Chapter 450
Chapter 450: We Must Learn to Draw Experience from History, Both Good and Bad
Brother Loyalty quickly completed the initial design of Second Lieutenant Robinson’s mechanical prosthetic, this “disability insurance victim number one,” with Little Sharon. This device’s effectiveness in the fantasy world doesn’t rely on precise neural links or chip control, but rather operates based on computation beads and user commands.
Therefore, there’s no need to consider compatibility issues, they only need to create mechanical arms of suitable specifications according to the user’s physical characteristics and complete the installation.
However, this process isn’t without concerns.
Due to Countess Sharon’s crafting limitations, she currently cannot perform high-precision mechanical prosthetic creation. Being able to make something like Brother Loyalty’s mechanical arm is already her limit.
Prosthetics of this level can’t accommodate many functions, and the ones they do have are quite basic.
To advance further on this path requires more than just inspiration and talent. According to Little Sharon, she needs to study at the Mechanical Institute of Shaldor Engineering Academy after the Black Plague subsides to learn more advanced prosthetic crafting methods from the Halflings.
In short, fantasy engineering and modern engineering only share the word “engineering” in common.
At least in Brother Loyalty’s view, the core of this “fantasy punk” lies not in mechanical beauty, but in the peculiar technology tree developed by Halflings in this special fantasy continent background that completely defies industrial progression principles.
For example, they’ve already created steam trains that can run on rails, but no Halfling engineer has ever tried to make cars, which are obviously simpler. Instead, “steam walking machines” running all over Shaldor port are “mechanical giant spiders” made according to bionic principles.
You might say they’re backward, yet their walking machines can achieve stable all-weather, all-terrain running and charging.
But you might say they’re advanced, yet these walking machines still need coal and steam furnaces for power.
Anyway, it’s full of inconsistencies and awkwardness, but it’s precisely this unique awkwardness that makes this system increasingly attractive in Brother Loyalty’s eyes.
Brother Loyalty and Little Sharon agreed on their respective responsibilities in this matter before parting ways.
He is now the director of Transia’s First National Armament Factory, dealing with many things daily, especially the production line that was just installed and started production has been having problems these days. Various issues, big and small, have kept this production line’s output from increasing.
Brother Loyalty thinks this is probably because his and Little Sharon’s modifications to the production line are still not perfect enough.
However, the good news is that a batch of mass-produced replica Mosin-Nagant rifle barrels has been completed, and they can start assembly as soon as the hardwood arrives from Torrent Fort.
Countess Sharon’s improvements to the production line allow them to create less-than-standard rifling for the barrels, and the semi-manual production line for bullets is also progressing well, now entering the production reserve stage.
To summarize broadly, Brother Loyalty’s armament factory is a typical case of having constant minor problems but never stopping its forward progress.
This puts Brother Loyalty in a good mood.
He was humming while riding a witch-hunting warhorse back to his factory, but encountered an “uninvited guest” halfway.
Amid the deep warhorse neighing, an armored shadow-maned warhorse came charging over from the adjacent road with overwhelming momentum. Brother Loyalty looked back and saw Dou from the Tiger Leopard Riders waving at him from the saddle.
“Brother Loyalty, wait up, I bring a letter from Brother Stick, we have something to discuss with you about advancing the swamp front!”
“Oh, the swamp area.”
Brother Loyalty pulled the reins, waiting in place for the Winged Cavalry knight to arrive.
The latter’s shadow-maned warhorse overshadowed his witch-hunting warhorse below in both size and presence. Though also a standard tall horse, it looked as pitiful as a donkey before the other’s shadow-maned warhorse.
“Here, Brother Stick’s letter, read it yourself.”
Tiger Leopard Rider Dou skillfully stopped his warhorse, taking out carrots to treat his beloved mount while handing a handwritten letter to Brother Loyalty.
The latter took it with his cool mechanical hand and opened it for a quick look, then exclaimed:
“I think you’ve all gone mad! Burn the whole swamp? How did you even come up with that!”
“Oh come on, we’re not burning the whole swamp. The Foul Swamp is so vast, where would we get enough manpower to burn it? Besides, if we really tried something like that, Avalon’s boss would probably be the first to show disapproval and bring down divine punishment.
We’re now more like ‘otherworld little animal protectors’, having to be extra careful even when stepping on flowers and grass.”
Dou complained very unhappily.
Their Winged Cavalry system belongs to the special sequence of the Forest Spirit, and the Forest Spirit is Avalon’s power extension under the Forest Mother aspect, so the Winged Cavalry are also considered part of the nature faction.
This accidental alignment with Meow King’s group under the same belief system is indeed quite amusing, but since they’ve pledged to the nature deity, protecting the environment has become a basic tenet.
This isn’t the main point though, the main point is that Brother Stick has finally presented his battle plan for the northern front.
Dou took out a map of the Foul Swamp, spread it before Brother Loyalty, and explained following the advance route drawn on it from the Maginot Line straight to Plague Town:
“Brother Stick’s idea is to start from here, using flames to clear a path wide enough for large numbers of personnel and supplies to pass through.
We’ve already contacted the Stonemason Guild, and Professor Chen’s beloved disciple Brother Samoyeria gave us an assessment plan. He said if we can clear an unobstructed advance path through the swamp, he can be responsible for laying cement behind with his people.
Um, that’s the weird otherworld cement made by the Bricklayer and Grayman. Professor Chen also believes that if Governor Murphy must confront the Black Plague in the Dark Mountains, then establishing a supply transport route through the Foul Swamp is also a very necessary move.
So, Brother Stick wants to request your armament factory to design some kind of burning weapon that can quickly ignite swamp environments. We want to burn our way from the Maginot Line all the way to Plague Town!
This way, the swamp environment’s effect on us will be reduced to minimum, and those undead monsters’ fear of fire will also make it more convenient for us to deal with them.”
“Hmm”
Brother Loyalty frowned while looking at the battle map before him.
Joy Stick’s idea sounds a bit fantastical, after all the Foul Swamp is too vast, burning out a path seems quite incredible.
However, thinking carefully, this tactic might still be feasible.
Because the first phase of operations doesn’t require burning through the entire swamp, just opening up a road from the swamp border to Plague Town.
The paths in the swamp are winding and difficult to traverse, which makes people who enter move slowly, but if going in a straight line, it’s actually only about 30 to 40 kilometers at most.
Dou, sitting on his warhorse, saw Brother Loyalty’s furrowed brow and guessed this wouldn’t be so easy. He said quietly:
“I just went to Lady Tris’s alchemy cottage to check, the staff there told me they can supply large quantities of alchemical fire oil.”
“Fire oil won’t work!”
Brother Loyalty immediately rejected:
“Alchemical fire oil’s rapid burning relies on environmental factors to take effect. In that extremely humid swamp environment, I estimate alchemical fire oil won’t even achieve half its normal effect. Brother Stick’s idea should be based on Vietnam War experience, converting terrain advantageous to the enemy into something beneficial for our side, weakening the enemy while strengthening ourselves is a very correct approach.
But he overlooked that our industrial level here can’t reach their level at all.
To implement his tactics, I’d need to make napalm bombs for him first.”
“But, didn’t Pigeon make gasoline bombs when he was an apprentice at Lady Tris’s before? He even gave them a name called Peace Dove, really full of questionable points.”
Dou asked another question, only to receive a white-eyed disdain from Brother Loyalty, the “professional”.
“What he made at most could be called ‘burning oil’, far from a real incendiary bomb.
That was just an amateur’s fancy operation, absolutely cannot be used in this scale of environmental shaping. However, if Pigeon could make such a thing with his cat-scratching level of alchemy, I guess if I consult some professionals, I should be able to make what Brother Stick needs.
But don’t expect much in terms of production volume.”
Brother Loyalty put away the map, shaking his head saying:
“Unless he can persuade an alchemy master like Lady Tris to participate, with the current alchemy level among the player community, by the time Brother Stick gets enough incendiary bombs to burn out a path, I’m afraid it’ll be too late.
Rather than napalm bombs, we might as well start with white phosphorus bombs. They can achieve similar effects with much lower technical requirements, and best of all, we don’t need to consider humanitarian impacts when targeting undead.
Let’s do this.
I’ll go make samples first, you guys go convince Lady Tris to help.”
He waved to the worried-looking Dou saying:
“But I must remind you, getting these things is just the beginning. You’ll also need to think about how to drop them. I bet none of you have seen what happens when an incendiary bomb explodes. Let me tell you, once it goes off, the first one threatened is the bomber.
Don’t play with this without certain height and precise delivery capabilities.”
“Oh, that’s not a problem.”
Dou rubbed his chin saying:
“Tobacco from Meow King’s team guaranteed he can throw those things accurately, and worst case we still have vampires, right? The student party members all fly fast and steady, each carrying an incendiary bomb to drop from high altitude isn’t a problem.”
“Huh?”
Brother Loyalty widened his eyes, saying:
“Aren’t you guys competitors? How come you’re actively inviting them to participate in your tactics?”
“Hey, come on now, competition is competition, but how can we not be sincere about local major affairs?”
Dou said very casually, waving his hand:
“No matter who wins or loses in this new map exploration, that’s all our internal business.
Whether we can solve the Foul Swamp problem directly relates to Governor Murphy’s strategy against the Black Plague. This is a matter directly concerning Transia’s survival. In such matters, winning and losing between player guilds is destined to be just a small side bet.
Brother Stick and we have always been very clear on such major rights and wrongs issues.”
“Awesome!”
Brother Loyalty was very moved after hearing this, repeatedly giving thumbs up saying:
“As expected of state education, this kind of collective consciousness deserves vigorous promotion. Alright! Since Brother Stick shows such righteousness, we ‘Loyalty Anthem’ can’t fall short either. I’ll go back to research right away, striving to make it for you as fast as possible.
But still, as I said.
I’m really not familiar with alchemy, you’ll need to find professionals to achieve mass production. Lady Tris over there isn’t easy to convince, but I think if you can find enough fine wine, you might be able to persuade her.
Oh, right, Lumina is also half a ‘professional’ in this area, you can contact her.
One last reminder!
I think before you execute such a plan, better go pray at the Avalon Cathedral. It wouldn’t be good if you really bring down nature deity’s punishment for burning the swamp.”
“Hey, isn’t this what Meow King is for?”
Dou hummed, saying:
“Aren’t we working hard developing weapons to fight Gnolls just to protect the development opportunities Transia has finally gained? Avalon’s boss’s cathedral is right here. If they don’t let us burn the swamp now, when the Gnolls kill their way in later, can they still protect their cathedral?
If Avalon has any enlightenment at all, they should know not to obstruct us doing such things at this time.
That Foul Swamp harbors filth and evil, it’s exactly what needs punishment from otherworld heavenly fire. Only places burned by flames can give birth to flowers of hope in the ashes.
Ah, staying with those Avalon priests too long, I can even speak a few literary sentences now.
Hehe, well Brother Loyalty you stay busy then, I won’t disturb you.
Contact by bead if there’s news.”
After speaking, Dou put his Winged Cavalry battle helmet on his head, preparing to return to the city to see Grand Duchess Tris. Brother Loyalty watched his back and couldn’t help shouting:
“Go to ‘Treasure Bay’! Old Huo there has lots of good wine, convince him and you can bribe Grand Duchess Tris!”
“Alright, thanks for the tip, brother.”
Dou’s shout came from far away, making Brother Loyalty hum once, sighing in his heart that these guys just aren’t reliable.
Actually planning to set fire to burn mountains.
Tsk tsk, fortunately Transia doesn’t have forestry police, otherwise they’d be looking at serving their full sentences.
“However, is the appearance of things like napalm bombs and white phosphorus bombs in Transia at this era really a good thing?”
Brother Loyalty continued on his way riding his witch-hunting warhorse.
He thought in his heart:
“Won’t there be a bunch of vampires carrying aerial bombs flying across thousands of miles of territory to bomb Greenleaf Island in the dawn light in the future? Hiss, thinking carefully this scene is a bit scary yet a bit exciting, but with Governor Murphy’s maintenance of vampire etiquette, he probably won’t allow such ‘crazy vampires’ under his command?
Seems after getting off work later I need to contact some old friends, let them give some advice, whether we can use some local Transian things to replace raw materials, achieving effects similar to incendiary bombs.
Hiss.
Why am I asking them offline?
Wouldn’t it be better to just bring them in directly? After all, the armament factory will need to make these things when it grows bigger anyway, and it saves me making two trips.
Hmm, I will go file a report in a bit, get them transferred to my group.”
————————
“Awesome, while other countries are still thinking about scorched earth tactics to resist the Black Plague, my little players’ tactical thinking has already advanced to the Vietnam War. Setting fire to burn forests, oh my oh my, too awesome, is there someone among you whose previous life was called LeMay?”
Under the same sky, Murphy, who was flapping his wings flying from near Torrent Fort where the field hospital was located towards Crimson Citadel, had already eavesdropped on Brother Loyalty and Dou’s conversation through the core bead’s information monitoring of the whole city.
Upon realizing Joy Stick was planning to play something big, Murphy himself got excited too.
He hadn’t thought about using such a violent approach when attacking the Foul Swamp before. Looks like he really isn’t an excellent commander, completely lacking the professional qualities a commander should have.
But thinking carefully, Joy Stick’s plan does have strong feasibility, not only can it be used to eliminate the warlocks in Plague Town, but also can be used later when entering the swamp on a large scale to clear passage to the Dark Mountains.
He wants to burn out a military road connecting Transia and the Dark Mountains through the Foul Swamp, turning impassable ways into thoroughfares.
However, this won’t be so easy. Back then even that kind of firepower density in the Vietnam War couldn’t burn out the jungle. Current Transia definitely can’t achieve similar things, so to realize this strategic concept, they might need to go ask the magical Lady Tris again.
Thinking of this, Murphy’s wing beats accelerated again. He planned to give Tris a surprise.
However, when Murphy arrived at the Blood Vulture Halls, he found Tris wasn’t here. The Blood Vulture Grand Duchess left him a note saying the little players invited her to go have fun at “Treasure Bay” with all drinks covered.
She’d probably play there for a few days before coming back.
This made Murphy can’t help but cover his eyes, sighing repeatedly in his heart that his poor Tris really hasn’t seen much of the world, being bought off by little players with just some drinks.
Hey!
With such low pricing, how can you be a qualified faction leader?
Carrying such thoughts, Murphy sighed and planned to continue his day’s sword practice, but when leaving Tris’s office, Murphy suddenly stopped his steps.
He looked back at the small hidden compartment under Tris’s desk. He knew Tris would hide her laboratory keys here, and Tris had been very secretive lately.
“Should I go see what Tris has been doing?”
Murphy thought so.
After hesitating for a moment, he decisively took action.
Tris was hiding something from him, and those things were related to Dusk. Whether from the perspective of Transia’s lord or Tris’s boyfriend, Murphy felt he needed to know these things.
Although this might lead to him getting beaten up badly by Tris or even cause a relationship crisis, Murphy felt he should take this risk.
This isn’t just some little secret between lovers that level of small matter, this could be a serious situation that might endanger Tris’s life if handled poorly.
Murphy quickly got the key and went to Tris’s laboratory to unlock the door. Upon entering, he smelled a strange odor, and following the smell forward, he saw a woman’s corpse preserved by some special technique on the stone platform in the deepest part of the laboratory.
The vampire lord stared at this already dissected corpse, and after a moment, he said quietly:
“Source?
No, should be a substitute.
Tris did fight with her after all, let me see Tris’s research conclusions, hmm, a remote technique for communicating with her, some extracted power samples, lots of hidden characteristics and obscure research on theological mysteries.
Is this her name?
Luna Christine Imagil?
Wait!
This surname…
She is a forest elf? And from the same clan as the current Elf King!
Tsk, I knew it, nothing related to my little Tris would be simple.”