"However, it should be all right. That kid Hans looks full of confidence and should have some plans."
Let's just trust Hans for now.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, esteemed ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for your patience."
When the demonstration meeting started, Hans walked to the front and greeted them respectfully.
At this time, Hans was wearing a children's tuxedo. No one knew where he got it from, which triggered some comments from the noble ladies. They thought he looked like a cute little penguin.
"I'll have to make fun of him properly later."
A crafty smile appeared at the corner of Crown Prince Wilhelm's mouth.
By then, Hans had already finished his speech.
"Next, the demonstration of the'submachine gun' jointly developed by me, Baron Hans von Joe, and Bergman Armory will begin."
Clap, clap, clap!
As soon as Hans finished speaking, applause rang out all around.
However, the military officials didn't react at all and remained taciturn.
Sure enough, they didn't seem to be interested in Hans.
"Well, first of all, let me briefly explain why I developed the submachine gun."
However, Hans wasn't the kind of person who would be discouraged by such a reaction.
Crown Prince Wilhelm knew Hans well. The more it was this kind of occasion, the more brazenly he would show himself off. He was simply an annoying guy.
"...So, in order to reduce the recoil, the submachine gun uses pistol cartridges instead of rifle cartridges."
"May I ask a question?"
Just as Hans continued to explain, an official in the military raised his hand to speak.
"Of course. Who are you?"
"I'm Major Erich Ludendorff, the staff officer of the 5th Infantry Division."
Hans seemed a bit surprised, with his eyes wide open. It seemed that he knew this man?
"You just said that pistol cartridges are used. Then, may I ask what is the effective range of the submachine gun developed by you, Baron?"
"The maximum range is 150 meters."
Upon hearing this answer, a low murmur spread among the military personnel.
No, perhaps it was the sound of mockery and ridicule.
Ludendorff raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said:
"150 meters? That's really ridiculous. If it were an auxiliary weapon like a pistol, it might be understandable, but how could such a weapon be used as a personal main weapon?"
"Regarding this point, there is absolutely no problem."
"What?"
"Because the submachine gun itself is a weapon developed for close combat."
Despite Major Ludendorff's disdainful tone, Hans still maintained a calm expression and continued:
"I believe that in future wars, close combat such as trench warfare and urban warfare will become more frequent. But the existing rifles are long and heavy, and they are simply not suitable for use in such environments."
"Then, is the submachine gun developed by you, Baron, any different?"
"Of course it's different. My submachine gun is shorter and lighter than the existing rifles, and it is very suitable for use in narrow trenches. Moreover, it has an overwhelming rate of fire and is very powerful in firepower."
Just imagine.
Hans continued:
"When our soldiers charge towards the trenches filled with enemies, using the submachine gun is like spraying bullets to cover the enemies. It won't take much time at all to quickly eliminate the enemies."
One minute.
"One minute is enough."
A murmur of discussion started all around.
Upon hearing this, Major Ludendorff's eyes twitched slightly.
Evidently, he was somewhat taken aback by the reaction that was beyond his expectations.
"Then, I will reveal this. This is the key to the future battlefield—the world's first submachine gun, the 'MP01'!"
"Oh... ah?"
When Hans uncovered the hidden submachine gun with great momentum, people let out exclamations.
However, this exclamation soon turned into a sigh, and then the sigh turned into a heavy silence.
"Is that the gun...?"
Our Crown Prince Wilhelm couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, looking extremely incredulous.
The "submachine gun" that Hans held up confidently actually looked like a pipe.
It seemed to be a weapon made by cutting a pipe into sections and attaching them to a wooden gunstock.
No matter how Crown Prince Wilhelm thought about it, he couldn't regard it as a normal gun.
"Hans, is this really okay?"
The crown prince began to feel a bit worried.
"Hee!"
Just then.
"Hahahaha!"
Waldersee.
Field Marshal Waldersee, who had been sitting in silence with a frown, suddenly burst into laughter and started guffawing.
"I've been in the army all my life, but I've never seen such a gun that looks like garbage. Can the bullets really be fired from it?"
"Your Excellency, the Marshal, this is just a prototype. It looks like this in appearance, but the performance..."
"I don't want to hear it! Using such a piece of junk to insult His Majesty and the Imperial Army, one must pay the price for this!"
Waldersee's threat made Hans close his mouth.
As if receiving a signal, waves of mockery and sarcasm came from all around.
"I was really looking forward to it, but I'm so disappointed. With such an insignificant weapon, won't the reputation of the Imperial Army be ruined?"
"Hehe, what does a kid know about the army and weapons?"
"This is really a complete waste of time."
The people around all taunted and condemned Hans, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of Field Marshal Waldersee's mouth.
"The name of the person who made this piece of junk seems to be Schmeisser? Such a person doesn't even deserve to be called a craftsman."
"...!"
"Hmm?!"
At this moment, however, Crown Prince Wilhelm didn't pay attention to Field Marshal Waldersee who was laughing heartily. Instead, he looked at Lance not far away and suddenly his face changed, as if he had thought of something.
Because Hans neither got angry nor smiled brazenly as he usually did.
He just had an extremely indifferent expression.
There was no emotion at all on Hans' face now, and it was so cold that it made people shudder.
Click!
Hans stared coldly at Waldersee with a pair of pitch-black eyes without any luster, and at the same time pointed the muzzle of the submachine gun towards the sky above Waldersee.
"Hans?!"
When Crown Prince Wilhelm saw this scene, he was so frightened that he stood up from his seat.
However, Hans pulled the trigger of the submachine gun even faster.
"Your Majesty, you see! After all, that kid is no different from his kind..."
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat——!!
Then, a series of clear and sharp gunshots tore through the sky.
Field Marshal Waldersee, who had been laughing and talking with Kaiser, instantly shut his mouth and stared at Hans in horror with a stunned expression.
The others, including Crown Prince Wilhelm, were the same.
"It's finally quiet."
Hans smiled and said.
"Then, let's continue with the demonstration."