Without White Eagle's generous introduction, Winters probably wouldn't have connected Paul Wooper with the famous Mayor of Steel Castle.

Because the latter had a face that indulged in hedonism and overindulgence: his skin was sallow, his eyes were red, and dark purple pimples spread around his nose and lips.

From the looks of it, the mayor seems to be in his early forties, but his actual age may be much younger. Drinking and sex have emptied his body, causing him to age prematurely.

But having said that, it doesn't surprise Winters at all that White Eagle can form a deep personal relationship with such a person.

After Mayor Paul Wooper entered, he first walked around accompanied by Bai Ying, chatting and socializing with other guests.

After saying hello, Paul Wooper approached the corner where Colonel Berne, Winters and the old blacksmiths were.

Paul Wooper walked cautiously, as if he was afraid of falling at any time. Under the solemn velvet coat, his two thick legs wrapped in fashionable light-colored stockings moved reluctantly.

"Your Excellency, Mayor." Colonel Bern greeted him proactively.

"Oh, Colonel, you're here too." Paul Wooper tried his best to smile and muttered vaguely: "That's great."

Old man Schmid waited for a while before stretching out his hand and saying in a lukewarm tone: "Mayor Wupper."

Paul Wooper's face was filled with a flattering smile, and he hurriedly stretched out his hand: "Why don't you call me Paul like before? Dad Schmid."

Winters saw the rough, dark, scarred hand and the white, plump, clean hand briefly holding each other's hands, and then quickly separated.

Now that Schmid had expressed his stance, the other old blacksmiths did not embarrass Mayor Wupper. Some said hello, some shook hands, and some, like the one-eyed blacksmith, just nodded their heads and said hello.

Paul Wooper wanted to chat a few more words, but Schmid did not give him a chance to ramble, and directly asked the question that everyone was most concerned about: "How do you plan to solve the trade ban, Mr. Mayor?"

Paul Wooper's expression became a little stiff and he hesitated: "Didn't you and I talk before?"

"We talked, but you didn't make any promises, any promises that I can believe in, Mr. Mayor!" Schmid showed no mercy.

"As you know, non-intervention in the Civil War in Plato is a formal resolution of the Upper House." Paul Wooper's eyes dodge: "Although Solingen is called an autonomous state and Steel Castle is called a municipality, we are part of Monta after all.

You must obey the laws of the republic."

"! When will those knee-less cowards from the Horn Castle be able to take control of Solingen?" the one-eyed old blacksmith yelled: "Go to Parliament? A circus of federal provincials! Their laws are nothing! Has the Parliament passed it? Damn it!"

Has Parliament passed it?”

The one-eyed old blacksmith used a very vulgar swear word for Monta, which literally meant. Winters didn't understand it at first, but based on the context, he felt that the one-eyed old blacksmith was scolding the people of the Horn Fort for being soft-headed.

Another old blacksmith also said coldly: "After all, if the halberd is in someone else's hand, of course they can take whatever they want."

Paul Wooper wiped the sweat from his forehead and cast a look at Colonel Berne asking for help: "

"Everyone, the legions of the Republic are not used to deal with its own people." Colonel Berne cleared his throat: "In any case, the states have enjoyed peace for two generations, haven't they? There is no longer compulsory military service, no more exorbitant taxes. How many times?

Comparing the army to weapons in the hands of robbers really makes me a little sad."

The one-eyed old blacksmith snorted and stopped cursing.

"The ban is only a weapons ban." Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, Paul Wooper quickly added: "The export of other goods is not restricted, and business can still be done normally."

It was okay if Paul Wooper didn't speak, but when he spoke he once again aroused the anger of several old blacksmiths.

"Does a bar of iron count as a weapon? Does a steel pancake count as a weapon? Isn't iron material also subject to the ban?" The old man with a hoarse voice slammed his wine glass on the table: "I don't sell Plato people here.

Don’t even think about shipping out weapons and other goods! Or when did the Platuan people become particularly tolerant, and I don’t know?”

"The Platuan people will always use our iron tools, so it is impossible to block the Jinliu River forever. If that doesn't work, we can still take the land route..."

"Going by land? Where?" The one-eyed old blacksmith interrupted Mayor Wooper rudely: "To the east? To Varn? To the north? To the Empire? Or to the west? To do business with the barbarians in the wasteland?"

Paul Wooper's tone sounded like he was begging for mercy, and even Winters could see that he was already exhausted: "There are also moral considerations for not getting involved in the Plato civil war. Earning bloody money from the allies will destroy Steel Castle."

Goodwill and damage to long-term interests.”

"Morality?" The questioning voice was as harsh as glass shards in the throat, sharper than a dagger: "The Federation prohibits us from selling weapons, so what are they doing? Our forges are as cold as ice cellars, and the chimneys of the Victory Arsenal

But they are spitting out black clouds. They are working day and night to build weapons and prepare to sell them to the Platoans for a huge profit!"

Winters' memories were triggered by the "Victory Arsenal", and he recalled the fire that skyrocketed in the Guitucheng port area that night: Did the federal province rebuild the Victory Arsenal?

Paul Wooper had nothing to say. He glanced at the audience secretly. Except for a few old blacksmiths, only Colonel Berne and the colonel's adjutant were the only ones whose eyes barely stayed on Winters.

Seeing that there were no outsiders present, the dignified Mayor of Steel Castle grimaced and defended himself in a low voice: "The decree signed directly by the Upper House does not mean that it can be lifted by lifting it. I have already sent people to the Horn Castle to protest against Father Schmid...Mr.

Everyone, the most important thing right now is the general election. Only if I am still the mayor of Steel Castle, am I qualified to continue negotiating with the Great Council to safeguard the interests of Steel Castle."

"So, gentlemen." Paul Wooper looked at the old blacksmiths expectantly: "Can I get your support?"

Several old blacksmiths looked at Schmid in unison.

Old man Schmid gave an ambiguous answer with a straight face: "Every forge master will ultimately support the person they think is most suitable."

"The forge continues to burn out." The one-eyed old blacksmith continued with grief, anger and sarcasm: "Who knows whether our forge will be ours in the future?"

Paul Wooper could hardly hide his disappointment. He licked his lips and comforted several old blacksmiths in a low voice: "There is always a way and we will solve the problem for everyone..."

After speaking, Paul Wooper also felt that the atmosphere was too bad and it was useless to continue chatting. So he found an excuse and planned to escape from the small circle of old blacksmiths.

It happened that Colonel Berne also wanted to discuss the winter training with Mayor Wooper, so he left with Paul Wooper.

Winters memorized the faces and information of the old blacksmiths for the last time, greeted the old men politely, and left naturally.

Colonel Bern obviously wanted to discuss business with Mayor Wooper, so Winters couldn't follow him. He originally planned to go find Carman and Anna, but unexpectedly found Carlo Ed waving to him.

"Do you know Colonel Berne?" Mr. Ed asked slightly surprised.

Winters replied: "I just learned the name today."

"How is that..."

"It's a long story." Winters explained succinctly: "Colonel Berne regarded me as an envoy of the military government of Plato. Who is he?"

"Colonel Bern?"

"right."

"The top military leader of Solingen State, a war hero, has served in overseas colonies. It is said that with his qualifications and merits, he should have received the general's baton long ago, but I don't know why he is still a colonel. He commands two infantrymen of the Eighth Army

The brigade is located on the outskirts of Steel Fort." The old partner of Navarre Trading Company added: "The relationship between Monta Army and the United Provinces is inextricably linked, so we generally do not take the initiative to approach Monta officers."

Winters thought of the colonel's undisguised hostility to the United Provinces and Veneta: "I can probably guess why Colonel Berne is not General Berne yet."

"Why?"

"He hates the Venetians."

Mr. Ed looked calm: "General attitude."

"He still hates the people from the United Provinces."

Mr. Ed looked sideways at the guests in the hall: "Nearly all the Monta people you can see at the moment are like this."

"He hates it so openly."

"I see." Mr. Ed said, stroking his hands, "Then I won't be surprised that the colonel can't become a general."

Winters wanted to laugh but couldn't. He sighed: "You invited me here to introduce me to the seller?"

"No, it's not an introduction." Carlo Aide explained calmly: "Bai Ying said that he will send the seller to you. He hopes that you can make a business, but the specific terms still need to be discussed with the seller in person.

discuss."

"Send it to me? How do you send it to me?"

Mr. Ed summoned a servant of the Esther family, gave the latter a few brief instructions, turned to Winters and said, "Please follow him, Your Excellency."

"Am I alone?"

Valley/span>A smile appeared on Carlo Aide's ravaged face: "It is not convenient for Madam to show up on such an occasion."

"Please help me call Father Carman over."

…

The servants of the Esther family led Winters and Kaman out of the hall, passed through a corridor that exuded a delicate fragrance, and came to the small living room on the north side of the mansion.

The servant asked Winters and Carman to wait in the small parlor, then walked backwards out of the door.

"The Flora people always amaze me with their wastefulness." Winters sniffed the fragrance in the air: "The corridors are also incense-scented? Are the spices free of charge?"

In winter, ventilation is poor, and the smell in crowded places is inevitably turbid. In order to solve this problem, incense burners were placed throughout the halls of Mansion d'Este to continuously release a special light fragrance into the air.

What surprised Winters was that White Eagle actually used incense in corridors, small living rooms and other places where there were no people around.

"Aren't you very happy chatting with me?" Kaman asked angrily: "Why did you ask me to come here?"

"In fact, I didn't say a word just now." Winters said seriously: "The most important thing in a drama is the ending, so I am still a baron now, and you are still my personal priest."

Kaman didn't answer the phone at all.

"So..." Winters kicked Kaman: "Get up quickly and stand behind me. How can I sit down and you sit down too?"

Kaman was furious, but finally stood behind Winters.

"Don't be angry, it's just a disguise." Winters picked up the apple on the small table and handed it to Kaman: "Here, here's it for you."

Kaman took the apple and threw it at Winters with his backhand.

"If you don't want to eat it, don't eat it. Why waste it?" Winters caught the apple deftly and put it back on the small table.

The waiting time was always long. Winters leaned on the bench and asked Kaman casually: "Father, can I ask you a question?"
To be continued...