Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

In the early morning, the messenger galloped into the city.

By noon, the bad news had already spread throughout Steel Castle.

The anticipated scene where "Solingen State makes a call and all other autonomous states swiftly gather to respond" did not happen. Instead, the representatives from Solingen State were shocked to find themselves in the minority.

Steel Castle's hasty counterattack with the force of one state against the well-prepared Upper Chamber was an arm-wrestling match that ended in a scene too ghastly to witness. Not only did they fail to overturn the embargo law, but the pro-Federated Provinces representatives took advantage of the situation to push the embargo law through the Lower Chamber with three calls, solidifying it into formal legislation.

In the Monta Republic's political system, the role of the Upper Chamber is to restrain the local Montan factions. Although the Upper Chamber only has an incomplete legislative function, it also possesses absolute veto power.

From the moment the embargo law became official legislation, unless the Monta Republic's constitution was rewritten or the Upper Chamber cleansed with blood, there would be no chance to repeal it.

At noon, Ironhand Gaisberg was the first to send someone for a secret visit to the household of Baron and Lady Granashi.

Following him, other Forge Masters also showed goodwill, submitted, and lowered their stance. All afternoon, servants and messengers from various households came and went incessantly.

At dusk, a simple carriage stopped beneath the lakeside stone tower. Ernst Fuller, his eyes red and swollen, hair messy, and expression one of despair, alighted from the carriage.

Winters led Fuller into the small living room and gestured for Caman and the guards to leave.

He politely poured Fuller half a glass of wine and said directly in the common language, "It looks like you could use some of this, Mr. Fuller."

Fuller unceremoniously picked up the glass and drank it in one go, hanging his head and muttering to himself, "I was originally planning to accept your offer, Your Excellency, I really was! But then it suddenly occurred to me that my goods might not even be worth your initial offer now. Such a clever move, Your Excellency, such a clever move..."

Winters quietly listened to Fuller's venting and then topped up his glass with a bit more wine.

"But do you know?" Fuller looked up at the baron, his drunken eyes bleary, and said: "This big deal, the biggest earner is not you, the biggest earner is definitely not you!"

Winters slightly frowned and straightened his sitting posture, waiting for Fuller to continue.

Ernst Fuller, nearly forty, at this moment resembled a child who knows secrets about which adults have slept together—his lips curved with a mysterious smile, leaning forward, and signalling Winters to come closer with a mischievous wave.

Winters smiled briefly and leaned forward slightly to oblige.

"This deal." Fuller whispered, "The biggest earners are still us, the people of Steel Castle."

Upon saying this, Fuller slapped his thigh, crying and laughing loudly: "Us, the people of Steel Castle!"

Winters stated calmly, "You're drunk, Mr. Fuller."

"Right! I am drunk." Fuller, reeking of alcohol and with slurred speech but very earnest, corrected the baron: "But my mind is still... still clear!"

"Please return to your residence to rest, there's no harm in discussing this tomorrow." Winters knocked on the armrest and two guards pushed open the door, entering the living room.

Winters turned his head to the curtains: "Escort Mr. Fuller home."

"No!" Fuller suddenly stood up, swaying to find his balance, shouting loudly: "I have to tell you today! I haven't finished talking yet!"

Winters nodded, and the guards, ready to seize the presumptuous drunk at his command, retreated back outside the door.

"What you bought are just rifle barrels, sword blanks." Fuller mumbled indistinctly, waving his arms vigorously, asking Winters: "But do you know what the people of Steel Castle want to buy?"

"Buy what?" Winters raised an eyebrow.

Fuller licked his lips, bent down, and whispered faintly one word: "Forge."

After that, he giggled and laughed, smugly asking Winters: "Don't understand, huh? It's the Forge, ha!"

The more he laughed, the redder Fuller's eyes became. He stumbled under his feet and fell heavily beside a small table.

Winters stood up and with one hand lifted the plump Fuller, placing him on the sofa as if setting an object down.

The formerly laughing Fuller suddenly burst into loud weeping, pounding the sofa, his chest, and tearing at his hair: "They want the Forge! They want my grandfather's Forge! They want my father's Forge! They are going to take my family's Forge..."

Witnessing the middle-aged man's collapse in front of him, Winters restrained himself from showing any sympathy or disdain.

Only after Fuller's emotions settled a little did Winters pat his shoulder and hand him a handkerchief.

"What exactly happened?" Winters asked.

Fuller sobbed in response: "They're going to liquidate me."

"Who is going to liquidate you?" Winters asked.

Fuller's eyes reddened, and he spat out names through clenched teeth: "Gaisberg, Witzleben, Heling, Ordorf... the highly respected Gentlemen! The honorable Sirs! They bought my debts from others and then forced me to repay them! If I can't..."

At the end, Fuller broke down in tears again: "If I can't pay, they will bankrupt me! They will take my Forge!"

Winters listened calmly and with restraint, not at all surprised because the strategy Ironhand Gaisberg employed was what Anna had proactively provided to them earlier on.

...

Upon closely examining the income and expenditures of medium and small-scale armament workshops, Lady Navarre found: currently, the majority of Steel Castle's small workshops are severely lacking in cash.