Hey…

It's been a while.

Nearly two months since the last update.

I finally got my cr*p together and wrote something. It took a while to recover from my burnout, but hey, I did it.

So where the h*ck is my dopamine, brain? Why the fucking shit aren't you working properly you nincomp**p? Why aren't you giving me the happy chemicals that I so motherfucking deserve?

Oh well.

Enjoy the chapter.

July 5, 2024

Start

"Aim! Hold…! Hold!" A sergeant atop the walls ordered.

Atop the battlements, a line of sixty knights lined their hand cannons.

"Fire!"

Thunder and smoke.

The wave of hilichurls had nothing against the storm of bullets. Balls of lead rammed against their bodies like a bull ramming a haystack. One hilichurl, in particular, was obliterated; a fifty-caliber ball munition blew a chunk of its head, exposing red matter and bits of its shattered skull. It slammed to the floor, trampled by others charging with abandon.

"Switch!"

The first line of gunners slinked back as a different rank switched in place.

"Aim! Hold! Fire!"

Thunderous echoes burst in the clear sky.

Standing on ground level outside the gates was Diluc. He took pleasure in seeing two mitachurls with massive shields at hand. They hesitate to step forward like a child cornered by a mutt. Their smaller brethren who witnessed the carnage weren't different.

The monsters felt a surge of immense heat from behind - with a swing of its staff, a Pyro abyss mage threatened their allies like a slaver with a whip.

On one hand, charging means death in the volleyfire. On the other, resistance warrants painful punishment from their abyssal masters. With hopeless abandon, the third wave charged to the gates; crossing the bridge offers a chance for quicker execution. The other option was a slower one.

Diluc pitied them. Almost.

"Time for retribution!"

With a swing of his claymore, a phoenix of fire emerged. Devoured in flames, the hilichurls rushing like a gushing river entered a world of searing pain. Their skin was charred black, and their primitive minds knew nothing but fire.

All the soldiers atop the walls were cheering. The catapult behind the gates fired. It hurled a barrel of explosives over the walls. A handful of them were blown by an explosion of Anemo-Pyro reaction. The monsters on the other side scattered in panic but never retreated. Knights and mercenaries cheered in unison. Once the monsters show a crack in their morale, the battle is practically over.

Indeed, he made this siege more manageable, Diluc glanced behind his shoulders atop the wall. Two platoons of gunners. Each sixty guns strong. One hundred and twenty guns combined. Many a knight had mixed opinions about bearing a gun, but in the end, all reasoned none wanted standing in front of the muzzle just as monsters learned directly.

But one hundred and twenty? Production had only started yesterday, yet the amount far exceeded the expectations of those in the know. What techniques had he used to achieve such numbers swiftly?

It cannot be ignored. That said, Diluc has speculations that Fatui might be in the play. Though calling it speculation might be an understatement; they're known to stick their noses where they shouldn't all the time. He speculated that John might have a history with the Fatui. The chances aren't slim. His know-how in firearms is noteworthy, but his physique is most… concerning.

It's unnatural.

But with his solutions to their problems, his talents shouldn't be questioned. For now, that is. His assistance was invaluable. What's important is that he has been amiable and mutual so far. A bit of an oddball, but if he was some saboteur or a spy, then he was the worst there was.

The portcullis closed as Diluc entered the city. He was met with cheers and applause. But seeing the knights clapping in his display of power only brought memories of his bitter betrayal. He doubted many of them even remembered the scandal. Four years is nothing short, but the flow of time only served as anesthesia for the pain. It may not have healed wounds, but it numbed enough that he would not unwillingly cooperate with his former colleagues.

With connections deep within the Favonius, news reached the ears of the wine tycoon of a new weapon in development by John, in partnership with the entire Investigation Team with the Chief Alchemist himself.

Speaking of, last I recall alchemy was but a whisper until that lad Albedo came in the scene, Diluc hummed. He drew comparisons between them - two young men who'd shown talent in their respective fields.

One in a practice first thought by the public to be pretentiously esoteric, and the other that never had the chance to blossom; alchemy had no foothold in Mondstadt until a virtuoso opened the eyes of many, just as engineering was never explored beyond windmills.

Contentment breeds stagnation, one a carefree culture of drunks embraced fully. Much to his disapproval.

… He can see a pattern; just as how alchemy had proven its mettle through Albedo, John will shatter preconceptions in certain fields. Well, I got new things on my plate.

And things to look out for.

No doubt John offers many to the table.

How the nation will react thereafter will be another matter.

John Smith cannot be brushed aside. Nor shunned out either. However this goes, it wouldn't be the first where Mondstadt embraced talents with unlikely and strange origins, sometimes both. Let alone those with certain quirks… explosive or not.

Gunshots muted as Diluc walked away to the headquarters, passing by civilians living life as if the city was unbesieged. He trusted in his absence the defense would not be overwhelmed when the worst of the brunt had already passed.

It's not that he believes in the Knights of Favonius. Rather, he believes in the performance of their new tools. He's looking forward to investing in projects that will give the knights advantages that can compensate for their incompetence.

…

Jean's office suffered in both hot and cold, and yet the two ends of the extremes were neither canceled. The current cavalry captain was sitting on the sofa, whereas the former from four years ago leaned on the office table.

"… It's been a while," As a Cryo user, Kaeya has ways to break the ice. In this case though? A tall order. He glanced at the vacant office chair, and the person leaning on the table.

"Likewise," Diluc rubbed the table surface with a bittersweet gaze. The same table maintained for generations where the one who sat behind was a leader he formerly served. His mind recalled blurred memories of simpler times. He would've loved a spar with Varka before his departure.

Kaeya switched the topic, "Heard from Jean about the price negotiations yesterday. Took me off guard when she mentioned you've arrived so soon."

Just when it was surmised the Abyss Order would terrorize the city from the inside.

"We never had yet concluded. His musket was unproven at that time. But now with the successful results… then if you ask me, I estimate its worth around-"

"Let's… uh leave the topic for another time. I'm honestly scared to hear it," Kaeya winced as if reading a combat report that went terribly, "We already have more than a hundred produced. If it reaches five figures, I'd be happy John for becoming rich. For our treasury, though? Haha…"

Five figures. One hundred and more are being made. It'd be nothing too large for their coffers if in exchange this siege persisted a day less, but it'd convince Jean to stop production sooner than later. The expedition ate up a good chunk of their funding, leaving them no choice but to be stingy.

"Fine," Diluc gave a judging look, "Then have you, as an extension of the Ordo Favonius, ever planned to overwork John until death?"

"Of course not! He wasn't alone in the production." Kaeya stated flatly, "He had all the help he could get."

I know, Every bit of info handed to Diluc told that. Not that he needed them. Anyone can assess that one smith is not enough to create a batch of ten or so hand cannons every hour. Which means that the knights have shouldered responsibility since yesterday.

But among his concerns and curiosities, was the security of their new assets. No matter what anyone says, the world revolves around power.

A powerful industrial base.

An untouchable military.

An iron grip in politics.

Snezhnaya has it all.

Yet even with all the cards they hold, Mondstadt refused to bow - their new weapons will serve as added leverage against their influence in the grand scheme of things. The problem is, when the news reaches the Fatui that the Favonius sharpened its claws to compensate for its lost fangs, they'll trim it like mowing a lawn.

Starting with the one behind it all.

They have their ways. The inevitability wasn't lost to all concerned, but without a real solution to erase the Fatui, the best you can do is… your best. You slither out of their way like rats in a maze or sting like snakes in the shadow. You don't engage with an invincible polity head-on in a misguided attempt of passionate rebellion.

Diluc learned that the hard way.

"I thought the knights were keeping everything with tight lips. What happened to censorship?"

John Smith had already earned himself a fair amount of fame. Involving more people in the city of drunks is the opposite of what the Favonius should be doing!

"Perhaps we'll discuss that at another time." Kaeya countered with a smirk, "Besides, you've long since left the Order. To add, we do have the right to arrest you for holding sensitive info, you know?"

"Ugh," Diluc rolled his eyes. He was here for the demonstration, so perhaps he'll let this one go. In retrospect, there are more important matters at hand. "Fine, we'll cross that bridge once this siege is dealt with."

Kaeya chuckled softer than usual, "So. Here to grab yourself a piece of our pie? We all have something we want from him. I wonder what yours are."

"I'm here to give my two Mora," Diluc's eyes flitted on the desk surface, where there were littered papers of isometric diagrams and documents, "From a purely tactical perspective, its accuracy, or the lack thereof, warranted compensation by number. That, I already surmised... but I would have never thought John did just that."

"So did I," Kaeya hummed, "I heard the Investigation Team invented a solution that lets you shoot bullets as straight as an arrow."

"Invented? You might be talking about rifling. Spiral grooves cut in the barrel. It's nothing new."

"Oh?" Kaeya's eye squinted pointedly with an inquisitive grin, "You know a thing or two with guns?"

Diluc raised an eyebrow suspiciously at the change of tone, "I had the chance to use them in my… adventure. It's not my style, but I've found them useful in some cases."

"Let's go back to censorship," Without a preamble, Kaeya sold his idea, "I think at this point, it's impossible. How about this? How about you divert Fatui's attention away from John?"

"Me?" Diluc asked in a heartbeat.

With a casual gesture, Kaeya pointed his open palm to him, "We plant some… implications to the public you were behind all this. That should displace all of the attention away from him. If not, then most."

A pause. A few seconds of silence.

"You want me to be a scapegoat?" Diluc deadpanned.

"I'm not saying that."

"You did suggest that."

"You think I'd dare use you of all people? What kind of a brother would I be?" To his credit, Kaeya seemed genuinely offended at the insinuation.

Diluc suppressed his scoff at the word. Scapegoat. Four years ago, his father had been a political sacrifice. If it was anyone else but Kaeya, their faces would have met his fist. He grizzled to himself, "Well… your plan has its merit."

There'd be no better candidate who can handle the heat. Who else has the invaluable experience of ever pissing off the Fatui? Who else is more knowledgeable in the ways how they operate on a grand scale? And who else is better equipped than the one who enacted revenge in the very heart of their nation and survived?

Not to mention his experience in politics, business, and combat.

Quite a skillset if one must say.

As a bonus, if the Fatui wants to bring trouble directly to Diluc in his home territory, then that'd be opportunities he'd relish.

Kaeya had already raced his mind for an elaborate fabrication.

A former cavalry captain left to explore the world. At some point, he got his hands on firearms. Inspired by its firepower, he introduced it to the Favonius. With his wealth and connections, he sent the finest samples and schematics to his homeland.

What's more, is that Diluc has direct links to Kaeya. People might believe the two brothers are in cahoots. The richest nobleman and the cavalry captain. It lent credence to the assumption.

As preparation for the grand expedition that leaves Mondstadt defenseless, the Knights of Favonius started a secret military project that's been going for who knows how long, only being revealed when the Abyss Order launched an all-out attack.

Who'd even believe a backwater nation had the means of mass production? A hundred hand cannons in a short time? Made by whom? A fictitious army of blacksmiths? From an outside perspective, it would have been completely unbelievable without the sight of any large factory. If production has started long before 'in secret,' then it'd be less so.

… Now where does the centerpiece fit in?

John's enigmatic background is a magnet for scrutiny, but no matter what, so long they can sell the idea he holds no dangerous and disruptive knowledge, the Fatui will split and divert their manpower to find the 'true' mastermind. All the more convenient everyone is aware of his amnesia. With that, it's going to be a matter of placing 'breadcrumbs.'

Kaeya has talents best used behind curtains. With Diluc, the two are a powerhouse.

There are kinks here and there that need ironing. Specifically the specifics. But eh, small details are better left ignored. It leaves wiggle room for imagination for any outside parties. Let the untruth truths take care of themselves like readers piecing together unconnected plot points.

"I know that look on your face." Diluc glared half-heartedly, "Just spit it out. I can't stand your silent scheming."

Kaeya smiled innocently. In a way, he was flattered his brother could read his mind even after all these years. But before a reply came, the wood creaked. The door hinged open where the Acting Grand Master walked in - then froze the next second, "Diluc… sir. You've arrived sooner than expected."

"Do not call me sir," The former captain groused having to remind his resignation long ago, "I'm no longer your superior or even a part of the Favonius in that matter."

"He got that right," Kaeya grinned ear to ear, "Technically speaking, as a civilian, that makes him a trespasser in this office. Oh, whatever shall we do with this flagrant intrusion, Master Jean?"

With crossed arms, the red-haired nobleman glared, "If I had to grab a Cryo slime with my bare hands just so I can shove it in your mouth, then so be it."

"Oooh. Brr. So cold. I can feel it already," Kaeya purred and hugged his waist as if freezing in Dragonspine, "For someone with a Pyro Vision, you have an attitude colder than ice."

Jean coughed assertively. Under her not-so-stern glare, she's gladdened seeing the two reunite. Jean, Diluc, Kaeya. Just like back in the old days. The simpler days. The time when the worst things they worried about were hilichurls camping near trade routes.

The room was silenced, replaced by the sound of the grandfather clock ticking the seconds.

"As I said, sooner than expected. Fortunately, John will soon finish his working prototype for the demonstration," She broke eye contact, slightly flustered. She took a deep breath, her gaze warm and melancholic. Four years ago she didn't even get to say goodbye. It hurt her. It tore many. But betrayed by the banner supposed to stand by his side, it wrenched Diluc.

All she can do is work hard to restore his faith.

"And uh… welcome back, sir."

Diluc facepalmed, "Do not call me sir."

Kaeya snickered, "You two should kiss already."

Windows were blown open by a sudden surge of Anemo.

…

(AN: Honestly, no idea why I use dots between dividers for scene transitions.)

"Okay. So. Uh. Hi there. Didn't expect there'd be quite a lot of people here." The young weapons designer covered his mouth to yawn long and deep. "Uh... yeah. I'll be your host for today. Name's John Smith."

Sometimes even he forgets that it's not even his real name. It's the one he gave to the System the time he was tied upside down in a hilichurl camp. And yet the moment he entered that input, it felt unnaturally natural how it slid out his tongue so smoothly.

Like it had been his name since birth.

Frankly, it's freaky.

All officers and certain people in the underground room, improvised into a secret indoor range, gave an odd look at his complicated expression.

"Ah hahaha," He scratched his head, excusing his display of his persisting identity crisis, "Yeah. Sorry. I'm just awkward around people. You know what? I'll get on with it. Now you've all been called here for…"

… John coughed, "Reasons. And stuff. Uh."

Jean watched in mild amusement in his fumbling. Now that was the John she knew just as the one she met the first time four days ago.

"You've all been called on short notice," John presented the odd-looking hand cannon over his head as the audience looked with curiosity, "But this is what you're here to see. It looks weird, I know, but ta da~"

[Ordo Favonius Model 2E]

[Description: With E abbreviating for experimental, this model is a smoothbore, breechloading, break-action hand cannon designed as an upgrade to the previous model. The double-action trigger rotates the revolving firing pin. As proof of concept, its frame and internals are made of brass to ease prototyping.]

[Specifications: (Toggled off)]

"As you all noticed, it's got more than one barrel. I can guess what some of you might be thinking. Or not. I can't read minds. In case anyone asks though, it doesn't shoot all four at once."

It's not a revolver. Well, it is in a way. Just that the firing pin hidden inside revolves instead of the chambers. No one knows he took inspiration from the Lancaster pistol. Its crudity is credited to the unsurprising lack of machining tools accurate within thousandths of an inch and cutting tools rated for steel.

Mass production self-loaders are a pipe dream for now.

Sure, production can be relied on with Albedo and his magical manufacturing, but that defeats the whole point. Besides, his talent is better put into research than rote handiwork. Any mindless repetitive task irked the guy.

Meanwhile, John and his System crafting mechanic was far from being an arcade. With no prior gunsmithing experience, he pulled things out of his ass just as he did with the muzzleloader two days ago. All in all, with few options, he had to get creative with what little he had. Starting first with the barrels. Forging four separate octagonal barrels fastened together with a steel band resulted in... an admittedly questionable piece of engineering. But as a prototype, whatever works, works.

The way he glanced at his creation with a troubling look didn't inspire confidence. Jean will make sure to trigger her elemental burst if things go awry.

True, it was heavy and bulky. But a repeater that's reloadable in seconds is a huge leap from muzzleloaders! If John didn't have his Pyro Vision that massively helped in the forge, and Albedo with his material manipulation perfect for minute refinement, it would've taken weeks otherwise, if not more. To add, since brass was softer than iron by multitudes, Albedo took no serious effort shaping it to his will.

This also meant prototyping the next evolution in firearms wasn't out of bounds.

"So let's start," John's thumb flipped a small lever. It split open on its hinge like a door. Except for the officers in the weapons department, everyone widened their eyes, and their level of surprise and curiosity varied on their faces. "Let's talk about the most relevant of all topics. It can shoot four times, but wouldn't that quadruple reload time? The answer is no, and I'll demonstrate why."

On the table was a small wooden box stacked with the fruit of their research. John nonchalantly grabbed a polished brass cylinder and slid one into each chamber.

[Experimental .50 caliber cartridge]

[Description: A rimmed, centerfire, straight-walled cartridge developed by the Investigation Team as a test bed for future manufacture and development of self-contained cartridge technology.]

[Specifications: (toggled off)]

[Ballistics Performance: (toggled off)]

[Cartridge Dimensions: (toggled off)]

He latched the pistol closed with an audible click.

"Cover thy eardrums, my good fellas," He warned the audience. And they followed his odd speak, their palms plugging their ears with breathless anticipation. John summoned his black earmuffs from his Storage and wore them snuggly. He aimed at a dummy target; a rusted cuirass on an armor stand.

With a heavy and long trigger pull, the pistol kicked against his wrist as the room thundered when he shot once.

Twice.

Trice.

And for the fourth time.

Aiming this is shit. He complained of the irregular recoil. It was expected. Each round in their respective barrels was shot from different alignments. The recoil only worsened by the large caliber. That didn't stop him from having fun though.

He grinned, satisfied with the four holes he put in the armor. Unlatching open the pistol, he held it by its combined barrels. He hadn't yet included an extractor in the design. It was a proof of concept after all. So as an alternative, he pried it out with his fingernail. An inconvenience in this demo. A lethal liability on the battlefield. One by one, the spent casings clinked when it hit the stone floor.

Once he reloaded, he aimed again.

BANG BANG BANG BANG

Everyone had their eyes locked on the cuirass. The bullets poked holes through the sheet metal like pen through paper. All were aghast, with some mixed with a healthy dose of fear. The sight put few in doubt, realizing the career they built with their lifetime had been challenged yet again. Against their muzzleloading hand cannon, by the time a user reloads for a second shot, John could put a dozen holes or so. Shot a dozen or so hilichurls. Killed a dozen or so bandits.

Or a dozen or so knights.

"Honestly, even I'm surprised it worked. I admit it's a bit of a rush job, but I had a good reason," John bent over to gather all the spent casing on the floor and put them back in the box. "The point of this demonstration is for you officers to... give you an idea what you'll work with so that you can plan ahead of time. Rethink your strategies. To show you that it's not just some better gun, that it's a whole different beast that needs a whole different way to use it."

Because if he ever sees them doing volleyfire with a repeating firearm, he'll throw hands at their tacticians.

The heavy silence within the audience was palpable.

"Fun's over. We didn't make much ammo, so that's all we have for this demo," John removed his earmuffs. Once they develop a method to shape brass without the need for magical means, it will bring mass production a few steps closer, "But short as it was, I think I uhh… what's the word. I think…"

"You've conveyed your point well enough," Kaeya continued in his stead, "If I must say, that's quite another eye-opener. When Albedo explained your obsession, I think I now know why."

"Obsession? What?" John asked, blissfully ignorant of the whirling thoughts of the crowd.

"A question if you may," In the foreboding silence, a man at the back of the packed crowd asked straightforwardly, "If you don't mind repeating yourself, that is a prototype, correct? Meaning to say, that is a precursor for the final product?"

"Yes."

The implication provoked a wave of murmurs.

"It's a pioneer for the future. There are features I planned to incorporate-" John stopped midway after recognizing the voice. A voice he last expected to hear in a military weapons trial. The crowd split a little to see the person, a red-haired man in a black coat. "Diluc? Didn't see you there. I thought this was strictly a non-civilian area. Are you a knight?"

Kaeya snickered.

Jean came to his defense, "I invited him, John. Sir Diluc-"

"Do not call me sir. And no, John, I'm not a knight."

Jean coughed, "As I was saying, Diluc is my senior-"

"Former senior," Diluc protested in his emphasis. "Never mind. I'm curious about the making of that prototype. Unless there had been major changes that escaped my notice, Ordo Favonius has no facilities for such an application, yes?"

Or at the very least, tools purpose-built for gunsmithing that's unlikely found anywhere in Mondstadt. Diluc wasn't some technician, but he had been inside Snezhnayan factories. Personally visited a few even. Uninvited, that is. And sabotaged whatever he could. But Diluc didn't need to mention that part. A question burned inside him, "Does that mean it's an improvisation?"

"...Yeah. I didn't have much to work with," John reacted to their dynamic with a blank gaze.

It was a surprise the Investigation Team had precision measuring instruments imported from Fontaine; calipers and micrometers amongst mentionables. But paradoxically yet understandably so, the locals think manufacturing with tolerances the width of a hair strand is a foreign concept.

The idea was there. The practice was not.

So… from the beginning, it's not some arcane technology with a high barrier of entry bottlenecked by equipment that costs as much as mansions. Diluc fell into deep thought. Granted, John had help, but it does beg the question of why firearms hadn't spread anywhere if requirements for a startup weren't set as high as people believe.

Travelers. Merchants. Adventurers. Explorers. Farmers. Countrysiders. Frontiersmen. Those kinds of people face danger on a day-to-day basis and most need a tool for their defense. With bandits, brigands, and beasts alike roaming openly in the world for prey, you'd think with all the dangers susceptible to good folks, it justified the proliferation of affordable yet effective weaponry. If I had wanted one for myself, I'd buy in the black market smuggled from Fontaine, but that's just it.

He was the richest nobleman in all of Mondstadt. He can get what he wants. The common folks have no such power.

It was a commodity that despite all reason should never be gatekept. After all, if necessity is the mother of all invention, then practicality is probably the father, while marketability is the uncle.

Diluc felt his stomach twist a little at the deeper implications, "I see. If you had what you needed, you could have made... something more sophisticated than the one in your hand?"

"Yep." John recalled recent events he had with Diluc, "What are you here for, exactly? I doubt you're here to sightsee. Is this about yesterday? Thanks for the milk by the way."

"You're welcome. And yes. Additionally, you could say I'm here as an investor."

End

Edit 7/7/2024 - edited Diluc scene where he did his ult

As you can imagine, I've thought a lot about this chapter. Not that I do with every chapter.

But this one in particular cost me a lot of brain juice.

In planning, I want it as believable as possible without sounding too technical, all the while making it digestible. So I made edits upon edits to craft this chapter with the best compromise between entertainment and believability and geeky stuff. It wasn't easy.

Initially, I planned scenes where John develop the gun from the ground up. Blacksmithing scenes. Stuff. But I figured it'd take too much real state and ruin the momentum. All things considered, I chose a multibarreled pistol as a compromise because that's what I think he could do. Like the Lancaster pistol, Mossberg brownie, or Sharp's four-barrel pistol.

I have so much else to yap about. So much! But I'll just end it right here.

And man...

266 followers

That's a lot. When I posted the last update two months ago, I had around 180 followers. I never expected this to blow up, but either I underestimated how many 'tech disparity' lovers here in this fandom, or I write so well that I attracted even non-lovers.

Well... I might as well capitalize it. It's going to be a bit shameless to say this, but...

If you want to support this story, you can buy me coffee in my Ko-Fi!

Check my profile. My Ko-Fi link is there.

Anything helps.

No, like seriously.

My laptop charger broke. Cost me 1500 PHP, or around 26 USD, to replace it.

(Yes. Php. As in Philippine pesos. Yes, I'm Filipino if you're curious.)

That's a chunk of my monthly budget gone because of some stupid charger. Well, I'm the stupid one for sometimes being negligent of my things. 1500 is a big dent in my wallet regardless. If anyone doesn't mind un-denting my wallet even just a little, I would appreciate it.

See you next chapter!

That is if I'm alive to post the next.

Replies to recent reviews

CallmeCrazylol

I'm glad I wrote well enough for someone to point it out. That's the feeling I'm trying to capture in John's perspective; that he's in a situation where he has to move fast.

DireProphet

No rules of war indeed. But I imagine that's doing to piss off the other countries if John casually commits non-existing war crimes. So no. No napalm or gas. Don't want Tevyatians to get spooked.

ThatGuyYouMet

Thanks, dude. I'll see what I can do with artillery.

Guest

Oh. I remember you're the dude who mentioned a lot of early guns.

About the Sten gun. I don't want to give a complicated answer so I'll keep it short; Sten gun was designed to be extremely crude and simple, and in extent with not-so-precise tolerances. Just because gun X was made in year X, doesn't mean it can't be made in earlier eras.

As for what his first automatic gun will be? I don't want to tell. But you can guess.

ShinySpiritomb

As you've assumed, you're right! Break actions for the win! But you certainly didn't expect it to be four barreled eh?

Thank you. I hate my day.

euricoalexander

Eh. Glock is cool and all but John has no access to polymers... for now.

Zairaaquino

There are not even long guns yet bro. Besides, as you've read in this chapter, John can progress through the tech tree fast with the resources he has. So I can't see him sticking to one-shot rifles.

LowlifeNolife

Yeah... Caribert. Oof. That one. As for trains? Can't say. Show, don't tell...

I've focused on firearms in the last chapters. Gonna move on to other technologies once this 'siege arc' is over.

Arekuruu Oni

Aww thank you! One million feels exaggerated though (not really used to hyperbole). I guess my efforts are being paid off, for you see I've analyzed speech patterns and behavior of the characters that so far made an appearance again and again and again and again-

I'm going insane.

Do you really think that the dialogues I wrote are like official voice lines?

I'm genuinely flattered!

And there's no genshin fanfic discord I found yet. No luck finding myself a beta reader but that's only because I'm not trying hard enough.

And yes. Fatui. A superpower. We playing as the Traveller don't see that as you've pointed out. That said, in future chapters, I'm going to try to undo that belief. Show from a different perspective.