Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 938 - 29 Non-Existent Record

Chapter 938 -29 Non-Existent Record

Republic of Palatu

Jiangbei Province

Somewhere in the garrison of a patrolling cavalry squadron

The captain of the cavalry squadron, Lorenzo Dan, was rubbing his thumb over the pass, inconspicuously scrutinizing the scriptural signature in the middle of the sheepskin document, trying to spot anything amiss.

The script signature was brief—[Alpad Duyome].

The officer providing the pass claimed to be “Colonel Alec,” who sat opposite at the desk.

Though still maintaining a polite smile, it was clear from the movements of his fingertips and legs that he was becoming impatient.

“It doesn’t look fake,” Captain Lorenzo thought. He had seen General Alpad’s signature before, as there was an identical one on his own appointment document.

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But as for the seal—he couldn’t help touching it—he’d never seen a real one, therefore he couldn’t distinguish a fake.

Captain Lorenzo stole a glance at the officer, then swiftly returned his gaze to the pass, and asked with utmost respect, “You…you’re crossing the Border River, sir?”

“Yes,” the colonel replied politely but coldly.

Lorenzo felt a slight irritation at the other’s demeanor.

“Hmph, he’s definitely genuine,” he thought angrily while trying to maintain a smile, “A fake couldn’t possibly be this annoying.”

A brief explanation is needed here: the current Third Republic army officer, Lieutenant Lorenzo Dan, was but a common citizen half a year ago—he was one of the many junior officers appointed during the last recruitment wave.

The process was quite simple: his father generously donated two hundred horses plus a significant sum of cash to the military government; Lorenzo Dan was thus transformed from the youngest son of a manor lord, tending to fighting cocks and dogs, into a genuine army captain.

Fate, however, is often disappointing.

Although he had received an appointment signed by Alpad Duyome himself, once Lorenzo Dan truly joined the military, he found he was still considered inferior and faced exclusion everywhere.

Academy-educated officers scorned their new colleagues, not even bothering to hide their disdain.

When the newly-minted officers excitedly and nervously entered the officers’ club at Oak Forest Fortress, the old officers moved out without a word, and immediately founded a new club—enterable only with the Land Academy graduate ring.

After such incidents repeated several times, just seeing the “courteous smile” of an orthodox officer made Lorenzo Dan feel humiliated.

Therefore, upon seeing the familiar smile on the other’s face, Captain Lorenzo was certain that the officer before him was undoubtedly a “Herder”—the nickname given by the new officers to academy-graduate officers.

The young attendant standing behind the officer was definitely a Herder, too, Lorenzo could tell, even though he was not in military attire.

“He looks younger than me; probably hasn’t even grown full facial hair,” Lorenzo thought enviously as he continued evaluating the young attendant, who took the initiative to speak.

“May I ask,” the young attendant inquired politely, “Is there a problem?”

Lorenzo was slightly flustered. He had many grievances, but tried his best not to show them: “Well…”

What’s the problem?

A merchant caravan heading to Herders’ land is problematic in its own right!

Despite the de facto division of the Republic of Palatu, both the Red Rose and the Blue Rose had wholly adopted the First Republic’s policies towards the Herder tribes.

The blockade order was still in effect, smuggling was still a crime starting with hanging.

Legally, Captain Lorenzo should arrest the two men immediately. If they resisted, lethal force was warranted.

But…even during the strictest blockades, even when there was only one Republic on this land, caravans traveling between Palatu and the Herder tribes had never truly vanished.

The stricter the blockade, the greater the smuggling profits; the more intense the embargo, the larger the trading margins.

Possessing a pass signed by certain big shots would allow unobstructed travel at the border—this was an unspoken secret within the Palatu military-political system.

Although Lieutenant Lorenzo Dan was inexperienced, he had long known the rules of the game from his elders.

“Excuse me, is there any problem?” the young attendant patiently inquired again.

The officer, who claimed to be Colonel Alec, appeared at ease, letting the attendant speak for him.

“Well…” Captain Lorenzo swallowed, picking a trivial suspicion, “Why are there injured people in the convoy? Seems there are even disabled individuals?”

The young attendant pondered for a moment, then replied, “We encountered some bandits on the way.”

“Oh, I see, I see,” Lorenzo said with feigned concern, “There’s a good doctor in the nearby town; I’ll send for him right away.”

The brow of the young attendant furrowed slightly, then relaxed, “Thank you for your kindness, the wounded have been properly attended to.”

Lorenzo tore off a slip of paper and, as he wrote, earnestly inquired, “What about medicine? Do you have enough supplies?”

The young attendant shared a look with the officer, who nodded with a smile.

The young attendant nodded slightly in acknowledgment, “Thank you, it’s sufficient.”

Lorenzo handed back the freshly written note along with the pass, promising with a pat on his chest, “There are gangs of robbers also on the other side of the Border River. If you need it, I can assign some men to escort you, ensuring the convoy’s safety all the way.”

The young attendant glanced over the note, which turned out to be an additional pass written in the name of Lorenzo.

“People below might not recognize General Alpad’s pass,” Lorenzo eagerly explained, “So I’ve written this note too, take it with you just in case, to avoid any mishaps.”