Chapter 388 Storm (2)

The reconnaissance cavalry sent to the old city has not returned, but Winters can no longer wait.

Fuller watched with dumbfounded eyes as the "baron's servants" carried out heavy wooden boxes, took out coats, breastplates, arm guards, and leg skirts from the boxes, and skillfully dressed them up for each other.

There was even someone who ran over excitedly holding a set of horse armor, but the baron glared at him and stepped back dejectedly.

Winters is short-handed right now.

Even with the later joining of the Shire and Balian, his retinue never exceeded a dozen. After the couriers and scouts were separated, the manpower was even more stretched. Only Winters, Anna, Carman, Anna's personal maid and six guards were left in the hotel.

Kaman was depressed and unable to give orders. Grandma was scared to death and couldn't do much to help. The guards were tasked with guarding the perimeter, and they had to take turns wearing armor.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Anna walked into the living room, silently took the silk tights from Balian, and awkwardly helped Winters change.

Winters deliberately avoided Anna's gaze. Anna also lowered her head slightly to prevent Winters from seeing her expression.

"My lord." Fuller on the side asked with concern: "Are you going to... fight again tonight?"

Winters had taken off all his regular clothes, put on close-fitting silk clothes, and was putting on his armor.

He picked up the silver box found on the green-eyed corpse, threw it directly to Fuller, and asked, "Do you recognize what this is?"

Fuller carefully opened the lid of the box: "A clock?"

Old Schmid glanced at it and said, "It's the Nuron Bell."

"Do you know what this thing is used for?" Winters asked again.

Fuller was confused: "Time?"

"One clock is timing, and ten clocks are planning." Winters opened his arms so that Anna could tie his belt: "The assassins lying in the yard are all good players. You two have seen their skills with your own eyes. However, I was almost killed.”

Fuller subconsciously wanted to flatter him a few times, such as "My lord is brave" and "Excellent swordsmanship", but suddenly he remembered the assassin's half-smooth brain. In an instant, he felt the soup in his stomach rushing to his throat, and he couldn't say no for a long time. Say a word.

Winters moved his shoulders and waist and abdomen a few times to make sure that the clothes were tight enough and would not affect his movements, and then nodded to indicate that he could put on his armor.

He asked the two forge masters sideways: "The dozen assassins in the yard are just claws. There is a wolf hidden in the steel castle, maybe even a pack of wolves. Mr. Schmid, Mr. Fuller , do you think that the assassins are preparing such a huge battle just to deal with me?"

Old Schmid was silent, and Fuller's heart trembled.

Fuller had long guessed that he would not be able to escape so easily tonight.

There were corpses on the streets, commotion in the old city, and people in the hotel were in panic for a while. Three or four waves of waiters and guests came to the baron to inquire about the news, but they were all blocked out without mercy.

Although Fuller was frightened, his eyes could see clearly: the baron and his wife were treating his injuries and preparing mulled wine and a room for him to rest, but they didn't say a word about sending him home.

If you don't let me go home, I won't let you go home. Fuller's little account book is calculated carefully: It's such a mess outside, I won't leave even if you chase me, and I won't talk about anything until dawn.

Old Schmid suddenly asked: "Sir, who is the person who ordered the assassin?"

"I don't know." Winters replied without hesitation.

"Why are they looking for you?"

"have no idea."

Old Schmid was silent for a moment, and then asked in a hoarse voice: "If the situation is really as you said, shouldn't you stay in the hotel and wait until the outside calms down before going out?"

Winters roughly guessed what the old man Schmid was thinking, and he told the old blacksmith bluntly: "The assassin is not a Monta, nor is he from the United Provinces."

Old Schmid's face became solemn, and Fuller on the side didn't know why.

"As for another question. In the current situation, it is indeed safer to stay in the hotel." Winters had already put on a full set of three-quarter armor, and his heroic appearance was like a paladin stepping out of a mural.

He clenched and unclenched the five fingers protected by leather and nail leaves, getting used to the feedback that was different from the feeling of a bare hand: "But I prefer to take the initiative rather than sit back and wait for death."

"What does taking the initiative mean?" Old Schmid stared at the Baron with burning eyes.

Winters pulled out his sword and inspected it. The sword exuded a faint cold air, reflecting his dark pupils.

After a while, Winters sheathed his sword and neatly tied the sword belt around his waist: "I'm going to visit White Eagle."

Changfeng has been taken out of the stable and equipped with a full set of saddlery.

Since arriving at Steel Castle, Winters has hardly ridden Changfeng, and there is no room for him to gallop as much as he wants in Steel Castle. This aggressive stallion has long been impatient in the stable.

At this moment, Changfeng smelled the smell of blood in the air. Instead of being afraid, Changfeng excitedly tapped the ground with his front hooves.

Fuller followed the baron into the courtyard as if in a dream, watching the fully armed cavalry leading their horses and waiting for orders, watching the baron take a short gun from the attendant, and watching the baron walk towards him with the short gun.

Fuller suddenly woke up, retreated in panic, and begged for mercy: "I...I won't say anything!"

Then, Fuller saw the baron turning the short gun upside down, handed him the handle, and asked, "Can you use it?"

Fuller stupidly took the short gun and took a closer look. It turned out to be the spring-loaded short gun that he had given to the baron before.

"Will it work?" Winters asked again.

Fuller stood dumbly for a long time: "Never used it."

Winters patted Fuller on the shoulder: "Then you may have to learn to use it tonight."

After that, Winters walked towards Changfeng.

Old Schmid strode to catch up with Winters and asked eagerly: "Sir, are you really going to Beicheng District?"

Winters took the reins from Changfeng, mounted the horse in the stirrups, and ignored the old blacksmith.

Old Schmid gritted his teeth and knelt down on one knee: "Please take me with you."

Winters sat on the horse, condescending, frowning slightly, looking up and down at the old blacksmith.

Old Schmid stood up and clenched his fists tightly: "My whole family is still in Beicheng District. If it's like you said, I must go back to find them tonight! They can't do it without me."

"The commotion in the old city is unknown now." Winters said calmly: "Traveling across the old city right now may cost your life, so we can't bring any more burdens."

"I know the risks, and they are all on me. I can still ride a horse without you taking care of me." Old Schmid turned to look at Fuller: "Fuller boy, be a witness. I owe you tonight. It's a favor. If I die, tell my sons and ask them to pay it back for me."

Winters was unmoved: "My subordinates are more important than your favor."

"You always need help!" Old Schmid persisted: "Every household in Beicheng District knows me, and I know them too. Can you use Beicheng? I can!"

Winters looked at old Schmid for a few seconds, then raised his hand and pointed at the latter: "Get him a horse."

The guard quickly brought out another prepared horse and gave it to old Schmid. The old blacksmith didn't say anything and just got on the horse.

Fuller realized it later and staggered into the courtyard, with runny nose and tears: "Take me with you too! Sir! My whole family is also in Beicheng!"

Winters glanced at Fuller's stubby limbs and round belly: "You can't."

Fuller wanted to beg again, but Carman stepped out of the shadows and hit Fuller on the back of the head. Fuller, who was still wiping tears, trembled, fell to the ground, and passed out.

"I'll go with you." Kaman's face was grim.

Winters shook his head: "You stay to protect the others."

While they were talking, it became noisy outside the courtyard.

There was the sound of hail-like hooves approaching quickly, and a horse sentry in the distance shouted loudly: "It's Ciel! Ciel is back!"

The guard heard the sound and opened the door. Ciel, wrapped in the wind, galloped into the courtyard and did not stop until he was in front of Winters. His clothes were stained with the burnt smell of fireworks, and there was a struggling man tied to the horse.

Charles dismounted his horse, rushed to Winters' side, and reported in a low voice: "The old city is in complete chaos. The mob blocked the main road in and out of the city. They ransacked things from house to house, grabbed food, and set fires."

"Where are the troops stationed outside the city?"

"Colonel Bern's men will not be able to get through for a while." Charles panted heavily and spoke quickly: "There were several roadblocks on the way into the city, and the slums along the road were ablaze. It is said..."

Charles gritted his teeth: "It is said that someone has opened the warehouse of the riverside workshop and is distributing weapons to the mob!"

There was another noise outside, and a dull bell sounded from somewhere.

A sentry in charge of peripheral security galloped into the courtyard and reported out of breath: "Centurion! Someone shouted outside, asking everyone with civil rights to immediately bring weapons and go to Gelten." Assemble in the church square! It’s the Sheriff’s order!”

Charles stepped forward, pulled the sentry, who was much older than him, off his horse, and yelled: "Shut up! Don't panic!"

The whistler was shocked to realize that he had made a slip of the tongue, and slapped himself hard in annoyance.

Fuller was unconscious and heard nothing. Old Schmid's expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Sheriff?" Winters looked at Old Schmid.

"Sheriffs appointed by the city council are responsible for arresting thieves and criminals. They are found in every district." Old Schmid immediately explained: "In emergencies, the sheriff can recruit citizens to maintain order."

The situation has become more complicated and unpredictable. Having seen how the court mage behaves, Winters will never easily believe any external information.

Immediately, a guard accompanied old Schmid out of the courtyard to verify the authenticity of the "sheriff's order".

Winters pointed to the man on horseback and asked Charles, "Who is he?"

The man on horseback was blindfolded, gagged, and tied up like a shrimp, with only his sickly white hair exposed.

The white-haired man felt that the horse had stopped, so he kept trying to speak, but because his mouth was blocked, he could only make an indistinct "Woo" sound. He struggled hard, but his hands and feet were tied and he couldn't move.

"I don't know." Charles punched the white-haired man, who became quieter: "I found it in the assassin's carriage!"

[About citizens and weapons]

[In autonomous cities, citizenship rights are actually citizenship rights in a limited area, and are even equivalent to citizenship rights] [Generally, one needs to own a certain size of property, and... a weapon]

[In different periods, in different countries, cities, and municipalities, the minimum property standards for civil rights will fluctuate up and down, but "weapons" are generally necessary. Because armed citizens are not only the security force of autonomous cities, but also the military force of autonomous cities]

[So the setting of an old farmer turning into a militia instantly after ringing the bell seems to make some sense...]

[Thank you book friends for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]