The clear sound of bird cries echoed in the verdant forest, as thorny vines wrapped around the cedar trees.
In this tranquil forest, from ti to ti, a peculiar sound of bangs and creaks would break the silence.
In the hunting grounds beside the forest of Black Mountain Castle, human-shaped targets draped with wooden boards and thatch were constantly swaying back and forth in the forr archery range.
Standing ten ters away from the target, Lefi followed the standard procedure designed in the drill manual imdiately after shooting.
First, he raised the aromatic slling salts tied to his wrist, inhaled briefly, then stood the clockwork gun upright on the ground and started the standard process of loading lead and pressing the ramrod.
After more than twenty seconds of rapid loading, Lefi once again placed the Holy Gun on the gun rack.
"Aim!" he shouted the command aloud himself.
This was the requirent of the training, to ensure that the War Monks could familiarize themselves with the commands; even when training alone, one must shout the commands aloud.
"Fire!"
"Bang!"
The target at the edge of the forest swayed back and forth once more, but this ti, Lefi looked noticeably weary.
His body began to sway as well, and Horn, standing at the edge of the shooting range, understood this was about the limit.
So he promptly called a halt to Lefi and turned to the accompanying Priest beside him: "Which round was that?"
"The seventh round."
Horn turned to look at Victor beside him, their expressions filled with surprise and delight.
Previously, they discovered that the hand cannon brigade where Lefi was stationed suddenly managed to fire a second round, and they were investigating the reason.
But today’s result was beyond everyone’s expectations; Lefi’s previous tests usually resulted in four rounds, five rounds if performing well.
However, today he fired seven shots, his sacred power almost doubled, aning that if it could be popularized, the Holy Gunman’s ammunition supply would nearly double.
The extra three shots ca from the triangular pendant around his neck.
Earlier, the hand cannon brigade where Lefi was stationed went to assist Mormon, who followed the principle of paying with excess scraps when unable to pay wages.
These scraps were used to create the triangular pendant.
Standing aside, Mormon looked even more surprised than Horn; he alternately glanced at Lefi and then at the pendant in his hand, falling into deep thought.
"Did you invent this amulet yourself?" Horn leaned over, peeking from beside his shoulder.
Mormon first turned his head and then glanced down at Horn: "It was invented by my teacher, Your Grace, but this amulet is not very useful; we rarely make them."
"You said you’ve already developed copper to the extre." Horn reached out, "Is this unique to you? Let see."
"Yes, it’s unique to our Fla Rose Association." Mormon handed the triangular pendant to Horn.
The soft leather cord slid across his palm, and Horn held the pendant up to his eyes, examining it closely.
The triangular pendant’s outer layer was wrapped in iron and softwood, appearing very rudintary.
Inside, it housed a conical black iron-like object; Horn touched it, feeling more like so sort of black glass rather than tal.
"How much do you know about this thing’s principle?"
Mormon pointed to the black glass object and laughed, "At first, we discovered it changes color slightly when in contact with mana, and later, when accidentally worn, it lightened the burden of using Fireballs.
It gradually beca our amulet. Over the past few years, we sold around a dozen, though most complained about its ineffectiveness."
Horn knocked on the black glass-like object with his fingernail. "What’s it called?"
"Electric gold."
Aligning the pendant with the sun, Horn closed his left eye, allowing sunlight to pass through, revealing a translucent quality.
Turning his head, Horn asked, "Is it a natural tal or an alchemical product?"
"It’s an alchemical product. It’s called a tal, but that’s actually a mistake made by wizards; electric gold is made from crystals. Back then, wizards mistakenly took them as a type of tal." Mormon explained from the side.
"Patrick, co take a look." Horn handed over the object in hand. "Have you seen this before?"
"Electric gold should be exclusive to the Fla Rose Association." Patrick fiddled with the amulet, "Every Secret Faction has stuff like this sowhat. The Ruo’an Faction has a similar protective Illusion Technique amulet."
In many instances, the Secret Faction can only be organized because of these alchemical formulas and casting techniques.
Many Secret Faction’s beginnings were ford by Witch followers, and scholars researching witches and magic, which is why many Secret Faction still uphold the traditions and regulations of the Scholars’ Association.
"Are you implying that nearly every Secret Faction has so technology or small invention like this?"
"Yeah," Patrick scratched his head, responding matter-of-factly, "Why? Wasn’t that telescope also made by the Secret Faction in the first place?"
Horn was stunned at first, then his breathing quickened. "How many exactly? Have you ever counted them, or made a list?"
"Hundreds or thousands, possibly tens of thousands. We’ve never specifically counted them. So are Secret Faction secrets that rarely get exposed, like Red Dragon’s Breath." Patrick looked down at Horn. "Most of these things have various effects."
"No, haven’t you ever thought about other uses or mass production?" Horn incredulously asked.
Whether it was mountain copper or telescopes, or this electric gold, every alchemical product had incredible uses.
In a sense, these Secret Faction actually hold technology far beyond the era’s capabilities.
"No," Patrick shrugged, "Firstly, who dares to buy wizard goods? Secondly, it seems useless, who would buy it? Thirdly, for mass production, where do we get so many alchemists?
Lastly and most importantly, it’s not sothing new and fancy; doesn’t everyone own so alchemy gadgets? It’s not like there aren’t substitutes."
Horn’s face slowly took on a peculiar expression.
According to Patrick, over the centuries, this small Black Snake Bay has continuously bred and created massively productivity-enhancing alchemical products.
With such high technology, they stubbornly kept it hidden, using it in a limited scope among themselves.
Horn always believed that to either resist the Empire’s army or bring new life to the Thousand River Valley, the Salvation Army must first achieve industrialization, at least proto-industrialization.
However, industrialization or modernization entails two major difficulties: funding and technology.
Funding can be forcibly obtained by various ans, sacrificing a bit both internally and externally to roughly gather it.
But being in a different world, most of the technology from Horn’s holand is useless here.
For example, steam perates into the void. tals are nearly non-conductive. Gunpowder doesn’t explode.
To gain industrial technology, Horn could only teach thodology, offer vague directions, and then wait for results.
It’s a process that can’t be done overnight, and the Pope Country Royal Natural Theological Academy he established was created for this purpose.
Suppose the Secret Faction truly has various tricks as Patrick described, perhaps these technologies can indeed et Horn’s needs.
Every ti he thought of this, Horn found Black Snake Bay people’s absurdity unbelievable.
The Secret Party Wizard’s usage has the beauty of sharpening cutting-edge nano-chips to bind on sticks to make spears.
In this view, the Black Snake Bay Secret Faction is truly sitting on a mountain of treasure, unaware of it.
However, Horn stroked his chin, seeing the intense internal struggle among the Secret Faction, thoroughly unveiling the treasure mountain won’t be an easy task.
He must devise a good plan for major Secret Faction to set aside their grievances and work together in developnt.
Making a note of this matter in his heart, Horn flicked the triangular pendant with glee.
"Master Patrick, I assign you a task. Write a list of all similar alchemical products you know of, and to which Secret Faction they belong." Horn stored the pendant and instructed Patrick.
"All of them?" Patrick displayed his usual wearied expression.
"All of them!" Horn reiterated, then waved to Mormon, "Mormon..."
Mormon stepped forward and bowed slightly, "I’m here, Your Grace."
"I’ll assign you so alchemists; I an, Natural Priests. Try to equip all Holy Gunn with electric gold pendants by the end of the month, can you do that?"
"Yes, I’ll try, Your Grace."
User Comments
0 comments from readers