Chapter 192: Conrads Ambitions (1/2)

With Conrad in Kufstein, Berengar felt assured that his rise to power was secure. Thus he spent the remainder of his day visiting Ludwig's office. The man was currently busy overseeing production, it had been a while since Berengar last popped by to say hello, and there was a particular reason for him to do so this time.

Berengar had devised a much smaller, flintlock revolver based on the old pepperbox revolvers; the previous pattern was too large to be kept well hidden by his agents across enemy lands, and he had wanted to fix that issue. Thus he stopped by Ludwig's office unannounced.

Berengar quickly knocked on the door, and a few seconds passed before Ludwig opened it. Seeing his old friend for the first time in a long time, a broad smile appeared on Ludwig's face before he immediately realized that Berengar had a set of blueprints in his hands.

”Oh, of course... Your excellency is here to give me more work! You couldn't bother to stop by for a drink every once in a while like the old days, huh?”

Berengar chuckled at Ludwig's response before forcing his way into the room and laying out his blueprints for the old craftsman to witness; as he did so, he responded to the older man's jest.

”I am afraid with two women and a County to run; I do not have much time to visit you; I'm sorry, my old friend!”

Ludwig immediately thought about Berengar's current lifestyle and understood his pain. Thus he pulled out a pair of mugs sitting in the corner of the room before filling them with beer; he handed one to Berengar while taking a sip of the malty liquid himself before getting down to business.

”What is it you have brought me this time?”

Berengar pointed at the design before him and said with a prideful smile on his face.

”I call it the pepperbox revolver, the old revolving flintlocks which my agents use are much too large to be properly concealed. Thus I thought of these weapons for use. Granted, their range is inferior to the other models, but as a personal defense weapon, they are more than enough firepower!”

Ludwig took a glance at the blueprints before nodding in approval

”As always, you do not disappoint with your designs.”

The two men took a few gulps from their beers before discussing more matters of business. Berengar was the first to ask about his production capabilities.

”So, how is production going?”

Ludwig looked at Berengar as if he were an idiot; that question was broad to say the least and had many answers he could potentially say. As such, he asked for clarification.

”Your excellency, which production line are you talking about in particular?”

Berengar smiled before finishing off the beer in his mug; he only began to answer after Ludwig had refilled it.

”The Byzantine armor.”

Hearing what Berengar was asking about, Ludwig scratched his beard slightly before answering to his best ability.

”It is going as planned, luckily the new industrial district in Innsbruck is operating at full capacity, so they have been able to alleviate the pressure on our shoulders. As per usual, the Byzantine armor will be readily available when the time for shipment has arrived. Why are you planning a visit to the Empire?”

After hearing Ludwig's question, Berengar was shocked; he indeed planned to visit the Empire, but only after he had won his war and made himself Duke, he was still a long way away from achieving such things. Thus merely shook his head as he responded to Ludwig's inquiry.

”Not at the moment, if I am to travel to the Empire, I need more prestige, or else they will try to walk all over me. One day though, I would like to see the city of Constantinople for myself.”

Ludwig nodded his head in agreement; he too longed to city the legendary city for himself. However, he did not have the gall to ask Berengar to take him along for the journey when he finally went. Thus he merely toasted Berengar with his mug.

”To your future success, may those imperial bastards bow before your prestige!”

Hearing such a bold toast, Berengar merely chuckled before drinking the remainder of the contents in his mug. Afterward, he began to ask Ludwig about various questions; the two men talked for some time before Berengar bade farewell and returned to the Castle.

After entering the Castle, he was immediately notified by one of his servants that Conrad had called for a meeting in his study, and thus Berengar quickly strode towards it. When he opened the door, he saw the little brat sitting in his chair, surrounded by the other Counts, who gazed at him with worried expressions on their faces.

Berengar's face twitched when he saw the boy in his chair, this was Berengar's personal study, and the brat treated it as if it had belonged to him. However, for now, Berengar had to suppress his ire and put on a respectful facade. As such, he bowed gracefully before greeting Conrad.