Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

In the perspective of the mayor of Shovel Port Town, these blood-soaked rogues were the best source of soldiers.

However, staring at these so-called "good soldiers" in front of him, Mr. Alpha couldn't help but wonder—could they really handle Revodan's army?

Mr. Alpha gazed at the dark clouds on the horizon.

"It's going to rain."

...

[Southwest of Iron Peak County]

[Upstream of Mirror Lake]

[On a bed inside a ship's cabin]

"So...," Anna asked curiously, "what happened to Mr. Borso da Este in the end?"

Winters, who was flipping through a box of sketches, asked without looking up, "Who's Borso da Este?"

Anna lightly kicked Winters, "The White Eagle."

Winters curled his lips, "Oh... what else can happen? Whatever is supposed to happen naturally happened."

"What do you mean by 'supposed to happen?'"

"He's not the mastermind, and I proved that he had no direct involvement in the arson. As for smuggling, what does that count as for the White Eagle family?" Winters flipped another page of the sketchbook. "He'll be detained for a while and then maneuvered out of it. He's the 'noble' White Eagle, and the Montans wouldn't kill him. Even if I didn't provide my testimony, at most it'd only cause him a bit of trouble."

Winters deliberately emphasized the word "noble."

"That's good then," Anna said, lowering her head and continuing to sketch on the paper, "that's good."

Winters used a wooden box to block his face and said sourly, "Those twenty-four dresses certainly did the trick."

Anna couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. She lightly kicked Winters again, but he pretended not to notice and continued flipping through the sketches with a rustling sound.

Anna set down her charcoal pencil and drawing paper, propped herself up, climbed to Winters' side, and took the wooden box from his hands.

Winters wanted to resist but didn't dare to exert force.

Anna placed the wooden box aside and lay down in Winters' arms.

She held her lover's chest and whispered softly, "You, going by how you do things, would never order twenty-four dresses just to make me happy. If it were you—you'd probably buy just one dress and use the money for the other twenty-three to buy food and give it to the hungry..."

"So," Anna traced circles on Winters' chest with her fingertips, "this makes you even more lovable."

Winters held Anna without saying a word.

"Shouldn't you also say something touching to me?" Anna teased.

Winters cleared his throat lightly, "I think I have sand in my eyes."

Anna chuckled softly, pushing Winters away, and climbed back to the other side of the bed. With a mischievous smile, she said, "Though, I have to say, those twenty-four dresses are rather nice. At least… they were romantic."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Winters jumped off the bed and loudly protested, "I'm not entirely clueless about romance!"

"Oh?" Anna's eyes curved with amusement, "Is that so?"

Exasperated, Winters strode out of the cabin. Before long, he returned carrying a large wooden box.

He slammed the wooden box onto the table and feigned indifference, "I had originally planned to give you a surprise after we returned to Iron Peak County… but, forget it, I'll just give it to you now."

Anna opened the wooden box, and what met her eyes were small glass bottles filled with colorful powders. Each bottle had a label, and the bottles were carefully separated by wooden boards and padding to prevent them from breaking from bumping into one another.

Lapis Lazuli, Hematite, Orpiment, Azurite, Vermilion, Shell White… all were pigments.

"When did you buy these?" Anna raised her head and asked Winters.

"While I was in Steel Fort." Winters turned his head and replied indifferently, "Didn't take much time; I just bought every pigment available in the Steel Fort market..."

Before he finished, Anna had already thrown herself onto him and kissed him.

The kiss lingered, lasting until the sound of knocking came from outside the cabin door.

Pierre's voice came from the other side of the door, "Your Excellency, we've reached the South Bank."

Winters and Anna separated instantly. Winters quickly tidied up his appearance and walked to the door. He opened it and asked, "Have the Terdon Tribe's people arrived?"

"Our scouts and the Terdon riders crossed paths," Pierre reported methodically. "They brought as many draft horses and wagons as they could per your request. But Tie Chi did not appear; his son came as his substitute."

"Tie Chi didn't show?" Winters murmured, "The internal affairs of the Terdon Tribe might be unstable."

"I think so too," Pierre nodded.

"Drop anchor for the fleet, let the engineering units disembark, and start building the temporary dock first." After pondering for a moment, Winters issued an order: "Select a team of capable men; I'll personally go meet Tie Chi's son."

"Understood." Pierre saluted and turned to leave.

Winters closed the cabin door and turned around. Anna was already holding his coat, waiting for him.

"I…" For a moment, Winters didn't know what to say.

"Go on," Anna helped Winters put on his coat, buttoning it carefully, and whispered, "You were never destined to belong solely to me… I've known this for a long time."

Winters nodded. As one boot stepped out of the cabin door, he turned and casually asked, "By the way, where's the hunting outfit portrait you drew of me in Green Hill? The one with Hurd's robes… I didn't see it in the sketchbook."

"I lost it," Anna replied with a smile.

Winters said nothing, merely nodded and left quickly.

Outside the cabin, soldiers fired three signal shots, and the flag bearer waved a small flag to relay orders. The fleet, loaded with weapons and personnel, dropped anchor at a wide expanse of water near the South Bank.