Roland had long contemplated the idea of cartridges for the repeating firearm. Round lead bullets and loose gunpowder were simply too outdated. Considering Anna's processing capabilities, manufacturing brass-cased cartridges directly was technically feasible. The key issue was how to ignite the black powder within the cartridge without a reliable primer.
Early metal-cased cartridges typically used mercury fulminate as a primer, which was extremely sensitive to impact. Pulling the trigger would trigger the firing pin, igniting the mercury fulminate at the base of the bullet, which in turn would ignite the propellant and launch the bullet out of the gun barrel.
Unfortunately, he racked his brains but couldn't recall the exact ingredients needed to produce mercury fulminate. Judging from the literal meaning, it must involve nitric acid and mercury, but a handwritten reaction formula indicated that these two substances would only produce mercury nitrate.
Moreover, just knowing the ingredients didn't guarantee a successful product. Factors such as the concentration and temperature requirements of the solution during the reaction, as well as whether a catalyst was needed, were crucial to the final result. Besides, due to its sensitive nature, mercury fulminate was prone to explosions during manufacturing, and carelessness could cost him a couple of fingers, so he hesitated to try it himself.
Therefore, Roland had to settle for a compromise, still using a flintlock ignition method while utilizing metal cartridges. This required sparks to enter the cartridge and ignite the gunpowder. So, the bottom of the cartridge must have a hole while preventing gunpowder from leaking out.
Obviously, these two points were irreconcilable: the larger the hole, the faster the gunpowder would leak. But if the hole was too small, the sparks from the flint would have difficulty igniting the gunpowder inside.
He needed something that could be easily ignited by sparks while also blocking the hole to prevent gunpowder leakage.
Roland's first thought was nitrocellulose, commonly known as guncotton.
This was also one of the few chemical compounds he remembered that could be used in weapons—because its preparation materials were very simple: cotton soaked in a mixture of two strong acids. The acids were the most commonly used sulfuric acid and nitric acid, and there was little danger in the preparation process. He had originally planned to wait until he recruited an alchemist before attempting to produce guncotton, but now that he had set the seven-day deadline, he decided to roll up his sleeves and get involved personally.
Picking up a quill pen, he wrote down his long-contemplated ideas on a draft paper.
First was cotton, preferably thin cotton yarn that had been spun and not dyed—he had brought back quite a bit of this from the Duke's mansion, and it was now piled up in the castle warehouse. The cotton yarn needed to be degreased, otherwise the grease on the surface would hinder nitration. Most transmigrators were familiar with the substance used to remove grease, which was sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda. It was also a raw material for making soap: adding sodium hydroxide solution to grease, stirring well, and then pouring it into a mold to solidify would yield washing soap. However, Roland had been too busy developing industry and agriculture and fighting against foreign enemies to find the time to develop this daily necessity.
As for how to obtain sodium hydroxide, perhaps the simplest method was to electrolyze salt water. Thus, the Prince realized that to create a new type of bullet, he first had to start with a DC generator.
*******************
Ash walked along the Redwater River, feeling vaguely depressed.
Ever since those witches learned that her purpose here was to persuade the sisters of the Helping Hand to leave Border Town, their attitude towards her had cooled down, no longer as enthusiastic as when they first met last night.
Moreover, she noticed that most of the witches would practice their abilities in the backyard of the castle, which meant that Roland had also discovered a way to avoid being devoured by magic. Her original plan to exchange this crucial information for the witches' goodwill had been shattered. Apart from explaining the pros and cons to them individually and persuading them to leave, she had almost no other options.
What surprised Ash the most was Roland Wimbledon—his appearance hadn't changed much, but his every move exuded an indescribable aura, completely different from his previous image as a playboy.
Why was this happening? He used to be an incompetent person, always thinking of escaping when faced with problems. He never stood up for others, and he was even afraid to take responsibility for his own actions. She remembered that time he harassed her, and just one look of disgust made him fall to the ground in panic. Tilly came when she heard the sound, but he lied and said he had accidentally fallen, and even blamed the Fifth Princess for hiring such an ugly woman as a guard.
From that moment on, Ash's impression of the Fourth Prince plummeted to the lowest point.
She thought such a person would be easy to deal with, but today's negotiation did not give her the upper hand at all, especially after the other party suggested a one-on-one match. She found that even using force to intimidate him was no longer feasible—because he did not evade responsibility, but instead intended to answer her questions head-on through a match. Threatening him personally at this point would only reduce the witches' goodwill.
Ash sighed. If only she were as clever as Tilly, any problem would be solved easily in front of her. If she encountered this situation, she would definitely be able to come up with a solution, right? The ease and anticipation she felt when she came had vanished. If it weren't for wanting to help Tilly as much as possible, Ash really wanted to board a ship to Clearwater Port immediately and leave Graycastle as soon as possible.
Unconsciously, she found herself walking out of the town's limits. Across the river was no longer lush wheat fields, but undeveloped woodland.
Just as Ash was about to turn back, she suddenly felt a surge of magic behind her. She subconsciously turned her head, and a bishou pierced out from the side of her cheek, then slashed horizontally. The surging magic had turned into a monstrous wave. Ash felt a sharp pain on half of her cheek. The opponent's continuous moves were clearly beyond the capabilities of ordinary people. Without hesitation, she let her body fall completely, dodging the bishou that swept across her eyes, and propelled herself out with one foot.
However, the opponent disappeared out of thin air, reappearing behind her in the blink of an eye. Ash didn't even see how the opponent moved.
She drew her greatsword, and her body rotated in a circle, causing the blade to make a dull whistling sound. The speed was so fast that it kicked up a large cloud of dust from the ground. The attack method with no blind spots could eliminate any threat within the sword's attack range, but this move was ineffective against the opponent's strange movements. The greatsword swept through the black shadow's position as if it had touched nothing.
Crap, she thought inwardly, her muscles tensed, preparing to take the opponent's next round of attack head-on, when the black shadow disappeared from her sight. The dust slowly settled, and the person was standing not far from her, playing with the bishou in her hand.
It was Nightingale.
"Is this a warning?" Ash frowned.
"Of course not," she sheathed the bishou at her waist, "I just want to see the strength of an Extraordinary."
"Is that so? I thought you wanted to say—"
"—to tell you to leave Border Town quickly, or I'll be rude to you?" Nightingale interrupted, "If that's the case, what's the difference between me and Hakkala?"
Hakkala? Why did she mention the former leader of the Helping Hand? Ash wondered in confusion.
"You can safely persuade every sister. If anyone is willing to leave with you, I don't think His Highness will stop you, and of course, neither will I. But..." Nightingale paused, "Don't try to harm or threaten His Highness Roland, or I won't deliberately miss next time." Saying this, she grinned and disappeared into the air, "Enjoy your life in Border Town."
Sure enough, she came to warn me after all, Ash shook her head. (。)(.)