Chapter 459: Insufficient Firepower? What a Coincidence, the Little Mortar Specializes in Treating This Condition!

“Governor Murphy,” who was taking a midnight stroll due to insomnia, never expected such an unexpected discovery. After witnessing his armament factory, which couldn’t even properly manufacture a basic rifle, actually produce “Lee May’s Happy Shells,” Murphy felt much less worried.

Although using white phosphorus bombs on a large scale in conventional warfare is somewhat inhumane and brutal, with absolutely no excuse.

But looking on the bright side.

First, Murphy had no intention of using these things on human battlefields. They would use them against gnolls and skeleton armies, the former being enemies of civilization, the latter having no pain sensation. Even if Murphy and his little players acted inhumanely, they weren’t afraid of these two types of enemies taking materials to some “international tribunal” to request arbitration.

Second, he’s a vampire, and other people on the continent don’t consider him human anyway, so from a sophistic perspective, Murphy needs to bear much less “humanity” pressure.

Finally, there really was no other choice, right?

If Murphy could currently field a fully equipped artillery and mechanized army, he wouldn’t need to resort to such life-shortening things. Surely no self-proclaimed “civilized” force would use such weapons against unarmed civilians when they clearly had the advantage?

What kind of beasts would commit such an atrocity?

This even exceeded vampires’ unfathomable moral bottom line.

It could even make demons and devils stand shoulder to shoulder beside them to denounce them as evil bastards unworthy of even hell, and if those humanoid creatures did this in the name of some “god,” it would essentially be self-proclaiming that their god probably wasn’t anything proper either.

In any case, after some not-so-difficult self-persuasion, Lord Murphy felt he had preserved his poor soul’s bottom line, then flew back to Crimson Citadel at maximum speed.

He didn’t return to the corridor office to catch up on sleep, probably because witnessing the incredible events today had fully awakened his vampire night owl bloodline, making him energetic for nighttime activities, and he quickly ran to the city cemetery area.

The “cemetery” here was just a figurative term, like a “XX Mausoleum” subway station sign in some central city, used as a location descriptor.

The planning of Crimson Citadel had reached perfection after repeated adjustments by Old Chen and his three students. Things like cemeteries definitely couldn’t be placed in the city’s core area. In their planning, this area would become the “embassy district” in the future, left for representatives of other forces to live in Transia.

And now, a “foreign” force was living here.

Bow Knight Lady Lainnia was writing a letter in her house.

She finally didn’t have to live in a tent anymore!

Of course, for vampires, living in this cement house wasn’t necessarily much more comfortable, although the grayman had specially installed complete fireplaces and made elven-style screens as partitions for the “style.”

However, for the Blood Pact Knights vanguard who were about to depart for the Foul Swamp garrison, this house had nothing to do with them no matter how good it was.

According to Lady Lainnia’s plan, they would garrison at Foul Swamp until Transia forces completely opened up the route between this area and the Blood Pact Knights’ garrison, then they could return to headquarters.

The bow knight was very serious while writing her letter, who knows who it was for, anyway even when Murphy had jumped in through the window, Lainnia still hadn’t reacted, and was even wearing a strange smile on her face.

This bizarre behavior left Murphy staring wide-eyed, and he couldn’t help but tiptoe over to take a look, then saw the letter’s opening:

“My friend Maxim:”

“Swoosh”

Before Murphy could see more, a sharp elven-style short sword was pressed against his throat from below.

If Lainnia couldn’t discover his peeping at this distance, it either meant Murphy’s shadow stealth had reached Lady Shani’s level, or it meant the bow knight had been made stupid by eating candy under love’s offensive.

From the looks of it, Lainnia’s perception was still normal, she had just been too immersed in expressing her emotions in a letter to her “rumored boyfriend.”

“They say Governor Murphy is the premier gentleman of Transia, yet I didn’t know which gentleman would peep at a lady’s letter. Your behavior tonight has greatly damaged your image in my heart.”

The bow knight looked at Murphy, who had raised both hands, with a death stare and said very dissatisfied:

“I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation, otherwise I estimate I’ll have to use my hands to win back justice.”

“Of course I came over for official business.”

The governor shrugged, using two fingers of his left hand to pinch the gleaming blade and press it down.

But in the next instant, the blade sprang back under Lainnia’s control, continuing to press against his throat and even activated some weapon technique, making its edges begin to wrap with spirit energy blades.

Wow, this really angered this proud moon elf vampire.

“I want to ask you to help me contact Lord Payne.”

Murphy said frankly:

“Regarding my army building, there’s a small matter that needs to trouble the lord to step in. Yes, I need to borrow his influence again.”

“But you clearly have a crystal for directly contacting Lord Payne.”

The bow knight rebuked:

“Why do you still come to find me? Is relaying information through an intermediary very appealing?”

“Mainly because last time I agreed with the lord that I couldn’t directly disturb him without major matters, so I have to take a more formal process. Go through procedures to make appointments in advance, to avoid the lord developing negative emotions about my arbitrary actions.”

Murphy explained somewhat unnecessarily:

“Also, I really didn’t see what you wrote earlier.”

“Shut up, Governor!”

Lainnia lowered her short sword and said very dissatisfied:

“Since it’s official business, let’s handle it officially then. Please state your request, and I will forward your request to the Knights’ application process as vanguard commander.”

“Well, it’s like this.”

Since Lainnia had asked about official business, Murphy couldn’t dwell on what happened earlier either. He explained about importing combustion gold, but Lainnia rubbed her brows painfully and said:

“I know you’re very young and don’t know much about the Blood Pact Knights, but hasn’t Lady Tris told you?

Communication with the dwarf race within the Knights has always been handled by our Second Lord, Lady Heather Hoffman. She herself is a golden heavy shield bearer of the brass dwarves, and her Blood Pact Shield Guards that she commands are the most resilient mobile fortress on the Dark Mountain front line.

For things like this, there’s no need to contact the lord at all. He won’t personally step in just for one force’s interests. The lord protects his reputation like a bird protects its feathers.

Therefore, you just need to contact the Second Lord directly.

She’s responsible for directly importing combustion gold supplies from Brass Citadel for us in the Knights’ daily operations. If you can convince her, I think this shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“Wow, does this Second Lord have such wide connections among the dwarves?”

Murphy exclaimed in admiration, but then said puzzlingly:

“But the surname ‘Hoffman’ doesn’t seem to be from prominent dwarf noble families, at least I haven’t heard of it.”

“They’re indeed not traditional dwarf nobles, but the ‘Emerald Mine’ owned by the Hoffman family is currently one of the most important combustion gold mining sites for the brass dwarves, and Lady Heather is the previous head of the Hoffman family.

She joined the Knights and became a vampire due to a series of accidents during the 4th Black Plague, but she’s different from other lords.

Perhaps due to the influence of the stubborn dwarf bloodline, her connection with her family didn’t change due to her life form transformation. It’s precisely because of her connections that the Knights can have sufficient combustion gold reserves, so the lord also turns a blind eye to this matter.”

Lainnia explained:

“Additionally, Lady Heather is also the Knights’ quartermaster general, responsible for the Knights’ logistics and procurement work. The mercantile and shrewd nature inherent in brass dwarf bloodlines allows her to complete this task very skillfully and perfectly.

Therefore, as long as your price is right, Lady Heather shouldn’t refuse to help.

Best of all, the Knights’ forces currently deployed on the fixed defense line of the Barren Mountain front line are under the Second Lord’s command. As long as you can open up the road through Foul Swamp, you can contact the Second Lord very conveniently.”

“Mm hmm, this is really important information, thank you for the reminder, Lainnia.”

Murphy nodded contentedly.

This was indeed good news, Lainnia had been a big help, but the governor quickly realized another issue. He stroked his chin and asked:

“When I first heard First Lord Palanno describe the Knights’ internal rules, saying you can’t have fiefs, lovers or power, and must fulfill the Knights’ mission for life, I thought your family were all ascetics.

But as I learn more about you, I gradually realized my impression of you had a small deviation.

The Third Lord’s debauchery and Second Lord’s mercantile nature made me realize your daily lives are actually quite interesting, but from Lady Heather Hoffman’s story, I see more of the lord’s flexible bottom line on internal rules.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Lainnia crossed her arms and said:

“Are you pointing out the lord’s hypocrisy?”

“No no no, I’m happy to see this situation, because it means the lord will turn a blind eye to some special people for some special things. As long as he’s not a die-hard rule keeper, it means we can bargain with the lord on many things.”

Murphy shook his head. He looked at the moon elf bow knight before him with a very subtle gaze, and after several seconds of silence, he asked:

“So, you’ve actually fallen in love with my ‘monster’ Maxim, right? Lady Lainnia.”

“Please don’t say that!”

The bow knight’s face changed dramatically, immediately rebutting:

“I am a Blood Pact Knight! I cannot have lovers, that would make me weak and hesitant, and unable to muster courage to complete my duty when facing eternal silence!”

“You can deceive yourself like that.”

Murphy shrugged and said:

“But the expressions and mindset of loving someone can’t deceive people. I admit your relationship may not have reached the point of romance yet, at most it can only be considered mutual appreciation now.

But please understand, lady, I’m not making fun of you.

I’m just saying, if the lord can tolerate Lady Heather maintaining close relationships with her family, then he can similarly tolerate a meritorious bow knight who shoulders important missions making eyes at vampires from other families, even becoming eternal partners.

I believe the lord is an absolute pragmatist in this aspect.

So, our current question is, how to make you shoulder more responsibilities, to quickly raise your status in the lord’s heart, until he can tolerate your violation of the Knights’ rules?

In my words, you now need to work hard to make yourself have ‘united front value,’ Lainnia.

Of course, this is all within your choice, I won’t interfere.

But if you’re willing to fight for yourself and Maxim, then I’m happy to provide all the help I can give, after all, I am such a gentle vampire, and I can’t bear to see a pair of eternal lovers who could be happy and blessed being forced apart by some backward rules.”

Speaking, Murphy stepped back several steps. He very gentlemanly bid farewell to Lainnia, saying:

“I will patiently await your decision, and I think you should discuss it well with Max before making the decision. He’s not very good at this aspect and will be somewhat hesitant when expressing his heart’s intentions.

But I believe he will be willing to fight for his distant happiness.

My loyal servant never lacks courage, whether on the battlefield or in love.”

After speaking, Murphy’s figure disappeared in place wrapped in shadows, leaving only the silent bow knight pondering in struggle on the spot.

She felt moved by Murphy.

A certain desire that had already sprouted in her heart was keenly captured by this cunning governor, he was tempting her to walk on an unknown path, and most terrifyingly, Murphy’s insight into human hearts made it very difficult for Lainnia to righteously refuse him at this moment.

Ah, on one side was the oath she made when joining the Knights, on the other side was a soul with similar experiences who was equally lonely and sensitive

What a difficult choice.

Lainnia’s struggle was within Murphy’s expectations. Persuading others to break self-imposed rules has never been a simple matter, and the governor was in no hurry. He hummed a tune on his way back to the office and also casually activated his core bead to contact a certain half-dwarf at Pioneer Fortress.

The atmosphere of this conversation was much more relaxed.

“Yo, shorty, how have you been these days? I have something to discuss with you and I’m convinced you’ll definitely be willing to help”

“Damn vampire sissy! If you say that forbidden word again, I’ll definitely grab my marshal’s axe and charge to Crimson Citadel to kick your ass!”

“Alright alright, my dear half-human marshal, please give me some patience to finish, about the whereabouts of the frost dwarf lord and my small insignificant role in this matter, as well as what I hope you’ll help me with next.

These three things are connected, and I’m willing to share some glory with you. I also know it will be beneficial and harmless to improving your status in dwarf society.

Even enough to make you overlook my way of addressing you.

Yes!

I’m convinced of this!”

————————

“Brother Loyalty! Look at the good stuff I brought you!”

At noon the next day, Brother Loyalty, who was improving white phosphorus bomb craftsmanship with several very criminal little players in the armament factory workshop, heard a familiar voice from outside the factory building.

He turned back somewhat helplessly and saw “Legendary Hero” wearing Knights chain mail striding over carrying a small box again.

This guy wasn’t here for the first time. The shock brought by the “otherworld detonator” he produced last time was still fresh in Brother Loyalty’s memory.

“What incredible thing have you come up with this time?”

Brother Loyalty complained:

“Aren’t you Torrent Knights in training recently? Why do you always have time to fiddle with these criminal and torturous things?

Doesn’t your team leader manage you at all?”

“Oh, I was transferred to logistics duty because my horsemanship isn’t good, theoretically only need to participate in the most basic training.”

Brother Hero laughed and patted his chest, whistling as he said:

“And having good relations with the armament factory is very beneficial for upgrading our Knights’ military equipment. Typal and Uncle Fording and the newly arrived strategy group all agree with me having a ‘side job’.

Let’s not talk about these, come look at the good stuff I brought you today.”

He deftly opened his box. Brother Loyalty saw what was inside and immediately felt relieved, thank goodness, it wasn’t a bundle of bombs that had started counting down.

But then he frowned, picked up that crude mechanical device thing and looked at it in his hand. After a few seconds, he said uncertainly:

“This is a fuse?”

“Right! A very crude and primitive impact fuse.”

Brother Hero said proudly:

“When I came strolling by last time, I heard Night Phantom Bat Puppet say you planned to get some mortars to supplement frontline firepower, but don’t have time for imitation now. I thought about it, that thing’s structure is so simple, the only difficulty is in the shell’s fuse, so I spent some time researching recently and reproduced this thing.

Impact fuse at the Boer War period level, can’t be called very advanced.

But I think it should be enough right?”

“It’s definitely enough, with this thing we can mass produce little mortars, and our army’s firepower will also get a qualitative improvement. This thing of yours came at just the right time. If Transia can survive the Black Plague, Lord Murphy definitely needs to give you a big medal.”

Brother Loyalty played with the little thing in his hand.

He looked Legendary Hero up and down and said in a “this youth is promising” tone:

“Not bad kid, you can come up with this kind of thing just fiddling around on your own. Looks like you really are a ‘genius’ in this field. Come come come, tell uncle, have you done similar things over there?

Don’t be afraid, tell uncle!

Uncle is famous for keeping his mouth shut, definitely won’t gossip about it.”