After the first test of the musket, Ethan was satisfied with the result. He observed the smoking barrel for a moment before turning to Zhao Ren and Shen Bao.
"Go ahead, get familiar with it," he ordered, extending the musket.
"I'll go first!" Zhao Ren exclaimed, taking the weapon with barely contained excitement.
Ethan nodded and motioned for him to approach the table where he had the materials.
"First, pay attention to the loading process. This requires precision and care."
He took a small tube of gunpowder and tilted it over the muzzle.
"Pour the right amount. Too much, and the explosion will be unstable. Too little, and the bullet won't have enough force."
Zhao Ren listened attentively, pouring the gunpowder with steady hands. Ethan handed him the ramrod.
"Now, use this to compact the charge. Push it all the way down."
Zhao Ren pushed firmly, feeling the resistance inside the barrel. When he finished, Ethan handed him a lead bullet.
"Place it in and repeat the process."
He nodded and pushed the bullet down with the ramrod, then withdrew it and waited for the next instruction.
Zhao Ren followed the steps, amazed by the complexity of the process. It was unlike any weapon he had used before.
"Let's move on to stance," Ethan instructed, guiding him to place the musket's stock against his shoulder. "Keep your feet apart, your back straight, and don't tense up. If you resist the recoil, it'll hurt more."
Zhao Ren took a deep breath and aimed at the target. His fingers brushed the trigger as he waited for the signal.
"Whenever you're ready," Ethan said.
Zhao Ren pulled the trigger.
The blast filled the air, louder than he expected. The recoil made him stagger, but he held firm. He watched as the bullet struck the target, his eyes widening in awe.
Ethan passed the musket to Shen Bao and repeated the process with him. Shen Bao had quicker hands. When he fired, he burst into laughter, thrilled by the weapon's power.
"This is incredible!" he exclaimed, still exhilarated.
Ethan observed both of them, satisfied with their progress. There was much to improve, but the most important thing was that they now understood what they had in their hands.
While Ethan was back in his laboratory, seated behind his desk with one hand on his chin and his elbow resting on the chair, he reflected on the results.
Zhao Ren and Shen Bao, meanwhile, were busy cleaning their new muskets. After their return, Ethan had shown them the assembly method, and together they had completed the construction of all the units. They now had eight muskets and five pistols.
The material losses were greater than initially estimated, but considering it was the first time old Zhang had manufactured them, Ethan found it acceptable.
He decided to assign two pistols to Zhao Ren and two more to Shen Bao, while he would keep one to handle any unforeseen situations. Additionally, each of them would carry a musket wrapped in cloth when going out to work, as a precaution.
Ethan stood up. His gaze swept across the room before settling on Zhao Ren and Shen Bao. He knew this moment would mark a turning point.
"I have decided to create an organization and recruit people." His voice was firm, unyielding.
The two men stopped what they were doing and fixed their attention on him. They knew their master had greater ambitions than he let on, but this declaration made it official.
Ethan smiled slightly. "From now on, we are Astralis."
The name echoed through the room with weight.
"Astralis?" Shen Bao repeated, testing the word on his lips.
The two exchanged glances before nodding.
"When we are outside, you will address me as Leader," Ethan continued. "My codename will be Nova."
He turned to Zhao Ren.
"Zhao Ren, you will be Titan, my personal guard. The shield that will protect what we build."
Zhao Ren struck his fist against his chest with determination. "Understood, Master!"
Ethan looked at Shen Bao.
"And you, Shen Bao… from now on, you will be Orion. A symbol of precision and power. The spear that strikes down Astralis' enemies."
Shen Bao nodded, containing his excitement. "Understood."
Ethan observed them in silence for a moment. It was not just a name. Astralis represented an ideal, a purpose that transcended his own existence.
He lowered his gaze briefly, as if contemplating a future still distant, yet inevitable. Then, his voice resonated with solemnity.
"We are not gods, nor do we seek to be.
We are not slaves, nor shall we ever be again.
Technology is our weapon, science our shield.
Where blind faith corrupts, we will bring knowledge.
Where strength oppresses, we will bring fire and steel.
Immortality should not be the privilege of a few, nor mortality a sentence for many.
The future belongs to those who forge it, not those who claim it.
We do not kneel. We do not surrender.
From Earth to the Stars… Astralis will prevail."
Zhao Ren and Shen Bao listened in silence. There were no exaggerations in those words, no empty promises. Only an unshakable conviction.
A new path had begun.
Ethan raised his gaze and, under the expectant attention of both, continued:
"Zhao Ren, you will handle logistics for now. Get in contact with merchants; we need to keep acquiring sulfur, coal, iron, lime, and lead in large quantities. Also, instruct Bai Shan to build more furnaces and recruit more people. The requirements remain the same: confidentiality and quality."
The order was clear and precise.
"Understood, Leader. I'll leave immediately," Zhao Ren replied before leaving the laboratory.
Ethan turned to Shen Bao.
"Shen Bao, your task is to find a place to establish our base. Preferably an abandoned village or settlement to the southeast, near the Steel Line and the saltpeter deposit… but not too close. It must be a hidden location, easy to defend. Once we have the site, we will begin selecting candidates."
Shen Bao nodded without hesitation and left in silence.
Astralis had taken its first step.
A week passed quickly.
Meanwhile, Ethan inspected the first batch of Dragon's Breath. After ensuring its quality, he ordered the Hu brothers to dress in gray hooded robes and masks before making the delivery. To formalize the transaction, he handed them a simple contract that Lan Tianhua had to sign as confirmation of receipt.
Although in this world a contract might seem unnecessary, for Ethan, it was a way to establish a precedent.
But this delivery was not just a transaction—it was also a test. If the Hu brothers managed to complete it without issues or raising suspicion, they would be considered for Astralis.
"Remember: do not talk about anything beyond the delivery. If they ask for names or details, simply respond that you cannot answer. Understood?" Ethan emphasized, his gaze serious.
"Understood, Master! You can be sure we won't say a single word," they responded in unison.
After dismissing the Hu brothers, Shen Bao approached with a firm expression.
"Master, I have completed the task."
Ethan shifted his gaze from his work and focused on him. "Speak."
Shen Bao nodded. "I found a suitable location. An abandoned village in the mountains, southeast of the Steel Line. The terrain is vast and hidden among dense forests, surrounded by natural cliffs, making it easy to defend and difficult to detect."
"But… according to rumors, centuries ago, it was attacked by demonic beasts, which has discouraged outsiders from settling there. Since then, the place has remained deserted."
Ethan smiled with interest. "That only means no one will come snooping around."
Shen Bao continued. "The structures are deteriorated, but there is access to clean water from an underground river and enough land for cultivation. Additionally, I found traces of old mines nearby. It's possible there are still deposits of iron and other resources."
Ethan crossed his arms, evaluating the information.
Shen Bao went on. "If we build walls and take advantage of the elevated terrain, we could turn it into a natural fortress. With some strategic modifications, any land-based attack would be difficult. Moreover, the access routes are limited, giving us control over who enters and leaves."
Ethan nodded slowly. "Good. I'll talk with Zhao Ren and have him prepare supplies. For now, take care of the recruitment. I'll leave it in your hands. Go to nearby towns and cities, look for mercenaries, runaway slaves, and orphans with potential—people who have experienced harsh realities and share our vision. Once you have them, take them to the new base."
"Understood, Master." Shen Bao bowed and departed.
Ethan exhaled calmly and returned to his laboratory. He sat at his desk and took a scroll, beginning to write the first guidelines for what would become their future base. If the place had truly been abandoned for centuries, he needed to assess its condition before committing resources to its development. The priority was to establish a secure outpost where they could operate without interference.
"AION, show me the essential elements for a self-sufficient base of operations."
[Minimum requirements: perimeter defense, dormitories, warehouses, kitchen, training area, workshops, and laboratories. Additional resources will enhance efficiency and security. Do you want a more detailed breakdown?]
Ethan drummed his fingers on the table, contemplating the key points. "We can't build everything at once, but we need to ensure the place is habitable. A temporary shelter will suffice at first."
[Recommendation: inspect the location before committing resources. Assess accessibility, water supply, and structural stability if there are existing buildings.]
Ethan smirked. "That's the plan. First, we'll confirm it's truly viable."
He lifted his gaze from the scroll, considering his next moves. Zhao Ren would need to secure provisions for the recruits, and Shen Bao had to bring in trustworthy people. But before anything else, he himself needed to explore the site and assess its potential. Once he had that information, he could define how to transform those forgotten ruins into the stronghold of Astralis.