“Despite this, it is indeed exceptional. It’s a new weapon like nothing I’ve ever seen before, small in size but incredibly powerful. Many people would probably want the K01 even considering these drawbacks, but I’m different. I’m more interested in the weapons you’ll make from now on.”

Decain’s red eyes sparkled with ambition.

His words were more mercantile than anyone I’d ever met, and they also highly valued my future potential.

“The weapons I’ll make in the future…”

I was planning to develop magical engineering weapons once the lab was built, but I hadn’t decided on anything specific yet.

“Tanashia, if you can reduce the production cost of the K01 or increase the number of discharges, it will truly become a formidable weapon.”

He wasn’t wrong. The K01 was just the first in the series, and I intended to keep developing weapons that addressed its shortcomings.

“So, what are you trying to say? You’re interested in distributing the weapons I’ll make in the future, even though it’s too soon for the K01?”

I didn’t beat around the bush.

Decain flinched at my blunt question, but soon smiled warmly and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. If it’s the Egteon’s top, we can give you the best treatment. I want to support your further growth.”

“Support…?”

“Tanashia, I know well that you’re not economically destitute as a member of the Breloff family. But we are willing to invest fully.”

It was very fortunate that the Breloff family was wealthy, but the wealth was Orland’s, not mine to use freely.

Even if I received support from Orland, magic engineering was a field that required a lot of money, so it was honestly better to have as much leeway as possible.

To make a weapon like a nuclear bomb by collecting dozens, hundreds of magic stones as I had once imagined, I would need considerable backing.

Decain was making this proposal because he knew exactly the mindset of a developer.

‘He’s sharper than I thought.’

Unlike others, who were simply greedy for the power of the K01, Decain was looking further ahead and calculating the costs and benefits.

He was definitely ambitious, and his vision was different.

To be honest, I wanted to accept Decain’s offer right now, but it was a matter I needed to consult with Orland and Baren and decide carefully.

“I understand what you’re saying. It’s hard to answer right now. Can I think it over and let you know later?”

“Of course.”

Decain nodded agreeably, as if he had expected my response.

With him being so forthcoming, I couldn’t help but ask what I was curious about.

“But why are you so interested in the K01? If you distribute the K01 now, you can profit from it, but investing in me means you’re looking far into the future. What’s the reason?”

Decain was the illegitimate son of Emperor Rajent. Naturally, his goal was to succeed his father and become the emperor.

I was curious about how the K01 I made would play into his ambition.

I knew the content of the original work, , but the story had changed since there were no weapons I had made in the novel, so I had to find out how the story would change.

“That’s a very sharp question, it’s hard to answer.”

Decain frowned as if he was truly in a dilemma, but the relaxed smile never left his lips.

This unflappability of his felt formidable once again.

He was indeed a man like a flower hiding its thorns, no, a snake concealing its venom.

“I’d appreciate an honest answer. I don’t know if you can trust me, but I promise to keep your secrets. I think I need to know where you want to use the weapons I’ll be making.”

Even if it was shallow, without even a bit of trust, it was difficult to maintain a relationship.

Perhaps sensing my feelings, Decain reluctantly opened his mouth.

“You probably know that the relations between the Rajent Empire and the Karua Empire are not good.”

I nodded as I was well aware of this.

“According to intelligence, the Karua Empire is developing weapons for war.”

As someone who had read the novel , I also knew that the weapon was a human weapon. Because that weapon was Askan.

“In the Lazent Empire, we’re pouring more effort into magical engineering weapons in case of unforeseen circumstances. That’s why the Ecteon upper echelons aren’t skimping on investment either.”

Decain made a gold coin shape with his thumb and forefinger.

“War, it makes money.”

He wasn’t wrong. War made money for someone.

But I was able to detect the sincerity Decain didn’t say. He wanted to be the emperor, so he didn’t want to miss this opportunity more than ever.

was a novel that hadn’t ended, so I couldn’t tell how the Calua Empire’s war with the Arwen Empire turned out after it won the Lazent Empire.

But they say the enemy’s enemy is a friend.

My goal was to stop the war that the Calua Empire was starting, so Decain’s proposal was incredibly satisfying.

‘Yeah, it’s not like there was no one who shared my intent.’