Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Winters nodded, saying nothing, waiting for Kadar to make a decision.

"If I join your army, my family will become hostages," Kadar said softly. "But if I become a 'prisoner' and get exchanged back, they'll still force me to fight against you."

Winters nodded again.

"So," Kadar pretended to be at ease, "just report me missing, please."

"Missing and killed in action are separated by just one procedure," Winters asked gently. "Your family will be very distressed."

"If they know I'm still alive, it will only be more dangerous for them," Kadar feigned indifference. "Being missing, life and death unknown, there's still a sliver of hope."

Winters pondered for a moment, speaking softly, "Colonel Jeska has a teaching lab in Revodan. Due to a lack of personnel, he's already yelled at me several times. How about you help him out? No one knows you in Revodan, you'll be very safe there."

"Okay!" Kadar's eyes lit up.

"Then it's settled," Winters said, supporting himself on the tree trunk to stand up. "I'll have Samujin send you to Revodan today. Although you're staying alone, the prisoner camp still has many eyes. The sooner you leave, the safer you'll be."

Kadar was silent for a long time, bowing his head deeply. "Thank you."

Winters merely touched Kadar's shoulder, not saying a word.

Beside them, Houdel, deeply feeling he was redundant, was suddenly called out by Blood Wolf: "Alright, you come with me."

"Yes… right away!" Houdel hastily stood up, frantically brushing the dust off his clothes, asking in confusion, "But… where to?"

Winters blew a sharp whistle and before long, an extraordinarily majestic white horse trotted out from the woods.

The horse was saddled, but without a bit in its mouth, still chewing on some uneaten tender leaves—Longwind preferred the young shoots of broadleaf shrubs over coarse grass.

"To the stables," Winters said.

Houdel realized something was wrong, his eyes widened, stammering as he asked, "Sir, what are we going to the stables for?"

"To get a horse."

"For whom?"

"For you, of course." This time it was Winters who was puzzled. He took out a note from his wrist guard. "Wasn't it the Mason Commissioner who instructed me to teach you to ride?"

"This… this…" Houdel was almost suffocating. "How could this be?"

"Don't be nervous." Winters smiled reassuringly, comforting the trainee. "The Mason Commissioner hates two things the most: not finding me and seeing me idle. By arranging for you to come over, he's solved both of his most-hated issues."

Houdel didn't know how to react and had no choice but to salute with a mournful expression on his face.

"Let's go, I'll pick a gentle mare for you. You'll learn quickly." Winters patted the trainee's shoulder, looking toward Kingsfort, murmuring, "Learn to ride soon, you'll need this skill before long."

...

...

[At the same time]

[Outskirts of Kingsfort]

Under the scorching sun, two riders were galloping wildly towards the west, one following the other.

The rider lagging behind glanced back at the dust cloud behind them, shouting in fear, "Major Ronald! They're catching up!"

Major Ronald, leading in front, heard the cry for help from behind and gritting his teeth, turned back to the rider falling behind.

The major forced his companion to a halt, switching horses with him without a word.

"Don't look back," Major Ronald urged as he pushed the other rider onto the saddle. "Just keep running forward."

The rider now astride the horse panted heavily, asking in despair, "Where can we even go?"

Colonel Ronald was silent for a moment, then answered decisively, "Go find Winters Montagne!"