CHAPTER 1708: CHAPTER 569: DON’T BE ARROGANT_2

"In the Silk Continent, we call these black slaves ’No Heat Hill Slaves.’ Indeed, the human nobility love to keep them, perhaps because it’s too hot where they live, and their blackness is truly uncanny." The Ninth Prince, Xiao Kong, explained the customs of the East to his mother while effortlessly unfolding a metallic folding fan, gently waving it. This type of fan was the second-generation weapon crafted by Daisy at Richard’s request last year. It could both pose as an elegant prop and be used for plundering.

Personality is indeed something inexplicable. Ever since he was affected by the ’Great Disguise Poison Gas,’ transforming from his former rugged image into someone more handsome and suave, Xiao Kong had promptly discarded his previously wild, near-naked style. Now he adorned himself daily with luxurious robes, appearing scholarly and eloquent, to the extent that his mentor, the enigmatic strongman His Highness, and his junior ’Purity of Mind’ could hardly recognize him.

"It seems he is determined to stall. Let’s not wait any longer; let’s make our move!" Richard saw the Tangzang General still hesitating and finally lost his patience. He waved to the Summer Palace Warriors, issuing the ultimate command to attack.

"Richard, serpentine Magical Beasts are adept at swimming. We definitely have the power to take down this mercenary guild, but if they sense something amiss and all leap into the lotus pond to escape, given the abundance and density of water lilies in that stream, what should we do?" Master Stefano couldn’t help but remind the Overlord: "Don’t forget, Richard, you promised that Prince not to cause a large-scale incident. Now it seems that completing the task without making a fuss is clearly unlikely!"

"And Richard, you have way too many Buer Warriors under your command." Master Aymar glanced around, smacking his lips: "We should choose to fight during the day, not at night."

"Master, my Summer Palace Warriors are not the same as human warriors." Richard beckoned to the Antelope Warrior Duncan holding a Mirror Cannon. He grabbed the spiral horns of the burly Buer man, pulling him in front of several human Great Magicians. Duncan made the pair of golden rings on his nose hum with a resounding noise.

Master Stefano and the other four human Great Magicians were somewhat amazed as they observed this Buer giant. On the Aegean Continent, it was widely known that the Beamon Buer Tribe had a natural night blindness. Pulling Buer Warriors into battle at night was considered very unwise; however, in the dark green pupils of this Antelope Warrior, a thin iridescent layer had emerged, which, without careful attention, could be mistaken for thick blood streaks.

"During their thousand years in the Underground World, the Antelope Beamon have evolved the Iridal Eye, allowing them to rapidly identify targets even in pitch darkness." Richard took over the Scarab Rebound Crossbow handed by Fat Luo, immediately loading the string with a ’click,’ proudly showing off his troops to the humans.

The Scarab Rebound Crossbow was a gift from the St. Jose Empire, presented to Richard as a token of military-industrial cooperation, a full fifty sets.

These exquisitely ornate royal-style crossbows resembled the spring knives Richard used to play with. By pressing the trigger portion of the buttstock, the shooting slot would eject ornate ’ladybug’-like carapace wings. By opening the carapace, one could install a cartridge box. The pump-tube-styled foregrip was the biggest innovation by the St. Jose Empire; utilizing the bouncing force of metal springs and a lever action for back-and-forth stringing, the Scarab Rebound Crossbow could, in single-fire mode, consecutively shoot twelve cross blades.

These metal cross blades didn’t launch in traditional flat shoots; instead, using an oblique shooting slot, they would strike targets at a thirty-five-degree angle. Equipped with infrared sights made from laser gems, this crossbow was practically unfailing.

This was an incredibly powerful crossbow with an unmatchable piercing force from its special design, allowing the sharp cross blades to cut through advanced Magic Shields within a hundred meters! Its lethal shooting range reached three hundred yards, further exceeding the expectation for small crossbows typically only used in close-range attacks!

Goblins invented gear drive, Dwarves invented steam power, and now humans had finally explored metal spring power. Although not yet perfected, the foundation had indeed been laid.

The most costly part of the Scarab Rebound Crossbow was its elastic spring, for due to metal fatigue, these springs had a theoretical lifespan of three hundred uses. Once broken, if not replaced, this expensive crossbow could be entirely useless.

Currently, only the St. Jose Empire mastered the manufacturing technique of these springs, which required mixing several types of metals during smelting, with an extremely complex ratio. Springs made by ordinary human nations could only be used twenty to thirty times at most, and the launching force was significantly weaker.

Like the Mithril Basest Warriors from the Saint Francisco Empire and the Heavy Scythe-wielders from Pompei, the super unit of St. Jose was a Royal Crossbow Regiment organized in detachments, all equipped with Scarabs, claimed to be the nemesis of all Heavy Infantry.

To correspond to the heavy armor of various countries, St. Jose also categorized their elastic springs into different models, with varying launching forces for timely adjustments by the crossbowmen. Reportedly, St. Jose had successfully developed the ’Windmill No. 5’ powerful spring aimed at countering Mithril Basest Warriors and Heavy Scythe-wielders. Although these springs required significant strength and time to string, having gained the upper hand, the St. Jose Empire never shared their new style of crossbows with other countries.

Even in Florence, it garnered significant prestige, as the three major Human Military Powers presented their prized possessions as bottom-line gifts to seek military-industrial cooperation.

From the very first day Richard received these crossbows, he felt a bit sorry for the St. Jose Empire.

For these crossbows’ metal springs, there are two types of known metals most suitable for crafting in the world: Black Clematis Gold of the Demon World and Quark Mercury. Both once shaped into superelastic metals never break, far surpassing amalgam metals in comparison.

Black Clematis Gold was too valuable, but Quark Mercury was merely the earthworm dung by the Mercury River in the Underground World. If he had more time, Richard surely could have popularized these cold weaponry rifles across the entire Northeast Province’s Trident Corps — nationwide would be a bit exaggerated as there wasn’t enough Quark Mercury for that.

However, tonight, this super crossbow equipped with ’Laser Gem’ infrared sights was destined to amaze the Tangzang army. Since Old Liu drew out this weapon, the eyes of the Tangzang General had widened in shock.

Adorned with the intricate emblem of the Jose royal windmill and tulip, the Scarab exuded a lethal aura amidst its smooth beauty. This was a weapon that any soldier could spot its might right away!

Thrilled beyond words, the Tangzang General drove his vehicle forward, jabbering nervously before Old Liu, all the while, Stuka Phantom Beast Squadron of Florence had begun preparation for takeoff, while Magic Protectors, Priesthood Troops, and Heavy Infantry were all advancing toward the open ground in front of Lishan Gate Manor.

"What is he saying?" Richard asked Xiao Kong.

Though learned in ritual practices, he wasn’t accustomed to translating foreign languages frequently like the Silk Monks. Despite the Tangzang General’s lengthy speech, Richard didn’t understand a word, nor was he bothered to employ mental power to glean what the other party was saying.

"He says they are not ready yet." The Ninth Prince shrugged, quite helpless: "The General asks us to wait a little longer to avoid scaring the townspeople."

"More waiting?" Richard restrained Yi Tiaoz, who was about to act, turning his gaze toward the General mounted on his warhorse.

This Tangzang General, despite being mounted, appeared very short compared to the impressive Beamon Warriors, yet insisted on exuding the demeanor of sweeping through thousands of troops, making Richard find it somewhat comical.

"Do you see him?" Old Liu pointed at the silver-haired, child-faced old dragon Wenger, sincerely saying to the General: "When we came here, he was just a child!"

"Move!" Yi Tiaoz couldn’t wait for Xiao Kong to translate and promptly instructed the human Magicians.

The human Great Magicians laughed so hard, their eyes tearing up.

"Richard, Medusa, like Elves, are cold-blooded creatures. If the antelope warriors’ irises are heat-source sensing, they won’t be able to detect cold-blooded creatures!" the beautiful snake tutor said, having just arrived in Florence and speaking to Richard for the first time: "Damn it!"

Stupefied, Richard was left speechless.