Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Later that evening, after infuriating the doctor, Winters inexplicably received a small bag jingling with reward coins from the smiling customs boss and a Customs Third-Class Service Medal was pinned to his chest.

Amid the discordant march played by the makeshift orchestra, Winters and Bard carried Major Moritz on a stretcher as they were escorted out of the smugglers' prison.

The heavy prison gate closed with a resounding "bang" behind them, leaving thirty-three warrant officers and one seriously injured major dumped at the prison entrance.

Is that it, then? Is the matter resolved?

Where are we supposed to go now?

What about Major General Layton?

The officer trainees looked at each other, at a loss.

"Anyhow, let's get some wagons first! We need to get the major back to the army headquarters," Winters proposed loudly. It was better to act than to stand around idly; they certainly couldn't take turns carrying the major all the way back to the army headquarters, could they?

His contemporaries apparently found his proposal sensible. With someone willing to lead, things became easier. Several proactive individuals immediately went to look for wagons.

"Hey! Why did that scoundrel from the customs give us money?" Andre slapped his thigh hard, "I get it, it's taxi fare they've given us!"

The smugglers' office was quite secluded, unlike the docks where coachmen were always waiting to be hailed. The warrant officers finally managed to stop two proper passenger carriages and also acquired two mule-drawn carts and a donkey cart for hauling hay from nearby farms.

But when it came time to assign seats, no one wanted to sit in the donkey cart. The mule carts at least had a small cabin; the donkey cart was nothing more than a wooden board with two wheels and no shelter.

After all, they were all officers; you can't treat warrant officers as if they're not cadre. It would be utterly embarrassing to ride in such a petty donkey cart.

"Alright, folks, stop dawdling," Winters said helplessly: "I'll take the major in the donkey cart since the stretcher won't fit in the wagons anyway."

The warrant officers, in high spirits, rushed to claim their seats, while Major Moritz, still groggy and unaware, was settled quite clearly by Winters and then somewhat confusedly hoisted onto the donkey cart. Bard also got on.

"You might as well take the wagon too; this donkey cart really is beneath you." Deep down, Winters felt the same shame as his peers at the thought of riding in the donkey cart.

But he had opened his mouth to suggest finding transport, and now he'd have to swallow the consequences.

"I'm from The Federated Provinces," Bard laughed heartily: "This isn't my hometown, and nobody in Sea Blue City knows me."

"Ah," Winters sighed deeply: "But this is my hometown."

———Separator———

The guards outside the Vineta Army headquarters watched as five animal-drawn vehicles, four large and one small, pulled up at the military compound's entrance. As they were about to step forward to reprimand these clueless country bumpkin drivers, they saw a swarm of young men in uniform miraculously emerging from the carriages one after another.

In this era, shoulder and arm badges hadn't been invented yet, and the way to distinguish between soldiers and officers was to look at the cut of their clothes, while distinguishing higher-ranking officers involved checking the material and adornments of the uniform.

Thus, although the army officer trainees were in their summer uniforms, their cut was unmistakably that of an officer's uniform, and the guards at army headquarters, well-versed and knowledgeable, would certainly not misidentify them.

A few guards didn't dare to neglect them and immediately sent one of their numbers to report to the headquarters building.

The sudden return of these junior cadets threw the army headquarters into disarray. Everyone had vaguely felt that this matter wouldn't end amicably and feared that it would ultimately lead to a major conflict, with some of the more combative already secretly preparing for a fight.

No one expected the customs to change their tune so quickly, releasing everyone just like that. The practical and face-saving resolution from the customs caught everyone at the Vineta Army headquarters by surprise.

However, the efficiency of the army officers was high, and they managed the unexpected event swiftly and appropriately.

Major Moritz was taken into the care of the medical staff.

The warrant officers were escorted to complete their reporting process and were registered.

After reporting, the warrant officers were divided into two groups. Those whose homes were not in Sea Blue City were taken to the officers' club for accommodation, while those from Sea Blue City went home to their respective families after completing the reporting process.

Winters and Bard temporarily parted ways as Bard was housed in the officers' club. At the fourth intersection after leaving the army headquarters, Winters and Andre also temporarily bid farewell, each making their way home.

Six years had passed, and the city had undergone great changes. The old uneven streets were now paved with new stone, and many of the shopfronts and buildings from his memory had changed signs, but there were still a few unchanged landmarks to guide him.

Guided by memory, Winters found his way home.

When he opened the courtyard gate and stood before the familiar, beautiful, two-story stone house, he suddenly felt an inexplicable panic.

He took a deep breath and knocked on the door knocker.

"Who is it?" A crisp female voice called from inside the house.

Though the voice sounded different, Winters recognized it. A smile spread across his face, "It's me."

The door cracked open, and a small head peeked out. A pair of large eyes, very much like his uncle's, blinked at him: "Brother! You're back!"

The door was flung open, and the young girl rushed out, clinging to Winters's neck, shouting back into the house, "Mom! Brother's back!"