Since Lanu's security issues could be resolved, Claude didn't worry too much about a thief sneaking into the manor in the middle of the night.
He went to Anna's ranch again. He wanted to tell his sister and Madam Sonia what kind of rifle he needed.
As for Liboyd, Claude had a headache. The old man had been obsessed with the engine recently and had been staying in the iron workshop to figure out how hot air could move the heavy piston rod.
"The rifle I want should look like this."
Claude hung a small blackboard in the newly completed gunnery lab and drew a picture of the rifle he had in mind. "It's about 1.5 meters long including the butt and 1.8 meters with the bayonet installed. It fires the same brass bullets as a revolver. Perhaps we can make the bullet case longer and load more gunpowder to increase its range.
I can only draw a rough outline of what I have in mind. Apart from the sight and the shutter, there's nothing else cumbersome on the barrel.
The bullets should be loaded at the middle and back of the gun. I imagine there's a lever here that can be pulled open to reveal the barrel, loaded, aimed, and fired. Then, the bullet case would pop out, reload, and continue firing.
If it's possible, I think we can design a magazine with five bullets inside.
After firing, we only need to pull the lever to open the barrel and the bullet case would pop out. Then, we can close the barrel and the bullets in the magazine would automatically fill the empty barrel.
That way, we can avoid the trouble of loading bullets one by one. All we need to do is pull the lever and close it again.
When the bullets in the magazine run out, we can pull the entire magazine out and replace it with a new one. That way, we can continue firing.
Of course, you don't need to think about the magazine when you first design it. You just need to load bullets one by one.
The main thing I don't understand is how to design the barrel of the gun. I'm not a professional mechanic, after all, so I can't think of the structure of the lever. I can only give you my ideas for reference.
If you have a better idea, you don't need to consider my ideas. Just focus on your own design. "
Claude made it sound simple, but the problem was that when he drew his imaginary rifle on the blackboard, he felt like cursing at himself.
Why does it look so similar to the Japanese's 38 rifle? He couldn't help it. He wasn't a military fanatic. Even when his boss brought him to the shooting range a few times in his previous life, he didn't have much interest in firearms.
The rifle he drew resembled a 38 rifle purely because of the anti-Japanese war dramas in his previous life. The Japanese's 38 rifle was the one that left the deepest impression in his memory.
"Claude, what's the range of the rifle in your mind?" Sonia asked as she stood up like a good student.
As for the shooting range … Claude stroked his chin and thought for a moment. "I hope this rifle's accurate shooting range can reach 200 meters, the effective killing range is 400 meters, and the farthest range can reach 500 meters …"
"Uh …" Madam Sonia was stunned: "Is that possible?"
How could it not be possible? It was said that the Japanese's 38 rifle had a maximum range of 800 meters. Within 400 meters, a single shot could pierce through a person's eyes.
Of course, Claude didn't expect to make a fully developed rifle like the 38 rifle, but reaching half that range would be the biggest improvement. At the very least, it would be able to shoot farther than a matchlock.
"We'll take it step by step. First, we'll design a breech-loading gun like the one I'm talking about. Then, we'll make some improvements. I believe that one day, we'll be able to make a rifle that can fire continuously," Claude said.
Then, he pointed at the rifle body that he had drawn on the blackboard. "My original idea was that the barrel of the rifle body is connected here, just like a revolver. The barrel is here, and behind it is the body. When you pull the lever, there is a door on the body, and inside is the chamber, which can be loaded with bullets. When you push the lever, the door on the body closes, and the chamber becomes a sealed space.
After shooting, you pull the lever and the door would open, and the fired bullet would automatically jump out.
But I really don't know how to design the door, how to connect the lever, and how to make the fired bullet automatically jump out. I have no idea.
Sonia, you're much more experienced in this area than my sister. You have to think more.
Also, if we remove the wooden butt, apart from the front barrel, the back of the rifle should be a cuboid. All the mechanical changes should be inside the cuboid. "
Madam Sonia nodded. "Very well, I know."
"Apart from the rifle's design, you have to think of a way to mass-produce the safe explosives. If we can mass-produce the explosives, perhaps we can reduce the amount of bullets and increase the range. We can also change the projectile into a grenade. It'll be more powerful and can be thrown further," Claude said.
"I understand, Second Brother," Angelina replied. "Are you leaving now?
Are you coming back for the next few days? "
Claude nodded. "Yes. We're leaving for Port Vebator the day after tomorrow, so I have to go to HQ for the next two days to take care of some business. I won't be coming back until we're done with Port Vebator."
"Wait a moment, I made a gift for you."
Angelina pulled out a large box from under the table and opened it to reveal revolvers in black holsters.
"Why are there so many?" Claude was surprised.
Angelina placed the revolvers on the table. "Sis Sonia helped me make them using the alchemical formation. Including the first three, there's a total of ten revolvers here.
In the future, we won't need to use alchemy rune arrays to craft them anymore. When we can mass-produce them, these 10 revolvers will become the most memorable prototype revolvers. That's what Sister Sonia told me. "
Claude was pleasantly surprised. "They're all mine?"
Angelina pursed her lips. "In your dreams. I want one, Sister Sonia wants one, Myjack wants one, Booker wants one, and I'll give Gum one too.
You can only take one of the remaining five. We'll keep the other four for now. We can give them to others as gifts in the future. They're the most precious gifts of House Ferd. "
Claude shook his head with a bitter smile. He glanced at Sonia and thought, She was the one who taught Angelina to do that. There's nothing she can do about it. She told her to design guns for Boyd and knew how to add value to them.
"Which one is for me?" Claude asked.
"The one at the top. The one with the serial number," Sonia replied.
Claude took out the revolver at the top and pulled it out of the black holster for a closer look.
The barrel and body of the revolver were painted silver, and the frame was engraved with a few golden wheat patterns. This had turned the originally black revolver into an exquisite decorative work of art.
The biggest change was the gun handle. The original two pieces of wood had been replaced by two pieces of pale yellow ivory. The ivory was carved with a simplified Chinese drawing of a farmer farming. Below it was engraved a line of words: Field Revolver (1)
Claude breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you didn't make it gold. I wouldn't dare to carry it with me otherwise.
But Anna, why did you carve the word 'farmer' on the handle? "
Sonia replied, "Claude, have you forgotten your family's surname? Ferd means farmer in ancient Hez. The revolver was named after Ferd to commemorate your invention."
"Alright. Farmer's Revolver. That's a good name.
"If you can design and manufacture the rifle I want, I'll use your family name or your name to name it Sonia 591rifle. How about that?" Claude said.
"Why is there a 591 in it?" Sonia asked.
Claude explained, "It's to commemorate the year. It's year 590 this year. If you can design the rifle by next year, the commemoration year will be 591. That means you designed the rifle in year 591.
If it's the year after next, it'll be 592. That's simple. "
"Oh, I see." Sonia nodded. That wasn't a bad way to name it.
"Take this too."
Angelina knew that she could only help Sonia in the design of the rifle, so she didn't object to the naming. She handed Claude a small black leather pouch. It was the kind that could be hung on his belt.
"What's this?"
Claude opened it and saw six identical silver wheels. They were all filled with brass cartridges.
"These are the bullets Angelina worked hard to make for you. Each revolver has six replacement revolvers and there are a total of 42 bullets in the barrel.
There's a small piece of bone stuck in the back of the revolvers to prevent collisions. Remember to remove it when you change the revolvers, "Sonia said.
Claude was quite satisfied that he finally had his own rifle.
"You called Big Gum in," said Anna. "That revolver, number ten, is for him."
Gemi was delighted. He didn't think that Angelina would think of him and make a revolver for him. All he could do was smile like a fool.
Claude knew that Angelina treated him as part of her family and hoped that he could protect her.
"Gemi, remember, there's a small safety switch on the handle. It's right here. It's like a bolt. Twist it to the top and you'll be able to move the hammer and pull the trigger.
If you twist it to the bottom, the hammer will be fixed, and the trigger won't move. This is to prevent a misfire, remember? "Angelina pointed the revolver at Gum.
Gemi grinned and nodded vigorously. He had the same ammo pouch as Claude.
Two days passed by quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was time to set off for Port Vebator.
Claude woke up early in the morning and kissed his wife and son goodbye before hugging his mother. He promised to bring Bloweyk back to her alive and well.
Butler Alek and the manor servants lined up to send him off on the carriage, and he was escorted to the war zone headquarters by a small group of guards led by Gum.
Claude would be accompanying the newly appointed commander-in-chief, General Aljess, to lead the royal guard that had rested for half a month, Birkin's Monolith's 3rd Folk, and Monolith's 2nd Folk, led by General Sevict. At Dorinibla River, they would meet up with Bolonik's 1st Folk and head straight for Wickhamsburg to rendezvous with Thundercrash.
When that happened, Claude would lead a folk of Thundercrash to attack Port Vebator and watch from the sidelines as the royal folk took down the city. That way, Aljis would be promoted to grand marshal and end the four-year-long colonial war with Shiks once and for all.
In the morning, Claude had to attend a ceremony at the war zone headquarters before setting off with General Aljis.
Along the way, Claude's convoy met a signalman from the theatre command. He relayed a message from General Aljess for Claude to go to the plaza of Lanu where the ceremony would be held.
General Aljus, General Beechlin, General Skerry, and General Sevict had gone ahead.
Claude felt a headache coming on. There was a small plaza in front of the war zone headquarters. Originally, a simple ceremony would have been enough, but General Aljis and the other high-ranking officers of the royal guard liked a lively scene and wanted to show off the might of the royal guard. That was why they moved the ceremony to the larger plaza of Lanu. Claude suspected that they would have to give a speech and hold a military parade.
What a pain in the ass. I don't like lively scenes. Can't I just keep a low profile? Claude grumbled as he turned the carriage towards the plaza of Lanu.
Due to the expansion of the town, the plaza was newly built in the west of the town. It would take Claude another 20 minutes to get there.
As they neared the plaza, more and more people appeared on the streets. Most of them were there to watch the ceremony.
There wasn't much entertainment in this era, so the rarely seen ceremony became a popular event. The carriage and the guards had no choice but to slow down. There were too many carriages and people ahead.
Just as they were about to enter the plaza, a hawker's donkey cart collided with a cart full of people. Both sides were arguing intensely.
The big Gemi impatiently ordered the two guards in front to chase them away and not block the road.
Unexpectedly, the kids sitting on the flatbed pushed and shoved the guards who were driving them away, and cursed at them in a filthy way.
"Four more men, go and arrest those kids." Gum's face darkened as he waved his hand at the guards beside him and ordered.
Claude sat in the carriage impatiently and opened the door to ask what was going on.
Gum ran to the side of the carriage and was about to reply when his expression suddenly changed.
Claude felt his heart palpitate. He turned to the side and saw a masked, gray-robed man pointing a wooden staff at the carriage he was in from the corner of his eye about 40 meters away.
A huge fireball the size of a basin was flying towards them at high speed.
"Fireball … Magus …?"
Before Claude could snap out of his daze, Gum grabbed him by the collar and pulled him off the carriage. He slammed into the ground and felt Gum's heavy body fall on top of him.
Boom!
Claude felt dizzy as he lay on the ground. It was as if he had been struck heavily. His chest felt stuffy and his nose and mouth were filled with dust.
Only then did he hear horrified screams, wails, cries, and the sound of something burning.
Am I being attacked by a magus?
Before he could figure out what was going on, he felt his neck heat up as if a stream of heat had been poured over it. He immediately remembered Gum who was lying on top of him and hurriedly flipped her off.
He looked around and saw that half of his carriage had been blown away by the fireball. The curtains in the carriage were still burning, and dust was flying everywhere. A few guards were lying on the ground, trying to get up in a daze. Their mounts were gone, and Gum was lying in a pool of blood …
"He's not dead! He's over there!" an unfamiliar voice called from the distance.
Claude realized that he couldn't remember any spells. All he could do was lean against the carriage and draw his revolver.