“Ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to walk around and enjoy the exhibition. If you have any questions, you can ask the personnel nearby wearing red ribbons; they will kindly provide answers.”
The military exhibition hosted by Count Petrinant at his mansion officially commenced with his welcoming speech.
Given that the owner of one of the principal territories supporting the empire personally hosted this military exhibition, it was no surprise that the number of guests was likely in the hundreds. While there were indeed civilians dressed in formal attire, most of us, including myself, were in uniform.
‘Perhaps due to it being a military exhibition.’
Of course, since it was held in our own country, the majority of the attendees were from the Reinhardt Empire’s forces, but it wasn’t difficult to spot uniforms from other nations as well.
Among them were surely the uniforms of our adversary states.
“…Captain, isn’t that from the Soviev Empire?”
“Yes, it seems Count Petrinant has extended an invitation to them as well, considering they are part of the same empire.”
“It’s a bit awkward.”
“We should try to avoid direct encounters.”
I whispered to Lumina, who seemed slightly displeased.
It was certain that the silver-haired colonel I had faced at the Limansk armory had managed to escape safely. After all, there would surely be secret passages designed for evacuating key personnel in such a facility where inhumane experiments were conducted.
‘I don’t know what he reported to his superiors, but…’
Meeting with representatives from the Soviev Empire now would undoubtedly lead to complications. It would be best to avoid it, and I’m sure they would prefer to do the same.
This is how international platforms often work. Even if the interaction is uncomfortable, sometimes unavoidable encounters are necessary.
Still, there was no reason to be overly intimidated. The fault was theirs first, and having been hit back hard by the army they underestimated, their national pride must have taken a significant blow. Instead, we should stand tall and proud.
“Let’s go over there. I saw a locomotive earlier.”
I took Lumina’s hand and led her to a place where we wouldn’t encounter the guests from the Soviev Empire.
Sony Chepelin had disappeared to meet another high-ranking mage within the Reinhardt Empire, so it was just Lumina and me wandering around today.
“There’s no need to get entangled in complex diplomatic issues unnecessarily.”
“R-right!”
“…? What’s the matter?”
“Oh, nothing!”
We arrived at the left exhibition hall.
There was a fully painted black armored train on display.
“What is this? A locomotive?”
“This is called the Moldoke Armored Train.”
Though it hadn’t been equipped with cannons yet, in a few years, it would evolve into a mobile fortress bristling with cannons and machine guns.
“Making a weapon out of a train…? I haven’t even ridden a real train yet.”
“Military carriages were originally made for warfare, so what difference does it make with trains?”
“…It means they’re serious about war.”
Lumina replied with a bitter expression. As a soldier, she understood better than anyone else the toll such a train could take on lives if used in actual combat. And that was certainly true.
I knew too well how effective these weapons could be from the beginning to the middle stages of a war.
But that was a romanticized thought.
If we were to drive such a train ourselves and annihilate the enemy’s heads, it would only be bitter. But if the enemy were to drive an armored train and massacre our troops, then we couldn’t afford to entertain such idealistic notions.
We’d likely demand that we buy such weaponry immediately to counteract that threat.
I added to my complex-faced companion, looking at Lumina.
“Of course. All nations will have to be serious about war in the future.”
“Indeed. I agree.”
“?”
A familiar voice chimed in naturally, and I turned to see a young man in the uniform of the Reinhardt Empire’s army.
His hair was as red as the sun, and his amber eyes glinted sharply beside it.
Instinctively, I checked his epaulettes. Three plain iron crosses, indicating he was a Reinhardt Empire army captain.
“Pleased to meet you, Captain Enok Revendale. I’ve heard much about you from Count Petrinant.”
The captain warmly shook my hand. From the red sash across his shoulders, I could tell he was the one explaining the armored train.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“My name is Johannes Weisenberg, a Rittmeister of the Reinhardt Empire cavalry.”
“Johannes Weisenberg…?”
“Huh, do you know me?”
“No, no, I must have mistaken you for someone else.”
I was momentarily flustered by the familiar name. ‘Johannes von Weisenberg.’ He was a general specialized in artillery known to be usable within the Reinhardt Empire.
‘A case of mistaken identity? No… Generals like him are usually available after two years of the war starting. So, if he’s a captain now, it matches the timing.’
He definitely looked similar, especially with his red hair and eyes. I was convinced he would become quite a capable artillery general in the future.
Judging by his current rank, he must have been in cavalry before.
“Perhaps my name is common. I hear that often.”
Johannes casually brushed it off and continued.
“But judging from your reaction, you seem to have some knowledge about armored trains?”
“Well, I… heard a little from Count Petrinant. Also, I’ve been paying attention to the potential of trains.”
“You truly have the discerning eye of a promising officer ready to lead the next generation.”
Captain Johannes Weisenberg showed a very positive response, assuming I shared similar opinions.
“In the future battlefield, railways will be incredibly important. They allow for rapid deployment of troops and are a fast-moving means of transportation unaffected by terrain and weather.”
Johannes enthusiastically talked about the tactical significance of trains and their future development. His face overlapped with Count Petrinant’s when he showed the airship earlier. As they said, they seemed to be getting along well.
“Isn’t that amazing?! You’re talking about creating even stronger armored trains, aren’t you, everyone—!!”
“Aha… Yes.”
Marking Johannes, who was now possessed by speed, was solely Lumina’s job. I already knew everything he was saying.
The key point was that this was not a parade but an exhibition. Sending a cavalry captain to such an event meant the Reinhardt Empire had more than just showcasing new weapons in mind.
There were only two reasons for hosting such a military exhibition to unveil new weapons:
Firstly, to flaunt their military might with dazzling weapons, implying, “See, your country doesn’t have anything like this.”
Secondly, to advertise to other countries, “Don’t you want this? We’ll sell it to you or let you invest in its development.”
Since new weapons aren’t something that simply pops up from digging, implementing entirely new concepts requires massive investment.
Thus, by holding such exhibitions, they aim to dazzle military personnel with new weapons.
For allied countries, they use envy as a catalyst to attract investments, and for potential enemy states, they use fear as a catalyst to attract investments.
After all, weapons sold abroad are typically downgraded versions compared to those used domestically.
This is an essential aspect for all military contractors and arms manufacturers from the modern era to contemporary warfare.
If they exhibited an armored train still in prototype stage, it showed that the Reinhardt Empire was interested in investing directly or indirectly in the development of these armored trains.
‘We need several armored trains. Deploying them along the northeast axis, which cannot be easily manned long-term, would be easier.’
Armored trains were quite effectively used historically. In Haofeizhou, armored trains are essential to have at least once. Especially for countries with relatively weak supply capabilities and troop deployment abilities, armored trains can often serve as game-changers.
Even though the air force is still primitive and infantry support is limited to basic wizards and short-range artillery, having a couple of armored trains stationed on the eastern front?
There couldn’t be a more solid force.
No matter what, Ukraine, being a weak state, could break the Soviev Empire’s first offensive and stabilize the front line with such firepower.
‘But the problem is the money.’
Ironically, Ukraine’s military probably doesn’t have enough funds to purchase armored trains yet. Moreover, the prototypes are still in development.
It’s uncertain whether appropriate investment can be made to develop them properly.
Currently, the equipment and maintenance of our 8th Assault Mage Infantry Battalion and our airships are mostly funded by Sony Chepelin’s personal savings.
While airships might have a stake for Sony Chepelin due to joint development with Count Petrinant, armored trains are a different issue altogether.
I started feeling greedy.
“Captain Johannes.”
“Yes, Captain Enok.”
“Are you the project leader for this armored train project?”
There’s no need to beat around the bush. After all, we are all soldiers. Indirect talk is for politicians, and soldiers have their own way of speaking.
“What is the reason for your question?”
“This is just my personal opinion, but I believe the Moldoke armored train has several critical flaws.”
“Flaws?”
Johannes’ gaze changed.
“Surely, you don’t intend to consider rifles alone for the armor train’s armament… You’ll need cannons, right?”
“Yes… That’s correct.”
I pulled out clear information. This came from my memory of playing Haofeizhou as Reinhardt Empire, focusing on artillery.
“However, the cannons currently possessed by the Reinhardt Empire cannot meet the firepower requirements of the armored train.”
If Sony Chepelin was involved in Graf Petrinant’s development, there’s no reason I couldn’t contribute to improving the Moldoke armored train. Coincidentally, the project I hinted at to the Central Technology Research Department could serve as a starting point.
“Would you like to hear my idea?”
