Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 899 - 15_2

Chapter 899: Chapter 15_2 Chapter 899: Chapter 15_2 “He came to me for help yesterday, and today the man is dead,” Winters said helplessly. “It’s too much of a coincidence.”

“I can’t do anything about that.” Andre spread his hands, walking into the paddock of the small ponies, patting their round bellies, “Hey, those baldies sure know how to raise horses. Are you going to use these two ponies anytime soon?”

“No. Anna can ride, and Catherine said she’d rather die than ride these two dwarfs,” Winters asked puzzledly, “What’s the matter?”

Andre was overjoyed: “Then lend them to me for a few days.”

“Okay, but didn’t you say you don’t ride ponies?”

“I don’t.” Andre said, as he was already mounting one: “But the cavalry has just recruited some rookies, it’s a good chance for them to practice riding ponies… Hmm, very stable.”

Mason also came over: “Was there really nothing that Father Caman, who came asking for help, could do?”

...

“He has a way, but he won’t tell me. He just asked me to buy him some time,” Winters sighed again. “After thinking it over, Caman’s method is to send people away or hide them. What else can he do?”

Mason was silent for a moment, leaning forward slowly towards Winters, and muttered, “Do you think… would the Magic Combat Bureau be interested in a living priest who can be approached?”

…

Iron Peak County, Manyun Valley.

The alarm bell rang fast and urgent. The bell ringer saw a large cloud of dust rising from the west, and a huge cavalry of unknown identity approaching.

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The shadow brought by the Herdman hadn’t faded yet, and the townspeople were highly alert as if facing a big enemy. Men with tense faces picked up their weapons and ran to the walls, while women clutching children hid in the basements and the church.

It wasn’t until a few light cavalry arrived waving green flags to report that the residents of Manyun Valley could let go of the anxiety that had reached their throats.

The cavalry came from Revodan, and according to the messenger, they were here to build a bridge for Manyun Valley.

Ever since the Manyun Bridge was destroyed by the Blood Wolf, communication between the two sides had been inconvenient, relying solely on boating.

Learning that the visitors intended to build a bridge, the mayor was enormously hospitable, not only willing to provide manpower but also took initiative in arranging food and accommodation for the cavalry.

“That?” The man who was nominally in charge of the cavalry, [Tamas], inquired with a hint of seeking approval from the man behind him.

The man standing behind Tamas wore a mask, his voice impatient: “You are the appointed commander, why are you looking at me?”

“Alright then.” Tamas decided, replying to the mayor: “Thanks for the food and drinks, but we’ll skip on accommodations; we’ll camp outside of town.”

The mayor hurriedly expressed his agreement several times, secretly breathing a sigh of relief—letting a bunch of troops into town could lead to all kinds of troubles.

As the mayor’s tense nerves relaxed slightly, he couldn’t help but feel a bit proud of his tactical retreat for gaining an advantage. After all, if the military really wanted to enter Manyun Valley, he couldn’t have stopped them; it was better to straightforwardly earn a favor.

The man wearing the mask seemed to see through the mayor’s careful thinking and let out a disdainful snort.

“By the way, Mr. Mayor,” Tamas called back the departing mayor of Manyun Valley: “His Excellency Montaigne asked me to pass on a few words to you.”

The mayor’s heart lifted again, and after thinking briefly, an image of a “blue steed” came to mind in connection with this name.

“The Civil Guard Officer instructed me to inform you that the circuit court has been restored and Manyun Valley is scheduled for the second week of next month. As for the bridge, we’ll make do with a Floating Bridge for now, and he has promised the people of Manyun Valley a ‘better, sturdier, more beautiful’ big bridge; he won’t go back on his word, please be assured, and inform the townspeople.”

The mayor was taken aback, then nodded his head.

After the mayor of Manyun Valley left, Captain Moro with the mask spoke up: “They’re making a fool out of you, don’t you see?”

“Maybe.” Tamas replied: “It doesn’t matter.”

The order was quickly passed down, and the cavalry turned to the northeast, setting up camp on the flat ground beside the river, outside the town.

“Why though?” Monkey was far from happy, hammering tent pegs and muttering, “There are houses right there, why do we have to pitch tents in the wild?”

[Lu Xirong]—Monkey’s current Centurion and his former sergeant in the militia—saw Monkey’s litany of complaints and got irritated, he kicked him: “You talk too much! Even the lieutenant is sleeping in a tent, what’s wrong with you staying in one? Sergeant Bunir didn’t complain, why are you whining?”

Monkey didn’t get angry from the kick; he rubbed his buttocks and snickered, moving closer to Lu Xirong: “Sergeant?”

“`

“I am now a Centurion, not a sergeant,” Lu Xirong said with a dark face, smashing the tent pegs with a rock.

“Hey, sooner or later.”

“Get lost.”

“I have a question I want to ask…”

“Spit it out if you have something to say.”

The Monkey hesitated as he asked, “When will we new recruits be granted land? When will it be distributed to us?”

Lu Xirong put down the stone and turned to stare at The Monkey, “What do you want to know that for?”

“It’s just itching in my heart,” The Monkey sighed with a lament, “Not to mention land, I’ve never even had a new piece of clothing since I was born. The thought of being granted land scratches at my heart like a cat. With land, maybe I can even take a wife. Alas, I haven’t even touched a woman yet.”

Lu Xirong scolded with frustration, “You haven’t even claimed a head in battle, what’s the rush? Look at your fellow villager; he’s taken three enemy heads and even one from Hong Lingyu! He’s not in a hurry, so what are you?”

The Monkey still sported a grin, “Only because I lack it, I’m anxious. If I had three enemy heads, I wouldn’t be worried.”

Upon learning that the unimpressive and short man before him was the renowned Sergeant Bunir, The Monkey immediately agreed to enlist.

Originally Doug had been packing up his belongings, but seeing his friend decide to enlist, he also silently stayed behind.

As soon as they moved into the camp, the two were separated.

The Monkey was assigned to Lu Xirong’s squad of ten, while Doug was picked by Sergeant Peter Bunir and now serves as a messenger for the acting camp commander.

Lu Xirong ignored The Monkey and turned to hammer nails. Sensing that the Centurion was displeased, The Monkey wisely shut his mouth and went back to work.

Soon, the tent that could accommodate six for lodging was set up, and everyone mounted an iron pot to make some hot food before nightfall.

While sitting around the fire drinking soup, Lu Xirong finally spoke up: “I reckon the treatment for you new recruits won’t be the same as ours.”

“What? Why?” The Monkey was immediately anxious upon hearing this.

“What was the situation back then? What is it now? It’s different.”

If it was a fool, he’d probably still pester Lu Xirong with questions. However, The Monkey was quick-witted and immediately understood the crux of the matter.

The Iron Peak County Military can currently be roughly divided into three levels, the very top being the Blood Wolf’s oldest subordinates. It’s easy to distinguish them because only they address the Blood Wolf as “Centurion,” and they are the only ones who can use this title.

Most of the old soldiers who still remain in the military have become company-level commanders, such as Tamas and Bart Xialing. Those who are retired due to injuries usually work under Bard, the Civil Guard Officer.

The middle layer is Lu Xirong’s batch of the “first army establishment.” They occupy the ranks of Centurion and sergeants, with estates large enough to be considered small landlords, though these have not been liquidated yet.

The third layer consists of prisoners who were forcibly incorporated when three Hundred-Men Squads expanded into an infantry battalion.

They initially joined the Blood Wolf’s forces reluctantly and half-heartedly, and now they have become the backbone of the army.

Among them, the most distinguished in battle accomplishments is none other than Sergeant Peter Bunir, with a thousand acres to his name. Even those without significant battle accomplishments, as long as they are still alive, have at least the basic three hundred acres granted by the land grant order.

As for new recruits like The Monkey and Doug, they don’t even qualify to be part of this three-tier pyramid.

When Lu Xirong mentioned that the situation has changed, he meant that in the past it was difficult to recruit soldiers for the Blood Wolf; people couldn’t be retained without coaxing and deceiving them with generous rewards.

And now? The news that enlistment comes with three hundred acres has spread throughout Iron Peak County, leaving countless people envious.

The bloody battle in the valley is a haunting nightmare for many survivors, but there are also many who want to grit their teeth and take a chance.

Recruitment is easier now, so naturally, the conditions offered won’t be as favorable.

Even after realizing this, The Monkey still felt very unwilling, but he didn’t have any solution, so he could only let out a discouraged sigh.

“You don’t need to worry,” Lu Xirong glanced at The Monkey, “The Blood Wolf never treats his people unfairly.”