[Cozy Lab]
"Why is Karen here...?"
"Oh, I got an offer to work as a researcher at the weapons lab too. Hehe..."
"Ah..."
In response to Brown's question, Karen glanced between the two men for a moment before asking her own.
"More importantly, why are you two...?"
Brown released his grip on McCallson's collar at her question, but he was still pinning the man to the floor.
'Ah.'
Brown awkwardly disentangled himself, dusted off his clothes, and spoke up.
"It's nothing."
"That ignorant bastard... ugh..."
McCallson tried to tattle on what Brown had done, but...
"Haha. Really, it's no big deal. I just caught him when he tripped."
Brown brushed it off and whispered to him.
"You wanna brag, 'I'm the loser who got his ass kicked in a duel~'?"
McCallson bristled. But Brown had a point. There was nothing more embarrassing than blabbing to a woman he'd just met about getting one-sidedly beaten. Especially in a duel. Losing a duel that badly was the height of humiliation.
"We keep this between us."
"Hah. Depends on what I see you do next."
McCallson shot a glare at the smirking Brown, stood up, dusted himself off, and said,
"Yeah. No big deal."
'How does tripping wreck you that bad...?'
But Karen, having witnessed the scene, easily saw through their suspicious story. The whispering only made it worse.
'What are they hiding?'
She quietly observed them. Their clothes were disheveled. Brown's fist was red, and the other guy's face looked like...
'Did they fight?'
Karen was close to the truth. But her deduction was interrupted by a new arrival.
"Mind stepping aside for a moment?"
"...Ah. Sure."
"Everyone's gathered here."
A woman entered with her secretary. Brown hair, plain but confident demeanor.
"Nice to meet you. First, let me introduce myself... don't tell me you fought on your first day?"
She frowned as she spoke.
"No, ma'am."
"Nothing like that."
Brown glanced at McCallson.
'Good job using polite speech. Makes sense.'
Her confident attitude, the clothes she wore—not overly flashy, but high-quality fabric and design. And her relaxed poise. She radiated noble aura. Only a madman or royalty would talk down to her.
"Hmmm. Anyway, introductions first. I'm Celia Tillun. This is my secretary. I've been appointed director of this lab."
"I'm Luna Karen. I was invited as a researcher for my work on gunpowder. Nice to work with you."
"John Brown. I developed the matchlock and cannon. I'll do my best."
"Kyle McCallson. Magitech researcher."
"Mm, good. Looking forward to working with you all."
After introductions, Celia Tillun got down to business.
"Within budget limits..."
"!"
Budget. Solid. Workload. Way lighter than the intense weapons R&D department. Steady results expected, of course. But this setup could claim the top spot for department happiness.
'This lab's a honey pot.'
Brown was thrilled.
"Whoa, this is amazing."
"Yeah."
Brown and Karen stepped out to the lab's backyard.
"What about your business, Karen?"
"The Empire bought it out."
"Oh..."
The Empire had acquired her previous business and offered her a researcher position. Still eager to advance her gunpowder work, she'd accepted.
"That's great."
"Hehe. What are you planning to research next, Brown?"
"Hmm... First, improvements to the matchlock and cannon."
Brown answered while pondering.
'Matchlocks have clear flaws...'
Thanks to them, guns had earned respect in this world. But slow reloading and useless in rain. Staying within the matchlock framework wouldn't fix it. Time for the next step.
He had ideas. Next up: a simple, reliable bolt-action rifle.
'But how to make the ammo.'
He understood cartridge structure. Production was the issue.
'Can we even make the guns?'
Forging bolt-actions in a smithy? Matchlocks already varied wildly by maker, date, location. Mass-producing precise rifles and ammo? Doubtful.
-Scratch.
His worries followed him inside.
'Sketch it out first.'
Brown spread paper and zoned out. Then he sensed McCallson.
"Tch. Ignorant brute."
McCallson muttered, heading to the farthest spot.
"?"
'Why the attitude? Need another beating?'
As he glared, an idea struck.
'Magitech's engineering too, right?'
Annoying guy, but worth checking. Brown stood.
-Flinch.
"...Why come closer?"
"Just something to ask."
Scratching his head, Brown questioned him.
"Pfft. Need advice from a genius like me?"
'Bullshit.'
Already tiring. But Brown needed info. He swallowed his irritation.
"Yeah. Can magitech mass-produce something like this?"
"Hmm..."
McCallson pondered.
"Short answer: no."
"Why?"
"Magic stones are rare. No point investing here. Unless war breaks out."
'Ah.'
Bolt-actions and ammo mass-production? Off the table for now.
"Useless."
Brown thanked him curtly and returned to his seat.
"Brute."
McCallson shot back. What a cozy lab.
'Still, prototype it.'
He started sketching with quill and paper.
"..."
"Fuck! Does this make any goddamn sense?"
The Blackbeard Pirates' boss slammed the table, sweeping items to the floor.
"We can't even get close! How the hell do we deal with that?!"
He'd grown his crew plundering trade ships. But Empire vessels with new weapons turned profits to losses long ago.
His bloated pirate band was now dead weight.
"We can't approach, so we can't counter..."
A subordinate tried, but...
"Think I don't know that?!"
They bowed at his roar.
"Find a way to neutralize it now!"
He stormed out fuming. Subordinates rose awkwardly after.
"If we knew, we wouldn't be sitting here."
"Thinking of deserting."
"Gotta quit piracy?"
"Run away?"
"What choice? We're fish food."
"Shoulda stuck to fishing."
"..."
Heading out, someone ran up.
"Big trouble!"
"What?"
"Empire ships attacking!"
"!"
They raced to the beach. Beyond anchored pirate ships, Empire vessels approached.
"Ah, shit."
Meanwhile.
"Pirate base in sight!"
"Close to cannon range."
Marines were relaxed.
"Hey, rookie. Watch and learn the cannon's might."
"Yes, sir!"
Jack, now a veteran, eased the newbie's nerves.
Plan: Shell until surrender. No surrender? Sink 'em all, return tomorrow, repeat. Until they quit or vanish.
"What can they do?"
"Watch their ships blow while we shell?"
The sea would soon be peaceful... at least around Empire waters.
"In range!"
Island entered cannon range; ships turned broadside, ports opened.
"All ships, load cannons!"
Gunners finished, awaited orders.
Soon, muzzles flashed. Pirates tried a last stand but failed fast.
No escaping five ships' barrage. Shells shredded vessels, wrecked island buildings.
Pirates raised white flags soon enough.
"Back by dinner?"
News of the pirate wipeout spread across the Empire.