Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Houdel paused for a moment, then continued with some choking, "At the time I was confused, only after did I understand. Captain Tamas meant that 'Ahead is the battlefield, a place where you can lose your life in the blink of an eye. But it doesn't matter, even if we die, our death will be worthwhile. We die for the Blood Wolf, not in vain.'"

Winters never expected the cadet in front of him to give such an answer, and he too fell silent.

"Some say they fight for land distribution, some for promotion. But no matter how much land you get or how high a rank you achieve, what's the point if you lose your life? Fighting the Herders, the official army, and now Vernge County, no matter what you say, we fight for you. So, I want to ask clearly." Houdel mustered the courage, staring directly into the Blood Wolf's eyes, and asked word by word, "What do you fight for?"

The small hill was silent, Longwind lowered his head, and his ears drooped.

"I want to give you an answer, but I think the answer I'd give you would be too generic, too hypocritical." Winters said softly, murmuring to himself, "Is there true altruism? Or am I just satisfying my own vanity?"

He was silent for a while, then looked up at Houdel, pleading, "Give me a little more time, I will find the answer."

Houdel wiped away his tears and nodded blankly.

At the front, with the New Reclamation Legion's banner being pulled down from the gate tower, the drawbridge at Artemis City's south gate fell with a crash.

The long-awaiting Cavalry of Iron Peak County erupted into thunderous cheers.

Before the cheers dissipated, the Cavalry of Iron Peak County, guided by the military banner, had already entered the city in an orderly manner in batches.

Winters glanced at the Nulan Clock—longer than expected, but still within the plan.

"Can you still ride?" Winters asked Houdel.

Houdel was momentarily stunned, then inhaled deeply, swallowing both his recent sadness and tears, decisively answering, "I can!"

However, he immediately grimaced and complained, "But, sir, I really feel like my balls are broken."

Winters couldn't help but smile, "I told you, don't 'sit on the saddle,' 'squat on the stirrups' instead. Learn to rise and fall naturally with the horse's movement..."

Houdel nodded like a pecking chick.

"Never mind, after riding for a while, you'll naturally understand. If nothing else, do a couple of days of stand-on-pole exercises." Winters took out a small notebook and graphite strip from his pocket, hurriedly wrote a few lines, tore out the whole page, and handed it to Houdel, along with putting a saddlebag in Houdel's hand, "Now there's a more important task for you—enter the city, find Lannis, and give him this order and this saddlebag."

Houdel saluted, following the last group of cavalry into Artemis.

Inside the city, it was chaotic and messy.

The Cavalry of Iron Peak County rampaged through the streets, capturing prisoners everywhere. The routed Vernge County soldiers, retreating from the city walls, fled en masse toward the barracks.

Houdel grabbed anyone he could and finally found the fifth captain, Lannis, escorting captives down the tower at the north gate.

He stepped straight up, saluted, and handed the Blood Wolf's order and saddlebag to the fifth captain.

When the allied units went to participate in the battle that would decide the fate of the Newly Reclaimed Land, the fifth battalion quietly stayed back to defend Revodan.

Though guarding home was an important and relatively safe duty, when good news returned to Iron Peak County, the fifth battalion's officers and fighters couldn't help but feel a sense of being abandoned and forgotten.

So this time, attacking Vernge County, the entire fifth battalion was rearing to go.

Seeing Lannis furrow his brow after receiving the order, a company commander couldn't hold back and worriedly asked, "Is the Civil Guard Officer worried we'll be at a disadvantage, telling us to regroup and wait for reinforcements?"

Other company commanders, hearing this, also showed disappointment and helplessness in their eyes.

For a city, the manpower of one battalion was still too little.

According to the original plan, if the fifth battalion could surprise and take the city gates, they would gain the main merit, and the assault on the barracks within would be the task for follow-up forces.

"No." Lannis took a deep breath, solemnly opened the saddlebag, and unfolded the brocade within.

The three company commanders of the fifth battalion and Houdel all instinctively held their breath.

Because what Lannis held was a banner, one that was originally blue but had been dyed dark red by blood, with its edges curled from being burned, and its surface battered by numerous battles. Each red stain represented a bloody fight, and each bullet hole signified a victory.

This was the Blood Wolf's banner, the sacred emblem of the New Army of Iron Peak County.

"The Blood Wolf tells us no need to wait for reinforcements." Lannis's arms trembled slightly; he gazed toward the military barracks in the center of the city, eyes burning with passion, "One strike to capture all of Artemis!"

...

When the New Army of Iron Peak County broke into the last stronghold of Vernge County's forces, an unexpected guest barged into the Thunder Group County's military camp located at the border of Maplestone City's directly governed area.

"Not letting me in?" Major Seber Carrington glared, looking past the Junior Officer on duty's shoulder, and yelled directly toward the central military tent, "Then call out Skur Meklen!"