Chapter 11: The Kronos Kingdom's Armory
Munitions flowing into the Underground World inevitably fell into the hands of Pirates, especially the Rocks Pirates. Whether a gun was good or not could be discerned after using it.
Therefore, Hephaestus Company's munitions were also very popular among Pirates.
The strengthening of Pirates and illegal forces greatly threatened the World Government's rule.
The World Government found it difficult to impose a blockade.
This was because Hephaestus Company's munitions dumping primarily targeted the Four Seas and countries that had trade relations with the Kronos Kingdom.
The World Government's rule prohibiting interference in Member Nations' internal affairs meant they could only watch helplessly.
Furthermore, in the regulations established by the World Government, munitions, like slaves, were never considered contraband.
In this situation, they could only target Hephaestus Company, the source selling the munitions.
But Hephaestus Company's base was in the Kronos Kingdom, and the Kronos Kingdom stood behind it. Everything came back to this.
The Marines were not included. Other forces who wanted to purchase could only do so through Underground World channels.
Thus, in terms of weaponry and equipment, the Marines inevitably fell into a disadvantage.
In addition to the munitions circulating on The Great Sea, the new weapons invented by Hephaestus Company were also widely sought after, such as landmines and flintlock guns, which had already appeared on The Great Sea.
However, the craftsmanship of flintlock guns was more difficult, often custom-made, and exclusive to nobles.
Now, Hephaestus Company was capable of mass production.
And the newly released revolver-style pistol, the Revolver, undoubtedly became the new favorite of many nobles.
Compared to flintlock guns, it had higher stability and advantages in all aspects.
To highlight the preciousness of the Revolver, Hephaestus Company sold it in limited quantities and accepted customization services, making it as luxurious as possible, with gold and silver edges being essential.
Currently, in the Black Market, an ordinary Revolver could sell for a high price of one hundred thousand Beli. If it was customized for nobles, the price could easily increase tenfold or twentyfold.
Nowadays, the purchasing power of Beli was still very strong.
For nobles, compared to famous swords that could only be used for display, new-style pistols like the Revolver undoubtedly gained more favor.
As for imitation, the World Government naturally considered it, but the cost was too high, and the output was not as good as the Kronos Kingdom's. It was more trouble than it was worth; it was better to purchase from Hephaestus Company.
However, once they opened this door, it would be equivalent to compromising with the Kronos Kingdom, and the World Government's investments in the Kronos Kingdom would have to be abandoned. It was difficult for them to make this move.
They could only purchase through the Underground World at a higher price, or borrow the names of other forces or Member Nations.
The World Government also had considerations. Upgrading the weaponry and equipment of the entire Marines would definitely not be a good thing, requiring a large amount of funds.
The World Government's investment over the years had not been small.
For the orderly development of Hephaestus Company.
Hades also had people specifically formulate a weapon update plan, allowing Hephaestus Company's munitions and weapons to be optimized at appropriate times, gradually improving their performance.
Furthermore, Aeolus Company was established to compete with Hephaestus Company, launching different styles of the same type of weaponry and equipment, making changes in appearance and other aspects.
For the same type of weapon, they aimed to create dozens or even hundreds of styles. Only this way could they maximize profits.
The development of the Kronos Kingdom also needed the massive profits from the arms trade to recover.
Internal construction within the Kingdom, research funds for the Royal Academy of Sciences, and investments in the military and Hades required absolutely massive amounts of funds.
Hades disliked a single entity dominating, even though he controlled it. People were complex, and competition led to better development.
Even truly high-end weapons like submarines, missiles, and electromagnetic cannons, Hades would not produce them openly, nor would he let Hephaestus Company or Aeolus Company sell them.
Sniper rifles, semi-automatic rifles, followed by automatic rifles, machine guns, submachine guns, and pistols – in this process, they would be optimized and updated little by little.
Before outsiders could research and develop them, the Kronos Kingdom would tightly seal off the technology.
Once others researched and developed them, the Kronos Kingdom would occupy the relevant market with even better products.
Of course, the Kronos Kingdom hoped this would happen as late as possible. As for never exposing it, that was impossible unless they didn't plan to use them.
It was believed that within not many years, Hephaestus Company and Aeolus Company would be able to erode most of the share of the world arms trade market.
Currently, the highest-end weapon was artillery. This was also the flagship product of Hephaestus Company and Aeolus Company, surpassing the standard artillery of the Marines and favored by many kingdoms.
More accurate artillery made naval warfare more dangerous, Pirates more aggressive, and the defensive power of kingdoms stronger.
After two more generations of updates, the accuracy and range of artillery would further improve.
By then, on The Great Sea, a brand new profession would step onto the historical stage: the gunner.
Currently, there were no gunners among Pirates; only a small number existed in the Marines.
Better artillery combined with excellent gunners would become a great weapon in naval warfare.
Instead of the current situation where hits were purely based on luck and not even as accurate as powerful individuals directly throwing cannonballs by hand.
Relatively, the number of gunmen on The Great Sea would increase. As firearm accuracy increased, the requirements for gunmen also decreased significantly.
After all, an excellent gunman required sufficient talent support.
This was foreseeable.
In this process, the Kronos Kingdom would ensure its absolute lead in weaponry and equipment as much as possible. However, once missiles were developed, this would become less important.
However, just like the World Government, the Kronos Kingdom also hoped to slow down the speed at which other forces caught up, ensuring its own superiority.
Firearms and cannonballs were the main weapons of warfare in this World.
Even powerful individuals, unless they were a small number of monsters with special physiques, would be injured without Armament Haki defense.
Only Haki could stand above everything!
Even the future Pirate King Roger, without Haki defense, wasn't he pierced through the body by two long swords?
Especially the demand from various kingdoms, which was tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands. Not to mention the demand from various forces.
Whether initiating warfare, resisting Pirates, or repelling invasions by others, possessing more sophisticated weapons was always beneficial.
The widespread availability of powerful weaponry and equipment would inevitably impact the World Government's rule and further ignite the ambitions of some Member Nations and forces.
It was also through this method that pressure was put on the World Government. The updating of weaponry and equipment would make the World more chaotic, especially the frequently warring North Blue.
It should be known that even the Marines could not interfere in wars between kingdoms.
Currently, the World Government was once again facing rebellion, formed by various reasons.
(end of chapter)