Chapter 165: Songyuan Main City
Three days later.
Luo Xiu and Intis, after setting off from Sina City, passed through the dense forests, crossed the desolate Gobi and the empty sand dunes, and finally arrived at the "City of Prosperity".
Right in front of them, the outline of the towering city wall of the main city of Songyuan was becoming increasingly clear.
"...Lord."
Intis's voice sounded from behind Luo Xiu.
Luo Xiu turned around and looked at Intis, who was wearing a light gray gauze hat and dressed up as a noble lady.
"What's wrong?" Luo Xiu asked with a smile.
"I don't understand... why are you so firm in asking me to wear this gauze hat?"
Intis's tone was deep and deep, and the white cat ears under her gauze hat were twisting and trembling along with his emotional ups and downs.
"...You should be lucky that you didn't grow two more tails, Intis."
Luo Xiu shook his head, turned back, turned his back to Intis and said, "Otherwise, I should have made you wear Loli... a thick velvet dress."
Not noticing the strangeness in Luo Xiu's words, Intis lowered his head and fell into thought.
"You must not let others know that you are a 'body destroyer', do you understand?"
Luo Xiu reminded for the last time, "Especially in Songyuan City, we must not let anyone else discover it...especially those extraordinary people."
"...I understand, Lord."
As she spoke, Intis took out two scarlet flowing magic crystals from the bracelet on her arm - the "storage bracelet" given to her by Luo Xiu to advance to the third level of life, and gently crushed them.
The scarlet mist of light lightly covered the outline of Intis, obscuring her spiritual aura.
"I will hide myself, Lord."
Intis said: "Please don't worry."
Although Intis said this, Luo Xiu still felt a little uneasy for no reason.
He congratulated himself that before Intis was promoted to the third level of destiny, he first used the "double-sided doll" to cleanse her.
Otherwise, with Intis's "physique" and "resistance", she will grow dense fur and sharp claws during the fusion process with the civet, and it will be difficult to hide these characteristics for her...
Although Intis showed a nonchalant attitude towards this, Luo Xiu could not.
Now Intis is equivalent to his waiter and assistant. In his interactions with some important people in the main city of Songyuan, he really needs people like Intis to help him maintain certain images.
"It's just..." Luo Xiu was also thinking about other issues.
"It's just that Intis in the previous life didn't seem to be what I thought...?"
In her previous life, she may not have chosen to go further in [Red Lotus], or she may have had other opportunities...
"..."
While Luo Xiu was thinking, he and Intis also galloped to the gate of Songyuan City.
Civilians and caravans preparing to enter the city formed long lines on the left and right sides, waiting for the guarding soldiers to check their identities and luggage.
Occasionally, knights or nobles on horseback would pass through the civilians and merchants and walk straight to the city gate—they were the upper echelons of the empire, the ruling class.
These knights or nobles only need to show their emblems symbolizing their noble status, and the guards will make way for them. Then, they would walk into the city proudly, bathed in respect and envy.
Although Luo Xiu, as a priest, can indeed pass through the middle in this way, but for him now, this is too eye-catching and can easily attract unnecessary attention.
They then followed the merchant side, waiting for the team entering the city to move forward slowly.
The inspection process of merchants was much slower than that of civilians. The guards carefully checked large and small cargo boxes to prevent anything that violated the imperial prohibitions from being mixed in.
The waiting process is often accompanied by boredom. Luo Xiu felt a little bored and began to look around.
In the civilian team on the other side, they mostly gathered together in twos and threes, had their own small circles, and only talked about their own topics.
Some of them are civilians with relatively clean clothes.
Their identity is relatively clean, and their status seems to be more superior. When undergoing city entry inspection, it is easier for them to pass the guards' inspection and enter the city.
However, Luo Xiu also saw another scene.
Among the ranks of civilians, there were even more thin faces in ragged clothes with traces of dust on their faces.
Next to them, a thin packhorse was carrying large and small bags that had been mended. It was not difficult to guess their identity as refugees - they were wanderers who left their hometown to escape something.
There are not a few such people, and they are also taciturn and do not talk much with other well-dressed people.
On the civilian side, getting through inspection is faster.
Soon, the first wave of wanderers began to be interrogated by the guarding soldiers.
"Are you from the Kuma Territory? Hmm..."
"How come... there are so many refugees brought from Kuma these days?"
"Forget it, the lord did tell you... get out of the way, I want to check your packages."
One of the interrogating guards muttered something, roughly tore open the homeless man's package, and rummaged inside for a while.
The wanderers were indifferent and allowed the guards to turn their packages upside down.
Nothing particularly prohibited was found, but the guard still took out a rusty kitchen knife from the homeless man's package.
"You can't bring this in."
The guard threw the kitchen knife into the wooden frame aside, and then said to the homeless people in front of him:
"Brought from Kuma, the lord has arranged a place for you to live."
"After entering the city, not far ahead is the temporary camp of the relief center. The people inside will take you to Iron Cross Street-Vinson Lane, where there will be a special director responsible for settling you."
"……OK."
The wanderers who passed the inspection answered indifferently, then led the pack horses and staggered towards Songyuan City step by step.
"...Tsk, next one."
The guards shouted loudly, and the team on the civilian side moved forward a little.
…
Luo Xiu withdrew his gaze from them.
He understood very well what was happening behind this.
——"September Plague"!
The Nolan Empire-Kuma Territory is one of the origins of this long-lasting plague and several outbreaks.
The Songyuan Territory is the closest to the Kuma Territory. The first choice for many civilians fleeing the plague is to take refuge in the Songyuan Territory.
"Vinsen Alley" on Tiexizi Street in the main city of Songyuan was the "isolation area" specially opened by the lord for this group of refugees.
At present, people infected with the plague have not yet appeared on a large scale in the Songyuan Territory, but the Lord is already taking precautions against such a situation in advance.
While he was thinking about this, a light and shadow lit up in front of Luo Xiu.
The caravan carriage ahead has passed the inspection and is heading towards the city.
It was Luo Xiu and Intis's turn to conduct inspection. The eyes of the guarding soldiers were watching them closely at this time.
"We are guests who came to Songyuan City to stay at the invitation of the 'Golden Country Bank'."
A friendly smile appeared on Luo Xiu's face, and he said gently to the guards: "I am Luo Xiu Carlos. I received an invitation from Mr. Gonzalo Manston and came to Songyuan City to visit friends."
As he spoke, Luo Xiu stretched out his hand in the direction of Intis, and Intis handed him the identification certificate, as well as a set of documents and documents that had been prepared.
Among them, there are "Roshu Carlos" who is the eldest son of the famous "Carlos Family", and Index who is his sister "Intex Carlos", as well as those from the Manston family. emblems, and the popular documents they obtained through special channels. The guard took these certificates and documents from Luo Xiu and inspected them carefully.
After confirming that there was no problem, smiles appeared on the faces of the guards, and they nodded slightly to Luo Xiu and Intis.
"It turns out that he is a guest of the Golden State Bank. Please be patient. If you need anything, you can go to the affairs office of the mansion for help."
"Thank you." Luo Xiu smiled and nodded in response.
Luo Xiu and Intis continued to gallop towards the interior of Songyuan City.
…
Luo Xiu first came to the accommodation.
——The Wolfhunter Tavern. It was a pub run by veterans.
Luo Xiu chose this place for no other reason than for the sense of security.
The owner of the tavern is a veteran with the title of "Knight of the Wolf Hunter". His name is Isaac Neves, who once served in the Empire's "Knights for the Protection of the Country."
The Empire's "Knights of the Protector", all of whom are "Knights of the Throne" with the [Supreme] destiny, are the most elite group of extraordinary beings in the Empire.
Different from the "Templar Knights" of [Glory], the "Knights of the Throne" are loyal supporters of the rule of the [Supreme]. They are the strongest shield of the [Supreme], and they are the vanguard they rely on to overcome obstacles and break the way forward. Sharp sword.
The owner of the tavern, Isaac Neves, is also an extraordinary person with the [Supreme] destiny. When he retired from the Knights of the Protectorate, he had already reached the fourth level of destiny.
Luo Xiu and Intis then opened the curtain and walked into the "Wolf Hunter Tavern".
What hit my face was the smoky smell of old wine, as well as the thick smoke and dust that had accumulated for a long time.
The sound of heavy footsteps came from deeper in the tavern and got closer and closer.
Not long after, a sturdy old man suddenly appeared in front of Luo Xiu, looking at Luo Xiu and Intis with his deep eyes like a hunting wolf.
The old man was the owner of the tavern, Isaac Neves, the former "Knight of the Throne" of [Supreme].
"Knight of the Throne" Isaac, with his powerful and "conquering people with virtue" figure, gives people the same feeling as Leonard; his beard is shaved quite cleanly, leaving a small With his beard and flowing silver-brown hair, his whole body exudes a strong aura.
"Drink? Or stay in a hotel?" Isaac asked concisely, his voice like thunder.
"We are staying in the hotel." Luo Xiu replied, "We have made a reservation to stay here temporarily for twenty days."
"Twenty gold coins." Isaac blurted out the high price, "Put the money on the table next to you. Then you can go up and choose a room."
Twenty gold coins... Luo Xiu suddenly felt a pain in his body.
Compared with the rent of the White Antelope Hotel in Siena City, the rent of the "Wolf Hunter Tavern" is much higher.
But Luo Xiu didn't bargain with Isaac. He knew what the high price represented.
——Issac, the former [Supreme] Fourth Level "Knight of the Throne", as long as the guests stay here for one day, he can protect the guests' safety for one day.
This is Isaac Neves, the perfect reputation he has accumulated for a long time, and this is what Luo Xiu, who is targeted by the "Black Fang" assassins, urgently needs.
Compared with one's own safety, twenty gold coins is a very low price.
…
After counting out twenty Nolan gold coins from the money bag and placing them on the table pointed by Isaac, Luo Xiu and Intis went up to the second floor and selected the one in the center from the room with the door half-opened. One room.
Entering the room, there is a bunch of cast bronze keys hanging on the wall. That is the key to the room.
Luo Xiu took off the key and put it into the storage bracelet, then closed the door, opened the window, and ventilated a little.
Intis turned into a civet cat, jumped onto the window sill gently, and looked out at the scenery outside the window.
As the incarnation of a civet, Intis doesn't actually need much sleep. She just needs to find a place to lean on and take a nap like this.
There was only one bed in the room, and Intis didn't dare to jump on that bed before his "Lord" could.
Luo Xiu didn't say anything more, he just patted the quilt gently to shake off the dust on it.
…
After tidying up the room a little and changing into relatively formal clothes, Luo Xiu took Intis and left the "Wolfhound Tavern".
Luo Xiu came to the main city of Songyuan this time for two main purposes.
——Go to the "El Dorado Bank" to obtain investment income, and go to the "Black Sword Mansion" to participate in their antiquities auction. The former can pass at any time, while the latter still needs to wait a few more days.
At the "Black Sword Mansion" in the main city of Songyuan, their auction is held every three months, and the most recent auction was held three days later in mid-September.
There are no other big arrangements for the time being, so Luo Xiu plans to go to the Law Department branch in Songyuan City first to get some convenience from someone and meet old friends by the way.
…
Songyuan City, Wind Chime Square.
[Supreme] A branch of the Department of Justice is located here.
The manager of this branch, "Grand Arbitrator" Landauer, was busy dealing with various matters and was a little overwhelmed.
Some time ago, a Holy Inquisitor named "Connor Luen" came all the way from Red Maple City and asked himself to return to Red Maple City with him to deal with a disturbing matter involving the city owner's collaboration with the enemy. crime……
Landauer had just finished handling the mess there, including ordering the trial of "Red Maple City Lord" Lodiv, appointing a new city owner, and counting and compensating the losses of the "Holy Judges" of the Sina City Church. wait.
Among them, the first two items have been properly arranged, but Landauer is a little unsure about the loss compensation for the last item.
He couldn't figure out the attitude of the higher-ups about this, and he wasn't sure whether they just wanted an explanation from the Sina City Church, or real money and silver compensation.
As for the Sina City Church, they did not send anyone to inquire about the progress here. Landauer then focused on other things.
Just recently, the higher-ups have been very vigilant about the changes in the "Dark Principality", and almost all the [Supreme] people have focused their attention on investigating their movements.
Coupled with the recent frequent outbreaks of plague, [Supreme] has no extra energy to devote to other matters.
But Landauer has not forgotten that the Sina City Church is still waiting for him to give a corresponding attitude.
After all, something like the Lord of Lodiv City happened. Although they [Supreme] were destined to rule in the empire, they did not dare to offend those [Glorious] priests too much.
The church in Sina City is small, and the [Supreme] "city lord" who intends to murder the priest is the big one, "Grand Arbitrator" Landauer. He is also very clear that once [Glory] betrays the empire, the empire's faith will completely collapse. , what serious consequences it will lead to.
And if the "archbishop" in the main city of Songyuan becomes angry, Landauer is afraid that he will not be able to eat and walk around.
Just when Landauer was struggling with how to properly convey their [Supreme] signal to the church in Sina City.
Suddenly, Landauer's golden eyes suddenly flashed with light.
His spiritual body slowly emerged from the side, bowed slightly to Landauer, and then said:
"My lord, we have a visitor."
"It's a priest. He claims to be from Sina City and has made a special trip to visit you."
"..."
Landauer's eyes suddenly became profound.
He stood up, walked to the mirror, and arranged his luxurious clothes to make him look more stylish and dignified.
After confirming that there were no problems with his own image, Landauer turned back and glanced at his spiritual body.
"Go tell the waiter and let him convey my message..."
Landauer said:
"Please wait a moment for that guest, and I will meet him personally."
…
(End of chapter)