Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 344 The Non-Existent Record
Republic of Palatine
Jiangbei Province
A patrol cavalry squadron's base
Captain Lorenzo, the cavalry squadron commander, rubbed his thumb against the pass, discreetly examining the cursive signature in the center of the parchment, trying to find anything amiss.

The cursive signature is very brief—[Alpad Duyom].

The officer who provided the pass identified himself as "Lieutenant Colonel Elek" and was sitting on the other side of the desk.

Although he maintained a polite smile, his fingertips and leg movements revealed his growing impatience.

“It doesn’t look fake,” Captain Lorenzo thought. He had seen General Alpard’s signature before, because it was exactly the same on his warrant.

However, it was sealed with lacquer—Captain Lorenzo couldn't resist touching it—he had never seen the real thing, so he had no way of distinguishing the fake from the real one.

Captain Lorenzo glanced at the officer, then quickly looked back at the pass and asked respectfully, "You... are you going to cross the border river, sir?"

"Yes," the lieutenant colonel replied politely but coldly.

Captain Lorenzo was slightly displeased by the other party's attitude.

"Hmph, the person is real too." He tried to maintain a smile while thinking angrily, "A fake person couldn't be this annoying."

A small additional explanation is needed here: Lieutenant [Lorenzo Dan], the current officer of the Third Republic Army, was just an ordinary citizen six months ago. He was one of the many low-ranking officers who were commissioned in the last wave of recruitment.

The process was quite simple: his father generously donated two hundred horses and a considerable sum of cash to the military government; Lorenzo Dan was transformed from the youngest son of a landowner into a genuine army captain.

However, fate is often unkind.

Although he received a letter of appointment personally signed by Alpad Duyom, when Lorenzo Dan actually entered the army, he found that he was still inferior and was ostracized everywhere.

Military officers from military academies looked down on their new colleagues, and didn't even bother to hide their contempt.

As the newly recruited officers stepped into the officers' club at Oaklinburg with excitement and nervousness, the veteran officers moved out without a word and immediately set up a new club—admission based on Army War College graduate rings.

After experiencing similar incidents several times, Lorenzo Dan felt a sense of humiliation whenever he was faced with the "courtesy smiles" of orthodox officers.

Therefore, upon seeing the familiar smile on the other person's face, Captain Lorenzo confirmed that the officer in front of him was undoubtedly a rooster—a nickname given by newly promoted officers to officers from military academies.

The young attendant standing behind the officer must also be a rooster; although he wasn't wearing a military uniform, Lorenzo could tell by his smell.

"He looks younger than me, probably not even fully grown yet," Lorenzo thought with a touch of jealousy. He was still sizing up the young servant when the man spoke up first.

"Excuse me," the young attendant asked politely, "Do you have any other questions?"

Lorenzo was a little flustered. Despite his immense dissatisfaction, he tried his best not to show it: "Well..."

What's the problem?
A caravan wanting to go to the Hed territory is a problem in itself!
Although the Republic of Plato has effectively split, both the Red Rose and the Blue Rose have fully inherited the First Republic's policies toward the Hed tribes.

The blockade remains in effect, and smuggling remains an unforgivable crime punishable by hanging.

According to the law, Captain Lorenzo should immediately subdue the two men in front of him. If they resist, they should be killed without exception.

However... even during the most severe periods of blockade, even when there was only one republic on this land, the caravans traveling between the Paratul and the Hed tribes never truly disappeared.

The greater the blockade, the more lucrative smuggling becomes; the greater the embargo, the greater the profits from trade.

Holding a pass signed by certain important figures allows for unrestricted movement across the border—an open secret within the Platut military and political system.

Although Lorenzo Dan was relatively inexperienced, he had already learned the rules of the game from his elders.

"Is there anything else?" the young attendant asked patiently again.

The officer, who identified himself as Lieutenant Colonel Elek, appeared nonchalant and allowed his attendant to speak on his behalf.

“Um…” Captain Lorenzo swallowed hard, picking a trivial point of suspicion: “Why are there injured people in the convoy? And it seems there are disabled people too?”

The young servant thought for a moment and replied, "We encountered some bandits on the way."

“Oh, no wonder, no wonder.” Captain Lorenzo said with concern, “There’s a good doctor in a nearby town. I’ll send someone to fetch him right away.”

The young attendant frowned slightly, then relaxed: "Thank you for your kindness, the wounded have received proper medical treatment."

Lorenzo tore off a piece of paper, and as he wrote, he asked anxiously, "What about the medicine? Is there enough medicine?"

The young attendant and the officer exchanged a glance, and the officer nodded with a smile.

The young attendant nodded slightly: "Thank you, that's enough."

Lorenzo handed the newly written note and pass back to the other party, patting his chest and promising: "There are also gangs of bandits on the other side of the border river. If you two need it, I can send some men to escort you and ensure the caravan's safe journey."

The young attendant glanced at the note and realized that Lorenzo had written another pass in his name.

“The people down below might not recognize General Alpad’s pass,” Lorenzo explained enthusiastically. “So I wrote a note for you both, just in case there’s any trouble.”

The young attendant smiled and nodded: "Thank you."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Captain Lorenzo stood up to see the guest off, while simultaneously calling for the soldiers to gather their forces.

"We needn't trouble you with the escort," the young attendant politely but firmly declined.

Seeing that the other party was not just being polite, Lorenzo immediately called back his sergeant.

He insisted on personally seeing the two guests off from their lodgings, repeatedly assuring them that he could help them with any needs they might have.

The young attendant politely declined, while the officer completely ignored Lorenzo.

The officer and his young attendant had already left the patrol cavalry's encampment when they saw Lorenzo running out.

"Are you two going to cross the river via Matoupo Town?" Lorenzo asked breathlessly.

The young attendant, who had already mounted his horse, dismounted upon hearing this: "Yes,"
Lorenzo slapped his thigh and said in frustration, "We can't go to Matoupo Town anymore! The town is destroyed, and the bridge is gone too. Now, if we want to cross the border river, we have to go through Jianqiao Bay."

Upon hearing that Matoupo Town had been destroyed in the war, the young squire remained silent for a moment. After a while, he thanked Lorenzo and extended his hand, saying, "Captain Lorenzo, I hope we can meet again someday."

Lorenzo, beaming, grasped the other's arm: "Of course, we'll definitely meet again... When we get back to Oakwood Castle, if there's a chance, please put in a good word for me, brother..."

Lorenzo stood guard outside the gate of the residence, warmly seeing off the two guests.

Only after the other person disappeared from sight did his stiff and sore cheeks, which had become stiff from laughing too much and for too long, relax.

"[A vulgar word to emphasize the tone]! Rooster!" Lorenzo spat and turned away angrily.

……

Republic of Palatine
Jiangbei Province
Sword Sheath Bay Ferry

Two cables span the boundary river, and the only way to cross is by a single wooden raft.

It took a whole day for all the caravan members and their wagons to move from the east bank to the west bank.

"I'll take you this far." Lieutenant Colonel Elek bid farewell to his junior with a touch of sadness: "I can't help you any further."

Winters was also a little reluctant, but he rallied his spirits and joked, "Are you saying goodbye to Lieutenant Colonel Jessica?"

Lieutenant Colonel Elek flicked his whip listlessly: "Forget it, I'm disgusted by his face. He'd probably be even angrier if he saw me... You just need to keep an eye on him. Besides, once we cross the border river, it's the Hed barbarians' territory. Are you really confident you can get back safely?"

“Don’t worry, we’ll just go back the way we came.” Winters extended his hand—shaking hands and arms is a more intimate, equal, and even sacred gesture than a military salute or a hat-tipping salute—and he bid farewell with a cheerful laugh: “Well then, I hope we’ll have the chance to meet again, Lieutenant Colonel Elek.”

Lieutenant Colonel Elek gripped Winters' hand tightly, but he was both angry and amused: "No! I hope I never see you again in this lifetime!"

Winters spent less than seven days finding Pierre; however, it took him more than a month to get his men out of the Jiangbei province.

On the last day of the first month of Imperial Year 560.

Winters Montagne crossed the border river again.

……

……

wilderness
According to the agreement between the three Hed tribes and the Paratul Republic, the area of ​​about 100 kilometers between them should be a no-man's land, and "the Hed people do not herd sheep, and the Paratul people do not farm."

However, after the Paratites suffered a crushing defeat in their campaign against the Chihe tribe, the agreement of "no sheep herding, no farming" immediately lost its binding force.

As autumn begins, many small tribes gradually migrate into the uninhabited areas. Some groups consist of dozens of households, while others consist of only a dozen or so. They do not interfere with each other and each heads to the winter pastures they have previously explored.

Among them was a tribe with about sixty households, neither too large nor too small. The tribe's leader was named Feiyu, and belonged to the Shishan clan.

Feiyu was the eldest son. According to the customs of the Hed people, after he came of age, he received a share of cattle, sheep and a felt tent from his father and then set up his own household to live on his own.

Because Fei Yu was skilled in archery and fair in distributing meat and making judgments, his companions and shepherds naturally gathered around him, eventually forming a small tribe.

Feiyu established his own independent force, so the other tribes of the Hed referred to his small group as the "Feiyu Tribe".

The winter pasture chosen by the Flying Feathers is about 60 kilometers from the Paratu border river, and is a valley running north to south.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Flying Feather Clan will remain in this sheltered valley throughout the winter.

They will only leave this place and head to the summer pastures in the high mountains after the cattle and sheep have eaten all the withered grass and the first spring rain has arrived.

However, this year's situation is somewhat special—a group of guests has arrived from the Feiyu tribe. Feiyu strictly forbids its members from stepping out of the valley, because its guests are not ordinary people from various tribes, and any leak of information could lead to annihilation.

Feiyu's guests came from the east, while his guests came from Palatus.

Among the guests was a young man who, ever since arriving at the Flying Feather Tribe's winter pasture, had done only one thing every day: stand at the highest point of the valley, gaze eastward, and wait patiently.

The young man waited and waited, not knowing how many times the sun had set and risen, until finally he saw the rider's figure on the horizon.

He shouted excitedly, jumped onto his horse, and galloped down the hillside, speeding towards the approaching man.

The young man hugged the other man tightly and burst into tears.

"What's wrong?" The man—referring to Winters Montagne—was flattered and politely hugged the young man gently, asking with a mixture of shame and concern, "Little Lion?"

The young man—pointing to the lion cub—sobbed uncontrollably: "Why did it take you so long to get back?"

"What happened?" Winters suddenly became alert.

"How dare you ask?" the little lion sobbed as he shouted, "I've wiped out all the rats in the valley!"

……

Wintering Valley of the Flying Feathers
Winters stood outside the tent door, wanting to go in but not daring to.

The subordinates wisely kept their distance, none of them wanting to provoke Blood Wolf at this time.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz has disappeared, Mayor Gerard Mitchell has disappeared, and even the most honest and reliable Father Kaman has disappeared.

Winters' fingertips touched the tent flap, then dropped it, then touched it again, then dropped it again, repeating this three or four times, until he heard a clear voice come from inside the tent: "Come in."

Winters pushed open the tent flap, and Anna was waiting for him.

Fortunately, what he saw was a warm smile.

……

……

An unknown time, an unknown place, a conversation that has never been formally recorded.

"Sit over here."

"..."

"Move over a little more."

"..."

“Sit here.”

"..."

"here."

"..."

"Take off your coat."

"..."

"(A silent command through the eyes)."

"..."

"Inside."

"..."

"(Another silent command through the eyes)."

(The soft rustling sound of clothes being undressed.)

(A sound similar to washing hands)

"..."

"(The sound of a warm towel wiping the skin)."

(Very careful, very careful breathing)

(The sound of a towel continuing to wipe the skin.)

"..."

(The sound of a towel continuing to wipe the skin.)

"..."

(The sound of a towel continuing to wipe the skin.)

"..."

"(Breathing softly) Change into clean clothes."

(The sound of dressing)

(The sound of washing towels)

"(The sound of arms reaching out from behind to embrace)."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"For over a month, I thought you had run away again (teasing chuckle)."

"(A silent apology)."

"(Whispering) Actually, when I saw how you looked when you came back, I knew you had a great month..."

"..."

"(Whispering) Even in Iron Peak County, I've never seen you so happy, like a bird that has flown out of its cage..."

"..."

(Smiling slyly) Right? You're very happy, aren't you?

"(Feeling guilty) I'm sorry."

(A soft hug) Why are you sorry? (Whispering) I love seeing you happy, I love seeing you radiant. (Voice fading) I love seeing you free and at ease...

"(Uncontrollable tears)"

(Sound of wiping away tears) Don't cry, don't cry, stop crying. (Snuggling close, whispering) I want to see you happy. (A voice so soft it can't be heard, so soft it can only be heard in one's heart) As for me... it doesn't really matter...

……

……

Wintering Valley of the Flying Feathers
The team from Tiefeng County and the troops from Jiangbei Province had just joined together and were now packing their belongings.

The guards and veterans were busy loading the trucks, while Winters and his men took a break to tend to their mounts.

This was the umpteenth time the little lion had complained to Winters: "You promised it would be at most half a month, at least ten days, why did you take so long!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Winters could only silently endure it and bury himself in brushing his horse.

"Do you know how I've been coping these past few days?" This is the umpteenth time the little lion has given this example: "I've wiped out all the mice!"

"But you still came back safely, didn't you?" Winters tried to reassure the little lion.

"You've wasted too much time! Too much time!" The little lion grew angrier and angrier, even stopping his brushing of the horse, his eyes brimming with tears as he lamented, "I might have missed the most fun parts! Sigh! Sigh! I've really lost out!"

"The most fun part? What?" Lieutenant Colonel Moritz suddenly interjected.

"The most fun part?! What?! What else could it be?" The little lion suddenly turned to look at Moritz, his eyes widening in disbelief. He took a deep breath and roared, "The hunt!"

[The author absolutely disagrees with, does not support, and certainly does not advocate a "simp" approach to love! A simp's view of love is unhealthy, irrational, and unsustainable; it should be utterly defeated and trampled upon!]
[While absolute equality is impossible in love, we should strive for relative equality. On the basis of relative equality, we should exercise appropriate tolerance and forbearance. Mutual respect, mutual support, harmonious coexistence, unity and friendship… (uncontrollable ramblings)]
[However, it must be acknowledged that in love, there is indeed a type of love where one would give their heart to the other (referring to a portion of people's first love). This kind of love is naive, fragile, immature, and rarely ends well, but it is also passionate, intense, and all-consuming.]
[Imagine if Romeo and Juliet were remarried; they certainly wouldn't have reached the point of contemplating suicide...]
[In short, please don't ask "why write it this way." The author doesn't know why it was written this way, nor why it turned out this way, and is even too ashamed to read it a second time—but what's written is written.]
[This chapter has been deliberately reduced to 4496 words by the author; the extra 496 words are enough to cover that section. If any readers find it offensive, please consider it "a bonus of unofficial historical content given away with some in-game currency," please! Orz]
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(End of this chapter)