Iron Powder and Spellcaster

Time is the most ruthless force, it never stops for anyone.

Only a few days had passed since the Night of the Fire, and the flames, riots, and attacks were already like broken bubbles. Everyone inside had witnessed its appearance and disappearance, but could not remember their exact appearance.

This is where memories diverge, and people begin to tell their own versions of stories about cavalry that shattered glaciers, fire tornadoes that devoured churches, and conspiracies that hovered over the city.

No matter what, life goes on - even if life itself is just a journey of suffering, Steel Castle has begun to move on.

The bloodstains in the municipal square were washed away, and the furniture and carriages blocking the river were salvaged.

With the assistance of the garrison, the temporary rationing system was implemented in Steel Fort, and the shops and markets on the north shore that were less severely affected also resumed business.

Officers from the artillery section of the garrison were urgently deployed to assist city government employees in surveying and mapping the burned-out old city.

The city council urgently passed a compulsory decree: it is strictly prohibited for any citizen to rebuild their houses without authorization, "violators will be severely punished", and "all reconstruction must wait until the land property rights are clarified before proceeding."

As order was restored, the garrison gradually handed over control of the steel fort to the city government.

The Municipal Palace once again became the political center of Steel Castle, with an endless stream of people passing news, sending orders, and filing lawsuits and petitions.

The parish guild headquarters across the square from the Municipal Palace seemed much deserted - the door of this stately four-story masonry building was closed, and no cars, horses or pedestrians were seen entering or exiting.

The citizens of Steelborg used to say that Elin Cathedral, the Municipal Palace and the parish guild headquarters symbolized the three pillars of the city - faith, power and wealth.

Today, faith has collapsed in fire and storm, and wealth has been destroyed in riots and fires.

Power - The Municipal Palace, which was originally in last place, rose up with the help of the power of the army and became the real master of the Steel Castle.

However, at this moment, inside the thick and cold stone walls of the guild headquarters, a ball of lava is brewing that may change the fate of Steel Castle.

"It's already this fucking time!" Iron Hand Geisberg's roar almost broke through the door of the Arbitration Hall: "What the hell is there not to do?! Why the hell can't I explain it to you clearly!"

Iron Hand's speech ended with a loud bang of his fist hitting the table and his unwilling yelling.

Then came the hoarse voice of an old man: "No matter what their intentions are, that... what the lady said is correct. The embargo will still exist for one day before Plato's battle is over. If Plato... The battle in Latu has been going on for ten years, how can we go ten years without starting work?”

"How can we not start work?" Another gloomy voice retorted: "Even if the waterway in Plato is impassable, we can still sell the goods to the imperial people, or transfer them through Varn."

Iron Hand seemed to be sitting on a red-hot iron, and he suddenly jumped up from the chair: "Transport it from Wahn? Who can afford it? We are all looking for business from the imperial guys, do you want us to exclude ourselves? [Broken due to anger The blacksmith’s foul language]!”

The humiliated master of the forge also got up in arms and responded with vicious Monta swear words, not to be outdone. If it weren't for the fact that the Helvetic people didn't have the custom of dueling, the two of them might have spilled their blood in the Arbitration Hall.

Even so, Iron Hand's sad and angry questions still echoed among the stone walls: "Why don't you understand? Why don't you understand? This is our opportunity! An opportunity to regain our strength!"

At the other end of the corridor, Winters and Anna were visiting the archives at the guild headquarters.

The "Baron and Mrs." were supposed to be waiting for the Executive Committee's final reply in the drawing room, where the fireplace was warm and the hosts had thoughtfully prepared hot wine and pastries.

But Winters was very curious about everything about the Steel Castle Parish Headquarters and offered to visit the guild headquarters, and the host generously agreed.

The master of the forge who was assigned to lead the baron and his wife to visit stood outside the archives and proudly introduced: "Your Excellency, what you are about to see is the entire history of Steel Castle."

As the heavy oak door was pushed open, a scent of insect repellent herbs and moldy parchment spread out.

The introducer sneezed, left the lantern outside the door, covered his nose, walked to the wall, and opened the sealed window. Fresh air and sunlight flowed into the room together, and Winters was able to see the entire archive room clearly:

A wooden frame nearly two people high extends from the floor to the vault, and wooden frames of the same specifications fill the corridor-like file room.

The narrator's fingertips traced from in front of him to the end of the room: "From the initial charter issued by Bishop Elin to the Swordsmiths' Guild, to the contract witnessing the merger of the Swordsmiths' Guild and the Grinders' Guild, to the head office. Declaration of the founding of the Guild. All the important documents of the Blacksmiths’ Guild and the Head Guild are here, kept in chronological order—the originals.”

Winters listened and nodded.

Just looking at the way the baron was listening attentively, the lecturer almost thought that the main purpose of the baron's visit to the guild headquarters today was to visit, and the negotiation with the executive committee was just a side event.

…

About an hour ago, Baron Granach and his wife visited the headquarters of the Steel Castle Guild together. They were received by all the executive members of the Blacksmith Guild who had arrived early.

However, the next development was beyond the expectations of the executive committee members: the person who actually explained the plan to the forge masters and answered their questions was not the "mighty" Baron Granach, but the more mysterious Baroness.

At the beginning, the forge masters looked at the baroness who was too young and too beautiful with contempt, doubt and distrust.

But as the other party started talking, the atmosphere in the arbitration hall gradually became serious and heavy.

Anna first briefly analyzed the dilemma of Steel Castle:

As long as Plato's war does not end, the steel castle will only deteriorate day by day;

Even if it can persist until the end of the war, the dominance of Steel Castle will be taken over by other iron producing areas;

This city prospered because of the connection of waterways, and it will also perish because of the interruption of waterways.

"As long as the trade ban continues, even if we can buy all your inventory now, we will not be able to prevent the steel industry from shrinking in the future. This is reality, although it is sad, but it is bound to happen. Of course, there is always There are some ways to get around the ban, such as smuggling. But if the risks are taken into account, the expected return for you from smuggling is always... a loss."

Anna said softly: "So please do consider our offer of olive branch seriously."

Winters' proposal has been forwarded to the Executive Committee through Councilor Servetus, and Anna does not need to elaborate on the specific plan. Anna came before the Executive Committee today, both to give an ultimatum and to make a last-ditch effort.

"No longer just exporting iron tools, but exporting manpower; no longer just exporting resources, but exporting technology. No longer just exporting commodities, but exporting..." Anna said this, suddenly stopped, she considered After a long time, I finally selected the most accurate ancient word: "[wealth]."

The forge masters of the blacksmith guild looked at each other, unable to understand the unfamiliar pronunciation in each other's mouths.

Anna smiled sweetly and explained: "That is the sum of all movable and immovable properties."

…

The quarrel in the arbitration hall could be heard clearly in the ears of Winters and Anna even across the corridor. The master of the forge who was responsible for the reception looked a little embarrassed and explained the history of Steel Castle even more diligently.

Anna leaned close to Winters and asked quietly with a little uneasiness and worry: "Did what I just said not be good enough? I'll try to talk to them again."

Winters patted Anna's hand on his arm. The closer to the last moment, the more relaxed he became: "Just let them fight out the results themselves."

He then joked: "But to be honest, your speech level is really not very good. If I have time, I will teach you."

Anna glared at Winters calmly.

"You act too rational and you imagine the other person to be too rational." Winters sighed: "But you have to know that most of the time, people don't make decisions based on reason."

"Sorry." The commentator walking in front turned around and asked sheepishly: "What are you asking about?"

"Nothing." Winters asked with a smile: "I heard that the guild headquarters keeps records of all forge transfers? Are they also kept in this archives?"

"Transfer of forges?" The commentator was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted and pointed to the wooden frame against the wall: "Oh, yes, it's here too. It's on that row of shelves. According to the regulations, all forges are transferred It must be recorded in the guild, otherwise it will not be counted."

"Can I take a look?" Winters asked.

The narrator looked troubled: "Sorry, those who are not members of the blacksmith's guild cannot view those files."

"Okay then." Winters didn't force it, and continued walking and chatting with the guide: "I'm still a little curious, how many registered forges are there in Steel Castle now?"

"Including iron smelting furnaces, forging furnaces, and heat treatment furnaces." The commentator thought carefully: "There are probably more than four hundred."

"Has it always been this much?"

"Of course not." The narrator replied with a smile: "It was just a few at the beginning, right? Slowly there are more and more."

But he then added: "But in the past thirty years - in my memory, at least twenty-five years, the number of forges has not increased."

"Why?"

"Why else?" The narrator's tone was rather complicated: "The guild no longer allows the registration of new forges."

"So that's it." Winters responded and asked with a smile, "Where should I visit next?"

…

On the other side, in the Arbitration Hall, the Executive Committee still could not reach a consensus.

"Don't just think about eating meat, but also think about the risks!" Someone advised earnestly: "Have you never thought that they might turn their backs on you? Even if they keep their promises, so what? At best, they are just a group of Plato. They're just warlords! We gave them our skills and wealth, but if they were defeated and perished, what would we do?"

"They don't want your money or your efforts. As long as you help them!" Tie Shou shouted back on the spot: "They don't even need you to help them, as long as you agree to help them!"

The other party asked back: "Isn't Churen a member of Chugang Castle? A member of the Blacksmith Guild? Isn't Churen one of our blacksmith brothers?"

Iron Hand responded sarcastically: "I'm really sorry, I'm sorry I found out so late - it turns out you care so much about the paid blacksmith brothers in your workshop!"

Finally, old Schmid couldn't stand listening any more and slapped the table and yelled: "That's enough!"

Both parties to the dispute stopped talking, and the arbitration hall fell silent briefly.

Tie Shou held it in for a long time, but still couldn't help it. He stood up with support on the table, looked at the other forge owners, gritted his teeth and said:

"Let me tell you something - since you are picking up gold in a cesspit, don't keep trying to save face! Don't you understand? This is a costless and profitable business for us! We don't have to pay anything! As long as we agree to relax the restrictions on the guild oath, we can get a huge industry for free - an industry that may rival Steel Castle in the future!

You keep talking about risk, risk, risk! But why don’t you think about the benefits? Think about it! Produce iron directly in Plato! Sold to both sides of the war! Maybe even more than we made at Steel Castle! If you don’t take risks, how can you eat the fattest and juiciest piece of meat? ! "

Iron Hand looked at the executive committee members in front of him, was silent for a moment, and said coldly: "Even if all the blacksmiths sent die in Plato, at least we don't have to worry about how to pay them anymore. Don't we?"

This frank statement pierced the darkest corner of everyone's heart, making the other forge masters sitting there shudder.

"Shut up!" Old Schmid smashed the long table and shuddered: "What the hell are you talking about!"

Tie Shou snorted and sat down without changing his expression.

After a while, someone whispered again: "In the past, when someone defected, the Executive Committee came out to offer a reward to kill them. Now the Executive Committee wants to endorse those who broke the guild oath, and everyone will not be convinced."

Iron Hand's anger suddenly rose again, and he spat viciously: "Back then, the Oathbreakers lured away so many traitors, why didn't any of you dare to speak? I was the first to say that I would put a bounty on the heads of those traitors. Aren't you all trembling with fear from the oathbreakers? Now you are holding on to the guild oath and won't let go! Bah!"

The iron hand that completely tore one's face was not something that other people present could withstand. The person who just spoke was scolded into silence and shut his mouth in embarrassment.

Seeing this, Old Schmid looked helplessly towards the end of the long table and towards Senator John Servetus, who had been silent all this time: "Your Excellency, please say something."

Servetus was silent for a moment and slowly stood up.

…

[reception room]

"Sorry." John Servetus looked guilty and nodded slightly to the Baron and his wife: "Can you give us another day? Tomorrow, we will definitely give you a definite answer."

Winters smiled, stood up and left: "No problem."

Anna dragged Winters, sat down, and asked persistently: "Can you tell me why I need an extra day?"

"This matter is too important for the executive committee to make a decision."

"Who else can?"

Servetus pursed his lips and said, "All forge masters."

[I went to work early, so I may not be able to update stably recently, sorry]

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