Chapter 111: Shock and Awe
The smoke dissipated, and where the dummy had once stood, there was only a broken stake. Schalezusk was shocked, his heavy brow furrowed in grim fascination. If I were to be hit with that, my entire body would disappear, he thought, the sheer destructive force of the cannon leaving him momentarily speechless.
Karl wasn’t exactly lying about the enemy’s body being sprayed across the ground; the image was horribly vivid in his mind.
Simon, however, was not just shocked but utterly overwhelmed by the power of the new weapon Karl had demonstrated. He saw not just a single missing dummy, but the end of an era.
With these weapons, the time of swords and arrows is over; a much more destructive form of warfare has been born, one that cares not for honor or personal combat.
Simon thought, Now, I’m not worried about losing. We’re very much likely to win with these weapons alone. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. But another, more practical problem came to mind: the financial capacity to purchase them. Mr. Karl isn’t just going to give our army these new weapons for free; he’s a merchant, after all, and a shrewd one at that. Acquiring the sheer amount of gold needed isn’t going to be easy. He knew they couldn’t simply rely on trade.
Simon knew that, If they were going to change the beastkins’ opinion of their kind, they were going to have to start doing a lot of things, from establishing a new economy to mining their own resources, but that would only be possible if they were to unite the tribes and stand as a single alliance. Whatever it is, with these new weapons, a whole new kind of warfare is bound to begin, and with the beastkin alliance’s already fragile unity, war will be inevitable.
Schalezusk was speechless after witnessing it’s destructive capabilities, but Karl continued either way. "That’s just a solid shot. If you were only to use a single shot against a wave of enemies, there are... much more destructive, more efficient rounds." The reload is the same: clean the bore, put the cartridge inside, and then "this," he presented a different type of cannonball, albeit looking exactly the same as the normal one. "This is a more advanced and deadly round. This is a case shot cannonball," Karl smirked.
Schalezusk gulped. Though he didn’t understand what that meant, Karl’s smirk hinted at something far more deadly. Simon asked, his voice a little hoarse, "Uhh... Mr. Karl, what’s the difference between that one and the previous one you used?"
Karl smiled. "Let me show you instead. You see the damage of the previous one, right?" He pointed towards a line of dummies and a missing dummy’s body in the middle. Simon nodded, his gaze fixed on the spot. Karl then loaded the cannonball and poked the charge through the small vent.
He nodded at Schalezusk, who was still holding the torch. He gulped once again, bracing for the deafening explosion. Simon, this time, covered his ears and clamped his eyes shut. "Boom!" A sound of thunder and a smoke belched out of the bore, but this time, the explosion was different, a higher-pitched shriek of metal followed the initial boom. When the smoke dissipated, their eyes widened again in horror.
The dummies that had been lined up were not gone, but mutilated. One had its entire upper body broken entirely, another was missing its shoulder, and a third had a large, gaping hole in its torso. Shards of metal were embedded in the ground around them.
Karl then said, satisfied, and took another case shot cannonball, "This, gentlemen, is an anti-personnel round that explodes mid-air and spreads tiny balls inside onto a line of infantry. It’s designed to not just kill, but to maim and destroy morale."
Simon, for the first time, experienced true fear of what these weapons could truly bring to a war. He slumped down to the ground, the picture and the horror of his kind being slaughtered etched in his mind. "This... this is horrifying. It’s not a weapon for a fair fight. It’s for a massacre."
Schalezusk, who was a much more mature and psychologically prepared to the horrors of war, agreed silently. He had seen battle, but never this. If these weapons were to be used, those demonic fools would not even have a chance. They would only be slaughtered in front of them, he thought, a cold certainty settling over him.
Karl, noticing their fear, exhaled. "I understand your reactions, gentlemen, but war is truly hell. It’s either you or your enemies. You wouldn’t want them to slaughter you and enslave your people. It’s not going to be easy. Some choices require the strongest will."
Schalezusk, already accepting the reality, said, "Mr. Karl’s right, it’s the real truth. Either you wait for the enemies to slaughter you instead or you slaughter them first."
Simon, overwhelmed by his morality, said, his voice trembling, "But, wouldn’t we be the same as them? Violent and barbaric? The very demons we want to defeat?"
Schalezusk’s voice hardened. "Then, I assume you’re just gonna give up? Is our honor worth less than our lives and the lives of our people?"
Simon, stammering, said, "B-but, I- I- I mean. It’s not that I’m giving up, but it’s the thing we’re gonna do against our own kind. Our grandfather would never have wanted this."
Schalezusk’s eyes flashed with a hint of fury. "They’re not our kind anymore. They’ve turned themselves into demons, the very thing our clan opposes. Our grandfather would want us to protect our people, no matter the cost."
Simon didn’t say anything and just contemplated, his mind a swirling vortex of fear, morality, and responsibility.
Karl exhaled again and said, "War is basically just survival. You kill them first before they kill you. You can still use these flintlocks against them, but that’s only until they adapt to your new weapons. You must not underestimate your enemies. They’re going to find your weakness if they find it, they will kill you. the flintlocks and with these cannons, go pair in pair with shock and awe tactics. It’s a military strategy to achieve rapid dominance by paralyzing an adversary’s perception of the battlefield and destroying their will to fight through overwhelming force and spectacular displays of power. You destroy your enemy’s will to fight and declare victory. That’s how you win wars without too many casualties. Holding back will not only increase your chances of losing but also increase the casualties inflicted on both sides."
Schalezusk understood Karl’s strategy and smiled, a chilling expression that reflected his new pragmatism. "Ahhh... I get what you’re saying. It’s not about annihilation but destroying their will to fight. It’s a faster, more merciful end to the conflict."
Karl smiled. "Exactly. It may be a war to end all wars until your enemies grow stronger and declare war again. But war isn’t just one-sided killing; it’s also a way for both sides to improve their civilization. This kind of war breeds industrialization and technology. It pushes all civilization into a new age. You show the people you can protect them with these new weapons. They won’t finally feel threatened by others. You make sure you can protect them from oppression and protect their way of life and that they’re not afraid to voice out their opinions and beliefs."
Simon listened to every word, slowly accepting and understanding the true meaning of leadership. Sometimes it’s not about just leading them into a better path. Sometimes it’s about sacrifice. You bear the responsibilities, the sins, the crimes. Leadership is just about serving your people no matter which way you take them. You can also be evil to protect and voice out your people’s grudges. It’s about bearing all the burdens and responsibilities. Manifesting and releasing the darkness your people had been hiding for a long time. Leadership is sacrificing your life and freedom to serve your people.
Schalezusk, sensing the heavy tension in the air, changed the topic. "Mr. Karl, thank you for your demonstration. We will truly be looking forward to using this beauty," he said, holding up the flintlock rifle. "And thank you for these," he added, gesturing to the firearms Karl had given them. A moment later, Simon approached with a serious and mature expression, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Mr. Karl," he said, "for giving us this opportunity and for this," he added, clutching the flintlock pistol.
Karl smiled, his expression softening. "The honor’s all mine." He then gestured towards Leo, who had been watching them the entire time. "Follow Leo," he said. The tall beastkin nodded silently, already beginning to walk toward the stables. Simon, confused, asked, "What do you mean, Mr. Karl?"
Karl’s smile widened. "I ordered him to give you a horse and a carriage full of goods."
Simon was surprised and embarrassed by the offer. "B-but you don’t have to, Mr. Karl. You’ve already given us so much."
Karl’s eyes held a shrewd glint. "If you’re going to unite and convince the orc chieftains, you’re going to have to bring supplies for them. Besides, your journey is going to be long, so you’re going to need something to eat."
Feeling spoiled and overwhelmed with gratitude, Simon bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Mr. Karl. We will not forget your kindness."
Schalezusk, a knowing smirk on his face, added, "We will eventually pay back your kindness, Mr. Karl. This is a moment we won’t forget."
Karl chuckled. "Don’t worry. We’re going to be working together for a very long time. You can be sure of that. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. We will help in any way we can."