Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

...

[Inside the Carriage]

"Pierre... sigh, he's a good lad, just too impatient." Mason sighed, hesitated to speak, and finally just said, "Repelling the Green Valley garrison is an achievement, but he shouldn't have denied Colonel Skool a single prisoner. It wasn't necessary. Our current problem is not having too few prisoners, but having too many."

Of course, Winters understood what Senior Mason meant—Colonel Skool urgently needed personnel reinforcements, and Pierre's actions undoubtedly expressed hostility.

"Hmph, defeating the Green Valley garrison was Pierre's achievement." Andre was dismissive of Senior Mason's viewpoint, sneering, "If you ask me, the guys from Thunder Group County can't blame anyone else for not getting a share. If they have to blame someone, they should blame themselves for being incompetent!"

Winters sighed, turned his back, not wanting to see his senior and Andre any longer.

Unexpectedly, the movement pulled at his ribs, causing pain under his ribs, and he let out a low moan from the discomfort.

There really was no need for Senior Mason's subtle reminder, because no one understood this army, which he personally built, better than Winters.

But some issues even made Winters feel troubled—such as the attitude within the Iron Peak County Military towards the original New Reclamation Legion troops.

From its inception to its growth, the Iron Peak County Military had been fighting the New Reclamation Legion all the way.

If one could say that between Winters and the officers of the New Reclamation Legion, there was at least some camaraderie as former classmates;

then, for the grassroots officers of the Iron Peak County Military, who had been trained in the fires of war, there was only pure hostility towards the New Reclamation Legion.

"These little brats." Winters, with his back to his senior and Andre, said quietly, "They show less mercy than I do—more precisely, from the start, there was no concept of mercy at all."

Senior Mason sighed again.

"Hey!" Andre slapped his thigh impatiently, saying, "If you ask me, the friction is entirely your fault."

"Oh?" Winters supported himself up, slowly turning around, staring steadily at Andre.

Andre leaned back his upper body, with his long legs pressed against Winters' legs, casually saying, "What mercy or lack of it? Mercy doesn't depend on them, it depends entirely on you! These brats under your command, even if you tell them to jump off a cliff, they will jump without blinking—it might be just a wink, but they'll still jump! So, what attitude do they have? They have no attitude! Your attitude is their attitude!"

Whether or not Winters was convinced by Andre's theory was unknown, but Mason on the side apparently had an epiphany.

"Exactly, Winters." Mason let out a long breath, his expression becoming much more relaxed, looking at Winters, asking, "What is your attitude towards White Mountain County, Thunder Group County, and Riverside County?"

Winters closed his eyes.

...

[Green Valley Town]

Back in Green Valley Town, the scene before Winters' eyes was vastly different from when he had set out.

The once prosperous small town with its red tiles and green walls now visibly shambled.

When Felter's unit was stationed there, they showed no regard for the town—splitting the fine walnut desks into firewood, smashing the expensive ceramic dinnerware for sport.

When Felter's unit retreated, unruly soldiers plundered its last bits of wealth to the core.

Standing at the main gate looking into the town, the roads paved with stone slabs were strewn with trash, ash heaps, and rubble, with stains left by excreta marking the corners and eaves.

Returning with the Iron Peak County Military was also the mayor of Green Valley Town.

Last time the Iron Peak County Military withdrew from Green Valley, the mayor took his entire family and all his possessions and escaped with them to Changhai Town.

At that time, he was seen as a stray dog.

Now, with the Iron Peak County Military returning to Green Valley, the former fleeing mayor also returned to the small town, head held high.

Now, he became the wisest person in the town.

However, seeing the ravaged Green Valley, the pride on the mayor's face also vanished into thin air.

This time the Iron Peak County Military did not enter the town to lodge either, camping again on the open land outside. But soldiers of the Iron Peak County Military entered the small town, aiding returning town residents in clearing the ruins and sweeping the streets.

As the streets gradually restored to their original state, a few gallows were erected in the town square.

Trials quickly began, prisoners of the Felter unit were brought to the square for identification by the townspeople.

Ultimately, four soldiers of the Felter unit were hanged for committing murder during the chaos, twenty-seven identified soldiers were publicly flogged, and one identified corpse was posthumously beheaded.

The townspeople of Green Valley witnessed the entire execution, initially silent, gradually enraged, and by the end of the hangings, many shed tears—not out of a sense of vengeance fulfilled, but because they remembered what their home once looked like.

The mayor of Green Valley Town participated as a representative throughout the trial and execution.

After the execution, the first thing the mayor did was find Civil Guard Officer Montaigne.

The mayor originally intended to offer flattery, but seeing the expression of the "Blood Wolf," he wisely held his tongue.

"What do you want to say?" Staring at the corpses hanging on the gallows, the Blood Wolf asked blandly.

"Everyone in Green Valley Town will be completely devoted to you from now on." Just catching a glance, the mayor's heart pounded uncontrollably, and he lowered his head: "You have brought us justice."

"Such minor tricks bring no loyalty. What I am giving you is not justice, I am only giving you revenge... bitter revenge."

Hearing this, the mayor of Green Valley Town couldn't help but sneak a glance at the young man in front of him.

He saw a sarcastic, bitter smile on the Blood Wolf's face. Then, the Blood Wolf turned around, meeting his eyes.

The mayor immediately lowered his head.

"I cannot compensate all the burnt winter wheat with food. So I am giving you half in food, half in gold." The Blood Wolf took a small notebook from his pocket and pulled out a graphite stick: "Tell me whatever else you need."

The mayor instinctively wanted to offer more flattery, but when he lifted his head, he was met with a pair of sincere eyes.

The mayor nodded silently, stating the needs of Green Valley Town.

...

...

After leaving Green Valley Town, Winters summoned all his commissioned officers.

Standing on fields scorched by fire, facing the gazes of his subordinates, Winters gave clear and direct orders without any explanations:

"As of today, we will annex or assimilate the original New Reclamation Legion units by non-lethal means as much as possible;

Until the external situation is clarified, we will not actively use force against the original New Reclamation Legion units;

But we will not stop moving forward, and our goals have never changed—Iron Peak County! Newly Reclaimed Land! Paratu! The Alliance!"

The officers listened silently.

"The next target, Vernge County." Winters finally showed a smile: "The ultimatum has been sent, and we will await Vernge County's final response at Green Valley."

"Yes, sir!" The officers saluted.

That night, orders for combat readiness were issued again.

The new Iron Peak County army sharpened their weapons, distributed ammunition, and began preparing for the next battle.

But unfortunately, before Winters could receive Vernge County's final response, he first received a letter of accountability written in anger by Colonel Skool.

...

Three days later, outside Maplestone City.

"Colonel Bod is gone, there's no one left to serve as a buffer and bridge for us. And now this incident... Colonel Skool has already withdrawn to camp five kilometers away." Mason said gloomily, "These rascals are really troublemakers."

Winters remained silent.

"We'll deal with future issues in the future!" Andre laughed heartily, "Now, let's enjoy the victory!"

Ahead, the main gate of Maplestone City was wide open.

In the distance, at Maple Fort, where the Red Rose flag still fluttered, a tired puff of white smoke was emitted.

Each citizen representative who came to present the keys to the city wore a beaming smile on their face.

The small Priskin, eagerly awaiting praise, stood proudly at the front.