Trench Bolts and Magic

Chapter 107 Reencounter with Ludwig
Maureen paused for a moment, then asked the question that concerned her most:
"Madam, has the captain's pension been issued? Are there any errors?"

“Received, Mr. Morin.”

Mrs. Hauser nodded: "The people from the city hall just delivered it a few days ago. There were no problems. They also said that once Barnes reaches the required age, he can go directly to the officer school."

Hearing this, Morin finally felt a little relieved.

It seems that the empire's compensation system is functioning fairly well, with no instances of withholding or delays.

"That's good. If you encounter any difficulties in your life in the future, you can contact me at any time through the garrison's office."

After speaking, Morin placed a piece of paper with his name and current unit number on it on the table.

Mrs. Hauser glanced at the note, then shook her head:

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Morin, but we cannot cause you and the troops any further trouble."

Just then, a boy who looked to be about ten years old ran out from the inner room.

He looked at Morin, who was dressed in military uniform, with curiosity, not at all shy.

"Mom, who is this uncle?"

“Barnes, quickly call him Uncle Morin.” Mrs. Hauser pulled her son over.

Maureen saw a photo of Captain Hauser and the little boy hanging on the living room wall.

In the photo, Captain Hauser and the little boy are both wearing Saxon military uniforms and are crossing the street.

"Uncle Morin, are you my father's comrade-in-arms?"

Little Barnes tilted his head back and asked in a clear voice.

“Yes.” Morin crouched down and patted his head.

"They say my dad is a hero, right?"

Upon hearing his words, Maureen nodded without hesitation: "Yes, he is a hero to all of us."

After receiving an affirmative answer, the little boy's face lit up with pride.

He straightened his chest and said to Morin in an extremely serious tone:
"Uncle, when I grow up, I want to join the army like my father and become a hero of the empire!"

Looking into his clear and determined eyes, Morin felt as if something was blocking her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.

He didn't know whether to encourage him or dissuade him.
After all, judging from the current global situation, it is highly likely that the major powers will eventually clash in the next few decades.

Joining the army at this time is clearly not a good choice.

In the end, all he could do was pat the little boy's head again before getting up to leave.

After leaving Captain Hauser's house, Morin lost interest in wandering around town and had the coachman take him directly back to the manor.

It was nearly noon when we arrived at the manor.

The lunch, which was to be served as the 'main meal,' was very lavish, with all sorts of food laid out on the long table. But looking at the exquisite dishes, Maureen found that she had no appetite at all.

All I could think of was Barnes's words, "I want to join the army like my dad."

He ate a few bites quickly, then bid farewell to Cecilia and returned to his room alone.

Seeing Morin's somewhat forlorn figure, Cecilia couldn't help but frown.

She longed to communicate with Morin as before, but ever since he returned from the battlefield, she felt there was a growing distance between them.
In the afternoon, Morin packed his simple luggage and boarded a passenger train with Cecilia, which had an entire carriage reserved for passengers, to return to Dresden, the capital of the Saxon Empire.

After disembarking at Dresden Central Station, the train stopped at a suburban station that is not usually open to the public.

As soon as she got off the bus, Maureen saw a number of black cars waiting quietly by the platform.

Several drivers and servants immediately came forward respectfully upon seeing Cecilia.

"Madam, welcome back."

Cecilia nodded slightly, then led Morin into the lead car, a car powered by a crystalline internal combustion engine. This display of wealth made Morin realize once again just how much "money power" his "older sister" truly possessed.

The car smoothly drove away from the station and headed out of the city along the wide road.

Looking out the car window at the city that felt both familiar and strange, Morin gazed at it.

Dresden, known as the "Florence of the Elbe," was not only the capital of the Saxon Empire but also its cultural and artistic center.

Baroque architecture is ubiquitous, with magnificent palaces, churches, and opera houses contributing to the city's splendid landscape.

However, beneath this glamorous facade, Morin keenly sensed an unusual atmosphere.

On the streets, in addition to ordinary citizens, you can also see many soldiers wearing various military uniforms.

Newsboys were loudly hawking the latest newspapers, and without exception, the front page headlines were all about the Battle of Aragon and the Paris negotiations.

A complex mix of excitement, pride, and unease permeated the air.

The car eventually stopped in front of a much larger estate outside the city.

If the estate in Tswickau was an understated castle, then this one before us is a veritable palace.

The enormous fountain, the meticulously manicured Gallic gardens, and the grand, almost exaggerated main building all showcased the owner's wealth and status.

"You should stay here from now on, Fritz."

Cecilia led Morin into the magnificent hall and spoke to him.

"I've already had your old room cleaned up."

Looking at the outrageous hall, Morin realized that his previous idea of ​​'living a life of idleness and doing nothing' didn't seem so far-fetched after all.

That evening, Maureen stayed alone in her excessively large bedroom, pondering what to do during the rest of her vacation.

Returning to the military camp is impossible; the entire camp is now empty.

Looking for old classmates and friends? I don't recall having any real friends from my time at the Central Military Academy.
Just as he was feeling bored, a butler came and knocked on his door.

"Young Master Morin, there is a visitor downstairs who wishes to see you."

"A visitor?" Morin was somewhat surprised.

I just got back to Dresden, who would come looking for me?
He followed the butler to the reception room downstairs.

As soon as I entered, I saw a familiar figure.

The man, dressed in a crisp Teutonic Knights officer's uniform, was facing away from him, admiring an oil painting on the wall.

"Lieutenant Colonel Luther Seekert?"

Morin called out tentatively. He already knew that he had always addressed the other person by their first name before, so this time he followed proper etiquette and called them by their surname.

"Just call me Ludwig. I don't need to use your surname anymore, Friedrich."

Ludwig turned around, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"I didn't expect you to be back in Dresden so soon. I came to find you as soon as I heard you were back, but I didn't even have a chance to say a few words to you after I got to the rear before I was forcibly taken back to China."

"Me too!"

Morin smiled and walked over to hug Ludwig.

"When I finished settling the troops and was about to go find you, I discovered that you had already left."

"Hahaha, it's good that I came back alive. Oh, right..."

Ludwig's expression turned serious, and he said earnestly to Morin:

"Our Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights is very interested in the effects of the 'Energy-Condensing Armor-Piercing Projectile'. He hopes to conduct more standardized internal military testing as soon as possible. So, Morin, you can finish preparing the materials these days, and then I will take you to the Imperial Patent Office to complete the application!"

(End of this chapter)