As the sun shone on the earth, the city that had been sleeping in the night gradually woke up. The pale golden sunlight with a hint of red swept across the undulating border of the Gloom Mountain Range, casting a continuous and glorious light between the plains and the hills. The intersection of light and shadow gradually moved to the highest tower of the Imperial College, and a majestic and solemn bell rang.
The magic mechanism drove the gears and levers in the tower, the rotating bearings pulled the chain made of fine steel, the counterweight swung in the bell tower, and the bell chimed. The first to wake up was the Imperial Academy, and then the streets and squares around the academy gradually woke up, as well as the houses and shops …
Several bell towers in the city began to ring. Soon, a different kind of bell chime that was crisper and more urgent rang rang out in the streets and alleys.
Children and young people wearing felt hats and short jackets set out from the post offices and newspaper distribution points. They rode the "two-wheelers" that had recently become increasingly popular in Cecil through the streets. The crisp ringing of the bell was the second "alarm clock" that woke up the city.
They were the city's newsboys and postmen. In most modern cities in Cecil, the citizens' daily life basically started with the crisp bell of these newsboys and postmen.
Sir Golos, dressed in casual clothes, and Ashalena, who was also dressed in casual clothes, walked on the streets of this foreign city. They watched the entire city wake up in the morning sun, and the buildings and residents, which were completely different from those in Dragonrise Castle, surrounded the two dragonkin.
"There's a book in the room I'm staying in, and it describes the city like this — Cecil City wakes up in the morning with the 'sound' of modern industry. The mechanical bell, the bell of the double-wheeler, the horn of the public magic car …" Sir Golos said casually. "Now it seems that you can only understand the meaning of these sentences when you see it with your own eyes."
"The human world in my memory was not so prosperous and … fast." Ashalena shook her head. "Of course, it's not bad now."
A crisp and slightly childish voice came from the side, interrupting the conversation between the two dragonkin. "Sir, madam, would you like a newspaper? The latest news, the most interesting news! Only two Els! Two portions for only three Els! "
Sir Golos turned around and saw a boy in a dark blue plaid coat standing in front of him. The boy had a beaming smile on his face, his eyes were big and bright, and the large satchel at his waist was stuffed full of newspapers.
Ah, it's the "Cecil scenery" that can't be seen anywhere else.
Jazz laughed and could not help but ask, "What's the biggest news?"
< Empire and Sacred Dragon (Biqu Island)
The Dukedom is about to establish diplomatic relations, sir! " The boy said happily, raising a newspaper in his hand. "The meeting in the Grand Council Hall has ended successfully. We now have one more ally. Maybe we can look forward to some specialties from the far north, or a new market. There's more! Give me a copy, sir. You look like a person who cares about current affairs. You can't miss the big news in this newspaper! "
There was a flash of surprise in Sir Golos's eyes. He was stunned for a moment. Ashalena had already taken out two coins — Cecil's New Dollars. She smiled and handed them over. "A copy of the newspaper, handsome boy."
"Thank you, madam."
The boy ran away. Ashalena waved the newspaper in her hand in front of Gorosh as if she was showing off a trophy. With a smile on her face, she said, "Now we are all part of the news, Sir."
"… What word did you just use? Ah, 'fast.' "Golos had a dumbfounded expression on his face. He spread out his hands and glanced at the newspaper." It just happened yesterday. Now even the child knows about it. "
"… The negotiations have lasted for nearly a week. Tolerance and honesty have finally brought the two countries together. The Empire will have a new ally in the economic and cultural field …" Ashalena glanced at the headline of the newspaper, casually read a few sentences, and showed a slightly emotional look. "Twenty years ago, a human lord would hire twenty spies and assassins to spy on such 'intelligence.' He would use hundreds of silver coins to bribe the cooks and maids in the castle."
"Now there are still rulers doing similar things, but the things they want to spy on have changed," Golos said casually, and then glanced at Ashalena. "But you are quite familiar with the 'market' in this area."
"I did similar work when I was a mercenary. Working for the nobles was a quick way to earn money, but Byron did not support his companions to deal with the nobles. He was more interested in hunting monsters and collecting precious materials for the mages," Ashalena said, shaking her head. "But no matter what work it was, it was a free time. Dealing with monsters in the mountains was much easier than dealing with the shrewd and cunning diplomats of Cecil."
Sir Golos laughed. "Anyway, it has finally come to an end. We have opened the door. The dragonkin will enjoy the industrial products of the human world, come into contact with new knowledge and technology, and humans will get a northern market — and more importantly, a powerful ally."
…
Heti walked into the blue-carpeted study. The bright sun was shining in through the wide floor-to-ceiling glass window. She saw the burly ancestor standing in front of the window, the sun plated a layer of glow on his tall figure.
"Ancestor," the eldest princess of the empire bowed her head and said respectfully and gently, "the commercial adjustment plan with the Dukedom of the Holy Dragon has been drawn up."
Gwen nodded slightly. "Well, according to the result of the last meeting, let Padrick execute it."
Heti came to Gwen's side and looked out the window with him. Against the backdrop of the brightening sky, a few dark shadows appeared in the sky to the southeast. The silhouettes of two cone-shaped aircraft and a flying dragon were flying from east to west along the border of the Gloom Mountains.
"Today, the flight technical team has a series of test projects. Rebecca is leading her team to collect more data on the Steel Wing for the subsequent mass production version."
"We finally got the Dragonborn on board …" Gwen said softly.
"Yes, it's hard to imagine … we will have a Giant Dragon Army." Even at this time, Heti's voice had a trace of disbelief. "To be honest, even on the day the Steel Wing test flight was successful, I didn't dare to imagine it would really succeed …"
"Don't think too much of it, Heti." Gwen turned his head. "The armed Dragonborn may be powerful, but they are not Cecil people. Any part of the empire's military force can't completely rely on foreign mercenaries. Not to mention that these mercenaries are expensive and few in number. Our own air combat force is the foundation of the empire's sky. The Dragonborn are just a support. "
Heti immediately bowed her head. "Yes, ancestor. I will remember your teachings."
"Don't be so serious." Gwen could not help but shake his head looking at Heti who was always so serious. "If you keep being so uptight, you won't get married."
"Ex … ancestor?"
"Don't be so nervous. It's just a joke to relax you." Gwen laughed. "Sigh … if only you and Rebecca could be balanced. As a Transcendent, you're actually still young, but you're too mature. Rebecca has grown a lot over the years, but she's always so reckless. "
Heti wanted to say that the ancestor's joke made her more nervous, but she was afraid that she would accidentally lead the conversation back to 'you are not young anymore'. So she quickly changed the topic. "You value the relationship with the Duchy of Holy Dragon so much … is it because you have the Dragons in mind? Are you doing some kind of 'preparation'? "
"That's part of the reason." Gwen saw Heti's intention to change the topic, but he did not point it out. "The Dragonborn claim to be deformed exiles. From their appearance, it is true. Even most of the Dragons themselves seem to think so. But I think … their relationship with the Dragons may not be so simple.
"From Melita Pânia's attitude towards the Dragonborn, and from my observation of the Dragons' strange state, I think there is more to this' exile '.
"According to my guess, the ruler of the Dragonborn at the top, the Dragonblood Archduke, and the group called the 'Council of Dragonblood' should have some understanding of this. But for some reason, this secret is not made public.
"At this stage, we don't have the ability to investigate anything. But at least there is no harm in having a good relationship with the Dragonborn. Someday in the future, this may have an unexpected effect.
"Of course, there are other reasons why I have to pay attention to the Dukedom of the Holy Dragon."
Heti blinked and quickly reacted. "You mean … they rejected a lot of your initial proposals, and then adjusted a lot of business cooperation content?"
Gwen nodded slightly.
"They can see things that even Rosetta Augustus can't see," he said in a deep voice. "This is obviously not because the Typhon emperor is stupid. It's because the Dragonborn are beyond my expectations.
"The so-called 'isolated, exclusive, and isolated in the deep mountains and glaciers' is fake.
"The Dragonborn have a long life, and it seems that the closer the bloodline to the original Dragons, the longer their life span. Such a long-lived race, their civilization may be slow, but they are not ignorant. Even if they only take a look at the outside world occasionally, the long years are enough for them to accumulate enough wisdom and experience.
"The change of human dynasties in the eyes of this long-lived race is as fast as a play on the stage. A play is over, and a dynasty is over. And if they still have a secret trump card to fight against the Great Mana Tide, then they must have seen more 'plays' than you and I can imagine.
"Our magical technology and market plan may be a novelty to them, but many of our ideas are probably not new in their eyes.
"Against such a race, we can no longer use the ideas of dealing with the Typhon and the Augulay Tribal Nation …"
Listening to Gwen's unhurried words, Heti thought for a moment and understood. "Because they can't be pulled out?"
Gwen: "… That's not your style. Where did you hear that?"
Heti quickly lowered her head. "Amber said that she has compiled a set of nouns you created, which can be used in all kinds of situations about new things …"
The corner of Gwen's eyes twitched. "Don't learn from her. Sooner or later, I'll find the little book she hid and burn it."
Then he cleared his throat and dispelled the moment of awkwardness. "Anyway, the dragonkin are a group worth paying attention to. Although they call themselves a 'dukedom', few in this world would look down on such a 'dukedom'. They will be troublesome as enemies, but if we can get them on the same side, they will be valuable allies.
"Such allies are worth us spending more sincerity and cost to maintain."
"Yes," Heti replied seriously. "I will keep that in mind."
Gwen nodded in satisfaction, and then glanced at the mechanical clock on the wall and said thoughtfully, "According to the schedule, we should go to the computing center today …"
"Yes, there's still half an hour before departure," Heti replied. "Yuri is ready."
Gwen nodded. He turned his head and glanced at a map on the desk not far away. After retracting his gaze, he said casually, "Go and make the arrangements. We're ready to leave."
Gwen and Heti left the study.
On the wide wooden desk, a map depicting the entire Cecil Empire was quietly spread out.
On the map, the Southern Territory, Northern Territory, Eastern Territory, Western Territory, and the Holy Spirit Plain were all depicted with strange tower-shaped icons. There were also smaller icons drawn around those towers, with red lines connecting the nodes like spider webs.
South Main Hub, North Main Hub … Dynasty Control Center … Sorin Main Hub, Saint Sunil Main Hub …
At the bottom of the map, a line of handwritten letters seemed to be glowing under the sunlight.
Empire Magic Net Connection Plan.
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