The night has not faded, and the morning has not yet arrived, but the hazy light brought by the huge sun has begun to appear on the horizon. The faint glow seems to be trying to break free from the constraints of the earth, and the stars still enveloped the land sleeping in the dark.

Near the border of Tifeng, a tall tower with silver-white spires and gray-white exterior walls stands quietly on the high ground next to the shadow swamp. Stars shine from the sky, outlining a layer of glow on the surface of the tower. The huge ring on the top of the tower floats out of thin air at the height of the tower and rotates quietly in the night sky. The starlight shines on the surface of the ring, constantly reflecting various brilliances.

A magical message came from afar, and a series of originally dark runes on the ring suddenly lit up one after another.

The middle-aged mage on duty at the messenger tower woke up in a harsh sound. He quickly got rid of meditation and stood up from the rune magic array in the "Listen Hall". A complex structure and gorgeous runes kept lit up on the wall in front of him. The emblem of the Royal Mage Society was projected in front of the runes.

The mage's eyes changed and he immediately walked quickly towards the complex magic circle depicted on the wall, pressing it on the surface of a specific rune stone: "This is the Shadow Swamp Border Tower, please tell me."

"The order from Aldernan," a slightly distorted voice immediately came into the mage's ears, "Immediately notify the border outpost and intercept..."

Listening to the sound from afar, the middle-aged mage frowned quickly. Without hesitation, he turned around and slapped a rune stone pillar nearby, and called another mage who was on standby in the lower level: "Nim, come change shifts, I want to go to the outpost, the imperial capital urgently ordered - look back and check the records yourself!"

Then without waiting for another mage on duty to respond, he quickly walked towards the window on the side of the hall, and robes, canes, hats and other things hanging nearby flew over themselves, putting them on the middle-aged mage like life. When the mage finally fell into his palm, the crystal window depicting many runes had opened-

The middle-aged mage jumped directly and rushed to the dark night sky outside the tower.

Under the starlight, the mage in a robe was like a flying bird, quickly passing through the high ground where the messenger tower was located. Behind the mage, the ring on the top of the messenger tower was still rotating quietly, and more runes lit up in order. Another mage on duty in the tower had taken over the magic circle. This expensive and sophisticated magical creature was buzzing in the night and began to forward the orders from Aldernan to the next messenger tower...

...

The steel wheels crushed the guide rails embedded in the ground. The repulsive runes emitted a faint light on the bottom of the car and the surfaces of the car on both sides. The power ridge released surging energy. The magic device buzzed during the high-speed operation. The mechanical giant python made of metal crawled on the ground, stirring the mist on the early spring ground in the dark night, and rushed towards the direction of the border at high speed.

The mechanical noise of the wheels and certain bearings and lever running echoed in the quiet carriage. After the lights were turned off, the darkness in the carriage of the truck was dark. The tense and depressing atmosphere kept everyone in a tight and awake state. Yuri raised his head, and the extraordinary vision allowed him to see the eyes in the darkness and the worries on Wendy's face nearby.

"We have crossed the Shadow Swamp checkpoint and will soon arrive at the border," Yuri whispered. "Even if Aldernan reacts quickly, it will take time to transfer magical communications layer by layer. Moreover, the line can only reach the communication tower next to the Shadow Swamp at most. The number of communication towers in Tifeng is limited, and the terminal messengers can only rely on manpower to handle it, which they cannot catch up."

"I'm worried about those who stay in the country," Wendy said softly, "The whistleblower appeared earlier than expected, and many people probably didn't have time to transfer. The identities of middle and lower-class believers are easily exposed due to reports of each other... Moreover, the empire began to implement population registration management a few years ago, and it is probably difficult for compatriots to hide for too long after being exposed."

Yuri frowned and suddenly said softly: "...the exposed compatriots may not be in danger of their lives."

Wendy was curious when she heard this: "Why do you say that?"

"If it was Rosetta Augustus..." Yuri lowered his voice more than before, saying cautiously, "He is more likely to try to recruit eternal sleepers, especially those middle-level priests who master dream magic and neural cord technology..."

Wendy's eyes changed slightly, and she heard Yuri continue to say: "The Royal Mage Society is completely loyal to him. The great magicians should have found a way to unconnect the Eternal Sleeper and the Mind Network. The 'whistleblower' who is out of the Mind Network is evidence, and the Eternal Sleeper who is out of the Mind Network... will become a technician controlled by the Augustus family."

Wendy subconsciously opened her mouth: "You..."

"I used to live in Aldernan, and..." Yuri suddenly showed a complicated smile. "I have a certain understanding of Rosetta Augustus, and as a former noble, I also know what the ruler of a country will think when facing things that helps rule... The royal family will soon issue a pleading order to the Sleeper Order, and Rosetta Augustus will arrange a series of high-sounding reasons for this to eliminate people's resistance to the Dark Sect. The noble Council will fully support him - we will have some priests to become secret consultants and staff of the various families of Aldernan, and others will join the Royal Mage Society or the Industrial Society, which will not take long."

Wendy looked at Yuri quietly.

She didn't understand the aristocratic style, but she knew that Yuri was once a member of them, and what the other party said should not be lies. These... seem to be the rules followed by the power groups in the upper class of the empire and the inevitable result under the operation of this set of rules.

"You've thought of this before?"

"I thought of it before the evacuation began," Yuri said softly, "and I believe there are a few people who thought of it, but we all didn't say it well - some people were to prevent people from shaking their hearts, and some people... they are probably waiting for Aldernan's invitation."

Wendy couldn't help biting her lip: "...I thought the deterrence of the outworld wanderers was enough..."

"The extraterritorial wanderers need a spiritual network to extend His power, and the spiritual network is not enough to carry this power now - the middle and above priests know technology, they know this, and at the same time they know the strength of the Royal Mage Society... Even if the risks in the middle are huge, some people are willing to take risks," Yuri said slowly, shook his head helplessly, "There are too many speculators, and staying in Tifung is very attractive to many people - especially those who are destined to be accepted by the 'Cecil Order'."

Wendy fell silent for a moment, and in the darkness and silence, she heard Yuri's voice with a sigh-

"Split is a necessity, Ms. Wendy, especially after we over-inflate...it's the best now, at least there are no mutineers in the Archbishop."

"I used to think the network of minds connects us all together..." Wendy sighed softly, "but she has come to this situation today."

Yuri didn't speak.

Several shimmers passed through the narrow air holes on the side of the carriage, tearing apart bright lines in the dark freight carriage.

Several figures swayed between the crates, and a few eyes pressed against the air holes. A bishop muttered in a low voice not far away: "It's dawn outside..."

Yuri approached the gap behind him and pressed his eyes against the narrow gap. He saw the rising sun rising from the end of the wilderness, the brilliant corona illuminating the entire plain and the mountains at the end of the plain. The lakes and rivers inlaid on the plain were shining with fine golden light, and the plants and trees nearby retreated quickly by the railway, forming a phantom.

The mist has been dispelled by the sun at some point.

"We are approaching the border," Yuri immediately reminded, "note, here's the level card-"

A shaking suddenly came, and the tinkling sound of the steel wheels rubbing against the rails sounded from the bottom of the car. At the same time, there was also obvious tremor on both sides of the car. Outside the walls on both sides, the "click" sound of some mechanical device operating instantly sounded.

The brake device is pressuring the wheels, and the repulsive mechanism outside the car is adjusting its polarity one by one - the train is decelerating.

"Don't be nervous," Wendy immediately turned around and said, "We are approaching the border outpost and are docking normally."

"I'll check the condition of the carriage in front," Yuri stood up gently and whispered, "It's close to the connection section, and you must be extra careful."

...

The sun shone on the outpost near the Tiffon-Cecil border, and a slightly cold wind blew from the plains. Several fully armed Tiffon soldiers were waiting on the platform, watching the freight train from Butterfield County gradually slowing down and approaching the docking instructions line in the inspection area. The commander of the small station narrowed his eyes and forcibly controlled the urge to yawn in this cold morning, and directed the soldiers to step forward and conduct regular inspections on the train.

During the brief time waiting for the train to open the car, the outpost commander took a deep breath of the cold air on the plain, and looked not far away while boosting his spirits. Two battle mage towers stood on both sides of the railway. The huge arcane crystal on the mage tower shone brightly in the sun. Several lower-level battle mages and knights were guarding the nearby posts, paying attention to the train's stopping situation.

His gaze continued to move far away, over the fence, over an open land, over the low walls on the border and the blockade belt on the other side, and finally landed on another outpost - a border checkpoint of the Cecilians, with several square houses built on cement platforms, magic crystal devices floating in the middle of the open space, and several weapons called "rail cannons" were placed on the top of the wall, with muzzles pointing to the high sky.

Officer Tifeng glanced at the soldiers who had already begun the inspection mission, then turned around, pulled out a small dagger from his waist, and shook it twice at the Cecilian outpost as the sunlight reflected on the blade.

A few seconds later, a similar reflection swept across his eyes.

The young officer grinned, then put away his dagger and walked towards the train.

A man with a big beard and wearing a blue uniform leaned outside the carriage. He was the commander of the train and a man from Tifeng.

"Full loads of textiles and alchemy materials," said the bearded man with a smile to the young officer, "go and exchange for our Emperor's Majesty the Emperor's name for some yellow gold."

The young officer reached out and said, "Show me the list."

"I have given it to the soldiers just now..."

The officer frowned: "I haven't seen it yet."

The bearded man had no choice but to find the documents he had with him and hand them to the officer in front of him: "Oh, OK, I'll give it to you."

The officer took the list, then turned around and walked towards several cars not far away.

The bearded car captain seemed to glance at the distance casually. Suddenly, a faint black dot appeared in the sky in the east and flew towards it quickly like a bird.

The captain's eyes changed and he immediately turned around and walked towards the officer who was carrying soldiers to check the carriages one by one, with a smile on his face: "Mr. Knight, these carriages have been checked just now."

The young officer Tifeng looked at the soldiers beside him: "Have you checked?"

"Checked, sir," replied the soldier immediately, "with the list."

Officer Tifeng looked down at the list in his hand, glanced at the bearded man next to him, then grabbed the handrail at the door of the carriage, stepped on the door pedal with one leg, and slowly leaned his head into the inside.

The dark shadow in the sky was getting closer and closer, and the outline of the human figure could even be seen vaguely.

"Mr. Knight," the bearded man stepped forward and smiled flatteringly, "There are alchemy materials in it..."

Officer Tifeng's eyes slowly swept through the carriage. In the dark freight carriage, a large number of crates were piled up together, and nothing else was there.

It would be a waste of time to count all those crates again.

The commander stood outside the carriage, smiling, but his eyes were staring at the officer's movements without blinking.

He did not dare to bribe the other party, nor did he dare to induce any verbal induction, because both behaviors would immediately arouse suspicion - the guards here were the reserve knights of the Black Steel Knights. These soldiers with noble blood and targeted the Black Steel Knights were very alert.

"Mr. Knight, we have to undergo a checkup at the Cecilians later..."

Officer Tifeng finally withdrew his body from the door of the carriage, and his military boots fell on the ground, making a click.

"To be honest, this kind of transit method that only needs to be parked and inspected twice on both sides of the border is a bit unreasonable," the officer said casually, "What do you think?"

"I dare not say this," the bearded man waved his hand quickly, "The big man above must make sense to design this set of rules, we will do it as follows..."

"Sooner or later, it needs to be optimized," the officer laughed, "After all, everything is just beginning..."

"Who knows..." The bearded man spread his hands, "Anyway, for me, just figuring out the big guy behind me is already dizzy."

"Okay," the officer seemed to feel that discussing these things with the person in front of him was a waste of time. He finally waved his hand, "The verification has been passed, and the docking time is almost done, let it go!"

The bearded man immediately smiled and bowed gentlemanly, then turned around and climbed up to the handrail of the car. The next second, the signal ringtone inside the train rang.

This huge and complex steel machine began to accelerate slowly, gradually leaving the outpost of the Tifeng people, crossed the fences and low walls, crossed the wide buffer zone, and drove smoothly towards Cecil...

It was not until the train crossed the border that a middle-aged mage in black robe finally landed on the outpost of the Tifeng people.
Chapter completed!