Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Winters felt somewhat relieved, but then he thought of the slaves on the island and asked, "What about the slaves in the plantations, how should they be dealt with?"

"That's simple," Gus Lanch had a plan in mind. "Vineta's laws do not allow any form of slavery, yet slaves are important property of the plantations. So, once the plantations are confiscated, all slaves on the island would be able to redeem themselves."

"Where would the slaves get the money to redeem themselves?" Winters couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"The Vineta government can lend them the money for their redemption," Gus sipped a little wine, stating it matter-of-factly, "The slaves, once freed, can pay off their debt with their labor."

Having heard Gus's words, Winters felt as if... there was not much change, but this was not a field he could meddle in, so he said no more.

It was Antonio, however, who raised his eyebrows and asked, "Doing this is basically wiping out the wealthy class of Red Sulfur Island in one fell swoop. Aren't you worried about provoking a popular uprising?"

"Do you think there are more poor people or rich people on the island?" Gus Lanch spread his hands, smiling as he said, "The main body of an uprising is 'people'. I won't touch the property of the civilians and the poor. Rich people's power comes from their wealth; strip them of their wealth, leaving them with only the attribute of 'people', and I'd like to see how they resist me. Besides, don't I have you? As long as your swords are sharp enough, I can do whatever I want on Red Sulfur Island. I actually hope they resist, it would be a good opportunity to thoroughly cleanse Red Sulfur Island."

"It seems you've already had a full plan in place," Antonio said carefully, "You've never changed over the years, still so... radical."

"Otherwise, why would they send me to Red Sulfur Island?" Gus Lanch tapped on the table with his knuckles, saying with a satisfied tone, "Who would go after the money of the poor on Red Sulfur Island? Only the rich on the island would do that. Where does the Council's wealth come from? Isn't it all squeezed from the poor? I'm different. I can't be bothered to take money from the poor; I'll target whoever has it!"

"My duty was to take Red Sulfur Island, and I have completed that," sighed Antonio. "How to govern here is your responsibility. The Governor must have had his reasons for appointing you."

"Let's not talk about this, I know you're not interested." Gus saw that his old classmate was indifferent to his plans and turned to Winters, who was wrestling with a rack of ribs, "Kid, you've got quite a good reputation on the island too! Those representatives of the citizenry asked me several times 'if Centurion Montaigne could stay'. How about staying here to help me? I could use some capable hands."

Previously, Winters and Andre had gone to "buy firewood as a sign of loyalty", not thinking much of it, but after delivering the firewood back to Red Sulfur Harbor, they found that the residents were in desperate need of such living supplies.

Normally, the surrounding farmers would carry firewood into town to sell to the residents of Red Sulfur Harbor. After the Vineta troops landed, the farmers were too afraid to come, and the residents' reserves of wood quickly ran out, worrying about what to do next.

Seeing the urgent need for fuel among the inhabitants of Red Sulfur Harbor, Winters decided to distribute the few carts of firewood he had bought for free, resolving their immediate crisis. Winters also took the opportunity to visit the villages around the harbor, restoring the supply of firewood for Red Sulfur Harbor.

After this back and forth, Centurion Montaigne's reputation among the residents of Red Sulfur Harbor had become very good.

Two legions were about to depart, but some soldiers still needed to remain stationed on Red Sulfur Island. A force of about a centuria was required, and a Centurion was needed.

Upon hearing Gus's proposal, Winters truly felt tempted. After all, staying on Red Sulfur Island and dealing with a few plantation owners might be safer than engaging in combat with the Confederate forces, wouldn't it?

He thought of Kosha, Ella, and Anna, who were hoping for his safe return home.

Winters looked towards Antonio.

When Antonio heard Gus Lanch's proposal, at first he was taken aback, then he softly said to Winters, "It's up to you, if you want to stay here, stay."

Winters gritted his teeth, but in the end he shook his head, stood up, and bowed to Gus, replying, "I lack the ability, and there are others more suited for the duties on Red Sulfur Island."

"Alright, then." Gus Lanch didn't say much more, but with a chuckle, he said, "The army is still as heartless as ever, taking away all the good lads, not leaving me any useful ones."

"Always mocking the army, aren't you also from the army?" Antonio laughed as well.

Gus kept a straight face and said, "That's why when I was young, I was also one heck of a fine young man."

The two men looked at each other and burst out laughing.

As Gus Lanch, slightly tipsy, turned his attention back to Winters, he said, "You lad, you're starting to look more and more like your father... You didn't resemble him so much when you were smaller... but now the more I look at you, the more you do... Back when I, Andre, and your father were studying at the military academy..."

Seeing the middle-aged men's favorite form of entertainment—reminiscing about the glorious days of youth—beginning again.

Winters rolled his eyes inwardly, managed an awkward smile, and continued to focus on his soup, leaving Gus and Antonio to reminisce about their youth, exchanging memories back and forth. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

Several hours later, Gus Lanch, thoroughly drunk, was carried into his bedroom by his servants, while Antonio and Winters rode away from the requisitioned Governor's mansion of Red Sulfur Island.

"I can't help but feel," with just his uncle and himself left, Winters no longer held back, "that Uncle Lanch seems to have a personal vendetta with the Confederacy?"