A month had passed since Arthur's conversation with his father. During this time, Daniel Armstrong had begun training the first group of soldiers in the newly established barracks, following the detailed military education plan Arthur had devised. Under Daniel's strict supervision, the soldiers became visibly more disciplined, and their physical fitness improved significantly. Known for his stoic nature, Daniel couldn't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction at the progress.
On the first day of the second month of physical training, the soldiers noticed an unusual excitement in their commander's demeanor. This change intrigued them, as Daniel rarely showed emotion. Their curiosity grew when Daniel ordered them to assemble at the newly constructed shooting range within the barracks—an area that had remained unused since their training began.
As the soldiers gathered, Daniel stood at the center of the range beside a table holding a Lee-Enfield rifle. He picked up the weapon, and addressing the troops, he began, "As you know, this unit was formed one month ago. Unlike other units, you've received no training in swordsmanship. I'm sure you've all been wondering why." Pausing for effect, he held up the rifle. "This is why. From now on, this weapon—called a rifle—will replace swords in battle."
The soldiers murmured among themselves, curiosity and confusion evident on their faces. Daniel continued, "You're probably wondering why we'd abandon swords for this." He loaded a full magazine into the rifle, turned to face the targets set up behind him, and began firing.
The soldiers flinched at the deafening cracks of gunfire—the sound of the weapon was unlike anything they had ever heard. Daniel emptied the rifle's magazine, hitting several distant targets with precision, before turning back to the soldiers. Noticing their stunned expressions, he smirked. "You'll be hearing that sound a lot from now on, so you'd better get used to it," he said. "Starting today, you'll train in groups of ten to master this weapon."
With the small batch of rifles Arthur had supplied, training commenced under the guidance of instructors who had been trained beforehand. A similar scene unfolded at a separate barracks where artillery units began learning to operate the newly developed 75mm field guns.
Meanwhile, Arthur was in the palace, delivering his latest progress report to King Cedric.
"I heard the first batch of weapons was delivered today," Cedric remarked.
Arthur nodded. "Yes, Father. The soldiers have already begun training with the new rifles."
"Good," Cedric replied thoughtfully. "Once the first group of soldiers completes their training, the best performers will be assigned to train the next wave of recruits. By that time, we'll have enough weapons and ammunition from mass production to outfit the entire army."
Arthur agreed, and Cedric shifted the conversation. "What's the status of the battleship?"
Arthur responded, "The engine and weapon systems have been completed. In two months, the ship will be ready to launch, and we can begin testing."
After reviewing additional updates, Arthur returned to his quarters. His gaze fell on the large world map mounted on the stone wall opposite his wooden desk. He approached the map, studying the location of Pendralis and neighboring countries in the west. His eyes traced the path of the Maraz Strait, the White Sea, and further east to Indorida, a key region where they imported cotton.
He noted with interest that parts of the map, particularly the lands east of Velmora and beyond the White Sea, were incomplete. To the west of Pendralis, the map showed only open ocean, with no indication of other continents or islands. After a moment of contemplation, Arthur resolved to send exploration fleets in the coming year, once steel steamships were operational, to chart the unmarked territories and gather intelligence on resources, cultures, and potential rivalries among nations.
Arthur then returned to his desk and began reviewing reports. These detailed documents, prepared by the newly established Pendralis Bureau of Statistics, provided comprehensive data on critical aspects of the kingdom. The reports covered the production rates of coal and steel, tax revenues, the progress of railway construction, literacy rates, and the demographics and training levels of the military.
Arthur couldn't help but smile at the thoroughness of the data. The creation of the Bureau, a government institution staffed with mathematicians and statisticians, had been his idea. Approved by his father late last year, its purpose was to collect, analyze, and present data on all aspects of the kingdom to aid in decision-making. These detailed insights gave Arthur a clear understanding of the nation's progress and the effectiveness of his policies.
As he finished reviewing the reports, Arthur noted that, if progress continued at the current pace, Pendralis would reach his desired military, economic, and educational benchmarks within three years. At that point, he could initiate the next phase of his plans.
Arthur envisioned fleets of steam-powered steel ships setting out to explore the uncharted regions of the world. These expeditions would create a complete map of their planet while identifying valuable natural resources, cultural practices, and conflicts that could be exploited to Pendralis' advantage.
Lost in his thoughts about the future, Arthur realized it was getting late. Feeling the fatigue of the day, he changed into more comfortable clothes and retired to bed, knowing that the next steps in his ambitious plans awaited him.