Fort Kassel 50 KM away from the Laziran-Kurz Border.

Two Kurzian generals are located inside the fort’s war room and appeared to be locked in a discussion.

“So tell me again, what am I looking at?” General Morgantha said, as he looked across the table glancing at his colleague general Greyfield.

The man smiled, removing his white plumed morion helmet, and setting down onto the table “You see my friend, this is called a ‘musket’ sourced directly from the Dragdville dungeon. Though I will add the only problem that I can see with these ‘muskets’ is the smoke.”

“And how are they different from the EM-12 Rifles that we use?” General Morgantha asked, raising an eyebrow.

General Greyfield, grabbed the musket a Charleville Model 1777 Corrige XI, “This right here can shoot without the use of magic crystals!” The man exclaimed.

“Bah! Don’t make me laugh!” Morgantha snorted, “You think this can be used as firearm? A gun that doesn’t utilize magic crystals in its manufacturing and firing might as well be a bludgeoning weapon-or even a children’s toy!”

Greyfield smirked, “Oh really? You know these guns are the reason why only a small amount of adventurers can make it past the third floor. But since you don’t believe me let’s have a live fire demonstration, to the range.”

The two men promptly left the war room and onto the fort’s firing range located at the eastern side of the fort in an out doors area, both men settling on the middle row.

“Now Morgantha, this musket is already pre-loaded following the instructions from the core herself.” Greyfield said, then he gestured toward a straw dummy about forty five meters ahead, “Morgantha, would you kindly attach a piece of paper onto the dummy’s head, right ahead.”

Morgantha takes a piece of parchment from under his coat, and walks over to the straw figure and securely tied the parchment paper onto the head using string.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Alright prove it.” Morgantha said, walking back.

Greyfield aimed at the target, taking a couple deep breaths and exhaling, the general pulled the trigger and a loud bang soon erupted from the barrel, as a small smoke cloud formed and quickly dissipated.

Morgantha’s eyes widened upon witnessing a bullet hole, dead center of the dummy’s face.

“Better close your mouth, lest you catch flies!” Greyfield laughed, slapping his colleague at the back.

Morgantha rapidly shook his head, then rubbed his eyes, “I-I can’t believe it! But if that shoots without magic crystals then what’s firing mechanism? More importantly what’s the ammunition used.”

Greyfield scratched his head before presenting the breech. “I don’t know the exact mechanism, but from what I can tell through superficial observation, it uses flint and a locking system. To my knowledge, the Grand Council has tasked the nation’s best engineers with reverse-engineering these ‘muskets.’ As for the ammunition, let’s head back to the war room, and I’ll show you.”

Both men returned inside the fort, and soon found themselves back at the war room. Grayfield then reached into a leather pouch pulling out a paper cartridge and then setting it onto the table.

“This paper ‘cartridge’ contains a lead ball and a type of powder, that I’ve never seen before.” Greyfield explained, before tearing the cartridge apart, pouring out the gunpowder, and the lead ball onto the table.

Morgantha placed a hand on his chin, “Hmm, we can easily replicate the lead ball, we’ve got plenty of lead, as well as flint. Though how are we gonna source this gray powder? Asides from getting it from the dungeon.”

Greyfield averted his gaze away from his colleague, “I don’t know, from what I could gather, the Grand Council, just like the engineers, has tasked the nation’s alchemists with finding a way to produce this gray powder. So in the meantime we’ll have to rely on that dungeon to supply us, which isn’t ideal.”

Morgantha sat down on a chair, taking a sip from a mug. “Well regardless this will give us an edge over the Lazirans, and lord forbid the Ergonese. Just think about it, no longer do we have to rely on our dwindling supply of magic crystals. I already used my last firework during this year’s independence day, and no more are being produced because of the shortage.” The man said, taking another sip.

Greyfield smiling, setting the musket back on the table, “Hah! You got that right, anyway I’m going to inspect the equipment of our firearm regiments.”

Morgantha said nothing as Greyfield donned on his helmet and walked away, choosing to simply lean back on his chair, and gazed outside from a window, observing the stationed garrison conduct drills.