Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 578: Chapter 578. The Six Prominent Organizations

Words of power flashed on the wall that was hit by the rifle’s bullet. It didn’t suffer any damage. It was the iron cone that shattered upon impact.

Despite the absence of results from the test, Shi Hei was thrilled. ”Fascinating,” he uttered.

The talisman atop the rifle was still flashing. The light slowly dimmed before going out altogether. However, the talisman didn’t turn to dust like it usually did after unleashing an effect.

”The modification Hu Hua did allow this talisman to persist,” Shi Hei explained. ”The explosion required to eject the projectile isn’t as big as the one required for the Yuanxu Cannon. Therefore, it is a waste and also dangerous if it unleashes all its explosive power at once. This talisman conserves the remaining explosive energy for later use. However, this talisman may not be taken off this rifle. If one does, it will release its remaining explosion.”

”Mm,” Amon muttered. He thought that might be a good self-destruct mechanism if the wielder had trouble holding onto the rifle during a close combat encounter. He made a mental note to add this to the training list once these rifles were distributed to the troops.

”Can you start mass-producing this rifle?” Amon asked.

”If it is back at Fort Fresh Maw, I will say no, but the facility here is completely different from what we have back home,” Shi Hei said. ”I am still having trouble believing all the equipment and machines available here. I have heard about how advanced Khode is, but I didn’t expect it to be this advanced.”

”This is not surprising. Khode’s terrains are dominated by barren deserts and rocky wastelands,” Amon explained. ”These terrains yield few spirit herbs and beasts, the two main ingredient sources for cultivation resources. Limited resources caused Khode to fall behind other countries in terms of the average cultivation level. However, the land is rich with rare minerals. Thus, Khode shifted its focus and prioritized specialized jobs rather than trying to compete with other countries in cultivation levels.”

”I was never interested in history. I guess that explains why they advanced so fast,” Shi Hei remarked.

Actually, Amon found their progress was slow. If the prophecy he read during the Royal Academy’s excavation mission was valid, the civilization of the current epoch was nearly ten million years old. In his previous world, humans and their ancestors had only existed for around six million years, while civilization began only six thousand years ago. Yet, its technology far outpaced what he saw here.

He figured it must be because the humans of his previous world had no dependence upon cultivation powers. Hence, their focus drove them to pursue advancement through a different avenue.

”For your information, the current Khode descended from outcasts who were chased away by the other countries,” Amon told Shi Hei. ”Other countries’ ancestors consider the Western wastelands unlivable and exiled all their unwanted people there. It turned out those descendants eked out a life here and turned it into this advanced nation.”

”Knowing that history, I no longer wondered why Khode despised the other countries and walled itselves off.”

”Back to my question, can you mass-produce the rifle?” Amon asked.

”If I have command over all the experts in this factory, I estimate I can make a thousand rifles a day,” Shi Hei answered.

”You will have it,” Amon assured him. ”What about materials?”

”I’ve checked the warehouse and its stock list. We have abundant materials for mass production.”

”Good! Immediately put this rifle into production,” Amon ordered. ”We will need it for our coming battle.”

*

Amon next visited Ji Zhi, who was also in the factory. He was repairing their damaged battle puppets and six enemy puppet sentries they salvaged from the border. Amon told him to prioritize the enemy puppet sentries and have at least four ready before nightfall.

With the advanced equipment available in the factory, Ji Zhi was confident he could fulfil Amon’s request. The puppet sentries he salvaged were not too damaged.

Amon returned to the town hall after finishing the factory tour. Inside the town hall, Xin Wuming was waiting for him with six strangers.

”Brother, these are the ones you asked me to bring,” Xin Wuming reported. ”They represent this town’s prominent organizations.”

The six seemed indignant. Amon didn’t blame them. They were part of the defeated party, while his side was the aggressor. They must see him as an oppressor. He didn’t mind that they viewed him that way. He took a seat without offering the others one.

”Introduce yourselves,” Amon commanded.

The six looked at each other before one of them started speaking, ”I am Xia Lang, the clan leader of the Xia Clan.”

”Won Bu, Won Clan,” the most obese man among the six uttered. His tone sounded arrogant.

”Ha Velet, the branch leader of the Charger Guild for this town,” one of the two females among the six said.

”Lai Meng of the Lai Clan.” A scholarly-looking man introduced himself.

”Wue Yaoyao,” said the other female in the group. ”I represent my father to be here. He is currently bedridden and in no condition to move.”

The last person in the group was someone in ragged clothes. Unlike the others who stood, he sat on the floor. He gave Amon a nonchalant salute and said, ”Hong Zi, the appointed representative for the Vagrant Sect in this town.”

Amon nodded after the six introduced themselves. ”My name is Amon. I am a General of the Echos Kingdom, and I am here to conquer Khode.”

A chuckle was heard. It came from Won Bu.

”How dare you laugh when the General is speaking!” Xin Wuming scolded. He also slapped Won Bu hard.

Won Bu didn’t dare to retaliate using his hands. He talked back, instead. ”Hmph! You have won, so you can do whatever you want! Do you call us here just to humiliate us?”

”The Won Clan,” Amon uttered. ”I guess your clan lost the most in this incident. From the reports, the mayor whom I slew was named Won Xulao. He was your clan member. Your clan must have enjoyed plenty of benefits with him as the mayor. I also have many of your clan members in the town prison because they joined the town guards to oppose us when we entered this town.”

”Fighting you, invaders, is the responsibility of us all! Too bad so many are selfish cowards who shirk their duties.” Won Bu was glancing to the side as he said this, which offended some of the six.

”Fat Bu! If you have something to say, just say it! Don’t need to beat around the bush!” Lai Meng exclaimed.

”I don’t need to say anything. The coward has announced himself,” Won Bu returned.

”You...!”

”Hehe,” Amon chuckled. His chuckle wasn’t especially loud, but it still drew everyone’s attention. They all looked at him. Won Bu wore a furious expression, but none of them said anything.

Amon leaned forward from his seat. He said, ”While it is admirable for you to take up arms against invaders, rarely do civilians take such a course of action. That’s why society created the military, A division within the working government that deals with violence. If you leave it to the masses, they will, more often than not, falter when they are needed.

”Let’s take this invasion as an example. How many people are in this town? Even if most are non-cultivators, I believe the number of cultivators should at least be ten times my troops. If all of you fought together, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you like this. Master Won is right. Most of these townspeople are cowards, but such is human nature. Fighting invaders is the government’s duty. Why should citizens sacrifice themselves? Is it not the same for them? They simply replace one overlord with another. Yes, there is a chance the new overlord treats them cruelly, but the opposite is also possible.”

”I doubt it. The people on the top never care about the little people down there,” Hong Zi uttered. He turned to Won Bu next and said, ”So, why do we have to care if they get replaced?”

”Shut up, you damn beggar! Your lot should have been driven out of this town long ago,” Won Bu replied in disgust.

”My lot is everywhere, all over this nation! Do you know why? Because you greedy fucks who sit comfortably at the top never spare us anything! And now, when you are in trouble, you want us to help? Well, fuck you!!”

”Well said, Brother Hong Zi,” Lai Meng said.

”Fuck you too! While I hate that fat fuck, he is right about you. You are nothing but a coward,” Hong Zi replied.

”You...!” Lai Meng was speechless. Why did everyone make him into the villain?

”Hehe,” Amon chuckled again. ”As amusing as it is to watch you bicker, I have other things to do. Now, I call you here to listen to your intention. Who among you can’t stand to have my force lording over everyone in this town?”

When everyone was silent, Amon started pointing, ”Well, Won Bu is for sure feels that way. I think everyone can tell. Hong Zi here doesn’t care either way. What about you?”

Amon was pointing at Lai Meng. ”I... I have no problem with you ruling this town,” Lai Meng stammered.

Amon pointed at Ha Velet next, who shrugged and said, ”Doesn’t care, as long as you leave us alone.”

The next was Xia Lang, who said, ”As Khode citizens, we will never help you, but we will not cause you trouble if you don’t hurt us.”

Amon nodded. The last one was Wue Yaoyao, who said, ”We prefer to keep to ourselves and stay out of politics.”

”Okay,” Amon rose from his chair. ”I will now dish out my judgment.”

He vanished.