Chapter 1024: Weapons That Think ( 1024 )

Javier walked calmly into the command center. The officers and staff inside stood and saluted.

"Prince Javier!"

He smiled and raised a hand. "At ease, everyone." He took the seat Garius usually occupied and began reviewing the report.

With a snap of his fingers, he opened his dimensional storage and retrieved his portable mana computer, powering it on.

He glanced at the nearest officer. "You all really don’t sleep at night?"

"Ah, no, Prince Javier. We’re on the night watch, six-hour rotation. The next team relieves us at dawn."

"Good. Rest is important. Can’t have anyone losing focus."

"Yes, Prince Javier."

"Alf?"

"Yes, Prince Javier?"

"According to this report and these images... it looks like Turka and Garka are field-testing Kimar’s new prototypes. Is that right?"

"Correct, Prince. They’ve deployed crude cannons in their assault."

"Why do they never stop thinking about war? Don’t they know it burns through gold and lives? Couldn’t they just live in peace?" Javier muttered, already scrolling to the next report.

Javier leaned back with a smirk. "So they’re testing some clunky, resource-heavy cannon? How can they be this short-sighted?"

He tapped the screen, pulling up schematics.

"Look, it’s heavy, slow to reload, needs separate powder charges, can’t fire in the rain, has no targeting calibration, and requires constant maintenance. The barrel heats up after a few shots, the recoil shakes the whole frame loose, and loading it manually takes minutes between shots. It’s a glorified noisemaker that eats gold and manpower."

"But Prince Javier," Alf said from the seat beside him. "Does this not pose a threat to Armand in the future?"

"Hmm?" Javier glanced over.

"No. It won’t. First, their innovation is limited by what they already know, they’re reinventing the wheel, poorly. Second, their system for finding talent is broken. They recruit by bloodline, connections, or political favor, not skill. Real genius gets overlooked if you’re not born into the right house or don’t bow to the right lords. Armand recruits based on ability. That’s why we advance. They stay stuck."

"Let’s say they somehow recruit a real genius, which I doubt, and you know why, Alf." Javier leaned forward, fingers tapping the desk.

"I’ve never published anything on our tech. Our tech knowledge isn’t public. The notebooks in Father’s vault are guarded by you, Erinnette, Hesbeirn, and Rasdingen. Even then, they’re just concept sketches, not full schematics."

He paused, tapping the table lightly.

"More importantly, they’d have to fix how they treat commoners first. You’ve seen the reports, Alf. Over there, commoners are taxed into starvation, denied education, and treated as disposable labor. No innovation comes from a system that crushes its own people."

Alf nodded slowly, his expression grim.

"Indeed, Prince Javier. In the Human Kingdom, commoners live under heavy levies, restricted mobility, and have no path to rise beyond their birth. If a commoner shows talent, they’re either bought by a noble house as a servant or silenced. Here in Armand, talent is nurtured regardless of birth."

"Exactly," Javier said, turning back to the screen.

"Even if they managed to build a better weapon than what they currently have, they’d still lack the core systems. Automated targeting, self-correcting trajectory, mana-guided payloads. They’re still thinking in terms of ’point and shoot.’ We’re designing weapons that think, adjust, and strike with precision. That gap can’t be closed with steel and gunpowder."

Javier smiled. "If that’s all, then we shouldn’t be too concerned about them for now."

"Are you certain, Prince Javier?"

Javier’s expression hardened, turning serious.

"I am certain, Alf, because if they ever test their new weapons on us, I will ensure they are crushed without mercy. Any danger to our people is unacceptable. If they fire first, if even one Armand citizen is killed by those weapons, there won’t be a trace of their names left on the map. They’ve already been at war with us twice, Alf."

"Yes, Prince Javier," Alf replied with a respectful bow of his head. "And we won both times. Your weapons turned the tide."

Javier shook his head. "It wasn’t just my weapons. The first Noble Coalition War was won before I ever deployed anything." His voice grew tight. "Everything started with that damned Saint of the Three Gods Church. We didn’t use my designs until... after what happened."

He fell silent for a moment, eyes distant. Alf said nothing, waiting.

"All of my inventions," Javier finally said, quieter now, "came after that. Because of that."

Alf gave a slow, acknowledging nod. "Even so."

"Remember this," Javier continued, his voice low and clear. "Armand does not fire first. But we will never let a second shot go unanswered. And let them never forget, Alf." He met Alf’s gaze steadily.

"We have weapons they know nothing about. Weapons they can’t even imagine. That’s why I’ve given Father and Mother full access... in case something happens to me."

Alf remained calm and serious, but a faint smile touched his lips.

"You’ve truly grown into the man your father expected, Prince Javier."

Javier chuckled softly. "Alf... it’s rare to see you smile like that."

"Let’s just say... it reminds me of someone," Alf said, his voice softening for just a moment before his usual composure returned.

"Oh? Who? Uncle Hesbeirn?"

"No, Prince Javier." Alf’s tone shifted to mild disapproval. "And please do not refer to General Hesbeirn as ’uncle.’ Giving him such a familiar title only encourages him to behave even less formally than he already does."

"Hah! I call him ’uncle’ because he hates it," Javier grinned. "Anyway, Alf."

"Yes, Prince Javier?"

"Is this the only matter requiring my evaluation?"

"No, Prince Javier." Alf’s expression turned grave. "You should see this report... and these images."

"Hmm?" Javier took the documents and began reviewing each page. As his eyes moved across the images, his face slowly tightened, all traces of humor fading into cold focus.

"Hmm... So what do you want me to do with this?" he said without looking up. "This is a conflict between them. Even if I can’t stand Turka and Garka’s sons for how they act, especially after what happened during the Arjam campaign, we still have no jurisdiction over wars between regions outside our nation."

( End Of Chapter )