Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Then he reached into the corpse's mouth, not knowing what he was doing. It seemed to take a great deal of effort before he pulled out an object a finger length long with a sharp point from the corpse's mouth.

Winters wiped the bloody object clean on the frail man's clothing and put it back into his belt. Only then did Benwei realize that the belt was lined with a row of triangular steel spikes, with several places empty.

Once he had finished with his task, Winters pulled out a revolver and handed it to Benwei. "If someone else comes in, you shoot, no need to use the firing pin, just aim at them and pull this little lever," he said.

After speaking, he picked up his dagger and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Benwen Nutuo hurriedly asked.

"He's number twenty, there are at least two more," Winters said without turning back, exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

Benwei slumped in his chair, holding the strange gun that Winters had given him, pointed at the door, his mind blank, the too sudden twists and turns leaving him not understanding what had happened at all.

Gradually regaining strength in his limbs and the ability to control his arms, Benwei's first instinct was to give himself a sharp slap on the face.

It hurt.

It wasn't a dream.

He slapped himself again.

It hurt just the same.

He was certain it wasn't a dream.

Benwen Nutuo picked up the water glass that the frail man had left on the table and drank the remaining water. His long-thirsty throat was finally moistened, and he couldn't help but glance over at the frail man who had given him water to drink.

The frail man's body was lying on the ground with its head to one side, a pool of fresh blood expanding from where his throat was slit. The face of the young and frail big boy, already pale, had become even paler, covered in a muddy mix of blood and dust. Whatever dreams he had ended along with his life.

Benwei knelt beside him, gently closed those dilated eyes with his hand, and then took the man's hand, silently reciting the Lord's Prayer for him.

The door opened again, not with the quick and noiseless manner Winters had used, but violently shoved open with a shoulder.

Benwen Nutuo immediately grabbed the gun again, pointing it toward the door, but the person who entered was Winters.

"Twenty-five! They're all taken care of, let's go," Winters panted, "What are you doing?"

Seeing that it was Winters who entered, Benwei took the frail man's hand again, continuing his murmured prayer.

Winters became anxious. "What are you thinking, conducting religious rituals at a time like this?" he asked.

But Benwen Nutuo insisted on finishing the entire Lord's Prayer for the frail young man before standing up, limping and following Winters outside.

"How did you know I was here?" Benwei asked.

Just as they left the small room that had been his confinement, Benwei saw another body lying in a pool of blood in the hallway.

"Xial came looking for me," Winters replied.

"Where is Xial now, do you know how my younger brother is?" Benwei quickly asked.

"Xial went to your mother's place," Winters said with difficulty. "Laine... is dead."

Benwei's vision darkened, the world seemed to spin, and he almost fell to the ground.

Winters quickly steadied Benwei, silently squeezing his arm.

Benwei took a deep breath, gathered his spirits, and said, "Go ahead, I'll take care of things here."

"You don't need to worry about this place. Come with me, I have a place where we can hide you," Winters responded.

After making sure the street was empty, Winters led Benwei away from the Montan hideout. Benwei limped slowly, so Winters, taking the gun back and slipping it into its holster, simply hoisted Benwei onto his shoulders.

Carrying Benwei, he ran to the nearby Yangchong River, finally setting him down. The two found a gentle slope and made their way down to the riverbed, walking until they reached a drainage pipe.

A bald man dressed in a rough monk's robe had been waiting for quite some time. Upon seeing Winters approaching, the lame man complained, "What took you so long?"

"Ran into some trouble on the way, thanks for the help this time," Winters replied.

"Stop with the bullshit," the lame man said impatiently, then gestured to Benwei, "Follow me."

With that, he limped into the drainage culvert.

"The Montans might continue seeking revenge, and if the Montans don't get you, the sheriff will. Follow him, no one will be able to find you, heal from your injuries first," Winters told Benwei, handing him a bag of money.

Benwei intended to refuse the money, but in the end, he accepted it. Clutching Winters' arm, with tears in his eyes, he managed just a few words: "Thank you..."

"Do we really need to say these things to each other?" Winters gave Benwei a bear hug.

"What about you? Over there..." Benwei asked worriedly again.

"Don't worry, no one but you saw me there. After tonight, I'll be off to war, and then no one will be able to find me!" Winters laughed as he spoke, then his voice dropped a bit, "If by chance neither of us men return... help me look after my family."

"Of course." Benwei squeezed Winters's hand tightly, followed the lame man into the dark tunnel, and the two figures, one limping, vanished into the darkness.

Winters covered his face and returned to the Montan stronghold; he still had a few steel spikes embedded in a Montan body that he hastily hadn't pulled out, so he needed to go back and retrieve them.

——Cut——

"Senior? Major?"

Moritz, in his sleep, vaguely heard someone calling him, and then he got on a boat, swaying back and forth.

Finally, when he looked up to see who was calling him, he woke up.

Winters's face was before him.

"Did I fall asleep? How long was I out?" Major Moritz asked, puzzled and groggy upon awakening.

"Not for long, we've been drinking together, and as we drank, I noticed you dozed off, so I woke you up."

"Oh... what time is it now?" Major Moritz, head throbbing painfully, felt a hangover kicking in.

"Don't know, it's very late. You kept making me drink and wouldn't let me go." Winters replied with a wry smile, "But now it's really late, and I truly need to head home."

"Sorry... sorry... what about Field?"

"He's also asleep."

"Wake him up. His wife won't stand it if he doesn't come home at night." Moritz said, clutching his forehead. He sniffed forcefully: "What's that smell on you?"

"What smell? Have you forgotten you just spilled your drink on me?" Winters pointed to the still-wet spot on his clothing. He had deliberately doused himself with half a bottle of drink before waking Major Moritz to mask any lingering scent of blood.

"I'm so sorry... I really drank too much." Major Moritz apologized, rubbing his temples with both hands.

When Field and Winters left Major Moritz's place, Moritz's landlady personally saw the two men out.

After walking a distance, half-drunk Field, riding on horseback, pointed at the sky and asked, "What's going on over there?"

"What's going on?" Winters sounded puzzled.

"In the sky, look," Field yawned, "Is that a fire over there?"

Winters yawned as well, "I don't know, but it's none of our business."

Field laughed, "True... bullets don't discriminate; you be careful. After this war is over, I'll treat you to a drink at Golden Harbor."

Winters answered cheerfully, "Then I'll expect the good stuff, not the cheap swill you gave me today."

The two laughed heartily as they rode away from that part of town.

——Cut——

Kosha pressed her ear against the door and turned to Antonio, "He's going upstairs, he's going upstairs."

Antonio lifted his gaze from the book in his hands, glanced at his wife, and sighed.

"He's gone back to his room." Kosha returned to the bed and complained to Antonio, "Where has that child been? Why is he coming home so late without telling me?"

"How is this late?" Antonio lightly said, still looking at his book, "The child has grown up, he should have his own nightlife. When I was Winters's age, staying out all night was quite normal. You shouldn't worry so much."

Kosha, irate, spun around and thumped Antonio twice forcefully.

"All right, he's back, now you can go to sleep in peace." Antonio put away the book and blew out the candle.

In the darkness, Antonio hugged Kosha from behind, took his wife's hand, "After I leave Sea Blue with Winters, you and Elizabeth go stay at Giovanni's place. With the men gone from the house, it's not safe."

Kosha simply replied, "After you both leave, I will light two votive lamps. And every day until you and the child return, I will pray for you."

Antonio silently squeezed his wife's hand.

The room was filled with the low sound of Kosha's weeping.