"you……"
Duan Qing pointed at the other party steadily for a long time, and did not say a word for a long time. It was not until the old man waved away several guards who rushed in from outside the dilapidated warehouse that he stood up with a voice that was extremely shocked: "
You, you, you... you are not dead?"
"For a person standing in front of you alive, what you just said is extremely disrespectful to me." The old man who called himself Van Gaal smiled and replied: "And...who told you about Van Gaal?
already dead?"
"..."
Duan Qing was stunned for a while with his mouth open, and then he retracted his finger: "It seems...it seems that no one really said..."
"The city lord is just missing, but he has never died."
Turning back again with his hands behind his back, the old man's voice also returned to its original indifference: "Since the incident in Lebis six years ago, the Lord of the City has disappeared from everyone's eyes. In order to make up for the name of the Free City,
In the end, Reiner chose to use a substitute..."
"Now it seems that he had already thought about today's ending at that time." The old man said with a smile: "Although the final fate... did not go as he wished."
"Lebis?"
"Yes, he is Reiner's brother."
The old businessman's voice became a little melancholy: "In that accident six years ago, Lebis was finally accused of attacking the city lord, and the person responsible for sending his brother to the guillotine at that time... was Reiner himself.
"
"But, the city lord is still alive and well?" Duan Qing pointed at the old man's face: "At least you are still alive, you, why are you..."
"Ever since that incident, Reiner felt guilty towards me."
As if unwilling to mention that incident too much, the old man waved his skinny hands: "He felt that he could not face his family or the entire city, so he put on that heavy helmet.
From then on, he never showed his true face to others. He gave up his property and devoted all his energy to the future of this city, hoping to use his own way to make up for the treasonous crimes committed by his former brothers.
"
"Look at the development of Liberty City in the past few years, his efforts have been very successful." The old man who said this looked at the black sky above the city: "But no one expected... In the end, it turned into a
A war.”
"The outcome of this war may make Reiner assume a greater sense of responsibility." Duan Qing's voice also lowered: "I already had this feeling when I met him before.
"
"This is also due to the shackles of fate." The old man with his hands behind his back smiled and turned back: "Just like Tristan...your salvation may not be a good thing for them."
"Let's not talk about how you knew my secret." Duan Qing sighed and replied: "But in the understanding of us adventurers, living is the most important thing. No matter how heavy the guilt we bear, we
I also hope that I can use the rest of my limited life to complete my future missions and responsibilities..."
"...You adventurers are indeed very strong in willpower." The old man shook his head and responded: "Unfortunately...that doesn't seem to be suitable for everyone."
"As the city lord of the Free City and the president of the Shadow Society, I'm afraid you won't understand it if you hide it so deeply." Duan Qing's eyes slowly sank: "Just like you have never understood, Reiner
The persistence has been the same these past few years.”
"...I have been watching him secretly over the years." The old man's voice did not waver at all: "Although it is in a special way, it is at least much better than an outsider who knows nothing..."
"A special way?" Duan Qing's eyes were serious: "The whispers that Reiner mentioned before...could it be your fault?"
"It's the same as the previous potion...it's just a little trick." The old man replied with a smile: "It's just that I didn't expect that he would regard those phenomena as signs that I can be resurrected."
"Now that I think about it... when we entered the city, we met you in front of the city lord's palace." Duan Qing's voice gradually became serious: "Your surveillance of us... has started since then.
?”
"Ever since you showed your interest in the City Lord, I have been paying attention to your every move." The old man looked back at Duan Qing's face with a smile: "Thank me, otherwise... If you want to see the City Lord, you have to
It would take much more time and money than it does now.”
"All our information was exposed at that time... As expected of the president of the Shadow Society, he is on the front line even for spying." Duan Qing showed a sarcastic smile: "Looking back
The time when we meet again should be when we attend the auction... You must have been staying with us as a businessman, and you are afraid that we will turn against you because of Oxon's coercion and inducement, right?"
"Although I received the reward later, at that time I helped you a lot in the name of the Garr Chamber of Commerce. In order not to expose myself, I also did a lot of other work carefully." The old man replied with a smile:
"The reason why merchants without combat effectiveness were summoned to participate in the final throne war is that Oxen must have already confirmed the fact that I was hiding in the city as a merchant. Otherwise, he would not be sure that I would not be under control.
Complete the ceremony under the circumstances..."
"Since you can't determine who I am, let's kill all the merchants." The old man smiled and lowered his head: "Even in the City of Freedom, this is already an extremely ruthless method."
"...Are you referring to the list of people participating in the auction?" Duan Qing asked in a low voice: "In that auction, we just happened to be brought in by you..."
"That grand auction did invite many unknown people to participate." The old man replied in a low voice: "Your accidental participation did attract his attention. I think it was also at that time... that he was aware of my existence.
.”
"I'm sorry for accidentally exposing you, but you don't have to send people to hunt me down, right?"
"Don't talk nonsense, we are just following you..."
"Your actions will not be of any use at all. Instead, they will only reveal your identity."
"I know this much better than you do, so I hereby solemnly declare that those who later hunted you have nothing to do with our Shadow Society..."
"Knights Templar."
Duan Qing suddenly announced the name, and once again looked at the old man's face in front of him: "These guys who also participated in the attack on me... do you know them?"
"...No, I have never heard of this name." The old man frowned and shook his head, then asked Duan Qing, "What's wrong?"
"...You must have been aware of the darkness that exists in the Free City."
Time passed for a few moments with the silence between the two people, and then returned to normal with his relaxed contemplative expression: "Although the city lord who discussed with me at the beginning was actually not you at all...
…“
"Don't underestimate Reiner's ability. He is at least the actual controller who has ruled this city for five years." The old man turned around with his hands behind his back: "He should be able to deal with things that endanger this city better than me now.
I noticed it earlier..."
"They should have deep connections with the Restorationists."
Duan Qing interrupted the other party unceremoniously: "Since they are also an organization composed of adventurers, I also got some information from their insiders, not only the Tania incident, but also the restoration
The power that emerges from within seems to have some relationship with their people..."
"The power you are referring to..." the old man asked in a low voice, "What is it?"
"Of course it's the Destiny Weaver."
Ignoring the old man's suddenly sinking eyes, Duan Qing replied calmly: "There is something called the Diskaya Alliance, and some people call it the Destiny Alliance... There should be something behind many seemingly unbelievable events on the Free Continent.
They all have their shadows. You probably don’t know about the conflict between the dead Oxon and Convina, right? Such a huge betrayal can even prevent the restorationists from detecting it. You can imagine how powerful that force is.
And know.”
"They call themselves...the controllers of destiny." Duan Qing said in a solemn voice: "Aiming to bring everything that happens on this continent into the track they want."
"……snort."
The old man with his hands behind his back gradually fell into silence, followed closely by his cold snort: "Those people who came to this city have done harassment more than once or twice. I thought they just wanted to
I wanted to plot evil here, but I didn’t expect that it would be for such a ridiculous purpose in the end..."
"Is it absurd?" Duan Qing shook his head: "Judging from the current results, this matter is not absurd at all. You, who have been watching the whole process since we entered the city, should have already
Did you notice?"
"Oxon almost succeeded."
He pointed to the far side of the Endless Bridge, the source of the tsunami that day: "No matter what Oxon's own thoughts are, the previous war has been enough to form perfect material. Many people, including you, have now
It became one of the successful products of this huge experiment.”
"...Are they coveting the origin of this world?"
After lowering his eyebrows and closing his eyes for a while, Gal finally uttered his first words after being silent for a long time: "Just like what the man who was integrated into the ritual wanted to do?"
"As long as the Molnar ceremony is successful, their goal will be achieved." Duan Qing's eyes gradually drifted to the distance of the dilapidated warehouse: "Whether it is the Free City or the Restoration... everyone is a loser in this war.
.”
"There is never a winner in a war."
Sighing deeply, the old man raised his head: "Whether it is the previous principality and empire, or the future restorers and us...win or lose is just a relative result."
"Of course we don't want this to happen again." Duan Qing stroked his chest: "Especially when the principality is so weak... We really don't want such a disaster to happen."
"...You seem to have not forgotten your mission." The old man smiled again: "Why, with such a high achievement, isn't it enough for you to let go of your previous prejudices against this city?"
"To be honest, this has nothing to do with my personal gains and losses." Duan Qing returned the same smile: "Because I have already decided on my position before you revealed your identity."
"...Because of Reiner?"
"I can't let his sacrifice go to waste."
Amidst the sound of cold wind that was still whining around them, Duan Qing slowly stood up from his original seat: "Chaos is the main theme of human nature, and the law of the jungle is completely acceptable, even if it is the rebellion that finally provoked the war.
There must be a reason that is enough to convince him to do this - everyone's choice has his own starting point, even the silver and black knight Reiner. Even at the last moment before his death, he did not give up on changing.
destiny……"
"He just wants to change his destiny."
"What he wants to change is your destiny."
Duan Qing, who walked to the door, replied softly: "He wants to use your 'rebirth' to wash away the shame engraved on himself."
"..."
"I don't know why you refuse to show up and tell the whole story."
In the dilapidated warehouse that became silent again, Duan Qing put down his raised hand: "But even now that the city is destroyed, I have no intention of blaming him. In my heart, anyone who dares to challenge himself
, even those who are able to sacrifice themselves for others...should be respected enough."
"He has already shouldered too much for this city, and has shouldered too many things that should not have been borne by him." He looked back at the old man's face: "Don't you think so, Your Excellency, City Lord?"
"……I see."
Nodding slowly, the old man walked behind Duan Qing with his hands behind his back. The silent breath that had been leaking out disappeared into the air again as he gradually bent his waist:
"Then let them go. No matter how many misunderstandings and unpleasantness happened before, I will not continue to care about it..."
"...Is that all?"
"The Free City will accept the Principality's proposal and form an alliance with the Principality."
The old man, who still had his hands behind his back, said in a calm voice: "We will fight with you against the restorationists and protect our homeland... Is this okay?"
"..."
"Alright alright."
Shaking his head helplessly, the old man walked to Duan Qing's side, and then together with him who remained silent, he looked up at the bright starry sky above the city: "On behalf of all the forces in the Free City, I would like to discuss this with the new holder of the throne, Mo Shang.
Qingshan reached an agreement."
"We will provide all our help and protection until...the Alliance of Destiny falls in front of us."
It seemed as if the air around him was stirring for a moment, and the momentum around the old man suddenly rose and fell. Then Duan Qing turned his head and responded, slowly returning to the previous calm: "How about this deal...?"
"...Really?"
"...Children are innocent."
"very good."
Looking at the other party's introverted eyes, Duan Qing finally nodded his head: "As a businessman..."
"There is nothing more reassuring than honest dealings."
This chapter has been completed!