Chapter 4: Firing
Komer decided to leave this matter to Puber to decide, focusing instead on more critical tasks. It was up to him to decide whether to build the canal or not; as for how to build it and who would build it, that was Puber’s responsibility as the administrative officer. Just like deciding whether to expand the army, once expansion was decided, conscription and training fell to Fran, Baoling, and Ilot. It was only natural to work for one’s salary—Komer couldn’t handle everything alone.
The reorganization and training of the army were also progressing in an orderly manner. Fran and Baoling were concerned about Komer’s plan to use orcs on such a large scale as part of the Caucasus and Leon Self-Defense Forces. After all, orcs as a whole were still considered slaves in the Caucasus and Leon. Komer had only improved their circumstances but not fundamentally changed their status. Therefore, Fran suggested increasing the proportion of humans and elves in the Self-Defense Forces. Komer agreed to this suggestion, not out of concern for the orcs’ loyalty—he believed they would neither want nor be able to betray him, as betraying him would mean losing everything. No one else could offer them as much as he did. Still, it was necessary to increase the proportion of humans, elves, and half-elves in his forces. Orcs almost entirely abandoned the use of long-range weapons like bows, preferring axes, which they found far more useful.
Putting these matters aside, Komer devoted himself entirely to preparing for the second phase of the expedition to Damoronsk Fortress. The initial team remained the same, with Shatima added. Shatima kept pestering Komer to start exploring the second underground level of the fortress as soon as possible, insisting on using her dragon spear and magic to teach those ignorant undead creatures a lesson. Her enthusiasm and obsession for exploration baffled Komer.
As a human-shaped being, Shatima seemed to think she needed a proper staff or weapon that looked more impressive. She seemingly forgot her role as a mage and eagerly chose a thick dragon spear, which surprised Sorenberg and Vladkov greatly. They had never seen a mage choose such a weapon—a dragon spear that even ordinary knights would hesitate to use—as their weapon. It was truly astonishing.
Entering his retreat, Komer felt much more relaxed. Outside, he had to maintain the imposing mask of a lord, which was truly exhausting. He was still just a young man in his early twenties, forced to uphold his dignity in front of others all day long—a life that was not pleasant. Only by returning to his retreat could Komer let go of everything and fully enjoy his private space. Here, no one could restrain him or spy on him; he could shed all constraints and do as he pleased.
Entering the workshop, the metal cylinder on the workbench still emitted a mesmerizing dark glow. Creating such a cannon barrel had already cost Komer a great deal of effort and money. During this time, aside from preparing for the expedition to Damalsk Fortress, Komer spent most of his time working on this magical cannon. Although there were no fundamental issues with its design, actually building such an extraordinary, groundbreaking weapon remained quite difficult. Previously, Komer had underestimated the complexity of crafting it.
Producing such a magical cannon required not only large amounts of magic metal but also significant effort to shape it into the desired form. Maxim’s smelting workshop was stumped by Komer’s bizarre designs and demands. However, with the support of plenty of gold shields and skilled dwarf craftsmen, they managed to fulfill Komer’s requirements to a large extent.
Maxim’s smelting workshop had become the best in the Caucasus. In addition to handling a large portion of the region’s metal forging and casting business, it also boasted the highest forging skills in the Caucasus. It also operated as a weapons workshop. Not only had most of the Self-Defense Army’s weapons been entrusted to them, but many foreign adventurer groups also praised the workshop’s quality and prices, noting that the weapons produced there were reasonably priced, excellently crafted, and could even be made according to customers’ specific designs.
Apart from the need to process large amounts of magic metal for the barrel and firing mechanism, the most critical aspect of the magic-powered cannon is its enormous demand for magic crystals. Since each use of the cannon consumes a vast amount of magic energy, an ample supply of magic crystals is essential as a backup; otherwise, after just one shot, this luxurious weapon would be nothing but a decoration. Perfectly integrating the firing mechanism with the magic crystal compartment also requires Koemer to design and construct it himself. This process demands absolute secrecy and is quite complex, involving issues of magic energy release and conversion. Any mistake in construction could render the entire project futile.
Koemer isn’t worried that the Grey Skulls might turn against him after obtaining this ingenious weapon he created because its lifespan is short—after perhaps dozens of uses, the magic metal barrel and firing mechanism may no longer withstand the intense energy fluctuations from magic conversion and get damaged. Moreover, the magic crystals required for this cannon are not easily available, forcing them to rely on Koemer. With these two factors, Koemer is confident that these guys won’t pose a threat to him in the short term. His even greater ambition is to have Haideling build him a more powerful fleet to dominate the Nether Sea and the Midland Ocean, and the magic-powered cannon is an indispensable part of that plan.
Wearing gloves, Koemer sat down at his workbench and began his day of meticulous work. His pale hands stretched out as elemental magic began to flow within him. He picked up a pair of metal pliers, and as magic energy surged through them, the pliers, made of special magic metal, emitted faint multicolored flames at their tips under the influence of fire magic. The flames weren’t intense but were quite uniform and stable, shifting from red to blue, then to green, eventually turning into a nearly transparent cyan-white. Apart from the slight flickering at the tips, little else could be seen, yet beneath that heat lay a hint of coldness, giving it an eerie appearance.
The metal block gradually softened under the heat of the magic fire, constantly changing shape like molten iron swirling in the air. The pliers grasped the metal and carefully tore at it. As Koemer moved the pliers—bending, twisting, stretching them—the metal slowly took on the shape he desired. When the magic fire faded, the magic metal cooled down and returned to its original form.
The firing mechanism is a crucial component of the magic-powered cannon. It is necessary to strike the magic crystal chamber, causing the chamber to trigger a burst of magical energy through special channels. Only in this way can the power stored in the magical crystals be converted by the firing mechanism and discharged into the cannon barrel to achieve an attacking effect. This component demands high hardness in metal and excellent conductivity for magic. Moreover, due to the varying properties of the magical crystals used in magic-powered cannons, the properties of the magic metals required are also extremely high. Metal devices based solely on fire magic can only use fire-type magic crystals to launch fire-based magical attacks, while other types of magic metals can only use crystals of the same attribute to launch attacks of their respective attributes. Only magic metals with comprehensive adaptability can launch attacks of any type without being restricted by magic crystals.
Taking a deep breath, Komer threw off his gloves and casually used a handkerchief to wipe the fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Leaning back in his chair, he thought that this kind of work was indeed time-consuming and laborious, but it was also a form of enjoyment. Processing each component required a great deal of magic from Komer, making it both a form of exercise and a challenge. Whenever the work was completed, it felt like a master craftsman finishing a beloved piece, bringing a sense of proud satisfaction.
Komer was still unclear about what the magic-powered cannon would ultimately bring, but having control over such a weapon would surely enhance his strength. Since he had no prior experience in fully constructing such a weapon, this first attempt would allow him to gain a more intuitive understanding of the manufacturing process, laying a foundation for future production when needed.
Komer’s retreat had actually become his residence for solitary practice and handling personal affairs. The lord’s palace had officially moved to Damorsk Fortress, and the bear-head flag was now raised on its walls, symbolizing Komer’s status as lord. The bear-head emblem had also been recognized by the Star Chamber of the Kingdom of Nicossia and officially recorded in the kingdom’s noble archives. By breaking ties with the Resser family of Homasepulus, it became the symbol of the Caucasus Resser family.
Komer really enjoyed the serene atmosphere of the retreat, especially after he imposed magic bans and set up magical traps around it, making it even quieter. Several unknown explorers and thieves who tried to sneak into the lord’s private residence were instantly stopped by the magic bans, captured, and handed over to the judges. They were sentenced to fines and forced to work as slaves in the mines, which only added to the mystery surrounding the retreat. The people were extremely proud to have a lord with such powerful magical skills, and Komer’s prestige grew even further, especially among the half-orcs, whose admiration for the lord reached extreme levels.