I Pioneered Scientific Magic

Chapter 347: A Revolutionary Firearm That Could Change the Course of War!

"Gentleman Glenn, there's one more here, looks like this one's alive!" Ham, in charge of leading the search party, excitedly shouted upon finding Arno 'unconscious' on the street.

The number of griffin knights knocked down by the Thunder Web was considerable, but those who survived were few. Every captured individual marked a rare accomplishment.

After all, extracting critical information from these captives might potentially alter the war's trajectory.

Upon receiving the notification, Glenn rushed over immediately. Surveying the collapsed roof and a griffin smashed into a bloody mess nearby, he quickly deduced how the person survived. Without delay, he grabbed a bottle of magical potion and poured it down Arno's throat.

To drink or not to drink—it was a choice.

Arno hesitated for a moment, ultimately doing nothing, allowing the potion to flow into his body.

If they wanted him dead, they could have acted directly. There was no need for this elaborate charade. Arno speculated that these individuals intended to capture them for interrogation.

Undoubtedly, this presented a prime opportunity.

Arno contemplated strategies but soon felt his thoughts grow hazy, his entire body drained of strength.

This particular potion induced complete muscle relaxation, inducing prolonged unconsciousness, rendering one utterly defenseless.

However, Glenn clearly hadn't anticipated a high-ranking bishop infiltrating among the griffin knights and being captured so easily. Hence, he used only a normal dose, allowing Arno to maintain a certain level of consciousness, preventing complete unconsciousness.

Several riflemen stepped forward with specialized ropes and bound him tightly.

Provoked earlier by the griffin knights but unable to retaliate, each person harbored pent-up anger. Now presented with the chance for retribution, they didn't hold back. One among them even viciously kicked Arno multiple times.

Enduring the humiliation, Arno seethed with inner fury. How dare these lowly commoners treat him this way! He silently vowed to remember each one's voice and, once they conquered this capital, make them taste the torments of the judiciary.

"Alright, that's enough, don't beat him to death!" Observing the group's actions, Glenn hurriedly intervened, instructing Ham to take the captive to the interrogation room.

...

With the retreat of the Holy Church's army, news of the initial victory quickly spread throughout the capital!

Cheers echoed from the city walls to the narrowest alleys.

It was an indisputable triumph—fending off the fierce punitive force had only consumed a fraction of their ammunition, leaving over twenty thousand bodies piled below the city walls!

Had it not been for those cursed griffin knights, setting fire to dozens of homes and causing over a hundred casualties, it would have been nearly perfect!

Faced with such a resounding victory, Lynn certainly didn't skimp on rewards. Every rifleman who participated in the battle received a magical coin as a token of appreciation. Their feats would be recorded, and additional rewards given once the war concluded.

Of course, this funding came from the council and the royal coffers.

The deceased griffins were not wasted either; some were used for magical research, while others, as meat, rewarded the valiant soldiers like Old York handsomely.

For civilians like Old York, tasting the flesh of high-grade magical beasts was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially when prepared using lightning magic.

Those fortunate enough to receive a share of the meat felt it was the most robust dish they had ever eaten.

After pacifying these heroes of war, Lynn increased the intensity of patrols and guards. Everyone understood the war was far from over.

Today's battle might have appeared brutal, but it was primarily a probing attack.

The actual decision-makers of the war—the church's bishops and the clergy—had yet to make a significant move, and their elite forces were limited.

Hence, once these trivial matters were organized, Lynn promptly headed towards the Alchemy Research Institute located within the capital.

Upon arrival, a loud explosion reverberated from within. However, both Lynn and the stationed guards seemed unfazed.

Sure enough, within a mere two or three minutes, several wizards from the Alchemy Research Institute emerged, looking soot-covered.

Lydia, who had joined the institute and become an esteemed alchemist, hurriedly inquired upon seeing Lynn. "Director Lynn? How did the war go? Did we win?"

This initial confrontation with the Holy Church intrigued Lydia, but she had been occupied with enhancing rifles and hadn't joined the frontline battles.

"Taking down at least twenty thousand with less than two hundred casualties should qualify as a major victory!" Lynn replied with a smile. Only by defending the city with rifles and cannons' range could they achieve such exaggerated casualties.

It validated his previous decision to refrain from aggressive attacks and focus on defensive measures—it was undoubtedly the correct choice! After all, they had no prior intelligence on the enemy and caution was key!

The exaggerated casualty ratio didn't surprise anyone present. The rifles, cannons, and electromagnetic weapons they produced from Lynn's schematics were unquestionably devastating on the battlefield!

"It seems the Church's punitive force wasn't as formidable as they thought!" remarked a witch.

Once news of the war spread across the wizarding realm, many doubted their ability to hold off the Church's massive invasion. Some even believed it was the wizards' doomsday.

Even the council prepared to withdraw into the wizarding territories for defense.

However, it was evident now that the Church's grand-scale assault was feeble, no different from the rabble in the kingdom, fleeing in disarray under the impact of their innovative weapons.

"No, this was just a probing attack from the Church's main force. The losses were minimal, mostly cannon fodder. The upcoming battles won't be as straightforward!" Lynn shook his head. Their revealed weaponry and intelligence this time were excessive. The Church would undoubtedly prepare countermeasures for the next attack.

Thinking about this, Lynn turned to Wilson, responsible for gunpowder research and development, and eagerly asked, "By the way, what about the smokeless gunpowder and fixed ammunition we tasked you with?"

"That's been completed long ago!" Wilson, the wizard, adjusted his posture, then had someone bring forth a specially designed rifle. "Additionally, we've crafted the prototype of the firing mechanism you requested!"

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