Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 366 Mountains

   The legendary beast-fighting show has come to an end, but the story isn't quite over yet.

   Siegfried was held high by unknown people and carried all the way to the bottom of the royal viewing platform, along with the carcass of the bison.

  The waving of the flag on the viewing platform means that the emperor gave Siegfrid the honor of cutting off the ears and tail of the beast.

  Everyone put Siegfried down gently, and Fanan finally found a chance to talk to Siegfried: "How is it?"

   Siegfried hugged his left arm, gritted his teeth and replied, "It's all right."

   He staggered towards the bull's carcass. This majestic and wild animal was lying quietly on the ground at the moment, staring at the sky absentmindedly, still calm.

   For some reason, the desire for victory and conquest that had stirred up Siegfried's heart just now disappeared.

   He felt no joy or pride, no achievement or joy, unlike when he stepped into the palace of Karl XI.

   looked up at the stands, the girl he had been dreaming about was no longer there, Siegfried suddenly felt absurdity and powerlessness soaking through his body.

   He looked down at the bull. If it weren't for this impulsive and meaningless fight, this majestic and fit animal might still be free to run, live and reproduce in the wilderness.

  Farnan saw that Siegfried was slow to cut off the beast's ears, so he drew out his sword to do it for Siegfried.

   "Don't." Siegfrieda stayed with Farnan.

  Fannan saw Siegfried's struggle, his eyes were full of sympathy, but his attitude could not be refuted: "Some things must be done, otherwise it is an insult to the Castilians... Let me do it."

The    flag was raised, but the Xinke Legendary Gladiator refused to cut off the beast's ears and tail, and the surrounding Castilians gradually felt something different.

   Siegfried stood and stared at the corpse of the vision cow: "I should listen to you."

"It's over, don't think too much." Fanan sighed and reached out to close the bull's eyes: "No matter what you choose, from the moment it is captured, it is doomed to die in the arena. You are the opponent. , it also counts as an honorable death."

   "How can a senseless death be honorable?"

  Fannan didn't answer, but possessed and cut off the bull's ears and tail, wrapped it in a cloak and put it into Siegfried's hands. He took Siegfrid's arm and held the trophy aloft.

   Deafening cheers rang out, and the surrounding young nobles rushed forward, trying to lift the legendary gladiator high and out of the hunting grounds according to tradition.

   "Back off!" Farnan protected Siegfried: "He's injured! Don't disturb him! Count Harlan needs a medical officer!"

  The frenetic crowd suddenly parted like a tide and quickly became quiet.

   The crisp horse bell rang, an old man led a silver-gray horse to Siegfried, and the Castilian nobles on both sides bowed their heads and saluted.

   After searching all over the empire, only two people could make way for the rebellious Castile nobles to pay their respects. One is the Emperor, and the other is in front of Siegfried at this moment—Baron Hernan, Marshal of the Empire.

   "Excellent performance, Count Harlan." Marshal Hernan took the initiative to speak, and he did not hesitate to praise: "What courage! What a skill!"

   He smiled and handed the reins to Siegford, and said kindly: "Your Excellency, please accept this war horse as my present."

   Hearing Marshal Hernan's words, the Castilian nobles, who had been focusing on the Marshal, had the intention to look at the warhorse brought by the Marshal.

   Really is a good horse of priceless value, with a tall and slender body, strong muscles in the limbs, straight hoof joints, and a beautiful chest.

  The original owner also seemed to love this horse very much, because there was not a single scar on the whole body of the war horse, not even under the rib. The original owner must have been reluctant to use spurs and had been relying only on knees and reins to control the horse.

   To give away such a beloved horse, the original owner of the horse must be very heartbroken. No, at this moment the original owner of the horse was following behind the horse's **** with a grief-stricken face—yes, it was little Hernan.

   The Castilian nobles who witnessed Marshal Hernán's gift of horses to the Count of Harran had twinkling eyes and different expressions.

  Farnan touched Siegfried's elbow, signaling the latter to accept it.

   An exhausted Siegfried has no energy to care about what the Castilians think, but even if there is, he doesn't care.

"Marshal Hernan." Siegfried pressed his spirit and answered old Hernan bluntly: "Without the assistance of little Ser Hernan, this bison would have killed me. This fight is not fair. , please forgive me for not wanting to accept congratulations."

   The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point, and the smiles of the Castilian nobles became stiff.

   Siegfried staggered out of the crowd, holding his left arm. When passing by little Hernan, he nodded slightly to little Hernan, and didn't say a word to anyone else.

  Farnan bowed deeply to Marshal Hernan apologetically, and then chased after Siegfried's back.

  …

  [Siegfried's tent]

  Fannan walked into the tent with firewood in his arms, and stuffed them into the hearth one by one to make the fire burn more vigorously.

   Siegfried sat shirtless on the marching couch, and was being examined by Brother Luke of the Congregation of Michael.

   "Count Harlan." Brother Luke let go of Siegfried's left arm and said helplessly: "If you feel pain, you need to express it so that I can know that you hurt."

   "Oh, it hurts."

   Brother Luke turned to squeeze his left shoulder lightly: "What about here?"

   "It hurts too."

   "How is it?" Farnan asked with concern.

   "It's not like a broken bone, but there may be a bone fracture." The chubby monk Luke wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Bone problems are best to ask the imperial doctor to see, they are better at treating bone injuries."

   "Isn't magic good?"

   Brother Luke smacked his lips and felt that it would be okay to tell the two of them: "No, it's easy for people with broken bones to receive magical treatment to appear to be healed, but after a few days, the patient will have a high fever and then... be called."

   "Why?" Siegfried asked.

"Don't ask, don't investigate." Brother Luke spread his hands: "[Don't test your Lord]! Hey, why am I telling you this? I shouldn't tell you this. Alas, just listen to it. , don't talk nonsense. Hold on for a while, Count Harlan, and I'll go to the imperial physician."

   Brother Luke covered Siegfried with a blanket and hurried out of the tent.

   After a while, the curtain was pulled open, and it was not the imperial doctor who walked in, but the Duke of Lotaire.

   Duke Lothair waved his hand to indicate that Siegfried and Farnan did not have to salute, first looked around Siegfried's tent, and then looked at Siegfried.

   "How is it?" asked the Duke of Lothair.

   Siegfried answered forcefully: "Skin trauma."

   Duke Lothair looked at Fanan.

   "Mr. Luke's diagnosis may be a broken bone." Fanan bowed slightly and said politely: "The monk just went to ask the imperial doctor."

   Duke Lothair stared at Siegfried for a moment, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth. Time did not destroy the handsomeness of the Duke, but made his temperament more graceful and elegant.

   "Count Harlan." Duke Lotaire asked slowly: "I don't understand, why are you humiliating Marshal Hernan in public?"

"Shame?" Siegfried frowned tightly, just about to have a seizure, but suppressed his impulse: "I have never humiliated Marshal Hernan. If I inadvertently caused damage to the Marshal's reputation, I can complain to the Marshal. A public apology."

   Duke Lothair chuckled, not bothering to explain anything to the irascible little stallion.

   "Recover well." After saying that, Duke Lothair walked out of the tent.

   Not long after, the curtain was opened again, and this time it was not the imperial doctor who came in.

   Little Hernan angrily broke into the tent and asked, "My father gave you the honor of cutting the ears and tail of the beast, and gave you the horse, what else do you want?"

   "There should be some misunderstanding." Farnan stood in front of Siegfried: "Your Excellency Little Hernan."

   "Misunderstanding? It's too late!" Little Hernan shouted and left.

   Little Hernan had just left when the curtain was pulled open again.

   This time, an exaggerated hat was put into the tent first. Under the hat was Ma Wei's head, with two small eyes blinking. But only the head, Ma Wei's body remained outside the tent.

   After confirming that there was no one else in the tent, Ma Wei walked into the tent with confidence. He skillfully pulled out the bottle hidden under the camp bed, took a gulp, and handed it to Siegfried.

"But you've been tormented enough." Ma Wei said with a smile: "How about the male lead in the next drama taking you as the prototype? The beautiful men who are desperate for love, the empty middle-aged ladies in the capital must be crazy. . If you're willing to take the stage and play yourself, even more..."

   Siegfried rolled his eyes at Mavy and took a sip of wine in silence.

   "Hey, I know you're not happy. Well, respect your personal wishes and don't write." Ma Wei said distressedly: "It's a pity it's a good material."

"You should also respect the emperor's personal wishes! Mr. Marvey." Fanan took the bottle from Siegfried and turned to look at Marvey: "Duke Lotaire came over just now and said that Earl Harlan was humiliated. Marshal Hernan..."

   "I thought you did it on purpose!" Ma Wei laughed: "Don't you know what it means in Castile culture to 'give war horses publicly on important occasions'?"

   Siegfried snorted softly.

  Fannan asked solemnly, "Please clarify your doubts."

"Marshal Hernan sent you a war horse, which means that he gave you the opportunity to pursue glory, and you rejected him in public." Ma Wei put away his smile and sighed regretfully: "I estimate within ten years. You can't even touch the marshal's scepter."

  …

   At the same time, in the emperor's palace. The attendants and female officials were all screened out, and there were only the Emperor, Queen Diana, and Prince Richard in the large tent.

   "Count Harlan rejected Baron Hernan's horse gift." The emperor looked at the prince: "It's still in front of the Castilians."

  Prince Richard's back suddenly broke out in cold sweat, and he hurriedly explained: "There must be some misunderstanding, Your Majesty. I'll go find..."

The    Emperor raised his hand slightly, and Prince Richard closed his mouth instantly.

   "The problem is not with Count Harlan." The emperor said softly: "The problem is with you."

  Prince Richard immediately got down on one knee and bowed his head deeply.

   "You want to take over our empire." The emperor looked at his son and said slowly, "But... you can't even control a hound."

   This sentence is very heavy, the empress beside him changed his face, and Prince Richard was struck by lightning.

   Wrongedness, unwillingness, resentment... Various emotions hit Prince Richard in turn, and his tears welled up in his eyes. After all, even if you are a prince, Richard is only an eighteen-year-old young man.

  Richard Lieyang wiped away his tears, stood straight and bowed before turning around and leaving the palace tent.

   As soon as the prince left, the queen, who had not spoken, couldn't help defending her son: "He is only eighteen years old!"

   "I went out to war with the late emperor when I was fifteen years old."

   "Richard is not like you."

"It's really different." The emperor frowned slightly: "I handed him over to you to raise him, but he didn't inherit the simple and strong character of the Lieyang family. Instead, he learned the style of a crying woman. Like a mouse seeing a cat. I just don't like his femininity."

"Don't you ever think that Richard is so afraid of you because you are too strong?" Queen Diana asked in anger: "You ask yourself, have you ever hugged him? Have you ever kissed him? Have you ever Let him play on your lap? Not once! How could he not be afraid of you?!"

   "Diana." The emperor looked directly into the queen's eyes: "If he can't even handle me, how can he handle the responsibilities and dilemmas I face?"

  The queen was speechless, and she couldn't help but feel sad, and suddenly covered her face and cried bitterly.

  The emperor sat quietly for a while—even if he was an emperor, he still had family affairs that were difficult to sort out.

"The 'grand meeting' of the Cenas Alliance will be held in Vine next month." The emperor paused for a moment: "Let Richard attend instead of Count Narzia. Let him go out of the palace and see the vast world with his own eyes - instead of continuing to Beside you is a 'cage bird'."

   Count Narzia was the emperor's official seal minister, and he was also in charge of diplomacy. He often traveled in the name of the emperor. It is undoubtedly a great thing for Prince Richard to be able to visit the Senas Alliance in place of Count Narzia.

  Queen Diana was ecstatic at first, but then she was overwhelmed by anxiety: "Southern rebel territory? Will it be dangerous for Richard to go there? What if Richard is held hostage by the traitor? Can you..."

   The brief revelation of true feelings disappeared, and the emperor stood up indifferently and walked out of the palace tent without a word.

   (Royal Hunting · End)

  …

  …

   Time: Last day of February 560 in the imperial calendar

  [Note: that is, half a month after the end of the Chihebu hunting and the royal hunting]

  Location: Tiefeng County, Revodan, the old station

   Early in the morning, there was a neat row of people sitting outside Mason Tribunal's office. The originally narrow corridor was instantly occupied by half, leaving only a width barely enough for one person to pass through.

   Don't get me wrong, these people in the corridor are neither here to seek grievance nor appeal.

   They are official officers of the Republic of Palato. All of them have served in the Fifth and Sixth Standing Legions of the Union. They stopped in front of Richard Mason for one thing - to see Winters Montagne.

It has been more than ten days since the    expeditionary army prisoners of war arrived in Tiefeng County. The Gervodin city government arranged accommodation and food for the prisoners of war, and also sent doctors to examine the prisoners of war and prescribe medicines for diagnosis and treatment.

   They were given food, housing, and medical treatment, but they did not say how they would arrange for the prisoners of war to return home, and they were not allowed to leave Revodan without permission.

   Being treated like house arrest, how could the officers endure it?

   No, here comes the discussion.

   Mason, who came to work early in the morning, turned around the corner and saw the people sitting neatly in the hallway, only to have a splitting headache.

  Poor Mason had been blocked for a week, and the alumni who came to discuss the argument were neither noisy nor noisy, they just wanted to see Winters, and they didn’t leave if they didn’t see it.

   After such a performance for a period of time, rumors have spread in the city of Geroudin.

   The most widely circulated gossip is "Mason's tribune owes a romantic debt, and the woman's brother blocks the door to ask for answers".

  People who spread gossip often ask in a serious way: "Otherwise, why don't you block others and block Mason's tribune?"

The    pink news added a lot of fun to the long and boring winter of the citizens of Gervoudan, but it made Captain Mason suffer a bad injustice. The most obvious change is that any city councilor with an unmarried woman in the house has recently stopped inviting Mason to his house.

   "Borrowed." Mason leaned back against the wall and moved sideways towards the office door: "Sorry, borrow it."

   As he approached the door, an arm stretched out, blocking Mason's way.

The owner of the    arm was a thin, unshaven man, in his early thirties. The school officer's uniform on him was tattered and full of patches, but the thin man still wore it proudly.

   "Good morning, Major Seber." Mason greeted with a smile.

   "Captain Mason." The thin man known as Major Cerber asked blankly, "Can Captain Montagne work?"

  Mason moved out of the official caliber and scratched his head: "Sorry, Major, he's still recovering."

   "As far as I know, he has been recovering for almost three months, right?" Major Seber glanced at Mason coldly: "What?

   Mason was dumbfounded.

   Army Major [Cerber Carrington] of the Republic of Palato, nicknamed "Saber".

   It is said that only the wrong name is given, and there is no wrong nickname. Seb Carrington was known as "Fearless to Madness" in the Palatine Standing Army, earning himself the nickname "The Sharpest Sabre."

   But in Mason's opinion, the real sharpness of Major Seber's mouth should be his mouth, compared to the saber in his hand.

   However, Mason also slandered a few words. He has a good temper and rarely competes with others, so he just smiled bitterly to reassure Major Seber: "It's getting better soon, he will be healed soon."

"Captain, there are no civilians here, don't make excuses with the lies that we all know each other well!" Major Seber suddenly stood up: "Where did Winters Montagne go? When will he be back? "

   "How do I know?" Mason said to whom in sorrow: "I don't know either!"

   "Then what do we do? What about the soldiers at the resettlement site?"

   "This... must be decided by Winters, no one else can decide."

   "When will Captain Montagne come back?"

"do not know."

  Major Seber stared at Mason for a while, and after confirming that the latter was not lying, he sat down slumped and propped his forehead wearily: "Forget it. The words offended... I'm sorry."

  Mason looked at Major Seber and at the other alumni in the corridor who had just returned from the wasteland, and couldn't help but feel a lot of sympathy.

   They were still promising army officers when they stepped into the wasteland. When they returned to Parato, not only did the country disappear, but they didn’t even know anything about themselves.

   "Don't worry, you have food and housing, and you can take care of your health first." Mason put his hand on Major Seber's shoulder: "I know you want to go home, and I believe Winters will respect your wishes."

"When will Winters be back?"

  Mason was startled: "I don't know."

   "Then you are your boss." Major Seber raised his head and resumed his sitting posture: "We will continue to wait."

  Mason was stunned for a moment, then turned to open the door. His fingertips had touched the doorknob, he turned around again, and offered to propose: "Actually, there are two people in Tiefeng County who have the right to decide, Lieutenant Bud and Lieutenant Cellini, why don't you visit them? By the way, Colonel Jesska is compiling teaching materials recently, and is short of manpower, you can also help."

"Colonel Jessica is helping. Lieutenant Bud is in Blackwater Town, hundreds of kilometers away from here." Major Seber sneered: "Lieutenant Andrea Cellini is even more cunning like a loach, early I hid in the racecourse outside the city."

   "So." Mason tried to digest the other party's remarks: "You blocked my door because..."

   "Yes, it's because we can only block you." Major Seber patted Mason on the shoulder: "You are the only one at work in Gervodan."

  Mason resisted, so that no one else could see the tears in his eyes, he turned and pushed open the office door.

   "I won't go to work tomorrow." He thought fiercely, but he immediately thought: "If I don't go to work, what will I do with the usual things?"

   At this moment, someone outside the corridor shouted excitedly: "I'm back! I'm back!"

  Mason was shocked and asked loudly, "Who's back?"

   "Mission!" The messenger was beaming: "Everyone is back!"

  Mason was overjoyed, and he didn't care about the presence of other people: "Take me there!"

  …

   Meanwhile, at Winters' camp.

"You asked me to come over and said that there was something urgent, but it turned out to be for me to see this?" Father Kaman glared at Winters, suppressed the urge to curse, gritted his teeth and asked, "Do you know that I am doing morning prayers? ? I thought you killed yourself!"

   "This is a matter of urgency." Winters replied solemnly, and then threw the stick in his hand far away.

  The two shadows sitting in front of him disappeared into the mist in an instant.

   After a while, a big wolf-like dog ran back happily with a wooden stick, and another big wolf-like dog followed in a dejected manner.

   "One hundred thousand urgent." Kaman clenched his fists: "Are you walking the dog?"

   "No." Winters half-smiled, stretched out his right hand, and lowered a peculiar bone whistle: "It means that I have figured out the principle of the magic of Heard's beast-talker. Do you want to hear it?"

  …

  [outside Gervodin]

"Lieutenant Colonel! Where's Winters?" Mason grabbed Lieutenant Colonel Moritz's shoulder and shouted angrily: "What about others? Did you drink too much and leave Winters in the wasteland? Winters! Winters S Montagne!"

   "Don't look for it." Lieutenant Colonel Moritz yawned sleepily: "He's not here."

  Mason wanted to cry without tears: "Then why did you come back alone?"

   "Oh? Oh." Moritz said slowly, "He asked me to bring these things back."

   Having said that, Lieutenant Colonel Moritz, who was sitting in the carriage, casually lifted the blanket under him.

  The people present to greet them all gasped in unison: gold bars, dark-yellow gold bars, lay a whole layer on the bottom of the carriage.

   Your Excellency Lieutenant Colonel Ganqing lay on the gold and slept all the way.

  Mason jumped up and re-laid the blanket, and tucked it carefully twice, as if he was afraid the gold bars would catch cold.

   "Did you find it?" Mason asked in a low voice.

   "Well." Moritz yawned again, fiddling with the arrows: "I found it."

   He patted his body and pointed behind him again: "Three cars, you count them, and there is another car for Winters to take away."

   "Ah? That's right!" Mason, who was immersed in joy, remembered another crucial question: "Where did Winters go? Does he know how hard I have been during this time..."

  …

   Meanwhile, at Winters' camp.

   Winters was about to bargain with Father Carman when Pierre came over: "Centurion, Mr. Ed from the Steel Castle branch of the Navarre Trading Company is here and wants to see you and his wife."

   "Okay." Winters jumped out of the carriage and replied with a smile: "Mr. Ed is here, which means we have our 'invitation letter' to enter the Steel Castle."

   Just then, a gust of wind blew the mist from the valley.

   Trails, waterholes, hillsides with thin snow, cloud-like flocks of sheep roaming the hillsides.

   Looking along the opening of the valley, you can also see the top of the mountain covered with 10,000-year-old ice in the distance.

   Cross the mountain pass in front, and cross another mountain pass, and you will have a panoramic view of the steel castle.

   [Sorry for being late, but this time it’s a big chapter with 6500+ words, which means I’ve paid yesterday’s leave too (laughs)]

   [Steel Castle, which has been said for half a volume, finally reveals the true face of Mount Lu! ]

   [Mason: Winters bastard! I think you're addicted to being a dumpster shopkeeper! ]

   [In addition, I have to explain that I did not delete the chapter in the previous chapter, and I don’t know why the chapter I posted can’t be displayed normally. Could it be that the starting point's system thinks I'm brushing comments? ? Confused…]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)