Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 904 - 17 The Purse and the Hilt

Chapter 904: Chapter 17: The Purse and the Hilt Chapter 904: Chapter 17: The Purse and the Hilt The Priskin kid is rather odd, always managing to complicate things for Winters at just the wrong time, like now.

An extra outsider in the living room made it unsuitable to continue discussing private matters.

Helplessly, Winters sighed internally— it seemed the conversation could only resume over dinner.

The official reason Mr. Leo appeared at Winters’ residence was because Winters was throwing a farewell banquet for him.

Mr. Leo had already bid farewell to Winters, as he personally needed to oversee the transfer of wool, and the partners of Navarre Commerce would soon be leaving Iron Peak County.

Yet even at this crucial moment, Mr. Leo remained tight-lipped about Lady Navarre’s affairs, as if nothing had happened.

Mr. Leo might have been able to restrain himself, but Winters couldn’t stand by and watch Anna suffer in anticipation.

...

Ever since running away from home, every time Anna thought of how her mother might react, she felt stifled.

However, Catherine dismissively snorted at Anna’s anxiety. Lady Navarre, adhering to her usual cheerful attitude, comforted her sister saying, “Since it’s already happened, and we are indeed her biological daughters, what can she really do to us?”

When confronted with a distressing problem that can’t be solved, it’s human instinct to “not think about it”. It’s as if by not facing it, the problem doesn’t exist for another day.

However, the arrival of Mr. Leo tore open the veil over the wounds, making it impossible for the parties involved to continue deceiving themselves.

Whether it’s fine wine or inferior wine, there always comes a day to open the bottle seal.

Winters invited Mr. Leo home under the guise of a farewell, preparing to confront and resolve the issues.

But Winters was faintly worried that Lady Navarre’s sharp attitude may upset Anna. Hence, he planned to have a preliminary chat with Mr. Leo before the formal start of the dinner.

Before they could get to the main topic, an unwanted visitor arrived.

Winters looked at the uninvited guest, a slight frown forming. He shifted his collar— the sweater was a bit tight around the neck, Lady Navarre’s knitting skills clearly had room for improvement.

The uninvited guest had no self-awareness of being such. Little Priskin, seeing Blood Wolf, trembled to his core.

That gesture… was it meant to signify a throat cut?

Little Priskin’s throat bobbed up and down, his sitting posture becoming more upright. Little did he know at this moment, his source of fear was actually scrabbling to recall the customs of the Paratu People.

Winters cursed his lack of deeper understanding of Paratu; when he actually needed it, he could not think of any action that in Paratu culture meant “enough, time for you to leave, send off the guest”.

“Mr. Priskin,” Winters amiably asked, “Is your horse tied outside? Better put it in the stables before it freezes.”

“No,” Little Priskin, guessing the mind of Blood Wolf, quickly responded, “I walked here.”

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“How could that be? I’ll prepare a horse for you.”

“Is… is this banishment?” Little Priskin felt a pang in his heart, repeatedly declining, “It’s nearby, not far at all, I can walk back.”

Winters, left without options, straightforwardly asked: “What brings you to me?”

Little Priskin glanced at the chubby, smiling man on the other side, then at Blood Wolf, and finally at his own shoe tips.

He spoke timidly and unclearly, “My grandfather… oh no, it’s me… coming to confess about the military merit certificates… no, the head rolls…”

“Military merit certificates? What about them?” Winters leaned back in confusion, asking, “Isn’t your head roll business doing well?”

Winters nodded towards Mr. Leo, “Even Mr. Leo spoke highly of you, wishing to meet you. It’s fortunate, since had you not come today, it’d have been difficult for both of you to meet again.”

Upon hearing this “blatant threat,” Little Priskin nearly burst into tears. He suddenly stood up, vigorously shaking his head, his cup falling and smashing on the floor.

Winters was puzzled by how his words could have upset the other party, looking curiously at Little Priskin and then at the broken pieces on the ground.

Little Priskin hurriedly bent down to pick up the remnants of the cup.

Winters couldn’t help but chuckle softly, helplessly leaving his seat and extending his hand to help Priskin clean up the mess, “What’s gotten into you?”

Mr. Leo, who had not participated in the conversation, chimed in with a smile, “I think… Mr. Priskin views you as a ruthless figure like the ‘Butcher Duke’.”

“Is that so?” Winters asked Little Priskin, surprised.

“No,” Little Priskin frantically widened his eyes, his head shaking like a windmill, “No.”

Recalling Anna’s words, Winters sighed.

After picking up the sharp ceramic pieces one by one and placing them on a plate, he looked at the tear-stricken face of Little Priskin and patted his shoulder, “What’s past is past, you don’t need to be this afraid of me. It’s just a pity about this cup, it was my only set for entertaining guests.”

“When I get to Maplestone City, I’ll send you another set,” Mr. Leo said with a smile.

“Nevermind,” Winters said, slightly dejectedly leaning on the bench, “Porcelain cups given to me are bound to break sooner or later.”

“It’s okay, I’ll prepare an enamel set for you,” Mr. Leo smoothly countered, “Iron-baked with a porcelain surface, it won’t break no matter how it’s dropped.”