Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

"Where is Minister Cornelius?"

"He's no longer the minister, and there's been no news of a new appointment. After Speaker Mayerhaus dissolved the Provisional Military Committee, Colonel Cornelius was likely sent home to retire." The swordsman standing in front of Winters shrugged, "Cornelius rose rapidly through a coup, which certainly made many people jealous. And he's not exactly likable. It's no surprise to me that Speaker Mayerhaus used him to calm public anger."

Winters pondered for a moment and asked his sparring partner, "Do you believe it?"

"Believe what?"

"Mayerhaus's promise."

"I..." The sparring swordsman fell silent and after a while, he said frustratingly, "I don't know either. Given the current situation, if I were a United Provincial, I could only hope that Speaker Mayerhaus would return the power to the state, right? After all, he did make a public commitment."

Upon hearing this, Winters sighed deeply, "Then we'll keep watching."

"Speaker Mayerhaus also stated in the bulletin," the sparring swordsman quietly added, "that the Federated Provinces' trustee government will make every effort to peacefully resolve the unrest in Paratu. He also promised that the United Provinces Army would not get involved in the Paratu unrest—as long as Vineta also refrains from interfering in Paratu affairs."

Winters gave a light snort, adjusted his sword, and gripped the hilt with both hands again.

The swordsman sparring with Winters quickly got ready as well.

Both slowly approached each other. The next second their sword tips clashed, both of them moved.

In a flash, Winters sidestepped his opponent's fierce charge and used his left hand to pat the latter's shoulder.

The sparring swordsman stopped, raised his hand in frustration. He sensed a change in Winters's mood, so he switched to a lighter topic: "Another major case has arisen in The North, have you heard?"

"What major case?" Winters hadn't heard anything about it at all.

"Of course, it's a major case for the Southern Grand Army."

"Hasn't the Pretender Emperor already dissolved the Southern Grand Army?"

"It's because the Southern Grand Army is being dissolved that this major case has erupted." The sparring swordsman enthusiastically asked, "Do you guess what charges the Pretender Emperor is using for the purge?"

Without thinking, Winters replied, "Corruption?"

"Smuggling! Everyone up and down the Southern Grand Army is involved!" The sparring swordsman laughed heartily, "The Southern Grand Army, which was set up to guard against us, has ironically become the biggest smuggling ring within the Empire—it's a complete embarrassment for the Pretender Emperor!"

Winters chuckled but he was not as optimistic as the sparring swordsman, "The Pretender Emperor's determination to root out the infection might not necessarily be a good thing for us."

"What does it matter?" The sparring swordsman was indifferent, "No matter who dies, it's the Imperials killing Imperials—it's profit for us either way. The Pretender Emperor has already executed three Earls, and according to rumors from the North, this is just the beginning. The Southern Grand Army won't be able to rebuild for years."

Winters sighed, "That makes it even less of a good thing."

"Yes, I understand what you mean." The sparring swordsman's spirits instantly dropped. He lowered his head and said gloomily:

"The Pretender Emperor doesn't even hide his strategy—he just wants to sit back and watch the civil wars among the Various Republics. The solution is simple, we just have to stop fighting each other. I can think of it, won't the generals and legislators understand it? But what can they do...what can I do? I'm just a mere junior officer..."

The more the swordsman spoke, the quieter he became. Suddenly, he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. He looked up and met the calm, non-judgmental gaze of his senior.

"It's their fault, not yours." In Winters's soothing voice was a strength that reassured people, "No need to feel troubled by this, we are all just people being swept along by the current."

"Hmm." The sparring swordsman sniffed strongly.

Affectionately, Winters tapped the sparring swordsman's shoulder guard, reversed his sword, and walked over to the tree root where his clothes and water were placed.

"I don't know if you're aware," the sparring swordsman's small voice sounded behind Winters, "there are also many of Grof Magnus's opponents in Kingsfort... This latest defeat in the Newly Reclaimed Land will surely shake... no, dismantle Grof Magnus's rule..."

Winters replied without turning his head, "I don't mind shedding less blood, even if it takes longer."

"Hmm!" There was excitement in the sparring swordsman's voice.

"But don't be too optimistic," Winters turned around, his eyes deep and mysterious, he slowly spoke, "because you still don't understand what a gambler who has lost everything will do next."

With that, Winters pinched the sparring swordsman's shoulder, lifted his sword, and walked towards the shade of the tree.

...

Under the shade of the tree, Monkey—Houdel watched Blood Wolf and his sparring partner chat and spar absent-mindedly.

Since he couldn't tell who was winning or losing, Houdel didn't know whether to cheer or applaud.

After a few more moves, Blood Wolf suddenly stopped, said something to his sparring partner, and then walked straight toward Houdel.

Houdel became even more confused until Blood Wolf stood in front of him, at which point he snapped back to his senses and jumped up in a start.

Houdel saw Blood Wolf wave him down, "Sit, relax, it's okay."

Blood Wolf then started to remove the protective gear from his shoulders and arms.

Houdel hesitated for a moment, then suddenly realized he should help.

But before Houdel could step forward, someone had already stood behind Blood Wolf, expertly undoing the straps and buckles on his arms and shoulders—it was the swordsman who had been sparring with Blood Wolf.