The most shameless alchemist in history

But his peaceful time alone did not last long. Soon he suddenly stood up, alert, staring intently at the entrance to the city gate's stairs. In the dim moonlight, he could see that the place was empty.

"He really is a very wary man. I only released a tiny bit of my aura, and you noticed it?" A dark figure emerged from the deserted place. Even though spring had passed and summer had arrived, the Mountain Country was not like the Snow Country in the north, and the climate was quite hot. However, he was still wearing a large black robe, which wrapped him up from head to toe. Even his head was covered by a hood. He exuded a mysterious aura, and Dure also sensed a dangerous aura from him.

"Who are you?" Du Lei knew very well that the other party was clearly coming for him, and the other party had deliberately released his aura just now, which was obviously a test to him. He was up to no good!

"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you don't choose the wrong side." The other person's words were calm, but there was a clear sense of threat in them. Although he couldn't see the person's face clearly, Du Lei could tell that this person was very young and definitely no more than twenty years old.

"You've chosen the wrong side? What exactly do you mean by 'choosing the wrong side'?" Du Lei frowned, thinking, not quite understanding what the other person meant.

"I hope you will be extremely careful in your choice regarding Frost City," the other party reminded you.

"Frost City? Is it... related to Miss Winry?" Dure frowned. The only connection he could have with Frost City was his relationship with Winry.

Although he wasn't entirely clear about Winry's identity, he could deduce from various clues that Winry held a very high position in Frost City. Now, Winry had successfully completed negotiations with the Mountain Kingdom, resolving the friction and conflict between the two countries on the border. This was undoubtedly a great achievement, and once Winry returned to Frost City smoothly, it would certainly give her a significant advantage.

“That’s right, you’re smarter than you look, and smart people never make stupid choices. I love dealing with smart people, and I hope this conversation isn’t a waste of time,” the other person said calmly.

"So what do you want me to do? And what will I get in return?" Dure went straight to the point, staring into the other man's eyes as he asked.

Although the wide black robe and hood concealed his face and figure, his eyes revealed them, which was the only thing Dure could observe from him.

These were eyes as deep as the night, seemingly able to see through everything. Those calm eyes could not defeat him, no matter what difficulties or immense pressure he encountered. He was a man who looked thin, but whose spirit and will were extremely strong.

"The smartest choice is to do nothing, and good things will naturally come to you. The second smartest choice is to stand on the right side. If you put in enough effort, you will receive an equal reward. The wrong choice is to join the wrong side. Not only will you not receive any reward, but you will also suffer extremely cruel punishment. You understand what I mean, right?" The other person stood on the edge of the city wall. He was tall and somewhat thin. In the evening breeze, the robe he wore billowed gently, giving him a graceful appearance.

"I see. May I ask a question?" Dure nodded thoughtfully, but did not give his response immediately.

“A smart person doesn’t ask unnecessary questions, nor does he ask questions he doesn’t know the answers to, so I hope your question won’t disappoint me.” The other person always seemed to be able to anticipate Dure’s thoughts.

“Miss Winry is just a decoy. You are the real envoy from the Land of Snow, aren’t you?” Dure calmly scrutinized his eyes, suddenly uttering these words.

"Oh? How so?" The other party finally showed some interest. He carefully examined Du Lei from head to toe, as if redefining the young man in front of him.

“Smart people never ask questions they don’t know the answer to, right?” Dure retorted verbatim with the same words he had just said.

“Interesting. No wonder Yuffie looks at you differently.” The other person suddenly laughed. This was the first time he had smiled since he climbed the city wall and had been talking to Dure for so long.

“Euphie?” Dure frowned. He was quite familiar with the name; in fact, he should have a deep connection with it.

When he first left Hot Spring Village and arrived in Maple City, he encountered an out-of-control carriage on the street. A little girl was almost hit by the carriage, but he stepped forward and saved her.

The little girl was Shirley, the daughter of the blacksmith Tie Xin, who lived on the narrow street outside Maple Leaf Academy.

As for the owner of the carriage, the unreasonable noble lady who lashed out at her first meeting with a whip, leaving a bloody mark on her face, it was Euphemia.

After entering Maple Leaf Academy, he encountered Euphemia several times, and the two developed a deep grudge. However, when he encountered trouble, Euphemia helped him once, which made him a little confused about the noble lady's stance.

Now, after leaving Maple Leaf Academy, hearing that name again, Dure connected all the memories of Yuffie in his mind, trying to find any clues that could correspond to the man in front of him.

"Knowing too much is not a good thing. You will know when the time is right. I have said what I should say. How you choose to proceed is up to you. So, farewell." After saying this, the other person jumped off the city wall.

Du Lei immediately went to the city wall to check for the other person's figure, but under the moonlight, he could not find the dark figure at all. He had completely disappeared into the night, as if he had never appeared at all.

“Euphemiah…Frost Castle…Winry…This is quite interesting.” Dure didn't dwell on how the man had disappeared; he knew his appearance was a warning to him.

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647. Well-informed

After the celebration ended, Dure and his party stayed in Rock City for two more days. The main event during these two days was that Winry, as the representative of the Snow Kingdom, signed a peace agreement with Speaker Varo. After obtaining a copy of the agreement, Speaker Varo held a farewell banquet, firstly to thank Winry and her party for their help to the Mountain Kingdom, and secondly to send them off.

"Hehehehehe, happy times always pass too quickly. I didn't expect it to be time to part so soon. Young man, at this beautiful moment, don't you have any special thoughts?" General Titus raised his wine glass and walked up to Dure, saying with a smile.

"A special idea? General Tie Da, please forgive my ignorance, I don't quite understand what you mean." Du Lei was not good at drinking, and he was holding a glass of orange juice. He asked softly in response to General Tie Da's words.

"Young people should naturally consider their future first, especially young men like you. You are an outstanding young man, and you must have a bright and promising future. So you must be careful when choosing your future stage," General Titus said, squinting his eyes as he offered friendly advice.

"The future? I haven't thought about that much yet. Right now, I just want to finish my studies as soon as possible." Du Lei understood General Titus's unspoken meaning and said politely.

"As a mere student, he was able to play a crucial role in the conquest of the capital. These young people are truly remarkable!" General Tie Da patted Du Lei on the shoulder, expressing his heartfelt admiration.

"General Tidus, you flatter me. I was merely doing my duty as Miss Wenli's bodyguard," Dure said modestly. He knew that after the current events, many forces in the Mountain Kingdom, especially the military, would undergo a complete reshuffle, and General Tidus would surely rise in status, becoming even higher than the former General Shanlong.

After all, back then General Shanlong had someone to restrain him, but now that General Shanlong is imprisoned and preparing for trial, who will restrain him now?

"Humility is a precious virtue. It's so easy and pleasant to talk to a young man like you, much easier than talking to that brat Zoren." General Tidus said with admiration, glancing at Zoren, who was not far away, clinking glasses with many high-ranking officials.

"Chief Inspector Zoren comes from a prestigious family and has exceptional personal abilities, which I personally admire greatly." Dure had heard some things about Zoren and knew that the latter was a very influential figure in Rock City.

After all, with the destruction of the Tama faction, a power vacuum has emerged in Rock City, which requires a large influx of fresh blood to fill these gaps. In addition, Speaker Varo is tired and exhausted after experiencing all these events, which can be seen from his hair.

Two months ago, when he was giving a speech in public, his hair was still gray. At that time, his speech was passionate and inspiring. But two days ago, at the summer festival, although Speaker Varo was still wearing his sky-blue evening suit, his hair was already completely white, and his face showed unprecedented fatigue and aging. Even his speech became calm. At that moment, everyone knew that Speaker Varo had arrived and that he would soon step down from his position.

Originally, the most promising candidate to succeed Speaker Varo was Finance Minister Tamma, but with Tamma's downfall, who could take over as Speaker Varo? Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Zoren was the most suitable candidate, although he was still young and needed more experience.

"Zoren is indeed a very outstanding young man. Even disregarding his family background, he is equally exceptional. However, he is too sharp-tongued. I really hope he can tone it down a bit." General Tidus sighed and said softly. Speaking of which, he and Zoren's grandfather were very good friends.

"Time will always smooth out the sharp edges, General Titus, you don't need to worry. Besides, aren't there many experienced government officials who will assist him?" Dure hadn't had much contact with Zoren, but he did have a deep impression of him.

“What you say makes a lot of sense. It’s remarkable that you have such insight at such a young age. However, there’s something I’m not sure if I should say,” General Tida said hesitantly.

"General Tidus, you're too kind. Please feel free to speak your mind." Du Lei waved his hand with a smile. With General Tidus's seniority, no matter who he was talking to, the other party could only listen attentively.

"It's best to avoid anything from the Void Abyss..." General Teda suddenly dropped his joking tone and said solemnly.

"What? How did you know..." Du Lei's expression changed. This was originally a secret he had kept deep in his heart, but now it had been exposed by the old general in front of him.

“You don’t need to be nervous. I’ve lived to be this old, and I have more experience than you young people. Otherwise, wouldn’t I have lived all these years in vain?” General Tida waved his hand, indicating that he had no ill intentions.

He actually spoke very softly when he said this, and only the two of them could hear it.

"This..." Du Lei is usually a calm and collected person, but at this moment, facing this old general, he was at a loss and even felt his hands trembling slightly.

"Don't worry, I'm very discreet and will keep your secret. You don't need to be nervous or anxious. In truth, I'm just a soldier, not a magic user. I just hope that you, young man, will be more careful when making choices, and that you will follow your heart. Don't be like Tama, who succumbed to his desires and ended up on a path of no return." General Tidus earnestly advised him. This had nothing to do with his status; it was simply an old man's earnest advice to a younger generation.

"Thank you for your concern, I will remember it." Du Lei gave General Tidus a grateful look.

"Alright, alright, I've taken up quite a bit of your time. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, and I happen to be able to help, just let me know, young man. I will never forget the benefactors of our Mountain Kingdom." General Tida patted Durei on the shoulder one last time, smiled, and left.

"General Titus thinks highly of you. I've never seen him appreciate anyone like that before." Shortly after General Titus left, someone else approached Dure and said this.

“General House, you flatter me.” Dure recognized the young general who had approached him as House, the commander who had led the raid on Rock City.

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648 Dust of the Past

"Did you refuse General Titus's invitation?" House asked bluntly.

"An invitation? I don't quite understand, General House, what do you mean?"

"Alright, kid, let's not beat around the bush. Even a rough guy like me understands General Titus's meaning, let alone a smart guy like you," House said cheerfully.

"Well... for now, I still want to finish my studies first." Du Lei knew there was no way to avoid this issue, so he had no choice but to be frank.

“It’s a good thing for a young person to be ambitious. I support you. Your stage is a vast sky, not something to be confined by the current situation. Keep up the good work!” General House patted Durei on the shoulder and said.

"Thank you for your guidance," Du Lei replied with a smile.

"How could this be considered guidance? By the way, you're returning to the Snow Country tomorrow, right?" House asked.

“Yes, that’s the schedule. After all, we’ve been away from the Land of Snow for a while now, and we’ve been stuck in the City of Rock for too long,” Dure nodded and said.

"I have things to do tomorrow and can't see you off in person, kid. I won't say anything more, take care!" General House said solemnly, and it was clear that he also admired the young man in front of him.

"I have many more questions I'd like to ask General House personally if I have the chance in the future!"

"Then it's settled, haha." General House laughed as he left.

"It's clear that everyone likes you, Du Lei," Wen Li said gently as she walked over.

"I only did something insignificant, thank you all for your kindness." Du Lei waved his hand with a smile.

“If this is considered insignificant, then there really isn’t anything significant in this world,” Winry said with a smile.

"Oh, by the way, Miss Winry..."

“What do you call me?” Winnie interrupted him.

"You still need to be mindful of how you address someone in such a formal setting," Du Lei said, knowing that what bothered her was the way she addressed him.

"Alright then, what's the matter?" Wenli thought for a moment and didn't pursue the matter any further.

“I’ve heard some rumors about Gru and Grufi,” Dure thought for a moment and decided to tell her anyway.

"What rumor?" Wen Li was taken aback.

"Here's what happened..." Du Lei leaned close to her ear and whispered the whole story to her.

The reception at the Capitol Building was still going on, but Winry, one of the hosts, left early. Accompanied by the boy, she hurriedly headed towards the western district of Rock City.

In an unremarkable blacksmith shop in the western district, even though it's already evening, the clanging of hammering metal can still be heard from time to time. The neighbors are used to this sound. Perhaps some people complained at first, but the young people have all moved away, leaving only old neighbors. For the elderly who have heard the sound of hammering for decades, the main thing is that if they suddenly couldn't hear it anymore, they would feel very uncomfortable.

The blacksmith's shop door was not closed, and the moonlight shone directly on the front door, casting a bright glow on the ground. The night sky was filled with a few stars, and it was a quiet and peaceful night.

“Mr. Gru, I’m so sorry to bother you, but there are some things I need to verify with you.” Winry rushed over, almost stumbling and falling to the ground, even though she’s not usually an impatient person.

The reason for this situation was that she had heard something shocking. If it had come from someone else, she certainly wouldn't have believed it, but since Du Lei told her, she had to take it seriously.

"You already know?" The blacksmith, who was focused on forging iron, stopped. In fact, he had contributed to quelling the chaos in Rock City, and his contribution was not small. However, after the situation was settled, he returned to this blacksmith shop. Even when Titus and even Speaker Varo invited him to the celebration, he refused, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Is that true?" Winry's chest heaved as she looked at the taciturn man before her with disbelief.

"So what if it's true? So what if it's not true? So many years have passed anyway, why bother with these things that are buried in the dust of the past?" The blacksmith was very open-minded. He put the iron block he had just forged into water to quench it, and it soon made a hissing sound and emitted a thick smoke.

“You and Mother…” Wenli bit her lip, hesitating to speak.

Not far from the blacksmith's shop, a young boy stood guard against the wall. He knew this was a difficult fact for Wenli to accept. In fact, he was also extremely shocked when he learned about it. He seriously considered whether he should really tell Wenli about it.

After careful consideration, he concluded that Wenli had the right to know the whole story.

"Is Ashe alright?" The blacksmith finally put down his hammer. The charcoal in the furnace was burning brightly, casting a red glow on his cheeks. His skin was rough, showing the marks of time and the dark, burn marks left by years of blacksmithing.

Ash was her mother's name, but she hadn't heard that name in a long time, because in that country covered in frost and snow all year round, no one dared to call that noble woman by her name.

“Mother, she is well.” Wenli’s voice trembled slightly.

“Very good, that’s right. This proves that her choice was not wrong. She belongs there. She should be on that cold Frost Throne, as her high and mighty Queen. She is incompatible with a vulgar blacksmith like me. We are destined not to be together.” The blacksmith’s words were calm, with a hint of self-mockery in them.

If an outsider were to hear this, they would be utterly shocked, and might even take it as a joke. There are countless love stories in this world, some with happy endings and some with unhappy ones. Of course, most of them are unhappy. But for people, whether it was originally happy or not is no longer important. What matters is what it went through and what happened. Countless bards have written poignant and moving poems to sing the praises of those touching love stories.

But no matter which love story it is, its protagonists will never be the high and mighty Snow Queen and an ordinary blacksmith.

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