Chapter 157 — Firearms Project Begins
S.C. 1511 — Early March
Foosha Village — Ren's Underground Lab
The low hum of the battery generator filled the lab with a steady vibration.
Ren tightened the strap of his apron and set a series of sketches on the table:
rifled barrel blueprint
trigger mechanism
simple bolt-action design
paper cartridges
KEA lining test ideas
He touched the diagram lightly.
"Today… we start real firearms."
Zemo sat on the stool beside him, tail flicking.
Kiro leaned against the wall, notebook ready.
Ren pointed to the page.
"We'll start small. A simple rifle. No KEA parts yet—just iron and steel."
Kiro nodded. "Something basic first. Makes sense."
Ren exhaled and began.
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Step 1 — Barrel Making
Ren heated metal rods in the forge, turning them slowly with tongs.
The orange glow lit the room.
He hammered the softened rod, shaping it evenly.
Kiro pumped the foot bellows, keeping the fire hot.
Zemo watched carefully—every spark, every motion.
Once the rod was long and narrow enough, Ren switched to the hand-drill rig he built weeks ago.
The bit spun smoothly thanks to the new battery.
The rod slowly hollowed.
Millimeter by millimeter.
Hours passed.
Finally—
A thin channel opened through the entire length.
Ren held it up.
"Good. Now rifling."
This was the real challenge.
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Step 2 — Rifling the Barrel
Ren attached a spiral-cut tool to the drill shaft.
Kiro steadied the barrel.
Ren kept the angle perfectly aligned with telepathic micro-adjustments, ensuring the spiral grooves stayed consistent.
The drill whirred.
Metal dust pooled on the table.
After a long hour, Ren blew through the barrel.
Clear air passed through.
Kiro leaned in. "The grooves look perfect."
Ren nodded.
This would stabilize bullets—reduce tumbling, increase accuracy.
---
Step 3 — The Receiver & Bolt
Ren shaped a metal block into the receiver frame, hammering with precise rhythm.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
He drilled the bolt channel next.
Zemo barked at each loud strike, slightly irritated.
Ren smirked. "Sorry."
Kiro inspected the half-finished bolt. "This part needs to slide smoothly."
"Yes," Ren replied, applying oil. "No friction. No sticking."
He fitted the bolt in place.
It clicked.
Smooth.
Clean.
Functional.
---
Step 4 — Cartridge Experiments
Ren placed three small piles of materials on the table:
paper roll
fine black powder
metal ball projectiles
Kiro stepped back instinctively.
Zemo hid behind a stool.
Ren rolled the paper into tight tubes, sealed one end with a bit of clay paste, and measured tiny amounts of powder.
"A small charge," he muttered. "No more than this. We don't want a misfire."
He inserted a metal ball and sealed the second end.
Kiro slowly peeked forward. "Looks… dangerous."
"It is," Ren said honestly. "But controlled danger."
---
Step 5 — Assembling the Rifle
Ren fitted the barrel into a wooden stock he carved two days earlier.
The bolt clicked into place.
The trigger mechanism slid in neatly.
Finally, he held the completed prototype rifle in both hands.
Simple.
Clean.
Solid.
Kiro let out a low whistle. "Ren… this feels like something the Navy would pay fortunes for."
Ren didn't answer.
He just tested the bolt again.
Smooth.
No grinding.
---
Interruption: Luffy Chaos (as always)
Just as Ren was checking the stock alignment—
BANG!!
The lab door burst open.
"RENNNNNNNNNN!!!!!"
Ren almost dropped the rifle.
Kiro choked on air.
Zemo slammed into a wall.
Luffy burst in, waving meat skewers.
"Look! Makino gave me extra! Want some?!"
Ren stared at him.
Then at the rifle.
Luffy stared at the rifle.
Then at Ren.
"What's that? A big stick? Oh! A MEAT SHOOTER?!"
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No, Luffy."
Kiro wheezed from laughter.
Zemo looked embarrassed for everyone.
---
Step 6 — Test Shot (Outside)
Ren, Kiro, and Luffy walked to the cliffside clearing.
Zemo carried the ammo pouches in his mouth.
Ren placed a wooden target 20 meters away.
He loaded a paper cartridge.
Slid the bolt.
Aimed.
Controlled his breathing.
Exhale—
BANG!
The sound echoed.
The wood splintered.
Luffy jumped ten feet backward.
"WHAT WAS THAT?! DO IT AGAIN!"
Ren lowered the rifle.
The shot was clean. Straight. Powerful.
Kiro wrote quickly. "Minimal recoil… good stability."
Zemo barked proudly.
Ren allowed himself a small smile.
"It works."
---
Evening — Adjustments
Back at the lab, Ren disassembled the rifle, checking:
barrel integrity
rifling wear
bolt friction
trigger response
Everything was stable.
He wrote a note:
Rifle Prototype V1 — Successful
Next improvements:
• stronger bolt steel
• KEA-lined barrel
• improved cartridge sealing
• longer-distance test
Zemo curled beside him.
Kiro cleaned the spare tools.
Ren whispered:
"This is only the beginning. Tomorrow… we refine it."
The lamp glowed softly.
The night was quiet.
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End of Chapter 157