with Viscount Leo was Viscount Ellis, who was also one of the trading house's partners.

But he held a personal grudge against Viscount Leo.

Though they had never openly clashed, their silent rivalry had never ceased.

Just now, Viscount Leo had displayed the exquisite staff in his hand.

It had cost sixty gold coins, crafted by a retired royal jeweler from the capital.

Normally, such a small display of pride was common among nobles; they often competed like this.

But Viscount Ellis was deeply displeased, outright claiming it was unlikely the retired royal jeweler had made it himself—perhaps his apprentice had done it instead.

This naturally shamed Viscount Leo, who flew into a rage, insisting the staff bore the jeweler's personal engraving—proof it was made by his own hands.

As the two argued, faces flushed, Viscount Ellis smiled faintly and produced another ornament: a silver bracer.