Seeing The New Weapons.

For one week, they thoroughly enjoyed their vacation. They grilled meat and went fishing as well. They tried grilling the fish they caught, and in addition, he played in the water on the beach with his daughter. In the midst of that, he also spent quite a good time creating a mood together with his wives.

Only after spending a vacation-like vacation for one week was Ian able to move in secret while accompanied by his secretary Mardin and Armin. They began moving in the middle of the night, and the means of transportation was none other than a submarine. There was no better means than a submarine for moving unseen.

For reference, the submarine they boarded was the newly developed Amas-class submarine, which could be called an 800-ton submarine. Considering that the previous Amor-class submarine had been a maximum of 450 tons, it was a submarine that had greatly increased in tonnage and even increased the distance it could travel.

Of course, due to the nature of a submarine, the inside had no choice but to be cramped and uncomfortable. However, since there was no means that allowed them to move secretly as well as this, they had no choice but to endure it and move. Only after moving for three days from the island where they had been spending their vacation were they able to arrive at the island where weapons were secretly being developed.

Those who had been waiting were standing by. They appeared to be soldiers, and the moment they confirmed Ian’s appearance as he got off the docked submarine, they became the sight of raising salutes with a snap.

“Welcome to the secret island!”

“The secret island, huh. You named it well.”

“It is a place where weapons are secretly developed and tested, so although it originally has another name, we made this temporary one.”

“It is a name that fits perfectly. What is your name?”

“I am Paolo Paco (Colonel). It is truly an honor to meet Your Majesty.”

“What honor could there be? More importantly, what about that person?”

Beside him was a person wearing an officer’s uniform different from our side’s officer uniforms. At Ian’s words, he also raised a salute and introduced himself.

“I am Lijen Diko (Lieutenant Colonel) of the Doicheun Empire. It is an honor to meet you like this.”

“It seems you are the person in charge on the Doicheun Empire side. It is good to meet you. More importantly, I want to see the prototypes quickly.”

“Please come this way. I will guide you.”

When Paolo Paco (Colonel) gestured and pointed in the direction they should go, Ian nodded and moved. After they moved a little farther away from the docking facility, they saw the vehicles waiting. Since the island was quite large, it seemed they had been prepared because they had to move by car rather than on foot.

Once they boarded the cars like that, the line of cars began moving in a row, and along an unpaved road that had not been properly paved, the cars began moving with loud engine noises. Only after driving for thirty minutes like that did they arrive at a place with the sight of a fairly wide open space and artificial buildings located there.

“This is the place.”

“Yes, development and testing have continued here until now.”

Seeing it directly with his own two eyes rather than through a report, Ian felt admiration. Only a few years had passed since the Great War ended. During that time, a weapons research institute had been secretly built in this place. Of course, it must have been possible because excessive capital and manpower had been poured in.

For now, most of the buildings were built of wood. Since they had to start urgently, he knew there had been no time to build buildings with things like bricks. Suddenly, he recalled that typhoons were frequent in this place. If they were wooden buildings like that, there was a high chance the buildings would have been destroyed by strong winds.

“Was it not dangerous when typhoons came?”

“There were times like that, but now we have adapted, so it is all right. Experience has accumulated, so when a typhoon comes, we prepare firmly.”

As expected, it seemed there had been dangerous moments. In fact, such reports had not come to him. Perhaps they thought that there was no need for the king to know such facts. At that fact, he felt sorry, along with realizing how much hardship they had endured and that they had carried out the work until now in such circumstances.

“It was something I should have known in advance, but I am sorry that I only came to know now.”

“Ah, no. We are all right. This is work we do for Your Majesty and the nation, so what would there be that we cannot do?”

At the sight of Paolo Paco (Colonel) waving his hands as if flustered, Ian patted his shoulder and looked at the other officers and soldiers located around them before speaking.

“When this matter is concluded, I will grant all of you promotions and reward money that will be sufficiently satisfying. So please do your best until then.”

“Of course!”

Perhaps moved by the fact that the king had comforted him personally, Paolo Paco (Colonel) raised a salute with an appearance full of emotion. Meanwhile, at this sight, Lijen Diko (Lieutenant Colonel), who had come over from the Doicheun Empire, looked at it with a strange expression.

For a king of a country to directly say he was sorry like that was something that absolutely could not happen in the Doicheun Empire. Soldiers were beings who lived by orders and died by orders, and naturally, he thought this mission too was something that had to be carried out without any complaints or dissatisfaction.

Just as he was inwardly thinking that he was a little envious, they began moving in earnest to see the prototypes. Since preparations had already been made, in his sight, he could see hundreds of researchers and the prototypes positioned there.

“Oh, those are.”

“Yes, those are the new weapons researched and produced until now.”

In his sight were a new form of tank, as well as a fighter aircraft in the form of a completely changed monoplane. And beside it stood the sight of a large transport aircraft. Seeing that, Ian’s two eyes could not help but shine.

‘Now proper modern weapons have finally appeared. They definitely look strong.’

“Your Majesty, I am Director Sibilker, who is in charge of this weapons research institute.”

A bespectacled person who looked to be in his mid-fifties introduced himself. At that appearance, Ian nodded. He had heard about him in report form. In reality, he knew very well that this man had led the researchers from the homeland as well as the researchers from the Doicheun Empire who had come over and had conducted research until now.

“Director Sibilker, it is good to meet you. You have worked hard until now. More importantly, I want to see the tank first.”

“Yes. To speak of the tank prepared over there, it is one researched together with the Doicheun Empire’s researchers, and it is a 35-ton-class tank.”

To think it had increased to 35 tons. Considering that the Frei Tank had barely exceeded 15 tons through various improvements before, this was a tank whose size had increased by at least twice. Naturally, since its size was large, the tank gun mounted on it also looked much longer and larger in caliber.

“It currently mounts a 70 mm tank gun. In addition, a 13.1 mm heavy machine gun has been mounted. Furthermore, the number of crew members is four, one more than the existing Frei Tank.”

“A 70 mm tank gun, huh. The caliber of the tank gun has certainly grown compared to before.”

“We judge that the tonnage of the tanks the other empires will develop will be high, and since their defense will be high accordingly, we selected a 70 mm tank gun based on the judgment that we needed a weapon that could pierce it.”

“Well done. But what will you do if the other empires mount tank guns with calibers larger than this?”

“As for that, we have left surplus space for now so it can be improved as much as needed.”

“For now, since it is a prototype, you mean to mount it and keep further expansion in mind.”

“That is correct.”

At Director Sibilker’s answer, Ian nodded as if satisfied. Since it had been made with expansion in mind, they would be able to respond sufficiently later. Deep down, he thought there was a high chance that the other empires would mount tank guns with much larger calibers.

“Come to think of it, I have not heard the tank’s name.”

“We named it Anubis.”

“Anubis, huh. That is a good name. It looks quite strong.”

Its appearance also looked quite strong. It was a tank with a triangular sloped shape whose rear was slightly long, and a rotating turret was positioned on top. He thought that with that kind of slope angle, the frontal armor would certainly be much sturdier. Since he had spoken in advance of such a form before development, it must have been born that way.

“Can I see it moving directly?”

“Of course.”

When Director Sibilker said that and gave a signal with a hand gesture, the people who had been prepared began boarding it. Three of the four personnel were seen boarding the tank, and the remaining one was seen from the outside inserting something like an iron rod somewhere and turning it to start the engine.

As he turned it with all his strength, a gradual wooong— sound could be heard, and soon, a rough engine sound of kururung! began to be heard. At that sight, Ian nodded without realizing it. Just by hearing the engine sound, he could tell how heavy its power was.

Later, even heavier and larger heavy tanks than that would be made, but for now, that was probably the best tank they could develop. The person who had started the engine also immediately climbed onto the tank, and soon, along with a gwaaang! engine sound, it could be seen slowly advancing forward.

As the track wheels rotated, it began running around the dirt testing ground at speed. From that sight, it could clearly be seen that it had become much faster than the Frei Tank. Although it was much heavier in weight, it was faster, so it was clear that an engine on a completely different level from before had been developed and mounted.

‘The help of the Doicheun Empire’s engine technology must have been great.’

At that fact, he thought that joining hands with the Doicheun Empire and developing weapons had truly been the right thing to do. It was good for them as well, but it would also be a good thing for the Doicheun Empire. For those whose weapon development had been prohibited, they could freely research weapons for now, so it would be a good thing for both sides.

They were able to see it moving roughly like that, and even saw it firing its gun. Amid that sight, Ian applauded. He could see his secretary Mardin and Armin, who had come with him, also applauding while admiring it as if it was amazing. Ian nodded and spoke to Director Sibilker.

“You have worked hard. The tank is very excellent. You made it well.”

“Thank you. Since it is only a prototype now, if we make further improvements, a tank with even better functions can be born.”

At the words that he was still not satisfied, Ian thought he liked him. The prototype had only just come out, and various experiments had to be conducted. In reality, in developing a tank, it could be said that they had only now come halfway, and there would inevitably be many things to improve through the prototype.

After confirming the sight of the tank like that, Ian turned his gaze as if it was now the fighter’s turn, and at this gaze, Director Sibilker soon began speaking as if explaining.

“Until now, fighter aircraft had been developed in the form of biplanes, but as it was judged that they had weaknesses in speed and mobility, we adopted the form of a monoplane with two wings. In addition, although machine guns had been mounted on the front previously, now two machine guns can be mounted on each side of the wings.”

Together with the explanation, he could immediately see a person who appeared to be a pilot standing in front of the fighter aircraft and pointing at something with an arrow-shaped stick. The muzzles of the machine guns mounted on the wings could be seen. Perhaps Mag Heavy Machine Guns using 13.1 mm rounds had also been mounted there.

“In addition, while previously fighter aircraft were made using wood and cloth, we can now use thin metal, allowing us to make the fuselage. As a result, it has become possible to have much sturdier defensive power than before. In addition, through the sturdier wings, it has become possible to mount a 400 kg bomb.”

400 kg. That meant it could drop various forms of bombs. It could mount four bombs weighing 100 kg, two 200 kg bombs, and one 400 kg bomb as well. At this fact, he thought that at last, they could drop proper bombs.

‘With the power of a 400 kg bomb, it should be enough power to inflict massive damage on a warship.’

He thought he could finally operate aircraft carriers properly. Unlike the power of bombs under 100 kg as before, it would produce far more powerful force on a different level, and it would be able to become a powerful means of bombing.

“In addition, it has a retractable landing gear mounted, allowing it to produce faster maneuverability, and oxygen breathing equipment for the pilot is also scheduled to be installed inside so it can climb to high altitude.”

After hearing this explanation, Ian felt satisfied that it had performance far superior to the second-generation fighter, the Dragan. Both the tank and the fighter had been completed much faster than he had expected. Of course, since they were prototypes, there would still be several years of improvements. More importantly, he now wanted to see its performance.

When he immediately said that he wanted to see it fly as well, he could hear that they would prepare at once. Soon after, the person who seemed to be the pilot holding the arrow stick could be seen immediately boarding the fighter aircraft. Mechanics gathered around it, and before long, the engine could be seen starting.

Pururung—!

Along with the rough engine sound, the propeller was spinning rapidly. Come to think of it, the front portion did not look that large. It seemed that as they obtained the Doicheun Empire’s fighter aircraft technology and secured engine technology as well, it had become greatly smaller. In other words, while performance had improved, the size of the engine had decreased.

The previous Dragan honestly had a large engine and was too slow compared to the fighters of other empires, so it had not been satisfactory. Its appearance was also, should he say, not very good. However, that fighter was fairly sleek, so he was satisfied.

He could see the fighter aircraft run down the runway made by compacting the ground and slowly take off. For reference, in order to directly see the power of the bomb, it took off while carrying a bomb that weighed no less than 400 kg. Deep down, he could not help but look forward to its power.

Before long, it took off, picked up speed, and could be seen making a large turn. For now, it looked a little sluggish. Since it had taken off while carrying a bomb weighing 400 kg, its maneuverability had no choice but to decrease.

Amid that sight, before long, his gaze was directed toward the prepared target site. Under everyone’s gazes, the fighter aircraft that had slowly turned back in this direction could be seen dropping its bomb toward the target site located far away.

A sound like air leaking out could be heard. Along with that sound, in an instant, dark red flames rose from the target site and an explosion occurred. And only belatedly did the sound of the explosion reach them.

Kwaaaang—!

A great explosion occurred, enough to make the body tremble. At that sight, he seemed to briefly see the image of a battleship being destroyed. Perhaps several hits would be needed to neutralize a battleship. At that sight, he heard Secretary Mardin, who was standing behind him, mutter to himself.

“With that kind of power… it would be fully possible.”

Perhaps only after seeing this did he understand what Ian had meant when he said it could neutralize battleships. As expected, one had to see it directly to know what its power was like. If countless fighter aircraft flying through the sky dropped many bombs, even a battleship could not remain safe.

After dropping the bomb like that, the fighter aircraft showed much faster mobility and displayed its presence by gliding here and there.

“How is it?”

“You have developed something truly amazing. What did you name it?”

“We named it Morkan.”

“Morkan, huh. The name is excellent as well.”

As Ian said that, his gaze was already directed toward the aircraft, a heavier and larger flying machine. Now it was time to see that.