Time is the most ruthless force, it never stops for anyone.

Only a few days had passed since the Night of the Fire, and the flames, riots, and attacks were already like broken bubbles. Everyone inside had witnessed its appearance and disappearance, but could not remember their exact appearance.

This is where memories diverge, and people begin to tell their own versions of the story, about the cavalry that broke the glacier, the fire tornado that devoured the church, and the conspiracy that hovered over the city.

No matter what, life will go on - even if life itself is just a journey of suffering, Steel Castle has begun to move forward.

The bloodstains in the town square were washed away, and the furniture and carriages that blocked the river were salvaged.

With the assistance of the garrison, the temporary rationing system was implemented in Steel Fort, and the shops and markets on the north bank that were less severely affected also resumed business.

Officers from the artillery section of the garrison were urgently deployed to assist city government employees in surveying and mapping the burned-out old city.

The city council urgently passed a compulsory decree: it is strictly prohibited for any citizen to rebuild houses without authorization, "violators will be severely punished", and "all reconstruction must wait until the land property rights are clarified before proceeding."

As order was restored, the garrison gradually returned control of the steel fort to the city government.

The Municipal Palace once again became the political center of Steel Castle, with news and orders sent back and forth, and an endless stream of people filing lawsuits and petitions.

The parish guild headquarters across the square from the Municipal Palace seemed much deserted - the door of this stately four-story masonry building was closed, and no cars, horses or pedestrians were seen entering or exiting.

The citizens of Steelcastle used to say that Elin Cathedral, the Municipal Palace and the parish guild headquarters symbolized the three pillars of the city - faith, power and wealth.

Today, faith has collapsed in fire and storm, and wealth has been burned in riots and fires.

Power - The Municipal Palace, which was originally in last place, rose up with the help of the power of the army and became the real master of the steel castle.

However, at this moment, inside the thick and cold stone wall of the guild headquarters, a ball of lava is brewing that may change the fate of Steel Castle.

"The fucking time has come!" Iron Hand Geisberg's roar almost broke through the door of the Arbitration Hall: "What the hell is there to do not do?! Why the hell can't I explain it to you clearly!"

Iron Hand's speech ended with a loud bang of his fist on the table and his unwilling yelling.

Then came the hoarse voice of an old man: "No matter what their intentions are, that... what the lady said is correct. The battle of Plato is not over for a day, and the embargo will still exist for another day. If Parla

The battle for Latu has been going on for ten years, how can we still go ten years without starting work?"

"Why don't we start work?" Another gloomy voice retorted: "Even if the waterway in Plato is impassable, we can still sell the goods to the Empire, or transfer them from Vann."

Iron Hand seemed to be sitting on a red-hot iron, and suddenly jumped up from the chair: "Transport from Wane? Who can afford it? We are all looking for business from the imperial guys, are you going to let us exclude ourselves? [Broken due to anger

The blacksmith’s foul language]!”

The humiliated master of the forge also got up in arms, not to be outdone, and responded with vicious Monta swear words. If the Helvetians had not had the custom of dueling, the blood of the two would have been splashed in the Arbitration Hall.

Even so, Iron Hand's sad and angry questions still echoed between the stone walls: "Why don't you understand? Why don't you understand? This is our opportunity! An opportunity to regain our strength!"

At the other end of the corridor, Winters and Anna were visiting the archives at the guild headquarters.

The "Baron and Mrs." were supposed to be waiting for the final reply from the Executive Committee in the drawing room, where the fireplace was warm and the hosts had thoughtfully prepared hot wine and pastries.

But Winters was very curious about everything about the Steel Castle Parish Headquarters and offered to visit the guild headquarters, and the host generously agreed.

The master of the forge who was assigned to lead the baron and his wife to visit stood outside the archives and proudly introduced: "Your Excellency, what you are about to see is the entire history of Steel Castle."

As the heavy oak door was pushed open, a smell of insect repellent herbs and moldy parchment spread out.

The introducer sneezed, left the lantern outside the door, covered his nose and walked to the wall, opening the sealed window. Fresh air and sunlight flowed into the room, and Winters was able to see the entire archive room clearly:

A wooden frame nearly two people high extends from the floor to the vault, and wooden frames of the same specifications fill the corridor-like file room.

The narrator's fingertips traced from in front of him to the end of the room: "From the initial charter issued by Bishop Elin to the Swordsmiths' Guild, to the contract witnessing the merger of the Swordsmiths' Guild and the Grinders' Guild, to the head office

The declaration of the founding of the guild. All the important documents of the Blacksmiths Guild and the Headquarters are here, kept in chronological order - the originals."

Winters listened and nodded.

Just looking at the way the baron was listening intently, the lecturer almost thought that the main purpose of the baron's visit to the guild headquarters today was to visit, and that the negotiation with the executive committee was just a side event.

…

About an hour ago, Baron Granach and his wife visited the Steel Castle Guild Headquarters together, and they were received by all the executive members of the Blacksmith Guild who had arrived early.

However, the next development was beyond the expectations of the executive committee members: the person who actually explained the plan to the forge masters and answered the questions was not the "reputable" Baron Granach, but the more mysterious Baroness.

At the beginning, the forge masters looked at the baroness who was too young and too beautiful with contempt, doubt and distrust.

But as the other party started talking, the atmosphere in the arbitration hall gradually became serious and heavy.

Anna first briefly analyzed the dilemma of Steel Castle:

As long as Plato's war does not end, the steel castle will only deteriorate day by day;

Even if it can persist until the end of the war, the dominance of Steel Castle will be taken over by other iron production areas;

This city prospered because of the connection of waterways, but will also perish because of the interruption of waterways.

"As long as the trade ban continues, even if we can buy all your inventory now, we will not be able to prevent the steel industry from shrinking in the future. This is reality, although it is sad, but it is bound to happen. Of course, there is always

There are some ways to circumvent the ban, such as smuggling. But if the risks are taken into account, for you, the expected return from smuggling is always... a loss."

Anna said softly: "Therefore, please do not take our offer of an olive branch seriously."

Winters' proposal has been forwarded to the Executive Committee through Councilor Servetus, and Anna does not need to elaborate on the specific plan. Anna came to the Executive Committee today not only to give an ultimatum, but also to make a last-ditch effort.

"No longer just exporting iron tools, but exporting manpower; no longer just exporting resources, but exporting technology. No longer just exporting goods, but exporting..." Anna said here, suddenly stopped, she thought

After a long time, I finally selected the most accurate ancient word: "[wealth]."

The forge masters of the blacksmith guild looked at each other, unable to understand the unfamiliar pronunciation in each other's mouths.

Anna smiled brightly and explained: "That is the sum of all movable and immovable properties."

…

The quarrels in the Arbitration Hall were clearly heard by Winters and Anna even across the corridor. The Forge Master in charge of the reception looked a little embarrassed and explained the history of Steel Castle even more diligently.

Anna got close to Winters and asked quietly with a little uneasiness and worry: "Did what I just said not be good enough? I'll try to talk to them again."

Winters patted Anna's hand on his arm. The closer to the last moment, the more relaxed he became: "Just let them fight out the results themselves."

He then joked: "But to be honest, your speech level is really not very good. If I have time, I will teach you."

Anna glared at Winters calmly.

"You act too rational, and you imagine the other person to be too rational." Winters sighed: "But you have to know that most of the time, people don't make decisions based on reason."

"Sorry." The commentator walking in front turned around and asked sheepishly: "What are you asking about?"

"Nothing." Winters asked with a smile: "I heard that the guild headquarters keeps records of all forge transfers? Are they also kept in this archives?"

"Transfer of forges?" The lecturer was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted and pointed to the wooden frame against the wall: "Oh, yes, it's here too. Just on top of that row of shelves. According to the regulations, all forges are transferred.

It must be recorded in the guild, otherwise it will not be counted."

"Can I take a look?" Winters asked.

The narrator looked troubled: "Sorry, those who are not members of the blacksmith's guild cannot view those files."

"Okay then." Winters didn't force it, and continued walking and chatting with the instructor: "I'm still a little curious, how many registered forges are there in Steel Castle now?"

"Including iron smelting furnaces, forging furnaces, and heat treatment furnaces." The commentator thought carefully: "There are probably more than four hundred."

"Has it always been this much?"

"Of course not." The guide replied with a smile: "Just a few seats at the beginning, right? Slowly more and more."

But he then added: "But in the past thirty years--in my memory, at least twenty-five years--the number of forges has not increased."

"Why?"

"Why else?" The narrator said in a rather complicated tone: "The guild no longer allows the registration of new forges."

"So that's it." Winters responded and asked with a smile: "Where should I visit next?"

…

On the other side, in the arbitration hall, the executive committee still could not reach a consensus.

"Don't just think about eating meat, but also think about the risks!" Someone advised earnestly: "Have you never thought that they might turn their backs on you? Even if they keep their promises, so what? They are just a group of Plato at best.

They're just warlords! We gave them our skills and wealth, but if they were defeated and perished, what would we do?"

"They don't want your money or your efforts. As long as you help them!" Tie Shou shouted back on the spot: "They don't even need you to help them, as long as you agree to help them!"

The other party asked back: "Isn't Churen from Chugang Castle? Not a member of Chugang Blacksmith Guild? Isn't Churen our blacksmith brother?"

Iron Hand responded sarcastically: "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I found out so late - it turns out you care so much about the paid blacksmith brothers in your workshop!"

Finally, old Schmid couldn't stand listening any more and slapped the table and yelled: "That's enough!"

Both parties to the dispute stopped talking, and the arbitration hall fell silent briefly.

Tie Shou held it in for a long time, but still couldn't help it. He stood up with support on the table, looked at the other forge owners, and gritted his teeth and said:

"I just want to say one thing to you - give up your hypocritical morals! Don't you understand? This is a profit-free business for us! We don't have to pay anything! We just need to agree to relax the guild oath.

If you set restrictions, you can get a huge industry for free - an industry that may rival Steel Castle in the future!

You keep talking about risks, risks, risks! But why don’t you think about the benefits? Think about it! Produce iron directly in Plato! Sell it to both sides of the war! You may even earn more than we did in Steel Castle! Don’t take risks,

Why should I eat the fattest and juiciest piece of meat?!"

Iron Hand looked at the executive members in front of him, was silent for a moment, and said coldly: "Even if all the blacksmiths sent die in Plato, at least we don't have to worry about how to pay them anymore, right?"
To be continued...