#19 - Conquer the Blacksmith Guild

"Only five grenades..."

Looking at the five grenades on the table, Davis couldn't help but show a pensive expression. Was this too few?

"I'm very sorry, Your Highness, First Prince." Lou Gao explained, "When we first started manufacturing grenades, we didn't know the exact dosage of gunpowder, so we did a lot of experiments, wasting some black powder. After determining the dosage, the remaining black powder was only enough to produce five grenades."

"I see."

Davis nodded slightly, without any suspicion. If the dosage of black powder was too little, the grenade wouldn't be able to exert its due power; if the dosage was too much, it might explode prematurely, injuring our own people. It was indeed necessary to conduct experiments and make thorough preparations!

"So these five grenades are Master Lou Gao's finished products. I wonder how powerful they are after they explode, and whether they can kill a Soul Emperor?"

As he spoke, he picked up a refined iron grenade, heavy as if it were a large rock, filled with sharp iron shards, indicating not much gunpowder.

Below the grenade was a fuse. As long as the fuse was pulled, the grenade would explode after a few seconds!

Lou Gao smiled slightly and said, "Well, seeing is believing. Please come with us, Your Highness, First Prince, and we will personally demonstrate it for you."

"That's good, let's go."

After speaking, the group came to a desolate wilderness outside the city, surrounded by dense forests and towering ancient trees, with sparse population, indeed suitable as a place to test high-power weapons.

"Your Highness, First Prince, please watch carefully!" After saying that, Lou Gao handed a grenade to Si Long and ordered, "Throw this grenade out for me, and remember to throw it far away!"

"Yes, Master!"

Si Long pulled the fuse. As the fuse was pulled, white smoke began to emerge from below. The moment white smoke appeared, he quickly threw the grenade about fifteen meters away, next to a rock!

Boom!

In an instant, the grenade exploded with a deafening roar. The rock behind it shattered instantly, and countless iron shards scattered and shot towards the surrounding trees.

The flying iron shards were enough to penetrate tree trunks embraced by three people. For a time, the surrounding trees swayed, and countless fallen leaves danced in the sky!

Having witnessed all this, Li Hu was horrified and excited, exclaiming, "I didn't expect this small grenade to have such power!"

"Uncle Li, what do you think of the power of this grenade? Can it kill a Soul Emperor?"

Davis didn't expect a small grenade to kill a Soul Saint, as long as it could kill a Soul Emperor.

Li Hu nodded upon hearing this, excitedly saying, "Your Highness, in this old servant's opinion, the power of this grenade is fully capable of killing a Soul Master with the cultivation of a Soul Emperor!

It can even injure some non-defense-type Soul Saints. For example, if this grenade exploded in front of me, even if I activated my Martial Soul Avatar and prepared for defense, I might still be injured.

If there were more of these grenades, I'm afraid even I would be killed!"

Li Hu couldn't help but sigh with emotion. He had cultivated with great difficulty for decades to reach the Soul Saint stage, but now he was no match for this small grenade.

Firearms that could kill Soul Emperors had already appeared. Would it be far before firearms that could kill Soul Saints and Soul Douluos were invented?

Alas! The times have changed after all! Li Hu could only sigh like this in his heart.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Davis asked Lou Gao, "Master Lou Gao, I wonder how much black powder is needed to manufacture such a grenade, and have you measured the killing range of the grenade?"

Lou Gao replied directly, "Your Highness, it takes five taels of black powder to manufacture such a grenade, and the killing range is about five to eight meters. Beyond eight meters, the iron shards will be affected by air resistance, resulting in a sharp decrease in power.

It may be able to kill ordinary people, but it will definitely not be able to hurt Soul Masters. In addition, after pulling the fuse, the grenade must be thrown out immediately, otherwise it will explode after seven seconds!"

"The maximum killing range is only eight meters..."

Davis was slightly disappointed, but considering the power and cost of the grenade, he was relieved.

The manufacturing cost of a grenade is definitely no more than five gold soul coins, which is much better than the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, which costs two hundred gold soul coins. What more could he ask for!

Moreover, Davis planned to arm the Star Luo Empire's army with grenades, so that tens of thousands of soldiers could throw grenades together.

Even if the killing range of a grenade is only eight meters, it can blast a big pit in the ground. Moreover, if there are flying Soul Masters, they can even carry out pinpoint bombing in the air.

Thinking of this, Davis laughed, "Congratulations, Master Lou Gao, you have created a weapon that is enough to change the landscape of the Douluo Continent, and you will surely be remembered in history and be praised for generations to come!"

"Haha, thank you for Your Highness's praise. To be honest, if it weren't for the black powder and blueprints provided by Your Highness, I would never have been able to create such a powerful weapon."

Lou Gao was also very happy. One grenade could kill a Soul Emperor, so what about ten? What about a hundred? What about a thousand? You know, the cost of a grenade is only five gold soul coins.

Who would dare to underestimate blacksmiths now? Who said that blacksmiths can't change the Douluo Continent?

"Haha, Master Lou Gao, there's no need to be modest. Without your superb forging skills, I wouldn't be able to make a grenade in my lifetime.

In addition, I would also like to invite you and the Blacksmiths' Association to join the Star Luo Empire and work with me to produce more and more powerful firearms for the Star Luo Empire!"

At this time, Davis also said the biggest purpose of this trip. He came to Gengxin City for two purposes.

The first was to manufacture grenades, and the second was to subdue the Blacksmiths' Association and turn the Blacksmiths' Association into the Star Luo Empire's weapon research department.

"Ah, this..."

Master Lou Gao hesitated. To be honest, he really wanted to join Davis's camp. If he could research firearms that could kill Titled Douluos, it would be enough to make him famous for all time!

But he was the president of the Blacksmiths' Association and had to consider the other blacksmiths.

Seeing Lou Gao hesitating, Davis thought he was unwilling, so he quickly said, "Master, don't rush to refuse. I know that you are wholeheartedly trying to improve the status and treatment of blacksmiths.

If you are willing to join the Star Luo Empire, with the credit for developing firearms, you will definitely be looked at with new eyes by people all over the continent, and more people will sincerely want to become blacksmiths. The status of blacksmiths will inevitably rise.

I will also inform my father and emperor and ask him to improve the treatment of blacksmiths. With the Star Luo royal family as a backing, I believe that no one will dare to underestimate blacksmiths again, what do you think!"

"Okay! Since Your Highness has said so, then I will sell this old man's life to Your Highness!"

Lou Gao immediately agreed. In this way, he would no longer have any worries and could put all his energy into researching firearms.