Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1028: 64: Vortex (Six)_3

Chapter 1028: Chapter 64: Vortex (Six)_3

Folio, refers to the printing process where a full sheet of paper is cut only once. Thus, each page of a folio edition is twice the size of a common quarto edition. Only very important, precious books would be printed in folio format.

“Scripture,” Winters replied without looking up.

“Ah?” Caman showed a look of surprise, walked up to Winters, and said in a rather cheerful tone: “If your purpose isn’t pure, it’s meaningless even if you can memorize the texts.”

However, when Caman actually saw what book Winters was holding, his expression became very subtle.

What Winters was browsing was the Empire’s common language scripture of the year 532 of the Imperial Calendar—a famous apocryphal text recognized by the church.

Winters, by the dining table, was still marveling: “Wow, how can it be printed so clearly?”

He flipped through the pages and showed Caman: “Even such small letters are crystal clear; I couldn’t handwrite this small. Compared to this book, the print shops of Revodan are a disgrace.”

“How could it not be clear? Monta is the nest of the Heretic Oath! Back when the Heretic Oath rebelled, all the propaganda pamphlets distributed from north to south were printed by Montans!” Caman asked with a huff: “Why are you looking at this?”

“I originally intended it as reading material for literacy. You’ve seen my subordinates…” Winters replied with a tone of helplessness: “Tell me, how can I trust them to lead troops in the future? And many of them are highly resistant to learning. If you don’t believe me, ask Xial how many rattan sticks he has broken.”

“And then?”

“Then, I thought, if I use scripture as teaching material, their motivation to learn to read should be stronger.”

“So you plan to teach scripture to the faithful using an apocryphal text?” Caman said angrily: “Suddenly, I feel the existence of execution by fire is very necessary, like right now.”

“I have another idea now,” Winters called out loudly: “Berlion!”

Berlion, who was cleaning up the dining ware, came into the room: “Did you call for me, my lord?”

Winters tapped on the book: “Was this printed at the Steel Fort?”

“Yes.”

“Find the print shop and buy all their type molds.”

“I’ll go first thing tomorrow morning,” Berlion answered without hesitation.

Winters pondered for a moment: “Just having type molds probably isn’t enough…”

“I will try to hire some printing workers…”

“As long as they are willing to come back to the Newly Reclaimed Land with us, we’ll give them any salary they want. Make it clear, they can leave freely after working for three years.”

“You’re buying books, buying type molds, hiring blacksmiths, hiring printers…” Caman said, laughing in frustration: “You might as well buy the whole Steel Fort!”

“If I had that much Gold, I would definitely buy it,” Winters said self-mockingly: “I’m like a farmer scared of being poor, wanting to bring home anything good I see.”

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

The guard standing outside the door walked into the room, handed Winters two letters, and whispered a few words in a low voice.

Winters quickly skimmed the contents of the letters, his brows gradually furrowing.

“What is it?” Caman raised his eyebrow and asked.

“Nothing,” Winters relaxed his brow, waving the letters in his hand: “The respected Mayor Paulo Wuper has invited me to sit in on tomorrow’s blacksmith guild’s election debate.”

“And the other letter?”

Winters smiled, picking up the other letter: “This one? This one is an invitation from Mr. Paulo Wuper’s only competitor, the top evil lapdog of The Federated Provinces, Councilor John Servette.”

“Ah?”

“Councilor Servette also extended an invitation to me to attend the public debate tomorrow.”

“So… you’re going to…”

“Prepare the horse,” Winters grabbed his coat and leapt up from the chair: “I must visit Mr. Ed’s place—hopefully, he hasn’t gone to bed yet.”

Saying that, Winters strode out of the dining room.

Everyone was accustomed to Winters’ decisive and immediate action; those who were to prepare the horses did so, and those who needed to get dressed did so.

Anna’s voice echoed from the stairs: “Wear this robe! Don’t forget to apologize to Mr. Ed…”

For some reason, Caman felt he should go along—Steel Fort didn’t feel safe, and he was somewhat uneasy about letting Winters go out alone.

The apocryphal book still lay quietly on the dining table. As Caman walked past Winters’ seat, he pressed down the book with force.

But in the corner of his eye, he inadvertently caught a line of text:

[I have granted your request, I will give you wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore]