The train, which looked like a mysterious giant reptile, slowly drove into the dual-purpose military and civilian train station in Binglin City. Because it was past midnight, the buildings on the edge of the city looked particularly cold, without much of a human atmosphere.
The rapid train whistle only rang for a few seconds and then stopped completely. The passengers who had finished packing and saluted got off the train one by one and walked to their respective destinations. Then they slowly moved towards the back of the station. The end of the track was deeper, darker, and more claustrophobic.
area to drive to.
After resting for almost two hours, Duck still felt a little weak. After walking only a few steps with a heavy military backpack on his back, he was panting, his head was swollen, and his heart was aching.
As a last resort, I had to wink at Wulfya, who was carrying relatively little luggage, and signal for help.
With a helpless chuckle, Wofya did not hesitate, picked up her backpack with one hand, slung it over her shoulder, and walked in front of Duck.
This is Binglin City, the capital of the Crusad Federation. It is also the capital of the Crusad Empire, a great country with a strong military, prosperous science and technology, extraordinary diffusion, and flourishing culture hundreds of years ago that has been operating for thousands of years.
Although the ground of the military train station is made of ordinary cement, it appears to be extremely solid. It is not as full of damage, cracks, and traces of blue and scarlet that are difficult to erase like other strongholds.
Although the time was very close to Christmas for the Orthodox bishops of the Federation's mainstream faith, the temperature was freezing and there had only been a few appalling heavy snowfalls.
However, there is not much white style in the entire city. Instead, it is dominated by black with a strong sense of technology. The platform where the two men stand, including Duck, is very clean. It seems that it has undergone several rigorous cleanings, and there is no strange smell at all.
As he walked, Duck looked up at this tall, majestic and majestic train platform. It was past twelve o'clock, and the cold air flow met the warm city. There was gray mist everywhere. Even if he opened his eyes wide, he still couldn't see further.
.
The military train platform retains many of Crusted's ancient styles, including the purple-gleaming station sign, the double-headed eagle sculpture, and the round, full ceiling.
Moreover, the bright, incandescent electric lights were still running smoothly. Even though Duck and Wulfya were the last two people to leave the platform, they were not turned off, as if they were providing the final guidance for the confused humans in the long night.
Since the New Year, with the proliferation of "unintentional people" and the lost, the nights in the imperial capital have become silent and dark as a rule. Except for today, there are still three days until January 7, the Orthodox Christmas Day. Even though the war situation is still relatively tense,
The entire capital is already filled with a festive atmosphere in advance.
"Wovya, I heard that Christmas in the capital is grand every year, right?" Dak asked with interest while walking on the cold streets illuminated by colorful street lights.
"That's natural." Wulfya said proudly:
"Brother Dak, you must know that your eldest brother and I can go to the capital for vacation every year. Unlike you, we have to fight endlessly with the Lost and extraordinary monsters. But then again..." Wulfya put down Dak's hand.
He carried a heavy backpack, moved his wrists, and then said:
"This year's ceremony was grand and interesting."
"Ceremony?" Duck asked.
"Isn't it?" Wofya smiled and glanced at Duck, as if looking at a country bumpkin coming in from a remote village. "There is a 'Christmas celebration ceremony' every year. It seems you really don't care.
Life. Anyway, the people from the 'Strategy Group' have said that after today's report, we will have a holiday until two weeks after Christmas. There are no training tasks, so I have to take advantage of this time to show you the world."
"Wulfya, rather than seeing the world, I'm more curious about the interesting contents of the Christmas celebration ceremony...?" Dak opened his eyes wide and looked at Wulfya with gray eyes, his face full of anticipation.
"Um, specifically." Wulfya replied while thinking:
"The St. Ivan Cathedral in the capital will hold chants to the Lord and God, as well as 'pay tribute to all living things' and other activities. Our federal chief executive will ride a chariot around the capital and then deliver a speech at the entrance of the Federal Parliament Building
There are also various celebrations throughout the day, such as 'Mask Play', 'Praise Ceremony', 'Fire Festival', etc. But the most interesting thing is at night, when countless fireworks will be lit.
It’s blooming in the sky. It’s so interesting.”
"Fireworks, there will be fireworks." Dak looked up at the sky, imagining the majestic, magnificent and wonderful scene of countless fireworks blooming, and couldn't help but reveal an innocent smile from the bottom of his heart.
But immediately, he lowered his head and sighed softly:
"If I remember correctly, the Federation promulgated the "Explosives Control Regulations" around the 100th year of the New Era. One of the most important provisions is the prohibition of setting off fireworks at night. It is said that excessive explosion sound and light stimulation will cause
Attracting invasion by 'unintentional people', they are very sensitive to stimuli such as sound."
"Don't worry." Wulfya said with a proud smile:
"My old friend in the urban happiness group under the ruling coalition has long told me that this year is different from previous years. After the old chief executive stepped down, the new chief executive is a man of his word. Even if the fireworks attract unintentional people,
'Invasion, we also have enough artillery shells to destroy them."
As he spoke, Wulfya involuntarily raised her head and chest, and clenched her right hand into a fist, as if she was ready to give the "unintentional man" a fatal blow at any time.
The two of them stayed on the empty street for a short time. After their physical strength recovered and their fatigue was reduced, Duck followed Wofya's footsteps and headed towards their destination.
Binglin City, the capital of the Crusted Federation, is very large. Especially before the New Year, as the capital of the empire, it once had a population of at least 15 million people. The city was originally built as a stronghold to resist the Dragon Clan, but as the empire's territory changed from
A corner of Iceland Province leads to the Ice River, through the Great Wasteland, to Ewentlai, and all the way to the easternmost sea. The status of the capital has gradually changed from a purely military role to a political, economic and cultural center.
During the Third Era, especially the era known as the "Glory of the Double-Headed Eagle" ruled by Yin Fan 22nd, endless railways were built in all directions with Binglin City as the center. For example: Crossing the Extreme Cold
territory, reaching the "North Area 1 Line" of the empire's highest latitude city, Demonic City; crossing the river, passing through the prosperous province of North Karlov District, and arriving at the "North Area 2 Line" of Harift Port; and the "North Area 2 Line" that is still in use today
It travels through the Great Wilderness area, passing through Icefield City, North Uhata City, Hoptov City, Far East City, and directly to the "big railway" in Nebsk.
No matter which country they come to, humans will be amazed by its powerful industrial construction capabilities and steampunk-style cities.
Unfortunately, due to the spread of "careless people", the capital has gradually returned to its original function, serving as a stronghold to fight against the invasion of the "wave of careless people".
However, this city built on a tributary of the Northern Mamouse River is located in a small plain. To the north is the Arctic forest that is in a state of semi-ice and snow all year round. To the south is sporadic hilly land. To the east is a small desert and desolate area.
It can be considered that the North and South Karloff District and Koenig Province, which are at war with the "unintentional people" and the Lost, can be taken forward, and one-third of the land in Binglin Province can be defended by retreating.
The administrative divisions of Binglin City, the federal capital, are not simple. Because it was late at night, even though the street decorations were extremely gorgeous and brightly lit, there were very few people walking on the streets.
At this time, the capital's subways, trams and for-profit carriages are not available on the streets, so Dak and Wovya can only go there on foot.
In an hour, they traveled from the southern district where the military train station was located, through the originally prosperous Ice Dragon District and Searing District, and finally arrived at their destination near a few old buildings on the edge of the military-controlled area.
The federal arms control areas are mainly military camps, military factories and military training areas, and most of the strategic regiments and their subordinate departments are located here.
Due to its special nature, Duck observed that this area looked even more desolate and dark, with no extra light except for a few lighting lamps standing high up.
Most of the people who live and work here are federal soldiers and military factory workers. Different from the complicated personnel in other areas, most of the people here have been strictly screened and reviewed, and there are not many bad deeds, let alone those from several prosperous commercial districts in the capital.
Those gang members fight, brawl, and kill like that.
Walking among the spacious, cold streets that smelled of gunpowder and gunpowder smoke, Duck noticed an inexplicable sense of depression, which was completely different from what he felt in the military zone of Mayang City.
While walking silently, he heard the sound of rapid footsteps. He looked up and saw a "person" with the size of a boy wearing a dark black cloak rushing towards him, passing him by and almost hitting him.
The "man" was very polite. He stopped, took off his hoodie slightly, gave a half-bow, and apologized to Duck:
"I'm sorry, sir. I was in a hurry."
After that, without waiting for Dak's reaction, he covered himself tightly again, quickened his pace, and left the place.
"What a strange child, coming here so late." Dak said, looked at Wulfya and asked:
"Speaking of Wofya, do the Capital Strategy Corps often send children on missions?"
"Oh, maybe, but they should be superpowers. After all, according to the "Successor Protection Regulations", at least in the capital, human children will not perform any production or military tasks. Their job is to study hard and exercise.
Until they reach adulthood at the age of 16. However... it seems that the rules are rules, and when it comes to enforcement, it is not the same thing. But the bottom line of protecting them from being infected by the 'unintentional virus' can still be observed," Wofya explained.
road.
"Could it be... that it's the Lost Child?" Dak murmured to himself, guessing.
For a moment, the appearance of the young man he had just seen appeared in his mind. His face was young, fair, and slightly malnourished. He had blond hair and a pair of blue eyes, emitting an almost mechanical light.
His lips were white, the bridge of his nose was high, and his face was slightly red. It seemed that... there was an unclear mark near his ear.
"I seem to have seen this kid somewhere." Dark thought.
However, within a few seconds, a magnificent ten-story building appeared not far from the two of them.
Duck subconsciously looked at the metal sign posted on the wall near the iron gate in front of him. The red Krusted text on the gold background showed that their destination had been reached.
"The location of the Cruzeid Federal Strategic Group." Dak whispered.