Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 74 Patents
Just as Morin was thinking about which "experts" he knew in this area, there was a gentle knock on his door.

"Morin, Morin, are you asleep?"

Ludwig’s deliberately hushed voice came from outside the door.

Morin got up and opened the door, and then saw the Teutonic Knight, dressed in a plain-colored hospital gown, sneaking his head in.

"Lieutenant Colonel? How did you get out here? Your injuries aren't healed yet?" Morin asked, somewhat surprised.

"Shh," Ludwig gestured for silence, then squeezed in sideways and closed the door behind him.

He limped to the table and sat down, looking around the room before looking expectantly at Morin. He lowered his voice and said, "Hey bro, got any wine?"

Morin realized that this guy was probably having an alcohol attack; otherwise, he wouldn't have suddenly called him "good brother."
As a wounded soldier, Ludwig was strictly forbidden from drinking alcohol in the field hospital.

Those conscientious medical officers probably confiscated his ration of alcohol long ago, leaving him craving it terribly these past few days.

So he set his sights on Maureen, this 'acquaintance'.

After all, according to the logistical support regulations of the Saxon army, officers are given a weekly ration of alcohol, which, although not much, is enough to satisfy their cravings.

Morin himself doesn't usually drink on the battlefield, so his ration must still be intact.

"Lieutenant Colonel, the doctor said you can't drink alcohol right now, it will affect the healing of your wound."

Morin refused with a serious expression.

"What a load of bullshit doctor! I know my own body best!"

Ludwig slammed his hand on the table, which aggravated his rib injury, causing him to wince in pain.

He took a breath, then put on a fawning smile and leaned in to hook his arm around Morin's shoulder.

"Morlin, just a tiny bite, I promise just a tiny bite! Don't worry, once we get back to the country alive, I promise I'll create an opportunity for you and my sister Patrecia! I'll personally arrange for you to meet!"

For a drink, this Teutonic Knights lieutenant colonel even sold his own sister.

Maureen was so angry at his appearance that she laughed.

"It's as if your sister being with me is a bargain for me."

"of course!"

Ludwig immediately puffed out his chest and said with a proud expression:

"If this goes through, you'll really be set for life! Our Seeckt family is a prominent and respected family in Dresden! If you really become my brother-in-law, won't your future career be incredibly smooth sailing?"

He looked Morin up and down, then clicked his tongue in amazement.

"But to be honest, Morin, you've really impressed me this time. You're completely different from the playboy I used to know who only knew how to chase women at ballroom dances."

Ludwig's expression turned serious.

"It seems the battlefield truly can transform a person. If before I genuinely didn't want my sister to be with someone like you, now my thoughts have completely changed."

"Oh, thank you for your kind words, Lieutenant Colonel."

Morin pulled a bottle of gin from his backpack and picked up a glass from the table in the room.

He poured Ludwig a small half-cup, and then poured some for himself as well.

"It's settled, just this one cup. If the medics find out, I won't take the blame for you."

"That's great!" Ludwig, seeing the wine on his lips, immediately picked up his glass with a broad smile, took a careful sip, and showed an expression of utter satisfaction.

"Ah, only food directly imported from China tastes the best!"

He let out a long sigh, as if he had drunk something extraordinary, not wine.

Seeing his absorbed expression, Morin shook her head and took a sip from her own glass.

The spicy liquid slid down his throat, instantly invigorating him. The two drank in silence, and the atmosphere in the room became somewhat quiet for a moment.

Under the dim light of an oil lamp, two men who had survived the battlefield enjoyed this moment of tranquility.

"Speaking of which, I owe my survival this time largely to you."

Ludwig put down his glass and broke the silence.

"If it weren't for your 'Focused Armor-Piercing Bomb,' we'd probably all be dead! Those arrogant guys in the Knights of Garde probably never dreamed this day would come!"

“That was earned with the lives of those knights, Captain Hauser, and other fallen soldiers.” Morin’s mood sombered.

“Yes,” Ludwig sighed, “but isn’t that how war is? However, their sacrifices will not be in vain. Whether it’s the brigade commander, the brigade staff, or myself, we will all report these achievements.”

He took another sip of his drink, then looked at Morin, as if suddenly remembering something.

"Oh, right, speaking of 'shaped charge armor-piercing projectiles,' remember to go to the Imperial Patent Office to apply for a patent when you get back to China."

"Apply for a patent?" Morin was taken aback.

"Of course!"

Ludwig looked at him with a 'Are you stupid?' expression.

"This is your invention, it's your intellectual property! Once the patent is applied for, you'll get a share of the profits for every single one produced—that's a lot of money!"

"Such a good thing?" Morin's eyes lit up.

To be honest, it was just an emergency measure to survive at the time, and I never expected it to bring any economic benefits.

"Then wouldn't I be able to apply for retirement and sit back and count my money after registering? As long as Armored Knight exists, I won't have to worry about selling my 'armor-piercing bullets' at all~" Morin said with a grin to Ludwig.

"."

Hearing Morin's words, Ludwig stared at the latter speechlessly, and could only utter one sentence in the end:
"You haven't changed at all!"

"But don't get too excited yet!"

Ludwig abruptly changed the subject, his expression becoming somewhat strange.

"Your 'Energy-Condensing Armor-Piercing Projectile' is quite different from ordinary weapon inventions. I estimate that it may completely change the way armored knights fight in the future. Therefore, this patent will most likely be listed as an Imperial secret patent."

"Confidential patent? What does that mean?" Morin asked.

"This means that the technology can only be controlled and used by the military and cannot be commercialized in any form. In other words, you can't make money by selling it to other countries or private individuals."

"Huh?" Morin was immediately disappointed. "Then my share of the profits is gone too?"

"The dividends are gone, but the Imperial Patent Office will pay you a lump sum compensation."

Ludwig thought for a moment and replied:

"However, the exact amount of this money depends on your own efforts to obtain it."

"Strive for it? How do we strive for it?"

"Go to court."

Ludwig uttered a word that left Morin speechless.

"Sue someone?" Morin thought he'd misheard. "Fight against whom?"

"With the Imperial Patent Office, and the military."

Ludwig spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something perfectly normal.

(End of this chapter)