Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1119 - 96: Monsoon (End)_6

Chapter 1119: Chapter 96: Monsoon (End)_6

The craftsmen aboard the ship, equipped with tools and materials, disembarked on several small boats to begin constructing a temporary dock for unloading cargo.

Winters was among those who disembarked.

The eldest son of Tie Chi, along with a group of noble members of the Terdon Tribe, waited respectfully for his arrival.

"I’ve returned," Winters thought to himself.

...

[At the same moment Winters set foot on the South Bank of the Ashen Stream River]

In Maplestone City, the provincial capital of the Newly Reclaimed Lands, yet another military coup was underway.

In essence, the coup in Maplestone City was a ripple caused by the "Federated Provinces’ April 1st Coup"—a massive stone thrown into turbulent waters.

However, its bloodshed far exceeded that of the coup in Guidao City.

Upon hearing news of the Federated Provinces coup, the "Palatu Government Army," originally stationed in Mirror Lake County, swiftly set out in secret to Maplestone City, launching a surprise attack on the New Reclamation Legion Headquarters.

With the help of traitors, the government army effortlessly seized the main gate of the New Reclamation Legion Headquarters—Maple Fort.

Fully armed government soldiers stormed into Maple Fort, slaughtering any New Reclamation Legion personnel who didn’t surrender immediately.

Gunfire, the clash of blades, and cannon blasts echoed throughout Maple Fort. New Reclamation Legion soldiers who rose in resistance clashed fiercely with government troops consumed by bloodlust. Screams and cries of anguish filled the air.

Inside a spacious office within Maple Fort, the Commander of the New Reclamation Legion, Major General Kevin J. Adams, sat waiting for someone to knock on his door.

Heavy footsteps penetrated the walls, echoing from the hallway.

No knock came—the door was pushed open directly, and a commanding officer strode into the office. It was Colonel Sanel, the government army commander stationed in Mirror Lake County.

Major General Adams nodded, hardly surprised.

The Kingsfort government had once sent troops to assist the New Reclamation Legion in repelling raids from the Terdon Tribe. However, after defeating the raiders, the Kingsfort troops remained stationed in Mirror Lake County, never withdrawing.

The person who followed Colonel Sanel into the office had a face very familiar to Major General Adams.

Legion Administrator, Colonel Chloe Toriel—it was he who piqued Adams’s curiosity. But now, all of the Major General’s questions had been answered.

"So it was you," Adams said with a tone of resignation.

Before the Major General could inquire further, Colonel Chloe spoke first. He licked his lips and said earnestly, "General, the wavering stance of the New Reclamation Legion can no longer continue. If war breaks out again, we will undoubtedly become sacrifices caught in the crossfire."

"Oh." Adams took a sip of his drink.

"The Kingsfort government is Palatu’s legitimate government," Chloe hesitated briefly, gritted his teeth, and said reluctantly, "This state of division cannot last forever. Ultimately, we must choose a side—and we must choose to align with the victors! Moreover... we’re far too close to Kingsfort and far too far from General Alpade—we truly have no choice!"

"Oh." General Adams took another sip of his drink.

Colonel Sanel glanced at the half-empty bottle of liquor on the table and scoffed inwardly. He interrupted Chloe coldly, saying, "It appears... you have a very clear understanding of the current situation."

Adams ignored Sanel and poured himself another drink.

"Order your subordinates to surrender, and I assure you a glorious retirement. You’ll continue to enjoy the rank and pension of a general," Colonel Sanel said with a chuckle. "You can take all the wealth you’ve accumulated over the years to Kingsfort and live as a wealthy man. This isn’t just my promise; it’s a promise from Speaker Grof Magnus."

Adams fell silent for a moment before speaking hoarsely, "My subordinates... after they surrender... don’t kill them. You’ve already won; there’s no need for further bloodshed."

"You can rest assured," Colonel Sanel replied with a smile. "We guarantee the safety of all captives; their military careers will merely come to an end. We will also guarantee your personal safety—perhaps you could..."

"Chloe Toriel," Adams interrupted, not sparing even a glance at Sanel. His fiery eyes locked onto Chloe.

Chloe visibly tensed up. "Present," he answered uneasily.

"You’re nothing but a damn fool!" Kevin J. Adams slammed the table with his fist, his face flushed with rage. "Grof Magnus is a traitor! A viper! A sellout! And yet you remain completely oblivious! Legitimate government? My ass! If, one day, Grof Magnus prevails, the Republic of Palatu will cease to exist!"

Chloe recoiled half a step, stunned by the Major General’s sudden outburst.

Colonel Sanel stepped in front of Chloe, furrowing his brows as he faced Adams directly. "General, I understand your feelings. But please, do not disgrace yourself any further—surrender, while you can still retain some dignity."

"Surrender? Surrender?! Do you think I’m a spineless traitor? You want me to kneel before the viper who betrayed Palatu?" Adams burst into laughter, his expression becoming suddenly twisted:

"My ass!!!"

With those words, Kevin J. Adams grabbed the revolver gun from his lap, shoved the barrel into his mouth, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Click."

The mechanism dropped, the wheel spun, and the flash ignited.

"Boom!"

A horrifying wound opened at the back of Major General Adams’s head, spilling viscous red and white matter across the wall behind him. His corpse slumped backward and hit the ground heavily.

The officers in the room were stunned, bewildered, glancing at each other in shock. None of them had anticipated that this "indecisive fence-sitting general" would choose such a brutal way to end his life.

Colonel Sanel wiped the blood off his face, stood silently for a moment, then removed his coat and draped it over Adams’s mangled face.

Suddenly, Chloe seemed to wake from a dream and rushed forward, frantically checking the Major General for any signs of life, as if holding onto a shred of hope that Adams might survive.

But soon, he stopped his actions, for Kevin J. Adams was undoubtedly dead.

"At least he died like a soldier," Sanel commented tersely.

Hearing Sanel’s words, Chloe sprang up, delivering a punch squarely to his face.

"Died like a soldier? What the hell would you know?" Chloe shouted furiously as other officers scrambled to hold him back. "With Adams dead, every single officer of the New Reclamation Legion—every single one—now has a reason to rebel! The Newly Reclaimed Lands will drown in blood!"

At that moment, a thunderclap exploded across the sky.

Massive raindrops began falling across Maple Fort, Maplestone City, the Newly Reclaimed Lands, Palatu, and every corner of the Lacenas Alliance’s territory.

Rain was falling—or no, not just rain, the monsoon had arrived!

Palatu’s farmers had already sown their seeds, waiting for the monsoon to bring forth new life;

On the opposite shore of the ocean, ships laden with silk and spices were ready to set sail, carried by its winds.

The monsoon had arrived, bringing rain, bringing life, bringing new hope.

(End of the Volume)