Iron Powder and Spellcaster

On the winding dirt road, two riders were galloping, kicking up smoke and dust.

The rider behind suddenly slowed down, and the rider in front noticed something strange and reined in his horse.

The rider behind simply dismounted, took an unnatural step, and led the horse to catch up with the rider in front: Oh, my lord, I really can't ride anymore. Let's take a rest. I'm like this My butt now hurts as if it had been stabbed with a red-hot iron rod, and a layer of flesh has been worn away from my thighs.”

You lazy fool, where is there any place for you to rest in this wilderness? The rider in front scolded his valet: Stop dawdling, I will let you rest enough when we get back to the manor. Hurry up and get on your horse, we will do it before dark Gotta go home.”

The old servant heard the loose attitude in his master's words and complained while the iron was hot: Master, we are all here. Even if we walk, we can definitely get home before dark. I really can't ride anymore. Ouch, my ass, It really hurts... How about you ride the horse and leave first, and I'll walk back slowly?

Hey, you lazy idiot. Pork served Kalman loyally as a valet for more than 20 years, and the two of them went from good young men to half-old men with gray temples. Although Kalman, the owner of Red Pine Manor, lectured, his attitude had softened: Look at this wilderness, where do you want to rest?

The old servant Po Ke was overjoyed and pointed from a distance: Look at the smoke behind the woods over there. It must be some hunting master resting. Let's go and beg for a drink of water. Maybe you can reward me with meat.

You guys, are you greedy for meat? Did I treat you badly? Kalman scolded with a smile.

The old servant Bo Ke realized that he had let something slip. He looked at him and clapped his chest to confirm: Let's go and ask for a drink of water. After asking for a drink of water, we will go home and won't stop for a second.

After walking through the woods to where the green smoke was rising, the master and servant realized that they had made a big mistake.

In a small clearing between the woods and the creek, several large vehicles formed a circle around the campfire. There were several people wrapped in cloaks and lying on the ground beside the campfire, taking a nap.

There were two iron pots on the campfire, cooking something. The smoke that the master and servant saw came from here.

It seems like this is an ordinary convoy, but the problem is not that, but the people around the campfire.

The people walking around in this small camp were all strong men with sailor scimitars. Several spears and muskets stood casually beside the car, and the dark red blood on the spear tips had not yet been wiped dry.

Judging from the way Kalman dressed: these people are damn pirates.

The Red Sulfur Island Council tacitly allowed the pirates to sell their stolen goods, and everyone tacitly understood this. The pirates' loot brought prosperity to Red Sulfur Island, but the island residents also suffered greatly from the pirates.

Pirates are mostly outlaws, and of course they don't mind doing side jobs on land if conditions permit. Moreover, after committing a crime on land, you can directly board a boat and escape, which is most convenient.

Murder cases occur frequently on Chiliu Island, and nine out of ten cases are unsolved. However, the residents of the island know very well that the murderer is a god-killed pirate.

The council has repeatedly declared that it will crack down on vicious crimes committed by outsiders on the island. However, the pirates could not grab those high-ranking committee members. On the contrary, selling stolen goods for pirates can make them a lot of money. Therefore, the banditry problem on Red Sulfur Island has never been solved.

But now, the pirates have marched into Chiliu Island openly, making the civilians on the island even more frightened.

Pork's face turned pale with fright, and Kalman glared at his old servant fiercely, telling him to be silent and leave quietly.

However, it was too late. The pirates in the camp had already discovered the master and servant.

Hey! Stop! Someone in the camp shouted at the master and servant.

Kalman jumped on the saddle, stabbed the horse in the ribs, and was in the woods in the blink of an eye. But Pork's skills were not as strong as his master's. His movements were a little slower, and another person rushed out from behind and grabbed the reins of his mount.

The rest of the camp immediately gathered around them, and those who had been napping the first thing they did when they woke up was reach for their weapons.

Kalman, who had already run some distance away, saw the old servant being caught. He turned his horse around helplessly and turned back.

Seeing that he could no longer leave, Kalman simply dismounted and said loudly: We are just passers-by, here to ask for a drink.

Another pirate took the reins from his hand and pushed Kalman to Pork. A group of pirates vaguely surrounded the master and servant.

The pirates ignored him. A tall pirate severely reprimanded the pirate who caught Pork: Why did you send the whistle? Everyone touched the edge of the camp!

The scolded pirate hung his head in shame.

Upon seeing this, Kalman secretly guessed that the tall pirate should be the leader of the group, so he mustered up the courage to say to the tall pirate: We are just passers-by, looking for a drink of water. We don't mean to disturb you, please let us go.

The tall pirate looked at Kalman deeply, turned around and walked towards the campfire without saying a word, motioning for the two of them to follow.

Pork was so frightened that his whole body trembled, his jaw clenched tightly, and the muscles on his cheeks bulged out.

Kalman patted the old servant on the back and comforted: It's okay.

Master, I'm sorry, I won't be greedy anymore. Poke finally couldn't hold it any longer and cried with snot and tears.

The master and servant were coerced into the camp surrounded by carts. A toothless pirate who ran down from the car saw the master and servant, and walked up to the tall pirate with a fierce look in his eyes and made a chop gesture.

Without comment, the tall pirate bent down and picked up two cups from the campfire and handed them to the two of them.

What...what do you mean by this? Kalman was a little dizzy.

Aren't you asking for water?

Oh, thank you, thank you. After thanking him repeatedly, Kalman took the cup, but did not dare to drink it. But the old servant Poke, who was frightened to death, took the cup and drank it in one go.

Who are you? the tall pirate asked expressionlessly.

Passers-by. Kalman replied cautiously: We are just farmers nearby.

Do farmers also have horses to ride on? The tall pirate smiled half-heartedly.

We are... rich farmers with a little more land. Seeing that the other party did not seem to be bloodthirsty, Kalman gritted his teeth and asked, Who are you?

Me? The tall pirate smiled: I am the food collection team under Captain Kidd.

The tension eased slightly, and Kalman's thinking ability gradually recovered. He instinctively tried to get more information from the physical characteristics of the pirate leader in front of him.

Although there was some black ash on his face, judging from his voice, this man was very young. His hands were slender and clean, a pair of hands that had not been damaged by rough work. And his teeth, skin, body shape... If the toothless pirate is what a pirate should look like, then this young man doesn't look like a pirate at all, but more like a monk.

The key point is his eyes, which are a pair of cold and deep eyes.

Looking into each other's eyes, Kalman avoided the other person's gaze and explained to himself: If he didn't have any skills, would he be able to become a pirate leader at such a young age?

Both Kalman and Bok lowered their heads under each other's scrutinizing gaze, just when Kalman had the courage to say something.

You go. The pirate leader waved his hand to his men: Let them go.

The other pirates seemed reluctant, but after hearing the young pirate's order, they still handed the reins back to the master and servant and made way for them.

Kalman mounted the horse in disbelief, hurriedly took off his hat to the pirate leader, and led his old servant away like a desperate rush. The master and the servant looked back while running, for fear of being pursued by soldiers behind them.

I know what you are worried about. After watching the two strangers walk away, the pirate leader said to his men: But we are not pirates.

…

Kalman didn't even dare to slow down his horse with Pork, and desperately urged the horse to rush back to the Red Pine Manor.

He strictly ordered his old servant not to tell anyone what happened today. Looking at Poke's frightened appearance, even if he didn't give the order, Poke didn't dare to tell anyone.

The gentle Mrs. Kalman noticed that her husband was worried after returning home, but Kalman refused to say anything, so she asked no more questions.

But even after returning home, the feeling that his life was in the hands of others still frightened Klarman. He called the captain of the manor guard, asked him if there was anything special happening near the manor recently, and repeatedly told him to be wary of pirates recently.

The guard captain said yes, but in his heart he didn't quite agree. The pirates were just robberies at best and would never have the guts to attack guarded plantations.

The sky gradually turned completely dark, and the Red Pine Manor also fell into sleep.

After finding his matchlock gun and dagger and cleaning them, Klarman blew out the candle and climbed into bed.

Why did you turn the gun out again? Mrs. Klarman said uneasily. She couldn't help but ask: What happened to you today? You were restless after you came back.

I met the council's food collection team today. The food collection team is full of pirates. Karaman sighed: There is a war outside, and our home is no longer safe.

Sleep, sleep. Mrs. Karaman didn't know what to do, so she could only hold her husband's hand and fall asleep.

But Mrs. Karaman in her sleep didn't know that a small group of people was lurking outside the Red Pine Manor, waiting to attack.

Originally, in the opinion of the three warrant officers, the plantation owners were one of the two pillars of the federation. The plantations must have high walls and deep ditches outside, elite private soldiers inside, and were heavily guarded and impregnable.

But judging from the intelligence brought back by Bud and Andre, who were responsible for the reconnaissance, the defense of this plantation was simply vulnerable. The weak defense force even made the three warrant officers think it was ridiculous.

The outer wall was a wooden fence less than one person high, and Bud and Andre failed to count the sixth armed guard.

Winters led the remnants of Veneta's soldiers to ambush outside the manor for a long time without waiting for the patrol. The night guard seemed to have only one dog.

I don't think there are night patrols here. Andre said in a low voice: There are only five guards, and he can't even arrange a night shift.

Winters also didn't expect that the famous plantation's defenses were so lax. Fortunately, he had painstakingly formulated a detailed raid plan. He only found it irritating and funny.

Let's do it. Winters warned one last time: The plan remains unchanged. If anyone resists, kill them on the spot. But the garden owner and his family must survive.

Bard shot an arrow tied with poisonous flesh at the night guard.

The night guard barked a few times and then enjoyed the feast.

After a while.

The night guard of Red Pine Manor is still alive and kicking.

Andre suppressed his voice and scolded Gold angrily: [Mood particle expletive], didn't you say this trick is particularly effective?

It works! It's true! But I have always used poisonous rat poison before, and I have never used poisonous mushrooms. Gold replied aggrievedly.

Andre turned his gun to Bud again: What's going on? Didn't you say those mushrooms are very poisonous?

Bard sighed, stood up, opened his bow like the full moon, and knocked down the night guard of Red Pine Manor with one arrow.

Wouldn't it be over if we did this earlier? Andre said angrily: What are we doing lying on the ground for so long?

Aren't you going to use poison? Get down to business quickly. Winters said helplessly: Don't let anyone go.

Bud led people to guard outside to prevent anyone from escaping. Winters and Andre led the remaining people into the guard's residence.

After neatly disposing of the five guards, the Veneta soldiers lit torches and broke into the main house with open fire.

Kalman was awakened by the footsteps downstairs, but before he could make any move, the bedroom door was kicked open, and several people carrying machetes and torches broke in.

The fire glare made Kalman unable to open his eyes, but the other party laughed and shouted: Sir, what a coincidence, the sparrow that was let go flew back into our hands again.

…

Kalman, the owner of Red Pine Manor, was brought to Winters and glared at the pirate leader in front of him. Kalman asked angrily: You followed me here, right?

Winters shook his head: No, we were originally going to find the owner of Red Pine Manor.

It turns out that our family is in doom. Kalman seemed to have lost all his strength, and he looked much older: Money, jewelry, food, you can take whatever you want, but please don't hurt my family.

No, I'm not here to rob. Winters put the machete back into its sheath: You're a doctor, right? I'm here to ask you to save people, and I also want to ask you about something. To satisfy my two needs Request that nothing will happen to your family, your estate, and your money.”

There are many good doctors in Red Sulfur Port, why do you come to me? I am a manor owner in a remote place, what can you ask me about? You... Kalman suddenly figured it out, with a sea blue accent that didn't look like a pirate's. He understood the strange appearance and the strange food collection team, he understood everything.

Kalman's eyes widened, his pupils shrank, and his trembling right hand pointed at Winters' nose: You...you...you are from Veneta...you are an officer from Veneta...

Winters nodded slightly: Grand Veneta Legion, Chief Battalion, Centurion of the First Hundred, Winters Montagne. Nice to meet you, Doctor Kalman.

Thank you to the book friends who have voted for recommendation before. Thank you to book friends writersblocks, I don’t know what they are called, and Yuan Hongjian for their recommendation votes. Thank you all.