Iron Powder and Spellcasters Chapter 408

   Chapter 408 Monsoon (1)

  [Taneria]

  [Golden Harbor]

   At dusk, a sea eagle swept across the Golden Harbor. It hovered unhurriedly over the anchorages and sandbars outside the port, as if drawn by invisible threads.

  The sea eagles are condescending, overlooking the Golden Port calmly: the sweaty stevedores on the wharf trestle, the cargo ships scattered throughout the anchorage waiting to enter the port, the fishing boats and boats that shuttle in and out of the harbor like sardines...

  Golden Harbor, the most dazzling diamond in the inland sea, and the most dazzling pearl in the alliance. The wars and turmoil that took place in far-flung lands not only did not make her dusty, but made her more dazzling.

  In the bustling exchange, the freight forwarder ostentatiously announced the delivery of the whole cargo;

  In the tavern at the end of the dark alley, the smugglers negotiated prices with gestures that only experts could understand.

   Wealth is as timid as a pika, but as sharp as a falcon.

  As the rivalry between the United Provinces and Veneta becomes intensified, more and more commercial firms have begun to use the Golden Port as a transit station and warehouse to avoid increasingly severe trade bans and unbearable harsh tariffs.

  Gold, silver and all kinds of people are integrated into the Golden Harbor, making this fallen city known for its pleasure and indulgence even more intoxicated.

  In the shadow of the fire that never goes out all night, what burns is not fat and paraffin, but flesh and soul; the shining gilt river is not the setting sun and fresh water, but business opportunities and wealth.

  The sea eagle stared grimly at the golden port at dusk. At this moment, although the sun was already set in the west, the sky was clean and intoxicating.

   Looking far into the distance, apart from a few faint white marks in the sky, almost no colorful clouds can be seen.

   Another rare good day - but the howling winds taught the sea eagles something humans didn't know.

  In the east of the Golden Harbor, across the rough sea, to the place where the eagle's eyes can't reach, the wind direction has changed.

  The cold air currents blowing from the land to the sea, which lasted all winter, became weaker, while the air that pushed from the sea to the land gradually increased.

   A huge cyclone is taking shape on the ocean of Storm Ocean.

   "Monsoon is coming."

  [Vine Republic]

  [Hirano Castle]

  [The venue of the Alliance Congress]

  The message has no legs, but it leaks faster than a horse with four hooves.

  The incident that happened at the Imperial Reception spread all over Hirano City overnight.

  Although in people's vivid descriptions, the specifics of things are constantly iterated and distorted. But there is no doubt about it:

  The interprovincial soldiers arrogantly rushed into the imperial consulate and forcibly took away His Excellency Lionel, the chief state secretary of the interprovince;

   And it was Lionel's most trusted deputy, who was supposed to be based in Guitucheng, and the assistant to the chief state secretary of the Union Province - [Richard Milehouse].

  Power, betrayal, conspiracy... The conflict and drama contained in this turn of events are enough for an imaginative writer to write three plays and a novel of more than 5,000 lines.

   Today's Plain City, every self-proclaimed well-informed citizen is a bard and fabler, eager to retell to others what happened that night.

  History has inadvertently turned into stories and legends.

   The man who was supposed to be in the center of the storm, Richard Milehouse, was hiding in a small dressing room at the moment.

   This man, who was considered a great conspirator, a traitor, and was given many nicknames, was staring stiffly at himself in the mirror, his shoulders and fingers shaking uncontrollably.

  According to the procedure of the Union Congress, the highest consul of the federation should give a speech before the opening ceremony.

   But on the night the Union Province soldiers forcibly kidnapped Secretary of State Lionel, the consulates of the various republics in Plains City and the Speaker of the Republic of Van received an official document in the name of the "Provisional Supreme Council of the Union Province Republic".

   In this document, the "Provisional Supreme Council" announced that John Lionel had been officially dismissed from the post of Secretary of State, and all the domestic and foreign powers granted to Lionel by the National Assembly of the Provinces were also deprived at the same time.

   The sudden change made all parties not know how to react, so most of the consuls and representatives in Hirano City chose not to react.

   On the one hand, they silently observed the actions of the Union Provinces, on the other hand, they eagerly collected information on the "Provisional Supreme Council" and sent the fastest riders to send messages.

   The situation is like a stone being thrown into the lake. First waves are thrown, and soon the lake surface is calm again. It seems that everything is back on track, but the bottom of the lake has already set off mud and turbid waves.

   In any case, the Alliance Congress will be held in strict accordance with the established procedures.

  John Lionel, who was supposed to be the opening speech, has now become a prisoner.

   The so-called "Provisional Supreme Council of the Union" took over the Union Provincial Consulate and all the symbols and powers that the consulate represented in a logical manner.

   The person who will appear in front of the republics, duchies, and representatives from far-flung lands in place of the former Secretary of State is Richard Milehouse, the former State Assistant and the current Interim Speaker of the Supreme Council.

   Milehouse stared at himself in the mirror, the reflection reflected by the mirror was a gloomy, stiff-looking middle-aged man.

   Although every wrinkle has been meticulously smoothed, and every white hair has been patiently pulled out, it still cannot change the unpleasant temperament brought out of the mother's womb. Even as he got older, his temperament became more and more obvious.

  Richard Milehouse was never a handsome man, and he had a face better suited for behind-the-scenes work than the dashing, impassioned, and charismatic Secretary of State Lionel.

Twenty years of a successful career as a clerk proves this too, Richard Milehouse worked diligently, faithfully and efficiently completing every task he was given, from the lowest third-class clerk all the way. Climb to the position of Assistant Secretary of State - the actual deputy of the Secretary of State, under one person in the province and over ten thousand people.

   Yet even if Richard Milehouse rose to the top of the clerk, no one ever thought he would one day come to the fore.

   He was seen as a loyal, dependable but only worthy instrument.

But just today, this infamous, sullen, and unlikable fellow is going to the podium to address three hundred representatives from the republics and twice that number of foreign envoys in attendance. Public speech.

  Richard Milehouse stared at his reflection in the mirror, convinced that his shoulders and fingers were shaking uncontrollably.

  Suddenly, the candles went out, and the locker room was plunged into darkness.

"Snapped!"

  Richard Milehouse received a stinging slap on the face, causing him to lose his mind for a while, but it also woke him up from the self-doubt he had just felt.

"Snapped!"

   Before Milehouse could recover, he received another slap on the other cheek.

   The force used by the striker was careful enough to make him feel pain without leaving a swollen mark on his face.

   Milehouse knew exactly who was waving his arm, for there was no third person in the room, only Mr. Richard Milehouse, and Mrs. Claire Milehouse.

   "What are you doing?" Mrs. Milehouse's tone suppressed her anger.

"nothing."

  Richard Milehouse, who was nominally in charge of the federal province, did not get angry at the two slaps, nor did he show his anger at his wife, but replied in a hoarse voice: "It's nothing."

   "You know why I put out the candle?"

"why?"

   Mrs. Milehouse, who is famous for her beauty and virtuousness in the social scene of Guitucheng, replied coldly: "Because I don't want to see that face of you."

  Richard Milehouse narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

   Mrs. Milehouse continued:

"In the mirror, I don't see my husband, because my husband is not a self-pity, shameful loser! My husband is a beast, he's ambitious, he's hungry for power, he wants to be a great In the mirror, I don't see the man, I only see a coward, a lowly servant! No! I will never accept that!"

  Richard Milehouse stood silently in the darkness, not making a sound.

   And Mrs. Milehouse's questioning has not ended: "Do you regret it?"

   "No. I don't." Richard Milehouse broke the silence: "I never regret it."

   "Then are you guilty? Are you afraid? Is your chest filled with guilt? Or is the anxiety and fear of the future blocking you?"

  Richard Milehouse fell silent.

   "Did you forget our oath?!" Claire Milehouse's voice suddenly became sharp, and her intense emotions even distorted her delicate facial features:

   "Never let hypocritical morality bind us!"

   "If you need to cheat, use intrigue."

   "If unscrupulous is necessary, then resolutely unscrupulous."

"We will never let hypocritical morality bind us. If 'evil' is required to achieve our purpose, then we choose evil! Fill our whole body with the cruelest evil thoughts, never let remorse pass through our hearts, never let nature The sympathy shakes our vicious resolve."

   "If it is necessary, even if it is something like a mother killing a child and a son killing a mother, do not hesitate to do it."

"We will never deceive ourselves, we will never give ourselves any false excuses, and use noble reasons to whitewash our goals. We have long set goals, we want power, more power, first in the provinces, and then in the Victorians. Neta, and finally the entire Senus Alliance! We will take over the power of this land, remembered and worshipped by thousands of generations of future generations! Have you forgotten all of this?"

  Richard Milehouse listened quietly, inhaling and exhaling deeply, his tone becoming solemn and steady: "Of course I haven't forgotten."

Mrs.   Mrs. Milehouse heard the change in her husband's voice, and she inhaled and exhaled long, her tone changed, as if she had changed her voice, her voice became gentle and quiet.

She stretched out her hand, brushed her husband's forehead lightly, and pressed her head against his chest: "Then quickly put on your best purple robe, bring your most sincere smile, and a treacherous heart must be covered with a hypocritical smile. Don't forget to stabilize those officers out there first - we still need them now and they treat us as puppets and idiots, which is fine."

   "Unfortunately, you are not a man." Richard Milehouse seemed to be judging: "Otherwise you would have accomplished something greater than I could have accomplished."

   "Unfortunately, I'm not a man." Claire Milehouse raised her head, stepped back a few steps to relight the candle, and smoothed out the wrinkles of her husband's collar: "Fortunately, I still have you."

Richard Milehouse stared at his far more beautiful and radiant wife, his gloomy and cold eyes suddenly revealed a rare trace of sadness, like a steel doll possessing emotions, he sighed softly: " You should give me a son...your bravery and steadfastness should only cast some strong men."

  Claire Milehouse's movements stagnated, her delicate nose twitched a few times, and she quickly regained her composure.

   Mrs. Milehouse turned around, neatly organized her appearance, and walked out the door: "The time is up, don't keep the representatives of the alliance and the envoys waiting for a long time."

   When Mrs. Milehouse put her slender fingers on the doorknob, a calm voice came from behind: "Honey, even if we are doomed to hell, we are together."

  Claire Milehouse stood by the door, turned her head slightly, gave her husband an impeccable profile, and nodded lightly. Then, she pushed the door and walked out of the locker room.

  A young lieutenant with a strong temperament and a tall stature stood by the door with a sword in his hand.

   "Captain Fritz." Mrs. Milehouse smiled warmly and bowed her knees to the young lieutenant.

   The young lieutenant nodded cautiously in return: "Madam."

   Mrs. Milehouse smiled peacefully, and countless young men have fallen under Claire Milehouse's pomegranate skirt because of this breathtaking smile.

She naturally stood closer to the young lieutenant, so that the latter could almost feel the heat from her exhalation, but maintained a distance and demeanor that should not be humiliated: "You don't have to be so restrained, you are the end of Leon. Hero of the Nellist chaos, every citizen of the Interprovincial Republic should thank you, Captain... no, or should it be called Major?"

   The young lieutenant—Flitz from Joss—twitched the corners of his mouth, apparently not feeling any joy at the closeness and compliment of the glamorous lady.

   Mrs. Milehouse frowned imperceptibly, but before she could say anything else, a dusty school officer strode to the door of the locker room.

  The colonel was wearing a military uniform made of inter-provincial fabric. The mud spots on his riding boots and trousers were still dry, and he had obviously just experienced a gallop.

   Captain Fritz immediately raised his hand in salute.

   And the schoolmaster obviously ignored etiquette, nodded hastily, then nodded towards Mrs. Milehouse, and asked bluntly, "What about Your Excellency Milehouse?"

   "Inside the locker room."

   The schoolmaster heard the words and was about to push the door, but was stopped by Fritz.

   "What are you doing?!" The school officer narrowed his eyes.

  Flitz avoided the headmaster's direct gaze, but still stopped in front of the headmaster.

   "My husband prays devoutly before every important occasion." Mrs. Milehouse came forward just in time to help the captain, and put her hand on the colonel's forearm lightly: "He doesn't allow anyone to come in and disturb him."

   No matter how bad-tempered an officer was, he couldn't get angry with such a beautiful and petite lady.

The Colonel stomped his feet, licked his lips, and said eagerly, "I have something important to report to Your Excellency Milehouse."

   As soon as the voice fell, the door of the locker room was pushed open.

  Richard Milehouse, dressed in purple, strode out of the locker room. People rely on clothes, and the humble Milehouse also looks majestic and inviolable after wearing the luxurious purple robe belonging to the head of the federation.

   The entourage who was waiting on the other side of the corridor approached immediately.

   "Your Excellency!" The school official rushed to speak: "Please allow me to be alone with you..."

  Richard Milehouse glanced at the headmaster: "You can say it now."

"But."

  Richard Milehouse glanced at the Colonel again.

The colonel was slightly startled, but still gritted his teeth and said: "Your Excellency, the information on Steel Castle was provided by Monta's allies, but the premise of their providing information is that they do not want us to reveal the source of the information. If you want to publish this information, Be sure to obfuscate sources of intelligence."

   After saying that, the school official took out a file from his arms and presented it to the temporary speaker: "All the information you need is in this..."

  Richard Milehouse listened solemnly, took the file, swept it over, and handed it to the attache: "I see."

  The Colonel wanted to say something else, but time was running out. Richard Milehouse raised his hand slightly: "Go to the main venue."

   Immediately, the newly elected President of the Supreme Council of the United Provinces led his entourage and guards to the rostrum of the main venue.

  Captain Fritz was at the rear of the group.

Walking through the promenade decorated with embroidered tapestries, and feeling the curious and awe-inspiring gazes cast on him from both sides, Captain Fritz, who was born in a small village named Joss, suddenly felt a strong sense of discomfort and unreality sense.

   Watching His Excellency the Supreme Speaker in purple robes step onto the podium, Captain Fritz's thoughts also returned to four days ago, back to the day when Guitucheng bleeds again after 20 years.

   [I'm back] [I'm really sorry]

   [If March is due to force majeure, and I have no time, let alone energy to write novels, the waste in April is purely my personal problem]

   [After being abandoned for a month, when I return to the familiar computer, I suddenly feel that my head is empty. I'm writing every day, but I can't concentrate, and I'm always distracted by all kinds of things…]

   [Stop! All of the above are all excuses, why can't you find an excuse? ]

   [So I won't make any excuses, let's update one first to prove that Yin Zidian is still alive, he is still writing this story, and he will write it down to the end]

   [And…an update today (20220411)! ]

   [And... In order to make up for the waste of this time, "Miss Navarre's Picture Book" began to be released]

   ["Miss Navarre's Picture Book", the setting is Anna's collection of works, including drafts and colored products, in this chapter's Easter Egg Chapter is "Winters Dress Full Body Portrait"]

["Full Body Portrait of Winters Dress" has undergone revision 42 (yes, 42), (I apologize for torturing the artist), the final product is still slightly different from the draft, but please believe me, This is the version that has been revised to the point that I am embarrassed to ask the artist again]

   [The downside of "Winters Dress Full Body Portrait"? I think it's the lack of sharp murderousness, his eyes are very firm, showing that he is scrutinizing someone, but with some pity]

   [But I think this fits the setting of "Navarre Picture Book", after all, Winters in Anna's eyes will never look like a blood wolf]

   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end