Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1187 - 22 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (7)_2

Chapter 1187: Chapter 22 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (7)_2

"What wolf? What demon? All nonsense!" Major Felter deliberately spoke loudly: "I think he’s just scared out of his wits!"

Felter patted the walls and door of the barn, pretending to be unconcerned, trying to dispel the impact of the sudden situation: "This house is very sturdy, enough to be used as a fortress. If the rebels could break in, they would have done it long ago! Why would they need to crawl around outside like ants? Tonight, each Hundred-Men Squad will take turns standing guard, everyone else, use the time to rest."

Inside the barn, it was completely silent, only the rumble from outside the walls could be heard.

The soldiers neither spoke nor did they rest as the major suggested; they just leaned on their weapons and stood quietly in place.

A soldier from the Maplestone City squad mustered the courage to timidly ask, "Major, but I heard that among the rebel generals, there really is a wolf..."

The questioning soldier’s voice was very small, but the barn was so "quiet" that everyone heard his trembling mumblings.

The last thing Major Felter wanted was for someone to continue the "wolf" topic, but right now, he had to maintain the soldiers’ dwindling loyalty as much as possible, so he beckoned kindly: "Don’t be afraid, come forward, speak up! What did you just say? There’s a wolf among the rebel generals?"

No matter how Major Felter beckoned, the questioning soldier dared not step forward. A lieutenant could not bear it, grabbed the questioning soldier by the collar, and dragged him to the open space in the center of the barn.

"What wolf? Can a wolf be a general?" Major Felter looked around at the soldiers and asked with a laugh: "Unless they write orders on a food bowl, and whichever bowl the wolf eats from, they execute that order?"

Some soldiers from the West Forest Province laughed along, but there was not a hint of a smile on the faces of the soldiers from Maple Fort.

"No, it’s not a wolf, it’s a man, also a wolf." The questioning soldier swallowed hard, incoherently repeating the legend he had heard: "The rebels all call him [Blood of the Wolf], and some say it’s because he can turn into a wolf during a full moon..."

"So it’s a nickname." Major Felter imagined what kind of officer would earn such a nickname and couldn’t help but be intrigued.

He seated the questioning soldier on a stack of hay, encouraging him: "Don’t be afraid, speak slowly. Tell me everything you know about this ’Blood of the Wolf’."

...

While Major Felter was listening to stories that had probably been passed around numerous times, the protagonist of the legends he was hearing was outside Green Valley, less than five kilometers away.

The command post of the Iron Peak garrison was relocating.

The clerks of the command post were destroying communication and files they couldn’t take with them while loading those they couldn’t destroy onto the backs of horses.

Without Captain Mason’s oversight, the relocation process of the command post lost its usual orderly style and seemed somewhat chaotic and rushed.

Winters himself was organizing maps when Jacob Green entered the tent, he only lifted his head for a brief glance and nodded slightly.

"Sir." Jacob bowed respectfully: "The clerks are all ready."

Jacob carefully sneaked a peek at the maps on the Civil Guard Officer’s small table and was surprised to find that the marked parchments were not maps of Green Valley, but detailed the valleys and rivers of Changhai Town, Snake Swamp, and Bazenaur.

Winters, fully engrossed in his map work, measuring and calculating, seemed oblivious to the calls and neighing horses outside the tent: "Depart as soon as you’re ready. The sooner you catch up with Mason Commissioner, the safer you’ll be."

"Yes." Jacob turned to leave but ultimately could not let go of the opportunity to explore the inner world of the Blood Wolf and boldly asked: "You’ve just achieved a splendid victory, and you’re already setting your sights on the next glorious triumph?"

"Glorious victory?" Winters repeated the words, his tone dripping with irony and bitterness.

"Yes, glorious victory! At least that’s how I’ll record it!" Jacob insisted: "With four battalions against six squads, defeating half and repelling the other half — at a negligible cost! If this isn’t a glorious victory, what is?"

"Negligible cost?" Winters calmly countered: "Look at the scene outside the tent, Green Valley has already turned into a valley of flames by my doing."

"It’s just a season’s harvest. Dead trees will sprout new buds, seeds will be sown anew, and Green Valley will return to normal eventually."

"Perhaps. But they will never trust us again."

Jacob fell silent, carefully choosing his words: "It’s all... a necessary cost for victory."

"No need to comfort me, Mr. Green. I know what I’m doing. But that doesn’t change what I’ve done..." Winters paused, his ruler and charcoal pencil momentarily still: "Nor should it — or can it provide me any solace."

Jacob said no more, accompanying Winters Montagne quietly for a while. The latter likewise did not dismiss him, continuing his calculations.

Angry footsteps sounded outside the tent, and Seber Carrington burst in, kicking the tent flap.

Seeing others in the tent, the accusation on Colonel Seber’s lips was swallowed back. He crossed his arms and stood by the door, silently watching Jacob Green.