Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 241 Schmeisser Weapons Company Gets a Boom in Orders
A slight resentment flashed through Cecilia's mind, but she maintained a gentle smile on her face.

Helga quickly realized that she had unconsciously read the letter aloud, and a blush rose on her fair cheeks. Somewhat embarrassed, she explained to Cecilia:

"I'm sorry, Sister Cecilia, I have this bad habit when I read, I always unconsciously read it out aloud."

"It's ok."

Cecilia waved her hand magnanimously, and even joked:
"I'm actually quite curious about what Friedrich wrote to you. If you don't mind, could you continue reading?"

Helga was a girl with no guile to begin with, and after living in the manor for a while, Cecilia treated her like a sister, and the two had become very close.

Hearing Cecilia say this, she sat down next to Cecilia with a smile, and generously spread out the letter, ready to share it with her.

"Okay, let's watch it together!"

Helga's nonchalant attitude made Cecilia feel a little embarrassed, as if her previous little schemes seemed rather petty.

However, she was indeed very curious about what would be in the letter that Morin wrote to this genius weapons designer.

The letter also begins with a passage expressing longing and greetings. Although it is much shorter than the one written to myself, it still conveys a sincere concern between the lines.

As Cecilia looked at these words, that little bit of resentment in her heart resurfaced.

This guy is really a playboy who flirts with everyone; he seems to 'miss' everyone.

However, when she saw that the letter quickly got to the point, with a large section discussing weapons technology, and even included a simple but clearly structured structural sketch in the margins, Cecilia's mood immediately brightened.

Hmph, at least you can distinguish between primary and secondary matters and know who is the most important.

At least in Friedrich's mind, he seemed to hold a slightly higher position than this young girl.

This realization gave Cecilia a strange sense of satisfaction.

Helga, however, was completely oblivious to Cecilia's inner turmoil; her attention was entirely absorbed by the contents of the letter.

"I've tentatively named this concept the 'gas-operated principle'! Its core idea is to use a small portion of the high-pressure propellant gas that leaks from the barrel when the bullet is fired to drive a small piston."

As Helga read this, her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

She seemed to see a door to a new world. The 'gas-guided principle' described in Morin's letter, although only a preliminary concept, struck her most sensitive nerve as a weapons designer like a lightning bolt.

She grabbed the letter, brought it close to her eyes, and carefully studied the sketch that Morin had casually drawn.

What others saw as a doodle contained, in her eyes, a revolutionary design idea.

Although the connection between the gas tube, piston, and bolt was drawn in an extremely simplified manner, she understood its core operating logic at a glance.

"Genius! The boss is simply a genius!"

Helga couldn't help but gasp in amazement, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at Cecilia.

“Sister Cecilia, Mr. Morin’s idea is fantastic! If it can be realized, we can completely change the way infantry fights!”

However, this excitement did not last long.

When Helga finished reading the entire letter and put it back on the table, the excitement and joy on her face deflated quickly, like a punctured balloon.

"Ugh"

She let out a long sigh, her whole body limp as if she had no bones, collapsing onto the soft sofa and sliding down the smooth silk cushions.

"What's wrong? Weren't you having a good time just now?"

Cecilia was amused by her dramatic change and couldn't help but laugh as she reached out to help her up.

I'm happy, though.

Helga said weakly, her face full of struggle.

"Receiving a letter from my boss, knowing that he still thinks about me, his employee who's almost exhausted, makes me happy, but also a little... embarrassed."

She paused, then her tone shifted to one full of complaints:
"But, it's one thing for others to be fighting on the front lines and not care about the company, but to remotely assign me this kind of mission that sounds incredibly difficult! It's a semi-automatic rifle, and it's based on the gas-operated principle. I feel like I'm going to lose a lot of hair!"

Seeing Helga's utterly dejected expression, Cecilia couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She reached out and rubbed Helga's face, thinking the little girl was just too cute.

"Alright, alright, don't worry," Cecilia comforted her with a smile. "If the weapons factory is really too busy, just tell me, and I'll send some top engineers from the group to help you."

"really?"

Helga's eyes lit up instantly. As if she had grasped a lifeline, she immediately sat up straight on the sofa and began to pour out her troubles to Cecilia.

"Sister Cecilia, you have no idea how busy I've been lately!"

Helga held Cecilia's hand, her voice full of grievance:

"Ever since the company's light machine guns and submachine guns were equipped by Mr. Morin's troops, he seems to have made a name for himself on the battlefield. Orders from the Imperial military have been pouring in, each one bigger and more urgent than the last!"

She started counting on her fingers:
“Our factory is currently operating on three shifts, with machines running 24 hours a day and workers working non-stop, but production capacity still can’t keep up.”

“A few days ago, the logistics department placed another urgent order, asking us to deliver another 5,000 MP14 submachine guns and their ammunition. They said that the consumption in the urban warfare on the front line was too great and that they urgently needed to replenish them. But where am I supposed to conjure up 5,000 guns for them in such a short time?”

"and"

Helga's brow furrowed even more.

"After the war started, many skilled master craftsmen and young and strong workers in our factory responded to the call and enlisted in the army."

"Now, many of the workers on the production line are newly recruited apprentices. Not only is their efficiency low, but their defect rate is also extremely high, which means I have to personally supervise the workshop every few days."

Upon hearing this, Cecilia's smile gradually faded, and her expression became serious.

She knew that what Helga said was true; once the war machine was started, the demand for military production capacity would increase exponentially.

Although Schmeisser Arms Manufacturing Corporation has advanced technology, it is ultimately small in scale and lacks a solid foundation, making it insufficient to meet the needs of the entire Imperial Army.

"Recently, representatives from Mauser Arms Manufacturing Ltd. and the Saxony Arms and Ammunition Factory have come to contact us."

Helga continued, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty and a plea for help.

"They all expressed their desire to obtain production licenses for the MG14 and MP14 to help us expand production."

"Oh?" A glint of light flashed in Cecilia's eyes. "They're quite enthusiastic."

Helga nodded: "Yes, speaking of which, our relationship with these two companies has warmed up very quickly recently."

Cecilia: "Why?"

"Because our MG14 light machine gun and the former's Gew.98 rifle use the same 7.92mm Mauser rifle cartridge, while the MP14 submachine gun uses 9mm pistol cartridges, which have always been the latter's main product. The more guns we produce, the larger their bullet orders become, which is a great thing for them."

“Some time ago, in order to help us improve the performance of our firearms, they even took the initiative to send their own technical team to assist us in improving the propellant and bullet of these two types of bullets. Their attitude was very good,” Helga explained.

"But I just can't make up my mind."

She looked at Cecilia and asked the question she had always wanted to ask her:
“I always feel uneasy about handing over the production license to them. What if they learn our core technologies or cut corners in production?”

“I wanted to talk to the boss, but I can’t get in touch with the front lines. Sister Cecilia, you’ve been so busy lately, I didn’t want to bother you with these things.” Seeing Helga’s troubled expression, Cecilia gently patted her hand and then said in an unquestionable tone:

“Herja, you don’t need to worry. Friedrich entrusted the company to you because he trusts your skills. I’m here to help you deal with the troubles outside of the technology.”

She stood up and slowly paced around the hall, her powerful aura as the 'Queen of Radiant Crystals' emanating effortlessly.

"It's certainly a good thing that two other companies are willing to help expand production."

Her voice was calm and decisive:
"The military's orders must be fulfilled, as this is not only related to the battle situation on the front lines, but also to Friedrich's and our company's reputation. As for your concerns about technology leaks and production quality issues, these can all be resolved through the contract terms."

She stopped and turned to look at Helga, her eyes gleaming with confidence.

"You don't need to worry about this anymore. I will take the time to talk to the heads of Mauser and the Saxon Arms Factory in person."

“They want to get production licenses from us, fine, but they have to show enough sincerity. If they want to take advantage of Friedrich, they have to ask me, Cecilia von Falkenstein, first.”

These words were spoken with unwavering conviction, brimming with strong confidence and a protective instinct.

As Helga listened, all her unease and worries vanished in that instant.

It seems that as long as the all-powerful Cecilia is around, even the biggest troubles are no longer troubles.

“Sister Cecilia.” Helga’s eyes welled up with tears.

"Okay, don't think so much."

Cecilia sat back down beside her, her tone softening.

"Your current task is to focus on studying the new weapon that Friedrich mentioned in his letter. Leave the production in the rear to me. What we need to do is provide Friedrich with the most reliable weapons on the front lines so that he and his soldiers can return safely."

When Morin was mentioned, Helga nodded vigorously.

Cecilia looked at her and made a decision in her heart.

She not only had to help Helga resolve the licensing production issue, but also use this opportunity to thoroughly restructure and expand Schmeisser Weapons Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

She wants to leverage the vast resources of Falkenstan-Eisenstein Associated Industries to transform what was originally just a small workshop into a true military-industrial giant.

"Sister Cecilia, you're so kind!"

Helga could no longer contain her excitement and gratitude. She rushed forward and hugged Cecilia tightly.

The sudden hug startled Cecilia for a moment, her body stiffening instantly. She hadn't expected Helga to make such a move.

But soon, she relaxed, feeling the girl in her arms' heartfelt dependence and trust, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

She reached out and gently hugged Helga back, patting her back tenderly.

"Silly girl." Cecilia's voice carried a hint of doting affection that she herself was unaware of.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that having a younger sister like Helga might not be such a bad thing.

Although this young girl is somewhat slow to understand social dynamics, she shines with genius in her professional field, and has a simple and straightforward personality, like a blank sheet of paper.

Being with her always makes me feel relaxed and happy.

"That Friedrich kid has a good eye for people," Cecilia thought to herself.

Helga snuggled into Cecilia's warm embrace, inhaling the faint fragrance emanating from her, and all the pressure and worries in her heart vanished.

"Alright, get up now, what kind of behavior is this?" Cecilia said with a smile, nudging her.

Helga reluctantly let go of her hand, sat up straight, but still had a bright smile on her face.

Having resolved her biggest worry, Helga felt completely relaxed.

She picked up Morin's letter again, pointed to the sketches on it, and began discussing them with Cecilia with great interest.

"Sister Cecilia, look at the structure the boss drew. Although it's simple, it makes perfect sense. It uses the gunpowder gas to push the piston, which in turn drives the bolt back to complete the extraction and ejection of the spent casing. Then the recoil spring pushes the bolt back to complete the reloading."

"The whole process is fully automated; the shooter only needs to pull the trigger!"

As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, completely immersed in her own world of technology.

Cecilia looked at her radiant appearance. Although she only vaguely understood the complex mechanical terms, she could feel Helga's love and passion for technology.

She didn't interrupt, but listened patiently with a smile, nodding occasionally to give him encouraging looks.

She found herself enjoying watching Helga discuss weapon design.

At that moment, the little girl was confident and focused, her eyes seemed to sparkle with stars, and she was full of unique charm.
Just like my past self.

Just then, the head maid Luna came over again, bowed slightly, and reported, "Madam, we have just made contact with Miss Seeker."

“Oh? What did she say?” Cecilia asked.

“Miss Seeker said she understands and asked you to keep the letter for her. She will come to collect it herself after get off work this afternoon,” Luna replied respectfully.

"Come in person?"

Cecilia was somewhat surprised. She had thought the other party would send someone to pick it up, but she didn't expect to have to make the trip herself.

It seems Friedrich had quite a bit of influence.

"Understood. Then prepare some tea and refreshments this afternoon to properly entertain Miss Seeker," Cecilia instructed.

“Yes, Madam.” Luna responded and withdrew.

When Helga heard that Patricia was coming, she asked curiously, "Sister Cecilia, did the boss also write to that Miss Seeker? Are they close?"

"this one"

Cecilia thought for a moment and said, "Didn't you see her at the party? Her relationship with Friedrich is just like what you saw."

As she spoke, she picked up the letter addressed to Patricia from the table and weighed it in her hand.

This letter seems to be thinner than the one written to the two of them, and who knows what earth-shattering 'ideas' are written in it.

In an instant, the threads of fate began to quietly intertwine between three women with very different personalities but equally brilliant talents, all because of a man far away on the battlefield.

Cecilia glanced at Helga, who was still excitedly studying the blueprints beside her, and then thought about Patricia, who would be visiting that afternoon. A meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

She suddenly felt that the future might become very interesting.

She turned her gaze to the window, looking at the rose bushes in full bloom in the manor.

Under the sunlight, those delicate flowers seemed to be foreshadowing something.

"The most beautiful rose in Gaul," she murmured the words from Morin's letter, her gaze becoming distant and tender.

"Friedrich, you must come back safely. Otherwise, the girls back home who are still entangled with you will be very sad."

I wonder how many of the "girls who are entangled and difficult to get along with" mentioned in that sentence actually are.

(End of this chapter)