I, transformed into a vampire girl, sparked the Industrial Revolution.

Chapter 58 The Spread of Gunpowder

Chapter 5 (bonus chapter) on 11/21

"Your Majesty, our spies have obtained the key to the northern weapons—look."

In the imperial capital, Ekevich sat high on his throne, looking down at the trembling crowd below. Ministers and soldiers presented their emperor with flintlock muskets, several Minié rifles, and a packet of gunpowder on precious aluminum trays.

Ekevich knew exactly what this was—a gun, a revolutionary weapon. But he had come here to enjoy a magical medieval fantasy world, and the fact that the other side had so blatantly advanced technology to the gunpowder age infuriated him.

"The loser should just be humiliated by the strong. Why develop such a weapon?"

Ekevich stared coldly at the flintlock musket. He summoned the craftsmen and alchemists from the capital and asked them if they could replicate these things.

Although he deeply resented the invention of guns, the problem was that he couldn't go and kill the so-called empress and princess. Even though he had seized the power of the previous empress, it didn't mean he could escape unscathed from the gun.

“Your Majesty, the gunpowder… I can only identify magic crystal powder; the rest may contain charcoal and sulfur.”

"Your Majesty, this weapon will take time to develop; we do not yet have the tools to forge it..."

"I'll give you two months. After two months, I want to see the finished product, otherwise..."

Those on the throne understood what he meant; the new emperor was far more ruthless than the empress, as evidenced by the daily smuggling of people to the north.

The flintlock muskets and gunpowder eventually reached the south via a route smuggled northwards. The Royal Alchemy Association produced its results—the most basic powdered magic crystal black powder. Although the north was already using granular black powder and even considering replacing it with smokeless powder.

The craftsmanship of flintlock muskets is more complex. The Royal Capital Craftsmen Guild found information about the North, especially about these flintlock muskets that had been leaked. The craftsmen in the Royal Capital had accumulated more experience over a longer period of time. Therefore, compared to the North, which relied on industrialized production, the Royal Capital began to use large-scale workshops to manufacture flintlock muskets.

The newly made flintlock muskets were made with inconsistent craftsmanship, but at least the artisan guild produced the first batch of flintlock muskets two months later. Unlike the original, the ones made in the capital city did not have the concept of "standardization". Each musket was unique, which means that the tolerance was very large.

But at least they made flintlock muskets. Although Ekevich hated these rifles, he still gave orders to have his generals' troops re-equip themselves with flintlock muskets. Ekevich was completely unprepared. As a Japanese otaku, he knew nothing about history, how to train soldiers in the age of firearms, and had no national planning bureau to set budgets for it.

"My lord, the new army you require... will probably need more funds."

It was impossible for the new emperor to hand over gold coins from his own pocket, and no one dared to do so. Although some had heard that the gold coins in the Northern royal family's pockets had long been given to the army and the government, no one dared to bring it up.

"Then impose taxes!"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer stood up, bowed, and advised, "Your Majesty, three taxes have already been levied this year, and considering the previous years' impositions, I'm afraid..."

Although the new emperor this year has exempted agricultural taxes, the taxes on handicrafts, royal taxes, and ship taxes levied after the northern invasion have actually exceeded the tax rates of previous years. Now, a new military tax will be added.

Best of luck to the tax officials.

Are you questioning His Majesty's orders?

A beautiful young woman stepped forward. The strongest swordswoman, the Rose of the Imperial Capital, Lavie, sat next to the throne. The new emperor's harem puzzled everyone. Each of these women was a powerful asset and a pillar of the empire, yet in just one night, they had all stood firmly on Ekevich's side.

Someone smelled a strange stench, and several ministers quickly realized what it was. It was obvious that the new emperor had just had something going on with Lavie, but no one dared to mention it. Just a few days ago, someone advised the emperor not to indulge in sensual pleasures every day, but before he could finish speaking, his head was chopped off.

Someone looked up at Laviko, whose eyes were vacant. Ekevich's hand was on her waist, and for a moment there seemed to be a hint of disgust, but she immediately put on an eager look and looked at Ekevich.

Good heavens, that's strange... That's Laviko, not some cheap woman!

The new military tax continued to be levied, and no one could disobey Ekevich's orders. For a time, the South was once again stirred up by the tax, but this time, the North did not stand idly by.

"Secret Intelligence Bureau... calling Swallow, execute Order 312."

"Yes, Yanzi received it."

A man dressed in tattered clothes and with a long beard sat by the roadside. He had hidden a walkie-talkie in a hole under a shack and a revolver in his tattered coat.

Hey, Vincent!

Someone called to him, and Vincent went over, the two whispering to each other.

"What did they say over there? Are they going to take action?"

Vincent nodded. Orders from above were not to be questioned. Vincent had once fled north with the Queen's defeated army, and after several twists and turns, he arrived at the Secret Intelligence Agency. Now he had returned to the south—his hometown was still his hometown, but the new emperor had brought them only ruin.

Several men—their tattered clothes concealing the muscles beneath, their long, disheveled hair and beards obscuring their sharp eyes—walked toward the tax collector's carriage. News of the new tax was spreading rapidly, and most of the town's residents, already destitute, were forced to sell their possessions by the increasing taxes.

Today's tax is the third time, but let alone the third time, most people can't even afford the first tax. As a result, under the coercion and enticement of tax officials, they sell their land, their houses, and their children.

When they have nothing left, they become the best kindling for this fire.

The secret intelligence agents were the ones who ignited this fire.

It wasn't just gunpowder that spread; it also ignited a prairie fire.