Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 402 Echoes Through the Mountains (Part 4)

Outside Steel Fortress, near the village of Chug, close to the legion's base, a large convoy was preparing to depart.

The sky was already bright, but it still looked gray. At 8:15, the church watchman rang the morning bell precisely on time.

Upon hearing the bell, all the busy people stopped what they were doing and silently bowed their heads in prayer.

A moment later, the bells stopped ringing, and the statue-like figures resumed their work, continuing to oil the axles, feed the draft horses, and inspect the goods and luggage.

Everything has a beginning and an end, and Winters was about to leave Steel Castle. However, before departing, he had some things to settle and some friends to say goodbye to.

For example, the head waiter at the lakeside hotel, Kovilian.

“This is Koch, your contact.” Winters gestured with his chin, indicating that Kovilian should look at the muscular man who had just entered the tent. “From now on, you’ll be dealing with him. Get to know him formally.”

Kovilian turned to face Koch, somewhat flustered, unsure of what to do. Finally, the old foreman bowed deeply, while the burly man extended his right hand.

Kovilian was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly recovered and accepted the other's kindness. And so, the two shook hands.

Winters nodded slightly, Koch tapped his boot heels together, raised his arm in salute, and strode out of the tent.

“His demeanor practically screams his status.” Winters sighed, turning to look at Covilian. “But he’s the one among my men who speaks the Monta dialect the least awkwardly.”

“Monta has many veterans, so Mr. Koch’s behavior is not out of place,” Kovilian flattered tactfully. “Besides, loyalty is the most important quality, and Mr. Koch clearly has none of it.”

Winters curled the corners of his lips, didn't respond, and continued, "I will establish a base in Lucerne. As I said before, you only need to send letters home to Lucerne regularly as I request. I will also keep my promise and ensure Mr. Roger's safety."

Kovilian listened with utmost respect.

Winters' attitude was frank and natural: "It's simple in some ways, just sending letters. But it's also extremely difficult, with three autonomous states and hundreds of kilometers between Steelburg and Lucerne. Timeliness, stability, and secrecy—achieving any one of these is not easy. All I can offer is the maximum amount of funding. But how to establish and maintain a communication route depends entirely on your and Koch's wisdom and judgment."

Winters paused for a moment, then sighed: “To be honest, Mr. Corvilian, I don’t have many men who can truly stand on their own. Even if I did, I wouldn’t leave them in Monta—because that would be a shameful waste. Koch is the best helper I can offer you, and I trust him completely, but my messenger is of no help to him. In the land of the mountains, the person I’ve been counting on… has always been you.”

Kovilian dared not be negligent in the slightest, bowed slightly, and sincerely assured them: "Your Excellency, I will never betray your trust! You can completely trust my loyalty."

Winters's lips curled into that same helpless smile again: "You don't need to put on this act of flattery, Mr. Corvilian. I'm using your nephew's life as collateral; my actions are tantamount to kidnapping and extortion. What loyalty can a victim of extortion have to their kidnapper?"

Kovilian lowered his head even further: "Roger brought this upon himself, he deserves to be punished. Your mercy in sparing his life is an act of kindness I shouldn't ask for, and I will never forget your generosity and kindness."

“I will copy down your words.” Winters stood up, propped himself up on the small table, clapped and laughed: “Maybe I can use them someday.”

Faced with the Baron who was acting completely out of character, Covilhã could only shrink his shoulders even more, lower his posture, and try his best to appear submissive.

“You might think I’m playing power games, but I have neither the ability nor the inclination. I’ve seen some people who despise you the more you respect them, and who seem more authoritative the more you belittle them. In my opinion, you don’t belong to that category. You belong to the category of people who have both self-respect and sufficient wisdom, so I choose to communicate with you honestly.”

Winters picked up his cane from the table and stood face to face with the old foreman:
“I don’t like extortion and kidnapping, but what has happened cannot be changed. Your nephew has seen and knows too much, yet he doesn’t understand the value of silence. The risk of letting him go is too high, so I have no choice but to take him with me.”

But believe me, I chose this approach not because there were no other easier or more permanent solutions, but because I saw some valuable qualities in him.

If Sodom had ten righteous men, it should not have been destroyed. Your nephew also possesses the courage to sacrifice himself for others, so it would be a great waste to kill him simply to keep the secret. Therefore, I have chosen to bring him under my control. He will be forced to leave his homeland, but I will also provide him with an education and a path to advancement—a good outcome within a bad one.

You are the same. I have never regarded you as a subordinate, a prisoner, or a slave; I have regarded you as an equal partner. I am purchasing a service from you and paying you reasonable compensation. Undoubtedly, this was a forced sale, and I apologize to you.

After saying this, Winters took a half step back and bowed respectfully.

Kovilian quickly bowed as well, discreetly observing the Baron's expression, trying to find something more familiar to him, but with little success.

After taking some time to process the Baron's words, Corvilian cautiously replied, "I cannot repay your kindness and generosity. Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will do my utmost to gather all the information you require."

“No, that’s exactly what I don’t need you to do,” Winters reiterated seriously. “I don’t need you to actively collect any sensitive information. As I said before, I only need you to collect public, everyday information—the price of wheat and flour, the wages of ordinary people, city notices, and the weather.”

And under no circumstances should you prioritize your own safety. I'm not going to war with the Republic of Monta; I simply want to have eyes and ears in the Solingen region to observe everything happening in this mountainous country on my behalf—that's all.

The old foreman fell silent. After a moment, he raised his head, his face no longer showing flattery and obedience, but unease and suspicion: "May I ask you a question, sir?"

"Please say."

"why me?"

Winters replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, it's because you are the most suitable candidate."

“If it’s just a pair of eyes and ears, Mr. Carlo Ed is more suitable than me. He can see more and hear more than I can.” Covillian pointed out the Baron’s connection to the Navarre Trading Company incisively: “Why me?”

“Precisely because you are not him, you are the most suitable candidate.” Winters, leaning on his cane, calmly explained, “Carlo Ed is first and foremost a partner of the Navarre Trading Company, secondly a Veneta, and lastly my friend. Whether he intended it or not, the information he provided must have been thoroughly vetted. I want a pair of Monta eyes to observe for me, eyes that must be sharp enough, experienced enough, and untainted by self-interest. After careful consideration, I believe you are the most suitable candidate.”

Kovilian fell silent again. After a long while, he asked bitterly, "So I'm tied to your chariot, with no chance of ever leaving?"

Winters replied seriously, "I've considered that. How about we agree on a timeframe, five years?"

Kovilian couldn't believe it easily: "Five years? I served you for five years, and then you released Roger?"

“If Mr. Roger is still willing to return to Monta five years from now, then he is free to act as he pleases.” Winters nodded, but he left out half a sentence—if Koch still only has one informant five years from now, then he can’t blame anyone else.

Kovilian took a deep, painful breath, then exhaled heavily. He pressed his chest and bent over deeply: "Please don't forget the promise you made today. Because that's all Roger and I have left."

Winters extended his hand.

……

Kovilian was the first guest invited into the tent, but not the last to leave through the side door.

The second guest to meet Winters inside the tent was a tall, thin, understated, clean-shaven middle-aged man who did not give his full name, but whose surname was "Da Esther".

The middle-aged man took off his hat and held it in his hand, bowing with meticulous care but also with a distant and indifferent air.

Winters leaned on his cane and nodded slightly.

“[Old saying] Your Excellency Montagne,” the middle-aged man spoke first. “[Old saying] On behalf of the master of Flora, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your assistance and testimony. You will always be our friend.”

“I am simply stating the facts,” Winters replied in Common.

“[Old saying] The White Eagle always repays its debts.” Winters smiled in agreement. “You just need to keep your promise.”

The middle-aged man bowed again, put on his hat, and turned to leave with the arrogance characteristic of the White Eagles.

After the middle-aged man left, Charles lifted the curtain and entered the tent, scoffing repeatedly, "What White Eagle? He walks like a goose. Traitor, what's with all the arrogance?"

Winters sat down, propped himself up on his knees, rubbed his sore left leg, and said with a smile, "If they're really proud, they won't break their promises, isn't that a good thing?"

Ciel fell silent.

Thanks to Winters' timely rescue, Borso da Este is alive and well to this day—although Winters' initial purpose that night was not to save lives.

As for how Borso will escape Monta's subsequent accountability, that depends on the Esther family's tactics.

At least after consulting with the Ester family's envoys, Winters provided the following testimony: There was no evidence that Mr. Borso da Ester was directly involved in the Imperial spies' operation that night; nor was there evidence that Mr. Borso da Ester knew in advance about the Imperial spies' plans; however, there was evidence that he was one of the Imperial assassins' targets that night.

"Who else is outside?" Winters asked Charles.

“Mayor Paul Wooper sent someone, and several other wealthy men also sent servants with gifts, which I delivered to Miss Navarre.” Charles thought for a moment, then said seriously, “Mr. Fuller and Mr. Schmidt came in person, saying they wanted to thank you in person. Should I invite them in?”

“No need,” Winters waved his hand. “I’ll just say hello when I go out later.”

Ciel nodded obediently.

Winters glanced at the Nuremberg clock on the table, then got up and walked to the coat rack. Charles quickly stepped forward to help Winters change into his riding gear.

"Let's take a carriage," Charles said, a little annoyed. "Why do we have to ride horses?"

Winters scoffed, "How can you ride in a carriage? Have the warhorses for Colonel Bern and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas been delivered yet?"

“It was delivered; I personally handed the reins to them.”

Winters coughed a few times: "Has Changfeng been brought back?"

"We brought them back." Charles was still a child after all, and his moods changed quickly. He had just been sullen, but when he talked about Changfeng, he immediately perked up: "In my opinion, if we hadn't taken the initiative to ask for them back, that lieutenant colonel would definitely have renege on his promise. Humph, mountain folk."

“Alright.” Winters’ tone was unusually stern: “Don’t talk like that.”

Charles immediately stopped, but his lips were still pouting.

……

Today's situation is special; Colonel Berne and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas did not send anyone to the scene, but it is obvious to anyone with eyes to see that this convoy has close ties with the garrison.

Winters' "transport convoy" had a pass signed by Colonel Bern, ostensibly to purchase grain in the border trading city of Lucerne.

In the aftermath of the devastating fires, Solingen was in dire need of everything, especially food. Destitute survivors were consuming thousands of pounds of bread daily, and the military rations provided by the garrison were only enough for temporary relief, soon to be exhausted. This palpable food crisis also deterred farmers and merchants from selling their produce.

Solingen has requested aid from neighboring states, but relying solely on its own food supplies, Solingen's demand may drive up flour prices in neighboring free states.

The insightful people of the Republic of Monta have already turned their attention beyond the mountains.

However, relying on external purchases is not an option as flour from Varn and North Monta is too far away to meet immediate needs. Instead, Paratú is the closest to the Solingen state – the sparsely populated Paratú is not only a major producer of wool and cured meat, but also an important producer of wheat and rye.

A subtle divergence arose between the interests of the United Provinces and Monta's interests. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas used this opportunity to help Winters smooth things over with the Monta Army, ensuring that the checkpoints along the way would turn a blind eye this time.

In exchange, Winters promised that the Palatine "Third Republic" would sell Lucerne enough grain to meet Steel Castle's needs for at least three months—even though he had not obtained permission from the Palatine military government at all.

Of course, Winters immediately sent a messenger to General Alpard afterward. However, the weights on both sides of the scale had changed to "armory" and "food plus transit rights".

By a twist of fate, Winters Montagne took on his first brokerage job, a deal that involved deceiving both sides. If the imprisoned White Eagle could know this, he would surely applaud with tears in his eyes.

……

After shedding his imperial noble attire and donning the gear of a Palatine rider, Winters suddenly smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Charles asked, puzzled.

"Don't you feel a strange sense of familiarity when you see Plato-style boots?" Winters said with a touch of nostalgia and emotion as he struggled to put on the boots. "We didn't wear these kinds of boots when we were in Veneta."

Compared to the Venetta style boots, the Plato boots have a higher shaft, stiffer leather, and are more troublesome to put on, but they can be secured to the foot without leather straps. For warmth, the Plato winter boots also have fur lining.

“I learned to ride a horse in Palatour,” Charles said quietly. “I never wore boots in Veneta.”

Winters sat silently for a while, then helped Ciel adjust his belt: "Do you want to go home, Ciel?"

"I want to," Charles said, scratching his head in frustration. "But I also don't want to."

Winters ruffled Charles's hair.

Footsteps came from outside the tent, and then the curtain was lifted: "Tribunal, Councilor Servet has arrived."

“They’ve finally arrived.” Winters helped Charles to his feet. “Please let him in.”

John Servetus was still wearing that black outfit—or more likely, one of many identical black outfits—buttoned up to the collar, though his knees and the hem of his jacket were dusty from riding.

Seeing that the "Baron" had already changed into his full travel gear, a hint of surprise appeared in Servetus's usually calm eyes: "You're leaving today?"

“If you had come any later, you might not have seen me at all.” Winters laughed cheerfully. “Are you here to inform us of the voting results of our Blacksmiths’ Guild?”

"Yes," Servet replied solemnly, clearing his throat.

"Wait a moment," Winters interrupted the other person.

Servetus frowned and looked at him questioningly.

Winters looked at Charles: "Go and fetch Ms. Navarre."

[Recent updates have been slow, sorry Or2]
[Things will get better soon, and life and work will finally get back on track! I won't wish everyone a happy Lantern Festival in advance, because I'll definitely finish writing "Echoes of the Mountains" before the Lantern Festival, ╰（‵□′）╯]
[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, rewards, and comments. Thank you everyone!]
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(End of this chapter)