Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 956 - 35: The Hunt (Six)

Chapter 956 -35: The Hunt (Six)

The new hunting attire with narrow sleeves and a short jacket, silver-bottomed with red edges, was finely crafted and used quality materials, but Winters found it a bit ill-fitting when he put it on.

Perhaps because the tailor hoped that the wearer would eat well, sleep well, and gain some weight, the hunting attire was made a bit too loose.

However, Winters hadn’t been eating or sleeping well for quite a long time. So compared to when he had just returned from the Great Wilderness, he had actually lost more weight.

“Hm.” Anna looked at Winters with puzzlement, standing close at one moment and far away the next, even circling around Winters several times.

Finally, Anna came to a conclusion and asked with a light smile, “Why do I feel like you’ve become a little more ‘handsome’ since we first met?”

Winters didn’t take it seriously since, in Sea Blue, his counterparts were peers dressed up like beautiful butterflies; whereas in Paratu, most of the men around him were rough and unrefined.

“Just a little bit?” Winters tugged at the hem of his clothes and jokingly countered, “What about compared to Colonel Moritz?”

Anna carefully smoothed out the wrinkles on Winters’ shoulder, half teasing, half defiantly, “He doesn’t have your aura.”

“…Thank you.”

Anna returned to the inner chamber and soon came out again, holding a “folding board” with excitement.

Seeing the board in Anna’s arms, Winters immediately guessed what Lady Navarre intended to do.

Winters took four or five steps back, knocking over several items, “Next time! Is next time okay? Give me a little more time, at least let me know in advance so I can prepare mentally!”

“Next time? You’ve only modeled for me once, and that was in Sea Blue!” Anna was already in the zone, “Don’t look at me, turn your head a little; put your right hand inside your pocket, and don’t move. Hm, the light is a bit dim. Can we open the skylight?”

…

To allow Anna to record her inspiration any time and anywhere, Winters personally crafted a set of portable drawing tools modeled after the structure of atlas collections.

Although the issue with paints wasn’t resolved, Anna treasured them and couldn’t put them down.

Trudging along the way and recording their journey, Winters’ mailbox was filled with Anna’s drawings: the starry sky, the cold and silent wilderness, antelopes leaping high, the profile of a warrior staring at the campfire…

The people involved—including Anna herself—had not yet realized that they were creating history.

When Anna faced the rising sun, fully engrossed in outlining the contours of the land, Anna Navarre became the first recorded painter to enter the Great Wilderness for inspiration and left behind her artwork.

…

Suddenly, it became very lively outside the felt tent, with people shouting and laughing.

“I’ll go check it out!” Seeing a golden opportunity, Winters dashed out of the tent and deliberately asked loudly, “Who’s making noise?”

Of course, it was Little Lion.

Upon discovering that Winters had made an effort to bathe and change his clothes, Little Lion was elated, “Did you already know?”

“Know what?” Winters was clueless.

Before Little Lion could explain, Vashka dragged someone right in front of Winters.

“Centurion!” Vashka’s joy was overflowing as he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Look who’s back!”

When Winters finally recognized the face of the person Vashka was pulling, he was equally surprised, “Bell?!”

“Yes!” Bell grinned, tears swirling in his eyes, “It’s me!”

“Why the tears?” Winters hugged the young hunter tightly and ruffled his hair with emotion, “You’ve grown too much! I almost didn’t recognize you! How’s the little guy?”

After the Great Wilderness campaign, Brother Reed, Bell, and Xial planned to retrieve Winters’ body, but they ended up reuniting with a still-living Winters instead. When Winters returned to Paratu, Bell chose to remain in the wilderness to continue studying how to become a [Beast Spirit Speaker] with the great Shaman.

Compared to when they had parted, Bell had grown at least an inch taller now. He was not only nearing Winters’ height, but his physique was visibly more robust. Although he had not completely shed the immaturity of his youth, he was no longer the “little hunter,” but a genuine “Hunter.”

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“The little guy is at the northern camp. I didn’t dare bring him over, afraid of startling the horses,” Bell reported the good news quickly through his tears, “You’ll definitely be surprised! The little guy is now a big guy! When he stands up, he’s taller than a horse…”

Since Winters did not allow Bell to name the young lion, the club had simply called him “little guy.” As time passed, the young lion unexpectedly came to recognize “little guy” as his name, to everyone’s surprise.

Others in the camp, hearing the commotion, also gathered around one by one.

Pierre saw Bell and rushed over for a bear hug; the two were both crying and laughing.

Old soldiers who had fought in the Great Wilderness campaign also came forward to embrace Bell—Bell had been Winters’ messenger, and there wasn’t an old subordinate of Winters who didn’t know the young hunter.

Comrades who had faced life and death together were now reunited, and everyone had thousands of words they wanted to say to each other. In the end, they just shook each other’s hands and silently patted each other’s shoulders.

Even old Sergei, who considered himself to have a heart of stone, witnessing this scene, cursed and walked off to a secluded spot, secretly wiping his eyes.

“I won’t disturb your reunion,” Little Lion said, feeling a bit uncomfortable as an outsider and giving a few words of instruction before attempting to leave, “Montaigne, I’ll come find you tomorrow; remember to prepare in advance.”

“Wait.” Winters hurriedly stopped Little Lion, “What are you talking about?”

“What else could it be? Of course, it’s tomorrow’s hunt!” Little Lion looked Winters up and down in his hunting gear, surprised, and asked: “You didn’t know? Then why did you get ready so formally in advance?”

The camp was in disarray, so Winters pulled Little Lion into the tent.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Winters said bluntly. “So I hope you can explain it from the beginning.”

“Didn’t anyone tell you? My elder brother wants to invite you to join tomorrow’s hunt,” Little Lion said with a laugh and a cry: “Seeing how you’re dressed, I thought you already knew!”

Winters’ brows furrowed slightly: “A hunt by the Red River Tribe, can an outsider like me participate?”

“If I have to say, normally only members of the tribe join the hunt. But why is it ‘the Red River Tribe’s’ hunt?” Little Lion said with ease: “You are an honored guest of the Red River Tribe. When White Lion issues an invitation, others have no say to disagree.”

…

“The situation is like this.” Winters gathered his subordinates and explained briefly: “The Red River Tribe has invited us to join tomorrow’s hunt.”

The temporary meeting place became silent, everyone was somewhat surprised.

Vashka, who always spoke his mind, asked in disbelief: “Does that mean… we can enter that hunting circle?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Old Sergei quickly made his son shut up and covered for Winters: “The barbarians are inviting the Civil Guard Officer! Not us. How could they allow us to go in?”

…

In reality, at the time when Little Lion came to invite Winters, the Iron Peak County Delegation was packing up, preparing to go home.

Winters came to the Red River Tribe expecting difficult negotiations, only for the most important goal of the trip (exchange of prisoners) to be achieved smoothly in an unexpected manner.

The remaining two minor goals: the trade route and the iron mine, were assigned to two Archery Officers by White Lion.

The Red River Tribe’s Archery Officers were enthusiastic about the trade route, but only showed lukewarm interest in the potential iron mines. They promised to provide Winters with ore samples, politely declining Winters’ offer for “on-site exploration help.”

Since the goals were accomplished, Winters had no intention of staying longer — he was eager to dig for gold.

A few days ago, when digging for gold, Winters had nearly turned that valley upside down. The nights are long and filled with dreams; who knows if any Herders might by chance discover the newly-disturbed soil hiding the gold? Sooner it is unearthed, the safer it is.

Thus, as soon as he returned to the camp from Qiuqiu, Winters told his subordinates, “Rest well tonight, we set out tomorrow.”

Some of the quicker delegation members had to pack the things they had just unloaded from the carriages back in, while Little Lion arrived while they were busy.

…

“Then, do you want to participate?” Pierre asked calmly.

Winters looked towards the direction of Qiuqiu.

As dusk fell, the hunters guarding the felt walls lit torches. Winters couldn’t see the scene inside the hunt circle, but the rising and falling wails of the beasts grew clearer.

“I don’t plan to participate,” Winters answered.

“Oh,” Vashka sounded disappointed, and the others could hardly hide their disappointment.

It seemed a pity to miss out on such a magnificent event, to only observe and not to participate, leaving everyone feeling a bit empty inside.

Seeing the heartbroken look in his subordinates’ eyes, Winters sighed: “If you guys want to join, then I’ll accept Little Lion’s invitation. According to him, if I enter the hunting ground, you can join as my guards.”

The members of the delegation suddenly revived, their faces flushed with excitement, breathing more rapidly.

Vashka became stuttering in his speech: “Really really real… really?”

Old Sergei could no longer maintain his lesson to his son, and although he was trying to maintain formalities, Old Dusack could no longer suppress his excitement: “Can we really join? Sir?”

“Of course,” Winters said with a carefree smile, yet with a touch of regret: “We probably won’t have the chance to see such a spectacular hunt again in the future. If you want to have some fun… go have fun. Just remember, we are outsiders and should not cause conflict with the Red River hunters.”

Everyone cheered with joy.

“Can only bows be used? Are firearms allowed?” Vashka asked excitedly: “What should I do if I can’t use a bow and arrow…”

Meanwhile, a veteran from Wolf Town seized the moment to begin telling the story of “Blood Wolf Hunting the Bear” in the crowd.

“That’s nonsense!” Old Sergei scolded.

“Why do you say it’s nonsense?” the storyteller took offense.

“When Civil Guard Officer Montaigne hunted a bear, I was right there! How do I not remember you being there?” Old Sergei boasted with pride: “Let me tell you all, it actually went like this…”

Amidst the noisy recollection, anticipation, and joking, Winters quietly left the temporary meeting area.

“It’s a rare opportunity.” Anna caught up to him from behind, holding onto Winters’ arm, and asked softly: “Why don’t you want to go?”

“I’m too lazy,” Winters replied with a smile. “I don’t like hunting.”

The night grew deeper, Qiuqiu disappeared into the darkness, and the carefully prepared stage of the Red River Tribe was about to witness the final performance.