Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 940: Chapter 29 Nonexistent Record_3

The young man—Little Lion—cried uncontrollably: “How could you only just return?”

“What happened?” Winters suddenly became alert.

“Do you even have the face to ask?” Little Lion sobbed and cursed loudly: “I’ve hunted down all the rats in the valley!”

…

The winter valley of the Flying Feather Tribe

Winters stood outside the felt tent, wanting to enter yet not daring to.

His subordinates wisely kept their distance, not wanting to provoke the Blood Wolf at this time.

Colonel Moritz had disappeared, Mayor Gerard Mitchell had disappeared, and even the most upright and reliable Father Kaman had disappeared.

Winters’s fingertips touched the tent curtain, then he withdrew them, touched again, and withdrew again, repeatedly three or four times, until he heard a crisp voice from inside the tent: “Come in.”

Winters pushed aside the tent curtain, and Anna was waiting for him.

Fortunately, what he saw was a smiling face.

…

…

An unknown time, an unknown place, a conversation never formally recorded

“Move a little closer.”

“…”

“Move a little closer again.”

“…”

“Sit here.”

“…”

“Here.”

“…”

“Take off your coat.”

“…”

“(A silent command with the eyes).”

“…”

“The inside one.”

“…”

“(Another silent command with the eyes).”

“(The rustling sound of undressing).”

“(Sounds similar to washing hands).”

“…”

“(The sound of a warm towel wiping the skin).”

“(Very careful, very gentle breaths).”

“(The towel continues to wipe the skin).”

“…”

“(The towel continues to wipe the skin).”

“…”

“(The towel continues to wipe the skin).”

“…”

“(A gentle sigh) Put on clean clothes.”

“(The sound of getting dressed).”

“(The sound of laundering the towel).”

“(The sound of arms stretching out from behind for a hug).”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Over a month, I thought you had run away again (a playful light laugh).”

“(A silent ‘sorry’).”

“(Softly) To be honest, seeing how you looked when you returned, I knew, you’ve had a great time this month…”

“…”

“(Softly) Even in Iron Peak County, I’ve never seen you so happy, like a bird that has flown out of its cage…”

“…”

“(Slyly laughing) Right? You were happy, weren’t you?”

“(Guiltily) I’m sorry.”

“(A faint hug) Why apologize? (Softly) I like to see you happy, I like to see you vibrant (voice getting softer and softer) I like to see you free…”

“(Uncontrollable tears)”

“(The sound of wiping away tears) Don’t cry, don’t cry, stop crying (nestling in, softly) I want to see you happy (a whisper too faint to be heard by the other, so quiet it’s as if heard only in the heart) As for me… it actually doesn’t matter…”

…

…

The winter valley of the Flying Feather Tribe

The team from Iron Peak County had just merged with the people from Jiangbei Province and started to get their gear in order.

The guards and veterans were busily packing the carts, while Winters and his men took the time to tend to their mounts amidst the chaos.

This was the umpteenth time Little Lion had complained to Winters: “We agreed, at most half a month, at least ten days, why have you been gone so long!”

A guilty Winters could only suffer in silence, focusing on brushing his horse.

“Do you have any idea how I’ve coped these days?” This was the umpteenth time Little Lion gave an example: “I’ve hunted all the rats clean!”

“Well, you’ve returned safely, haven’t you?” Winters tried to soothe Little Lion.

“You’ve been delayed too long! Far too long!” Little Lion became increasingly agitated as he spoke, stopping his brushing and looking plaintively, tears welling up: “Maybe I’ve missed all the most fun parts! Ah! Ah! I’ve really lost out!”

“The most fun parts? What are they?” Colonel Moritz, standing nearby, suddenly chimed in.

“The most fun parts?! What?! What else could it be?” Little Lion turned his head sharply towards Moritz, eyes wide in disbelief, took a deep breath and shouted: “The hunt!”