Iron Powder and Spellcaster

"What's wrong?" Seeing that Winters held the doorknob and made no move, Moritz's expression was a little complicated: "You came back to me, maybe you just want me to help you with the accusation..."

Winters replied sternly: "Of course not. You still have to explain the information about the unidentified spell user yourself."

"Sooner or later, this day will come." Moritz chuckled and said leisurely: "There is no escape."

The lieutenant colonel seemed magnanimous, but in fact he had completely given up struggling. As the saying goes - a dead rat is not afraid of the cold.

Unable to escape, Winters knocked on the door.

A mellow male voice came from the room: "Please come in."

Winters opened the door stiffly and greeted as calmly and casually as possible: "Colonel Buca Chino...your alias is so random."

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz, who followed him through the door, stood at attention solemnly, raised his hand and saluted solemnly: "Lieutenant General."

Lieutenant General of the Army of the Republic of Veneta, Antonio Serbetti nodded in return, and then looked at Winters.

When did the father realize that his son was on an equal footing with him? We don't know.

But there must be an opportunity, the lion realizes that the cub has grown a mane, the father realizes that his son has grown up.

When that moment inevitably came, the emotions that flooded into my father's heart were not only relief and joy, but also sadness and anger.

Some fathers choose to embrace it calmly, while some fathers cannot bear it for the rest of their lives.

Antonio looked at Winters Montagne in this way, from left to right, from head to toe.

It is as if a blacksmith is looking at the most proud blade he has made in his life, and it is like a lion looking at its challenger.

Winters felt a little uncomfortable, so he stood at attention and saluted politely.

Antonio did not return the favor. He put his hand on Winters' shoulder and said with a variety of emotions and relief: "Alas... I am old."

Winters, the little bastard, can't understand Antonio's emotions. He is still young, like the rising sun, and has never been a father.

Unless one day, he is defeated by the children he raised - Angelou, Charles, and Bell - then he can realize one ten thousandth of the turmoil in Antonio's heart at this moment.

But it's a pity that the little ones haven't reached the "rebellious stage" yet. When they see Winters, they are as honest as puppies and only wag their tails hard. Naturally, Winters cannot understand Antonio.

And the son who ignores his father's rare sentiments is undoubtedly a bastard.

"You...don't be like this." Winters said awkwardly, "The lieutenant colonel still has something to report to you."

After saying that, Winters looked at Moritz with eyes asking for help. The message in those eyes was clear: Help!

Moritz knew the reason why he was specially sought out.

He took half a step back and asked politely: "General, may I come to visit you later?"

The room was completely silent.

"No need." Antonio waved his hand, sat back at the table, and motioned for Winters and Moritz to sit down as well.

Winters breathed a sigh of relief internally.

Antonio said something to Winters when he was very young. Winters has completely forgotten the specific words, but he only remembers that the meaning is roughly "We are men, and men do not exchange emotions among themselves."

Antonio did it this way, and Winters learned it this way.

The ascetic military academies education reinforces this point - in a society purely composed of men, weaklings will be bullied.

Therefore, faced with the sudden display of emotions from his adoptive father, Winters was a little at a loss.

He had imagined many situations in advance, but never thought that Antonio would say "Oh, I'm old."

Fortunately, the most difficult part was over. Winters sat down and told Antonio about his experiences after leaving the Red River Department - deleting some of the more arrogant parts.

As he told the story, Winters watched Antonio's expression carefully.

He was actually very scared. He was afraid that his adoptive father would disapprovingly say, "Aren't you just playing house?"

Winters doesn’t care what others think of him—or rather, he chooses not to care. But he hoped to gain approval from his adoptive father, even the smallest approval.

Antonio didn't make any judgments. He just listened patiently, nodding occasionally and occasionally asking questions.

The only praise Antonio gave was: "Your soldiers are good. Although their equipment and training are poor, they are very energetic."

After the story about Winters was finished, Antonio looked at Moritz: "The unidentified spell user is in Tiefeng County?"

"Yes." Moritz's tone became very formal: "The expression form of the unnatural phenomenon is consistent with the situation described in the [Red Sulfur Island Report]. Based on this, it is speculated that the Telton Department can control high-level spell users .”

Winters heard an unfamiliar phrase: "Red Sulfur Island Report."

He looked at his adoptive father and old boss. Apparently he was the only one of the three people here who didn't know what the "Red Sulfur Island Report" was.

Moritz continued: "But it is strange that in the next two major battles, the Telton Department did not receive any support from high-level spell users."

After learning that "a large wave appeared out of thin air and overturned the Tiefeng County fleet", Lieutenant Colonel Moritz Van Nasu disappeared.

To be precise, Moritz began to move freely, no longer obeying Mason's deployment, and no longer provided direct support to the Iron Peak County Army.

Mason was initially irritated, joking, half complaining, that "the lieutenant colonel was in hunting mode."

Winters understood Moritz's decision very well because he felt the same way.

Although spell users who directly participate in the battle are also scary, unknown spell users are the most dangerous.

Once any high-value target appears in front of a hidden spell user, it is likely to be killed without even being able to react.

Therefore, in the main battle with the Firebake, Winters did not participate in the assault until the last moment. Afterwards, Bard was so angry that he almost went crazy, and even Ciel was severely punished.

Considering that there might be spell users in the Teltown department, Bard resolutely prohibited Winters from participating in any actions that might expose him, and Winters also wrote a letter of guarantee.

Of course, it later turns out that the guarantee is useless paper - Bud is not here, and Mason is not here, who can control the blood wolf?

Antonio pondered and asked: "Is it possible that he is a priest from the Hed tribe? Divine magic?"

"It's possible. But judging from the actual performance, it's more likely to be a magician. A spellcaster from the United Provinces, or..." Moritz paused for a moment and slowly said a proper noun: "[Oathbreaker] .”

Antonio was not surprised. His fingertips tapped the tabletop lightly; "Complete the report as soon as possible, and I will personally bring Hailan back."

"yes."

The conversation between his adoptive father and the lieutenant colonel had entered unknown territory for Winters. He could roughly guess it, but he still wanted to hear more.

But the conversation between Antonio and Moritz was over.

Antonio looked at Winters. Winters felt nervous and quickly changed the subject: "I know a person. That person should know the inside story of the Telton Department! There is a high probability that he also knows the details of the spell users."

"Oh? Who?"

"The counselor of the Fire Keeper, he usually works as an interpreter in Tel Dun Khan Tent." Winters tried hard to recall the other person's name, but quickly gave up: "As for the real name... I don't know it yet."

"Where are the people?

"He may be among the prisoners, he may still be on the run, or he may be dead." Winters said firmly, "But he will never leave Tiefeng County. He is between the two rivers."

Winters then explained: "That man speaks Common Mandarin very well, and when he changes his clothes, he looks like an old man who can be seen everywhere. The heads and prisoners have not all been screened, and all the fleeing Terton people have not been captured, so the man's His whereabouts are unknown. But he will be caught sooner or later - alive or dead."

There was silence in the room again, and Antonio shook his head: "We'll talk about those things later, but let's talk about you first."

"I'm more surprised that you appeared in Tiefeng County." Winters still can't fully accept it until now. He even seems to be dreaming: "What should I do with the Third Army? Has the situation with the United Provinces eased? You...what are you? How did you get here?"

"I won't come." Antonio sighed: "Who else can take you away?"

Oops, Winters was worried.

"You kid, you are so cruel." Antonio looked at Winters accusingly: "Throw your sister and your aunt all in Hailan, you...what do you want me to say about you?"

Winters lowered his head, unable to answer.

What he feared most finally came. Until this moment, he could still convince himself by saying "Everything is fine in Hailan".

But when his adoptive father really came to him and questioned him, he could not give any answer.

If Antonio says "come home with me".

what to do?

If Antonio asks, "Are the Platons more important than your family?"

What to do?

He might actually go back to Veneta with his adoptive father, because to Winters Montagne, there was nothing more important than family—nothing.

But he couldn't leave Tiefeng County, not at least not now.

Therefore, until that moment arrives, Winters doesn't know what choice he will make. He can only hope that his adoptive father will not say those words.

Moritz resigned wisely: "I'll come visit you later."

Winters grabbed the Lieutenant Colonel and spoke very slowly and hard: "I can't leave...at least not now."

"Why?" Antonio asked.

"Lieutenant Colonel Moritz can testify." Winters looked at his adoptive father pleadingly, like a child who knows he has made a mistake: "It's not that I am proud of myself, but this is the fact - if I leave now, Tiefeng County will It’s all over!”

"A county will not collapse just because one person leaves." Antonio's eyes were stern: "Return Tiefeng County to the New Reclamation Army, they will be able to take over."

"The New Reclamation Army will not forgive my men, and the New Reclamation Army will not honor my promise." Winters stubbornly pushed back: "The New Reclamation Army cannot do as well as I did... They It’s not a lack of ability, it’s just not being able to do it the way I do.”

Moritz sighed and said seriously to the Lieutenant General: "I agree with what Captain Montagne said to a certain extent."

"There are still many things that I haven't finished yet." On one side of the scale were his family members, and on the other side were the corpses on the battlefield. Winters was about to be torn apart: "Those who died in the war, their surviving families have not yet received compensation. . The soldiers living in the wasteland have not yet been redeemed. Lower Tiefeng County was burned to ashes by me, and Middle Tiefeng County was smashed to pieces by me... At least they should be restored to their original appearance..."

Antonio looked at his son: "This is not your responsibility."

"It's my duty! I sent them to the battlefield, I sent them to die. I knew they were going to die! It must have been a massacre on the flanks, and I put them there anyway - I knew the Tertons Will kill them, I knew it from the beginning." The scars that had never healed in his heart were revealed bit by bit, and Winters' body was shaking violently: "Those people, they went to fight because they trusted me, but I did What, I fed their flesh and blood to the wolves..."

Antonio wanted to hug his son, but he couldn't.

"You can't cry," Antonio said. "If you're going to go this way, you can't cry."

He was silent for a long time and then slowly began to tell: "The old marshal once told us a joke. He said, 'As the saying goes, generals are advised to love the soldiers as much as they love their sons, and then the soldiers will be willing to die for you. But if the general really loves his son like his son, He loves the nurses as much as he does, so how can he bear to let them go to war?"

"We were all laughing at that time." Antonio also smiled, and his thoughts gradually became immersed in memories: "Your father was laughing too, and I was laughing too."

"But now, kid." Antonio looked at Winters with unspeakable pain in his eyes: "I regret letting you take this road."

…

At the same time, on the other side of the Shade Mountains, the heart of the empire-Wuyou Palace.

News of the victory has spread back to the Eternal City, and colorful flags are hung in the streets and alleys of the city to celebrate the victory.

Thirteen triangular flags were tied to each rope across the street, representing the thirteen victories the Imperial Army had achieved in the north over the past two years.

The big bells of each church also rang thirteen times, calling believers to come and watch the Victory Mass.

The grand banquet hall of Wulu Palace was brightly lit and decorated with flowers. Palace nobles of all sizes gathered here to deliver congratulations to His Majesty the Great Emperor.

And these are just small early celebrations, because the winner has not yet returned to the Eternal City.

When the generals return with the spoils of war and prisoners, there will be a grander and more magnificent triumphal ceremony and prisoner sacrifice ceremony.

His Majesty would come to the Colosseum in person in a magnificent chariot with four white horses, and the barbarian battle standards, weapons, and treasures would be thrown at the foot of his steps.

Then there will be an endless feast that will go down in history, and everyone who takes part will receive a gift.

Therefore, regardless of nobles or civilians, everyone in the Eternal City is looking forward to a fantastic grand triumph.

While triumphant songs were being played in the grand banquet hall and people were drinking and drinking, the protagonist of the banquet was alone in that small office.

The door opened a crack.

"Your Majesty." Count Narzia said outside the door, "His Royal Highness is here."

There is no need for the emperor to take any action. Count Narzia has already understood His Majesty's thoughts.

The door opened fully and a young man walked into the room.

Just looking at his appearance, the young man is an imposing young man, tall, handsome, and dashing. His deportment and demeanor indicate that he grew up in a privileged environment.

But that's all. He is still young after all. In an empire where beards represent masculinity, it is always difficult to do things without hair on the mouth.

But when people knew who the young man's father was, and when people knew that the young man was the legal heir of the empire, this young man who was less than twenty years old instantly became sacred and inviolable.

But what is very interesting is that if the old man in the oil painting is nine points similar to the emperor in front of the portrait, then only one point is passed on to the young man.

People say that it is because the bloodline of the Queen's family is too strong. Of course, there are also darker rumors quietly spreading in the sewers.

The door closed completely, leaving only the father and son alone.

The room was dark, with only one lamp lit.

The young prince narrowed his eyes, but did not dare to raise his head to look at his father behind the desk: "Your Majesty."

"Come here." The emperor said.

The young prince took a few steps forward.

"Come to me." The person in the lamp shadow seemed to be smiling.

The prince was a little surprised and walked steadily to the desk.

Although the emperor remained unsmiling in front of the prince, the prince was keenly aware that his father had become a little emotional at this moment...a little bit.

The emperor stood up, and under his command, the young prince sat on the emperor's seat.

It's not a throne, the coronation throne is placed in the main hall.

Anyone who is close to the highest power knows that this extremely simple chair in the small office in the corner of Wuyou Palace truly represents the highest power in charge of the empire.

"How do you feel?" the emperor asked with interest.

The young prince moved uncomfortably: "It's very hard."

"It's indeed very hard, and it hurts your butt." The emperor seemed to be talking about sexual arousal today, and even explained to his son: "But if you use soft cushions, you will sweat after sitting for a long time, and it will be very moist and uncomfortable."

The emperor looked kind and cheerful, but his son became more and more frightened.

A great father is the biggest obstacle to his son. In the eyes of the young prince, the divine side of his father far outweighs the human side, and he is more accustomed to that side.

But when God became a human being, when the emperor became a father, the young prince felt a little uncomfortable.

The emperor's fingertips traced the indentations and engravings on the desk: "The material of this desk comes from a warship. My father only started using it for daily office use."

The prince's eyes swept across the table. Not only were there stains of ink, but there were also crooked letters carved by young children. It was a very old desk.

"Since I can remember, my father." The emperor looked at the old man behind the desk: "He sat here and worked. From dawn to night. At noon, he would take a walk in the garden. After dinner, he would I’ll go for a walk on the street.”

Of course the prince had heard the story of the previous emperor, but the part he was more familiar with was that since a failed assassination, the previous emperor's walking range no longer left the Wuli Palace.

"This is the case every day. If he is not out patrolling or fighting, if he is not meeting his subjects, he will work here." The emperor looked at his son: "This is the case every day. He will not rest until very late."

Did it turn out that the previous emperor was very diligent? The prince didn't really understand.

"But do you know what people call him?" asked the emperor.

The prince was asked what he knew, but he did not dare to answer.

The emperor said calmly: "Richard, madman."

Richard IV, the mad emperor who lost all his territory south of the Shade Mountains, is known to everyone.

"When I was young, people respected my father as a warrior, a handsome man, and a pious man. But when he died, people called him a madman." The emperor asked: "What do you think people will call me after I die? ?”

"Great Emperor," the prince replied.

"No." The emperor was laughing: "They will call me - Henry, the man who slaughtered his relatives and betrayed his sacred oath."

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