"Alright, two units of the mana cannon done. Now, onto the anti-air magic gun…" Javier muttered, excitement bubbling in his voice. He envisioned the weapon clearly—a machine capable of sending endless bursts of magic into the sky, raining down destruction on any flying enemy.
Liana, seated nearby, glanced at him with a concern. "Young Master, you really are intent on creating weapons of mass destruction."
Javier flashed a mischievous grin. "Of course, Liana. What better way to protect our family and estate? If anyone dares to challenge us, they'll have to deal with this first."
He waved his hand, and a few mana stones floated up, shimmering with energy. As he combined the elements, A burst of light filled the room as he shaped a mana crystal into a compact, box-like structure.
"Now for the most important part," Javier whispered. "The ammunition." He tapped the crystal with his finger, channeling the power of all five elements—Wind, Fire, Lightning, Earth, and Light—into it. The mana crystal began to hum with energy, each element enhancing its output. A combination of elemental power.
He crafted the "bullet" carefully, ensuring it functioned like a battery— a source of mana that would charge the anti-air weapon and shoot magic continuously. Each shot would unleash a devastating elemental blast, tearing through the air with speed and power.
"I'll make sure that whoever dares to attack us will regret it," Javier chuckled darkly as he tested the first prototype of his anti-air gun. The barrel glowed as the mana crystal powered up, ready to unleash a torrent of elemental magic.
Liana, who had been watching this with growing disbelief, shook her head. "I know you're trying to protect us, Young Master, but this is... overkill."
Javier paused, glancing at her with a serious expression. "It's not overkill if they start the war. If they make us the enemy, they should know that retaliation will come with the full force of my creations."
Liana sighed softly, her hand on her forehead. What have I gotten myself into with this young master?
"Alright, next up, a couple more of these mana cannon units and then, I'll finally have the ultimate defense system."
Liana watched, fully aware that this was just another step in Javier's journey to build a world where no one would dare challenge him or his family. While she had her doubts about the scale of his ambitions, she couldn't help but admire his drive.
As long as I'm here, I'll keep an eye on him...
Javier leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head, a self-satisfied grin plastered across his face.
Ehehehe… Let them come with their medieval-style armies, their outdated formations, and their prideful knights. They'll meet my latest weapons, my advanced defenses, and my army of puppet knights. Let's see how well their shiny armor holds up against a mana cannon. kukuku!
"In this world, wars erupt over anything—land disputes, titles, women, power struggles, or just plain envy. One wrong glance or a minor insult, and resulting in full scale war."
Javier glanced at the mana cannon unit glowing with faint elemental energy, reveling in his progress. He wasn't just building weapons; he was creating insurance for his household's future.
"If they dare start a war against my family, I'll be ready. No mercy. No second chances. They'll regret crossing me. And that'll be the end of their noble lineage."
He returned to work, fine-tuning the next set of weapons. His puppet knights stood silently in the corner, polished and equipped, a looming reminder of his relentless preparation, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
Liana sighed, shaking her head. "Young Master, your preparations are impressive, but I hope they remain unnecessary."
Javier laughed, leaning against his workbench. "Oh, I hope so too, Liana. But if there's one thing I learned in life, it's that hoping for the best while preparing for the worst is the only way to survive."
"Okay, Young Master. Enough with the crafting. Time for dinner," Liana announced firmly.
"Ehhh?" Javier whined.
"No 'Ehh.' Now chup chup,"
"Haaaaa... Liana,"
"Now, Young Master!"
"Okay, okay, chill… ehehe," Javier relented, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
He moved quickly, storing his tools, prototypes, and mana-powered creations in his magic storage. The mana cannon disappeared in an instant, along with the piles of raw materials and finished designs. Javier was careful about keeping his secret projects hidden from everyone except his trusted maid.
"Liana?"
"Yes, Young Master?" she responded, tilting her head slightly.
"Don't tell anyone about my projects or my real power, okay? I want to remain the useless youngest son. Ehehehe."
Liana let out a soft sigh, shaking her head gently. "Haaaa... This again? Young Master, you do know I've never intended to tell anyone, not since the day you mastered magic."
"Good," Javier replied, smirking as he straightened up. "Because the fewer people who know, the easier it'll be to surprise anyone dumb enough to underestimate me."
Liana gave him a look of mock exasperation, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're always full of surprises, Young Master. But now, let's go. Dinner is waiting, and Lady Francesca will be upset if you're late again."
"Right, right," Javier said with a playful shrug. "Let's not keep my beautiful mother waiting, or I'll never hear the end of it. Ehehe."
As they left the workshop, Javier glanced back at the now-empty room. No one other than Liana could know about his true abilities or secret projects—not his father, not his brothers, and certainly not the scheming nobles who would love to exploit him.
This was his secret, and he intended to keep it that way. For now, he'd play the role of the harmless, carefree youngest son. But one day, when the time was right, they'd all see just how far ahead he had planned.
"Liana?"
"Yes, Young Master?" she replied, glancing up at him.
"Don't tell anyone about the weapons and puppet knights, okay?"
"As you wish, Young Master,"
"Thanks. I know I can count on you," .
With that, they continued down the hall, the weight of his secret lingering in the air, yet somehow lightened by Liana's unwavering support.
( End of Chapter )