Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Through an informant, the bald Colonel Gaisa Adonis confirmed that Winters Montagne was in Revodan.

The four infantry battalions of Mont Blanc County quietly left Falconflower Fort and hastened west towards Iron Peak County.

At the same time, the rebellion-suppressing troops of Vernge County were also fully equipped and ready to depart.

With the impending battle and the enemy's formidable approach, Revodan was equally shrouded in ominous clouds.

The city councilors were once again "politely" escorted to the city hall by the menacing soldiers.

Trembling, the blacksmith Shao Yi entered the council hall only to be surprised to find the former city councilor and tobacconist, old Priskin, also present.

Seeing old Priskin, Shao Yi felt his heart drop by two inches.

He believed that old Priskin had reached some sort of agreement with the Blood Wolf.

But the well-informed city councilors knew that this very morning, the gendarmes had barged into Priskin's home and taken the old man's grandson, young Priskin whose fate was still unknown.

Old Priskin sat with his eyes closed, resting and maintaining a calm demeanor.

Yet his thumb was nearly stripping a layer of paint off his cane.

The committee was all present, and before anyone could exchange words, the Blood Wolf, adorned in full military attire, entered the council hall carrying his military saber.

Some of the councilors shook involuntarily.

To show as much goodwill as possible, Winters never wore weapons when meeting with the city councilors.

This time, he brought a cavalry saber.

And the moment he spoke, his tone was filled with lethal intent, "I said we'd have a public trial before, and it hasn't happened yet. Not because I forgot, but because there are more and more people to deal with. It's better to save them up for a satisfying reckoning."

Some of the more cowardly councilors were on the verge of tears.

"So you've enjoyed playing your plots and schemes? Thinking I knew nothing, did you feel very smug?" Winters slapped the saber on the table, "Come! Bring him out to me!"

Heinrich escorted a young man into the council chamber.

Upon seeing this, old Priskin's cane dropped from his hand.

The young man was none other than his grandson, young Priskin.

"Speak," Winters said leisurely, "tell these respectable gentlemen what you've been up to recently."

Although the young man's clothes were somewhat dirty, there were no bloodstains to be seen, but his face was exceptionally pale.

"I..." The young man's knees shook, and he swallowed hard, "I..."

The council hall was dead silent, the heavy breathing of those present echoing clearly.

Old Priskin suddenly stood up, "What on earth did you do! You..."

The old man couldn't finish his sentence as he broke into a violent cough, and those beside him quickly helped him sit back down.

Heinrich pushed the young man toward the center of the chamber, where he fell to the ground.

"Hiding the fake mayor of Wolfton, Bunting, was it you?"

"Yes," the young man replied tremblingly.

"Passing messages to the New Reclamation Legion, was that you?"

"Yes."

"Secretly preparing weapons, intending to seize the city gates surreptitiously." Winters sneered, "I never thought you'd have the audacity to do so."

The young man's head hung down almost to the floor.

The council chamber erupted into a commotion, and old Priskin's chest tightened so much he nearly fainted on the spot.

Ever since invading Revodan, Pierre had been looking for Bunting.

After Winters entered the city, he had people search the entire city for him.

But turning over every inn, brothel, and tavern in the city, they found neither a living person nor a corpse.

That meant certainly someone was deliberately hiding Bunting, and it was someone with considerable resources to do so.

Bunting had neither money nor power; the only thing valuable about him was information on Winters Montagne—aside from Winters's own people, he was likely the person in Revodan most knowledgeable about Winters.

Meanwhile, Winters received a report: scouts had found hoof prints indicating someone had tried to cross the blockade.

Who would want information on Winters Montagne? The names could be written on a piece of paper.

And who would have the desire and capability to send messages outside? The list narrowed once again.

Every passage taken leaves a trace.

Following these traces back, two lines eventually converged on old Priskin's grandson.

Winters waited patiently.

And now, the time had come to close the net.

"Who else was involved in Mr. Priskin's lovely plan?" Winters's gaze swept over the city councilors, "Step forward."

Were there others involved? The blacksmith Shao Yi gasped inwardly. He dared not make any movements, for fear of being misunderstood.

Suddenly, the city councilor sitting next to Shao Yi struggled to his feet.

"Oh, so it was just him." Winters smiled.

As soon as he finished speaking, another councilor also stood up.

With a slight wave of his hand, Winters watched as Heinrich led gendarmes to rush into the midst of the councilors, dragging four others from their seats.

They didn't touch the blacksmith Shao Yi, the two men who had stood up, nor old Priskin.

Shao Yi realized in horror that out of the twelve city councilors from the urban district, a full half were involved in the conspiracy.

None of the nine councilors from the rural district were taken away.

Shao Yi was both angry and relieved—angry that such a major matter had not been hinted to him, yet relieved that no hint had reached him.

"I have no extravagant expectations of you all. If I win, you continue living as usual. If I lose, you simply become compliant citizens to the New Reclamation Legion." Winters, leaning on his saber, spoke slowly, "This small request, you couldn't manage it either, could you?"

As if a chilling, invisible wind swept through, Shao Yi suddenly felt very cold, his upper and lower teeth clattering together.

No one dared to guess what the man known as Blood of the Wolf could do, and the city councilors finally understood the words of old Priskin—"Would you be satisfied if he tore off his mask and went on a rampage?"