Chapter 969: Unstable Tilt

Under the cover of night, a mixed team composed of light infantry, low-level knights and battle mages was quickly passing through a crossing not far away. Strict military discipline meant that there was no additional conversation in this team, only the tread of military boots on the ground. The sound of the sound resounded in the night. The light from the magic crystal street lamp shone on the edge of the soldier's helmet, leaving an occasional flash of light. The short staff and magic ball worn by the battle mage poked out of the clothes and appeared in the darkness. A mysterious shimmer.

This is not a covert operation, they are just a new night patrol team in Aldernan these days.

On the second floor of a large house near the edge of the wealthy area, the curtains were opened a crack, and a pair of bright eyes were watching the activities on the street behind the curtains.

Mary stood behind the window and observed for a while, then turned around and said to her mentor not far behind her: "Mentor, another group of patrolling soldiers passed by outside - this time there were four battle mages and two "A knight, and twelve soldiers with enchanted equipment."

"They are members of the knights directly affiliated with the royal family, a standard mixed combat team..." Daniel sat on the sofa not far away. , he leaned on the armrest next to him, holding his forehead with one hand. A magic book was floating in front of him, turning the pages silently. The old mage's voice was calm and majestic, which calmed Mary's slightly nervous mood. , "Which direction did they go?"

Mary recalled it for a moment, compared the directions in her mind, and then replied: "It seems to be the direction of Oak Street in the West City."

"Mentor, there are more and more patrols at night recently," Mary said somewhat He said uneasily, "Is there going to be something big going on in the city?"

"...it may be a little uneven recently, but don't worry, the master has his own arrangements," Daniel glanced at his apprentice, She said calmly, "You just have to do your own thing."

Mary nodded immediately: "Yes, I remember."

There was a faint sound of music. Suddenly it came from nowhere. The voice sounded far away, but it should still be within the wealthy area.

Mary was attracted by the sound of the music and couldn't help but look out the window again. She saw bright lights between the gorgeous buildings on the northwest side, and there were flickering and changing colored lights and shadows in one or two of them. The faint sound that emerged between the houses came from that direction - it sounded brisk and smooth, not the kind of dull and rigid classical palace music, but rather like the music that has become more and more popular in recent years. "New court dance music" loved by young nobles.

There seemed to be a party there. From the flickering lights and faint sounds of music, it was not difficult for Mary to imagine what kind of joyful scene there was at the moment.

"The atmosphere is becoming more and more tense day by day, but the banquet over there has never stopped..." The young female mage couldn't help but murmured softly.

“Holding banquets is the duty of nobles.As long as they can survive, they will not stop feasting and dancing - especially at this tense moment, their banquet hall must be brightly lit all night long." Daniel just showed a smile, as if he felt that Mary, who was born and raised in the country, The older girl made a little too much fuss, "If you had been to the market on Oak Street today, you would have seen that nothing has changed. The Civic Market is still open and the Exchange is still overcrowded, even though almost all the Ares churches in the city are accepting According to the investigation, although the Great Cathedral has been completely closed for several days, neither the nobles nor the citizens think that anything big is going to happen - in a sense, this can be regarded as one of the 'contributions' to the nobles' all-night banquet. "

The young female mage thought for a while and asked carefully: "To calm people's hearts? "

Daniel glanced at her and seemed to reveal a smile: "That's right - the nobles were feasting at the banquet, and their chefs and maids would tell what they saw to the villas and manors. The guards and low-level servants, the servants will tell the news to their neighbors, and the well-informed businessmen will find ways to get into the upper class before then. In the end, all the nobles, businessmen, and wealthy citizens will feel that everything is safe. Good, and for Aldernan and Typhon, as long as these people are well, society will be well - as for the lower class poor and workers who have lost their land and moved into the city, whether they are nervous or uneasy is not considered by the people above. of. "

Mary blinked, and she could tell that her mentor was taking this opportunity to teach her something, something... that she had never learned when she was a mage apprentice, and that didn't sound like it had anything to do with magic.< /p>

But she still listened carefully

The mentor’s voice came from the side again: “In the recent period, you must pay attention to protecting your own safety, except for going to the Gongzao Association and the Master. Don't go anywhere else outside the association, especially stay away from the Church of the God of War and the priests who are active outside. ”

“Yes, I remember it. ”

While Mary agreed, she turned her head and glanced out the window.

On the street at night illuminated by street lights, the patrolling Imperial soldiers had long since disappeared, leaving only The bright but deserted magic crystal light shines on this cold night as winter approaches. Occasionally, a few pedestrians are seen on the road. They are walking in a hurry and look tired and urgent. Considering that this is already the edge of a wealthy area, A street away is where civilians live. Those figures may be workers leaving work late at night, or of course, they may be homeless vagrants.

Mary couldn't help but think of her childhood life. Countryside - Although she spent most of her childhood in the dark and depressing Mage Tower, she still remembers the countryside at the foot of the mountain and the nearby town. It was not a prosperous and wealthy place, but in this On a cold winter night, she couldn't help but think of it.

After living in this prosperous imperial capital for a long time, she had almost forgotten what the countryside looked like.

A sudden light appeared. Appearing from a nearby street, interruptingRealizing the thought that had just occurred to Mary, she couldn't help but cast her gaze in the direction of the light, and saw a dark outline emerging immediately behind the light - a black magic wizard with a wide carriage. The car rolled down the wide street, looking like a strange beetle with an iron shell in the night.

Magic car? This is a high-end and expensive thing. Who is this big shot going out late at night? Mary became curious and couldn't help but look over there more carefully.

She vaguely saw the emblem on the side of the carriage and confirmed that it should indeed be the property of a certain noble. However, just when she wanted to take a closer look, she felt something vague. A warning and pressure that was not malicious suddenly came to her.

Mary's heart trembled and she looked away in panic.

"What's wrong?" The instructor's voice came from the side.

"It was a magic car just now," Mary whispered, "I took a second look, and the people in the car didn't seem to like it."

"Don't worry about it. , maybe a big noble who wants to travel low-key, this warning is not malicious," Daniel said casually, and raised his finger to point to the coffee table in front of him, "When you have relaxed enough, come back and write the remaining papers. ."

"Yes, mentor"

...

The magic vehicle drove smoothly through the wide and flat Imperial Avenue, with the lights and buildings on both sides emanating. The lights flashed out of the car window, casting fast-moving and blurry shadows on the inner walls, ceiling and seats of the car. Pei Dinan was sitting on the right side of the back row, looking away from the window with an expression on his face as usual.

The trusted attendant in charge of driving asked from the front: "Sir, it will be a while before we get to Obsidian Palace. Do you want to take a rest?"

"No, I am still very energetic. "Pei Dinan replied casually.

The vehicle continued to move forward, and the Duke's mood became calmer. He looked at the empty seat on the left, and looked beyond the seat to look out the window. The spire of St. Jorum's Church of Mars was rising from above several houses in the distance. It was quiet now, with only the lights of street lights. Light filtered through the gaps in the roof. He turned his head to look to the other side and saw the neon lights flashing in the direction of Fanarion Salon, and the faint noise could be heard from here.

A familiar, deep and powerful voice suddenly came from the seat on the left: "Busty but noisy, gorgeous and empty, isn't it?"

Duke Ferdinand's muscles tightened instantly. Stretched, he was ready to fight within a hundredth of a second, and then quickly turned his head - he saw a burly figure wearing a holy robe sitting on the seat to his left, and smiled at himself .

The confidant who was in charge of driving in the front showed no reaction to this. He seemed completely unaware that there was an extra person in the car and did not hear the conversation just now.

"Your Excellency Malm..." Pedinan recognized the figure. He was the current Pope of the Church of the God of War. However... he should be in the Great Cathedral at this time.It is only under the "protective surveillance" of a large number of elite agents of the Rogue Force and Ms. Diana herself.

Why does he appear here! ? How did he appear here! ?

Pei Dinan had doubts about his perception and vigilance as a legendary strongman for a while. However, his face remained calm. In addition to secretly raising his vigilance, he just said lightly: "Late at night with this kind of... A formal visit seems inappropriate?"

Malm Dunit just said with a gentle smile: "We have known each other for a long time - and I remember that you are not so cold. People."

Pei Dinan became increasingly wary, because he did not understand the purpose of the God of War Pope's sudden visit, and was even more wary of the mysterious method used by the other party to suddenly appear beside him - the trusted attendant driving in front. There's still no response, which makes the whole thing even weirder.

"Then why did you come to my car to look for me so late?" He asked while being alert and staring into the eyes of the God of War Pope.

"I just suddenly remembered that I haven't seen my old friend for a long time, and I wanted to come and visit and chat." Malm said in a casual tone, "Pedinan, my friend, you are already very good." You haven’t gone to the cathedral to worship for a long time, right?”

Something is wrong, something is very wrong!

"I go to the cathedral every week to make the necessary donations, and I have not stopped to pray and perform the sacraments," Pei Dinan said in a deep voice, "Old friend, you came so suddenly, you want to be with me Is this all I talked about?"

Malm seemed not to have heard the second half of the other party's words, and just shook his head: "Not enough, that's not enough, my friend, donations and basic prayers, holy scriptures These are just things that ordinary believers would do, but I know that you are a devout believer, and so is Bud. The Wendell family has always been the most devout follower of our Lord, right?"

Continue? His eyebrows drooped, and he seemed to be speaking with some regret. His tone was like an ordinary old man nagging: "But what happened in these years, my old friend, I can feel that the relationship between you and my Lord is gradually getting worse." Far... You seem to be alienating your original noble and righteous beliefs intentionally or unintentionally. What happened?" Pei Dinan frowned and did not speak.

Malm Dunit continued: "And Andesa's child has not been baptized yet...Old friend, Andesa is going to be the heir of the Wendel family, you are very You have told me this a long time ago. How can there be members of the Wendel family who do not accept the baptism of the Lord?” Friends - the Wendel family has indeed served the God of War devoutly, but we are not a religious family. There is no obligation or law to require that every descendant of Wendel must be baptized by the Church of the God of War. Andersa chose a path similar to that of her father and ancestors. It’s a different path, and I recognize this path,I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

"Furthermore, Andesa is twenty-five years old this year. She is a frontline commander who can act independently. I don't think we elders can still decide how to go in life for her."

Malm Dunit didn't speak for a while, just stared into Pedinan's eyes, but soon he laughed, as if the powerful gaze just now had never happened: "You can say that Yes, my friend, you are right...Andesa is no longer a child.

"But I still want to say something, Peternan, you have indeed alienated our Lord over the years...although I don't. It's not okay to know what's happening to you.

“You have been baptized, you believe in the Lord devoutly, and the Lord has responded to you. This will not change because of your alienation.

"Pedinan, come back to the right path, and the Lord will be happy. "

Pedinan's face became a little worse, and his tone became less friendly: "Your Excellency Malm, I have important things to do tonight. If you want to see me preach, we can find another time." "

"Ah, the priority..." Malm Dunit raised his head, glanced out the car window, and shook his head, "In the direction of Obsidian Palace, I think I know what your priority is... Going to meet Rosetta Augustus again? Another sudden summons? "

Pedinan immediately reminded solemnly: "Your Excellency Malm, you must use honorifics when addressing His Majesty. Even you should not call the Emperor by his first name. "

"It doesn't matter, he and I are also old friends. I called him that a long time ago," Malm smiled, but then shook his head, "It's a pity that he probably doesn't care about me anymore. He must be an old friend... He even ordered the Lord's church to be sealed off, and I and my priests were placed under house arrest..."

Pedinan immediately corrected him: "That's not a blockade, it's just an investigation. You guys He is not under house arrest, it is just a protective measure to prevent recurrence of vicious incidents..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

The one on the left The seats were empty, no one was there at all.