Castle of Black Iron

Previously, Zhang Tie had dreamed of sitting in a car numerous times, however, he had never imagined that the first car he sat in would belong to the Norman Empire's Iron-Horn Army.

As the head of the prison of Blackhot City, Captain Quin owned a private car - a 'Mountain Cat' SUV produced by the Norman Empire. Compared to the common steam-driven vehicles in the market, 'Mountain Cat' SUV had a higher chassis, stronger off-road performance, and stronger driving force.

Although also being driven by steam power, military vehicles had better configurations and performances than common civilian vehicles. The steam power units equipped on this 'Mountain Cat' could allow this vehicle to maintain a speed of 80 km/h even in the wild.

Previously, Captain Quin was worried that Zhang Tie would seek a chance to escape or to bring him trouble, however, after entering the SUV, he found that Zhang Tie's whole attention was put on the vehicle to the point of even ignoring him.

As time passed by, the two people in the car got more acquainted with each other. Captain Quin even swore at Zhang Tie 'Blackhot City's being rustic numerous times, gradually loosening his alert.

'How can such a guy be an enemy and a potential insurrectionist?" Captain Quin started to doubt the crime laid at Zhang Tie's feet. 'This guy doesn't look like he's hostile to the Norman Empire.'

Though based on Zhang Tie's age and looks, Captain Quin was really confused as why Battle God would choose him.

'Iron-Blood Hidden Strength! Less than 1 out of 100 elite soldiers of the Iron-Horn Army can form it. How could this rusty Blackhot City form it?'

Captain Quin started to sigh inside as he really couldn't understand it.

Could it be the favor of the Battle God?

Captain Quin was at a loss.

...

Zhang Tie was driven directly to the place where the Headquarters of No. 39 Division under the flagship of the Iron-Horn Army was located in Blackhot City. Two months ago, this place was the general headquarters of the City Guard.

The military residence was strictly defended. There were dozens of various vehicles parked outside. Besides these iron and steel beasts, there were many iron-horn beasts that Zhang Tie had witnessed several week ago in the Crescent Prairie. Of course, the most numerous guardians here were soldiers of the Norman Empire in dark red military uniforms.

Captain Quin parked his vehicle directly outside the entrance of the headquarters' building. He then jumped off and greeted a second lieutenant who was standing next to the building. After exchanging for a short while in quiet voices, the lieutenant cast a glance at Zhang Tie and quickly left. In less than half a minute, that second lieutenant came back together with four tough looking soldiers. After handing Zhang Tie over to them, Captain Quin left.

Soon after, Zhang Tie was escorted by the four tough looking soldiers and the second lieutenant into a cell marked with words Interrogation Room on floor one of a building beside the headquarters.

After closing the iron gate of the Interrogation Room, the four soldiers stood outside, leaving Zhang Tie alone in the cell.

No matter what, the environment here was a hundred times better than in the black cell of that smelly underground floor 3.

The sunlightt came in through a narrow window two meters off the ground. Standing under it, Zhang Tie kept his eyes closed and head raised up. He seemed to be enjoying calmly basking in the warm rays of the sun.

If everything went well, the mixed division of 25 thousand people led by Colonel Leibniz under the flagship of the Norman Empire's Iron-Horn Army would be stationed in Blackhot City. Was that the prelude to the chaotic world that Zerom had mentioned?

Thinking of his parents' terrified expressions when he was taken away yesterday, Zhang Tie felt painful inside once again.

...

When Captain Quin returned to the prison of Blackhot City, he found several new faces, one among which was a bastard of the Military Administration of Blackhot City, while the others were from the Scouts Camp. The bastard from the Military Administration looked embarrassed while the guys from the Scouts Camp looked infuriated.

At the sight of Captain Quin, the newcomers hurriedly saluted him.

'What are they doing in my place?'

Because of Zhang Tie's affair, Captain Quin didn't look good. So he asked without any emotion, "What's up?"

"Sorry to bother you, Captain Quin, yesterday, the Military Administration had someone escort a Chinese youth called Zhang Tie here. There might be a misunderstanding, so we come here to take him away!"

Saying this, the second lieutenant took out the authorization certificate signed by the Military Administration and gave it to Captain Quin.

"Sorry, this person is not in the prison any more!" Captain Quin said without any mood to be bothered anymore.

"What? Is he dead?"

A young soldier of Scouts Camp moved one step forward, almost falling down onto the ground. Talking with a superior at such a short distance was forbidden under normal circumstances. However, this time, looking at this emotional young soldier who even had a wound on his leg, Captain Quin didn't care about his move and asked out of curiosity, "Do you know each other?"

Seemingly having realized his rudeness, Salvey became a bit more clear-minded. "Sir, that youth saved my life several days ago. Because I was carrying out a task at that time, I didn't have a chance to thank him. However, when I visited his home today, I was told he was set up and sent to the prison..." Salvey briefly explained what had happened.

"Is the brat in the headquarter?"

"Yes, he is!"

...

Colonel Leibniz found this story very interesting: a youth who was born and grew up in a remote place like Blackhot City could gain the attention of the Battle God and became close with people in his division. The entire affair was funny. When he went back to Nordinburg, he would definitely use this as a good topic. The noble women in Nordinburg greatly enjoyed listening to these kinds of interesting stories full of legendary events in remote places. Thinking of this, Colonel Leibniz picked himself up from his chair and said, "Let's go for a look!"

Several minutes later, he met Zhang Tie.

In Zhang Tie's eyes, this was a 50-odd year man with a big abdomen, half gray hair, and a mustache, wearing a military uniform.

Colonel Leibniz only asked Zhang Tie one question. "Tell me, how could you ignite three burning points and form the Iron-Blood hidden strength in two months?"

This question was very straightforward. When Zhang Tie was chased down by the wild wolves and jumped into the black hole, he was only a LV 1 warrior. Nobody knew when he had ignited his Shrine burning point. Therefore, the only fact that could be certified was that Zhang Tie had ignited three burning points and improved by three levels in two months.

Knowing that he would face this question sooner or later, Zhang Tie had long prepared his answer.

"When I started the loner's survival training, I had already almost ignited the second burning point. On the fifth day since I started my loners' survival training, it rained heavily in the Wild Wolf Valley. When I hid from the rain, I was struck by a lightning bolt.

"After waking up, I found that I could ignite my burning points faster than before, while also having a greater strength. Besides, I could improve the Iron-Blood Fist that I had been cultivating at much quicker pace!"

Zhang Tie's answer made Colonel Leibniz very satisfied. In his eyes, the only reasonable explanation for Zhang Tie's affair would be related to the series of physical mutations and weird abilities after being struck by a lightning bolt.

This was not rare. In medicine, those guys having weird abilities after being struck by a lightning bolt even had an exclusive appellation - Post-Lightning Stroke Savant Syndrome!

Colonel Leibniz felt that Zhang Tie's reply made the story that he was going to to tell even more interesting. Although a low proportion of people could form Iron-Blood hidden strength, across the entire No. 39 Division, there were still roughly 200 soldiers who had formed it. So it was not that exceptional for Zhang Tie to form Iron-Blood hidden strength.

A LV 4 warrior, even if having experienced something strange and formed Iron-Blood hidden strength, would still not be able to attract the attention of Colonel Leibniz, so the colonel didn't really favor him because he had formed Blood-Iron hidden strength at such a young age. However, in the entire Norman Empire's army, no commander or general would refuse having one more soldier being favored and looked upon by the Battle God.

"Lucky brat, I declare that you have been recruited by the Norman Empire's Iron-Horn Army. According to the laws of the Norman Empire, you've become a member of the No. 39 Division.

"In the Norman Empire's army, all the lucky dogs favored by the Battle God will start their brilliant service career from the rank of second lieutenant. Therefore, you are now the youngest second lieutenant of No. 39 Division..."

Colonel Leibniz felt that he had really come up with a great idea, which could make his story in Nordinburg even more splendid and attractive. Besides, it could make him greater in the eyes of the noblewomen and prevent others from finding faults in him.

After talking to Zhang Tie, he turned his head and ordered his adviser, "You, take him to finish the entry formalities in the afternoon. Send him to the Iron-Blood Camp and find some tough guys for him. Don't let this brat die in his first battle!"

Finished, Colonel Leibniz didn't care about Zhang Tie's dumbfounded look and turned, intending to leave. However, when he arrived at the door, he seemed to have thought of something since he turned back and asked, "Oh, lucky brat, what's your name?"

"Zhang Tie..."

Colonel Leibniz then mumbled his name twice, seemingly intending to remember it.

The colonel went far off in the distance, but Zhang Tie was still stunned. Second lieutenant, he had become a second lieutenant of the Norman Empire...

Cough... Cough...

Upon hearing the coughs of the adviser left by Colonel Leibniz, Zhang Tie recovered his composure.