Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 197 Armor
While the various mages searched for traces of other lairs, Louis was not idle either.

Experience your first real contact with the mother nest and her swarm.

Louis realized that what made these monsters most terrifying was not just their fearless charges or their formidable fighting power, but that one move—

"Parasitic regeneration" after self-destruction.

When a bug self-destructs, what it sprays is not ordinary bodily fluid, but a large number of tiny larvae on the verge of hatching.

They can burrow into the target's body in a very short time, reproduce, control, and erode willpower...

That was a terrifying ability that could cause one to fall into a trap almost instantly.

During the last battle, he managed to come up with a solution: to have all the participating knights fully armed, with their armor filled with sealing padding inside and out to seal off any gaps.

However, while this approach is effective in the short term, it severely restricts the soldiers' operational space and endurance, and increases their physical exertion exponentially.

This is not a long-term solution; better armor is needed as a replacement.

Louis organized his thoughts into several specific requirements:

With its high defensiveness and tightness, it can withstand the impact of an explosion and prevent insects from crawling in.

With its excellent breathability and sweat-wicking system, prolonged wear will not cause heatstroke or infection due to damp heat.

Comfort ensures that soldiers can move around for extended periods without experiencing a decline in combat effectiveness due to pressure or discomfort.

Modular design allows for quick replacement of damaged parts, reducing the burden of scrapping and maintenance of the entire system.

Having an idea, the more important thing was to have someone to realize it, so he went to the War Workshop to find Mike to design and manufacture it.

The war workshops are still bustling with activity today, with the roar of furnaces and the constant clanging of hammers.

The air was filled with a scorching aura of metal and magic.

Last year, it was just a crude iron workshop with only a dozen or so craftsmen, but now it is a completely different story.

With the rapid development of Red Tide Territory, especially before the wedding, the Calvin family sent a large number of highly skilled craftsmen and designers.

Mike's team has expanded into a large workshop system integrating forging, alchemy, materials, construction, and precision manufacturing.

In Louis's view, apart from the war workshops under the Duke of Edmund, no other workshop in the North could compare to it.

Mike was personally inspecting the reinforcement process of a batch of rifles when he suddenly heard footsteps. He looked up and saw the familiar figure walking slowly towards him.

"Lord Louis? What brings you here?" Mike quickly took off his leather gloves and hurried forward to greet him.

“There’s a new suit of armor that needs your workshop’s help.” Louis’s tone was unhurried, yet carried an undeniable authority.

As he spoke, he casually took out a few slightly dusty draft papers from under his cloak and handed them to Mike.

Above are the basic structure and stitching method of the armor, as well as several cross-sectional diagrams drawn by him.

Mike's eyebrows shot up as soon as he saw it.

He squatted down, laid the paper on the workbench, and gently ran his fingers along the lines of annotations.

“High sealing, blast-resistant, replaceable components… this isn’t like what you’d expect on a normal battlefield,” Mike muttered to himself, then looked up at Louis again.

"The construction of this batch of armor is a bit strange? What kind of enemy is it?" He didn't ask any more questions directly, but just asked tentatively.

“You don’t need to know,” Louis said calmly. “Just remember that this is for an extremely dangerous enemy. It must be flawless, and all these conditions must be met. That’s all.

Mike paused for a moment, then lowered his head: "Understood, sir."

After a moment, he looked up, his face showing an almost serious expression.

"This set of armor is not simple, but it's not impossible to make. Breathability and sealing have always been mortal enemies, but..."

We can use layered linings, which at least prevents people from suffocating and also ensures a tight seal.

"As for the replacement..." He frowned and looked at the armor arm diagram on the paper again, "We can use a rivet joint design for the outer armor to replace the elbow and knee plates without touching the main parts. However, we need a specialist to help with the replacement."

“Okay.” Louis nodded. “Choose the group of people you trust most to be the prototypes. You are in full charge of this matter, and use the methods you are best at to accomplish it.”

Mike took a deep breath, his eyes burning with fervor: "To be honest, sir... every time you propose something, it feels like a dream to us craftsmen."

I often tell the people in the workshop, "Our lord, even if he doesn't become a nobleman, could easily become an outstanding craftsman, ranking among the top three craftsmen in the North."

Louis chuckled lightly: "Stop flattering me. I can't do those things, I can only help you do them better."

“You’re too modest.” Mike bowed, then turned and roared, “Ed, Talia, Frey! Bring in that long-armored skeleton! We have new work to do, an important task personally assigned by the lord!”

The workshop instantly erupted in excitement.

As a result, the Red Tide Workshop has been operating almost day and night for the past few days.

Mike spread out Lewis's design drawings on the main table and had a late-night discussion with more than ten senior craftsmen around the fire, scrutinizing every detail from the joint angles to the valve structure, leaving no detail overlooked.

Some people are specifically responsible for testing the explosion resistance of the new alloy, while others repeatedly try on the lining in order to find the most suitable moisture-wicking fabric.

The furnace fire burned all night, and amidst the steam, the craftsmen argued, hammered, disassembled, and reassembled their tools, their sweat and soot filling the air.

Upon learning that the armor prototype was completed, Louis came immediately. The workshop's main hall was still filled with the rust and soot from the previous night. Although the furnace fire had been extinguished, it still emitted residual warmth, making the rivets and pipes on the wall glow with a warm light.

Mike greeted him with a face full of excitement, his beard still covered in coal dust, but he was so energetic that he seemed ready to fly.

“Lord Louis, you’ve finally arrived.” He lowered his voice, but couldn’t hide the smugness in his tone. “Lord Louis, the armor is ready.”

In the center of the main hall, the open space that was originally used to store ore has been completely cleared out, and a tall prototype of armor stands in the very center.

Its surface has a grayish-silver sheen, with sharp lines that, while still retaining a touch of craftsmanship and gentleness.

Craftsmen and apprentices surrounded it, some checking the joints, some adjusting the valves, and others wiping the carvings on the breastplate with a cloth.

Spare components and material samples were neatly arranged against the wall, indicating that a complete "lord's inspection" process had been prepared.

Mike couldn't suppress the pride in his eyes: "We've meticulously tried to fulfill every single request you made. I wouldn't dare say it's perfect, but... I feel it meets all your conditions."

I swear, this is the most beautiful design our workshop has ever produced. And I'm not exaggerating, your sketch was just brilliant! If you weren't a lord, you could dominate the guild even as a craftsman!

“You’re exaggerating.” Louis smiled and said nothing more, only adding, “If this armor really comes in handy, then your efforts will not have been in vain.”

"Then please give the order, sir, that the fitting may begin."

Louis turned slightly to look at the boy not far away: "Will, give it a try."

"Yes!" the boy replied, his eyes full of anticipation, and he walked forward with brisk steps.

As Will quickly unfastened his outer robe, several craftsmen came forward to help him put it on.

“Let’s begin.” Louis nodded slightly.

Will drew his sword and stepped forward with a swift movement, as agile as a falcon spreading its wings.

At the same time, Mike began to take the lead in speaking mode.

"For the chest protector and arm armor, we're using a mixture of cold iron ore and demonic beast scales," he said excitedly. "This material is impenetrable to knives and spears!"

Another tall, adult knight stepped forward, gripping his sword with both hands. He slightly lowered his shoulders, then unleashed a powerful slash, the blade whistling as it aimed straight for Will's shoulder. "Clang—!!"

A crisp metallic clang echoed through the main hall, accompanied by flying sparks. The armor was only slightly shaken by the impact, with barely a dent.

Will stood ramrod straight, not even taking a step back, and just shrugged his shoulders: "Pretty exciting."

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Mike stepped forward, patted the slashed spot on his armor, and smiled with satisfaction.

“As you can see, sir, its defensive capabilities are not much different from ordinary steel armor.” He glanced at Louis with a subtle expression. “However, to reduce weight and improve breathability, the protective thickness has been reduced.”

"Oh?" Louis raised an eyebrow. "Then what do we do?"

“I told you, don’t judge a book by its cover.” Mike explained patiently, tapping the seams of the armor with a tool. “The outer armor is made of cold iron, so it doesn’t rely on thickness to win. The real secret is in the lining.”

He loosened a small section of the arm guard edge, revealing a gray-blue fabric woven like overlapping scales underneath.

The mithril-woven inner armor not only absorbs shock but also evenly distributes the impact. Even though it didn't dent, if that sword strike had been coming from ordinary armor, the soldier's shoulder would have been broken.

Louis nodded as he looked at the armor, his gaze lingering on the joints: "What about mobility?"

"Don't worry!" Mike chuckled, as if he had been waiting for this question. "Not only is it elastic, but it's also heat-resistant and tear-resistant."

Louis nodded, then waved his hand, signaling Will to continue.

Will executed a clean and decisive forward roll, then slid to the other side and flipped himself up.

"Look at how well the joints are sealed, it moves freely, doesn't it? And we've added a locking mechanism, and it's held in place by rubber scales. Even a hair can't get in."

"The sealing is indeed quite good." Louis tapped the side armor plate with his finger, judging the material by the sound. "It also feels stable to the touch."

“Not bored yet!” Mike pointed at Will. “Will, you run a few laps…yes, just like that!”

As the boy ran, he adjusted his breathing, and the armor opened and closed with his movements, making a slight hissing sound.

Mike listened intently, as if he were listening to some sacred melody.

"The specially designed air vents can automatically regulate the airflow! Combined with sweat-absorbing grass fiber fabric, it prevents prickly heat and bacterial growth. The damp heat disease that is most feared on the northern battlefield will not be able to cause any trouble inside this armor!"

Finally, he waved for the craftsman to come forward and remove the outer armor of Weil's right arm with a single blow, replacing it with a spare part. The whole process took less than ten breaths.

"The rivet quick-release design for the limbs makes it as fast as assembling building blocks on the battlefield when changing parts."

“Very good.” Louis nodded slowly, his gaze falling on the entire suit of armor. “This armor is even better than I expected.”

Just as the last impact test was completed, Mike waved to the side: "Firewall, get ready!"

Several craftsmen acted swiftly, igniting the stone troughs that had been prepared beforehand. Flames shot up, forming a scorching wall of fire.

The temperature seemed to distort and churn in the air, causing even the apprentices standing at a distance to gasp in shock.

"My lord, we've added the flaming oil; the temperature is at least four hundred degrees." Mike grinned.

Will understood the test content, and his eyes lit up; the boy just loved exciting things.

He fastened his mask, turned to Louis, and asked, "Sir, may I try it?"

Louis nodded: "Go ahead. Don't push yourself. If you feel unwell, step back immediately."

"understand!"

The next moment, the young knight leaped out and walked on fire.

Flames engulfed his legs and feet, slapping against the surface of his armor, but only producing a few crackling sounds.

The silver-gray armor plates faintly shimmered with a crimson-gold light in the firelight, like a metallic behemoth emerging from lava, steadily passing through the flames.

The craftsmen and knights watching held their breath until Wel emerged unharmed from the other side of the wall of fire, at which point they burst into long-suppressed amazement.

"This armor...it really can penetrate fire!"

Mike couldn't help but burst into laughter, exaggerating, "The inner layer is made of cold iron with an ice crystal heat-insulating coating, plus that layer of fire scale iron powder spray. Not to mention a wall of fire, even a lava hell wouldn't burn through it at all!"

Louis nodded slightly, his gaze toward the suit of armor growing increasingly pleased.

“Very good, Mike, this is more than just a suit of armor.” He spoke in a low but approving tone, “It’s the last line of defense for soldiers on the battlefield, and you’ve done a good job.”

"That's because your design is excellent!" Mike grinned, his tone filled with genuine admiration. "We followed your design suggestions and actually produced something worthwhile."

After various tests, it was confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the armor.

Wearing the brand-new armor, Will approached Louis with a beaming smile and said, "My lord, this armor is so comfortable to wear. I even want to take it for my morning exercise."

Louis responded half-jokingly, "Once it's mass-produced, no one will stop you if you want to sleep in it."

After saying that, he thought for a moment and added, "Take it off, and I'll try it on too."

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen dared not delay and removed the armor from Wel's body, replacing it with Louis's.

Louis changed into his armor and began a standard combat maneuver demonstration.

The lunge, the sword swing, the roll, the dodge—every movement was fluid and natural, without any sense of constraint.

It's even better than Weil's, since this armor was made for an adult male body and was a little too big for Weil.

Seeing the lord's dashing figure, Mike and the craftsmen beside him had shining eyes and exchanged excited glances in hushed tones.

Louis was experiencing the suit of armor; its breathability and flexibility far exceeded his expectations.

While its defensive capabilities cannot match those of the Empire's top-tier steel armor, this armor is undoubtedly the most suitable weapon for special missions involving dealing with the Brood Worms.

Louis paused, pondered for a moment, and offered his suggestion: "The overall performance is already very good, but I would like to add cushioning pads to the neck and knee areas."

He explained, "During prolonged high-intensity combat, if these areas are compressed for too long, it may cause temporary paralysis, affecting judgment and reaction."

Mike smiled with admiration and immediately took out his notebook to carefully write down this suggestion for improvement.

Louis nodded in satisfaction and then announced the reward scheme: "Each craftsman who participated in the design will receive 30 gold coins, and each of the other craftsmen who participated in the creation will receive 5 gold coins."

As soon as he finished speaking, a cheer erupted in the workshop.

The craftsmen patted each other on the shoulder, their smiles so bright they could almost reflect sparks.

"That's thirty gold coins! You usually only get a chance to earn this much by working overtime!" An old craftsman excitedly rubbed the calluses on his hands, his eyes shining.

"What are gold coins? The most important thing is that the lord himself nodded in approval. This is the greatest honor for us!" the young apprentice shouted excitedly, his voice filled with admiration and pride.

The entire workshop instantly became lively and united.

Amidst the commotion, Louis turned to Mike and asked, "How's the preparation of the materials going?"

Mike replied confidently, "Everything is in place, just waiting for your word."

"Alright, let's start manufacturing then."

(End of this chapter)