"I didn't expect that the City Lord's Mansion has been transformed into this."
In the dim sight like an attic, Duan Qing's figure became clearer in the gradually lighting up lights. He looked at the figure standing in the depths of the dim space, facing him at this time.
The familiar yet unfamiliar figure's eyes gradually became calmer: "When we came to this place, there didn't seem to be a second floor in this hall, right?"
"Yes." Nodding his head, the black figure replied in a fair and confident voice: "It's just that the outer wall at that time was not demolished, and the stairs leading to the second floor were not here.
"
"Oh? Why is that so?"
"Because the previous city lord valued appearance very much."
Without showing the slightest irritation to these irrelevant questions raised by Duan Qing, the figure standing opposite the bench explained in a low voice with his hands behind his hands: "Since this is the hall where people from the Twelve Thrones visit,
, insignificant things naturally cannot exist, and the structure here is what was left from the founding of Freedom City, how can it be easily changed."
"But there are no such reasons now." He spread out one of his arms and gestured in the direction of the hall where Duan Qing and Duan Qing had just come: "The former Twelve Thrones have ceased to exist in name only.
The position is no longer of any use, so no one cares about the appearance and future of this city main hall now."
"So you demolished these walls yourself and built these steps?" Duan Qing pointed at the dividing line between the second-floor attic and the first-floor hall, which was showing signs of being broken.
The look on his face became weird when he asked: "Is it necessary to be so violent?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't do those things." As if he mentioned something unpleasant, the voice of the black figure standing by the bench became heavy and serious: "It was a few gangsters who came to attack.
I just didn’t repair the traces left when I was the City Lord’s Mansion, but used local materials and piled stone bricks down from here.”
"Attackers." So Duan Qing sighed and turned around, looking in the direction where the two people came from: "As the supreme ruler of the Free City, the city's defense is so sparse. It's no wonder that there are attackers looking for themselves.
We came to the door, and we didn’t even meet a single guard when we came here—did you arrange it like this on purpose?”
"No, there are not many guards in the City Lord's Mansion now." The black shadow answered in a deeper voice: "Since the last Molnar incident happened, the City Lord's Mansion has lost its Lord -"
"There aren't many followers here anymore."
As the other party's words fell, dusk slowly fell to the horizon formed by the endless plains and mountains outside the city lord's palace. At the same time, the light here was completely brought into the deep darkness. Every bit of everything in this attic area
The lights also began to gradually light up, illuminating the small space without decoration and the black shadow walking towards the two of them - still the shapely and strong warrior figure, still the same shape.
He looked fully armored, and the resolute face belonging to Reiner did not seem to have changed much during the time Duan Qing left. Even the light in the eyes that looked at him did not change.
There were no emotional fluctuations because of Duan Qing's continuous questions: "Yes, they left on their own."
"In a free city that respects the strong, there will never be any sympathy for bereaved dogs." Still with his hands behind his back, Reiner replied in a low voice: "Sympathy and pity are for those who live here.
The most rude and rude treatment to people, if it were me, I would make such a choice."
"But, but..." After hesitating for a moment, Duan Qing finally asked: "But you are undoubtedly a strong man, even now that you have lost your position as the city lord, you are still in the city.
Of those candidates for the throne who have done evil things, none of them should be your opponent now, right?"
"Strength in strength does not mean strength in the heart. Among the candidates for the Twelve Thrones, I am already an undoubted loser." Shaking his head, Reiner took the lead in moving toward the attic-like building.
He turned around and walked away from the depths of the small space: "Take the lead in breaking the selection rules, destroying the position of city lord that has been passed down for nearly a thousand years, and trying to hide it from everyone, without any intention of repenting until he was finally exposed..."
"I am not qualified to continue to serve as the city lord." He took out his throne orb, which was supposed to be full of powerful energy, but was now dull.
There was also a bit more bitterness: "Not to mention the Libra throne, which represents justice and judgment."
"I can understand your reasons." Duan Qing, who touched the back of his head and thought about it for a while, still tried to persuade and comfort the other person: "But I think those secular mortals should not think so much like me.
But I still value your strength."
"I, Reiner, didn't have many followers to begin with. Even in the past, people who didn't catch my eye were not worthy of being part of my subordinates." Regaining his determination, Reiner waved his hand in a low voice: "
Since there were no burdens in the first place, and now there are naturally no worries, this is undoubtedly the most suitable ending for me who once judged everything and now has become a sinner."
"But the Free City doesn't want to see this."
Replacing the voice Duan Qing wanted to make just now, Xue Ling Huan Bing, who was standing aside, shook his head and replied: "There will eventually be conflicts between the laws of the heart and the laws of the world. Your current choice may not be the one in the City of Freedom.
The choice that most people want to see, not to mention that now that the Free City is suffering from internal and external troubles, and many people are dying - do you want to watch this city that you previously protected and inherited gradually enter destruction?
?”
"..."
Looking steadily at Xue Ling Huan Bing's face, Reiner, who had his hands behind his hands, did not make a sound for a long time. His face, which seemed to be thinking about something, suddenly became serious after a period of thinking, and he turned towards the place where he was located.
Outside the window on the side of the attic: "It should be up to the owners of Liberty City to decide the future of Liberty City on their own, not the so-called city lord——"
"You, as the current city lord, must be aware of the current situation in the Free City." Xue Ling Huan Bing glanced at Duan Qing, stretched out her hand to press her chest, and took a step forward: "Fighting, killing, chaos,
And death - these scenes are being played out again and again now, and they have never stopped since we came here. Don't you feel sad about this?"
"These are the rules of this city. They are the rules that everyone who comes to this city has understood and recognized from the beginning." Reiner looked out the window and shook his head and replied: "The strong one
Life, the weak will die - since they are not qualified to survive in this city, then they will naturally make a choice that is more suitable for them like me."
"The founders of the City of Freedom yearn for freedom, but they would never want to see such development in this city!" Xue Ling Huanbing's face tilted forward seemed to become more excited: "They
They must still hope that this city can become a place of hope for their descendants to prosper! Rather than a dead city! Don’t you think so?”
"Even so, I don't have much ability to change everything now." Retracting his gaze, Reiner turned his back in response to Snow Spirit Huanbing's scolding: "The candidate for the throne has lost his
If I am not qualified, I lose the qualification to rule the Free City, and as a lonely person who no one will listen to, what can I do for this city?"
"Of course you can do it."
Duan Qing, who stopped Xue Ling Huan Bing from moving forward, stretched out his hand and smiled in a low voice: "Even if you are alone, even if you are a sinner who wants to accuse yourself, if you want to do something,
After all, you have your own way."
"We adventurers have racked our brains and used all our methods to get here all the way." He smiled as if he was mocking himself, and then he set his eyes on Xueling Huanbing beside him: "
If you don’t have strength, rely on your brain; if you don’t have brains, rely on connections—as long as you have confidence and determination, you can always come up with a solution.”
"From the first time I saw you, I have understood your true nature." There was a nostalgic light in his eyes, and Reiner's nostalgic gaze then fell on a certain window sill in the city's main hall.
: "Did you also come here with such confidence and determination at that time?"
"I'm glad you still remember these." Duan Qing, who understood what the other party was referring to and looked back at the window, smiled sheepishly: "It's better to say that you still remember these things. It's really a bit surprising.
I’m flattered.”
"Although I don't know why your appearance has changed, I can still recognize you."
The body sat back on the bench, and the armor on Reiner's body also made a slight metal collision sound as he returned to his sitting posture: "Being able to meet again after so long after the Star of Molnar happened.
As for you, I also want to thank fate for its blessing."
"We are very touched by Your Excellency's trust." Duan Qing smiled rather sheepishly, and then lowered his head deeply: "As long as Your Excellency does not hold a grudge about this matter."
"If I were still resentful, I would not agree to the previous lady's proposal."
Hinting at the fact that Code Whisper Ninglan had come once before, Reiner then gestured towards the simple seats directly opposite him: "Then let's talk about it, what exactly is your so-called 'method'?"
"The darkness coming from this city is now mostly caused by the restorationists and the mysterious forces behind them." Duan Qing sat down on one of the seats according to the other party's instructions, and there seemed to be a hint of excitement in Duan Qing's voice when he answered.
Deliberately suppressing the tone: "Other candidates for the throne may also have the intention of killing and making decisive decisions, but they are the main ones who provoke conflicts, and -"
"Rondore is back."
He pointed out the window, into the darkness that once again shrouded the city: "And he came back with a large number of people."
"...Is this serious?"
Powerful coercion flashed over the armored warrior, and Reiner's brows gradually rose with his trembling voice: "He... actually dares to come back?"
"I guess I don't need to explain him and the forces behind him." He nodded his head and let out two wry smiles. Duan Qing's eyes also retracted as he stopped his hands: "With this
With this guy’s help, the restorationists’ speed and progress in infiltrating the City of Freedom will definitely be much faster this time.”
"As a sinner, I may not be qualified to influence the future of the Free City." His eyebrows gradually closed together, and Reiner's tone began to be filled with murderous intent: "But Rondoll - his crime has not yet been judged.
, he must pay the price for everything he has done before and now."
"The problem now is their purpose." Enduring the trembling feeling caused by the close pressure, Duan Qing continued with a wry smile: "Just like what we have done here before, if we can figure out their purpose
and plan, our next response will become easier.”
"We once got some information from Tania - or prophecies, which revealed to us some destiny that can be explored." Having said this, the gray-robed magician looked at Reiner with an inquiring look: "
If you are really unable to help, can you agree to our other request and introduce us to the history and detailed background of Liberty City?"
"The history and background of Freedom City?" Reiner opened his eyes again, with a bit of confusion in his eyes: "Why do you want to know this?"
"You must have heard of the prophecy that spread throughout the Free Continent." Pointing to his ear, Duan Qing gestured with a smile: "The 'four stars' and 'four stars' mentioned in that prophecy
'Emperor' - we counted all the countries and regions on the Free Continent, and finally set our sights on the Free City."
"The person who can be called an 'emperor' now only has the position of 'city lord'."
The atmosphere began to become quiet with the appearance of these words, and finally began to dissipate along with Duan Qing's actions of not speaking anymore and Reiner's silence, until the lights illuminating this small space began to flicker, and the two players began to
When he became restless, the figure of the warrior in front of him, who was folding his arms and lost in thought, finally had his own answer: "Although I don't know why you care so much about what the 'Four Emperors' refer to, but the Free City
The current city lord should not be part of it."
"But there has indeed been an emperor in the history of the Free City." He stood up and replied in a low voice: "To be precise, there is an emperor, or a dynasty, in the inheritance of the Free City.
."
"His name is Roderick."
His eyes fell on the window on the other side of the city lord's palace, which was now reflected on the surface of the endless sea in the deep dark night. The warrior with a complicated expression said in a low voice.
This chapter has been completed!