<h4>Chapter 534: Expenses</h4>


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Ye Chong took theser gun that he had justpleted and tried to aim. The truth was, Ye Chong did not improve very much in long range attacking, mostly because he did not train himself in it. He had chosen to specialize in close rangebat since the very beginning. However, this did not mean that Ye Chong waspletely clueless about long rangebat. On the contrary, he had studied the art deeply.


    Long range attacks will be the main threat of close range mech pilots. Every close range mech pilot would study about long range attacks to learn how to avoid them.


    Ye Chong was no exception. However, unlike other close range mech pilots, he was lucky enough to have an expert, Mu, to help him out. Mu had in fact given Ye Chong aprehensive training program for long range mech pilots.


    Shooting was basic knowledge for all long range mech pilots, but was not enough by itself. Knowing how to predict a target''s movements was also crucial to be apetent long range mech pilot. Unfortunately, Ye Chong had stumbled at the very beginning of the list of prerequisites. That was why he always thought that hecked talent in long rangebat.


    Shooting was the most basic requirement. Ye Chong had never mastered it before, but could he have changed over time?


    Ye Chong lifted theser gun and aimed, narrowing his eyes like a hawk. Every object in the room showed up clearly in his vision. He had hands that were as precise as mechanical instruments, allowing him to make the slightest adjustments in any way, even though these movements were still new to him.


    Fire!


    Ye Chong steady arms did not move at all when his right hand pressed onto the trigger, and aser beam shot out of the gun, hitting squarely on a ck dot on the wall. Puff! A thumb-sized hole was left on the wall. Sunlight from outdoors flooded through the hole.


    Sha Ya arrived quickly, in an alerted state. She was puzzled when she saw nothing was wrong, but left Ye Chong to his devices.


    Ye Chong looked at the hole in the wall, momentarily taken aback.


    Was that it?


    Surprised by his action, Ye Chong lifted the gun and fired a few more times. All of them resulted with the same uracy.


    Ye Chong stayed where he was, stunned.


    In fact, the result was hardly surprising. Compared to his younger self on the trash, he had grown so, so much. He had improved in many respects, such as muscr control, observational skills, and understanding inbat. If his abilities were represented as numbers, his current numbers had increased many times overpared to when he first started. This kind of gradual change often happened unnoticed. If the current Ye Chong were to try his hand in the training routines that he had practiced with before, he would find himself managing all the harder parts with ease. Ye Chong was surprised but also happy with the massive changes within him.


    Ye Chong may not have focused his training in long rangebat, but many of the close rangebat skills he picked up were also essential for long rangebat.


    However, this was still the first step. Shooting on a fixed target was the most basic training for every long range mech pilot.


    Ye Chong soon realized the reason for his improvement. He was not overwhelmed by happiness due to his achievement, but instead felt a little mncholic. All his efforts throughout the years, his hard earned victories through sweat and tears had allowed him to be who he was today. His hands had moved faster and faster; hisbat skills had developed from the initial mimicking to a Jie expert''s level; he had started mech piloting with the most basic Raven, and ended up with Celest today; he had also learned alchemy, and mech manufacturing, and more …


    Who could understand the hardships that he had endured throughout it all?


    And who had he be today? "What''s with me being so emotional today?" Ye Chongughed at himself mockingly.


    Soon, Ye Chong relieved himself of these emotions. He had never allowed his own emotions to trouble him for long. All feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or tiredness woulde to pass. In the end, the only way to solve any problem was calm thinking, courage in making decisions, and the perseverance to carry out the necessary actions.


    Ye Chong was now still a beginner in shooting. If he wanted to improve himself, he must train hard. His current level would not be threatening in actual battle. However, Ye Chong did not dismiss this skillset. Even though his shooting could not be very helpful in actual battle, Ye Chong realized that it presented a new pathway for him.


    Indeed, he could not be like the shooters in this world who could aim with their parapsychic sense. However, he had something they did not have - holographic scanning. Of all the long range mech pilots he had encountered, none of them could aim through mental control. Nevertheless, they were still excellentbatants. Even Xi Feng Tribe''s mech pilots were aided by holographic scanning systems.


    He had an advantage in shooting distance.


    Ye Chong finally had a few peaceful days for himself. Unexpectedly, the soldiers did note knocking to seek revenge. In these few days, Ye Chong drew up a n for the main structure of the manor''s defense system.


    12 cannon arrays did not feel like enough for the huge manor, but they would at least provide some form of protection against aerial threats. The holographic scanning system for the manor was already set up. With the manor at its center, Ye Chong now had a 120-kilometer radius ofnd under surveince.


    The military base was only 40 kilometres away from Ye Chong''s manor. This allowed Ye Chong to feel safer. Knowing the enemies'' every movement was a desirable oue.


    Nevertheless, Ye Chong did not lower his guard. There was no huge response from the camp, but it would still send scouts to spy on them regrly.


    Ye Chong did not react to that. As long as the soldiers did not invade his space like that night, he would not retaliate. This kind of spying activity was useless against him. Unless they had a highly advanced mech like Mu and Shang, they would not prate the thick walls around the manor. If they tried to trespass the manor, Ye Chong''s defense system would identify them and initiate an attack.


    Ye Chong was now more than capable of setting up an effective defense system. Every weapon was ced strategically and well hidden. The rich greenery on the manor''snd and the uneven terrain was also to his advantage.


    Ye Chong built a good number of heavyweight firearms in a few days, with enough time in his hands. Aside from the 12 cannon arrays, he also installed more than 600ser guns all around the manor. Besides the high uracy firearms, Ye Chong also created a new kind of weapon that he called the Hive.


    Each Hive was a set ofser shooters arranged into a matrix, like a beehive. Each Hive could fire up to 144 shots simultaneously, where eachser beams was separated from the ones around by 20 centimetres. This was a weapon designed to take on the more capable shooters. The attack hadrger coverage, so that even if the enemies noticed the attack with their parapsychic sense, they would not be able to avoid it. Besides, the Hive could adjust its shooting angle through the control photon processor.


    The only disadvantage of this weapon was its high energy consumption. Nevertheless, given how energy rich materialse easily in this world, and at affordable prices, it did not really matter.


    Ye Chong was inspired by the G-Zser gun structure of the Research Consortium when he developed this new weapon. The final product was devastatingly powerful with the excellent raw materials he found on this. Even an aircraft would be destroyed by this weapon.


    Hence, Ye Chong modified some of the Hives to haverger spaces between thesers. These modified ones would be used to target aircrafts.


    Now, Ye Chong''s defense system was making headway. He could continue with his research, being safer against external threats.


    …


    Sun Sieha was very busy. There were too many matters that required his attention. Despite all the preparations he had gone through since he was a child to inherit the throne, and despite his long experience in governance and military affairs, he still found himself strained by the workload. He could now appreciate the pressure that his father once faced.


    Nevertheless, all the work did not make him forget about the weaponsmith called Ye Chong.


    The mysterious young man was such an interesting character! Whenever he had a moment''s idleness, he would think about that cold young man. A smile woulde to him whenever he thought about how he was forced to an impasse that day. Being a proud man, he would only ever think favorably of talented and skilled people. However, he quickly dismissed all of these subjective thoughts and emotions. He was King, and he needed to consider every matter from the country''s perspective.


    Sun Sieha''s expression reverted to his usual coolness. He considered for a moment, then summoned, "Ask Master Karu to seee see me!"


    "Yes, Your Majesty!" A guard hastily left the King''s study.


    Sun Sieha tapped his finger rhythmically on his desk, thinking about the report he had just received. The report informed him of the conflict between the 1st Legion''s Du Feng and the cold weaponsmith. Du Feng''s defeat did not surprise him. If the weaponsmith could not hold his own against the Brigade Commander, he would not have been able to force Sun Sieha to an agreement that day.


    How would this conflict affect future events? This was what he needed to consider.


    Just then, a guard interrupted him, "Your Majesty, Master Karu is here."


    "Let him in," Sun Sieha said.


    Master Karu was 77 this year, and one of Eastern Cloud''s most prestigious weaponsmiths. Sun Sieha had gotten to know the man when he was young. He was confident of the man''s skills.


    Master Karu entered the study and bowed to Sun Sieha, "Your Majesty, you summoned me?" Master Karu''s hair had all turned white. He looked sharp despite the deep wrinkles sprawled all over his face. He was obviously unimpressed by Sun Sieha interrupting his work.


    Sun Sieha smiled, unoffended, "Master Karu, please have a seat. I have something to ask you."


    Master Karu nodded and sat down.


    "Have you seen the cannon array, Master Karu?" Sun Sieha asked.


    When Karu heard the question from Sun Sieha, his eyes lit up immediately. He replied quickly, "I have, I have! I''ve done a round of tests on the cannon array. It is truly powerful! Where did you obtain this powerful and huge cannon array, Your Majesty?"


    Sun Sieha smiled and did not answer him immediately. Instead, he continued calmly, "I have seen the abilities of that weapon, but, from your professional viewpoint, Master Karu, you must surely understand more about it. Could you exin the weapon to me briefly?"


    "I see," Master Karu nodded, his eyes shining enthusiastically as he spoke more quickly, "Begging Your Majesty''s indulgence, but this officer of yours has never seen anything so powerful and yet so lightweight. It''s built with advanced technology, and the design is unique. I have never heard of anything like it. The most interesting part of the cannon array was its internal structure. I believe that it is designed based on knowledge that is far beyond everything we have learned in the field. It''s much smaller than our main cannons, and much lighter. Some of our more powerful aircrafts can probably lift these cannon arrays. If we can produce these cannon arrays on arger scale, our military strength can be improved by at least five-fold. However, I regret to inform Your Majesty that despite all the hours of studying the weapon, there are still many aspects about it that I cannot figure out."


    Sun Sieha was at first overjoyed, but his mood took a nosedive at Master Karu''s final sentence. "Master Karu, do you think you can reproduce this weapon?"


    Master Karu confessed, "Your Majesty, there are still many things that I do not understand about this weapon. The weaponsmith behind this cannon array must be truly extraordinary! May I enquire as to how Your Majesty came to obtain this weapon?"


    Sun Sieha had hoped that Master Karu could at least reproduce the cannon array, but his hopes were dashed. He was heavily disappointed, and replied dismissively, "I bought it."


    "You bought it?" Master Karu was shocked. "What country could possiblye up with such advanced weaponry?"


    Sun Sieha shook his head and exined, "It''s not a country, just a weaponsmith."


    Master Karu was even more surprised now. "Which weaponsmith? Who is the person behind this masterpiece?"


    "His name is Ye Chong."


    "Ye Chong? I have never heard of the name," Master Karu sighed, "To think there could be such a talented man in this world. This Master must be skilful enough to start his own school of teaching. What a capable man, but unknown to the world. He must not think highly of fame and status. Where is this great man now? If it pleases Your Majesty, I would like visit him as soon as possible to know more."


    "Great man?" Sun Sieha had an odd expression his face.


    "What is it, Your Majesty? This Master is many times more capable than this officer of yours. I am more than willing to admit that," Master Karu said solemnly.


    Seeing Master Karu''s seriousness and his white hair, andparing the old man with the cold young man, Sun Sieha could not help but exined, "Master Karu, this great man you speak of is in fact only in his twenties."


    "Impossible!" Master Karu rejected the idea immediately. He looked straight at Sun Sieha and said, "Your Majesty, please do not jest with me in this matter. It is not funny."


    Seeing how serious Master Karu was, Sun Sieha could only rify, "I''m not lying. He really is only about 20 years old. He hade to Su City with me, and now lives in the vicinity of the capital."


    Master Karu saw that Sun Sieha was being honest. He muttered to himself with an unreadable expression, "20 years old! 20 years old! Can there really be a person who was born a genius?"


    He gathered himself and asked urgently, "Please introduce me to this weaponsmith, Your Majesty."


    Sun Sieha thought of Ye Chong''s cold and uninviting face. He frowned and said helplessly, "Let''s set this matter aside for the moment. We''ll talk about itter. Don''t worry, Master Karu, I will put you in touch with him."


    Master Karu was puzzled by Sun Sieha being troubled by the matter. He asked gently, "With such a talented man by your side, why would you feel troubled, Your Majesty?"


    "I am worried about the cannon arrays."


    "If that weaponsmith is willing to sell, then Your Majesty can always purchase more. What''s there to worry about?" Master Karu could not understand.


    "He''s only willing to sell two of them every month. Moreover," he took a nce at Karu with a pained expression and continued, "Each cannon array costs 20 million ao."


    "20 - 20 million ao …" Master Karu was speechless.


    Sun Sieha nodded and added, "That''s 20 million ao for each cannon array. It''s alright to buy a few more of them, but it will be impossible to arm the entire military with it."


    "This price …" Master Karu could not say another word for a long while. Finally, he managed, "What a sky high price! I have inspected the cannon array. Based on the materials used, it should cost no more than 8 thousand ao."


    When Master Karu revealed this, Sun Sieha felt even bitter about it. He was silent for a long moment before groaning angrily, "What a thief!"


    Master Karu mused quietly, "It''s expensive, but the technology is worth the price. Your Majesty, you should be careful, if another country is able to procure one of these weapons …"


    Sun Sieha nodded, understanding him. "Don''t worry, I have an agreement with him. Eastern Cloud has exclusive rights to purchase his weapons."


    The guards in the Royal Pce saw a strange scene today. As Master Karu left His Majesty''s study, he looked listless, muttering to himself, "Just 20 years old … A genius … 20 million …"


    The day also became even more difficult for the guards because of their King. After Master Karu had left, His Majesty looked so grim that the sky seemed to darken as well. All the servants and guards behaved warily as the atmosphere in the Pce turned heavy with tension.