It has been several days since the news of the victory on the Eastern Front came. In the southern region where information transmission channels are more developed, more and more news is spreading between cities and villages.
On the streets and in the tavern card rooms, almost everyone is eagerly discussing the recent shocking and exciting news, the past of the Ansu royal family and the future of the Cecil Empire. In this land, even the most ordinary citizens will express their own opinions on similar topics, no matter how ridiculous and superficial their opinions are.
In Rock City, in a tavern in the business district, the bright magic crystal lamp dispelled the dimness at dusk, and the rows of wine bottles placed on the bar shelves were polished to shine. The liquid in the wine glowed with an alluring brilliance under the light. A small rectangular cabinet-like machine was placed next to the bar. The small machine was playing country tunes loved by southerners, with a simple rhythm, bright and cheerful.
A light shines on the nameplate on the top of the small machine, and the words "Cod Family Management Company" shine on the surface of the brass nameplate.
A man in work clothes sat in front of the bar. He took the beer glass handed by the bartender and raised it slightly: "Cheers to off work time."
"Qiao, look at the recent news. Have you read the newspaper?" A tall and thin man sat nearby and said casually, "The royal family has finally come to an end - even the king has voluntarily abdicated."
"Inevitable, Mr. Godwin. Didn't I say that the royal power is over? After this battle, no part of the kingdom can survive. If it weren't for the rescue of our army from the south, the north would be completely destroyed. The royal family can no longer control the situation. It can't survive without reorganization. How..."
"That's right, the newspaper said that the eastern part of the Holy Spirit Plain was completely in ruins. If Cecil's Army had not blocked the river in time, the western part might not have been saved."
"Salute to Gawain Cecil - we will call him your Majesty soon," the man in overalls laughed, shaking the cup in his hand, "Not bad at all, he is much better than the king... ...Who is the king?"
"The one who just abdicated was Wales, but I guess you want to say Francesca... Anyway, it doesn't make much difference, we don't know each other."
p>The two people laughed, and no one seemed to regret the end of Ansu's royal power.
For a long time in the past, the people of the South did not care about their king. This abandoned land has been fending for itself since a century ago. For that distant Saint Sunil As well as Silver Castle, many people in the South even regard it as part of the story.
Ordinary people are so practical.
However, not everyone had the same idea. The sound of a wine glass hitting the table suddenly came from not far away, causing several pairs of eyes near the bar to turn.
"I just can't figure it out..." A man with an unshaven beard and the smell of alcohol in his mouth muttered, but the muttering was so loud that people around him could hear it, "HeIsn't he a Duke? Duke...Why did the Duke suddenly become the king...The Duke cannot be the king..."
"Hey, Potter, you're drunk again," a familiar person shouted from behind He said, “You’ve been here since morning, right? ”
Someone else reminded the drunkard: “If you are not a king, you should be called His Majesty the Emperor—the title of King is no longer available.” "
"The same goes for the emperor...the emperor...and the Government Affairs Office and the Constitution are all a bunch of things that people...can't understand," the drunk man stood up unsteadily. Throwing away a few pairs of hands that wanted to support him, he wandered across the bar, "There are new opportunities everywhere... Damn new opportunities..."
The man swayed back and forth. After crossing the aisle, he suddenly stopped next to the small machine that was playing country ballads by the bar. His drunken eyes rolled around, and anger suddenly appeared.
“You...noisy thing. , you ruined... ruined my job..."
He cursed, suddenly raised his foot and kicked towards the machine - but before he raised his foot, the bartender behind the bar had already Raising his hand, the magic device on the latter's wrist flashed, and a ball of cold ice hit the drunk man's face, knocking him upside down.
Two. A security guard stepped forward, picked up the noisy drunkard, and was about to drag him out the door, but the bartender stopped the security guard, came to the drunkard, reached out and took out a copper plate from the drunkard's pocket. .
"Ice cubes now, one copper coin. "The bartender waved the magic terminal in his hand, which was used to make ice cubes and ignite fire, in front of the drunkard's eyes. After confirming that the other party nodded, he stood up and left.
The drunkard was dragged away, a small commotion It was just an insignificant episode. People continued to drink and chat as they should. Someone who was unfamiliar with him asked about the origin of the drunkard, and someone explained: "That one?" Potter was a bard—actually a poor organ player. Not many people listened to his noises in the first place, and even fewer people listened to him now. ”
“He went to the factory to hang out for a few days, and was fired for stealing. He was unwilling to do anything else down-to-earth. Now... I think he is afraid of selling all his pianos. . "
"The bard...no wonder he feels that the Cord player has ruined his job. ”
“Not only the player, he also blamed newspapers and magic network broadcasts before, and even blamed chess and football teams - saying that it was because these things attracted people’s attention that he No one is willing to listen to his stories and performances in the square..."
It seems that this small episode caused some discussion in people's spare time. Listening to the discussion around them, the bar counter The man in overalls in front of him turned his head and glanced at the tall and thin man next to him: "Speaking of which, I remember that you are also a bard - now you don't perform on the street anymore, do you blame this? Is the machine ruining your job? ”
The tall and thin man looked at the small machine next to the bar, then looked at himselfThe friend suddenly laughed quite proudly.
“Are you familiar with the voice in this machine?” He smiled proudly, and when he saw his old friend’s stunned expression, his smile became even brighter, “This is what I recorded... Well, although I only recorded two of them."
Many people around heard the conversation, and some couldn't help but look surprised - seeing the people in the magic machine appear alive in front of them. This feeling is always novel and interesting, and the tall and thin man who received a lot of surprised looks smiled reservedly and added: "But I really like telling stories more than playing, so after a while I plan to try out the Magic Network Broadcasting Bureau in Carroll City. They seem to be recruiting people who are good at telling stories to do new programs..."
More and more people gathered around the bar. A new topic obviously appeared there, but in a corner far away from the bar, a thin and pale man wearing an old robe with messy short brown hair was still sitting quietly in his seat. He seemed uninterested in what was going on in the bar and what was being discussed around him.
In front of this thin and pale man, a current newspaper was quietly spread out on the table. His eyes moved slowly on the newspaper and focused on one of its pages:
< p> "According to the preliminary investigation, the disaster caused by the Death of All Things originated from the 'power of gods' they stole, and the 'evil creation' that was jointly destroyed by Cecil's Legion and the Siren allies seemed to be the death of all things. The imitation of gods created by the dead cultists using some means..."The power of this imitation comes from the fallen God of Nature...
"The God of Nature, It was the god that the Druids once believed in. There is evidence that the fall of this god happened three thousand years ago..."
The thin and pale middle-aged man read the contents of the newspaper and suddenly sighed softly: "Such content... was actually printed in a newspaper and allowed to be discussed at will by civilians who had just become literate... Could it be that this is where we made the mistake?"
No one heard him. After sighing in a low voice, the thin and pale middle-aged man stood up quietly. He gently rubbed his fingers, and a wisp of fire suddenly ignited out of thin air, burning the newspapers on the table in an instant.
After looking at the ashes on the table for a moment, he turned around and walked straight to the bar door, opened the door and left.
"Pan Rock City... I didn't expect this place to become so prosperous."
Walking on the streets of this southern gateway city, looking at the tall, brand-new buildings and The middle-aged people couldn't help but mutter about the wide and clean streets.
Then he noticed that the pedestrians around him suddenly ran away, and a large group of security team members wearing black uniforms, equipped with weapons and shields had appeared at various nearby intersections at some point and headed towards them. They quickly gathered here.
The first reaction of the thin and pale man was to reach for his waist - where he was wearingA short sword for self-defense, but he wisely stopped after noticing the number of vigilantes and the weapons and equipment in their hands.
A tall Sheriff stepped forward, and the solid magic shield shone beside the Sheriff: "Sir, put down your weapon and raise your hands above your head! You have violated the rules of the Extraordinary Person." The Control Act is under arrest!"
While announcing loudly, the police officer also quickly looked at the man in front of him out of professional instinct:
Wearing an old-fashioned traditional style Short robe, lace-up cloth belt, hand-sewn boots, and what appears to be wide-leg trousers underneath the short robe... He is obviously a foreigner, and he must have just arrived in the south.
In the southern border, changes in labor tools and working methods have caused changes in all aspects - due to the safe operation requirements of various types of machinery and equipment, due to the dress code of the factory, closed, light, easy to move, beautiful and practical New styles of clothing have gradually become mainstream. All kinds of robes, wide-leg pants, wide-brimmed long sleeves, and jackets with belted belts are gradually being replaced by slim gowns, light workwear, and everyday variations of such clothing. Although some scholars believe that this change in "machines determine people" is a constraint and a regression of traditional customs, it is undeniable that 90% of workers in the south are accepting such changes while still maintaining the old style. The people who dress...are either more conservative or outsiders.
In this fortress city located at the gateway to the South, the probability of the latter is higher.
The middle-aged man surrounded by the security team was obviously still in shock and surprise, but he still understood the meaning of the security officer, took off the short sword and short staff from his waist, put them on the ground, and raised his hands. Overhead.
The sheriff nodded: "Very good, sir. Active cooperation is a good start - what is your name?"
The middle-aged man watched the surrounding security team members vigilantly. He was silent for two seconds, but finally said cooperatively: "Bud...Bud? Wendell."
"Mr. Bud Bud?"
中The young man's face trembled slightly: "No, it's Bud Wendell. There is only one Bud."
The sheriff still maintained a serious face: "Okay, Mr. Wendell, you You need to come with us next - whether you can be released depends on your performance."
"Why do you want to arrest me?" The middle-aged man finally couldn't help but said, "I'm not hurt. Any..."
"We detected unauthorized spellcasting," the Sheriff said, staring at Bud, "Times have changed, Mr. Wendell, where is your spellcasting license?"
p>Bard was stunned: "...a spellcasting license? What is that?"
The Sheriff shrugged: "Well, it seems that you still sneaked in. This This time, you might really be locked up."
The corners of Bud's eyes trembled, but after a brief moment of hesitation, he finally sighed.
"It doesn't matter now..." he sighed, "Do whatever you want, I won't resist."