Andesa returned to the bed, her father was sitting aside.

Everything seemed to be dreaming - even the pain caused by pulling the wound just now could not convince Andesha of the truth. She felt her head dizzy again, and that weak and unbalanced vertigo was coming in waves. Is this a sign of about to wake up from her dream?

She raised her head, looked at her father's face, confirming all the details again and again, as if she wanted to completely engrave every wrinkle, every hair, and every subtle expression change in the other person, and then carefully compare it with the appearance she remembered more than ten years ago. She didn't know what the meaning of doing this - but she had to find something for herself to calm her mood a little bit.

My father is completely different from my memory. Apart from those eyes, Andesha has hardly found many details that match the memory in the other person's face... Is this just because more than ten years have caused her to forget the details of her childhood? Or is it because the life experiences over the years can really make a person change so much?

"You are completely different from what I remember," she couldn't help but say, "I remember you have a very tall forehead...and a wider nose bridge than you are now..."

Bud reached out and touched his face.

Yes, this face should have changed a lot, which is a change that is difficult to explain with the passage of time - embracing darkness and depravity comes at a price. He can no longer remember how many taboo and dangerous forces he has come into contact with, how much he has paid for those forces... Flesh transformation, test of the god-infamous factor, mutations, toxins, this face has changed between humans and inhumans again and again, and has been reshaped again and again. Although he has been maintaining his original human appearance as much as possible, this face has finally become unrecognizable.

There are probably not many people in this world who can recognize themselves.

"This is the price to live to this day," Bud said with a little self-deprecating voice, "Fortunately, everything has passed, I'm living here well."

Andesa was silent for a moment, and finally couldn't help asking the question she had wanted to ask since the beginning: "So you have been in Cecil... Ansu? You are not dead at all, you are just caught by Ansu and then become theirs?"

Her words were questioning tone, but she was somewhat lacking in confidence - because she was just a prisoner of war who chose to surrender and seemed not very qualified to question her father.

But she was obviously still a little angry, and even almost annoyed - that was the emotion caused by the impact of her long-standing outlook on life. She stared at her father, as if she was not only looking for an answer, but also hoped that the other party could have a complete set of words that could convince herself so that this "betrayal" would not be so shameful.

Bard had already expected that this problem would be waiting for him, and he had been preparing for it for a long time, but after this moment really came, he was silent for a long time before he accumulated the courage to speak: "Anterssa, I... have experienced a lot of things. In the past few years, I have done something... more terrifying than you think."

...

Margarita came to a tower on the west wall of Solinburg. Although the world "outside" was already cold winter, the wind blowing from the tower was still as warm as spring. She pushed apart a strand of hair blown by the wind on her forehead, looked up at the direction of the trunk of the giant tree, and breathed a sigh of relief.

This is the highest place in the entire Solin Fort, but even here, the magnificent canopy of the Solin tree is still a long way from Margarita. She looked up at the layers of green "doors", and countless glowing vines dotted between the domes and myceliums hanging like veils shining like the stars in the night. If she hadn't known the secret behind this, who would have thought that such a dreamy wonder was actually rooted in the flesh and blood abyss of a dark sect?

There was a rustling sound nearby, and some flower vines that were originally climbing outside the tower squirmed behind Margarita. Belltila slowly walked out of the clusters of flower vines: "Ri'an, General Margarita."

Margarita did not look back: "Is the reunion between that 'maid' and her father still going well?"

"The atmosphere is pretty good... Although it's a little bit worse now, I think they will go smoothly in the end," said Belltila, and then she paused. "Actually, I don't think Bard is a good choice to tell his daughter about his past decade of experience in the death of everything in the end - especially when the latter's injury has not healed, but he doesn't seem to think so."

"…They haven't met for too long, and maybe Mr. Bud couldn't find a better topic than this, and in my opinion, Miss Andesha Wendell wasn't like someone who would get out of control in such things."

"Maybe," Belltila was silent for a moment before whispering, "I haven't had relatives and friends for too long, and I don't understand this aspect very well... The experience and memory from hundreds of years ago may not be applicable to this generation today."

Margarita looked at the ancient druid who was no longer considered human, and said casually: "You should have received the news too - the Solin area will send a mixed support force including combat, construction and medical personnel to the front line of the Winter Wolf Castle to deal with the increasingly powerful counterattack of the Tifeng people there."

"Ah, of course I received it. After all, I am responsible for a lot of work here," Belltila was very calm. "This is normal. A considerable number of personnel from the Production and Construction Corps in the Solin area were recruited from the East last year. They understand the situation in the Changfeng-Wolf confrontation area."

"...Don't you think about it?" Margarita couldn't help asking.

But Belltila asked her back: "What do you want to say?"

"You used to be a Tifountain, although that was a long time ago," Margarita looked at the other party seriously. "Strictly speaking... you are even one of the ancestors of Rosetta Augustus, the Tifountain Royal Family. Tifoun is now suffering a disaster, and Cecil is in a state of war with them, and I thought you would have extra attention."

"You said too, that was a long time ago," Belltila suddenly smiled, although the smile was a little stiff and rigid. "I left Tiffon far longer than the time when Bud and his daughter were separated, so far that I had forgotten what those faces of the Augustus family looked like. There are no people I know, no cities and streets I know, and even Orlandell in my memory has sank into the depths of the earth two hundred years ago... Now it is a strange place to me, and I don't think I have anything to sigh about."

Margarita was stunned for a moment before slowly showing a smile: "That's true."

A gust of wind blows from the far north, and the canopy of the giant Thorin tree radiates a large area in the wind, with long rustling sounds. These branches, which are measured in kilometers, are stretched out. Belltila's gaze extends among the branches, looking towards the distant east - but outside the perception area of ​​the giant tree, all she can see as a plant is endless darkness.

...

The fog, the boundless fog, enveloped the entire Aldernan fog.

This month of each year, the fog that lasts forever always covers the city standing on the plains. The people of Aldernan have become accustomed to this season of thick fog and are used to living under the chaotic sky for months. In the eyes of poetic people, the fog floating between buildings and roofs and towers that are shadowy in the fog are even a fascinating beauty. Psalms about the imperial capital in the fog are everywhere and at any time for two centuries.

However, in the foggy moon in Cecil 2 years (Tifeng 739 years), the citizens of Aldernan felt the most from this familiar fog.

An atmosphere of panic spread throughout the city with all kinds of rumors. The church of the God of War, which was said to have been occupied by evil spirits, the frequently mobilized troops, and the news from the front line, all stirred the nervous nerves of the Tifeng people. On the last day of the first week of Wuyue, another real big event happened.

Compared with the vague and anxious rumors before, at least this matter is clear: His Majesty the Emperor temporarily closed the parliament after all members of the Imperial Parliament passed unanimously.

No one knows what future this city — or the country — will face.

But for the civilians living at the bottom of the city, they have not yet reached the level of worrying about such "big things". The factories are still operating, exchanges, stations and docks still require a large number of employees. Even due to the outbreak of this inexplicable war, the machines in the factories are turning a little happier than before, and those who work in the factories... they have to work harder to keep up with the bearings and gears that are turning faster and faster.

Bonn tightened his old coat and walked hurriedly on the way to the Magic Train Station. He had walked this road many times. Almost every day he had to set out from here, to move things in the station or warehouse next to the station, load and unload the truck, and then to the sun set to set off to get home, from here to return to the dilapidated apartment on Lower Cross Street. He was not the only one walking on this road, and many people who also went to the station worked on the same route as him-they were walking fast or slow in the fog, silently speaking, only the sound of footsteps, like gears and chains in the factory that could not speak.

The ringtone of the two-wheeler came from nearby. Bonn looked at the side and saw the young postman riding a car through the fog. The black bag was loaded on the back seat of the car, which was much wet by the fog.

The postman looked so energetic when he passed between these workers, and even had a proud attitude. Obviously, he thought his work was more decent than these coolies who could only carry goods.

Bonn shook his head, thought nothing, just continued to drive his own way.

But another sound came, breaking the calm in the fog: it came from mid-air, as if some sharp resonance sound had passed through the entire city in an instant, and then a short and high-spirited music sounded from the air. It was so sudden and loud that even the fog that never dissipated in Aldernan seemed to be shaken by this sound, flowing in the winter sunshine.

Bonn was stunned for a moment and soon realized what this was - this was the sound released by the magic towers set up all over the city, and these magic towers were directly connected to the Obsidian Palace. The citizens of Aldernan knew very well what the sounds of these "magic things controlled by the mage" meant - obviously, a big man who was qualified to speak over the city was about to speak, and everyone in the whole city had to listen.

The next sound will even appear in recent newspapers and be sent to various parts of the country.

Bonn subconsciously shrank his neck, and then he heard a majestic, low male voice suddenly sounded, which scared him-

“… Say hello to my hardworking and loyal people, I am your protector and loyal servant of the Empire, Rosetta Augustus…

“…The royal family has noticed the tension permeated the city, but please relax. The situation has been effectively controlled. Recently…

“…The Empire has entered a state of wartime emergency, and the royal family will spare no effort to protect the rights and interests of every citizen during this difficult time. I now personally announce the following bill:

“…The rights and interests of workers in factories will be protected, and the income of all positions will not be lower than that of workers who extend working hours and work overtime and actively contribute to the empire, corresponding rewards will be specially formulated…

“About wartime food supply and medical supplies…”

...

Magic radio echoed over the city, and could be clearly heard in any corner of Aldernan.

"Crazy...crazy...crazy!!"

A short man walked around in anger in the hall covered with dark red carpets, his expensive and delicate leather boots sank into the thick carpet, making only a small sound. His precious dress was pleated by his rough movements, and even the buttons on his collar fell off - that was pulled off by himself in an angry display of attitude.

Several high-level combat mages in black short robes were standing near him. These combat mages were staring at the indifferent man with a cold look, with neither pity nor sarcastic expression on their faces.

"He can't do this! Listen, he can't do this - even if he is the emperor!" The short and strong man blushed and shouted to the black-robed mages, "He has no right to deprive me of any reputation and titles, which were granted to my family by his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather! What did I do? I did nothing! I just tried to maintain our glorious tradition! You go and reply to the person who lives in the Obsidian Palace, he has no right at all..."

"Sir Yule, there is still one last minute to arrange family affairs," a black-robed mage suddenly spoke calmly, interrupting the man's annoyed shout, "If you confirm that you have already arranged it, please go with us-in addition to completing the procedures, you have to explain a lot to Prince Hadilan."

"What are you explaining? I don't have anything to explain!"

"For example, the three illegal manors under your name, or the extra golden characters in your vault-" said the black-robed wizard quietly, "or those who have disappeared in your family castle?"

The short and strong man suddenly turned redder and looked at the wanderer mage in front of him angrily: "Listen, I don't know where these unreasonable accusations come from - and even if they exist, what is this for a noble like me? Do you want to take me away from here on these accusations alone!?"

"Sadly, you really have only one choice - go to the Obsidian Palace with us, which at least proves that you are loyal to the Empire and to His Majesty himself."

The short and strong man stared at his eyes, and then he suddenly seemed to calm down again. He took a step back and pulled his coat hard, saying word by word: "Let that unfried Hadilan Augustus come to see me in person, or let his father come!"

The battle mages looked at each other.

"Well, Sir Yule, then that's the second plan."

A mage said as he walked forward.

"You are not loyal."
Chapter completed!