In his office, Ethan was reviewing a report.
Zhao Ren knocked outside the door, and after receiving confirmation, entered with a firm step and a letter in hand.
"News from the black iron mine. Jian Huo reports that the operation was successful, but there were some complications," he said, placing the document on Ethan's desk.
Ethan looked up, slowly adjusting his glasses with the tips of his fingers.
"Complications?"
"During the final assault, the cultivators barricaded themselves inside a stone building. Our men surrounded the perimeter, but still couldn't advance. They had to wait for them to come out... and lost the initiative."
Ethan nodded silently. He opened the report, and while reading it, his mind was already moving beyond.
Even with bolt-action rifles, they were still limited in close-siege situations. They needed new ways to apply pressure: force them to come out or eliminate them without entering.
As he thought, he ordered in his mind.
"AION, evaluate offensive alternatives for close urban combat. Prioritize grenades."
[Analyzing…]
[Optimal options found: Model 24 hand grenade]
Ethan leaned back in his chair, thinking.
"AION, generate the basic grenade blueprints. I want to see the necessary materials and the parts we can manufacture in the workshop."
[Generating basic blueprints: Model 24
Materials:
Body: steel, molded without segments
Explosive charge: TNT
Handle: oak wood, turned and threaded
Mechanism: friction fuse with ignition cord
Necessary tools: wood lathe, metal lathe for threading, friction press, assembly bench.]
Ethan studied the blueprints in detail. His mind quickly moved to the practical aspects of manufacturing.
TNT was beyond his reach. To produce it, they needed toluene, and so far, that resource was inaccessible. But there were other routes.
In his knowledge of historical methods, he remembered that alternatives like PETN or nitroglycerin existed, both powerful explosives. Of the two, nitroglycerin seemed more plausible in their circumstances.
He tapped his fingers on the desk, thoughtful.
To produce it, two key components were needed: glycerin and a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
He nodded slightly.
"The nitric acid is in the inventory. Now, the glycerin... Fortunately, it can be obtained through a reaction between animal or vegetable fats and a strong base like potassium hydroxide."
He recalled the old methods: the hydroxide could be extracted from wood ashes. Nothing too difficult.
For sulfuric acid, he thought of a modified distillery. Simply heat sulfur, collect the sulfur dioxide, and condense it. It was dangerous, but feasible.
"When everything is ready," he whispered, "it will be a matter of mixing precisely. If no mistake is made, nitroglycerin will form. Powerful... but also treacherous."
He fell silent. Nitroglycerin could be detonated by friction, heat, or even a small shock. Manufacturing it in large quantities... would be like building a deadly trap in his own workshop.
His eyes hardened. He couldn't risk his technicians, nor slow down overall production with such an unstable solution.
"AION, find a safer alternative. Less powerful explosives, but stable. Consider what we already have."
[Available alternative: Smokeless powder, fragmentation by shrapnel, friction fuse with delayed cord.
Classification: viable for infantry use.]
"Redesign the Model 24 grenade using smokeless powder as the main charge. Add internal fragmentation. Classify it as prototype G-1."
[G-1 Grenade – Prototype (Fragmentation):
Charge: 120g of smokeless powder
Fragmentation: iron nails, metal spheres, rolled wire
Body: reinforced steel
Mechanism: friction fuse (delayed cord 4–5 s)
Estimated lethal radius: 7 meters
Status: viable for limited production.]
He tapped his fingers on the desk, thoughtful.
The Next day, Ethan headed to the workshop laboratory, where the air was permeated with a faint smell of oil and metal. The large machinery and the workbenches neatly organized testified to his dedication to creating lethal devices. The oil lamp light illuminated the scattered tools throughout the workshop.
Ethan approached the workbench, where all the necessary materials for the grenade's manufacture were ready.
He called AION to obtain the necessary technical details for the grenade's production.
"AION, I need a review of the blueprints for the G-1. We'll use regular steel for the body. I need a detailed design and the steps for manufacturing, along with the appropriate amount of smokeless powder."
[Processing...]
[The fragmentation grenades G-1 with regular steel will require a solid but lightweight structure. The body will be molded into a cylinder 15 cm long and 6 cm in diameter. The total weight of the grenade will be 600 g, which is optimal to ensure effectiveness without compromising portability.]
[The amount of smokeless powder should be 120 g to ensure an efficient detonation. The fuse will be friction-based, with a 5-second delay. The ignition cord will be made from nitrate and sulfur.]
[The distribution of fragments should be uniform, using high-hardness metal scrap and nails to maximize shrapnel dispersion at 7 meters.]
Ethan nodded while looking at the blueprints AION generated. Every step of the process was clearly outlined, but the most important part would be casting and molding the steel. For that, he would need to use the furnace he had recently modified to melt simpler alloys.
He approached the table where a bar of regular steel was placed and inspected it. Though it didn't have the exceptional characteristics of black steel, this material was still quite strong and suitable for the construction of lethal devices like the G-1 grenade.
Its ability to fragment in a controlled manner was exactly what he needed.
The first step was to melt the steel. Ethan activated the furnace, placed the steel bar inside, and adjusted the temperature just enough to melt the material and ensure it would be molded properly.
The heat rose inside the workshop, making the air thick and heavy. Ethan carefully controlled the furnace's temperature while watching the steel begin to melt. The process was meticulous; he couldn't afford to fail in the casting, as the form and quality of the material would be crucial to the grenade's performance.
When the steel reached its melting point, Ethan poured the liquid material into a cylindrical mold he had prepared. The mold was made of heat-resistant metal, but still, the steel forge required constant attention. As the metal began to cool, it formed a solid structure.
Once the mold cooled, Ethan carefully removed the formed grenade. He inspected the piece, ensuring there were no imperfections. The steel body of the grenade was ready. Now, only the most important part remained: the explosive charge and the distribution of the fragments.
The next step was assembling the fuse. He used a manual lathe to shape the handle of the grenade. The friction fuse was the heart of the detonation mechanism: a small ignition cord that, when pulled, initiated the chain reaction. He placed the fuse on the body of the grenade and screwed it in securely.
Next was to load the smokeless powder into the grenade. AION had calculated that 120 g of powder would be sufficient to ensure an effective explosion without compromising the safety of the device.
He placed the powder inside the grenade, making sure it was well compacted to avoid any gas leakage.
Next, he added the metal fragments inside the grenade. Ethan carefully selected pieces of high-hardness metal scrap and some nails, which would serve to maximize shrapnel dispersion. These were placed around the explosive charge, ensuring that each fragment was the right size and shape to cause the most damage possible.
Finally, he sealed the grenade, ensuring that all components were securely in place. The G-1 grenade was ready to be tested.
Ethan stepped away from the workbench and looked at the grenade with a mix of satisfaction and caution. In front of him lay the prototype of the G-1: an innovative fragmentation grenade designed to maximize damage at close range.
But the final test was still to come.
He approached Zhao Ren, who was waiting nearby, and explained:
"This is a new device. It's a fragmentation grenade.
When activated, it produces an explosion that disperses metal fragments at high speed. It's ideal for neutralizing targets at a distance, especially in close combat."
Then, firmly, he indicated that Zhao Ren should follow him to an old stone building behind the base. "Call some of the Vespers," he ordered as he walked.
When they arrived, he handed the grenade to one of the lined-up Vespers, who were waiting with a mix of curiosity and caution. "Throw it when I signal you," he ordered in a firm tone.
The Vesper nodded, his hand carefully closing around the grenade, and took a step toward the designated area. Ethan watched him intently. In that moment, the tension in the air was palpable, as if everything was suspended.
The Vesper activated the grenade and threw it with skill. Ethan took cover instantly; after that every second felt like an eternity. The device spun in the air before hitting the ground, and the booming explosion shattered the silence.
The detonation was louder than expected, shaking the air with a deafening blast. Metal fragments flew in all directions, some hitting the walls of the old building, leaving deep marks in the stone. Others scattered so quickly that they almost seemed to cut through the wind.
The Vespers, surprised by the strength and range of the explosion, instinctively grouped together. They looked up at the marks the fragments had left, the earth and concrete marked by the force of the detonation. Their faces reflected a mix of awe and respect.
Ethan, with a slight smile, evaluated the results.
The fragments had spread over a wide radius, and the explosion had caused significant damage to the nearby structures.