The voice belonged to none other than Corvinus, who had rushed over from the conference hall.
"Salutations to the chief!" the assembled crowd quickly bowed in respect.
"Chief, how is this used? If we're fighting on war-wolves, wouldn't this weapon be less effective than a battle-wolf scimitar?" Cadia took the lead, brandishing the javelin a few times, but no matter how she swung it, it didn't seem to be the correct way to use the weapon.
Kro and Bagen also looked to Corvinus for guidance.
With their military training, they believed it would be more suitable for infantry rather than cavalry.
"Do you see that wooden post over there?" Corvinus took the javelin from Cadia's hand with his right hand and pointed to a training post in the distance.
Everyone nodded in unison.
The post was about two hundred meters away from them.
Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, Corvinus threw the javelin. It arced perfectly through the air, though at a swift speed.
Within seconds, the werewolves heard the distinctive buzz as the javelin struck the wooden post.
The crowd was stunned.
What did this mean?
Seeing the lingering confusion on their faces, Corvinus smiled and said, "This is the correct way to use a javelin. Werewolves have long arms, and they can easily throw this weapon over two hundred meters. It's a more lethal ranged weapon than a bow and arrow."
A ranged weapon?
The crowd suddenly understood. It was indeed a projectile weapon, and upon further thought, they agreed with Corvinus. After all, while a bow might shoot a single arrow, this weapon was like ten arrows combined—anyone hit would be severely injured.
"There's one more thing the chief didn't mention. This javelin follows a parabolic trajectory to target enemies, so once it hits, it pierces from above downward. That's what makes it truly terrifying," explained the aged voice, as the crowd picked up the javelins, eager to try them out.
The speaker was Bastos, the septuagenarian mid-level blacksmith.
"Grandpa Bastos is right. It's a very practical ranged weapon," Corvinus agreed with the old blacksmith.
Bastos, the sole mid-level blacksmith of the tribe, had two apprentices who were also blacksmiths. He had been friends with Corvinus's grandfather since the Silver Mane Tribe consisted of only a few hundred members.
Regardless of his status, Corvinus always showed the appropriate respect to a mid-level blacksmith. And given their relationship, addressing him as "grandpa" was fitting.
"There are a total of 275 javelins here. Each member of the Second Wolf Cavalry Squadron will be equipped with five."
"Five each?" Cadia was taken aback. She had expected only one per person.
"That's correct. This is an equipment bag that can be attached to the back of the armor, allowing you to carry five javelins on your back," Corvinus explained while demonstrating.
With Bastos's help, the javelins were quickly equipped.
"Just like this. When facing enemies, you can throw all five javelins from a distance. In close combat, they can still be useful," Corvinus said, demonstrating with the javelins on his back.
The five javelins were not heavy, weighing only about seven or eight pounds.
For werewolves standing over eight feet tall and weighing around 485 pounds, such a minor addition made no difference.
"Is this for the cavalry?" Kro and Bagen exchanged glances, with Kro quickly asking Corvinus.
"For now, yes!" Corvinus nodded.
He had commissioned the forge and workshop to create these weapons primarily for the bandit plan, without much further consideration.
"Chief, this is unfair. Such a ranged weapon would also be very suitable for infantry," Kro argued.
Infantry moved on foot and couldn't match the speed of war-wolves. Therefore, for distances of two to three hundred meters, infantry would be better suited to use ranged weapons. After all, with the speed of war-wolves, if you threw the first javelin, the second one would likely be too late as the enemy cavalry would already be upon you.
Of course, this didn't mean the cavalry couldn't use them. In fact, if they were pursuing enemies, the cavalry would likely find these weapons quite effective.
"Infantry?"
"If you think it's appropriate, you can place an order with the forge," Corvinus considered for a moment. Indeed, it made more sense for infantry.
And if it could strengthen the tribe, he saw no reason to object.
"Yes, sir!"
"If it's for infantry, each should be equipped with eight to ten," Kro quickly added, seeing Corvinus's agreement.
"You can discuss that with Grandpa Bastos. Also, more isn't always better. Everything should be used to its fullest potential," Corvinus casually remarked.
"Yes, sir!"
The old blacksmith's eyes lit up with excitement. In recent years, the forge had been idle, simply producing weapons and armor daily.
Since there was an iron mine near the Silver Mane Tribe, they had no shortage of ore. However, because the armor and weapons were for storage, to be used in emergencies, there was no urgency. Whether they made one set of armor today or two tomorrow, no one cared.
As a result, all the blacksmiths had been reassigned, leaving only six, including himself.
The forge had become increasingly dilapidated, to the point where crafting farming tools had become the norm.
How could an old man who had been forging iron for decades bear such a situation?
Fortunately, when Corvinus became chief and the Silver Mane Tribe began to annex other tribes, and when Corvinus had shouted "rise" that night, he understood that the forge would not be abandoned. The tribe would increasingly need the forge and its blacksmiths.
Sure enough, the chief had ordered them to craft weapons, and the former blacksmiths had all been called back to the forge. This was the reason for his excitement.
"Grandpa Bastos, hasn't Uncle Quinn arrived yet?"
"That young man is very busy. He asked me to bring over the weapons he made, and they're right here," Bastos walked over to the third cart, smiling as he moved the javelins aside to reveal a large wooden chest beneath.
"There are four chests in total. He said there are fifty-six Zhuge crossbows and five hundred and sixty bolts," Bastos said as he opened the chest.
He was also curious about what a Zhuge crossbow was.
To him, the chest just looked like a pile of wood.
When Kro and the others heard about the new weapon, they immediately gathered around.
Corvinus picked up one of the crossbows, a Zhuge repeating crossbow, or rather, an improved version of it.
Quinn!
A mid-level craftsman, or in modern terms, a seasoned carpenter.
He had given Quinn the blueprints for both the Zhuge crossbow and the ballista, and Quinn had been immediately captivated.
Skill is not something to be boasted about; he had only provided a design, and yet Quinn had managed to recreate the crossbow in a short time.
He wondered how the ballista was coming along!
Corvinus examined the crossbow in his hand. This was not the original design of the Zhuge crossbow but an improved version based on the principles from his past life (a military version). If fully restored, the effective killing range of this crossbow would not be less than two hundred meters.
Hm?
Corvinus was slightly surprised. Had Quinn modified it?
Because he remembered the blueprints didn't have the devices on the sides that were now present.
"Where are the bolts?" Corvinus asked with great interest.
"Right here!"
Bastos quickly opened the wooden chest on the fourth cart, revealing a chest full of small bolts, each only about twenty centimeters long.