The Northern Empire, the city of three mountains, the imperial capital.
The royal guards at the Morlai Palace in the imperial capital saw Nostradamus, the chief mage of the empire, entering the royal study for several hours before walking out with a solemn expression. The expression on his face looked very worried, as if he had learned some bad news.
But then, he shook his head, smiled happily, and then teleported away, not knowing where he was going.
At first, the guards didn't think this was anything. After all, the Archmage was the Emperor's mentor when he was a young man. He once assisted the Emperor in defeating other princes to seize the throne of the Empire, and also served as a strategist to defeat the orc army. The relationship between the two They were already so intimate that Nostradamus didn't even need to ask for permission to enter or leave the palace, he could just walk in. Although his expression was a bit wrong this time, it was within the normal range.
They originally thought that this was just an ordinary teacher-student meeting. After all, His Majesty the Emperor had just wiped out the Orc Royal Court, and it was normal for the two big figures to reminisce about the past.
But in fact, this statement is generally correct, but there are still some slight differences.
Starfall 832, July 23rd, after a few days of thinking, analysis, and research, a secret order was passed to all high-level officials and high-level military forces in the empire through various channels.
The author of this secret order is none other than Israel Diamond, His Majesty the Emperor.
Due to the convenience of magic, it didn’t take long for everyone in the southern fortress group, the dual duchies in the northwest, the northern mountain passes, the northern land and the eastern frontier coast to receive the secret order, and all regions of the empire except the center began to take action. .
Some of them frowned, some were worried, and some didn't take it seriously, while more people followed the secret order and began to make intense preparations for war.
The army, which was originally immersed in joy because of the elimination of the orcs, is now busy again. Of course, this is in the name of acting and daily exercise, but anyone can smell a hint of something wrong - no matter how it is called an exercise , the tension of being on the verge of war cannot be erased.
Moreover, the administrative department that had already taken a rest has also begun to collect food and repair fortifications. And most of these fortifications are not ordinary, but special anti-aircraft attack fortifications. The soldiers at the bottom are fine, but as the high-level officers, Many people can tell at a glance that these fortifications are not aimed at ordinary civilized races, but seem to be to protect against some flying beasts.
For example, dragon!
In the royal study of the Palace of Morlay, His Majesty the Emperor is placing the skull of an orc on the corner of the table. The skull has no decorations, and even the scars and cracks on it have not been repaired, but even so, it is this The most precious collection on the table, bar none.
Because this is the skull left behind by the last Great Khan of the Orcs, if there is no accident, this is the most important achievement in the life of His Majesty the Emperor.
From a purely emotional point of view, Israel is naturally willing to believe what Nostradamus said before.
He was particularly interested in what Joshua said about the dragon attack. His Imperial Majesty, of course, has his own channels to understand and analyze these things. You must know that dragon beast attacks on villages occur all over the country, not just in the North. If you don't pay attention, you will probably only think that it is the Kuroshio. There are still questions left, but if you think in other directions, it is indeed very suspicious.
Even though he was born in the military, the process of winning the throne was not peaceful, but even so, Israel could not sit back and watch the dragon beast cause large-scale panic and devour the people of his country. He was not cold-blooded to that point.
Because of this, even though there was no definite evidence, he also issued a secret order to prepare for precautions and investigate the current situation of the Five-Colored Dragon Clan.
And in Moldavia in the North.
The story of the lord's dragon slaying is also slowly spreading.
This is a normal thing. After all, no one ordered to silence anyone. When Joshua drove Hei, walked on fire, ran out of the city, and headed to the north, everyone saw it. A few people spread the word, and the whole city immediately became aware of it.
Whether it was the local mercenary guild or the gathering place for outside adventurers, whether it was in the tavern or Liuying Street, there were people who, after getting drunk, swore that they had seen several huge figures in the lord's mansion. The dragon's head is enough to prove the lord's dragon-slaying deeds.
If Joshua heard this, he would probably laugh it off. In fact, these bragging adventurers were right, but the dragon heads placed in the lord's mansion were those of the Black Erosion Dragon and the Ice-Tooth Dragon, not this time. The white dragon head that slays the dragon.
In the north of the city, a scholar's family welcomed two new members.
Edward, who is nearly seventy years old, has some gray on his temples. He is wearing a pair of alchemy glasses and stands at the door. He and his maid look at the two slightly uneasy children in front of him. His gray pupils reveal A feeling of loving kindness.
The boy and girl in front of him have the same platinum hair. The girl has a long ponytail, while the boy has a hunter braid with a hairband like his father. Their eyes are also like those of Northerners. Some of his gray pupils showed that he was of pure Northern blood.
"Ivan, Amira, don't be afraid."
Taking a step forward, the old man rushed the two children into his arms. His voice was full of compassion, and he gently comforted the two poor children who had just lost their parents: "Children, grandpa, here are you. 's new home"
In fact, Edward is not the father of the hunter Andre, but his uncle. However, because he did not want to stay in his hometown to be a hunter, he had conflicts with his family, and then ran away from home and followed the dragon. The car caravan went to the imperial capital to work hard.
Ten years later, he returned from his studies and became a teacher and scholar in the North. However, due to conflicts in the early years, he rarely contacted his family, and only went back a few times when his parents and eldest brother passed away. The relationship between the younger brother and his eldest brother is naturally not very good, and is very weak - but now, no matter how much conflict has become trivial in the face of time and death, Edward, who has no offspring, learned about his eldest brother's son and wife. After they all died from the dragon beast attack, they suddenly felt like the world was shattering and they almost fainted.
Even a commoner attaches great importance to the continuation of his bloodline. After receiving such a huge blow, even his calm mind could not bear it. Fortunately, his maid later found out that in the village where almost everyone died , two children fortunately survived, and they happened to be the descendants of the hunter Andre. In the midst of great sorrow and joy, the scholar immediately found someone to find his eldest brother's last heir, and took them to the main city.
Being hugged by this old man who claimed to be his grandfather, Ivan was still a little nervous, but the child's unique intuition told him that this old man did not have any malice towards him and his sister, but was full of sincere joy and love. Because of his love, his originally tense body slowly softened, and even the trace of sadness that had accumulated in his heart began to well up in his heart.
But then, he resisted the feeling of tears wanting to flow out. Instead, he shook his head and said softly in a childish but firm voice: "I will not forget it."
"...What won't be forgotten?"
Edward was stunned for a moment, he didn't understand something.
Ivan and his sister Amira looked at each other, then took a deep breath and said, "I will never forget those monsters!"
Those monsters! Those dragons!
Destroyed the village where he had lived since childhood, killed his loving parents, and burned everything in his memory... Although the terrifying momentum still made him shudder when he recalled it, he would never forget those things about himself A lifelong enemy!
Even after hearing the news that the local young lord had gone to the dragon's nest to slay the dragon successfully, his hatred did not diminish by half.
Creatures like dragons should not exist in this world!
Looking into the eyes of this young child, and hearing Ivan's firm words, Edward was silent for a while, and then he showed a hearty smile, and even laughed louder and louder, until he finally laughed out loud.
"OK!"
After laughing, he loudly agreed. The old man's eyes flashed with the same brilliance as the boy's eyes. He patted the boy's shoulder heavily and said in a firm tone: "You are not responsible for this tragedy. And it is great to become a shadow of the dragon! The blood of hunters will always flow in the bodies of our family members, and we should not be afraid of our prey, even if it means death!"
Although hatred can only produce new hatred, hatred is the biggest driving force. As a scholar, Edward naturally understands this truth.
But he is definitely not someone who preaches to let go of hatred. As a Northlander with the same pure blood, even if he studied in the imperial capital for ten years, he still can't change the bad temper in his bones - if someone hits him, he will hit him back. , if you bleed, you will also want the enemy to bleed, even if you die, you will take those bastards to hell with you!
Tooth for tooth, eye for eye! If one's parents were killed by a dragon, then one's career would be to slay dragons for the rest of one's life. This was a perfectly normal logic for the people of the North.
"Me too, I think so too!"
The little girl on the side, Amira, also clenched her little fists. She said loudly with the same firm voice: "I am just like my brother! If it is to kill those monsters, I will go too!"
"Okay, they are all good kids!"
As Ivan and Amira whispered, Edward laughed, and then picked them up excitedly: "Grandpa, even if I spend all my savings, I will definitely give you the best education. !Ouch!"
Click!
His movements suddenly stiffened: "My waist..."
The maid on the side came skillfully, put down the two children, and then picked up the old man who had ducked, carried him on his shoulders, and sent him back to the room. At the maid's greeting, The boys and girls also followed her steps in confusion and walked into the house.
As night gradually fell, the lights also lit up in this small room. The sounds of children's activities also appeared among the originally quiet scholars. The aroma of the food filled the air. Everyone had their own goals.
And in a small village in Xishan.
A blond paladin held a war hammer and wore a bloody white armor with seven holy symbols of seven gods on it, but only the holy symbol of the God of Life shone brightly. He silently dragged his head, which had been hammered. The huge explosive dragon beast walked out of the forest and came to the villagers who were waiting nervously.
"Okay, you're safe, this is the last crazy dragon beast."
Beside the paladin, there was a pile of towering dragon beast corpses, with dozens of dragon beast corpses on top. Throwing the corpse in his hand onto the pile of corpses, the paladin clapped his hands, and then said plainly The voice said: "However, although I have wiped out all the monsters around you, you cannot relax your vigilance. The evil power is spreading. I think it is better for you to move to a place closer to a big city as soon as possible. This will be safer. "
His voice was a little dull because he was wearing a helmet: "Keep staying in the mountain, maybe I won't show up next time."
"You are right, Lord Knight, we are already preparing things."
The leading elderly village chief nodded quickly, bowed gratefully, took out a bag from his arms, handed it out with both hands, and said respectfully: "This is for you, sir..."
"I don't need payment."
Before the other party could finish speaking, the paladin reached out and pushed the bag away, rejecting the other party's move. A dull voice came from behind the helmet, extremely calm: "Helping mankind is the purpose of the church. Instead of giving me money, , it is better to buy more clothes for the children, and you should also prepare some weapons to protect yourself."
"Alas, you knights never accept payment. You are completely different from those lords. We can't even express our gratitude..."
After several attempts, he was rejected. The old man sighed and put the bag back in his arms helplessly. He seemed to want to say something more. But at this moment, a nervous little girl sneaked in from behind the village chief. He took it out and ran to the paladin before the village chief could react.
"Uncle Knight, this is for you."
She held out a wooden amulet.
Some dirty little hands held an amulet. Although it looked a bit crude, it could be seen from the carving marks that it was very carefully crafted.
After the knight was silent for a while, a dull short sound came from his helmet, which sounded like he was laughing.
Next, he knelt down on one knee, took the amulet from the girl's hand, and put one hand on her head. From behind the helmet, a gentle voice finally came out: "Thank you, child, for your blessing." That’s my motivation.”
"This is the best reward."
After solemnly hanging the amulet on his wrist, the paladin turned around and left amidst the thanks of the villagers.
Paladin Loranda's journey due to getting lost continues.
Thanks to Ni Liao Xue, Lazy Ying Long, and Nianhua Sijin for your rewards.
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(End of chapter)