Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

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Benwei's youngest brother, who had already stopped crying, suddenly burst into tears again, "And then, my second brother died."

The group that had kidnapped Benwei quickly mounted the carriage and left the farm. Benwei's youngest brother immediately gave chase and caught up with them.

Unexpectedly, after not going far, the two carriages suddenly stopped for a while and then moved on.

Benwei's youngest brother ran to the spot where the carriages had stopped and found his second brother's still warm body. The clothes below the torso were completely soaked with fresh blood.

The image of Benwei's second brother began to surface in memory, a round-faced, honest child, somewhat clumsy, but especially obedient to Benwei and Winters. Even when his mother beat him with a stick, the silly boy never betrayed Benwei and Winters.

The child was dead? The kid who had followed behind with a silly smile was dead?

Winters suddenly felt a sense of unreality.

Wiping away his tears, Benwei's youngest brother continued with the rest of the story, "And then… then I had no choice but to hide my second brother in a ditch by the side of the road… and continue to chase those Montans."

That night, Benwei's youngest brother quietly followed the carriage into the city and watched as the group dragged Benwei into a house.

Winters had a rough understanding of what had happened. He felt sweat forming on his forehead, and his breathing became uncontrollably rapid. But he constantly reminded himself in his heart, "Panic is of no use"; the priority was to clarify the situation, and there were still some doubts that had to be cleared up.

"Xial, don't be anxious. I have a few questions to ask you." Winters tried to ask as calmly as possible, "How do you know that those who kidnapped Benwei were Montans?"

"Their accent; they all had the Montan accent." Benwei's youngest brother didn't even have to think before responding.

"Have you gone to your eldest brother's companions… those dockworkers, or have you been to the sheriff?"

The eyes of Benwei's youngest brother moistened again, and he sobbed as he said, "It's useless, the sheriff won't care about us. The Montans have bribed the sheriff. My brother's coworkers were killed by the Montans, several of them, and the sheriff didn't even show up. We are not Venetians; the sheriff will not bother with us…"

Everyone's attention was focused on the war with the Tanilia Federation, and the Montans chose a good time.

"You mean there was another brawl at the docks between the Vaughan People and the Montans, and the Vaughan People lost, right?" Winters caught on to some information.

"Yesterday during the day, the Montans attacked my brother's group and killed the leaders. I went to them, but they had already knelt in submission, too afraid to rescue my brother. It was they who told the Montans where we were hiding!" Benwei's youngest brother gripped Winters's arm, weeping, "I… I really had no other choice, otherwise I wouldn't have come here… Winters, I beg you, please save my brother. If you get my brother out, my life is yours from here on!"

"Stop crying! A man sheds blood, not tears." Winters took out a handkerchief to wipe Xial's tears, "Do you remember where they took your brother?"

"I watched all through the night, and as soon as the sun came up, I wrote down the address of that house." Benwei's youngest brother hurriedly unfolded his clothing and tore off a piece of fabric from his undergarment, handing it to Winters.

The fabric was inscribed with an address in blood.

"Are you sure about this address?"

"Yes!"

"Does anyone else know that you came to find me?"

"No one! I haven't told anyone."

"How many people took away your brother?"

"About a dozen."

"Is your brother still there?"

Benwei's youngest brother shook his head while crying, "I stood guard outside all night long, and they didn't take my brother out. Today, during the day, I went to my brother's companions and couldn't keep watching them… Please save my brother quickly, the longer we delay, the more likely they are to take my brother elsewhere…"

There was nothing else to ask. Winters grabbed Xial's shoulders and asked, "Your other family members were sent to relatives by your brother, do you know where they are?"

"I know." Benwei's youngest brother dried his tears and nodded.

Winters took out his Spellcaster's insignia and placed it in Xial's palm, then withdrew all the money he had on him and said to Xial earnestly and seriously, "Leave your brother's matter to me. Now, go to your other family members. Take this insignia and find Warrant Officer Bard at the Army Officers' Club, Gerard's Bard. Tell him I sent you, but don't mention your brother's situation. Ask him to arrange a horse to take you to your family. Did you understand?"

Benwei's youngest brother seemed to want to say something, but seeing the look in Winters's eyes, he swallowed his words and nodded firmly.

"Repeat it."

Benwei's youngest brother repeated Winters's words.

"Your brother is alive; I will get him out. If your brother is dead, I will avenge him. Go to your family and don't tell anyone that you've seen me, go now."

——Cut——

Time returns to the present.

After confirming that there was no light seeping from the wooden door on the balcony, Winters grasped the parapet and iron bars and gently landed on the backstreet-side balcony of the house.

Even though he did his best to reduce the height of the drop, being a man of normal weight, he still made a slight sound upon landing.

He held his breath, drew his dagger, leaned against the wall, and listened intently.

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