Seeing Sahiset waver, Zhandi Lunyiren quickly put on an ingratiating smile, leaned forward, and opened another deluxe black wooden case.
"Take a look at this one, sir."
Sahiset peered inside with curiosity.
Lying within was a firearm resembling the Foe-Breaker Fire.
Yet its craftsmanship and appearance far surpassed the weapon shown earlier. Elaborate gilded reliefs ran along the metal barrel and receiver, and the wooden stock was wrapped in genuine cowhide.
Zhandi Lunyiren launched into an enthusiastic pitch: "A noble gentleman of your standing certainly can't be seen using the same gear as mere cannon fodder."
"That is precisely why the empire introduced this: the Foe-Breaker Fire Type III—Collector's Edition!"
"This masterpiece features a stock carved from precious golden-thread phoebe wood, an openwork gilded casing hand-chiseled by Master Dammon himself, and fine genuine cowhide wrapping. It guarantees the most exquisite, luxurious experience, ensuring every pull of the trigger is silky smooth and delightful."
Cradling the weapon in both hands, Zhandi Lunyiren solemnly recited the slogan: "A tulip amidst gunfire, an intimate companion on the battlefield, a symbol of a man's identity and status, an embodiment of noble refinement—the Foe-Breaker Fire Collector's Edition: because you deserve the very best."
"This..."
Before Sahiset could even finish, Zhandi Lunyiren cut in. "Seeing as you're a first-time client, I can offer a special discount. The original price is thirty gold coins, but for you right now, it's just twenty-one!"
With that, he laid the firearm back in its case and shoved it straight into Sahiset's arms.
"..."
"Very well. I'll take it."
Sahiset reached into his robes, produced a pouch stuffed with gold coins, and tossed it over.
As the chief diplomat of the Kingdom of Thrace, such a sum meant next to nothing to him, and he had every intention of studying the empire's weaponry.
"You truly are a generous patron!"
"As expected of a great dignitary from the south!"
Zhandi Lunyiren caught the pouch hurriedly. Feeling its heavy weight and listening to the crisp clink of gold coins, he beamed from ear to ear.
Orders for ordinary firearms were standard tasks assigned by the imperial administration, but these so-called 'Collector's Editions' were his own private side business. He pocketed a hefty commission on every single piece sold, so it was no wonder he was thrilled.
*These Thracians are total marks!*
Emboldened by the thought, Zhandi Lunyiren leaned in once more with a brazen grin. "Honored lord, would you be interested in learning about the Foe-Breaker Fire Royal Special Edition?"
"Handcrafted by masters of the cult, forged from pure gold, and encrusted with magical diamonds! Rumor has it His Majesty Cassius keeps an identical model in his royal treasury. The current promotional price is only nine thousand..."
"..."
Sahiset retained just enough sense not to lose sight of his mission. "Do you have other types of weapons?"
"Of course we do!"
"The imperial armory will blow your mind, I promise."
Zhandi Lunyiren smiled and waved into the distance. "Bring over those Thunder Hammers!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Heave-ho!"
An ogre from the heavy artillery battalion trudged over carrying a black iron cannon, dumping it onto the ground with a thud.
The ogre scratched his head, casually slapped the metal barrel so that it clanged, and grunted, "Brought you your makeshift cannon—uh, I mean, that Thunder Hammer thing."
Zhandi Lunyiren's smile stiffened for a second, but he recovered instantly, introducing it without batting an eye. "You've really come at the right time. The Imperial Ordnance Institute has just rolled out our most advanced, devastating product yet—the Thunder Hammer Type III, Export Model!"
"It was with this mighty weapon that we shattered fortress after fortress and conquered the vast lands of Anzeta!"
With a theatrical flourish of his hand, Zhandi Lunyiren radiated grand ambition. He turned to the ogre and said, "You, give our client a demonstration."
"..."
The ogre stood rooted to the spot, looking down at him with a deadpan stare, plunging the air into awkward silence.
Forcing a dry chuckle, Zhandi Lunyiren reached into his tunic, pulled out several silver coins, walked over, and pressed them into the ogre's thick, calloused palm.
Only then did the ogre nod in satisfaction, turning back to the crude cannon to load a shell.
*Boom!*
A deafening roar erupted as acrid smoke billowed.
The solid metal cannonball traced an elegant arc through the sky before crashing into the cratered artillery testing ground in the distance.
Dust billowed, shattered stone sprayed in all directions, and another deep crater was gouged into the earth.
"This is..."
Sahiset's jaw dropped once more.
Such destructive force was on par with the standard long-range bombardments of an arcane legion, rivaling the sheer impact of third- or fourth-tier spells.
No wonder.
No wonder the Cinder Empire's forces had crushed the Northlands with such ease.
Equipping troops with weapons like this was tantamount to adding an entire auxiliary legion of spellcasters to the army—giving them long-range firepower far superior to the 'barbarians of the Northlands' who still dwelled in a magical wasteland.
At the thought, Sahiset asked eagerly, "How... how much does a weapon like this cost?"
In his memory, the ancient Elven Empire had possessed similar ordnance, frequently engraved with magical runes and exorbitant to produce.
Such an engine of war would be indispensable in sieges and defensive warfare alike. It could work wonders in the struggle for Teotihuacan, the City of Sunlight, making it far more crucial than the personal firearms he had just seen.
Zhandi Lunyiren simply laughed heartily.
"A mere thirty gold coins."
"And if you purchase more than a thousand units at once, we can even provide a fifteen percent discount!"
"Naturally, we've also launched a prestigious Collector's Edition of the Thunder Hammer. Its gilded exterior will grant you an unparalleled aesthetic experience, whether displayed in your manor or wheeled onto the field of battle..."
"..."
Sahiset fell silent again, his lips quivering faintly as words failed him.
What had happened to the world?
Had his memory failed him?
Since when had magical creations become so cheap?
*I must report this to His Majesty immediately.*
*The frontline fighting is fierce right now; these weapons could turn the tide of the war.*
Sahiset stood in place, rapidly calculating in his mind.
Observing Sahiset's reaction, Zhandi Lunyiren could scarcely contain the surging excitement and glee in his chest—he could feel that he was on the verge of closing an unprecedentedly massive order.
***
Several days later, the empire received an astronomical order from the Kingdom of Thrace, a purchase so colossal that even Trump marveled at it, clicking his tongue in awe at the sheer wealth of the south.
One million Foe-Breaker Fire Type III rifles. Twelve thousand Thunder Hammer Type II cannons.
Ammunition and cannonballs beyond count.
A grand total exceeding 1.4 million gold coins.
This single order not only purged the imperial arsenals of mountains of obsolete junk, but also restarted twenty-two decommissioned assembly lines, generating tens of thousands of brand-new jobs.
That was 1.4 million gold coins!
Such immense profits sent shockwaves throughout the entire nation.
The following day, the Claudeus United Military-Industrial Conglomerate was officially established in Isdalia.
Headquartered at the Empire Building, the conglomerate was controlled primarily by the Emperor himself through majority shares, with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Science and Technology jointly providing technical and financial support. Its primary mission was the manufacture of armaments and coordinating sales with the Imperial South Continent Company.
Furthermore, titled nobles were granted preferential rights to purchase shares in the conglomerate.
Almost overnight, spurred by official state propaganda and lured by the prospect of staggering returns, the dragonblood nobility rushed to invest, triggering a buying frenzy.
They poured the rewards and bounties they had earned from the war into the venture, snapping up every scarce share available on the open market to become shareholders in the Claudeus Military-Industrial Conglomerate.
With this immense influx of capital, military factories sprouted like bamboo shoots across the empire. The scale of the domestic defense industry expanded dramatically, steadily growing into an economic pillar upon which tens of thousands of people relied for their livelihoods.
In just a matter of days, guided by the mysterious, heavy hand of the empire, a titanic interest group had begun to take shape, unveiling its ferocious countenance.
Chapter 389