The blizzard is still continuing, and is getting more intense. The cold north wind that can already be described as a strong wind is carrying goose feather-like snowflakes and rolled up ice. It is howling and sweeping across the snowfield. The world outside is dark and scary, except for what is right in front of you.
Visibility outside the wind and snow is almost zero.
Frost and Snow City stands between heaven and earth like an isolated island about to be engulfed by cold and darkness. The lights throughout the city appear dim and shaky in the strong wind. Those lights that represent human civilization emit a little bit of insignificant temperature. In this
The city is protected in a world of darkness that seems to be freezing.
Even the thick city walls could not stop the all-pervasive invasion of the blizzard. The wind and snow blew into the city from every gap between the city walls, causing every street in the fortress city to gradually freeze. The soldiers guarding the sentry posts were uneasy.
Looking at the outside world through the observation window, no matter how much liquor they drank, the ominous aura that was so strong that it was almost substantial could not be dissipated from their hearts.
However, in the mountaintop inn of Frost and Snow City, Leah's gaze penetrated the darkness and wind and snow outside. She seemed to be able to look directly at the rising evil aura in the distance. Wherever she looked,
There was an obvious blank space in the snowstorm, and both the wind and the snowflakes avoided her sight in awe.
"Where is that direction?" Hao Ren also stared at the same direction as Leah, and tapped the data terminal on his shoulder.
"Comparing with the map... In that direction is the Dragon Imperial Capital. Also: the high-altitude detection probe has sensed abnormal energy fluctuations in the Imperial Capital at the same time, and the energy readings are still rising."
"Yes, it is the reaction of the Lord of Madness. Although it is very small, the level has reached the 'Origin' level." Leah suddenly turned around, with a trace of light golden light in her eyes, "Only in this Dragon
The capital of the empire, as we speculated, the so-called Dragon Soul Emperor has something to do with this matter, he... hmm?"
Leah frowned, and at the same time, the sudden burst of breath disappeared as quietly as it appeared.
Vivian didn't react for a moment: "The aura of the Lord of Madness... is gone?"
Hao Ren knocked on the shell of the data terminal and said succinctly: "Track."
"It's already being done...no tracking results. The detection probe has focused all its sensors on the Imperial Capital, but no crazy reaction has been found."
The people in the room suddenly looked at each other.
Leah turned her head and looked out the window in confusion. The blizzard that seemed to freeze the whole world had calmed down unconsciously and gradually weakened into a harmless ordinary snow. The cold wind howled from the direction of the plain.
It also gradually became depressed, and lost the intimidating power that seemed to shake people's hearts.
Leah muttered a little irritably: "It's all this damn weather... I don't like it."
The blizzard stopped instantly, and the night became extremely clear. Although there were no stars in the night sky of Lahirion, there was soft light from the divine barrier shining on the earth.
Lily whined in disappointment, returned to the sofa, curled up between several large warm cushions, closed her eyes and began to pretend to be dead.
Hao Ren glanced at Leah: "You use divine words in this kind of place?"
"Coincidence, just a coincidence..." Leah smiled slightly awkwardly, and then her face turned serious, "What just happened... What do you think?"
"It's the aura of the Crazy Lord. Just as we expected, there is indeed a small part of the Crazy Lord's power left in this world, but its sudden disappearance is a bit hard to explain," Hao Ren frowned.
, "Could it be that there is some remaining sealing system that is working? The power of Madness was briefly released and then was controlled again?"
"I don't know, but we have to go to the imperial capital," Leah said seriously, "Let's leave early tomorrow morning, okay?"
Lily pulled her head out of the soft cushion: "What about the Charlemagne brothers and sisters?"
"Can't wait for them," Hao Ren waved his hand, "Anyway, they have been sent to the north, and they can walk the rest of the way by themselves. And we can go to the imperial capital to check first. If we can't find a starting point, we will come back.
."
Vivian nodded: "I agree. In short, let's all have a good rest today and adjust our respective states to the best. If we really have to deal with the Lord of Crazy Loudness... even if we only deal with a little remaining power,
You have to be extremely serious."
Everyone agreed on this point, so after saying good night to each other, Hao Ren and his party returned to their respective rooms to rest and recharge their batteries in preparation for the next action.
Early the next morning, Hao Ren got up and met Lily, Vivian and Leah in the lobby of the inn.
"Did you have a rest last night?" Hao Ren greeted the others, "Let's eat first, then say goodbye to Charlemagne and his sister before we leave. No matter how rushed we are, a little courtesy is still needed."
Lily stretched her body and said casually while looking at the scattered attendants and maids in the inn: "It's better to eat first. By the way, landlord, I was out for a morning jog just now and passed by the lord's castle.
I vaguely heard someone running around in panic, do you think something happened?"
"Something happened? What could happen?" Vivian blinked, "That Princess Constance took the Grand Duke of the North and ran south to fight, and I heard that several of the Grand Duke's sons were stationed in fortresses further north.
He’s not here either, so who else can be in the castle?”
Hao Ren touched his chin and made a wild guess: "It's unlikely that someone set fire to the lord's house and burned it down at night..."
As he was talking casually, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw the figures of Charlemagne and Alvina walking in from another door in the inn hall. The two brothers and sisters were walking in a hurry, with a trace of worry on their faces.
color.
They also saw Hao Ren and his entourage, so they quickened their pace and walked in this direction. Just as Charlemagne was about to speak, Hao Ren had already spoken first: "Ah, just in time, I'm still thinking about where to find you. We have some urgent matters.
If you want to do it, you have to take the first step.”
Charlemagne couldn't help but say the second after Hao Ren opened his mouth: "There is urgent news. The Northern Army has a situation on the front line. Archduke Owen last night... ah? You just said you were leaving?"
The scene was a bit awkward for a while.
Hao Ren coughed twice: "Uh... cough, it's not important. You talk first. Is there something going on on the front line?"
Charlemagne calmed down, glanced around the hall, and confirmed that all the waiters and maids were consciously standing at a distance. Then he lowered his voice and said, "I just got the news that the coalition forces of Princess Constance and Archduke Owen are here."
The southern front line was raided, and Archduke Owen was seriously injured. He was sent back to the castle by the teleportation array overnight last night..."
The Northern Army suffered heavy losses in the south? Was the rebel army led by Princess Constance defeated by the Knights of the Black Sword?
Hao Ren and others looked stunned. This news was indeed unexpected. They knew that the Black Sword Knights and the Imperial Corps had outstanding combat capabilities. Princess Constance would be under great pressure, but they did not expect that both sides would be under great pressure.
It had only been more than half a month since the war started, and the situation had suddenly deteriorated to this extent.
Evana noticed the expressions on the faces of Hao Ren and his party, and quickly explained a few more words: "Don't worry, the coalition forces were not defeated, but suffered a great blow. The most important thing is that the coach almost died in the battle, which is the biggest damage.
"
Vivian felt that the development of the matter was very unreasonable: "That's wrong... As far as I know, since the war began, the Northern Army and the Imperial Army have fought several wars. Both sides have suffered damage to each other, but they are basically evenly matched.
Why did the Northern Army suddenly suffer a heavy blow, and even the coach almost lost his life?"
Hao Ren nodded and said that he had the same question. He still remembered the deeds Kaim said. That Archduke Owen was a real strong man who could tear apart Gorgon Demons after getting drunk. What is the concept of this?
It means that the mighty Archduke tore up an interstellar fighter with his bare hands! Such a fierce man almost died in battle, so the Dragon Soul Emperor personally conquered it?
"We don't know this," Charlemagne frowned. "The news was told to me by Cam. It is still in the confidentiality stage and will not be announced to the public for the time being. However, I heard a saying that there is a black sword.
The Knight Brigade made a sneak attack at night. They had been discovered by the patrolling Broken Sword Knight, but they suddenly burst out with monster-like power and broke through the guards..."
"Monster-like power?" Hao Ren's eyes turned serious for a moment, "Wait a minute, you said it was a sneak attack in the middle of the night...about when was it?"
Charlemagne spread his hands: "I don't know. In fact, the news itself was heard by chance, so its credibility..."
"The credibility is very high, believe me, it's really high," Vivian interrupted Charlemagne. She was somewhat well-informed and naturally knew that the brother and sister were willing to share this information with herself and others.
In addition to the trust built up through thick and thin together, the more important reason should be that we asked each other for something, "If you tell us these things, if I guess correctly... you want to invite us to meet that Owen."
Grand Duke?"
Since the Grand Duke was urgently teleported back to the castle for treatment last night, he must still be in Frost and Snow City now. The Charlemagne brothers and sisters hurried over to talk about these things early in the morning, probably just to call Hao Ren and his party to see him.
That Grand Duke.
"That's right," Charlemagne nodded. "Archduke Owen regained consciousness in the early morning and received Keim, and then learned about us from Keim. The Archduke intends to meet us and if you agree, he also hopes to
Meet you."
"He is still interested in us?" Hao Ren raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Why?"
"Because he heard about your ability to move freely in the black pine forest, and your easy victory over the Gorgon Lords," Evanna said, "And I think the Grand Duke is interested in a hidden 'World Tree Temple'
The organization itself should also be very interested."
Charlemagne looked at Hao Ren with a searching look in his eyes: "We know a little bit about some of the habits of the Hermit Organization, so this matter still depends on your wishes. Just now you said that you have important things waiting to be done.
,so……"
Hao Ren nodded suddenly and understood why Charlemagne told him so many things first. It turned out that he was worried that he and his group would leave on their own if the matter was not explained clearly. After all, in the minds of ordinary people, it was not a secret society or a hidden saint.
The mysterious organizations in the palace like to follow the route of coming and going in a floating way. When dealing with them, if there is a word that is not explained clearly, the group of worldly masters have already fled thousands of miles away. The next time they show up, they may not know who they are.
It’s time for the cast…
In fact, he was right to be worried. After all, Hao Ren was really planning to leave if there was no such sudden news.
Hao Ren and Vivian looked at each other and reached a tacit understanding with one look.
The Northern Grand Duke came into direct contact with the Black Sword Knight who "turned into a monster" and survived. If those Black Sword Knights are also related to the power of madness, then Northern Grand Duke Owen is the most precious "first party".
So Hao Ren smiled and nodded slightly to Charlemagne and Evana: "We are happy to meet the Grand Duke."