Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 408 Monsoon (Part Two)

[Time: April 1st, Imperial Calendar 560 (four days ago)]
[Gui Tu City Garrison, Narcissus Fortress]
The Narcissus Fortress outside Guitu was the first fortress on the coast of the Inner Sea—and very likely the first on the entire continent—to have a truly perfect geometric structure.

Starting from the main body of the fortress, six large triangular fortresses extend outward along the axis, presenting a delicate and refined centrally symmetrical structure. The fortress as a whole resembles a blooming daffodil, quietly floating on the shore of the city.

But 27 years ago, when the Narcissus Fortress was just completed, people gave it a different name.

Unlike in the past, the planning of this unprecedented fortification building no longer relied on the secret formulas and skills of the stonemasons, but was completed through a large number of precise, complex and rigorous mathematical calculations.

So when it was completed, it was honored to be named after its designer, Antoine Laurent.

During the subsequent siege of Guido, Antoine-Laurentburgh did not disappoint the expectations of the United Provinces. From the vassal armies of various noble territories to the personal guard of the Mad Emperor Richard, the Imperial Expeditionary Force took turns attacking, but despite their best efforts, they could not breach the fortress that protected the northwest walls of Guido.

Antoine-Laurentburgh stood firm, just as the soldiers of the republics never doubted that victory would ultimately be theirs.

However, the jubilant people after the war probably never anticipated what would happen in the future: amid the turmoil and infighting within the United Provinces, Antoine Laurent met a violent end, and his name was erased from books and monuments, including the fortress.

And so, Narcissus Castle became Narcissus Castle.

Today, Narcissus Castle still faithfully fulfills its duty to protect Guitu City, and is also the garrison of Guitu City's guards.

……

Unlike Palatine, where people still need to wear heavy long clothes to keep warm, Guitu City in early April already feels muggy.

The sea breeze pushes humid air onto the land, and the temperature difference between day and night causes fine water droplets to seep onto the stone walls inside Narcissus Castle—not a good thing for steel and gunpowder.

Colonel Parr, having just inspected the armory and gunpowder storage rooms, walked grimly toward the gray tower in the center of the fortress. In wartime, the gray tower would serve as a watchtower; now, it was merely an office for the officers.

The inspection revealed a distressing situation: the snow storage area at the base of the fort was experiencing a long-term, slow leak, and the previously installed waterproofing layer was long overdue for replacement; the drainage system was also not functioning properly, and there was likely a blockage somewhere.

Narcissus Castle needs repairs, but repairs cost money, and Colonel Parr has no money.

The Republic of the United Provinces is currently in dire financial straits, and everyone is eyeing the money like wolves seeking carrion.

Two years ago, when the United Provinces intervened in the war between the Venetta and Tanilia Federations, the United Provinces Army temporarily expanded its reserve forces.

To avoid controversy and suspicion, these newly formed troops were not organized into corps-level units; the largest unit was only a battalion. However, if all the units named "reserve force battalions" were added together, they would have at least the manpower of two corps.

Even today, after the smoke of battle has dissipated from the Taniri Islands, this hastily expanded force has neither been disbanded nor is there any plan to disband it.

The army always has a reason: small-scale conflicts in the Taniri Islands; the long-standing standoff along the Benliu River; changes in the Plato direction...

Parliament, however, was already deeply resentful of the rapidly increasing military spending, and calls for reducing redundant troops were growing louder; the military, on the other hand, was clamoring for more to deal with the imminent threat of war.

At this critical juncture, neither side could agree to spend the budget on the less important "repair of Guitu City's defenses".

“Her bones are still strong and sturdy, they won’t give in.” Colonel Parr glanced at the peeling plaster on the inner walls of the Grey Tower and thought gloomily as he walked, “It’s just a little skin rash.”

Colonel Parr stopped in his tracks as he pushed open the office door, discovering an uninvited guest in the room.

"What? Are you surprised to see me?" Colonel Jason Cornelis—the head of the Allied Army Officer Academy, the nominal second-in-command, and the de facto person in charge—greeted Colonel Pal with an air of composure.

As the highest-ranking military officer at Narcissus Castle, Colonel Parr remembered clearly that he had issued a formal written order: any outsiders entering the castle must be reported to him immediately, and they could only be allowed to pass with his consent—the situation was delicate at the moment, and the colonel could not afford to be careless.

However, at this moment, John Parr was certain that he had not received any requests regarding Cornelius.

"What's wrong, old classmate?" Cornelius remained unperturbed, as if he were in his own living room. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

Colonel Parr glanced discreetly across the office: besides Cornelius, there were two other officers in the room; one was his subordinate, and the other, whom he didn't recognize, was probably a follower Cornelius had brought.

Cornelius sat in a chair opposite the desk, his body language relaxed. The two lieutenants, though standing respectfully on either side of the desk, had tense shoulders and arms.

Especially the lieutenant nominally under his command—his eyes were fixed on the ground, avoiding eye contact with Pal, but the knuckles of his left hand, which was gripping his sword, were clenched so tightly they turned white.

Colonel Pal frowned. He said nothing, went straight back to his chair, and, with the air of a master, asked Cornelius, "Aren't you always busy with official business? You actually have time to come see me today?"

Pal's tone was barbed, but Cornelius didn't seem to mind, replying calmly, "Veneta took all their students away, and Palatul's little ones were sent back to Kings' Castle. The Army Academy now only has three-fifths of its students left, which makes things much easier for me." "Veneta's recall of the students is partly your doing," Colonel Pal sarcastically praised.

Cornelius smiled but didn't reply.

Colonel Parr's brow furrowed deeper and deeper; he had no time for beating around the bush with Cornelius: "Back at the Army Academy, I couldn't stand your arrogant attitude. After graduation, I went to war, while you stayed on to teach, and we stopped interacting altogether. So..."

John Parr reached into the lower drawer as discreetly as possible, and asked bluntly, "What do you want from me?"

……

After completing their studies, Army Academy students from the United Provinces generally fall into one of the following categories: the best go to the regular army, the less outstanding go to the reserve army, the least outstanding are relegated to civilian positions, and those without power or influence are sent overseas.

In the allocation of positions that almost determined their fate, there was one path that surpassed all others—staying at the university to teach.

No need to worry about safety, performance evaluations, or job availability; as long as you meet the required years of service, you're guaranteed a promotion… Staying at the academy as an instructor is the smoothest, most straightforward, and easiest career path in the United Province Army. Aside from the scarcity of positions, it has no drawbacks.

Therefore, every graduating class that can stay on as faculty members are exceptional individuals, requiring not only outstanding abilities but also a sufficiently strong background.

John Parr was the second son of a poor pastor. Upon graduation, he was assigned to a newly formed expeditionary force and immediately went north to fight. His career was fraught with setbacks and many trials before he finally reached his current position.

Of John Parr's class, the only graduate to stay on as a faculty member was Jason Cornelius.

……

“I’ve come to play chess with you,” Cornelius replied.

"Playing chess?!"

Cornelius showed none of his usual arrogance when facing John Parr; instead, he was quite approachable.

He waved his hand, and the accompanying lieutenant immediately took out a stained chessboard from his satchel, placed it on the desk, and neatly arranged the chess pieces.

Cornelius picked up a chess piece, his expression nostalgic: "This set of chess pieces and the chessboard were made by Tartini herself when we were in school."

Pal said coldly, "In the first encounter outside Fure, Tartini was killed and fell into the mud of the Imperial Turtle. His body was not even brought back. That fool thought you would help him stay in Guitu City. In the end, he was kicked into the mercenary group and sent to fight in the Empire."

Cornelius paused for a moment, then quickly regained his composure. He showed no further emotion, simply placing the chess piece back and saying slowly to Pal, "Today you only need to play chess with me."

The room on the top floor of the gray tower fell into a long silence, with only the wind howling through the windowpanes.

After an unknown amount of time, Colonel John Parr said with difficulty, in a tone that was a mixture of anger, shock, and a hint of relief, "The shoe has finally dropped."

Cornelius remained noncommittal, then took the first step by picking up the chess piece representing the soldier.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people say that the army is going to stage a coup, the army is going to stage a coup. And who are the secret groups, who have private agreements with whom…” Colonel Parr started to ramble a little, but he quickly regained his composure. He stood up abruptly, startling the two lieutenants so much that they almost drew their swords.

But John Parr didn't do anything rash. He simply braced himself on the table, leaned down close to Cornelius, and asked through gritted teeth, "Didn't you think about... what the consequences would be if the shoe really dropped?"

“You, today,” Cornelius met Colonel Pal’s blazing eyes head-on, his tone leaving no room for argument, “simply play chess with me.”

“You think you can just walk into my fortress with two immature brats?! Come right up to me!” John Parr pounded the table repeatedly, each strike harder than the last, veins bulging on his forehead. “You think you can threaten me?!”

“You are part of our system, so I don’t need to threaten you,” Cornelius replied calmly, without showing any fear. “I don’t even need to convince you, because your interests, my interests, and our interests are aligned; you just haven’t realized it yet.”

Colonel Parr yanked open a drawer and pulled out a short knife that gleamed coldly.

Cornelius sat upright, not even blinking, but the two lieutenants did not share his composure and immediately drew their swords and pistols.

Just then, a series of hurried, heavy footsteps came from outside the door, and the door was kicked open. Another lieutenant, disregarding his appearance, staggered into the office.

"Colonel! The redeployed troops have entered the city again!"

[This chapter should be called "11.3" (facepalm)]
[I'll stop here for now, because I have to go to work.]
[And... a man's promise! ╰（‵□′）╯]
[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)