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The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 123: Hard Bargain
🕑 Added 2025-06-24 00:00:06 +0000 UTCEmyr's eyes alight with nervousness and pride ignited the fuse at the weapon's rear.
The thin rope sizzled to life, sparks dancing along its length as it burned towards the charge. A hush fell over the gathering. Jamie, Maria, Emyr, and Knall each mentally prepared for the imminent blast they knew would unleash.
The soldiers and commanders, however, were blissfully unaware of the true power about to be shown. They stood, some with arms crossed, others whispering skeptical remarks to one another. The gentle breeze carried the odor of sulfur and ashes.
Suddenly, the cannon erupted with a deafening roar. They heard a sound akin to thunder amplified tenfold. The ground shook beneath their feet, and a shockwave of air rippled outward, rustling cloaks and unsettling helmets.
The cannon fired a glyph-marked stone ball at blazing speed. It tore through the sky like a comet, leaving a trail of dust in its path. The projectile collided with the first hill in the testing grounds, penetrating straight through. Dust and debris exploded from the point of entry, and moments later, the ball emerged on the other side, leaving a tunnel carved through solid earth.
Gasps and screams of disbelief erupted among the ranks. The stone ball showed no signs of slowing. It continued its trajectory, barreling towards the distant forest on the horizon. Trees toppled like matchsticks as the stone ball plowed through them. Only after destroying some trees did the cannonball finally stop embedded in one of the oaks.
Jamie glanced at the faces surrounding him. The soldiers' expressions had transformed from skepticism to sheer panic. Eyes wide, mouths open, many stood rooted in place, struggling to comprehend what they had seen. A few of the younger recruits trembled, their knees threatening to buckle. The unmistakable scent of fear—and a hint of urine—drifted through the air.
The commanders' stoicism faltered. They cleared their throats in an attempt to mask their unease, but their faces betrayed them. The reality was undeniable. They had never encountered such raw power wielded by a single common weapon.
[The God of War is surprised.]
[It's the second time you've impressed him.]
[He is pleased with this new weapon, yet mourns the decline of honorable close combat.]
Jamie read the message, a subtle shiver running down his spine.
'If only they knew what other nations might be developing,' he pondered contemplating the arms race that sooner or later would ensue. 'If there are otherworlders out there, they're surely working on similar things.'
A startled scream snapped him back to the present. "Holy shit!" Jay exclaimed, his fur bristling as he darted away from the cannon. The cat had not anticipated the volume of the blast. In a swift, fluid motion, he leaped into Knall's coat, seeking refuge. Knall jolted in surprise, fumbling as he tried to dislodge the unexpected passenger.
"Impressive," murmured one of the soldiers.
"But if the aim is off, what good is all that power?" another interjected, attempting to downplay the weapon.
One of the captains, his face a shade paler than before, stepped forward. "You mentioned that any person could operate this... contraption?" he inquired with disbelief in his words.
"Precisely," Jamie affirmed, his eyes meeting those of the skeptical soldiers before him. "With basic training to understand how to operate it, anyone can use this weapon."
"But how does it work?" the same captain pressed.
"It's quite simple," Jamie replied with a reassuring smile. "Each of these weapons needs to be loaded with a measure of serpentine. It's a substance used in mining, but for our purposes, it will serve to propel these projectiles." He nudged one of the hefty cannonballs at his feet with the toe of his boot.
One of the soldiers stepped forward, crouching to grasp the stone sphere. Veins bulged in his forearms as he heaved, but after a few grunts and strained breaths, he conceded defeat. "It's heavier than it looks," he admitted, wiping sweat from his brow.
Three more soldiers joined him. Their combined efforts barely lifted the ball an inch off the ground before it thudded back down.
From the back of the crowd, Captain Mordrick's voice rang out with a hint of triumph. "If four men can't lift it, how do you propose loading it into the weapon?" His arms were crossed over his chest, a sardonic smirk curling his lips. It was clear he was intent on poking holes in Jamie's plan.
Jamie remained unfazed. "The ones you're attempting to lift are already activated," he explained. "They're meant to give you an idea of the ammunition's weight once it's been fully charged."
He gestured for them to follow as he walked over to a nearby display where several similar but unenchanted stones rested atop wooden crates. The soldiers trailed behind, curiosity piqued. Picking up one of these stones, a soldier was surprised to find it manageable, hefting it from one hand to the other.
"These are the projectiles before activation," Jamie continued. "Each ball is inscribed with glyphs designed to amplify its destructive potential. The moment they're placed inside the weapon and the serpentine is ignited, the glyphs are activated. They're used to increase their weight and power."
Jamie moved toward the cannon, pointing to the breech where the projectile and serpentine would be loaded. The weapon loomed on its sturdy wheels, the metal gleaming under the sun. Intricate runes etched along its barrel pulsed faintly.
"After loading the serpentine and the projectile," Jamie said, "it's a matter of aiming, lighting the fuse, and waiting for it to do its work."
A murmur rippled through the assembled soldiers. Some exchanged excited glances, the possibilities igniting a spark of hope in their eyes. These were the men who, lacked better classes saw an opportunity to stand on equal footing. Others, however, wore expressions of concern. They were thinking about the consequences it could have on the City Guard and even the military hierarchy.
"This changes things," a young soldier whispered to his comrade. "Imagine, even without a rare class, we could make a real difference in battle."
"But what does this mean for those of us who've trained in traditional combat?" another muttered, his hand unconsciously gripping the hilt of his sword.
Captain Mordrick stroked his chin thoughtfully, his earlier skepticism tempered by the weapon's potential. "Your demonstration is impressive, I'll grant you that," he admitted. "But introducing such technology raises questions. Training, supply, control... It's a complex undertaking."
Jamie nodded. "I understand your concerns, Captain," he replied. "But consider the advantage. With proper training, this weapon can bolster our defenses. It empowers our forces, allowing us to protect Hafenstadt against threats we couldn't have faced before. Like Giants for example."
"Very well," Mordrick began, his voice edged with a mix of curiosity and authority. "And how exactly is it manufactured? What glyphs are used in its construction?"
Jamie met the captain's probing stare with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. "I'm afraid that's information I cannot disclose," he replied smoothly. "The details are proprietary. It's part of the project's confidential design."
Mordrick's eyes narrowed. "And why is that? We're allies, are we not?"
"Our intention," Jamie continued, "is to supply the weapon and its ammunition to those in need. But the methods of its creation remain our trade secret."
"Supply?" another captain interjected, skepticism evident in his tone. "You mean to sell this weapon to us?"
"Precisely," Jamie affirmed. "We intend to offer the Dragon's Breath for sale."
A ripple of incredulous murmurs spread through the gathered officers. "In times like these?" a third captain admonished. "You would profit from our need?"
"Typical of a bard," one soldier muttered under his breath. "They're nothing but thieves in fancy clothes."
Jamie remained unfazed. "Gentlemen," he addressed them, "the production of such a weapon is costly. The materials, the craftsmanship. It all comes at a significant expense. We cannot give it away, much less at a loss."
Mordrick crossed his arms over his broad chest, leaning forward challengingly. "What makes you think we'll allow you to keep such a weapon?" he demanded. "We could seize it in the name of the city's defense."
A subtle tension tightened the air. Jamie noticed Maria observing from a short distance, a hint of amusement in her eyes as she listened. "It's quite simple," Jamie replied, his voice steady. "You may take this weapon and the ammunition you see here. But who is to say we don't have more of them? Even now, aimed to the barracks of the City Guard."
An uneasy silence fell. A few soldiers exchanged nervous glances, and the color drained from the faces of several captains.
"That would be a costly mistake," Mordrick growled. "We'd get more weapons, and you would be dealt with swiftly."
Jamie inclined his head slightly. "Weapons that would be useless without ammunition. Ammunition that only we know how to produce."
"Then we'll find others. Craftsmen better than yours," Mordrick retorted sharply. "We'll reverse-engineer your design."
An amused smile touched Jamie's lips. "If you can't afford to buy from us, I doubt you'll find the resources to replicate our work. Skilled dwarven alchemists and gnome engineers aren't exactly common—or cooperative."
A muscle in Mordrick's jaw twitched. His hand moved to rest on the pommel of his sword. "We can always persuade you to share your secrets," he threatened, his tone darkening.
The atmosphere shifted dangerously. Soldiers stood a little straighter, hands inching toward their weapons. Maria's expression sobered, her gaze flicking between Jamie and the captain. The playful glimmer in her eyes was replaced. She began to move closer, sensing that the situation teetered on a knife's edge.
Jamie remained composed, though his eyes sharpened. "You could try," he said softly. "But it would be useless."
He reached into his cloak and withdrew a folded parchment, holding it up for all to see. "My companions and I are under a magical contract," he explained. "Should anything happen to us, or should this document be destroyed, we will lose all memory of the project's secrets."
The soldiers and captains exchanged startled looks, whispers spreading like wildfire.
[God of Mischieff chuckled with delight.]
[The God of Mischieff is amused.]
[Very clever, very clever indeed - The God of Mischieff sent]
Jamie met Mordrick's gaze unflinchingly. "So you see, Captain, any attempt to force our hand would result in the knowledge being lost forever."
He made a motion as if to tear the parchment. "Of course, I wouldn't want it to come to that. But if pressed..."
"Wait!" Several voices shouted in unison.
