Following Prince Dazlet's public speech at the Fire Emblem Square, the news that the Empire was about to go to war with the United Kingdom of Anlong spread throughout the country at a rapid speed.
Countless newspapers with titles such as "Western War" or related content were printed in factories of all sizes and delivered to the people of the empire through newsboys.
Many complex emotions such as excitement, anticipation and worry have converged into an invisible force called "atmosphere of the times", which inadvertently fills every corner.
The rich frequently discussed the topic of the Western War at dinners and parties, and they kept a close eye on the progress of the incident. Many of the upper class had strong confidence in the empire and had even begun to sell their real estate and stocks, intending to rush to that territory to do business as soon as the war ended.
Compared with those who have the courage to take a gamble, the vast majority of politicians and wealthy businessmen are trying to take advantage of the opportunity to make money.
Various non-governmental associations, under the influence of undercurrents, began to raise funds on a large scale, putting most of the money into their own pockets and donating the remaining funds to the government for free, under the pretext of adding strength to the war.
As for the lower-class civilians, although they did not care much about the so-called Western War, they would often participate in the discussion involuntarily in crowded occasions, and even express some "unique" opinions, which often attracted the ridicule of some gentlemen and ladies.
Within the Trisur Empire, different classes behaved differently, just like a pot of chemicals that produced a violent reaction under the action of a catalyst.
But no matter what, even if this phenomenon cannot be said to be unprecedented, it is a major event in the past hundred years other than the Red Disaster, and it has touched the hearts of countless people.
Seven days passed in a flash.
The smell of war has spread throughout the country.
During this period, residents of the Wilderness State and the Insect State near the western border could frequently see large horse-drawn convoys carrying equipment and supplies roaring past. On the rails connecting the area, the sound of clanging and shaking was endless, and trains were coming one after another, carrying countless troops.
Accompanied by the shrill sound of the whistle, the steam from the locomotive seemed to interweave with the yellow sand in the sky, forming an unclear maze.
May 18, 4420 of the solar calendar, afternoon.
Chen Lun and his troops arrived at the Vulture City in the deserted country.
His first impression of the city was that it was dry, hot, and full of sandstorms. As for the local customs and people, they could be summed up in three words:
Dirty and messy!
Sitting in the carriage and scanning the scenery along the way, various simple bungalows built with stones can be seen everywhere. Dark-skinned local residents wearing white linen shirts wander around the simple streets like zombies. Skinny children play with mud and insects, staring with confused or frightened eyes, watching more and more strangers breaking into this land.
Chen Lun was not surprised by this. After all, the Deserted State was on the border, and Vulture City was right next to the imperial border. Outside the western city wall, the wheat fields of the Principality of Yaco could be seen across dozens of miles of desert.
The environment here is harsh, and materials are expensive and scarce. Even though railways have been laid in recent years and transportation has become increasingly convenient, local development still cannot keep up with areas such as Baoshibang and Yanbang.
In order to familiarize himself with the environment as quickly as possible, Chen Lun hired a local guide who spoke fluent Trisur language for only the "high price" of 50 silver gallons.
This is a young girl in her twenties named Singh. She has wheat-colored skin, long black hair tied into a ponytail, and an optimistic smile on her face, which is impressive.
This is also the reason why Chen Lun fell in love with her at first sight in the "talent market" on the street.
"Have you ever been to the Gem State to study?"
Chen Lun sat in the carriage, glanced at the "resume" in his hand, looked up and asked.
The two pages in her hand recorded some of Singh's personal information, all handwritten by her and looking quite simple.
"Yes, sir. I studied at the Cypress College in Amber City, the Gem State, for two years and saw the prosperity of the inland areas..."
Singh sat stiffly on the chair in the carriage, clasped his hands together, and looked up nervously.
Chen Lun raised his eyebrows, he didn't expect it to be such a coincidence.
'I went to the same technical college as Connie, but I don't know if we were classmates...'
Connie did not come with the others this time, but stayed in the royal city, otherwise the two might have some common topics.
Chen Lun looked at the other party's embarrassed look, then turned to Morey and said:
"Pour her a glass of juice."
"Yes, Mr. Jack."
Morey was wearing a black suit made of high-end fabric and a top hat, looking like an upper-class gentleman, but beside Chen Lun he looked like an ordinary servant.
After he lowered his head to answer, he turned around and took out an exquisite glass bottle from the freezer inside the car, poured the golden and clear iced orange juice into the glass, and handed it to Singer.
The latter was at a loss for words and quickly refused:
"No... No, sir, this is too expensive, just give me a glass of water."
"Don't be so nervous, it's just a glass of juice."
Chen Lun smiled.
He knew that local supplies were scarce and that fresh water was even more expensive. Only a very small number of dignitaries could enjoy a glass of juice like this one.
Singh still didn't dare to take the glass, he lowered his head and said nothing.
Chen Lun shook his head and said half-jokingly:
"It seems that Miss Singer is not very happy to serve me."
"No, it is not, sir."
The woman looked up quickly and said.
"Then please take the cup. My subordinates' hands are sore from holding it."
Chen Lun raised his hand to signal.
Singh looked at his smile, his wheat-colored cheeks flushed involuntarily, and then he carefully took the glass.
"Thanks."
"It can be seen that you actually had many opportunities to continue to develop in the Gem State, but you gave them up. Why?"
Chen Lun put away the paper and handed it to Fu Luoyin behind him.
"Sir, this place is too backward. I want to come back and help make it as prosperous as those big cities..."
Singh nodded, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"But I overestimated my abilities. Many local companies don't think highly of me, and the knowledge I learned at Hinoki College is hardly useful."
Chen Lun shook his head secretly.
There are countless examples like Singh in the wasteland and insect states. It is not due to a lack of talent, but is caused by multiple factors such as geographical environment, economic environment and infrastructure.
Many colleges and universities in big cities train students based on the needs of the industrial system, and placing them in backward areas would be completely unsuitable.
Therefore, "college students" like Singh can only end up on the streets and do odd jobs.
At this time, the carriage passed through a wide road. The bungalows on both sides gradually disappeared, and were replaced by huge dilapidated warehouses. The doors were almost all open. There were many carts and stalls at the door, and some men wearing turbans and cloaks gathered here.
Chen Lun noticed the changes outside the car window and asked curiously:
"What is this place?"
Singh followed his line of sight and glanced out the window, explaining:
"In the gun market, most second-hand and even older guns can be bought here at a cheap price... In addition, there are various weapons and bombs."
Seeing Chen Lun's interested face, she continued to add:
"Behind those warehouses, there are usually private clinics, but most doctors are part-time employees of the bosses and basically don't have medical licenses. In addition to doing some trauma surgeries, they also sell addictive stimulant drugs... This kind of thing is very popular in Vulture City."
Chen Lun nodded to show his understanding.
"Because of the looting?"
"Yes, sir."
Singh was a little surprised. He didn't expect that the other party knew the underlying reason very well.
"Because Vulture City is located on the border, even though there are Imperial military troops stationed there, there are still some gangsters from the United Kingdom of Anlong that come here to loot and commit atrocities... Here, almost every household has more than one gun, even if they have difficulty even having enough food and clothing."
As she spoke, her face showed mixed emotions of anger, sadness and distress.
Chen Lun sighed inwardly.
In fact, he already knew the basic situation of the border through intelligence files, but this was different from personal investigation.
"This is the rotten corner of the empire... Vulture City is even more chaotic and backward than remote areas like Emerald Town, and how can the dignitaries in big cities pay attention to such a place?"
In addition to the problems of rampant arms and banned drugs, human trafficking is also rampant here. Many local women and children often disappear for no reason. They are either trafficked to neighboring countries or end up in the homes of some powerful people in the mainland and become playthings.
The border of the empire can be said to be an extremely chaotic area. It is not that the authorities cannot manage it, but that they do not want to manage it. As a result, one-third of the opposition supernatural beings and forces on the empire's wanted list come from the border area.
Chen Lun fell into silence, looking through the window at the scenery along the way.
He discovered that many players and military personnel had already arrived at this moment, and their figures appeared in the streets and alleys and various stores.
"What time is it?"
Chen Lun suddenly asked.
Morey, who was standing by, raised his hand, glanced at his watch, and whispered:
"Mr. Jack, it's already 1:20 p.m."
"Let's go eat first, and then gather the people."
Chen Lun nodded.
He then asked Singh about the famous local hotels, and the latter quickly listed several place names, as well as their respective signature dishes and environments.
"Then let's go to the Iobani Hotel."
Chen Lun chose one of them and asked Singh to tell Golov who was driving the carriage the specific route.
After a moment, Singh returned to the carriage and cautiously reminded:
"Sir, the Iorbani Hotel is owned by the Bloody Hand Gang."
"I know."
Chen Lun smiled.
Singh looked surprised.
The "Bloody Hand Gang" she mentioned is a local gang organization that makes its main living by selling arms, but what she doesn't know is that there is a supernatural force behind the "Bloody Hand Gang".
Chen Lun was planning to find this "local tyrant" to find out some deeper intelligence.
Half an hour later.
The carriage drove through the rugged streets of the district with difficulty and finally arrived at the door of a large four-story hotel. The sign of the building read "Yobani" in large letters and the walls were painted with light yellow paint.
Chen Lun got off the carriage holding his silver cane.
Floin and other team leaders followed closely behind, and two carriages followed behind, which also stopped one after another, and Frey, Akbin and other councilors walked out of them.
"There are quite a few extraordinary people inside, about thirty in number, and there are also some scattered around, about seven or eight people."
Fuluoyin held up a purple-black parasol with withered flowers, walked to Chen Lun's side, shielding him from the scorching sun, and spoke softly.
Chen Lun nodded and said nothing.
He actually knew better than Flo Yin that some of these extraordinary people were players, some were locals, and some were thugs of the "Blood Hand Gang".
"Ms. Singh, you've worked hard on the journey. Please come in and have dinner. It's my treat."
Chen Lun turned around and spoke to the guide.
The latter once again looked flattered and declined politely.
She had just savored the orange juice all the way in the carriage and was already satisfied. Now she dared not step into the hotel no matter what.
Seeing this, Chen Lun no longer forced her and asked Golov to give her an additional five gold pounds as a tip, and called a local carriage to take her away.
Singh got into the car amidst his gratitude. Chen Lun immediately called his men and walked into the hotel together.
"Attention all teams, another group of unfamiliar outsiders have entered the hotel. They are all extraordinary people!"
When the two burly men at the door saw Chen Lun and his group, their expressions changed slightly and they quickly took out their walkie-talkies and spoke.
The reason why they reacted so strongly was naturally because Chen Lun and the others were dressed in extraordinary clothes and had extraordinary temperaments, and they did not look like ordinary people. And the unfathomable extraordinary pressure was like the instinctive awe of living things, which made the hairs of these "security guards" stand on end.
Shortly afterwards, dozens of muscular gang members wearing short-sleeved shirts and turbans entered the hotel and stood on both sides of the lobby, as if they were prepared to deal with any unexpected events that might arise.
Chen Lun knew all of this clearly, but he turned a blind eye and led his men to find two large tables in the corner of the hall.
The waiter came over quickly, but Chen Lun handed the menu to Fuluoyin and others, and looked around the hotel.
Although this is what Singh called a "grand hotel", its layout and decoration are obviously not comparable to those in the mainland. At best, it can only be said to be at the level of an ordinary hotel in Amber City.
There weren't many guests dining here. After all, those who could come here to spend money were all from the upper class of Vulture City. Chen Lun noticed that the guests at the tables near the railing on the second floor were Transcendent players.
These players did not focus on the food, but looked around, exploring recklessly, looking curious and excited.
Soon, players at one table turned their eyes to Chen Lun. The next second, they danced with excitement as if they had discovered something exciting, attracting the attention of people around them.
"Shit! It's Jack..."
The voice gradually became smaller, but Chen Lun clearly knew that the other party recognized him.
"Captain, it's the Immortal Stranger."
Golov whispered.
Chen Lun nodded, indicating that it was not a big deal.
After the waiter pushed the food cart over, he signaled his men to eat first, and then issued a call to Polaris and other high-level players through the "Pale Seal".
"All foreign warriors who have arrived at the Vulture City of the Wasteland, please gather at the 'Yobani Hotel' within an hour."