The group chatted and laughed, the atmosphere in the City Lord's Manor lively and harmonious thanks to Kael's return.
With the Laffey Territory flourishing, Grace enthusiastically began detailing its progress to Kael.
Kael and Amelia exchanged amused glances. Grace's explanations carried a hint of a young girl's pride, but it only made her more endearing.
It was clear Grace had poured her heart into governing the territory—no small feat for someone her age.
"Junior Sister, from now on, I'll entrust the territory's governance entirely to you."Grace's administrative talents were exceptional, and as someone Kael trusted implicitly, she was the perfect choice.
"Really?!" Grace nearly jumped for joy. She had worried Kael might relieve her of duty, but his decision surpassed her expectations.
Her delight was palpable.
Kael smiled faintly, surveying the room. With Lone Wolf, Jett, Finn, and Grace, his core team for the Laffey Territory was finally complete—both in governance and military affairs.
Then, recalling his earlier idea, he turned his gaze to Ethan. He approached the old mage and whispered, **"Master, I'd like to consult you on something."**
"What now?" Ethan frowned, baffled by his disciple's secrecy. What scheme is this kid plotting?
"I'm certain it'll pique your interest," Kael said.
That single sentence ignited Ethan's curiosity. He eyed Kael with wary intrigue.
"Follow me, Master." Leaving the others behind, Kael led Ethan to a side chamber.
"You rascal, what are you—" Ethan's grumbling cut off abruptly as a flash of light emanated from Kael's spatial ring. His expression shifted instantly—replaced by a spark of exhilaration.
"This is…"
An Arcane Cannon!
Crimson from tip to base, seamless and exquisitely crafted, yet undeniably a weapon of mass destruction—the very cannon Kael had retrieved from the Water Dragon Secret Realm!
The Arcane Cannon boasted unparalleled destructive power, simple operation, and rapid firing speed. But it came with one critical flaw: an exorbitant consumption of magic crystals.
The moment Ethan laid eyes on the Arcane Cannon, his expression lit up with rare excitement. **"Kid, where in the world did you get this?!"**
A madman for alchemy, Ethan naturally recognized the cannon at once.
Kael grinned. He'd known Ethan would be enthralled. Rubbing his nose, he replied, **"I obtained it from the Water Dragon Secret Realm."**
"That trip was worth it, then!" Ethan nodded, visibly pleased. **"This Arcane Cannon is priceless—a pinnacle of dwarven engineering, though the craft has long been lost. I scoured three continents in my youth without finding a single one. To think you'd stumble upon it!"**
Kael's interest sharpened. Had he underestimated the cannon's value? **"Master, is it truly that significant?"**
"In others' hands? Perhaps not. But in mine..." Ethan's smile turned cryptic.
"Come, let's test this beast's power!" Without waiting, Ethan dragged Kael outside. Though Kael had witnessed the cannon's might firsthand, curiosity gnawed at him. Ethan clearly knew more—could there be undiscovered functions?
Ethan charged ahead, Kael close behind. In moments, they reached a secluded, open plain on the city's outskirts.
Before them stretched flat, barren land.
Ethan hefted the cannon with a chuckle. **"Since you brought this back, you must know how to use it. But your knowledge might be... incomplete."**
"Oh?"
"Indeed. The Arcane Cannon has two modes: single-target and area attacks. You've likely only used the former."
Single-target? Kael reflected. True, he'd only ever aimed at individuals. Could it really unleash wide-scale devastation?
"Watch closely!" Sensing Kael's doubt, Ethan smirked. He loaded a magic crystal into the cannon, channeled a wisp of mana, and—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted as crimson flames roared from the barrel.
The vast plain trembled violently as thick smoke billowed into the air. The cannon's power was staggering—a crater dozens of meters wide now gaped in the distance, its edges still wreathed in haze.
"Incredible. This rivals a Level 9 mage's large-scale spell," Kael murmured in awe. So this was the Arcane Cannon's area attack.
If such a weapon could be deployed on the battlefield...
The mere thought sent Kael's blood boiling. With these cannons, his forces would become unstoppable!
Ordinary soldiers would be torn apart like paper. Only the elite legions of the Four Great Kingdoms might withstand such firepower.
"Precisely." Ethan, equally satisfied, nodded. **"The Arcane Cannon's true strength lies here. At full power, it equals a Level 9 mage's strike—devastatingly wide-ranging and near-instantaneous. However..."** He raised a finger. **"Area attacks require a mage's mana as a catalyst. You'll need at least a Level 5 mage to activate this mode."**
Kael inwardly agreed. A small price—one Level 5 mage in exchange for firepower rivaling a Level 9 spell!
"A marvel indeed." Ethan's voice turned wistful. **"The dwarves once wielded such technology to rival even the mightiest mages. But war consumed them, and their brilliance faded..."**
His gaze upon the cannon burned with manic intensity, making Kael's scalp prickle. The old man was every bit the alchemical fanatic—his expertise likely matched the dwarves' legendary craft.
"Master, I'll leave this Arcane Cannon to your research," Kael offered with a smile.
Ethan brightened momentarily before narrowing his eyes. **"For me to study? You scheming little brat!"**
Kael didn't even blush. **"Pure generosity, I assure you."**
Of course, his "generosity" had calculations: once Ethan unlocked the cannon's secrets, who else would benefit but Kael himself?
Ethan's mastery of alchemy was so profound that he might even uncover the secrets to replicating the Arcane Cannon through his research!
If feasible, Kael could mass-produce these cannons, catapulting the Laffey Territory's strength to unprecedented heights!
Ethan couldn't help but laugh. His most brilliant disciple had actually schemed his way into exploiting his expertise—a thought both exasperating and amusing.
Just then, figures emerged in the distance: Amelia, Lone Wolf, Finn, and Grace had all rushed over. The cannon's deafening blast and tremors had undoubtedly alerted them, leaving them bewildered about the commotion.
"What in the—?" Finn's eyes bulged as he stared at the massive crater, disbelief written across his face.
Lone Wolf's gaze flickered sharply toward the Arcane Cannon, comprehension dawning instantly—followed by a surge of exhilaration. He knew exactly what this meant.
"Master, Senior Brother... what's going on?" Grace, though piecing it together, still looked to Ethan and Kael for confirmation.
"What happened here today stays here. This is the Laffey Territory's highest-level secret," Kael declared instead of explaining, demanding absolute secrecy from everyone present.
Though their reactions varied—awe, excitement, shock—they all grasped the gravity of the situation and nodded solemnly.
"Master, do you think you can pull it off?" Kael asked with a grin.
"Of course! Once I decipher this cannon's design, I'll have replicas rolling out in no time!" Ethan's confidence was unshakable.