Chapter 31: Well Done

Qiye crushed the clay tablet in his hand and said nonchalantly, "Just kill them all, problem solved."

Gilgamesh's smile grew wider, while the high priest, Siduri, was shocked, "Why can you say such terrible things with such a calm expression?"

Now Siduri thought Qiye was a creature sent to bewitch Gilgamesh—to incite him to kill the noble elders. You should know that those nobles are in charge of Uruk's governance. Killing them would cause the city to collapse.

"It was a joke, just a joke, don't take it seriously." Qiye waved his hand nonchalantly, cheerfully saying, "Let them oppose if they want, anyway, as long as you, Gilgamesh, follow the knowledge I provide, you can make Uruk develop rapidly."

In the end, the title of "Sage" was unilaterally bestowed upon Qiye by Gilgamesh, and he didn't care about this title which allowed him to sit at the same level as the gods.

Helping Gilgamesh agree to control southern Mesopotamia and sever the connection between gods and humans, allowing the gods to stay in the heavens forever—this was what Qiye hoped to achieve. Therefore, whether he gained immense power or a noble status, Qiye didn't care.

Perhaps, if Gilgamesh were to retract the power and status he bestowed upon Qiye under the pressure of those opposing noble elders, it would be a good thing for him.

After all, revealing himself too much might attract the attention of the gods, and Qiye didn't want to be targeted by them before sending them all to the skies.

Qiye exchanged a glance with Gilgamesh, who understood and looked at Siduri, saying, "I have something to discuss with the Sage, so you can leave for now, Siduri."

"Understood..."

Siduri left, extremely worried that Qiye might continue to bewitch Gilgamesh and make this tyrant issue even more terrifying orders, like killing all the noble elders!

Now, with only Qiye and Gilgamesh left in the palace, Gilgamesh went straight to the point, "What do you want to tell me? Do you have new knowledge to offer that can prosper Uruk?"

It was strange for a tyrant like him to be so eager to develop Uruk... He was truly a king that puzzled others.

"Don't be in such a hurry. Dealing with food shortages, collecting wealth, and building with bricks... these three things are enough to exhaust Uruk's residents. Don't move too fast; otherwise, they might stumble," Qiye shook his head.

Although Gilgamesh understood this principle, he also knew that enemies wouldn't just sit idly by and watch Uruk develop. The city was about to face invasion. If they could develop weapons capable of easily defeating the enemy before the war, it would be best.

"Oh, then don't disappoint me, Sage. After all, I bear a lot of pressure, conferring upon you the title of Sage," Gilgamesh pointed to the mountain of clay tablets.

"Who wants this title of Sage? It's your own decision. Clearly, everything could have been done discreetly in secret. Yet you chose to make such a fuss, making me feel uneasy while walking on the streets, with Uruk's residents pointing and whispering," Qiye said sarcastically to Gilgamesh.

"Since you have already collected the seashells, instruct the soldiers to clean the mud and other things on them and crush them into a powder for me."

"I also need nitric acid. For that, um..." Qiye's expression changed slightly as he wore a slightly troubled look.

"Where is the place Uruk disposes of its waste? I need someone to collect it. I need the waste to ferment and obtain nitric acid."

Hearing Qiye's words, Gilgamesh's expression momentarily froze. He didn't think that those... um, things, could be part of a dreadful weapon. Although... in a way, waste was pretty terrifying too.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, the soil told me so," Qiye nodded, "Calcium carbonate, mixed with nitric acid, becomes potassium nitrate, and then, with 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur, it becomes gunpowder."

"What are calcium carbonate and potassium nitrate?"

"...I don't know either; the soil told me." Qiye shrugged.

He actually knew, but explaining it to Gilgamesh would be troublesome, so he didn't want to elaborate.

"Tsk." Gilgamesh clicked his tongue.

"If I obtain all these materials, how long will it take you to make this weapon?"

"If all the materials are gathered, then it only requires thorough mixing and compacting, and it will be gunpowder. So it won't take much time," Qiye said.

Then, put the gunpowder into pottery or iron containers... and that's how this terrifying weapon, gunpowder, came to exist in this ancient era.

As for why ancient nuclear warheads no longer existed now? Well, there's an explanation later on.