Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

[Vernge County]

[Oak Town]

[Majiya Manor]

In the evening, the "wolf cavalry" briefly visited Majiya Manor.

Before it got completely dark, another wealthy household in Oak Town—Mikhail, the portly timber merchant—ran into the gates of Majiya Manor, crying and screaming with his pants nearly falling off.

"Oh, oh..." Mikhail, who was already middle-aged, was crying and sniveling, holding Old Majiya's hand embarrassingly, wailing: "What are we going to do now! Oh, oh!"

The Majiya family looked at each other, uncertain how to comfort him.

Because Old Majiya, as a "free man," experienced everything Mikhail, also a "free man," was going through.

The wolf cavalry representing the Blood Wolf's will came, demanding Majiya Milock fulfill his honorable duty as a "free man"—a duty he'd never fulfilled; while enjoying the rights of a "free man"—rights he'd never enjoyed.

They required Old Majiya to set out soon, ensuring his arrival in Maplestone City to attend the Free Man Assembly by the last day of June.

"It's a sin! It's truly a sin! I've been bewitched!" Mikhail who was likewise asked to attend the assembly sobbed remorsefully, "Why...why did I spend money on this free man's halo! But now, this cursed halo is going to be the end of me! Ah, ah, ah!"

"Uncle Mikhail." Marcia deliberately pronounced "uncle" with a heavy tone, mocking the usually arrogant and unscrupulous timber merchant's current state: "You didn't say that when you first became a 'free man,' didn't you boast to my father at the town assembly?"

Mikhail was stunned and then clung to Old Majiya's leg, crying even harder.

Old Majiya used his eyes to stop his youngest son from further aggravating the timber merchant's wounds, then waved his hand to signal the others to leave the living room.

Old servant Tasso was the first to leave, casting a contemptuous glance at the timber merchant before spitting on the floor and walking out without looking back.

Marcia imitated Old Tasso's actions, awkwardly spitting outside the carpet, and chased after Old Tasso.

After bringing a calming drink for the timber merchant, Mrs. Majiya worriedly glanced at her husband before wrapping her shawl tightly and returning to the second floor.

Mikhail downed the drink in one gulp, and only after everyone had left did he reveal his true intention.

"Old Majiya...Old Majiya brother..." Mikhail sobbed and asked, "You are the person I respect the most, do you think we should attend this Free Man Representative Assembly?"

"It's the Free Man Assembly." Old Majiya paused, his face still a granite-like expression lacking emotion: "Not the Free Man 'Representative' Assembly."

"Huh?" Mikhail couldn't wrap his mind around it.

"There are no representatives; it's an assembly for all Free Men." Old Majiya explained: "All free men must attend; probably all the free men in the province have already been notified."

Mikhail was dumbfounded: "Then...how many people will there be?"

"A few hundred." Old Majiya answered indirectly, "In the Newly Reclaimed Land, it will not exceed a thousand people."

Realizing his title was rarer than he thought made Mikhail inexplicably proud and joyful.

But then considering that this title was causing him to enter the wolves' den, Mikhail couldn't help feeling sad.

"Not going." Mikhail tearfully asked, "Is that doable?"

Old Majiya pondered and answered seriously, "I can't make that decision."

"Then...then...I'll get sick!"

Mikhail suddenly became spirited. He lifted his pant leg, revealing a short and stout leg, and searched around the living room, finally selecting a vase.

He grabbed the vase, sizing it up against his leg, anxiously saying, "I'll...I'll break my leg! I can't go out! Is that acceptable?"

"Hmm." Old Majiya's response was just a nasal sound.

Mikhail gritted his teeth, sizing it up again and again, but couldn't bring himself to do it. After several attempts, his full emotions were instantly drained. He collapsed to the ground like an empty shell.

"How can we survive!" The timber merchant sobbed, covering his chubby face, "I just had a daughter! Without me, how will she survive!"

Old Majiya silently took back the vase Mrs. Majiya particularly cherished from the timber merchant's hands, carefully placing it back in its original position.

Mikhail suddenly clung to Old Majiya's leg again, incoherently asking: "Blood Wolf...Blood Wolf is he planning to take us hostage? Gathering all the wealthy households in the Newly Reclaimed Land for a grand cook-off! I've heard he has various tortures! Ah, ah, ah! How can he be so cruel! How can I withstand this!"

Old Majiya asked puzzled: "How do you know Blood Wolf has various tortures?"

"I...heard from someone." Mikhail sniffed forcefully, adding, "But the person who told me had seen Blood Wolf with their own eyes; he said Blood Wolf looked fierce, with a hideous face and evil horns..."

Old Majiya struggled to recall the youthful face selling him new plowing tools, no matter how he tried, he couldn't associate it with a fierce, hideous, and evil-horned appearance.