Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 490 Morkana's Submission and the Bauhinia Family's Special Forces

The moment Su Li finished speaking, Morkana's eyes, burning with deep red embers, suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light comparable to the purest rubies!
Two thousand golden crowns! A dragon's lair located in an ancient mountain range, guarded by dwarven allies!
This far exceeded her initial expectations when she asked for "reward"; it was like a huge pie falling from the sky, piled high with gold coins!
The languid and carefree aura she exuded vanished instantly, replaced by an almost tangible, burning desire for wealth and a home.

She even unconsciously licked her lips, as if she could already taste the cold, intoxicating metallic flavor of the gold coins.

“Deal! My dear lord! Oh no…” The husky magnetism in her voice was replaced by a high-spirited, energetic excitement. She even took a small step forward, almost grabbing Su Li’s hand, her face beaming with a radiant smile that could eclipse the sun and moon. “It’s a deal! My dear, generous, and best ‘father’ in the world!”

She excitedly spun around on the spot, her wine-red hair drawing a dazzling arc, and the shattered scales jingled, causing the soldiers and apprentices in the distance to stare in astonishment once again.

But then, as if remembering something, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and her excited expression faded, replaced by a serious look tinged with grievance and an eagerness to defend herself.

"Wait! Dad!" She leaned closer to Su Li, her voice urgent, as if afraid Su Li would misunderstand that she hadn't put in enough effort before. "Do you think I didn't want to make you hundreds more of these 'Amethyst Treasures'? Heaven knows how much I want to see the spectacular sight of thousands upon thousands of death beams firing simultaneously! That would be absolutely magnificent!"

She pointed to the strange rifles in the hands of the twelve soldiers, then to her own nose: "The problem isn't whether I'm willing to put in the effort! I, Morkana Crimson Calamity, always keep my word. If I promised to 'infuse you with a soul,' I would never cut corners! But—"

She drew out her words, her expression turning somewhat helpless, even carrying a hint of "accusation" against the logistics department: "—These lumps of iron can't keep up! Do you think gathering the winds of death to shape the amethyst core is like kneading clay? Every single 'breath of death' like this requires the finest amethyst as a base, the dwarven masters to painstakingly inscribe energy guiding runes, and a special alloy capable of withstanding the erosion of death energy!"

She spread her hands, making a gesture reminiscent of "a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice": "Even with the tireless hammering of those dwarven master craftsmen in the territory's workshops, how many qualified gun barrels can the wires produce? How many stable amethyst bases? And how many apprentices can successfully complete the final enchanting assembly?"

“Twelve!” she held up two fingers, emphasizing, “This is the limit of all current inventory and production capacity! It’s not that I can only ‘feed’ twelve, it’s that you only have twelve ‘children’ to feed, my dear old man!”

As she spoke, she glanced at Doglin beside her with a hint of disappointment: "Old Stonebeard, don't you agree? Can't you dwarves hammer a little faster?"

Doglin was still fuming over Morkana's sudden "complaint," but when he heard about the production capacity issue, he could only snort sullenly and say to Su Li in a gruff voice, "Lord! This crazy girl's words are rough but reasonable! Making these freaks... uh, these amethyst rifles is indeed not easy! The materials are hard to find, the process is complicated, and qualified craftsmen are even more scarce! We have done our best!"

Morkana immediately chimed in, as if she had found a kindred spirit: "See! Isn't that right!"

She turned back to Su Li, her eyes burning with determination and enthusiasm. "So, Dad! Now the problem is clear, right? It's not that I'm not contributing, it's that we don't have enough 'bowls'!"

She clapped her hands, and that smile, a mixture of greed and excitement, returned to her face: "But now it's all good! With your golden crown and promise, I think the dwarf masters will be even more motivated to work overtime, right? And they can confidently go and purchase the materials, right?"

She could almost see countless amethyst rifles being produced, and then she would infuse them one by one with the souls of the dead.

"Don't worry, Dad!" She puffed out her chest, her proud curves seemingly brimming with a powerful promise. "As long as the equipment is in place, let alone four squadrons, even ten squadrons! I guarantee I'll feed you well! Let your enemies savor an unlimited supply of 'friendly greetings' from the Land of Eternal Slumber!"

Her eyes gleamed with boundless anticipation for the gold coins, the lair, and the devastating volley of attacks to come. For Su Li, the bottleneck limiting the size of his army was now clear—no longer the energy source, but rather the actual military production capacity and resource investment.

Meanwhile, Morkana, this powerful energy source, is already eager to "work" hard for her "nesting fund".

Listening to Morkana's confident assurances, Su Li's smile didn't widen; instead, it turned into a hint of caution. He wasn't completely blinded by the dragon's deliberate enthusiasm and the "pie in the sky" she painted. Given Morkana's unrestrained, indulgent, and trouble-loving nature, the veracity of her words was questionable.

His calm and composed gaze fell on her exquisite face, which was slightly flushed with excitement. His tone was steady but carried an undeniable pressure: "Ten squadrons? Morkana, look at me, and say it again. You really can... simultaneously maintain the energy supply of ten squadrons, more than 1,200 Amethyst Ironclad Army soldiers, and ensure that they can unleash a volley of fire at the same level as just now?"

Under his gaze, Morkana's previously excitedly waving arms stiffened slightly, and her bright red eyes flickered for a moment. She seemed to want to force a nod, but Su Li's seemingly soul-searching calmness made her subconsciously avert her gaze. She stiffened her neck, her voice a few decibels lower than before, yet still carrying a hint of stubbornness: "Of...of course I can! I, Morkana, always keep my word!"

"Think it over before you speak." Su Li's voice remained calm, yet carried an imposing pressure: "This isn't tavern boasting; it's a matter of national importance. If you fail to deliver, or if any serious performance degradation occurs... then, as the price for deceiving the lord and breaching the contract, I will not only reclaim the unpaid Golden Crown, but also any treasures already piled up in your Dragon Nest... I will also have the right to 'discretionarily' confiscate them to compensate for the loss of the territory and your breach of trust."

The words "confiscate the treasure" seemed to possess a magical power, instantly shattering Morkana's feigned composure. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she almost jumped up, a clear look of guilt and pain flashing across her face.

"Hey, hey, hey! No! Dad! Don't be so serious!" She quickly waved her hand, her imposing manner instantly diminishing, and even her wine-red hair seemed to lose some of its luster. "Okay, okay... I just... exaggerated a little bit! Just a little bit!"

She extended two slender white fingers, pinched them together, and gestured a tiny distance, making a gesture that was enough to break a Korean's defenses. Her eyes darted around: "Um... in my current state, if I go all out, I can probably... maybe... stably maintain the energy supply for about seven squadrons? Hmm, about eight hundred people! This would definitely become the most powerful special force in Black Forest Territory! It could even be a unique special force of the Bauhinia family, the kind with a limited number! As long as the Bauhinia family continues to exist, as long as I live a long life, staying in the Bauhinia family, the family bloodline can continue to create this kind of super force and always maintain a size of about 800 people."

She quickly added, trying to salvage her image: "This is the limit! I guarantee every 'child' will scream with excitement! They absolutely won't let me down at the crucial moment!"

Seeing Su Li's still "keep explaining" expression, she could only pout and reluctantly utter the most crucial restriction: "...Of course, if we absolutely have to maintain ten squadrons... it's not entirely impossible. But it's possible... occasionally... one or two squadrons might 'misfire'? That is, they seem to have full energy, but when you pull the trigger... *poof*, it doesn't go off? Or the power is greatly reduced?"

Her voice trailed off as she spoke, clearly aware that such uncertainty could be fatal on the battlefield.

However, the next second she suddenly raised her head, her eyes burning with a seductive flame, and her tone became extremely persuasive: "But! Dad! The key point is this 'but'!"

She leaned closer again, her voice filled with seduction: "If! If you could help me find even the slightest... well, like an opportunity that would allow me to break through to the legendary level? I don't need you to give me power directly, just a little guidance or a fortuitous chance! As long as I can step into the legendary realm!"

Her expression became incredibly serious, even carrying a pure thirst for power: "Then! Let alone ten squadrons! Even if I were to build you a complete twenty-squadron Amethyst Ironclad Legion! I could easily command it! Let the storm of death engulf the entire battlefield! At that time, what Chaos Warband, what Undead Legion, before they even reach our lines, they will be reduced to rotting dust in swathes!"

She painted an incredibly enticing picture, her eyes sparkling as if she could already see herself ascending to legendary status and unleashing the supreme power to destroy legions with a wave of her hand.

Unfortunately, Su Li's reaction was completely unexpected.

After hearing her tempting yet costly (for him) proposal, Su Li merely glanced at her indifferently, and then...

He turned and left decisively.

"Legend?" Su Li's voice drifted on the wind: "What do you think a legend is? Watered-down ale in a tavern? Something you can just have whenever you want?"

He continued walking, completely ignoring the momentary freeze and astonishment on Morkana's face behind him.

Throughout the Black Forest Territory, the line of people waiting for that slim chance could stretch from here to the city walls! Even if such a thing truly existed, no matter how you look at it, it's not going to be Morkana's turn for the time being.

He had personally experienced the brutal battle against the legendary undead, and knew all too well the difficulty and cost of each step of advancement. How precious that opportunity was! It was the final battle fought by the cunning Jasper on the verge of despair, when the Black Forest had almost shed its last drop of blood! Countless loyal soldiers fell forever beneath the blood-stained Black Forest banner, their armor shattered, their longswords broken, and countless spears and banners torn apart amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

He personally led all the chosen ones of his territory to face legendary warriors from different races, battle-hardened and powerful! The lich's icy breath almost froze souls, the rune hammer of the legendary dwarven warsmith contained the power to shatter mountains and split the earth, and the halberd of the legendary elven phoenix guard was faster than the eye could see!
How brutal was the battle? Every clash was a dance between life and death, every parry left his hands ripped open and his internal organs churning. He remembered Hilder's shield shattering under necromancy, remembered Orstein being sent flying back, coughing up blood, by a dwarf's warhammer, remembered how he, at the cost of severe injury, had shattered the enemy's defenses to create a sliver of an opportunity... At that moment, he truly thought he would never return.

Having paid such a heavy price, sacrificed so many brave warriors, and himself having teetered on the brink of death several times, he ultimately failed to break through that legendary barrier. It was only through the merit of a Pyrrhic victory and the generosity of the goddess that a slim, divinely granted opportunity for Hilder, who had always silently given and fought valiantly, was secured.

How precious was that opportunity? It was bought with countless sacrifices and bloodshed by the entire Black Forest Territory; it was a faint hope won after hanging by a thread and almost being completely overthrown!

Within the territory, how many people yearn for power and breakthroughs? Freya, Orstein, those veterans who survived the bloody battles... even himself, which one of them wasn't desperately searching for that glimmer of light?
Queuing? If the opportunity arises, the queue could indeed stretch from Hessenberg Castle all the way to the outer city walls! As for Morkana, this dragon, though special, is ultimately an "outsider." Considering her merits, hard work, and future loyalty, how could she possibly easily rise above so many meritorious veterans?
If there were such an easy path to legend, why would Su Li have to risk his life time and time again, struggling to survive amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood?

He sneered inwardly, completely dismissing the unrealistic fantasy of the dragon. The harsh reality and scarcity of resources made him understand better than anyone that every step forward required a corresponding, often bloody, price.

He no longer wasted any energy on daydreaming; his gaze became sharp and pragmatic again, focusing on what he could actually grasp in front of him.

Su Li turned away decisively, completely casting aside Morkana's unrealistic fantasies about legend. The anvil of reality requires the hammering of dwarves, not the babbling of dragons. He calmly looked at the two dwarf experts, cutting straight to the heart of the matter:

“Master Boros, Doglin. Cast aside all unrealistic fantasies. Based on our current material reserves, the number of craftsmen, and their skill level, tell me the most realistic answer—how long will it take us to fully equip four squadrons, four hundred and eighty Amethyst Ironclad Army soldiers, with the necessary weaponry?”

The two dwarves, upon being questioned, immediately became serious. Doglin habitually stroked his thick, braided beard, exchanged a glance with Beros Dragonhammer, the latter, the master craftsman primarily responsible for military production, stepped forward, thumped his chest in salute, and spoke in a loud, pragmatic voice:
“My lord! Forging the amethyst rifle is certainly the core, but a complete army cannot rely on just one peculiar weapon!” Doglin chimed in, his booming voice carrying the stubbornness and seriousness characteristic of dwarves. “Since they are called the ‘Amethyst Ironclad Army,’ they cannot disgrace the word ‘Ironclad’! Nor can they disgrace the… uh, unique essence that Master Grommash Anvil (he subconsciously avoided the title ‘Crimson Calamity’) bestowed upon them!”

Su Li raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised: "Oh? You mean, besides the amethyst rifles, they also need to be equipped with special armor? I thought that for such long-range units, prioritizing weaponry was sufficient." In his view, it seemed unnecessary to invest too many resources in protection for such beyond-visual-range combat units.

"Of course we need it! And it must be top-notch armor! Exquisite-grade armor!" Doglin almost jumped up, as if Su Li's words had desecrated some fundamental principle of dwarven craftsmanship. "Lord! Don't let those bad habits of human light infantry and clumsy musketeers lead you astray!"

He waved his thick arms and explained emotionally, “None of us dwarven musketeers fight in cloth robes! Even the lads of the Engineers’ Guild wear chainmail under our robes! These 'Amethyst Armored' lads may possess strange and powerful strength, but that doesn’t mean they are invulnerable!”

Boros Dragonhammer calmly added from the side, his tone carrying the precision characteristic of an engineer: "My lord, Doglin's words may be crude, but they are not without merit. The value of this force lies in its continuous and stable destructive output. If they themselves are too fragile, they can easily be killed by the enemy's fast troops, ranged firepower, or any unexpected stray arrows. Every casualty is not just the loss of a soldier, but also an incredibly expensive amethyst weapon and the energy investment behind it. Protecting them is protecting your gold and combat power."

Doglin nodded vigorously, counting on his short, stubby fingers as he began to list, his tone growing increasingly agitated: "Just think of how many things in the Old World could kill from a great distance? Those green-skinned bastards' broken ballistae and those clunky stone-throwing machines! Though their accuracy was as terrible as a goblin's dinner, a hit could be fatal! Those Norscan barbarians' poisoned javelins and throwing axes! And those damned Skaven! Heaven knows what kind of disgusting, dimensional stone-powered projectiles they might pull out of some gutter!"

He took a deep breath: "Not to mention the most common things on the battlefield—stray arrows and pebbles! Do you really want to rely on luck to protect your expensive army, letting them be pierced through by any stray arrow like pieces of paper?"

“Therefore!” Doglin concluded decisively, “We must equip them with sufficiently sturdy breastplates and helmets! At least enough to effectively withstand bullets from a standard dwarven pistol at a hundred yards! That’s the bottom line! That way, they can stand on the front lines with peace of mind, showering those damned death beams on the enemy’s heads, instead of worrying about being taken down by some random junk flying from somewhere!”

He pointed to the soldiers who were drilling: "They are called the Ironclad Army, so they have to look like the Ironclad Army! They have to be like real dwarven warriors, tough and capable of fighting! Although they are not as exaggerated as plate-armored knights, they are definitely not comparable to those light infantry who can be pierced with a single puncture! This is the key to ensuring their survival and ensuring that your investment does not go to waste!"

As Su Li listened to the two dwarf masters' back-and-forth arguments, especially Doglin's vivid "risk list," he slowly nodded. The complexity of the battlefield environment and the need to protect this "precious investment" were indeed very necessary.

“I understand.” Su Li nodded. “Then tell me, given that this protection standard is met, what is the biggest bottleneck in mass production of the amethyst rifles and matching armor? Is it materials, craftsmen, or time? What do we need to prioritize solving?”

His thinking had completely shifted from the unrealistic ideals described by Morkana to a pragmatic approach focused on solving concrete problems. The development of the military allows no room for superficiality.

This attitude clearly aligns perfectly with the pragmatic values ​​of the dwarves, and both Doglin and Boros Dragonhammer wore satisfied expressions that said, "That's more like it."

Doglin cleared his throat forcefully, causing his beard to tremble, and answered loudly, his tone carrying the pride unique to dwarves in their own resources and abilities:

"My lord, you've hit the nail on the head! To be honest, the materials needed to craft these 'Amethyst Treasures' and their matching 'tin cans' are indeed precious! Top-grade amethyst, special alloys with good magic conductivity, and several rare ores needed to process death energy... none of them are stones you can pick up on the roadside!"

He abruptly changed the subject, puffing out his chest even more: "But! Our Blackwood Territory isn't the poor place it used to be! Our territory is vast, rich in minerals, especially your local treasury area in the Forbidden City!" He pointed his thumb towards the castle's treasury, "The vault there is overflowing with all sorts of fine metals and rare materials, so abundant it would make even a dwarf lord envious. Enough for us to go on a spending spree! You don't need to worry about materials at all; there's an absolute surplus!"

Boros Dragonhammer nodded steadily and added, "My lord, what Doglin said is true. What limits our speed has never been materials, but time and the hands of skilled craftsmen."

Doglin picked up the conversation, his tone becoming somewhat embarrassed, yet tinged with longing for top-tier craftsmanship: "Before... our main focus and best craftsmen were all concentrated on the 'Blazing Plate Armor'... You know, that level of rare armor is every dwarven blacksmith's lifelong dream! Forging a set is an honor that can be written into the family genealogy! So... hehe..."

He rubbed his thick fingers together, the meaning of which was clear: his center of gravity had shifted slightly earlier.

But he immediately assured him, "However, the situation is different now! Gerson Stonebeard has arrived with a large group of skilled men from his Gray Rock Tribe! We suddenly have a lot more manpower! As long as we have enough materials, we can divide the craftsmen into two or even three shifts! One group can continue to refine the Blazing Plate Armor, while the other group can focus on developing the equipment for the Amethyst Ironclad Army!"

He considered it for a moment, exchanged a reassuring glance with Berlos, and then solemnly said to Su Li, "As long as you give the order, we will immediately adjust the production schedule and concentrate our superior manpower. As fast as... one month! At the latest, no more than two months! We guarantee to forge the amethyst rifles and matching sturdy armor needed for four squadrons, and we guarantee that every piece will be of the highest quality, without any compromise!"

"One or two months?" Su Li's eyes lit up instantly. This timeframe was much shorter than he had expected! What did this mean? It meant that this powerful special forces unit was very likely to be able to keep up with the territory's next strategic operation—to launch a military campaign against that rich but troublesome swamp!
The thought of hundreds of beams of death shooting out simultaneously, instantly tearing apart the lines of swamp monsters and any potential enemies, and opening up new territories and resources for the land filled Su Li with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and anticipation.

This is the state he likes best: abundant resources, capable craftsmen, clear goals, and all that's left is to wait for the results to naturally ripen. This is the feeling he should have as a lord, strategizing and winning battles from afar, rather than having to do everything himself, fighting and striving for those slim opportunities.

"Excellent!" A genuine smile appeared on Su Li's face. He waved his hand and made a decision, "In that case, let's not delay any longer!"

His voice became clear and powerful, carrying the majesty of a lord: "I command: with Master Boros Dragonhammer and Doglin in charge, mobilize all available dwarven artisans of Gerson Stonebeard and his Grayrock tribe, concentrate resources, adjust production sequences, and immediately begin forging all the weapons and equipment needed by the Amethyst Ironclad Army!"

His gaze swept over the two dwarven masters: "The forging of the Blazing Plate Armor can be slowed down slightly, but it must not be stopped. The top priority right now is to arm four squadrons of Amethyst Ironclad soldiers to the teeth as quickly as possible, while ensuring quality!"

"I need them to form combat capability as soon as possible. The Black Forest Territory's sword needs a new weight!"

"Yes, my lord!" The two dwarf masters bowed in unison, their voices booming, their faces filled with the glory of being trusted and entrusted with a great responsibility, as well as the characteristic drive of dwarves after receiving clear instructions. "We will not let you down! We guarantee on-time delivery!"

The roar of steel will soon resound at an even higher frequency in the workshops of Hessen.

(End of this chapter)