Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Longwind was fierce by nature, and any stranger who carelessly approached would get kicked. How could it possibly let an old man nearing fifty catch its bridle? Seeing someone daring to reach out, Longwind immediately bit down hard.

Luckily, Winters was quick with his reflexes, pulling the reins tight and forcibly holding Longwind back.

The inn manager dodged awkwardly, narrowly avoiding the two rows of teeth. However, as soon as he regained his composure, he immediately threw himself in front of Winters' horse again.

The inn manager asked anxiously and hesitantly, "Sir, are you planning to head to the North City?"

Winters cocked his head to look at the inn manager, not uttering a word, waiting for the latter to continue speaking on his own.

"You can't get through Old City!" The inn manager steadied his spirits, spilling everything he knew: "Dutton Sheriff has already blockaded the roads! All the 'freemen' from the South City are rushing to the Republic Avenue! Dutton Sheriff is trying to keep the rioters out of the South City, to prevent them from looting and arson. You won't be able to get through!"

Winters was not persuaded, but still reined in Longwind: "I am looking to head out, not enter."

"Even if you could get across Republic Avenue, could you really make it through Old City? Who knows what state Old City is in right now? And even if you could safely pass through Old City, how much time would be wasted going all around Rose Lake in a big circle?" The inn manager gritted his teeth: "I have a way to get you to North City faster, but... but it's a bit risky."

...

Fuller had a brief but beautiful dream:

In the dream, the embargo was lifted, and his own weapons trade made a huge profit. But he didn't stop there; he continued to expand, constantly swallowing up those small workshops.

In the span of three years, he transformed and became the biggest workshop owner in Steel Fortress. Whether it be Paulo Wuper or John Servette, they had to look to him for favor and breathe by his whims.

And there was that Baron Granashi! The entire weapons trade in Steel Fortress was in his hands; he set the price, and Baron Granashi had to pay whatever price he demanded!

Ha ha, just a baron? I can do that too!

Wait, baron...

Fuller suddenly woke up, his heart still racing as he looked around.

There was no grand house with a luxurious bed, no fine clothes or gourmet food. He was sitting in a carriage, the rolling sound resonating over the stone pavement — almost like the sound of counting Gold Coins and silver coins.

There was indeed a beauty, and one so unimaginable, but Fuller dared not have any thoughts of desecration.

"You're awake, Mr. Fuller?" the beauty asked softly: "Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Fuller stood up abruptly but hit his head hard against the ceiling of the carriage. He ignored the pain, twisted his body, and with a comical bow, he said: "Madam."

"You should have realized by now." Anna smiled and extended her hand: "I'm not any baroness; you can simply call me... Anna."

Fuller wiped his sweat profusely: "Dare not, dare not."

Anna asked with concern, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere right now?"

Only then did Fuller remember, he had been begging the baron to take him along just a moment ago, how did he end up in a carriage upon waking from a dream?

"My head is a bit sore." Fuller rubbed the back of his head, enjoying the remnants of the wonderful dream, and said somewhat embarrassingly: "But if you ask about other places, heh, I actually feel quite relieved..."

Anna nodded with a smile: "That's good then."

"Madam, where are we going?"

"The accommodation at the inn is no longer safe. Mr. Kovyrian will take us to a safer, more hidden place."

"Oh... oh no!" Fuller was suddenly alarmed, exclaiming: "The baron!"

"You don't have to worry." Anna saw what Fuller had in mind and reassured him: "Baron Granashi asked me to inform you, he will have Mr. Schmid take your family to the Schmid residence for protection."

Fuller listened silently, his eyes inexplicably welling up a bit, and he said with a bitter smile: "I thought the baron would just leave me to my own devices... after all, I'm of no value anymore..."

"Actually." There was an imperceptible sigh from Anna, who said sorrowfully: "Baron Granashi is a very gentle person."

Fuller pondered, finding it impossible to link the ruthless baron with the word gentle, but he still replied with a smile: "Right, right... where is the baron now?"

"He." Anna slightly turned her head, gazing out the window, not letting Fuller see the emotions in her eyes: "He's gone to do what he feels he must."

...

Like firearms spraying gunpowder smoke, two massive wolfhounds exhaled moist, warm white vapor as they sprinted across the ice-covered surface of the lake with unrestrained enthusiasm.

The front halves of the wolfhounds were strapped to harnesses, from which ropes extended, connecting to a skeleton of a ice sled that had been stripped down to its bare frame.

Winters, clad in only a single layer of clothing, crouched on the small ice sled struggling to maintain balance.

Behind Winters' sled, another ice sled was tied with hemp rope. The second sled had no passengers; instead, it carried Winters' full set of armor and weapons.

Winters' left hand was also wound with two ropes. The ropes in his hands stretched backwards into the night, linking to the reins of Longwind and another horse with a black muzzle.

The two horses followed around twenty meters behind Winters as they raced along with the ice sled.

Behind him, the sound of hooves was like drums, but what Winters cared about more was the long echo coming from beneath his feet.

The echo was not like the crisp sound of ice cracking, but rather like the tremor of a broken string or marbles rolling on glass.