Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 704 704 41 Salt and Iron

?Chapter 704: Chapter 41 Salt and Iron Chapter 704: Chapter 41 Salt and Iron For safety reasons, Winters should not meet any enemy face to face. However, the envoy from Mont Blanc County was an exception, and Winters could not break the rule—a bald Colonel Gaisa sent a direct subordinate squad leader, Baratz Yussas.

The last time they had met was at their senior’s swearing-in ceremony, and time had flown by—three years had already passed.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the senior cut to the chase, “Colonel Gaisa wants his horse back.”

“No,” Winters answered succinctly.

“You probably don’t know,” the senior sighed helplessly, “my commanding officer… also likes money very much.”

“Also?” Winters detected a hint of regional discrimination.

“No one dislikes money, so I’m not here to ask you for something for nothing,” the senior mentioned casually and then seriously informed Winters, “For the horse in your possession, Colonel Gaisa is willing to provide supplies in exchange—provided you agree.”

“A secret deal?” Winters thought to himself.

“Of course, it’s secret.”

“What’s the exchange?”

“What do you want?” the senior asked in return.

“What do you have?” Winters returned the question verbatim.

The conversation hit an impasse as neither side trusted the other.

“Fine. Let’s not keep probing,” the senior said straightforwardly. “I’ll tell you the truth. Mont Blanc County cannot exchange grain, weapons, or ammunition with you for the horses. But we have something you need very much.”

Winters remained noncommittal.

Seeing no reaction from Winters, the senior did not play coy, “It’s nothing else but salt. A person can live without horses, but they will die without salt. Without enough salt, you can’t even take good care of those horses.

Mont Blanc County will continue to block the Anya River, and Iron Peak County will not receive any salt supply through normal channels. However, we can supply salt specifically to you. With salt in your hands, in Iron Peak County, it can be used as hard currency.”

Winters was surprised but did not show it, “What else?”

“We can discuss if you want something else. If you want money, that’s not off the table either.”

“The New Reclamation Legion’s stud farm,” Winters said with a light laugh. “The Legion hasn’t come to me, but Colonel Gaisa is in a hurry.”

Baratz did not respond.

“Let me think about it,” Winters said as he stood up to take his leave. “You stay in Revodan for a few days.”

“Is Lieutenant Washington still alive?” the senior suddenly asked.

Washington was the Mont Blanc County officer who had led a hundred men in pursuit of Winters and was subsequently captured.

Winters replied truthfully, “He’s alive and well, don’t worry.”

…
After leaving the place where Baratz was located, Winters headed straight for his residence—the terraced houses for single officers.

Entering Anna’s bedroom amidst Catherine’s cries of surprise, Winters asked, “Have we run out of salt at home?”

“Hmm?” Anna, who was napping, woke up groggily, still in a haze. Recognizing who was beside her bed, she stretched out her arms with a happy expression, “You’re back!”

At that moment, Anna seemed as vulnerable and adorable as a kitten yet to be weaned, a stark contrast to her usual composure and reserve, which could trigger an infinite protective desire in anyone.

Unable to resist, Winters picked up the little cat and repeated, “Have we really run out of salt?”

“I don’t know,” Anna, leaning on Winters’ shoulder and rubbing her eyes, said softly with a hint of reproach, “You haven’t said you missed me.”

Catherine, witnessing this scene from the doorway, blushed and quickly turned to leave.

This matter required checking with the relevant person, so Winters called for the officers’ quarters’ cook and asked straight out, “Is there any salt left in the kitchen?”

“Yes, sir,” replied the cook, a robust woman, plainly, “We still have several jars left.”

“Can salt still be bought in the market? And what price is it?” Winters continued, “How much has the price increased?”

“It is still available, but the price has been going up,” said the cook, who was strong-looking with a round face and broad shoulders, but her voice grew fainter as she spoke.

Anna quietly nudged Winters’ boot.

Understanding the hint, Winters smiled as naturally as he could, “When did the price start to rise? By how much?”

“The price started rising not too long ago,” the change in her employer’s expression left the cook a bit confused, “I don’t know exactly by how much… I bought several jars in advance.”

Finding no more useful information through further questioning, Anna took a silver ring from her jewelry box to thank the cook, who left beaming with joy.

Winters’ mood fell. He rested his forehead on his hand, inadvertently frowning, “I still need to go to the market myself to see.”

“What’s wrong?” Anna asked, holding Winters’ hand.

Winters then told Anna about the Mont Blanc County and the salt issue.

“We’re out of salt? I… I didn’t know,” Anna was also surprised and said earnestly, “Indeed, we should go to the market and ask directly the people who buy and sell salt.”

“I’ll go right away,” Winters grabbed his coat and sword.

“Salt is a big business, I don’t understand,” Anna reminded her loved one hesitantly as she saw him out, “But if everyone is afraid of the price going up and stock running out, they’ll likely rush to buy salt, and the shops will be emptied of however much salt they have.”

“I understand the gravity of the situation. Don’t worry, there will be a way,” Winters said, gently holding his loved one’s hand before leaving.

…
Later that day, Winters met with Mason, Andre, and Moritz in the garrison’s conference room.

Bard was attending to displaced people elsewhere, Tang Juan had not returned from hunting, and now only the four of them remained from the [Council].