Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

The craftsmen from the ship brought their tools and equipment, divided into small boats to disembark and began constructing a temporary dock for unloading cargo.

Winters was also on one of the small boats heading ashore.

Tie Chi's eldest son, accompanied by a group of nobles from the Terdon Tribe, stood dutifully awaiting him.

"I have returned," Winters thought.

...

[At the same time Winters stepped onto the South Bank of the Ashen Stream River]

In Maplestone City, the capital of the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, another coup was taking place.

Essentially, the coup in Maplestone City was a ripple caused by the "Federated Provinces April 1st Coup," a boulder cast into turbulent waters.

However, its bloodshed surpassed the rebellion that had unfolded in Guidao City, remarkable in its brutality.

Upon receiving news of the Federated Provinces coup, the "Palatu Government Army," previously stationed in Mirror Lake County, secretly set out and returned to Maplestone City, launching a surprise attack on the New Reclamation Legion Headquarters.

With the help of traitors, the government forces effortlessly seized the gates of the New Reclamation Legion Headquarters—Maple Fort.

Heavily armed soldiers of the government army then stormed Maple Fort, mercilessly slaughtering any member of the New Reclamation Legion who did not surrender immediately.

Within Maple Fort, the clash of blades, gunfire, and explosions reverberated across the compound. Defiant soldiers of the New Reclamation Legion engaged in close-quarters combat with the government troops who had lost all restraint. The air was filled with relentless screams and cries of anguish.

Inside a spacious office within Maple Fort, Major General Kevin J. Adams, Commander of the New Reclamation Legion, sat waiting for someone to knock on the door.

Muffled footsteps echoed through the hallway, penetrating the walls.

No knock sounded. The door was directly pushed open, and an officer entered the room with an air of confidence—it was Colonel Sanel, the commanding officer of the government forces stationed in Mirror Lake County.

Major General Adams nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised.

The Kingsfort government had previously sent troops to assist the New Reclamation Legion in repelling looters from the Terdon Tribe. However, after driving off the looters, these forces stayed stationed in Mirror Lake County and never withdrew.

The person who followed Sanel into the office wore a face familiar to Major General Adams.

It was Colonel Chloe Toriel, the administrative officer of the New Reclamation Legion—he was the one who intrigued Major General Adams, though now, all Adams' questions had been answered.

"So it was you," Adams said in resignation.

Before the major general could press further, Colonel Chloe offered an explanation of his own. He licked his lips and spoke earnestly, "General, the wavering stance of the New Reclamation Legion cannot persist. Otherwise, when war reignites, we will inevitably become sacrifices caught in the crossfire."

"Oh," Adams said, sipping his wine.

"The Kingsfort government is Palatu's legitimate government," Chloe hesitated momentarily, gritting his teeth as he spoke reluctantly, "This division cannot last forever. Eventually, we must choose a side—choose the side of the victors! Besides... we are far too close to Kingsfort and far too distant from General Alpad—we, in fact, have no choice!"

"Oh," General Adams murmured again, taking another sip of his wine.

Colonel Sanel glanced at the bottle of wine, now half-empty, and scoffed silently. Cutting Chloe short, he coldly remarked, "It seems... you already have a clear understanding of the current situation."

Adams ignored Sanel and poured himself another glass.

"Command your troops to surrender, and I guarantee you an honorable retirement with the privileges of a general's title and pension," Sanel chuckled. "You can take all the wealth you've amassed over the years and settle in Kingsfort as a wealthy man. This isn't merely my promise—it is the pledge of Speaker Grof Magnus."

Adams remained silent for a moment before speaking in a hoarse voice, "My subordinates, once they surrender... do not harm them. You have already won; there is no need for more bloodshed."

"Rest assured," Colonel Sanel replied with a smile, "We guarantee the safety of the prisoners. However, their military careers may come to an end. We will also ensure your safety—you can..."

"Chloe Toriel," Adams interrupted, fixing his blaze-like gaze on Chloe without so much as a glance toward Sanel.

Chloe shifted uncomfortably. "Yes?"

"You're a goddamn fool!" Kevin J. Adams slammed his fist on the desk with volcanic rage. "Grof Magnus is nothing but a traitor! A viper! A sell-out! And you remain oblivious! Legitimate government? Bullshit! If the day ever comes when Grof Magnus wins, the Republic of Palatu will cease to exist!"

Chloe staggered back half a step, stunned by the major general's sudden outburst.

Sanel shielded Chloe, furrowing his brow as he faced Adams directly. "General, I understand your feelings. But don't degrade yourself further—surrender now, while you can still retain your dignity."

"Surrender? Surrender?! You think I'm a spineless traitor? Surrender to the vipers who sold out Palatu?" Adams burst into laughter, his expression turning twisted:

"Bullshit!!!"

As the words left his mouth, Kevin J. Adams retrieved a revolver gun from his knee, pressed its barrel into his mouth, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Click."

The mechanism snapped, the wheel spun, and a flash of fire erupted.

"Boom!"

A gaping wound split across the back of Adams' head, spraying red and white viscous matter onto the wall behind him. His lifeless body fell backward, collapsing heavily to the ground.

The officers in the room were stunned, baffled, exchanging bewildered glances. No one had anticipated that this "fence-straddling flip-flopping general" would choose such a violent means of ending his life.

Colonel Sanel wiped the blood off his face, paused in silence, and removed his jacket to cover what remained of Adams' face.

Chloe, however, seemed to awaken from a dream. He rushed forward, frantically checking for signs of life in the general, as if hoping he might yet cling to a thread of existence.

But he soon ceased his actions, for there was no doubt—Kevin J. Adams was dead.

"At least he died like a soldier," Sanel commented briefly.

Infuriated by Sanel's remark, Colonel Chloe leaped to his feet and threw a punch at him.

"Died like a soldier? What the hell do you know?" Chloe roared in grief as other officers scrambled to restrain him. "With Adams dead, every officer in the New Reclamation Legion—every single one—now has a justification for rebellion! The Newly Reclaimed Lands will be awash in blood!"

At that moment, a thunderclap echoed through the heavens.

Raindrops the size of beans poured down on Maple Fort, Maplestone City, the Newly Reclaimed Lands, Palatu, and every corner of the Lacenas Alliance.

It was raining—no, it was more than rain—it was the monsoon!

Farmers in Palatu had already sown their seeds, awaiting the monsoon to bring forth new life;

On the other side of the ocean, merchant ships laden with silk and spices were ready to ride its winds back home.

The monsoon had arrived, bringing rain, bringing life, bringing renewed hope.

(End of Volume)