Iron Powder and Spellcaster

[Hailan Suburbs]

[Manor Navarre]

Unlike the sweltering City of La Mer, Navarre Manor located on the outskirts of the city is pleasant and cool.

The man-made garden surrounding the main house isolates it from the heat and restlessness. The evening breeze blows and makes a rustling sound. It is still a quiet and peaceful scene of the old days - except for the mercenaries hired to guard the manor.

The deterioration of the security situation in Hailan City has also changed the lives of the wealthy people living in suburban manors.

Some families dug out the weapons and armor from the bottom of their boxes and began to arm their servants and clerks to protect themselves; some families gave up their comfortable suburban manors and chose to move back to their airtight old houses in the city.

After a rumor about a certain family in a certain place being wiped out by bandits floated into the sea, the rich became even more generous in paying people to use swords for them.

The business of the mercenary group is booming again, and the supply of mercenaries with good reputation and high skills exceeds the demand. Even the dock gangs got involved and turned into a semi-public violent rental group.

Ordinary people who don't have enough money to hire thugs to protect themselves naturally turn their anger and resentment towards the Directory and the Veneta Army, which are supposed to protect the public.

More than one representative from other cities denounced the inaction of the Directory and the Army in the Grand Council, and more than one Veneta autonomous city began to expand the city guard.

However, none of these will affect today's dinner at Navarre Manor - Mrs. Navarre set up a private banquet to entertain the business partner [Fernando Leo] who traveled thousands of miles back from Plato.

The atmosphere of the dinner was harmonious at first.

The fat Mr. Leo has always been humorous in conversation, and he vividly described what he saw and heard along the way, causing Olivia Navarre, the third daughter of the Navarre family, to cover her mouth in wonder and giggle at other times.

Even Mrs. Navarre was unknowingly attracted by Mr. Leo's story and nodded frequently.

At the dinner table, only Catherine Navarre and Mrs. Navarre's father, Mr. Dan Ola, were unmoved.

As a person who has experienced many stories, the former naturally has a kind of self-confidence of "I know more than you" when facing other people;

The latter was sitting at the head of the dining table as if no one else was around, drinking the soup that was part of every meal with concentration, as if he were a lake three feet frozen, and even the howling wind could not make waves.

However, as the conversation inevitably turned to the owner whose name cannot be mentioned in the Navarre estate, the atmosphere of the party began to become a little strange.

Finally, Olivia Navarre couldn't hold it any longer.

The girl who had just entered the social scene leaned forward with her long swan-like neck, completely unaware that her pendant had fallen into the soup plate in front of her.

Regardless of her mother's expression, she plucked up the courage to ask Mr. Leo the puzzling question:

"Why wolf? Aren't wolves bad animals? There are obviously so many good animals, including lions, eagles, whales... Why wolf? How could you call... that person a 'wolf'?"

Mr. Leo, who was sitting opposite the girl, put down the tableware, wiped his mouth, and replied seriously: "You know, Miss Olivia, Monsignor Montagne's 'honorary title' does not come from a friend, but from an enemy.

To be precise, from the Hud. In the eyes of the Hed people, wolves are not only greedy and cruel beasts, but also powerful and tough beasts. The Hed people both hate and fear wolves, so it is not difficult to understand why they gave Monsignor Montagne such an honorific title, don’t you think? "

On the other side of the table, Madame Navarre and Catherine frowned at the same time.

However, Olivia Navarre was immersed in the joy of having her curiosity satisfied, and did not feel the displeasure emanating from her mother and sister at all.

"That's it!" The girl clapped her hands happily, then asked curiously: "Then...does that person like this...this honorific title given to him by the Hud people?"

"What kind of person is Mr. Montagne? How can he care about what his defeated generals call him? Naturally, there is no question of whether he likes or dislikes him."

Mr. Leo changed the topic and said with a smile: "However, awe from enemies is usually a better indicator of a person's achievements than praise from friends. So Montagne's subordinates accepted the 'Blood Wolf' with respect. ', and this honorific has been spread since then."

Olivia suddenly understood and nodded vigorously.

Mr. Leo then emphasized: "However, on formal occasions, Monsignor Montagne chose the flying winged lion as his coat of arms and flag. This is enough to show that Monsignor Montagne has always been our Hailan people. This has never changed – even though we are thousands of miles away, we will never forget our homeland.”

The girl's eyes felt a little moist when she heard that. She suddenly put down the tableware, jumped up from her seat, and was about to run away: "Grandpa! Mom! I'm a little dizzy! Please allow me to leave! No need to serve me any more food. ! Please use it slowly! Goodbye, Uncle Leo!"

"What are you going to do?" Catherine, who was sitting next to Olivia, grabbed her sister's arm, picked up the napkin with a look of disgust, and wiped the girl's pendant stained with soup: "That's reckless. , not at all like a well-bred lady.”

"You want to control me? People who are grounded have no right to criticize me!" The girl pushed back without showing any weakness. She struggled to break free from Catherine's control and made a face at her sister: "You can continue to be grounded!"

After that, the girl pulled up her skirt, saluted the adults perfunctorily, and flew out of the hall like a gust of wind.

Just like Anna never regarded Catherine as an adult, Catherine never took Olivia seriously.

Catherine was shocked and annoyed to be contradicted by her sister in public. She looked at her mother sadly and indignantly, her delicate features shifting a little with anger: "Mom!"

Mrs. Navarre gently stirred the drink in the glass, without raising her eyelids, and asked slowly: "What?"

"You spoil Olivia too much!"

Mrs. Navarre glanced at her second daughter with her phoenix eyes and said, "I can't believe that one day, I can hear this sentence from your mouth."

One thing fell upon another, and Catherine was ashamed and angry, but unable to reply. She pursed her lips, and then looked pitifully towards the end of the long table: "Grandpa!"

The old man sitting at the head of the table slowly drank the soup in front of him, unaware that Catherine was asking for help.

Catherine simply left the table, lifted her skirt and walked up to the old man, took the old man's arm, and used all her coquettish skills: "Grandpa!"

Only then did the old man react a little, as if he had just woken up from hibernation. He glanced at Catherine with cloudy eyes and asked half asleep, "What's the matter?"

"Look at Olivia's impatience!" Catherine said angrily: "She must have gone to the little girls with her to tell some 'blood wolf anecdotes'!"

"Yes." The old man replied calmly: "Then let her go."

"But what Olivia heard was wrong at all, and what she told others must also be wrong." Catherine was so wronged that she was about to shed tears, and she glared at Mr. Leo angrily:

"Uncle Leo! That name obviously didn't come from that. Don't you know very well? Even if you are coaxing a child, you shouldn't talk nonsense! That little girl Olivia, in order to show off, will make everyone laugh when she goes out. knew!"

"The true origin of the nickname Blood Wolf is too complicated." Mr. Leo solemnly apologized: "It is troublesome to explain clearly and is not conducive to dissemination. Your Excellency Montagne needs a story that is more concise, easier to understand, and more interesting."

Mr. Leo paused for a moment, then smiled and reassured Catherine: "As for the true origin, it's good for us to know it ourselves. There is no need to let outsiders know everything."

When Mrs. Navarre heard this, she stopped stirring the silver spoon in the porcelain cup in her hand.

However, after hearing the explanation of "internal and external closeness", Catherine felt a little more balanced. But she still couldn't understand the rest of what Mr. Leo said.

"Spread?" Catherine frowned slightly.

"Yes! Spread it!" Mr. Leo glanced at Mrs. Navarre's frowning eyebrows and joked: "The Directory government openly and secretly promoted Montagne's victory. It was nothing more than trying to steal other people's tails and cover its own baldness. ladle.

They succeeded, and indeed many Venetians regarded Monsignor Montagne's illustrious record as a victory for the Directory. But the Directory also gave us the opportunity to borrow their ship to tell a story more favorable to Montagne. "

"Telling a story?" Catherine became increasingly puzzled. She carefully glanced at her mother's face - little Madame Navarre did not dare to mention someone's name in front of Madame Navarre: "What use can telling a story... to that person?"

"Of course it is useful." Mr. Leo replied calmly: "'Fame' is the best asset held by Montagne in Veneta, and it must be managed well."

It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Leo is the only person in the huge Navarre Manor who dares to say the surname "Montagne" openly in front of Mrs. Navarre, and he also dares to use the honorific title.

With a "bang" sound, Mrs. Navarre pressed the porcelain cup in her hand heavily on the dining table.

"Mr. Leo." Mrs. Navarre smiled sweetly. She looked at the fat middle-aged man carefully: "It seems that the border area really has some magic power. In a hasty move, you turned into Winters Montagne. partner."

Catherine shuddered and subconsciously sat upright with her knees up. Growing up, little Ms. Navarre was not afraid of her mother losing her temper, but she was deeply afraid of her mother smiling. She was convinced that her mother was burning with unprecedented anger at this moment, and she already wanted to run away.

"No, madam." Mr. Leo stood up, first bowed to Mr. Aura, and then faced Mrs. Navarre, and replied in an unassuming manner: "From the day you promoted me to partner, I have always been Put the interests of Navarre Trading Company first."

Mrs. Navarre's smile was even more breathtaking: "Are you implying that I have harmed the interests of the company?"

To Catherine's surprise, the good old Mr. Leo admitted bluntly: "Yes."

The temperature in the hall suddenly dropped to freezing point, and even the candles as thick as forearms became dim. Only old man Dan Ora was still drinking soup, sip after sip.

"Grandpa, I...I feel a little uncomfortable." Catherine pitifully asked her grandfather for help: "I'm going to find Olivia..."

Dan Ola lowered his eyes slightly.

Catherine immediately thought she had been given permission, stood up, saluted her mother and guests, and left the hall on tiptoe.

Madame Navarre waved her hand, and the servant quietly left.

Only Fernando Leo, old man Dan Ora and herself were left in the hall.

"Tell me." Mrs. Navarre held up the porcelain cup and her expression turned cold: "What are you dissatisfied with me about?"

"No one is dissatisfied, madam." Mr. Leo stood respectfully: "I just don't understand. Your Excellency Montagne's interests in Venetta need someone to represent you. Even if we don't come to be this agent, sooner or later there will be someone." Other firms approached you.

In the competition for this identity, Navarre Trading Company has an unshakable advantage. So we want to know, why do you have to draw a clear line with Mr. Montagne? Why give up the easy-to-get apple to others? "

"The one on the left and the one on the right are calling each other very affectionately," Madame Navarre said bitterly and sarcastically.

She frowned and said sternly: "Don't forget what he did. He brought shame to my family and made the name Navarre a laughing stock. Isn't this enough?"

"Don't forget, madam, we are businessmen." Fernando Leo straightened his back. At this moment, he was not begging Mrs. Navarre, but "looking straight" at the latter:

"Don't forget, madam, we are businessmen. Even if someone wants to buy our lives, we should ask for the price first."

He said sincerely: "Everything has a price, and reputation can also be weighed on the scales. The reason why you are so determined to draw a clear line with Mr. Montagne is far from sufficient."

Mrs. Navarre lost her mind for a moment. She picked up the cup, took a sip of the drink in the cup, and said coldly: "Even if we draw a clear line and keep things official, no one can take away the wool that Navarre Trading Company deserves." Share. So what’s the difference?”

"That's exactly the problem!" Mr. Leo looked at the old man Dan Ora, lowered his shoulders, and his posture became humble again.

Mr. Leo's tone was sincere, but his tone was extremely firm: "Originally, my thoughts were the same as Madam's, but the trip to the new land made me realize one thing - wool is just the most we can get from Monsignor Montagne. A trivial thing. To see only a monopoly on the wool trade is to break into a treasure house and sweep away a handful of dust."

The light in Fernando Leo's eyes was clearly the joy of a marksman when he foresaw that the arrow feathers about to leave the string would hit the bull's-eye.

He told the two people in front of him word by word: "The truly valuable thing! It is Winters Montagne!"

Mrs. Navarre's eyebrows trembled. She looked at her father, but got no response.

So she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she spoke again, she was more powerless than angry: "Do you really know what kind of business you want to do?"

"You can earn 30% profit by transporting wheat and olive oil in the inland sea; you can earn double the profit by selling cotton cloth and woolen materials from Palato; you can earn ten times or even twenty times the profit by going to the Far East to obtain pepper and cinnamon." Mr. Ao looked sincere: "But compared to power speculation, what is the spice trade?"

"I heard what you said, sir. I didn't expect that you looked down on him even more than I did." Mrs. Navarre smiled instead of getting angry: "Do you think that boy would be willing to be controlled by others? No, he will never be led by others. Manipulate him! There is absolutely no possibility of us manipulating him."

"It is precisely because His Excellency Winters Montagne is determined and has a strong character that we must support him even more." Mr. Leo solemnly suggested: "And we must support him regardless of the cost or return. Not only do we need to support him ourselves, but we also need to use our influence to pull other families to support him. Human, material, and financial resources, whatever he wants, we have to give him; we have to give him what he can’t think of. We need to give it to him. Give him so much, give him so much that he can’t bargain, give him so much that he can’t refuse, give him much, much more than he wants!”

Mrs. Navarre's expression was as if she was watching an absurd comedy happen to her: "No matter the cost? No questions about reward? And then wait to be exploited and kicked out?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Leo directly picked up the leftover soup from the other side, poured every drop into his plate, then placed the plate in front of Mrs. Navarre and asked:

"Madam, you can pick out the dishes; but can you still distinguish the soup?"

Mrs. Navarre instantly understood the attitude that her partner really wanted to express. She glanced at her father in shock, then stood up angrily and shouted at Leo angrily: "How presumptuous! Just because you went to Plato, I will You have to give up your family property?!"

"Money and power are two sides of the same ship. You know this better than I do." Leo bowed and saluted Mrs. Navarre, but he spoke to the old man Dan Ora: "Throughout Hailan's history, No family can hold power without money, and no family can hold on to money without power. The Navarre House of Merchant has sailed on the crest of the wave, and will either go further or be buried in the belly of the fish, nothing else There’s a way to go.”

As he said that, Leo looked at Mrs. Navarre and asked: "Family property? Madam, isn't it Miss Anna's family property? Your Excellency Aola gave his family property to you and your husband back then, and it has nothing to do with it now." What's the difference?"

Mrs. Navarre was said to be weak and could not refute for a moment. She fell back to her seat, shook her head, and said bitterly: "Winters Montagne is different from my deceased husband. You don't understand... you don't understand." What kind of river are you taking us into.”

"Madam, it was not me who brought the Navarre Trading Company into the river." A helpless smile appeared on Mr. Leo's chubby face. He gently corrected Mrs. Navarre: "It was Miss Anna."

Madame Navarre's clasped fingers grew paler.

Mr. Leo lowered his head, bent down, and earnestly advised: "Please stop deceiving yourself. Can you really sever ties with Miss Anna? Can Navarre Trading Company really draw a clear line with Miss Anna?"

There was silence in the hall.

Suddenly, there was a burp at the dinner table.

Old man Dan Ora took a long breath of contentment, put down the spoon, and wiped his mouth.

Mrs. Navarre and Fernando Leo unconsciously straightened their postures and turned their attention to the former head of the family, waiting for the latter to speak.

"When Anna was little, you always praised her for her good taste." Old man Dan Ora raised his eyelids and sighed: "Looking at it now, her taste is a bit too good."

Mrs. Navarre lowered her gaze and did not speak; Mr. Leo wanted to say something, but in the end he refrained from speaking again.

"Power is a dirty and dangerous thing, and political speculation is a high-risk business. Qualified businessmen should wisely avoid them." Dan Ola's eyes were so sharp that Leo didn't dare to raise his head. He paused for a moment and turned to The daughter said hoarsely: "But precisely because of this, in fact you have no choice. Fernando only said one thing right - can you really let go of your daughter?"

Mrs. Navarre clenched her silver teeth, her eyes were red, and she said nothing about her father's question.

Old man Dan Ola is not like the former helmsman of the family taking up the steering wheel again, but more like a father talking to his daughter: "If you can really give up the child Anna, then you can do whatever you want. Everything else is It’s not important, it’s nothing more than building a road through mountains and building a bridge across rivers. But if you can’t do it, then you can’t continue to hide your ears and steal the bell.”

Mr. Leo relaxed completely when he heard that the previous boss had set the tone. On the contrary, Mrs. Navarre's face became paler.

Dan Ola sighed longly, struggled to stand up from the table, came to his daughter's side, and held her daughter in his arms with his old and thinned arms.

Mrs. Navarre understood that the outcome could not be changed. The strong woman who had been in charge of the family for twenty years finally couldn't help it and fell into her father's arms and sobbed softly.

Dan Ora patted his daughter's back gently and said pitifully: "Where in the world are there parents who can beat their children? When you were going to marry Paganino Navarre, I couldn't beat you either. .Now, it’s your turn to grieve for your daughter.”

It took a while before Mrs. Navarre stopped sobbing. So Dan Ora let go of his daughter and returned to his seat.

Mrs. Navarre wiped her tears and fixed her makeup, while Mr. Léaud stared down at his plate the entire time.

After a while, Mrs. Navarre returned to her usual elegant demeanor. Only her bloodshot eyes proved that tears had existed.

"Just do as you wish." Mrs. Navarre's voice was as beautiful as ever: "Mr. Leo."

Fernando Leo stood up immediately: "Yes, madam."

The hall fell silent again.

After a while, Mrs. Navarre stared at the night outside the window, suddenly smiled miserably, and murmured to herself: "Can children really beat their parents every time?"

[Sorry, late]

[At the end of last month, the author experienced a return of yang. After the fever subsided and turned negative, I continued to cough. Because it is very troublesome to take X-rays in the hospital, so I just checked my blood oxygen every day with a lucky mentality. But my cough has never been good, so I finally went to take a lung X-ray, and as expected, I got infected]

[However, the author’s cough is not very severe (instead, the tinnitus has returned again (T_T)). The doctor has no good solution, so he can only give me water every day. In addition, I returned to work soon after the symptoms turned negative, so the previous few days were basically wasted in going back and forth between the hospital and the work unit, and I was unable to write an update. I’m sorry]

[I have almost no cough now, so there should be no major problem]

[We will work hard to update and try to make it up next]

[I hope everyone will be healthy this year and don’t get sick (＞人＜;) don’t get sick (＞人＜;) don’t get sick (＞人＜;)]

[Thanks to book friends for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]