Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 326 The fastest way to upgrade three levels in a row

"Iron Peak County gets the flour, the Veneta Army gets the war horses, and the Paratus get the money and weapons." With Antonio's final answer, Winters asked Leo bluntly: "As a middleman, what do you want to get? ?"

   "Stable supply of raw materials." Leo had already made up his mind and added calmly: "And stable trade channels."

   Winters frowned, tired of Leo's diplomatic rhetoric.

   No matter what question he asks, the fat Navarre firm partner can prevaricate with nonsense without error. Every time he threw a punch, it seemed to fall into the air.

   Staring at Leo's submissive smile, Winters was annoyed to find that he was not good at such scenes.

  The restrained politician may have the patience to slowly figure out Leo's cards, and Winters is eager to overturn the table at the moment, punching the smiling face in front of him.

   That familiar rage gushed out from the deepest part of his chest, and was quickly suppressed again.

   After a deep breath, Winters spoke again: "Mr. Leo."

  Leo nodded slightly.

   "If it was a year ago, you should have been taken to the dungeon and tortured by now." Winters said sadly and sincerely: "That is a good time."

   "Yes." Leo's smile was still submissive: "The past is always beautiful."

   "You think I'm threatening you?" Winters continued.

   "What I think doesn't matter." Leo replied humbly: "How you think matters."

"This is the far reaches of Palato, the corner of the alliance, and even the edge of the civilized world. In Hailan, talking around the corner is regarded as a language art. But in Iron Peak, that language art has no meaning. Winters turned his eyes from the window back to Leo: "I just wanted to tell you this."

  Leo tilted his head slightly, waiting for the complicated young man in front of him to continue speaking.

   "What do you want and what you can provide, just say it directly, and I will answer you directly." Winters' mood gradually turned cold: "Don't waste time on meaningless things."

  Leo kept his smile and shook his head slightly inwardly. Negotiations are always in a hurry and suffer from losses. Setting a deadline is also a strategy, but it is not suitable for use now.

   But after asking himself, Leo also felt that the other party had something to say - this is not Hailan, this is not a negotiation, not to mention that he is not here to embarrass the other party.

"Please believe that we are on your side." Leo leaned forward, spread his palms, and explained: "Tiefeng County is in urgent need of food, and the army is in urgent need of war horses. To solve the problem as soon as possible, a third party is needed to provide turnover. ."

  Leo's strategy is simple and simple.

   He regarded the local government of Parato as a "reservoir".

One end of the    pool is connected to Iron Peak County, and the other end is connected to Veneta. One end enters the water, and the other end simultaneously exits the water.

   Iron Peak County delivered horses and funds to the Paratus, and Veneta also delivered weapons and food to the Paratus.

The   Plateau side dispatched food to Iron Peak County and dispatched horses to the Veneta Army.

   "Very bold." After listening to Leo's [big plan], Winters commented with a blank expression: "It's also very imaginative."

   "Very bold, that is, taking great risks." Leo immediately understood Winters' overtones and laughed: "It is very imaginative, but it is impossible to achieve."

   Winters snorted lightly when his thoughts were spoken.

  Leo's plan sounds simple, but it's actually like a fantasy.

  From Tiefeng County to Veneta, we have to traverse three provinces, passing through many counties and towns.

   A caravan might be able to disguise itself as a Praetian caravan and move unobtrusively. However, such a big move as Leo said, how many military and political personnel are involved?

   "I believe you can buy one Palauan, and I also believe you can buy ten." Winters asked inexplicably: "But can you buy all the Palauans?"

   Mr. Leo smiled and shrugged: "You don't have to worry about that."

   Winters frowned a little bit, and his expression became serious. He looked at Leo's eyes scrutiny, and asked in a deep voice: "You won't... Really buy all the Platoons, right?"

   "If you trust me." Leo stood up and bowed slightly: "I am willing to represent you to discuss with the people in Palato who are involved in the plan."

   "What do I have to offer?" Winters asked.

   "War horse, money." Leo replied: "And sincerity."

   "Sincerity?"

  Leo explained calmly: "As for Paratus, it will take some time to confirm the supplies and open up the joints."

   "What do you mean." Winters is not asking, but sneering: "I will hand over the things first, and then will I bring in the food, and then see the face of the Paratus?"

   "No, no, no, after receiving the baggage provided by the army, Paratus will deliver it to you immediately. It only requires two-phase confirmation, and the courier will also delay the round-trip."

   "That's not the same thing!" Winters also stood up suddenly: "How do I know they won't default on their bills?"

   "If you are really worried." Mr. Leo's fat face shone with sincerity: "Our firm is willing to provide a guarantee."

   Winters wanted to refute, but vaguely sensed something strange. He sat down slowly, and Mr. Leo's eyes followed him.

   After a moment of contemplation, Winters raised his head: "No."

   "What..." Leo asked with interest: "Isn't it?"

   "You're not trying to convince the Paratus people." Winters looked at Leo: "You're here to convince me!"

   Mr. Leo was still smiling, noncommittal.

Winters sorted out his thoughts and said slowly: "Although I don't know where you got such great energy, I have a vague feeling that you have bought the Platonic people. I just can't figure it out, since that's the case, why do you need to persuade you? Me? Is it difficult to let the caravan go around Tiefeng County? What do you want?"

  Leo circumvented the trap lightly, and replied seriously: "In fact, things are not as complicated as you think. Our firm - or all the members of the Veneta Wool Textile Association - in the final analysis, just wants wool."

   "You still haven't answered my question." Winters held on to the key point: "Why me?"

  Mr. Leo originally wanted to say the usual diplomatic rhetoric, but after a pause, he smiled again: "Because it's you, so it's you."

   Winters' first reaction was that Leo was trying to prevaricate him, but Leo's expression was very sincere, and his intuition told him that the other party was not lying.

   If I ask again, I'm afraid I won't be able to ask anything, except by torture. There's no point in continuing to struggle.

   "This matter... I can't answer you now." Winters stood up and said goodbye to Leo: "I need to discuss with others before I can give you an answer."

   As soon as the voice fell, Winters saw a moment in Leo's face... strange, surprised, interested.

   And only for a moment, so short that Winters couldn't help but suspect that it was an illusion. You must know that during the entire conversation, Winters did not see Leo showing any "defense" emotions.

   "No problem." Leo smiled and bowed slightly: "Waiting for good news."

   Winters wanted to talk to Leo about Anna, but the atmosphere of the conversation had changed, and he had no interest in talking about private matters. So he also bowed his head and left.

   Later, Winters brought a reply.

Provisional Resolution - Winters, Bud and Mason voted 2 to 1 to approve the following: "Warhorses, can be delivered first, which is two squadrons. But currency won't work, and the vaults in Iron Peak are now I can't take out a single piece of silver."

   "No problem, the supplies provided by Veneta are enough to make the water flow." Leo responded with a sigh, and suddenly smiled brightly: "As for the question of money... Maybe there is a way."

  …

  …

  What is the way Leo said, I won't mention it here.

  The hour hand moves forward to return to the farewell meeting.

   Winters and Leo give Andre a general explanation of the "displacement trade" of Ironpeak, Palato and Veneta.

   Andre was very unhappy when he heard that the war horse was handed over to the Palatine.

   "Then... how much do you want to give?" Andre asked Winters with a sad face.

   Winters didn't want to mention the secret in front of Leo, so he appeased Lieutenant Cellini: "Go back and talk, and let Senior Mason tell you carefully."

  Andre wanted to ask, but seeing Leo was present, he also understood what Winters meant.

   Feeling aggrieved in his heart, Andre's spearhead went to Leo: "What's up with you?"

   "Me?" Mr. Leo pointed to himself, looking surprised.

   "Even if it's business." Andrei asked fiercely: "Why are you talking on our behalf?"

Before Winters could speak, Leo had already answered, and he explained with a submissive expression: "Please rest assured, I definitely did not sell out the interests of several of your Excellencies. I went to negotiate because only if I go, there is room for relaxation. ."

   "Oh?" Andrei disagreed.

"If you go to negotiate, Your Excellency." Leo looked at Winters again and said with a smile: "Or Your Excellency Montagne. Once the negotiation breaks down, there will be no chance. And I, a trivial person, come out first, Even if the negotiation collapses, several Your Excellencies can save the situation. You say, isn't that the case?"

  Andre smacked his lips: "It seems to make sense."

  Winters took a sip of the fermented water—the situation was not right. If you can fool it for the time being, just fool it and explain it to Andre later.

  Mr. Leo understood Andre's hostility, so he didn't plan to talk any more, he found a reason and left.

   In this small circle of conversations, only Winters and Andre were left.

   After drinking a small bucket of fermented water, Andre loosened the red satin belt embroidered with loose gold, and said solemnly, "No, I have to go to the toilet."

   After saying that, he turned to leave.

   "Wait, aren't you trying to escape?" Winters grabbed Andre.

   "How can I be that kind of person." Andrei suddenly became anxious: "I really want to go to the toilet!"

   Winters let go of his hand suspiciously, and Andre strode away, leaving Winters alone in the banquet hall.

   The two were drinking and chatting, and the difference was not obvious.

   When only Winters, a Veneta, was left in the ocean of Platonic dialects, a sense of loneliness came to my mind in an instant.

  Looking around, the officers from Palato’s native place laughed and sang and drank, while the gentlemen of Geverdan formed a group of three or five, each in a circle.

   "Is Anna still waiting for me?" Winters thought. He wanted to leave, but couldn't.

   Someone was approaching, and Winters instinctively looked at the source of the sound: a bald, scarred-faced man and a thin man pulled another tall soldier over.

   The first two were the military chief of Baishan County, "Colonel Geisa" and the former Tiefeng County military chief, "Major Ronald".

   The person who followed, Winters did not know, but obviously his status was not low.

  Gesar and Ronald were both school officers, and as a captain, Winters obeyed the rules and gave the military salute first.

  Gisa was startled, then returned the salute.

   Since Winters offered to return a thousand horses, Geisa's attitude towards him has softened a lot.

  The bald Colonel was delighted and agreed to Winters' request to return the captives - Winters and three arrows were kept in Gaisa's prison.

  When the strange soldier looked at Winters, Winters was also watching each other.

  The visitor is tall, with sunken eye sockets, and his expression is somewhat gloomy.

"This is the garrison officer of Leiqun County, Colonel Skool." Gaisa took the initiative to introduce Winters, as if worried that Winters would not understand, Gaisa additionally explained: "Most of the hussars I brought are thunder. people from the county."

   Winters listened and gave Colonel Skool a separate salute.

Colonel   School did not return the salute. He looked at Winters with complicated eyes: "What issue are you in?"

   "21 issue." Winters replied.

   "It's already the 21st issue." Colonel Skool sighed with emotion, and suddenly asked Winters straight to the point: "Did you kill Zyber?"

   Zeppel? Winters stabbed, but he couldn't remember who it was. He kept searching in his memory, and soon realized that this was the name of the garrison officer in Vigne.

   really came, this kind of thing is inevitable.

   "Although I didn't kill Colonel Zeppel myself. But as the supreme commander of the other side, Colonel Zeppel did die in my hands."

   Hurry up. If you want to insult or seek revenge, let’s have a good time.

  …

   At the same time, on the balcony on the second floor of the banquet hall, Lieutenant Colonel Moritz was passing a bottle of spirits with a wine friend who had met by chance.

"When we meet on the battlefield, that is the enemy, clearly and clearly." Moritz leaned against the corner, propped up his legs, and said dully: "Now that we have become cousins, things are constantly being cut off, and things are still in chaos. It’s hard to tell apart…”

   Captain Morrow stood against the wall and said nothing.

  …

   Colonel Skool's nose widened, and the words were about to blurt out, but he held back.

   The two of them stood face to face like this, and neither of them spoke.

   "Don't make it difficult for children." Ronald put his hand on Scholl's shoulder: "If Zebble has a chance...the same."

   Ronald was speaking for Winters, but his words stinged Winters like a branding iron.

"Don't 'excuse' me in this way, and please don't do it." Winters stood up straight, he had a lot to say, but in the end he filtered out only a short sentence: "Kill Colonel Zipper. My behavior followed my subjective wishes. It was not forced by the situation or forced to be helpless.”

   Colonel Skool's body suddenly tensed, and his cheeks were twitching.

  If Skull was a reckless, innocent, one-gut-through [excretory cavity] guy, he would yell, yell, and even raise his fist to teach this ignorant kid.

   But Skull is not, on the contrary, since he entered the Luyuan, he has been known for his thoughtfulness and eloquence.

   It was just a short conversation, and Skool had realized that torture, censure, and questioning could not shake the person in front of him.

   In the end, thousands of words came together into a powerless sentence: "Is it worth it? Do you really think it's worth it?"

   Winters also fell silent.

Winters didn't know where the road was going. He didn't know what the end point was like. Even what he wanted in the first place was a little vague.

   However, just groping and taking a step, blood filled the footprints under his feet.

  The battlefield with corpses scattered everywhere in the morning light, the tragic scene is enough to make anyone doubt themselves.

"Whether it's worth it, I don't know...I'm afraid it will take many years to know." Winters whispered, "I'm not saying this to rationalize behavior or self-esteem. I'm just making sure of one thing, let it go. The status quo continues, and sooner or later there will be a bigger catastrophe."

   Colonel Geisa and Major Ronald didn't quite understand Winters' "crazy talk", but Colonel Skool did.

   "Don't talk about these metaphysical things." Skool's eyes were burning: "I want to ask you a more realistic question - do you want to continue fighting?"

  School pressed aggressively: "Can you keep fighting?"

   Winters suddenly realized that his conversation with Colonel Skool could omit a lot of intermediate content and go straight to the point.

   And Skool was definitely not trying to test his resolve.

   "So what?" Winters asked rhetorically.

  …

  …

   Two hours later.

   "So what?" Andrei asked impatiently.

  Bard and Mason were also waiting with all their attention. Except for Mr. A and Mr. B, all the decision-makers of Iron Peak County were already sitting at this small table.

   "They're going to recruit us," Winters said.

   [Late...Orz]

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   (end of this chapter)