Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 236: Wheellock pistol

Purana Qila, Training grounds, afternoon of April 24, 1557.

Pistols, a compact firearm that can be kept alongside and taken anywhere. It’s easy to aim and shoot due to its smaller size, but the only thing that it lacked was its loading speed.

It is only because of its loading complexity and one-shot limitation that most of the Indian rulers prefer swords over a gun for their safety despite being available in the market. However, history has proven how lethal it could be if it’s kept as a secondary weapon instead of the primary.

This firearm ranged from 6 to 11 inches and can make a perfect hole in a target around 20-30 meters, which even a peasant can aim and fire if given a little day’s training.

Aditya was captivated by the product in the case. His mind raced with countless scenarios where a pistol could shift the tide of battle. He envisioned cavalry charges armed with these weapons, or their use in sneak attacks to turn the tables during a disadvantage in a sword fight. The idea of mass production flashed through his mind, sparking thoughts of revolutionizing warfare.

Though he had once considered developing a revolver, the concept had slipped to the back of his mind—until now. This unexpected gift changed everything. Yet, showing immediate interest would weaken his position in negotiations, a mistake he couldn’t afford. So, masking his excitement, he feigned ignorance at first glance.

Antonio presented the firearm with an air of anticipation, holding it carefully as if it were a prized artifact. "With this in your hand, Your Highness, you can feel assured in any unwanted hostile situation. Despite its size, it delivers enough power to put a hole in anyone who dares challenge your might."

Aditya raised an eyebrow, his tone measured. "Hmm, is that so? What is its effective range, and how about its reloading speed?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

A brief frown flickered across Antonio’s face, but he quickly masked it with a practiced smile. "Your Highness, this pistol is designed for close combat and features a preloaded mechanism. You can prepare it hours in advance and fire when the situation demands. As for range, it boasts an impressive reach of 25 meters. However, if range is a concern, we can modify the barrel size, extending it up to 10 inches to achieve a range of 35 meters."

Aditya’s expression remained neutral, his voice tinged with disinterest. "You didn’t mention the reloading speed."

Antonio’s smile faltered slightly before he forced it back into place. "Perhaps a demonstration would better illustrate its capabilities, Your Highness."

Aditya nodded curtly, gesturing to the gifted firearm. "Very well. Use this one for the demonstration." He pointed toward a humanoid dummy positioned in the training ground. "Shoot it from 25 meters and make sure not to miss the mark."

Antonio nodded and gestured for his attendant to follow him. He stepped confidently toward the target with the pistol gleaming in his hand . The soldiers and attendants formed a loose circle around him to spectate the demonstration. Aditya stood at a distance, crossed his arms and remained calm as he set the stage for others to witness its use without making him any effect.

Antonio lifted a powder flask and poured a measured amount of gunpowder into the barrel, tapping it gently. "the loading process is simillar to that of matchlocks. First, we will load the powder necessary for ignition." Next, he held up a lead ball, placing it carefully atop the powder. "Then comes placing the bullet."

Antonio retrieved the ramrod from the slot beneath the barrel, as he slid it into the barrel and compacted the contents. "The ramrod ensures everything is tightly packed, essential for a clean shot." With practiced ease, he returned the rod to its slot.

He then displayed the wheel-lock mechanism. "Now, the difference is the key right here-the wheel itself. Using this spanner key, I will wind the mechanism to lock the shot," he said, inserting the key and turning it. A series of audible clicks echoed as he tightened the spring. "This stores the energy needed to ignite the powder. Finally, a small piece of flint is placed inside the gun. no match is required to produce the spark."

Satisfied, Antonio stepped back and handed the pistol to an attendant. "Please, demonstrate."

The attendant took the pistol nervously, positioning himself at the designated spot. Antonio gestured confidently. "Take aim and fire."

The attendant steadied his hands, squinting as he aimed. A tense silence fell over the spectators.

’BAM!’

The sharp crack of the pistol shattered the silence, accompanied by a burst of smoke from the muzzle. The scent of gunpowder filled the air.

On the dummy, a clean hole pierced its chest as wood splinters flew in all directions. The impact left a faint scorch mark around the entry point. The soldiers exchanged astonished glances, a few murmurs of awe even broke out.

One even muttered, "That small thing is sure deadly..."

Antonio allowed himself a confident smirk, clearly pleased with the reaction. "As you can see, Your Highness, the power is undeniable. Even a single shot can turn the tide in close combat or surprise an unsuspecting foe."

Aditya stepped forward with an unreadable expression. "And the reload?"

Antonio’s smirk faltered but recovered quickly. "Of course." He retrieved the pistol from his attendant and repeated the process, this time working swiftly with no comments but it still took around 30 seconds at max.

Turning back with confidence, Antonio presented the firearm again, his smile fixed. But when his eyes met Aditya’s, the grin froze. The prince’s face remained utterly indifferent, his gaze piercing.

"Hmm," Aditya said flatly, breaking the silence. "So, in a real fight scenario, I can shoot only once."

Antonio attempted to recover, his tone persuasive. "Surprise is the main element, Your Highness. A single well-placed shot can turn the tide."

Aditya’s gaze didn’t waver. "Alright. I’ll accept the gift and consider the discount. But you may need to sweeten the deal further."

Antonio seized the opportunity. "We can assist in training your soldiers, Your Highness," he offered eagerly.

Aditya raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. How many of these have you brought altogether?"

Antonio straightened his posture, his voice confident. "We’ve brought 3,000 pieces with us, Your Highness. Not all are new, but all are in good working condition."

Aditya’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Huh! Are you trying to sell us all the junk you’ve amassed?"

Antonio’s expression turned earnest. "Please don’t misunderstand, Your Highness. Producing such weapons in large numbers takes time. With a smaller reimbursement, you can have this arsenal quickly. As for pricing, we are open to your reevaluation and will accept the rates you deem fair."

Aditya paused, considering the proposal. It wasn’t a bad deal—he wouldn’t need to pay upfront and could reduce costs further. The arsenal could be useful if handled wisely. "Very well. But we will not buy those deemed unfit or nonfunctional. The older ones will be priced at half the rate of the new."

Antonio bowed, visibly relieved and satisfied. "That would be an honor, Your Highness."

Aditya nodded, turning to Nilesh. "Inspect all the firearms and coordinate with Hari Singh to set prices and manage the transaction."

As Antonio left, Bheem, who stood nearby, leaned closer, speaking in a low voice. "Why did you agree to buy all that junk? They’re clearly scamming us. What use is a one-shot pistol? We can’t even use it in line formations."

Aditya smiled faintly, patting his friend’s shoulder. "You’ll see when the time comes. Now prepare yourself; we have work to do outside."