Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 1403: Chapter 755: I’m Not Cut Out for Warfare

The so-called explosive is actually a general term for an unstable substance that causes violent explosions when exposed to high temperatures or impact.

In the modern world, it initially refers to a product generated from the reaction of ethanol and mercury in nitric acid—cyanine mercury.

Because it is often used to make detonators and explosives, it is also called mercury fulminate.

However, with the advancement of time, this compound was replaced by another explosive called lead azide due to factors such as corrosion of capsules and instability.

But Lance didn’t understand these things; his knowledge of chemistry was only at the middle and high school level, and he might not even remember it all. Even if he did, it wouldn’t be of much use.

The key basic chemicals in chemistry, the three acids and two bases, haven’t been created.

Or perhaps they have been created, but haven’t been applied in the correct aspects.

While waiting for the reaction, Lance began to ponder this issue: doesn’t extraordinary power essentially function as the catalyst in chemistry, similar to enzymes in biology?

Certain materials cannot be transformed in reality, but just a small bit of extraordinary power added to them can successfully generate some strange substances.

For example, Grendel controls plants and can use extraordinary power to accelerate growth, which is essentially the effect of biological enzymes, isn’t it?

Junia’s divine arts accelerate wound healing, which can also be supported with similar theory.

Similarly, Beggby’s alchemy is essentially using extraordinary power to bypass physical or realistic limitations, and then create a new substance, isn’t it?

The problem now is that the means to research and observe these powers are too limited, and the issue revolves back to development.

Just when Lance was lost in thought, Beggby finally completed the experiment, extracting a substance deposited within the liquid at the bottom of a test tube.

”Let’s do it!”

Lance took the sample bottle and walked out, not disguising his excitement.

He’s courageous but not foolish—who wouldn’t test dangerous items in a safe place?

This lab is filled with many things; if it explodes, it would cause trouble.

He found some open ground and poured a small amount on an iron plate, igniting it from a distance to dry the powder while test its reaction under high temperatures.

For safety, Lance and Beggby stepped back a bit, and sure enough, a small disturbance soon came from the iron plate. As the flame flickered, that small amount disappeared, leaving slight scorch marks on the plate.

”There’s hope! But it is indeed not very stable.”

Lance quickly moved forward to extinguish the flame, poured some more powder on the warmed plate, and after slightly drying it, picked up a hammer and struck it. As expected, a ”pop” was heard amid the metal collision.

Once the hammer was removed, the spot showed only scorch marks.

Lance’s face couldn’t conceal his smile, yet he tried again, striking a stone this time, and the success confirmed the substance could indeed serve as an explosive.

The final test was next...

Lance rushed back to the storage room, retrieved a revolver designed for caplock gun use, unexpectedly needing it so soon.

The accompanying capsule shells were still there, but not filled with powder; nonetheless, it could be tried.

This revolver is loaded not with paper cartridges but by pouring in powder, inserting a lead ball, and finally attaching a cap from the rear.

He ran outside to carefully pack some of the dry powder and completed the loading.

”If successful, this will be the first shot of a new era, destined for the historical books on firearm development. You’re the inventor; do you want to fire it, or should I?”

Lance still had respect for the researcher.

”I don’t understand muskets.” Beggby rejected directly, having been blown up once before; if the gun exploded, things could turn poorly.

Lance didn’t mind it, raising the gun and aiming to one side, pulling the trigger. This time, it wasn’t the flint striking but the hammer knocking against the primer.

The explosive action was almost instant, the gun fired, expelling the shot with a smoke-filled aroma.

Undoubtedly, the experiment succeeded, this thing is indeed usable!

”List the materials you need, and I’ll assemble them as soon as possible. Meanwhile, help me make more of it; I need more detailed research and testing.”

Lance had to arrange a ship to Totnes to procure supplies; the intricacies of making caps were slightly complex without pressing equipment, so they had to be hand-crafted. Efficiency was low, and copper needed to be used because iron’s malleability wasn’t suitable.

A batch of handguns needed to be filed out; this also required numerous craftsman and wouldn’t be quickened.

The style of muskets needed altering as well; evolving from flintlock guns to caplock guns is historically inevitable, and it increases firepower while lowering the entry barrier.

If cavalrymen were all equipped with such revolvers, wouldn’t a six-shot charge sweep through directly?

The Knight was truly turned into canned meat.

Lance never expected Grendel didn’t stop him, yet Beggby’s sudden breakthrough in creating an explosive gave him the urge to halt and re-equip before engaging in battle.

After all, technological supremacy feels utterly overwhelming!

But now, Hamlet’s issue isn’t being unable to defeat noble cavalry, so it’s unnecessary.

While the research center conducted extensive firearm studies, the sounds of guns and explosions were frequent, but this wasn’t a testing zone, so when gunfire sounded, it immediately drew the attention of guards.

”Hello, Lord!”

”It’s alright, just testing a new weapon, go call some people for me.”