The Dibo River shines with sparkling waves in the setting sun. At this time, the sunset floating on the river will shine into the windows, dyeing the hotel lobby crimson. Through the window lattice, you can see the imperial capital standing on the horizon, a sea of
The towering and majestic shadows, towers and city walls left a thick oblique shadow in the setting sun.
Seti finished wiping the last table, straightened up and wiped the sweat with the back of her hand. She looked in the direction of the door with some surprise - the light at the door dimmed, and several travelers in cloaks walked in - they were guests.
She was slightly surprised that there were actually guests at this time of year. Since the war in Metz, there have been fewer merchants on the road. The business in the hotel has become lighter day by day, and the owner of the hotel is planning to close temporarily.
The first person who walked in was a foreigner. He had long dark brown hair that was rare in the empire. He had a somewhat handsome face. Although he could not be said to be love at first sight, at least he had regular and handsome features and a pair of brown eyes that contained divine light.
There is a deep warmth in his expression, which makes people feel warm at first sight.
Behind him, the taller one seemed to be his companion. He looked more handsome and wore a hood - although he took it off as soon as he entered the room, revealing slightly curly ear-length short hair. He looked around
, with a deep cynicism in his eyes.
Behind them were several girls. Seti couldn't help but feel very strange. How could there be so many women on the road at this time of year? She couldn't help but suspect that they were a group of slave traders. However, she soon realized that she was different.
, these girls were obviously not simple, and the look in the eyes of some of them made her dare not look at them. She had only seen this kind of aggressive temperament in the real big shots in the city, so how could they be female slaves.
"What a strange caravan." At this time, Seti had noticed the caravan parked outside the hotel. Only traveling merchants would use such carriages when traveling to and from the Banker area.
Naturally, it was Brando and his party who walked into the hotel at this moment.
Thank God. The classic caravan bought from Eleven Leaf Town finally reached its destination safely before it fell apart - the hotel with the words "Cat and Whiskers" on the sign.
This old building that has returned to the style with a strong brilliance is located by the Holy Mercury Bridge, no more than ten miles away from Rusta. It looks unremarkable from the outside. It is just a little too shabby - the paint on the sign and door is peeling off.
It's amazing, there are many repairs on the roof. But the windows are bright and clean. There are several pots of ivy on the windowsill on the side of the door, with branches and leaves spread out. They are well taken care of by their owners.
The business of the hotel seems to be very deserted, probably because the location is too remote. Delphine mentioned that this is the farthest hotel outside the east gate of Rushta. Only some merchants with little money will stay here temporarily.
But that's exactly why they chose this place.
Remoteness means safety——
The maid in this hotel was actually a mountain man. Brando couldn't help but be surprised when he noticed the girl's long hair as red as fire under the sunset. But when the group of people went upstairs, Charles turned around and said with a smile:
"It seems that the little girl is suspicious, so just like Ms. Sidney commented - our disguise is not very good."
Brando came back to his senses and replied: "This is something that has been expected for a long time."
"I thought your lord would be troubled by this."
"I won't worry about the lack of things, I just don't want to do useless work."
"What is 'useless effort'?" Ciel sighed: "I haven't heard 'new words' coming out of your mouth, Lord Lord, for a while."
Brando clapped his mouth in frustration: "It's just meaningless."
At this time, Roman, who was walking in front, noticed the conversation between the two. Of course, in fact, she had been eavesdropping with her ears pricked up all the time. As for the matter of being sulky with Brando in the carriage, she had long forgotten it. When she
When I heard this sentence, I couldn't help but deliberately took a step behind, widened my eyes and asked:
"But how could it be meaningless? When Her Majesty the Queen catches us, will she hang us on the gallows? I heard that nobles treat their prisoners this way, so to speak. Should we disguise ourselves?
What?"
"Because it's useless." Delphine, who was walking aside, replied.
Since she started taking the Fountain of Youth, the scars on her face have faded a lot in the past few days. At least they no longer look so hideous. Some places have even begun to shed their skin, revealing new skin that is smooth and as smooth as mutton fat underneath.
.
The most important thing is that I no longer need to rely on a wheelchair when moving. Although it is still a bit inconvenient, at least I can move freely like a normal person.
"Useless?"
Brando nodded: "When we were on the road before, did the patrolling knights pass us by and didn't stop to check on us?"
"Isn't this a good thing?"
"The key lies in frequency. We met too many patrolling knights along the way. As far as I know, on weekdays, such knights only conduct a routine patrol along the periphery of the imperial capital in the early morning and evening. This shows that Her Majesty the Queen
The security around the imperial capital has been strengthened. However, they have not been ordered to conduct interrogations on the floating population entering Rushta."
"is that so?"
"Yes," Delphine nodded. However, he glanced at Brando in surprise, probably because he didn't expect the latter to be so familiar with this place. You must know that many locals born and raised in Rushta may not know this empire.
How does the security force outside the capital operate?
Charles smiled, obviously knowing the answer to this question: "This shows that the hospitable Her Majesty the Queen implements the prevention method of loosening outside and tightening inside. It seems that she is very confident in her tentacles, and is afraid that we will not enter the city.
That’s all.”
"In other words, as long as we enter the city, she will be able to find us?"
Brando nodded: "Now it seems that at least the Silver Queen thinks so."
The businesswoman analyzed her gains and couldn't help but frown: "In that case, Brando, should we split up?"
"Um?"
"That is to say, let me take Brynhild and the others into the city to attract the attention of Her Majesty the Queen. You and Teacher Mephistopheles will find a way to sneak into the city to save Akane——"
Brando couldn't help but feel angry and funny after hearing this, and patted her smooth forehead: "What are you thinking? The matter hasn't reached that serious level yet. I don't think the Silver Queen will attack so early."
Roman quickly covered his forehead and backed away. At the same time, he asked: "Why?"
"I don't know why," Brando also shook his head and replied softly: "But I have a hunch. The Silver Queen is waiting for us to enter the city -"
…
After the sun sank below the horizon, night truly enveloped the city of Rushta. Dots of lights floated in the darkness, and on the distant horizon they seemed like stars falling from the sky. Farther away, a flash of light flashed across the dark sky from time to time.
, only people living in Rushta know that it is actually the ornithopter of the Nazer people.
Since Rushta is far away from the border of the Nazer people, both sides stationed a large number of troops on the eastern border. Even at night, there were still groups of Pegasus knights and wizards in the sky.
Ornithopters patrol and conduct reconnaissance in the jagged airspace.
Faina stood by the window and stared at the river flowing quietly under the moonlight. She couldn't help but recall what it was like the last time she came to the imperial capital. However, time has passed and she has also fallen from a status that is admired by everyone, let alone maintaining it.
In the halo of the past, even my father and brother were imprisoned in the belly of this formidable 'behemoth' in front of me.
But for some reason, she felt peaceful in her heart at this moment.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Others in the room turned their heads, just in time to see Medisa, wearing a military uniform, pushing open the door and ducking in.
She closed the door with her backhand. She breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Brando and said, "Lord."
"Medisha, how are you?" Brando nodded to her. He had asked the other party to go out to find out the information before, but now his expression should have gained something.
As expected, Medissa replied: "Fortunately, it's not too much trouble. I asked clearly, Lord, the engagement ceremony will be held in half a month, and then there will be a banquet in the White Rose Garden of Saint-Contibe Palace.
, there will also be celebrations held in the city, in fact Rushta had already started preparing for this celebration a week ago."
Brando couldn't help but snorted coldly. Obviously, what the Cruz people did to Akane made him very disdainful: "It seems that the Silver Queen wants to use this to dilute the panic atmosphere in the imperial capital. But I don't think the effect will be too great. She also
I don’t want to think about what I did before.”
"It's just to eliminate dissidents." Delphine replied calmly.
The prime minister's daughter's words made Medissa couldn't help but glance at her. She frowned slightly before continuing to report: "Countess Wallach - I mean Qian. It is said that she has been living in Rushta City.
In a castle outside, but I went to look at that place and there was no one there."
"Is it fake news, or has it been transferred?" Brando asked.
"It must have been transferred, Lord. I was worried that the Silver Queen had left an informant nearby, so I didn't dare to stay too long. However, I later inquired in other places and found that a castle had indeed been occupied by someone before.
A big shot, but he moved out a few weeks ago."
"This shows that the Silver Queen has indeed anticipated our arrival, otherwise there is no need for her to take the extra step." Delphine was indifferent to Medisa's gaze and analyzed in a light voice.
Brando didn't answer, but he had no objection in his heart. In fact, he had already expected this. Antitina's analysis was the same before.
"What about the others?" he asked again.
Medisa turned her head: "Miss Delphine, your father and grandfather are imprisoned in Moss Castle, as are the commander of the Blue Legion and Grand Duke Huaye. But as far as I know, the top officials of the temple are not imprisoned in that place.
Not many people know the whereabouts of the Great Holy Seat. Many people don’t seem to know what happened in the temple that day, and they don’t know that the Temple of Fire has been split into two at this moment.”
Hearing these words, Sidney, the saint statue of the Lion Palace sitting on the edge of the bed, frowned slightly, while Faina showed an eager look: "Medissa, I..."
"The Mosque Castle is not a special prison," Delphine interrupted her: "It is a villa of the royal family, so they are just under house arrest. After all, my father, grandfather, and Grand Duke Huaye did not come forward.
Stand clear against the Silver Queen."
"Why will they be arrested?" The business lady was counting the expenses of the past few days. When she heard this sentence, she couldn't help but raise her head and asked strangely.
"Because they didn't make a statement at the first time, the Silver Queen has to do a lot this time. For the sake of insurance, she will suppress all unstable factors to a minimum in advance."
"Miss Delphine," Medissa heard her say this. The look of dissatisfaction on her face couldn't help but become more obvious: "According to what you said, I don't see any reason for you to choose the lord. What the Silver Queen needs is Ni.
The attitude of the Devin family. And you represent the attitude of the Niedvin family. I don’t know what your intentions are. But if you dare to hurt the lord at all-"
The Silver Elf Princess pursed her lips and did not finish her sentence, but looking at her cold eyes, Delphine also knew what the second half of the sentence would be.
Brando was also slightly startled, and couldn't help but glance at Medisa in surprise. He knew that Medisa had never really accepted the prime minister's daughter, but it was the first time that she had expressed her attitude so clearly.
Delphine smiled slightly. She only raised her head and glanced at Brando with her light purple eyes, but did not answer.
"Miss Delphine..." Brando couldn't help but said.
"Can't your lordship trust me?"
"But you do have more choices, don't you?" Charles finally intervened, and he chose to side with Medissa.
Delphine couldn't help but shook his head slightly.
Brando sighed: "It's because of the Ivy Change, right?"
The Prime Minister Qianjin turned around with a look of 'you really know' on her face. She hesitated for a moment before gently nodding: "But that's just one of them. My grandfather never supported the late emperor's passing the throne to Queen Silver, so your majesty just
The purpose of supporting the Palute family is to check the power of the prime minister. They have used this method once when the royal family and the temple were fighting, but this time they did not use it as well as the last time."
"The Ivy Change," what everyone didn't expect was that Morpheus, who had been silent at this time, suddenly spoke: "Do you mean that thing?"
All eyes were on him.
"...I, I just happen to understand."
"Medphis, are you not Madara's undead?" Brando then realized that he knew very little about the vampire siblings. He knew that Medisa, Ciel, Huque, Fuluo Yi
Regarding the past of the mercenaries, even Hipamilla would occasionally mention some of her experiences while practicing in the Earth Temple, but Morpheus and Andrrig had always remained silent about their origins.
Before that, he had always thought that before they became card creatures, they were just ordinary dark nobles from Madara, or had some background. But when he heard Medphis' words, he knew that he was wrong.
Morpheus is not the undead of Madara, he was probably born in Metz. Otherwise it would be impossible to know what happened that year.
Facing his gaze, Morpheus nodded: "Lord, you are right, my sister and I are not dark nobles from Madara. We were Cruz people when we were alive, and Metz is our hometown.
.”
Brando understood: "So it was no accident that I summoned you from the tomb that day?"
"I don't know much about the rules of destiny cards, but maybe that's how it should be."
"I understand," Brando replied: "Since you were once Metz people, you should have been witnesses to that incident?"
“I’m not exactly an eyewitness, but my sister Andrique and I did go through that dark history. I only remember that my relatives—family members and friends—were all killed in that turmoil, even myself.
That period of history was even crueler than the narrative, and the experience you have seen of Sir Robertson is just the tip of the iceberg."
Morpheus smiled calmly: "I really don't want to recall too much about that period of history. If the lord hadn't happened to mention this incident, I wouldn't even want to mention it."
"I'm sorry." Brando didn't expect that he would unintentionally expose the scar, and couldn't help but apologize.
"It doesn't matter, Lord, time will always smooth out all scars." Morpheus smiled: "It was after the Holy War, and the Temple of Fire was facing a general decline in faith and confusion. The undead
The cultists took advantage of the situation and made waves within the empire. This was the period when the Temple of Fire was most seriously infiltrated by the All-Union Society, and even today many historical issues have been left behind. I remember that during the most chaotic period
During those days, East Metz and Mehotofen, which are close to Argen, were the first to bear the brunt. At that time, several dukes were even bewitched——"
"I, I've heard about this," Faina suddenly said: "I heard my wet nurse talk about the scene at that time. It is said that many people died at that time. Countless people were crucified on crosses every day.
, there were also assassinations and conspiracies among the nobles, it was the darkest period in the Metz region. The countryside was the territory of witches and heretics, they would twitch people and skin them, and use the most severe methods to torture those in the temple.
Priests and believers.”
"It's the same in the city. Every day, witches are picked out and burned at the stake. Similar scenes happen all the time." Medphes couldn't help but frown as he recalled the scene at that time.
"I didn't expect something like this to happen in the empire," Charles was a little surprised. Although he had heard about the turmoil, he couldn't imagine that the situation was so serious without experiencing it himself: "What happened next?"
"Then it became the so-called Ivy Rebellion. The chaotic situation in East Metz evolved into a real turmoil. During the turmoil, several famous nobles died, several of whom had fought alongside Niedwin.
"Comrade-in-arms and close friend," Sidney spoke at this time. As a person involved in the temple, she can be said to be the one who knows what happened at that time best among everyone present: "In anger, the old prime minister accepted the order of the Silver Queen.
He led his army into East Metz and put down the rebellion in one fell swoop, and even captured two of the twelve Patriarchs of the Tree Shepherds."
"Two?" Brando noticed the number.
"Lord Roclair of the Blood, and Lenny the Blight Whip. However, the latter escaped during the escort."
"They say he escaped, but my grandfather has always suspected that Her Majesty the Queen let him go," Delphine finally said at this time: "At that time, Her Majesty the Queen and my grandfather had a huge dispute over the issue of dealing with these cultists.
Disagreements - In fact, according to the laws of the temple, these cultists should have been dismembered long ago, but the last one escaped, and one is still imprisoned in the Thorn Fortress, and most of the cultists and the fallen dark lords have only been killed.
The seal has not been completely destroyed, and Sir Lawrisson is just one of them."
"These are all orders issued by the Silver Queen herself," she sighed: "What puzzles my grandfather the most is that the temple actually backed down."
"This incident planted a bad feeling between Her Majesty the Queen and my grandfather. But it was not just because of personal reasons, but because my grandfather saw at that time that Her Majesty the Queen had other intentions. Although he was not biased
in the Temple. But as a veteran imperialist, he is not willing to see a real break between the royal family and the Temple, thus leading the empire to the abyss of eternal destruction."
She took a breath lightly: "So everyone understands, now that everything has happened, it is even more impossible for my grandfather to stand with Her Majesty the Queen. This is why Her Majesty the Queen secretly designed me to leave the Imperial Capital.
The reasons, which I should have seen through long ago, were just blinded by hatred."
"Me, me too," Faina looked at Brando, gritted her teeth and said, "I can represent Mehotofen, Brando, and I will stand on your side. I am the leader of the Mosaic-Leaf Collar."
As the first heir, I can definitely make this promise."
"Miss Faina," Medisa glanced at her and comforted: "Don't worry, we are not targeting you."
"Thank you, Medisa." Her Royal Highness the princess with the flower-leaf collar couldn't help but blush.
Delphine seemed to turn a deaf ear to Medissa's pointed words. She turned back to look at Brando and asked: "So, Lord, what should we do next?"
"There is still half a month," Brando replied: "It seems that there is still plenty of time. Let's try our best to find out where Qian is under house arrest, because only if it is a last resort, I will consider launching the attack directly on the day of the celebration.
.And before that, we have to find a way to invade the moss castle, partly to save you and Faina’s relatives, partly to win more allies for us.”
He glanced at Sidney: "It would be great if we could find out where the top leaders of the temple are being held."
"Will they be killed by Her Majesty the Queen?" Charles suddenly interrupted.
"She won't do that," the Saint Statue of the Lion Palace finally said: "Before she gets the Holy Sword Odysseus -"
"Then let's do it. Let's investigate separately first," Brando replied: "Although the Silver Queen is confident of finding us out, before that, we have plenty of time to play a hide-and-seek game with her."
