Delta, Patchman Sandbar.

　　Patchman Sandbank is a small lowland island located in the northeastern hinterland of the Mississippi River Delta.

　　 is different from the salt marshes that cover most of the sandbanks. It is surrounded by small cobweb-like rivers, and the surrounding terrain is slightly higher, forming a natural dam to restrain the inflow of seawater.

　　 That's why there is a rare salt-free soil here, even if it is barren, even if it is deserted, it can still support a small cotton plantation and feed the attached black slave town, the small town of Patchman.

　　 This small island is also a well-known habitat for seabirds. Gentlemen who hunt birds all year round come here admiringly, leading their dogs with guns, and carrying three or five close-fitting entourages, staying at the Pelican Farm next to the town to enjoy their leisurely killing time.

　　 Karen and Pierce also feel the same, a pair of well-living father and son, wearing brand-new comfortable shirts and breeches, with a large group of vicious white entourage.

　　If you insist on distinguishing them from common seabird hunters...they don’t have hounds around them, but they have 40 double-barreled shotguns. The firepower is as powerful as a small army.

　　 The owner of the farm was playing drums in his heart.

　　 Ordinary wealthy businessmen certainly can't support such a big show, not to mention having to train his followers to order and prohibit, and the rules are strict.

　　 This guest named Karen might be a senior bureaucrat in the interior, or a senior officer in the colonial army...

　　 In short, it must be the kind of high-ranking big man!

　　 If you can establish a proper connection with such a big man... For example, a marriage contract?

　　 Pierce felt a scorching gaze sweeping behind his back, and he was so uncomfortable that he struck him a few times.

　　 Karen gave him a worried look: "Little Pierce, you won't be sick anymore?"

"How come!" Pierce blushed and waved his hands again and again, "In order not to hinder everyone, I asked Mr. Solander for a panacea! Mr. Solander said that although his medicine cannot cure any disease, it is absolutely possible. Make sure that I will survive all illnesses in the next week!"

　　 "There is this strange medicine!"

　　 "It is the highest-end crystallization of alchemy and modern medicine!"

　　 "Could it be...Azot?"

"It's not a panacea." Pierce shook his head in regret and admiration. "Mr. Solander said frankly that although he has the formula for refining the panacea, he is not capable of refining it until he finds the fifth element. The real panacea."

　　 Karen couldn't help taking a breath: "If it's not the real Azot, is it some kind of substitute?"

"Have Mr. Scott heard of Star Antimony? Mr. Solander said that it is a kind of impure Azot. Because it is bound by the law of chaos, it cannot be purified or separated. It is the great discovery of the last sage. !"

　　 "Star antimony? The strange crystal described in Basil Valentin's "Antimony Triumph"?"

"Mr. Scott really knows the star antimony!" Pierce danced his fist excitedly. "Mr. Solander said, the last sage improved the Valentine's Warlock's formula and successfully prepared the star antimony and tested it from it. Out of the existence of Azot. This is the closest great breakthrough for mankind to the Fifth Element since the decline of the Renaissance and alchemy!"

"Really?"

"Of course it is true! Modern medicine, the secret of alchemy, use cow dung, donkey whiskers, rabbit urine, mouse dung, and an appropriate amount of salt and sulfur. After stewing, it is burned with fierce fire to obtain crystals. This is star antimony! Mr. Scott has never seen its beauty, just like taking a fragment in the starry sky and storing it in a black gem. As long as you eat it, it will be invaded within a week!"

　　 "Have you eaten?"

"certainly!"

"What is the taste?"

　　 "Good medicine is bitter!"

"what…"

　　 "Mr. Scott, Mr. Solander is great? I want to ask him for advice on alchemy and medicine!"

　　 "Young people are good to learn. The problem is shooting, swordsmanship, graphics, command, weather and financial management. The captain also insists that you learn aristocratic etiquette and literature, plus alchemy, will you..."

　　 "I can squeeze out two more hours! Sleeping for four hours a day is enough!"

Seeing little Pierce’s fanatical look, Karen sighed affectionately, and stretched out his hand to rub his hair heavily: "If you really want to learn, go and ask Daniel after this time. Alchemy is not something to cherish. Learning, he will agree..."

　　...

　　 No words for a night.

　　 Early the next morning, Karen and Pierce led all forty gunmen out, carrying sufficient supplies and equipment, and plunged into the vast dense forest spanning two or three small islands.

　　 No one wants to tell the owner of the farm in the past, because their only purpose is to let the Musketeers get familiar with the new gun as soon as possible without attracting outsiders' attention.

　　In a clearing in the dense forest, Karen stood in front of the crowd with his new gun held high.

"Look at the tatters in your hands! It is a double-barreled shotgun made by a local gunsmith, with a caliber of 0.109, a fastest rate of fire of 3 rounds per minute, an effective range of 50 meters, an optimal range of 8 meters, and a fire rate of 60%. Because It has two barrels, uses a larger charge and lead bullets, so it has great power and intensive firepower, and it is deeply loved by fur hunters."

　　 "Don't doubt it! Compared to the maritime commuting you are used to, this is an out-and-out scrap iron! But, it is your new weapon!"

　　 "You are all long-term sailors of the Chamber of Commerce, and the most loyal subordinates in the captain's heart. From the time the captain drew the entire musket team from the Golden Deer to the Jackdaw, you should understand that our identity must not be exposed!"

　　 "So, the maritime commuter was left on the Golden Deer, including your hunter Mr. Attis, you must be familiar with the new gun and be proficient with the new gun. This is your mission!"

"Next, a group of four, shoot at least one hundred rounds a day! The captain's request is that each group must ensure uninterrupted standing shooting firepower and no reduction in mobile shooting suppression power! You only have three days to watch out for the poisonous snakes in the forest. And the crocodile by the water! Now, disband!"

"Yes, sir!"

　　 The tacitly coordinated musket team quickly divided into ten groups, like scattered fireworks, scattered into the secluded jungle in a blink of an eye.

　　 After a while, there were intensive gunfire in the woods.

Pierce was leaning on a Kentucky rifle that was higher than him, and his face was depressed: "Two barrels, three rounds per minute... Even if the firing rate is not reliable, their team's rate of fire is faster than the maritime commuter. Much higher..."

　　 Karen looked at him dumbfoundedly: "You are a hunter, and this one is still a land battle. A 50-meter range is too short for you, and too dangerous."

"I know..." Pierce held Kentucky with both hands. "But the barrel of this broken gun is too long. Even if it is wider than the observation deck on land, one round in three minutes, I can't support you like on a ship. "

　　 "No support is needed." Karen smiled contemptuously, "In the captain's plan, you didn't act with us in the first place. It's most important to be familiar with the new gun right now."

　　 "Yes." Pierce stomped his feet and raised his head sharply with his rifle. "Mr. Scott, do you think Brother's plan this time... is too complicated?"

"Is it complicated?" Karen thought for a while, "The captain's thinking is not wrong. The cost of participating in the war is too high, and the price is too low. Waiting for Earl Galves to be assassinated and appear in a timely manner, saving people, water and fire is the best way. "

　　 "In this case, we will wait for the assassin to appear. No matter how bad it is, organize a fake assassination, why bother to make it real? The variables are too big."

"You are still too young." Karen smiled and patted Pierce on the shoulder. "Humans are often afraid of doing things for the first time. If we just wait and see what happens, it's likely that we won't be assassinated until the war outside the city ends. The people of Count Galves will not really do it. Such a development is good for Count Galves, but it is not good for us."

　　 "We need to make things more interesting and uncontrollable. As the captain said, the earl will take the greatest risk, and we will fight for the greatest wealth. After all, wealth is in danger."