Chapter 103: Twelfth Episode: Chapter 3 (2/2)

”You… Don’t believe in that Lady?”

”Why will I do so?” Oscar asked him back tiredly. At the same time, he put the white napkin with a few drops of red blood in Snowstorm’s pocket. The King of Assassin pulled it out, flustered. He stared at little Oscar’s back. Paul took the white napkin with a strange smell far away from himself. He said to himself unwillingly, ”This damn kid. He wasn’t even happy when he took advantage of such good thing!”

The war alert completely changed Grizzly Fortress! The soldiers placed the gigantic rocks that were already prepared in the tunnel on the trailer of the Trebuchet; every warrior at the arrow tower pulled their bow wide with the arrows pointing straight at the opening near the gate of the fortress. After the alert went off, the fortress began the control of light. Grizzly was deprived of all light. The warriors running and moving around the wall of the fortress could only utilize the moonlight reflected on their weapon to barely find their way forward.

Finally, everything became quiet.

”What happened?” Oscar first went into the Fort Tower located on the top floor of the city gate, followed by a group of Red Tiger’s military officers.

”Oh, Your Highness, you came just on the right time!” Duke Roleighanc quickly pulled the Prince towards the window, ”Look, is that the whole unit of Infantry Division you are talking about?”

Oscar took a glance at the mountain road. He almost laughed out loud. Numerous fire holders formed a line of burning light. They were advancing forward between the mountains and cliffs. The fire holders created thick smoke. These smoke formed circles of obscure light in the cold night. The moonlight shone on them. The fire and smoke became a haze under the white moonlight.

Oscar truly did not know how to describe this leader of ninety thousands of warriors, ”Sir Duke, did you not notice about the amount of fire there is? That is not the light created by a unit of an infantry division. In my opinion, this is possibly a whole unit of Corps.”

After saying this, Oscar did not forget to look back at his Red Tiger military officers. Murat and a few Group leader nodded. They knew the Prince’s estimation was not far from the actual situation.

”A... A whole unit of Infantry Corps?” Duke Roleighanc became nervous. He kept looking at his log book, but he truly could not find any order regarding taking care of a whole infantry corps.

This leader of the Sukhoi family looked at those fire that kept closing in on the fortress in confusion, ”What should I do? There is no document nor any notice indicating that an infantry corps will visit my fortress at this time. Who are these people?”

Oscar shrugged. There was no war at the time. The unfriendly Deiss people was also five hundred kilometers away from them. He truly could not understand what Duke Sukhoi was worrying about.

”Report!” Finally, a messenger came into the Fort Tower. ”This is their official document for entry!”

”Read it!” Duke Roleighanc waved his hand impatiently.

The messenger quickly opened the letter, ”To the head of Sukhoi family and every member in the administrative level, due to the many reasons of weather, road situation and transportation, my department decided to take the experiment samples of the certain program earlier than previously stated. For this reason, the First Individual Infantry Brigade of Loantz Front is ordered to provide aid to your transporting unit. Your cooperation is appreciated!”

”Signed by… Old friend. Without thanks! The General of the Empire. Carlangh Steinberger!”

After reading this, the messenger handed the letter to the Duke.

The Prince’s messenger excitedly came closer and spoke into Oscar’s ears with trembled voice, ”Your Highness, that is the letter from my father. Loantz Front’s First Independent Brigade is led and commanded by my uncle Endorph.”

Roleighanc carefully checked the handwriting and the stamp on the bottom. Finally, he nodded. Almost immediately, the Sukhoi military officers in the whole room let off a sigh of relief.

”Rid of the alert and the war flag. Change it to the family’s Harp Flag.” The Duke instructed his military officers as usual. ”Then… Open up the iron chain that controls the hanging gate. We are about to welcome our guest!”

The messenger took a few steps back politely. He faced the young Imperial Envoy.

”Your Highness, here is another entry document of another unit. Please take a look at it.”

Oscar happily laid the letter open, ”As expected of Krapitch Drake! He was late for a total day than what I have expected. Don’t forget to kick his ass later!”

Murat and a few Red Tiger Division leader all laughed. This was truly a matter worth celebrating. The Red Tiger was about to embark on their new journey!

”Let’s go together!” Oscar could already hear the metal clanging from the hanging gate of the fortress.

”Division Leader of the Second Division, Fourth Corps of the Empire’s Eleventh Military District Colonel Krapitch Drake salute to His Imperial Highness Prince O’Neil and Sir Duke Sukhoi.”

Oscar pulled out the straight arms of Krapitch and hugged his old friend tightly. Maybe this was not enough. The Prince passionately kissed his old friend’s cheeks.

”Sir Division Leader, how was the journey? Look at the snow on you!”

”Your Highness, be rest assured. Everything went well during the journey! It’s just that… Guess who I met yesterday at the mountain?” Krapitch wanted Oscar to guess.

Oscar gazed at the Brigade Leader who was talking to Duke Sukhoi at one side. ”Wasn’t it the Border guards of the Steinberger family? I already knew about this.”

”No! Your Highness! You definitely would not guess who I met! Look!” Krapitch smiled as he turned to one side.

A Sukhoi military officer who had been hiding behind the Colonel walked into everyone’s sight.

”Torry!” Oscar took a while to recognize the person. He let out an exaggerated yell!

Torry did not go up to the passionate Prince. He made his uniform’s neckline neat. ”Dear Your Highness Prince O’Neil Andrew Morisette, Major Tove Van Sukhoi of the Guards salute to you!”

Oscar had to return the salutation to ”Mr. Walking Stick” in front of everyone, but he immediately took hold of Torry’s neck in the next moment!

”You damn kid! Save it! Aren’t you coming back next week? Thank god! I thought I was going to miss the chance of meeting you, you jerk.”

Upon seeing his second son, Duke Roleighanc came over in surprise. ”Hey! Look at this! Little jerk, who gave you the orders to come back?”

Torry quickly got rid of Oscar’s hug.

”Father, look. Those trial product given to the Steinberger family are all produced from my testing ground. Now that the people want to take their orders, how can I not return them? I have brought all the supply cart and workers. Now I am simply waiting for you to pass the products to them. Then, I will follow the Steinberger family’s unit on their journey!”

Oscar blinked. Upon hearing Torry’s words, a new thought popped into the Prince’s head.

”Your Highness! Your Highness!” The messenger Wellington Steinberger came jumping in like a small deer. ”Your Highness, please allow me to introduce you to my uncle! Lieutenant General Endorph Diaphise, the Brigade Leader of Loantz’s Individual First Brigade that is the hero unit among the family’s Border Guards battle.”

Oscar took note of this Sir Lieutenant General Brigade Leader who was standing straight and saluting to him. According to the description of the Titan Law, only the nobles who had titles above Marquis locally could build an Independent Brigade. That was to say that this unit was the private armed forces of Lieutenant General Endorph.

”Good day, General! It is very nice to meet you!” Oscar greeted him with dignity.

Endorph simply nodded slightly before retreating to the side. When he was standing, he still kept a proper military posture. Oscar could see that this quiet General was the same as his military consultant who was always serious. They were occupational soldiers that were affected by their level and military status.

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Setting up parties and balls! This was afraid to be the only thing Sukhoi family was better at doing than creating weapon! Even though most of the Sukhoi people had already enjoyed their dinner, the party to welcome the guest would still have its share of wine and rice. They seemed not to care about the capacity of their stomachs. They drank strong liquor one glass after another and kept having delicious things in their mouths.

Oscar was extremely curious. Why would no one talk about what kind of product the Steinberger family was taking? He asked Wellington, but the messenger’s answer was extremely blurry. He said his uncle simply told him it was a type of new weapon used as a fortress defense mechanism. The overall matter was not mentioned at all.

Oscar turned his head and asked Torry, who actually did not say anything. He simply used his fork to point at his father. In fact, Duke Sukhoi was glaring dangerously at their direction.

Oscar who had no other choice could only focus on his food. He would sometimes take a few glances at the door of the dining hall, but he could not see Vijdeline anywhere. The lamp, the beautiful legs, the flat stomach, and the wonderful groin. Everything was simply mesmerizing! Oscar’s eyes were a little dazed. He suddenly thought of the napkin Snowstorm took away. Maybe… He was not in doubt. He was simply afraid to know of the truth.

”This is to say… I am in love with her?” Oscar thought about this difficult question. ”Or else... Why would I be so concerned over her sincerity?”

All of a sudden! The door of the dining hall was slammed open by a careless man! The people in the house let out surprised exclamations, especially Duke Sukhoi who acted as the head of the family. He was so furious that his mustache was shaking. When this sobbing young man spoke of his intention, the people of Sukhoi present here had already fallen into a grieving atmosphere.

”What did you say? Say it once more?” A middle-aged woman held the young man’s arm tightly.

The young man was already crying now. ”Aunt! I am sorry! Your carriage fell from the cliff. Your son and daughter were in that carriage. Who knows why they were up in the mountain so late at night?”

The woman cried before she fainted! It seemed that the party had finished for the day. Duke Sukhoi apologized to his guest as he must accompany that Madame to take care of the matter of their family members. It appeared that the Duke was not going to get any sleep tonight!

Just when Torry was about to leave with his family, Oscar stopped him.

”Little jerk, this is not your matter! Stay here! Or else your sister will be very unhappy!”

Torry was a smart person. Even though he sat down obediently, but he was still in doubt.

”My friend, the one who fell off the cliff are my cousins. They are usually likable. You mean… My sister…”

”No!” Oscar shook his head at Torry, ”I didn’t say anything! Especially about how your sister is related to this incident!”

Walking Stick Torry was a jerk. This guy was extremely sensitive with certain things. He had already understood some deeper meaning behind Oscar’s words.

”Hey…” Torry came closer with a smile. Oscar dodged to one side. Even without seeing each other for two years, this dirty smile of the jerk still indicated that something bad was about to happen.

”Listen to me!” Torry came closer again, ”A week! You are only here for a week. You actually know of the unknown secret of Sis Vij, who is just like a ghost. I think… You and her…”

”What do you mean by ‘unknown secret’?” Oscar pushed the stinking mouth away from his ears.

”The incident of carriage falling off the cliff! Vijdeline is my sister! I know here since I was born. You think I won’t see that this is her dirty work?”

Oscar took his wine glass impatiently, ”Friend. My friend whom I haven’t seen in two years! Can we talk about other things? Why do you always mention Vij?”

Torry nodded. ”Alright! Alright! Since you are the Prince and I am only a Major! Old friend, what do you want to talk about?”

”Little jerk! I already asked just now!” Oscar rolled his eyes.

Torry made a hand sign. The servant all went out of the door and, at last, closed the big dining hall.

”Alright! You wanted to know of the product that Steinberger family took from me?” Torry once again came close to the Prince’s ear. ”The experimental project carried out by the Empire’s Army Division adjoined with the Empire’s Confidential Department, the fortress canon of 86 milliliter of caliber! Ten of it! It is about to be transported to the Black Forest Fortress at the northwest border. Do you know that? Such things like fortress cannon…”

”Excuse me!” Lieutenant General Endorph of Steinberger family stood up from the seat on the left of the main dining table. ”Your Highness, I seemed to hear of a top confidential information of the Empire.”

”That is right, Sir Lieutenant General!” Oscar nodded towards the smart Endorph. ”I am about to notify you. As the Imperial Envoy appointed by Alfa III His Majesty, I will observe the transportation process of this experimental trial product. That is to say, I myself together with my whole Knights Division and a whole unit of Infantry Division will complete the journey with you. Then, I will visit Steinberger family’s base camp and a few other large-scale soldier camps.”

Endorph was stunned for a bit. The suggestion provided by the Prince was one that could not be rejected by a single person. Maybe… This was not a suggestion at all. This was an order! The Lieutenant General took glances at this young Prince. He realized that this person had already somehow emitted a prideful aura that could not be defended against.

”If you have no objection, then this matter is settled!” Oscar motioned for General of Steinberger family to have a sit.

Murat suddenly diverted the conversation. Even though he was not especially close with Torry, there were still a few chances to meet up.

”If the experiment of fortress cannon is not a secret, then Torry, can you give more detail explanation? What kind of concept is a fortress cannon with 86 millimeter in caliber?”

Torry used both his hands to draw a round-shaped mouth of the cannons. Its diameter was around 80 millimeter.

”This is the mouth of the fortress cannon. Just by fixing it at the tower of the fortress or at the strong and stiff wall, the objects within two kilometers in front of it would be its target. Moreover, it was winter now. Until the dry and hot season, the fortress cannon shooting range will also increase.”

Murat still wanted to ask, but he was stopped by Oscar. This Prince raised his question quickly.

”Torry, you should not talk about Empire’s confidential information or secrets of the family and all that! Just speak the truth! Until this day… how many cannons have the Sukhoi built?”

Torry pinched his lips tightly in difficulty, but when he saw that his old friends in the dining hall al gave him anticipated gaze, this jerk had to grit his teeth and gave them a few numbers.

”17 fortress cannons, 6 specialized cannons still in the designing stages. However, that is the technique my sister stole from the Engels. The technique has not matured. It’s the semi-product at most!”

Oscar stopped the Narcissus officers’ noise. ”You mean, after all these years of studying and designing in your family, you have only produced…”

”No! No!” Torry shook his head. ”You don’t understand the difficulty of researching and experimenting. Just the designing job of parts of ignition and excitation had carried on for nine years. And the job of studying the proportion of gunpowder did not have much progress. We still cannot produce such stable gunpowder that the Eastern people used. The risk variable is too high. In addition, the metal producing and melting cannot keep up to par with the research. Twenty years! Seventeen successful products. Those are the combination of all energy in my family!”

”Then… Then…” Oscar suddenly could not speak clearly, ”You think… How long does it take to used fire weapon to completely arm the Guards?”

Torry shook his head as if it was a rattle drum!

”Your Highness! This is not a matter of time. It is an impossible task! Take the productivity of my family as an example, to fully arm the Empire’s guards must at least take two centuries! However, if the designing technique is shared among the other two largest arm-producers in the empire, then this time can be done sooner by at least half a century! Yet my sister will never share the technique. If she did, she will not be Vijdeline anymore!”

Oscar knitted his eyebrows. ”Why is this so? I thought… I thought the age of sword is soon to be over! What you said… is completely different from what your sister described! She said… the Hoillanders had already begun to build firearm army. And the Engels had already used the fire cannons of the latest technology to equip their battleship.”

Torry shook his head that his head was about to fall on the ground!

”I am sorry, Your Highness! No matter for what purpose Sis Vij said that I must admit to you that our generation will definitely not see the dawn of the age of firearm. This is a long-term process. According to what I know, my family’s productivity is at the second place in the whole Westland weapon seller. That is to say, the productivity of the whole land is simply this way. No one is ahead of anyone else.”

”But…”

”No!” Torry interrupted the Prince, ”There are no buts! Even though the Western Kingdom knew of the existence of the firearm, there are not many countries that possess the resources and human capital to study the production of firearm and weapon. Even though the Hoillanders said that they invented the firearm, but they actually simply recovered the eastern fire weapon that is more advanced than fire pistol. As for the Engels, hehe. Even though their specialized cannons are equipped on their battleship, they could not solve the humidifying problem of the gunpowder at all. So, please do not get worried! Also, the Hoillanders, in fact, do have a unit of firearms, but there is only a pitiful amount of more than ten people. Do you think these ten people and more can defeat the whole Westland?”

Oscar suddenly waved his hands. ”Then… The age of firearms… What kind of concept will that be?”

Torry thought about it for a moment. ”I think that… This is not a problem of concept. It is rather a problem of socialization. When the manufacturing sector in the whole Westland has reached a certain height of their productivity, only then can firearms overtake the age. But now, what we want to do is to gather technique and human capital to build up a firm foundation for the future, large-scale development.”

”That is right!” Murat slammed his hand on the table excitedly, ”That is exactly how it is! I have always doubted the words of Lady Vijdeline. A dawn of new age requires the accumulation of experience and capital of the overall community. This is definitely a long and difficult process. How can it be as sudden and without reasoning as she described?”

Torry spread his hands. ”Who knows what my sister is thinking? Maybe… She just wanted to scare you Narcissus Knights!”

”No!” Oscar yelled in his heart all of a sudden. ”She is simply a far-sighted and intelligent bitch who is daring!”