As I walked to the forge, I thought about the close future.

  I was to join Cherkok and Leria on an expedition to the forest to hunt monsters with students. We would have rookie guards, and immature teens full of themselves... Joy.

  Ya, I could see hundreds of ways this could go wrong. I need to prepare, first by getting weapons, and next, going to the university library to get info on the forest and expected threats.

  For weapons... hmmm... Ah, I know. I need something ranged, a melee weapons, and a knife. The knife is easy, a steel straight blade.

  For the ranged, I could use one of the muskets, call it a product demonstration. We were building a stockpile before selling, I could just requisition one. For sword... I don't know. I think I need to visit one of the brothers.

  So, with a plan in mind, I hurry to find one of the brothers. They switched out duties occasionally, and today was Korik's turn on management.

  He was easy enough to find, he was in the shared office of the central foundry.

  When I arrived, I went straight to the office and knocked on the door. "Korik, mind if I have a word?" I ask.

  When he calls me in, I look around the office. It had...dwarfanity I suppose you could say. The brothers weren't 32nd century corporate lords, they were down to earth, actually cared, casual, and blunt as a brick. That didn't mean they had no business acumen, as evidence by the paperwork showing deals in progress on the desk.

  "Ah, Keri, sit. What do ya need? Anything off?" He asks.

  I shake my head. "No, thanks for asking. I came for a bit of help. See, you know 'bout my job in the school? Well, I was picked to go on a field trip to the forest with students and staff." I say.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  "That time a' year, is it? Heard 'bout that second hand. Supposedly a simple affair, heh. Heard rumors that it didn't go well a time or two. Anyway, you just informing me?"

  "No, see, I have no weapons. Headmistress Saif we could supply our own, or they would supply some steel ones." I say.

  "Ah, I see where this is goin'. You need weapons, we make em, natural conclusion. Ay, we can do that. Hell, with the money we are gonna make, we can get an armories worth. Your share alone can net you an excellent quality weapon. Whatr' ya thinkin'?"

  "Well, a sabre would be optimal. A regular knife is fine, plain steel. I'll get that on my own. Now, I've an idea."

  "Oh?"

  "Let me take one of the flintlocks, call it a product demonstration. Ya know, shoot some poor monster in the head, sales increase, that kinda thing."

  "Hmmm. Ay, I can see it. Sure. Bit long though. It's what, 5 n' a half feet? Sounds like a problem in a forest." Korik said.

  "Hm. Ya, I see your point... AH, I got an idea! Ya, most of it is barrel ya? How long of a shot can it make accurately? Should been in the tests for today..."

  He ruffles around his desk ."Lemme see... ah, here it is. Says here... 164 and a bit meters. A good showing foe something without enchantments or runes." He says, looking pleased.

  "Hoh? That's news! Fantastic news! Now, I'm not one for magical enhancements, but what would you say it would increase if it had proper enchantments?"

  "With what I'm thinking, for cost effectiveness, mind, a general durability enchantment and one for accuracy. That is bare bones as hell, but it would help with reliability and range, can't do much about loading times but train, soooo... it would at least double the range, and increase durability of the entire weapon by about 20ish percent." He said, looking pleased as hell.

  "Ok, how about this. We have the rifles, call em flintlock rifles or whatever, and then make some that are about 4 feet long or so, call em carbines. We can market em to cavalry, the navy, you know, places with limited space? The decrease in range is offset by the enchantments, so it isn't a ok." I say.

  "Not bad, I see your point, and I agree. Shorten the stock a touch, barrel too... ya, ok. We will begin production of that one too. Hell, we are gonna need more foundries for this! Ha!" He says.

  "Ok Keri, we will get you a sword, and a carbine, both enchanted. When is the expedition?" He asks.

  "2 weeks. That gonna be an issue?"

  "No, not at all. Gives us time to fine tune some issues. But don't worry about getting the weapons, just focus on giving a good show! I want interest to spike! Can it happen?"

  "Yes, I believe it can. We will be the frontrunner in this race. And we have the cards to keep it that way."