Magic, steel, heavy industry

Chapter 75 Winter is Coming

The sky was dark and gloomy, and the biting wind swept southward from the frozen north, like a blunt knife wrapped in ice scraping across the wasteland.

Pedestrians wrapped themselves tightly in their tattered clothes, and crows perched on withered branches, swaying left and right. The North was already shrouded in the solemnity of approaching winter.

Baron Gareth, in his Harvest Collar, swirled a glass of red wine in his hand, leaned back comfortably on the sofa, crossed his legs, and was warmed by thick animal fur, while his well-fitting black suit adorned his entire body.

"Are you finished speaking?"

Gareth downed his glass of red wine and smiled as he looked at Richard, who lay on the ground looking as miserable as a dead dog.

This poor servant was beaten so badly for offending Vilan that his head was swollen, and when his men brought him back, he was almost unrecognizable.

After finally getting a day's rest, Richard recovered and, wrapped in bandages, tearfully recounted to Gareth the brutality and cruelty of the Anvil Territory.

"They are barbaric bastards! Shameless lunatics! That Vilan has none of the demeanor a noble should have; he's just a complete brute..."

Before Richard could finish speaking, Gareth suddenly stomped down, his hard-soled leather boot landing directly on Richard's face, causing the latter to let out a painful howl.

Gareth said softly, "You deserve it. Have you forgotten who you are? A lowly servant, yet you dare to offend a baron. If it were me, I wouldn't even hit you. I would throw you into the Amber River and let you know how serious the price of offending a nobleman is."

As he spoke, Gareth pressed down harder with his foot, and Richard's cries of pain became more urgent.

"I'm sorry! But Master, you made me do it!"

Richard clenched his fists and shouted out in frustration.

Gareth seemed to snap out of a daze, abruptly pulling his right foot back. "Oops! How could I forget? I'm so sorry, it turns out I deliberately let you offend him. Why didn't you remind me sooner? Did I hurt you?"

"No... It's an honor to be stepped on by Lord Gareth..."

"Pfft... Hahahaha!"

Gareth suddenly laughed, his eyes filled with a morbid savagery.

He stepped onto the castle balcony, feeling the biting wind whipping against his face, and said, "Looks like that little rock isn't to be trifled with. Even after being exiled, he hasn't forgotten his rock-and-stone pride? Interesting. I think he knows that as long as I don't kill him, it doesn't matter if I turn Anvil Territory into ruins."

Gareth clasped his hands together on the balcony railing, his eyes filled with intense greed.

Despite the excruciating pain, Richard immediately declared, "I am willing to fight for my lord! Please give me a chance!"

Gareth glanced at him dismissively. "Richard, you're not even a knight. What right do you have to fight for me?"

"I……"

"Besides, who said I was going to start a war?"

Richard paused for a moment upon hearing this, "Didn't you say you wanted to turn Anvil Collar into scorched earth...?"

"But did I say I would personally get involved? The Hawkwood family is only interested in gold coins and treasures; territory is merely a tool for acquiring gold coins. Starting a war would cost a lot of gold coins. Do you think I would do that for an insignificant little rock?"

"So you mean...?" Richard looked bewildered.

Gareth smiled and looked into the distance. "Of course, we need him to bring the gold coins over voluntarily. You just said you encountered the Red Scorpion caravan when you went there? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure! I met Madeline once with you, and I recognize the Red Scorpion symbol!"

"Madeline would never look at such a small business as iron ore mining."

Gareth narrowed his eyes, a wicked smile already playing on his lips.

"I don't want to start a war, but that doesn't mean others don't."

……

"Hey! What are you doing! You brat, get down here right now!"

In the heart of the North, in a sturdy stone fortress, Braden Northstone yanked his youngest son down from a ladder.

The four-year-old boy turned his head away defiantly and ran off in another direction.

Braden covered his forehead, feeling a terrible headache.

As the Spear of the North and the most powerful man in Stone City, he always seemed helpless when facing his mischievous youngest son.

That's right, this is the capital of the Grand Duke of the North, the Stone City, renowned throughout the kingdom for its striking stone architecture.

The Northstone family, the most glorious and powerful family in the North, are the masters here and the protectors of the entire North.

Brendan Northstone, the third son of the Grand Duke of the North and the undisputed heir to the dukedom, was known as the "Spear of the North" because of his dazzling chivalry and absolute strength.

Just as Braden caught up with his youngest son, ready to teach him a lesson, a cold voice rang out behind him.

"Young Master, the Governor wishes to see you."

The speaker was a tall, handsome knight dressed in elegant silver armor and a hero's cloak. Beneath his long golden hair was a fair and aloof face.

He had barely finished speaking when Braden turned around, disgruntled. "What's going on? I finally get a day off! Can't Caroline, this workaholic, understand me for once?"

The knight didn't answer. Such complaints happened every day, but it wasn't his place as a knight to judge.

After complaining, Braden sighed and tossed his struggling young son to the knight. "Karafiori, keep an eye on him for me. Don't let him run around, and make sure he doesn't touch your sword."

"OK."

Calafiori nodded and pulled the young master over.

Braden adjusted his belt, mounted his horse, and headed towards the central government hall of Stony City.

This is a magnificent building, with a circular outer wall made of white boulders. Inside the wall is a tall and dignified castle, where the governor, who symbolizes the highest power in the North, works.

And that governor was none other than Brendan's sister, Caroline Northstone.

When Braden pushed open the door to the Chief Executive's office, he saw a woman dressed in a gorgeous long dress, exuding an imposing aura. Although her face could not hide the vicissitudes brought by aging, one could still see how beautiful she had been in her youth. In particular, her majestic and domineering temperament, like a towering mountain, was enough to send chills down one's spine.

"Sister, you were looking for me?"

Braden sat down, though he had been harboring a lot of complaints, he dared not show them in front of the chief executive officer.

Caroline raised her eyes and casually glanced at Braden. "As the heir to the Grand Duke, your nonchalance makes me doubt whether my father's choice was correct."

"Okay, I knew it. So after you've lectured me, shouldn't you tell me what you wanted to see me about?" Braden was already used to his sister's sharp tongue and waved his hand dismissively.

Caroline didn't say much, and directly took out a piece of paper. "This is news from Silverflow City. Something called Magic Powder Weapon has appeared there, which has attracted the attention of the nobles of Silverflow City. Moreover, the source of the Magic Powder Weapon is from Anvil Territory."

"Oh? Anvil Territory? The place you sent Vilan to? What, do you want me to go and ruin my nephew's small business?" Braden joked.

Caroline merely glanced at him before casually tossing the letter aside.

"That's not important. Nobody cares what that kid is doing. I called you here for something else."

"What?"

"Prince Leon will visit the North next spring to fulfill his engagement to Lillian."

"..."