In this season, the nights in the Holy City are cold and often accompanied by thick fog. In this season, no one wants to walk in the thick fog. But today, there are many people walking in the fog regardless of the coldness.

The loud footsteps and the scraping sound of metal spread out from the main street in waves, surprising the residents of the Holy City - because starting from last night, the Holy City, which had not changed for a long time, re-implemented a curfew. This sudden

Could the sound of footsteps herald some major event?

Through the cracks in the doors and through the window panes, the residents saw the streets full of busy figures of the Holy City Guards, who were arresting people all night long.

When the first ray of sunlight shone through the fog on the palace gate, the city gate directly east of the Holy City finally opened. Outside the city gate, stood quietly the army in a marching posture, and the black phalanx formed one after another.

One, lined up along the road, and finally disappeared into the white mist.

These troops are all the Guards that were previously deployed near the Holy Capital. They are an elite force that protects the capital of the Empire. Under the current circumstances, they are also the last unit in the Sibia Empire's military system. They are equipped with super combat effectiveness and mobility.

The army. Their appearance here not only heralds the critical situation, but also demonstrates the empire's war determination.

The lieutenant general on duty at the city gate nodded. The magician beside him fired three red light balls out of the city gate. The phalanx arrayed under the city roared and began to move forward, passing through the door opening and along the wide

Street, go directly to the huge square in front of the palace - His Majesty the Emperor has ordered that the troops about to go on the expedition will hold a pre-war military parade at the Imperial Factory Ground. This can not only boost morale, but also take this opportunity to announce to the people that the war has officially begun.

.

But it has to be said that this time the military parade is completely different from before. There are no bright flags on both sides of the street, and there are no heavy celebration bells over the city. There are no flowers, no cheers, and there are only some guard soldiers responsible for maintaining order.

On the street, people watched in silence as the Guards passed by. However, the Guards of Sbia were a very special army and were the least susceptible to the influence of the external environment. The footsteps of the soldiers were still neat and their eyes were still firm.

After the troops passed, the curfew was officially lifted, and the people of the Holy City poured out of their homes and gathered around the Palace Square. Although the security team arrested foreign spies last night, certain rumors still spread among the people, including

About the rebels, about the divine alliance and the demon alliance, and also about the physical condition of His Majesty the Emperor...

In the palace, Cohen Keda, who had not slept all night, was standing in the mist-filled small garden, deep in thought. Bai Ying sat on the small stone table next to him, unpacking the top secret documents he received one by one, and read out the contents to him.

Cohen listened—these documents were all received by the newly built communication system in the middle of the night and had just been delivered.

"...Lieutenant General Moya replied, resolutely complete the content of the Hengdao Plan. Also: the Riva rebels have launched a crazy attack across the board..." Bai Ying's voice echoed in Cohen's ears, "...General Martin Luther replied

, resolutely complete the contents of the Hengdao plan. Also: The enemy's force is fierce and large in number. There is no other way to retreat the enemy. We have decided to sacrifice ourselves so that the enemy's army cannot expand. When your Majesty comes to rescue, you don't have to take it into consideration. The first step is to annihilate the enemy's army.

One consideration standard..."

"Have the Guards assembled yet?" Cohen interrupted Bai Ying's report and asked, "When can we set off?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Guards have gathered in the square, totaling 100,000 people, and it will take half an hour." The secretary replied: "All the supplies for the army will be prepared at noon, and any shortage can be replenished on the way."

"Based on the staff's calculations, can the march time be shortened?"

"It's already the shortest marching route..." The secretary changed his tone so that his words didn't sound so heavy. "The military parade will start soon. Your Majesty should change clothes. All the officials have arrived, and so have the nobles.

Same."

"Change, all." Cohen nodded, not bothering at all, "This military parade must be handled well!"

As time went by, the thick fog that enveloped the Holy Capital finally showed signs of dissipating. However, when the officials and nobles arrived and the military parade was about to officially begin, the sun was obscured by dense clouds, and the sky was too gloomy to begin.

The brows seemed to indicate something ominous. The people who gathered around the square were whispering to each other, unable to hide their panic and anxiety.

At the edge of the reviewing stand, the Royal Military Band was ready, and Forna stood at the front in military uniform.

Amidst the sound of bright trombones, the main entrance of the palace opened, and a loud order came from the door, "His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!" The nearby Guards soldiers saluted in unison, and the noise around the square completely disappeared.

About a hundred Guardsmen wearing silver armor were divided into two teams and quickly ran out of the door, holding swords in their hands, and rushed along the carpet. When it was about to end, His Majesty the Emperor, dressed in black, walked out quickly.

Steady and fast, he was only a moment slower than the Guards soldiers running in beside him. The prince, princess, little princess and others who followed behind were simply unable to keep up with His Majesty Cohen's footsteps.

Today, His Majesty is dressed in black, with a black dress, a black iron sword, and a black cloak. Against His Majesty's stern face, he looks murderous. The only bit of silver on his body is just the embroidery of the royal emblem on his chest.

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"Stop!" the officer ordered, and the Guardsmen who ran to their positions stood quietly on both sides of the bright red carpet.

His Majesty Cohen did not stop, and stepped directly onto the reviewing stand - the commander's gaze completely accommodated the 100,000 Guardsmen in the entire square!

"Attention all - salute!" the lieutenant general on duty shouted, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

With a "boom", one hundred thousand Guards raised their weapons and shouted in unison, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

The sound, as hard as metal, made the hearts of the people around the square tremble. They lived in the Holy City and often watched such ceremonies. In the military parades they had seen before, all the troops under review were wearing bright armor, which was much better than today.

These Guards were much prettier, but the ceremonial troops were definitely not as impressive as today's Guards. The people's eyes couldn't help but fall on these soldiers, and they looked at them carefully for the first time - before,

They didn't even get a good look at these soldiers.

The equipment on these soldiers looked messy, but without exception they exuded murderous intent; their uniforms were dull and old, and their hoods reached to their brows, but they could not hide their arrogant eyes!

Cohen made a fist with his right hand across his chest and responded with a military salute neatly.

"The ceremony is over!"

There was another "boom", and the weapons of the 100,000 Guards troops were lowered. Their movements were so neat that people couldn't believe their eyes.

"The Sibia Empire's Korn Keda Guards, the revenge of the first legion, the destruction of the second legion, the catastrophe of the third legion, the judgment of the fourth legion, the doomsday of the fifth legion, the assembly is complete!" The lieutenant general on duty ran towards the reviewing stand.

, reported loudly, "His Majesty the Emperor, please review!"

As soon as I heard the numbers of these five legions, there was a small commotion where the general officials and nobles were standing, because these five legions are the most unfamiliar troops among all the imperial armies-never before.

He has participated in any review and has never appeared on the supply list of the Logistics Department. Some people even speculated that the military branch of the Korn Al-Qaeda Guards did not really exist, but today, they really appeared in front of them.

And it looks like a very strong army.

Among all the people present, only a few high-level officials knew that these five special legions, which did not belong to the ordinary troops of the empire or the Guards, were emergency forces secretly deployed by His Majesty the Emperor around the Holy Capital. They were used to

Life-saving.

At the same time, they also knew that the transfer of this force out of the Holy Capital meant that the empire's rear was extremely empty... What kind of powerful enemy was it facing that would make the empire's military strength so tense?

His Majesty Cohen stood at the edge of the reviewing stand, put his hands behind his back, and swept his silent eyes across the troops in the square from left to right, moving extremely slowly. Whether it was the prince, the princess standing behind him, or the people on the side of the stage

The noble officials and even the people around the square were quietly waiting for the moment when the emperor spoke - His Majesty Cohen's language has supreme magic. Every time he speaks, it can bring everyone a completely different passion and enthusiasm.

move!

Countless people are speculating in their hearts: The war is imminent, and it is such a surprising military parade. What will His Majesty Cohen say? From what point will he enter the topic? Is His Majesty's choice biased toward encouragement? Or toward motivation? Or maybe it is not at all.

A total incitement?

Time is passing slowly, His Majesty Cohen's eyes are moving slowly, and the gap of silence in this period has exceeded any military parade or speech in the past... Or maybe it is because the current situation is serious, and the emperor himself wants to deal with it in this way.

To increase everyone's attention? Such an atmosphere really made the people present a little uncomfortable.

Finally, the emperor's eyes have looked at the troop formations one by one. People standing near the reviewing stand can even see the emperor's eyes returning to the center line of the square. The best time to inspire the morale of the military and the people is now.

However, Cohen Keda, who was standing on the reviewing stand, still did not speak, and even the serious expression on his face did not change at all. Among the crowd of people watching, the whispers that had disappeared showed signs of revival. Of course,

It was a very subtle whisper - sandwiched between the silent emperor and the 100,000 personal guards, how could he dare to speak loudly?

Logically speaking, His Majesty Cohen should not let go of the best opportunity to speak. This is not in line with His Majesty's consistent style, and it is not in line with the wisdom of a king. His Majesty Cohen has always been an emperor who can afford to give up, and he has the utmost ability.

With his strong and courageous spirit, could it be that the critical situation caused His Majesty Cohen to perform abnormally?

The lieutenant general standing under the reviewing stand did not wait for the emperor's response, and could not put down the hands raised on his chest. However, the military order was such that the lieutenant general could only insist on the most standard posture of standing at attention, standing in front of the emperor and one hundred thousand relatives.

The guard's eyes crossed!

No matter what His Majesty Cohen thinks, a depressive atmosphere has begun to spread in the square, gradually affecting more and more people, and the scope of whispers among the people is getting wider and wider - could it be

, His Majesty the Emperor is really as terminally ill as the rumors say? Could it be that the Emperor standing on the reviewing stand is just a stand-in and does not dare to speak at all?

The silence at the scene was beyond everyone's expectation, and the change in the atmosphere also made many people secretly anxious.

This cannot continue like this! Although the best time has passed, His Majesty the Emperor must speak immediately, and His Majesty must save the situation by himself! This is a review in the Holy Capital, held in front of nearly a million people, and it is related to the war.

People's hearts and minds rise and fall - the emperor, he should understand this truth!

Could it be that something was preventing him from speaking? Could it be interference from other forces?

An anxious look had already appeared on the faces of the princesses. Visu Keda looked at the general on guard next to him and winked. The general understood, turned around, and arranged with a group of subordinates. Immediately, people around the square began to watch.

Intelligence officers, security personnel, and plainclothes guards launched a silent dragnet search!

The whining wind blew desolately through the square streets; the dark clouds pressed down until they could no longer go down.

After receiving the news, Crow walked out of the side door of the palace and stood quietly at an inconspicuous position far away from the reviewing stand. Then he turned around and gently shook his head to Prince Weisu, indicating that no one in the square could make the emperor

The power of silence exists. If the emperor does not speak, there can only be other reasons... But while they are doing all this, the atmosphere in the square has become very depressed. Any citizen, even an idiot, can

Feel it.

This is so weird, time does not stand still!

Gradually, a strong sense of oppression came along with the depressive atmosphere, as if it were real, forcing the people around to stop all actions and words. Invariably, they forced themselves to blend into this overwhelming silence, as if this was the only thing,

They can feel a little better; it seems that only in this way can they calm the panic in their hearts.

Some people are sweating, some are shaking, some are slowly retreating, no one wants to stand in the first row, everyone's first choice is to hide behind others, an unknown fear is spreading from the Palace Square

, and it keeps spreading to all directions!

The people couldn't bear it anymore. People they knew and people they didn't know were gradually getting closer and leaning on each other. Their sweaty palms were clasped together, shivering at the same frequency... Inadvertently, people would appear in the crowd.

Let out a sad sound.

Prince Weisu, who had always been steady, couldn't wait any longer. He wanted to walk to Crow to observe Cohen's condition, but at the moment he was about to take a step, he was surprised to find that he could not move forward, even if he wanted to move his feet.

Sliding forward even a little bit doesn't work, the muscles in the legs are tight, like cramps, and they are completely out of my control!
To be continued...