Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Schwaidnitz picked up the cup and "gulp, gulp," drank every last drop of water.

"Drinking water is useless." Kaman commented expressionlessly: "He needs to drink some alcohol."

Anna wanted to laugh but couldn't, and could only helplessly glance at Kaman.

"It's a habit." Kaman apologized, lowering his head. He thought for a moment, walked to the side of the panicked clerk, supported the latter's shoulder, and softly reassured: "Don't worry, you're very safe here."

Nobody knew if it was the priest's words that took effect, but Schwaidnitz truly calmed down and his answers became more fluent.

From business dealings to debt situations, Anna quickly finished asking the questions she had prepared in advance. She asked about some newly discovered matters, then nodded to indicate the end of the conversation.

The clerk Schwaidnitz, having received the final payment, escaped as if he had been granted a great reprieve.

The guards returned to their positions, leaving only Kaman and Anna, who was writing furiously, in the small reception room.

Kaman cleared away the cup and asked casually: "I didn't seem to hear anything special."

"Oh, there is, it's very interesting." Anna put down her quill and smiled gracefully: "It seems that the smaller workshops in the Steel Fortress generally exist in... a network-like debt relationship. But that's just my speculation; we need to see more account books to confirm."

"And then what?"

"And then?" Anna answered spiritedly: "Then I would have to ask Mr. Carlo Ed to find more 'account books'."

"I didn't mean that 'and then'." Kaman sat down opposite Anna, spreading his arms and making a circular gesture: "I mean the 'and then' of everything."

Anna still didn't grasp what Kaman meant, and patiently explained: "I'm not sure about the solidarity among the Forge Masters of the Steel Fortress, but they are like a chain, once we find and break through the weakest link, the chain itself becomes meaningless, and the Price Alliance would crumble. By that time, they will fall over themselves to sell, and Winters would be able to buy commodities at the lowest price."

Kaman's expression turned somewhat pained, and he hesitantly asked: "Lady Navarre, do you realize that what you're doing... might cause some honest, respectable people to lose everything?"

Anna also fell into a brief perplexity, but quickly concentrated, choosing her words carefully: "But Father Kaman, even if Winters and I did nothing, they would still lose everything."

Kaman was speechless for a long time before he raised his head again, his gaze complicated as he looked at Anna: "Everything that you are doing is in stark contrast to the teachings I have received since childhood. [You must remember your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth], [Do not seek earthly wealth, but rather the blessings of heaven].

Winters is already very wealthy, capable of controlling fortunes beyond the imagination of ordinary people. But why is he still fixated on earning every single Gold Coin? Even to the point of harming and destroying others? I can't understand, I fail to comprehend. Yet somehow, a part of me feels that what he's doing isn't wrong.

The scriptures teach people not to indulge in worldly material pleasures and not to be morally corrupted by money. [It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God]. But I can't bring myself to believe that you and Winters are morally low, wicked people. In fact, I even think that you are more noble than many of my fellow brethren."

The fire crackled, with the candlelight flickering, reflecting the wavering thoughts in Kaman's mind.

"I don't know how to reconcile all this either, Father Kaman." Anna spoke softly: "In some situations, it's difficult to use morality as the guideline for actions. My mother always said, 'An individual can act according to their conscience, but when a group of people make decisions, they will always choose self-interest.'"

"Just like now." Anna's voice grew uncertain, touched by Kaman's struggle, and she began to reflect on herself: "Because I represent the interests of Winters, every Gold Coin I save becomes Winters' profit, so I feel justified, unashamed of my own cruelty... I also don't know why... I'm not even sure if it's right or wrong... Perhaps when wealth accumulates to a certain level, it's no longer us having the wealth, but the wealth having us."

Kaman listened silently, then gave a sorrowful smile: "There's also a possibility—maybe the old Church ethics no longer fit this new era flowing with Gold."

...

As the morals of the Church clashed with the commercial principles of profit pursuit, Winters was saying farewell to Colonel Berny.

"Alright, I won't see you off any further. Take care on your way." Colonel Berny glanced at the spotted horse beneath Winters and said with a smile: "Though I doubt this old horse of yours can run fast."

The spotted horse showed no reaction to the jest, stretching its neck out to nibble on the dried grass stems by the road.

Winters saluted, mounted up and set off. Xial and Berlion also hurriedly saluted and followed.

Colonel Berny watched for a moment, then turned back with a wistful at heart.

However, the departing sound of hooves came looping back, and Winters reappeared in front of Colonel Berny. He dismounted quickly and strode toward the colonel.

"Colonel." Winters had a serious look in his eyes, clearly resolved: "There's something I couldn't ask anyone else in the Steel Fortress, but it's of great importance. You are the Monta soldier I respect the most, I trust you, I can only turn to you for help."

Colonel Berny couldn't help but grow serious, but he was still puzzled: "What's going on?"

"The next question I ask not as an officer of Paratu or any other capacity, but as a citizen of the Alliance, as a soldier who swore at the old Marshal's monument to defend the Alliance," Winters clarified.

"You may ask."

"Has the Monta Republic directly or indirectly supplied Hurd tribes with cannons, firearms, and armor? Is it possible that Borso da Este is secretly serving the Oath Breakers?" Winters' eyes shimmered with indignant tears as he looked at Colonel Berny and asked word by word: "Are The Federated Provinces colluding with the Empire... to let us shed our blood?"