Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 116 Hello, let's talk about machine guns
Attending such a high-society party for the first time, Helga Schmeisser felt like an ugly duckling who had wandered into Swan Lake, completely out of place in this glittering, elegant, and glamorous environment.

She glanced down at the dark red dress she was wearing.

This was bought for her by her father at a high price, who said it was to make her look more like a 'high society lady'.

But she felt awkward all over. The waistband of her dress made it hard for her to breathe, and the high heels made her walk carefully, afraid of falling and becoming the laughing stock of the room.

She was born in a small town in Thuringia and grew up in a family with a long history of gun manufacturing.

Her childhood was not spent with dolls and afternoon tea, but in a workshop filled with the smell of machine oil and metal shavings, listening to her father and brother discuss the rifling of gun barrels and the structure of firing mechanisms.

She was exposed to firearms design from a young age and showed amazing talent for it.

However, in a factory accident, Hugo Schmeisser, the brother on whom the family had placed great hopes, died unexpectedly.

The Schmeisser Weapons Workshop, founded by the family, was suddenly leaderless and almost came to a standstill.

At the most critical moment, eighteen-year-old Helga stepped forward and took over her brother's job.

With her own blueprints and her skillful hands that could precisely control the lathe, she proved to everyone that she could take over her brother's job and do it even better.

As the workshop's business grew in their hometown, the father developed even greater ambitions, hoping to expand the family business to Dresden, the capital of the empire.

Therefore, he sent Helga to 'pave the way'.

By sponsoring this party, Helga gained a valuable ticket to the event, and it is hoped that she can gradually integrate into this circle and pave the way for the family's future.

With the funds of the nobility becoming increasingly scarce, these 'fundraising parties' are becoming more and more frequent.

However, she not only couldn't understand or had any interest in the latest hat styles, Parisian perfumes, or the romantic affairs of a certain count that the ladies at the party were discussing, but also couldn't understand them at all.

Obviously, no normal person would be interested in discussing the recoil or feeding mechanism of firearms in such a situation.

Therefore, she was never able to integrate into the circle that her father and family wanted her to be in.

She was like a transparent person, standing alone in the corner with a glass of juice.

Watching those men and women chatting and laughing, I felt as if there was an invisible wall separating me from this world.

Although some well-dressed young noblemen were attracted by her outstanding figure and came to chat with her.

However, when they discovered that she was not a noble lady, but merely the daughter of a merchant from outside Dresden, their enthusiasm immediately vanished, and they turned and left with any excuse.

Helga also disliked the way those noble youths looked at her.

That gaze was filled with undisguised aggression, making her feel like a commodity being valued, rather than a living, breathing person.

Just as Helga was feeling bored and wondering if she should leave early, she suddenly noticed a young man in a crisp military uniform walking straight toward her.

That face looked somewhat familiar.

She instinctively straightened her back, gripped the cup in her hand tightly, and felt a little nervous.

Was he looking for him?

Upon recognizing the girl in the corner, dressed in a dark red dress and with her long chestnut hair styled in a bun, as Helga Schmeisser, whom she had met at the Imperial Patent Office, Morin's mood instantly became excited.

He stepped forward almost without hesitation, holding his wine glass.

This is really hard to find, and it takes no effort at all!
He was worried about how to find a professional gun designer, but he never expected to run into one here.

However, as soon as she got closer, Morin felt her vision flicker.

The evening gown designs of this period were bolder and more unrestrained than he had stereotyped, and they sought to highlight the beauty of the female figure's curves.

Herjia's dark red dress perfectly showcased her stunning assets.

It's about to come out
Maureen admits that while the visual appeal is undeniable, it can also be distracting.

He quickly averted his somewhat impolite gaze and forced himself to calm down.

Once she came to her senses, Morin put on what she thought was her most kind and polite smile and bowed slightly to Helga.

"Hello, Ms. Schmeisser, it's nice to see you again."

He took the initiative to speak and introduced himself.

“I am Friedrich Morin. We met at the Imperial Patent Office a few mornings ago.” Helga clearly recognized him as well, and she returned the greeting somewhat awkwardly, her voice weak.

"Hello, Lieutenant Morin."

Just as she was lost in thought, wondering if this young and handsome officer was also trying to strike up a conversation like everyone else, she was surprised when the officer, named Morin, suddenly asked her a question that caught her completely off guard.

"Ms. Schmeisser, if I may ask, was the patent you submitted earlier about the design of an air-cooled lightweight machine gun?"

"Eh?"

The sudden shift in the topic caught Helga off guard.

She stared blankly at Morin, her mind blank for several seconds before she realized what he was asking.

"Yes, it is."

She nodded somewhat uncertainly.

But no matter what, this is ultimately her most familiar comfort zone.

The moment firearms were mentioned, her initial tension and restraint dissipated considerably, and she became much more talkative.

"Lieutenant Morin, how do you know this?"

"I was in line behind you and overheard your conversation with the auditor."

Maureen explained frankly:

"I'm very interested in this. Would it be convenient for you to talk to me about it?"

Helga hesitated for a moment.

She wasn't sure if the other person was genuinely interested or just using it as an excuse to strike up a conversation.

But looking into Maureen's sincere and inquisitive eyes, she finally nodded.

"sure."

Then she realized that the young officer really did seem to have come to her specifically for the machine gun.
Throughout the ensuing conversation, Morin discussed various technical issues related to machine guns without uttering a single unnecessary word or making any frivolous remarks.

“Ms. Schmeisser, your design concept is very advanced. I believe that air-cooled systems are definitely the future direction of infantry squad support firepower.”

"However, I have some practical problems that I encountered on the battlefield and would like to discuss with you."

"For example, in the muddy environment of trenches, the reliability of firearms is crucial. Did your design take into account the issues of dust prevention and mud removal?"

"Also, how efficient is the barrel's heat dissipation during sustained fire? Have you considered a design for quick barrel replacement?"

"Regarding the feeding method, do you prefer magazine, drum, or belt feeding? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method on the battlefield?"

The questions Morin posed were increasingly incisive.

These are not questions that a theorist who only talks about military strategy on paper can ask; rather, they are valuable experiences that only officers who have actually been to the front lines and personally experienced the brutal battles can summarize.

Helga's eyes lit up as she listened; she felt as if a new world had been opened for her.

Her original design was based more on theory and shooting range data. Although it was technically advanced, it lacked real-world testing.

The suggestions and ideas that Morin put forward precisely made up for her biggest weakness.

The two quickly hit it off and became completely absorbed in their own world.

They discussed everything from the material of the barrel to the winding method of the recoil spring, and from the design of the aiming baseline to the optimization of ergonomics.

Helga felt more exhilarated than ever before.

This was the first time she had been able to have such an in-depth and equal conversation with a man about her beloved firearms design.

Through Helga, Morin learned more about the world's military technology and gained a clearer understanding of his future plans.

The two chatted more and more enthusiastically, as if they had endless topics to discuss, completely forgetting that they were in the midst of a noisy party.

This scene was both harmonious and heartwarming.
Patricia, on the other side, saw it all clearly.

(End of this chapter)