361: Chapter 353 Novak has many things he doesn't understand.

The Allied forces' main camp.

Three headless corpses lay on stretchers, carried back to the main camp by Soldiers.

As soon as they entered the gate, Novak, who had received the news in advance, came walking over hurriedly from not far away.

The Soldiers could clearly feel his rage. Trembling with fear, they set the stretchers on the ground and then shrank to the side, not daring to make a sound.

Novak arrived at the scene, looking down at the corpses with a gloomy expression.

After a long while, he exhaled and asked softly, "What happened?

Didn't they say Knights could dodge the speed of their arrows?"

"Lord Marshal." The captain of the Soldiers didn't want to cross Novak, but he clearly couldn't avoid it. He could only steel himself and step forward. "We encountered several of Lake's archers in the wild.

After the Soldier posing as the captain was taken out, the three Professional lords immediately gave chase, and we followed behind.

Then..."

"Then what? Speak up!" Novak's recently calmed emotions flared up again.

"Our speed was slower, so we were left behind. During the pursuit, we heard several blasts from the enemy's arrows. By the time we reached the woods... the three Professional lords had already sacrificed themselves."

"In other words, you don't even know how many enemy Soldiers there were or what weapon they used to kill our Professionals?"

"Uh, judging from the blasts of the arrows, it should be the same kind of weapon."

Novak's fists clenched until they cracked, finally suppressing the mania in his heart. "Hoo—

Go back to your duties."

"Yes!"

As if granted a great reprieve, the several Soldiers quickly lifted the stretchers and ran toward the depths of the main camp.

Novak stood in place, his gaze looking out through the gate toward the distant wilderness.

Why was there an ominous premonition? He kept feeling that this crusade would fail... No, it was impossible.

He shook his head, turned, walked to a tent, lifted the flap, and went inside.

The interior of the tent was very empty, with only a long table placed in the center. Parts of a sniper rifle lay scattered across the tabletop, and over a dozen craftsmen were gathered around the table discussing something.

The origin of the sniper rifle on the table was not complicated.

As the two sides clashed at the edge of the plains, although Zhang Mu's Soldiers gained much, losses were inevitable. Naturally, the Allied forces also captured some sniper rifles.

Zhang Mu was not worried that the Allied forces would reverse-engineer the manufacturing process after dismantling the sniper rifles.

This thing wasn't something that could be understood just by taking it apart and looking at it. Or rather, even if they understood it, they couldn't build it.

Among the hundreds of countries on Blue Star, only a few had the capability to manufacture high-precision sniper rifles.

For the rest, it would be useless even if they were shown the blueprints and had technicians explain them.

Because their craftsmanship wouldn't meet the standards, even if they managed to build one, the precision wouldn't be up to par. Not to mention that the people of the Saul Continent probably couldn't understand terms like 'Seamless Steel Pipe' or 'Rifling.'

And indeed, that was the case.

When Novak saw the sniper rifle the Soldiers brought back, he immediately treated it like a precious treasure. He summoned Master-level craftsmen from the rear, attempting to study the principles of the sniper rifle so they could replicate it.

The result was regrettable.

After several days of pondering over the sniper rifle, the dozen or so top craftsmen had not only gained nothing but didn't even dare to start dismantling it, fearing they would damage the few spoils of war they had.

In the end, it was Novak who ordered that they wouldn't be punished for breaking it, and only then did they summon the courage to get to work.

After breaking two rifles, they finally understood the basic assembly structure and successfully disassembled one sniper rifle, which was now the pile of parts on the table.

Seeing that there was finally progress, Novak's furrowed brows smoothed slightly as he walked toward the long table. "Everyone, regarding this bow's..."

"Lord Marshal, you've come at the perfect time." A craftsman immersed in research only noticed his arrival upon hearing his voice. He grabbed a pitch-black round tube and jogged over to him. "It's too exquisite!"

"What?" Novak looked bewildered.

"This!" The craftsman spread his fingers, showing the round tube in his hand. "Do you know? At first, we thought this was just an ordinary iron pipe..."

Novak examined the round tube and didn't see anything mysterious. "Is it not?"

"Of course not!"

The craftsman was very dissatisfied with his ignorance and didn't even use honorifics anymore. "Feel it!"

Novak was the Marshal of the Allied forces. Logically, no one would dare offend him, but these craftsmen were all treasures of their respective countries. He didn't dare reprimand them and had to obediently reach out to touch the round tube.

Originally, he didn't care, thinking to himself that since he didn't sense any mana fluctuations, what could be so special about it?

However, as soon as his hand touched it, he immediately noticed the abnormality.

"It..." Novak stared blankly at the round tube. "It's smoother than a woman's thigh."

The craftsman's face darkened, and he slapped Novak's hand away. "You are desecrating the art of forging!"

Novak snapped out of it, smiled awkwardly, and brought the topic back on track. "Please go on, go on."

Ultimately, business was more important, and the craftsman couldn't be bothered to stay angry with him. "Smoothness means it's extremely resistant to high temperatures.

Didn't you say the arrows just fired from this bow were hot to the touch? Why doesn't the bow break?

This is the reason."

Novak scratched his head. "Can we make it?"

"I'm sorry, we don't have this technology for the time being."

"You are all master craftsmen from various countries, and even you can't do it?"

"No." The dozen or so craftsmen shook their heads in unison. The craftsman holding the round tube said hesitantly, "I highly doubt... if it's even something humans can forge.

How should I explain it... it's just... it doesn't look like a product of human craftsmanship."

Novak's mood, which had just improved, was instantly shrouded in gloom again.

In recent days, this wasn't the first time he had heard such words.

Not long ago, while a Magister of the Allied forces was patrolling around the main camp, he discovered a strange magical creature flying in the sky.

He watched it from the side for a long time, and after determining that the strange four-winged creature was not a threat, he captured it.

However, after turning it over and studying it in his hands for quite a while, he couldn't tell what kind of magical creature it was. The only thing he figured out was that this thing didn't seem to be a living creature.

Because he couldn't sense any life force.

When it was brought back to the main camp, Novak couldn't recognize its origin either. He showed it to the church Divine Officials accompanying the army, but the result was the same.

Finally, Novak used brute force and smashed the magical creature.

Along with a puff of smoke and scattered fragments, they finally realized it was something from Lake.

These types of incomprehensible things were only possessed by Lake now.

There were also the 'Little Squares' taken from the ears of killed Lake Soldiers.

Allied Professionals had seen Lake Soldiers talking into the Little Squares more than once, and they guessed it might be a magic item similar to a sound transmission crystal.

But when they got their hands on it, there wasn't a single bit of mana fluctuation.

Even when they imitated the Lake Soldiers and wore it on their ears, they couldn't hear any sound.

A large number of unknowns had hit him one after another, and Novak was already extremely irritable. Now, learning that they couldn't replicate the enemy's weapons, he felt like he was about to explode.

He needed an outlet to vent.

Unfortunately, these craftsmen before him were not suitable targets.

But the oppression filling his entire body had to be released. Novak left with a dark face, intending to find a deserted corner and cast a couple of spells to vent properly.

The craftsmen didn't care about his departure and went back to the table to continue their research.

One craftsman picked up a Spring, squeezed both ends with his fingers to the limit, and then let go.

Watching the Spring return to its original shape, he muttered, "Strange... it's clearly made of iron, so why is it elastic?"

Without waiting for his companions to start a discussion, he turned and walked out of the tent, returning half an hour later with two identical-looking Springs in his hand.

Everyone was a bit surprised. "You can replicate it?"

"I can only replicate the appearance. As for the performance..." The craftsman shook his head in disappointment, squeezing and releasing a Spring in each hand. "Look."

Of the two Springs, one returned to its original shape, while the other only bounced back halfway.

"Is it a material issue?" The craftsmen gathered around, speculating.

"I'm not sure."

"Hey!" From behind the table, a craftsman shouted loudly to them.

"What is it?" Everyone hurried over.

"Look!" He pointed at the table, where there was an extra pile of parts. "I disassembled another bow, and then I compared the parts from each section of the two bows. It turns out they are exactly the same!

My God!

Not just the appearance, even the weight is completely identical!"

Everyone looked shocked and grabbed two parts from the same section to test them.

"It's true!"

"How was this done?!"

"What about the others? Are they the same too?!"

"Quick, disassemble!"

Everyone rolled up their sleeves, and in a short while, they had disassembled all the remaining sniper rifles and then compared the parts.

"All... all of them..." After testing them one by one, everyone stood there with their mouths open, unable to speak a complete sentence.

They were all top craftsmen of various countries. To be honest, simply replicating a part with a similar appearance was not difficult.

For example, the craftsman who had forged a Spring in half an hour earlier.

Unfortunately, similar was ultimately just similar, not identical. These were two different concepts.

Just like the Spring the craftsman had replicated; on the surface, it looked basically the same as the original, but when placed together for a careful comparison, one could notice obvious differences in the details.

As for weight, wanting that to be the same was even more difficult.

They had forged weapons of the same style before, but again, they were only identical upon a very rough glance.

One craftsman held a Magazine in each hand. "If this is the case, it means... if their bows are damaged, they don't need to get a new one. They can just replace the broken part."

The craftsman next to him nodded. "Exactly.

And they must be familiar with their own weapons and know which parts are prone to damage.

This way, they can prepare a set of easily damaged parts when they go into battle. If something breaks, they can replace it directly on the battlefield without having to withdraw to the rear for a new weapon."

As they discussed, their hearts couldn't help but feel a bit heavy.

The Allied forces' greatest advantage over Lake was their large number of High-tier Professionals.

Although this kind of bow couldn't threaten High-tier Professionals, the war was only in its early stages. No one would be stupid enough to reveal their biggest trump card right at the beginning.

Lake surely had even more powerful weapons of the same type.

As they thought about it, they felt a pang of fear.

You should know, this kind of weapon... could be used by ordinary people!

If Lake were entirely equipped with them, then the role of Professionals...

Thinking further, if this kind of weapon became widespread and most kingdoms on the Saul Continent used it...

No, it wouldn't happen!

Their backs felt cold, and they quickly cut off their thoughts, looking up at each other.

"Heh heh, there are gods on the Saul Continent, and Professionals are all believers favored by the gods. It won't..."

"That's right, Professionals are the rulers of the Saul Continent."

"Of course, we are all believers beloved by the gods!"

"Hahaha..." Everyone started laughing together.

They raised their voices high, and their laughter echoed inside the tent, appearing incredibly confident. However, the forced smiles on their faces betrayed their guilty consciences and lack of confidence.

...

Novak returned to his own tent.

Brando was sitting on a wooden chair, leafing through a magic book.

Hearing footsteps, he closed the book and looked up. "Lord Marshal."

"Mm." Novak responded and sat opposite him. "Sorry, I've let you see something embarrassing."

Understanding what he was referring to, Brando smiled. "Temporary setbacks don't mean a failed outcome.

Lord Marshal, you should have a bit more confidence."

Novak sighed. "I hope so too, it's just...

Do you know? Before the war started, I thought this war would inevitably end in victory, but now, I feel like the situation is slipping out of my control. The future... I can no longer see it clearly."

"Why?

Although the fighting isn't as smooth as expected, the strategic objectives have all been achieved."

"Lake has too many unknown things." Novak felt a bit uneasy, and he couldn't help but shift his weight in his chair. "The Little Squares Lake Soldiers wear on their ears, and the flying magical creature captured a few days ago...

There are too many, far too many."

"Is the lethality of these things very strong?" Brando's eyes flickered as he asked, feigning ignorance.

Novak's head was lowered, and he didn't notice his odd behavior. He explained, "You don't understand war. War and a duel between Professionals are completely different things.

Determining a winner between Professionals is very simple: magic bombardment or clashing weapons. War is different; there are many factors that influence victory or defeat."

"For example?"

"For example, logistics, or the speed and efficiency of relaying orders."

Novak was indeed extremely worried, even forgetting his impolite habit of biting his nails, which he shouldn't reveal in front of outsiders.

Biting his nails, he said, "I noticed it very early on. Lake's efficiency in relaying orders is incredibly high.

Even though... the distance between their Command Post and the front line is the same as ours."

Brando became interested. "Oh? Even faster than a sound transmission crystal?"

"That's not the issue." Novak had bitten his thumb nail to the quick, so he switched to his index finger and continued biting. "The speed at which orders from both sides reach the front-line command level is about the same, but the stage where the front-line command level relays them to the front-line Soldiers... they are much faster."

"How fast?"

"How fast... it's as if every Soldier is equipped with a sound transmission crystal."

"Every Soldier?"

"Yes.

According to intelligence sent back by Professionals, after their commander gives an order, all the Soldiers react simultaneously."

Brando was truly surprised now. "How did they do it?

Uh, don't say all their Soldiers have sound transmission crystals; that's clearly nonsense."

Novak waved his hand. "Of course I know it's nonsense. Only Professionals can use sound transmission crystals. Could it be that all their Soldiers are Professionals?"

After saying that, he continued, "It should be achieved using those Little Squares."

"I remember you captured some intact Little Squares, didn't you? Can't they be replicated?"

"It can't be done."

Novak didn't state the specific reason why it couldn't be done, so Brando gave up questioning further and instead suggested, "Since we can't figure it out, then there's no need to.

The war has reached this point, and neither side has any room to back down anymore.

Why not... accelerate the offensive.

Once Lake's entire territory is occupied and Zhang Mu and the royal family are completely wiped out, all your unease will automatically vanish."

"But... there's still a lot of unknown intelligence that needs to be clarified. Attacking rashly at this time..."

Brando smiled slightly. "I have a method. Do you want to try it?"

"What method?"

Brando sealed the tent with mana and only then lowered his voice. "You do this..."