The Ice Queen's response obviously aroused Pantalone's curiosity, and his banker's instinct made him realize that the always straightforward Her Majesty was hiding what she knew.
But at this moment, the Queen didn't seem to want to say any more. She turned her back to Pantalone, unbuttoned her plush cloak to keep out the cold, revealing her delicate white shoulders and thin suspender nightgown.
Seeing this, the big banker's pupils suddenly shrank, and then he pretended not to have seen anything, bowed his head and bowed before leaving.
He understood that Her Majesty the Queen had issued an order to expel guests, but Pan Fuguier's aroused curiosity obviously would not stop easily.
After leaving the Winter Palace, Pantalone did not immediately return to the North Country Bank. Instead, he went around to the city hall under Puccinella's jurisdiction, took the elevator specially designed for the travel of Fools executives, and came to an office door on the top floor. Outside, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in."
What came from the room was not the cunning and smooth tone of the rooster, but the cold and deep voice of a middle-aged man.
Pantalone opened the door, and the winter sky was still filled with white snow. Even in the warm room, you could still hear the sound of the strong north wind beating on the windows. The fire was burning brightly in the fireplace, but outside it was white. world.
The person sitting at the desk in the office is Piero, the cloak-clad [Harlequin].
The foolish general with a snow-white short beard raised his head and stared at Pantalone who stepped into the room with his cold starry eyes. The whole room was filled with the strong smell of steel and gun smoke, proving that Piero should have been there not long ago. Return from the barracks to the town hall.
As the executive who oversees almost all affairs of the Winter Kingdom, Piero did not hide in the Winter Kingdom like a rooster or a rich man. Instead, he took the time to travel around the Seven Kingdoms to recruit talents and carry out the orders of Her Majesty the Queen herself. Secret mission.
Piero was of course willing to devote himself to the vision of the Winter Pole White Star, but it was not an easy task to control the overall situation of Zhidong's resistance while managing such a large organization as the Fools. Even "Rooster" Puccinella could do it. Helping with the complicated official duties, Piero is still responsible for formulating the main direction of action for the Fools.
This extra paperwork often takes up a lot of his time.
Of course, there are also some people who believe that this is a characteristic of the Harlequin's status below one person in the Winter Solstice Kingdom and above ten thousand people. After all, not everyone can have the honor of having full power to handle the affairs of the Solstice Kingdom.
Seeing Pantalone coming, the governor, who was busy with official duties, frowned and put down the documents in his hand, and patiently listened to Pantalone's oblique questions.
Considering that it was a rare field assignment for a big banker and the importance of Pantalone in the economy of the Winter Country, the Harlequin thought about it again and again and told the other party a story that had been completely lost and whose authenticity could not be determined. legend:
"In the ancient times of the Fire Sacrifice, the Demon God War began. At that time, Her Majesty the Queen was not yet born. The name of the Snow Kingdom was not "Winter", but "Saint Ortos City". The person who ruled this place was a man named [ The demon god of Chione. "
"She came in a snowstorm and taught the human race to farm and build cities. However, she came down to the kingdom of God and asked the sheltered humans to close the city gates, cut off contact with the outside world of Teyvat, and prohibited all residents in the city from using language to talk. .”
"The city of Saint Ortos fell to her divine power, and even the dead returned to life, but remained silent."
The nights in the Solstice Country are always cold. Even in a greenhouse built at a great expense, the cold feeling cannot be avoided. The branches of the plants by the office window are trembling, and the rustling sound is like a thin cough.
Pantalone sat down near the fireplace, rubbed the shining ring on her hand, and listened quietly to Piero's story.
"This rule lasted for ninety-eight years, and the entire city was filled with slow death, the intoxication of frost, and the beauty of silence. But in the ninety-ninth year, a [Cry of Rebellion] was launched, and the rebels used the cry as a signal Gathered together, it is intended to subvert the silence demanded by Chione.”
"With human strength alone, it is impossible to compete with Chione, so the rebels colluded with the guards to open the city gate and let in a young demon riding a flaming horse."
"After a brief chaos, the rebels only saw the young man riding on horseback, pulling Chione's hair, and forcibly dragging her out of the city while she was still crying. From then on, no one saw Chione again. Onye.”
The Harlequin's voice paused for a moment, as if to give Pantalone time to think.
The big banker certainly knew that in that wild era when demons and gods were fighting for their faith, death might have been the most merciful way to end it. Pantalone didn't care what Chione went through after she was captured.
After all, his allegiance is to Her Majesty the Queen. Whoever the former ruler of Snow Country was is now dead.
"It's a pity that the rebels only gained the freedom to talk briefly, because their betrayal attracted the god named [War]. In the summer of the second year after the rebellion was launched, they all died of regret and pain... …”
"Mortals who murder gods ultimately bear the price of killing gods in another way."
Although he spoke words of regret, there was no trace of pity in the clown's tone, but endless sneer.
"Chione means "blizzard" in the ancient Solstice language. Although the history cannot be verified, many people believe that our Queen... was once the most innocent snowflake in the blizzard. "
The legend told by Piero ended here, and after hearing the Harlequin's last words, Pantalone, who was sitting by the fire, opened her eyes in surprise, and the unique elegant smile at the corner of her mouth disappeared briefly, but soon returned to normal.
The big banker also knows that the seven gods of the existing Teyvat continent have passed away, and many of the new gods have the same origin or twin relationship with the old gods. He never expected that the beloved Queen would also have such a past.
The demon god in the name of war that Harlequin talks about is obviously the [Rebel God] Harpas whom he is about to visit.
"Chione was dragged out of the city by her hair..."
Pantalone secretly compared the strength gap between the two demon gods and considered whether the legend used an exaggerated expression, but she was even more curious about what happened after Chione was dragged out of the city.
Why didn't Harpas directly kill Chione on the throne, but insisted on taking her out of the city?
Why did the demon god, whose power was war, cooperate with the rebels instead of directly leading his army to attack the city of Saint Ortos?
There are also hints from Her Majesty the Queen. What weird relationship does Her Majesty have with the Demon God Harpas?
Pantalone already knows many secrets, but her doubts have not diminished even a little. On the contrary, they have continued to increase.
It's just that Piero didn't seem to want to explain any more. He put down the official document in his hand and looked up at Pantalone. His blue eyes shone slightly in the wind and snow of the dark night, and his pale star pupils seemed to be able to Captivating people's hearts.
"Pantarone, you should know very well that it is better to look for the light that has not yet emerged than to explore what has passed."
After hearing the general officer's reminder, Pantalone knew that she had found out enough information, so she stood up and said goodbye to the other party, left the city hall, and walked into the white snow of winter wearing a large cloak.
Shortly after Pantalone left, the Harlequin drafted the last few official documents and passed them to the staff of the city hall. He left the city hall with a calm face and went to the next place where he was needed.
Before leaving, he glanced in the direction of Beiguo Bank.
Since the blood of the contaminated compatriots cannot be washed away, he simply becomes a "harlequin" who laughs at fate.
Since his talents and knowledge cannot match those of the "sages", he failed to win the favor of the previous king, and failed to prevent them from tearing apart the sarong of deep sin and inciting a frenzy of divine wrath, destruction and ignorance, then he simply became a clumsy person. "Fool", loyal to His Majesty who understands his pain...
Proud comrades, hold on to the anger and eternal winter. Since we have all seen the absurdity and indifference of the world's laws, let's put on the mask of mocking the world together and rewrite the laws of nature. (End of chapter)
