Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 949: Chapter 33: Hunt (Part 4)

[Twilight, somewhere in a valley on the west bank of The Styx]

After repeatedly confirming that no one was following them, Pierre hesitantly asked, “Are you sure it’s here?”

Winters halted his horse and looked around, trying to recall the route they took to retreat after breaking through Terdun’s camp. However, the wild mountains and ridges all looked similar, and he was also a bit unsure.

If he couldn’t figure it out, then rather than overthinking, Winters laughed heartily: “It should be here… Whatever, let’s dig a few shovels first!”

After a long journey, the Iron Peak County Delegation had already arrived deep in the Great Wilderness—at the same time, in the heart of Red River Tribe territory—the Confluence River basin.

The group even camped outside Bianli City last night.

Revisiting old battlegrounds made those who had experienced the [Great Wilderness Campaign] inevitably sentimental.

Vashka seized the opportunity to half proudly, and half regretfully, recount the Battle of Bianli to the new recruits, but he significantly boasted about Blood Wolf, and incidentally boasted about himself as well.

As a symbol of both the White Lion’s palace and the Red River Tribe, Bianli has already been rebuilt.

The east triangular fortress that Winters personally blew up has been repaired, with only the conspicuous color difference of the old and new walls silently reminding people how fierce the siege was.

According to Little Lion, the White Lion spends half of his time in Bianli dealing with affairs and receiving envoys.

If the journey hadn’t been delayed, Winters should also have met with the White Lion in Bianli.

However, the White Lion was not in the city at the moment. It was only after asking Little Lion that he found out—the main camp had left Bianli three days ago, headed for the hunting grounds.

Learning that the main camp had already embarked, Little Lion was so anxious that he was about to cry, and he blamed Winters a bit: “The departure of the main camp means the hunt is about to be enclosed, we really need to hurry or we’ll miss it!”

Winters fully expressed his understanding of Little Lion’s anxiety.

The next day, he took a detour.

It wasn’t that Winters intentionally tricked Little Lion; he just wanted to check the gold-burying location along the way.

In the evening, while others were busy unloading and setting up camp, Winters excused himself to go hunting, taking only Pierre and Xial with him.

The three followed the river upstream, first finding the site of Bridgehead Fortress, then continuing to search along that night’s retreat route, and finally finding this “suspicious-looking” place.

At the valley floor, Xial couldn’t help but exclaim, “Such a big piece of wasteland, just relying on you, me, and Pierre, we can’t finish digging by tomorrow! Should I go back and call some more people?”

Winters dismounted, taking a shovel from his saddlebag: “There are markers.”

“Markers?” Xial was greatly surprised: “Didn’t Colonel Jeska say at that time that leaving markers would lead to discovery, so we didn’t leave any?”

Winters and Pierre exchanged glances, the latter shrugged.

Surveying the valley’s entrances, Winters roughly deduced the route the wagon had taken: “Surface markers might be exposed, so Captain Mason and I thought of a method. After hiding the gold, we buried three wooden stakes nearby… They should be about half a foot under the soil layer.”

Thus, the three lined up across the wagon-accessible flat valley floor, continuously turning over the soil with iron shovels.

“I wonder how Sea Blue is doing now.” Xial said, huffing and puffing: “I also wonder how Iron Peak County is doing now.”

Winters casually asked: “How long have we been away from Iron Peak County?”

“Almost two and a half months?” Xial calculated for a while, then whispered in complaint: “Brother, how much longer do we have to walk?”

“Soon, we should catch up with the White Lion within a few days.”

“Actually… actually, many people don’t understand now.” Xial spoke hesitantly: “Why have we run thousands of miles to join the Herders’ encirclement hunt?”

Winters thought for a moment, did not answer directly, but asked another person next to him: “What do you think? Pierre.”

Pierre, who was just recovering from a severe illness, had already sweated profusely after swaying the shovel for a short while. He wiped his sweat and countered, “Do you want the truth or a lie?”

“Where did you learn this trick?” Winters couldn’t help but laugh.

Pierre also chuckled for a moment, and honestly answered: “The last time we encountered the Red River Tribe, it was a life-and-death struggle, but this time we have become their honored guests. Honestly, I find it hard to accept.”

Winters stopped his work: “Do other people think the same?”

“Many comrades think the same,” Pierre said seriously: “Especially those subordinates you just brought out from Jiangbei Province, who have not experienced the formation of the army in Wolf Town, they are all very puzzled.”

Winters, looking at the setting sun, fell into silence.

Every member of the delegation was personally selected by Winters. To a certain extent, they were the subordinates Winters trusted and valued the most.

If the members of the delegation all thought this way, then the attitude of others need not be mentioned.

“Your Excellency.” Pierre actively broke the silence: “Although I don’t trust the Herders, I trust you. I believe that you have sufficient reasons to shake hands and make peace with the Red River Tribe. I believe others think the same as I do. So, you don’t need to have any concerns.”

Winters sighed: “I should explain…”

“If you feel there is no need to explain,” Pierre said emphatically. “Then there’s no need to explain.”

After pondering for a moment, Winters had made his consideration.

Winters took a long breath and solemnly promised to Pierre and Xial: “When the timing is right, I will explain carefully to everyone… Everyone has the right to know what they are fighting for.”

Pierre seemed to want to say more, but it all went back down. In the end, he only said: “You just need to give the order.”