The southern frontier of the empire.
Snow Crystal City.
As the junction between the empire and the capital of Shuoli, this city has always performed important functions and is often a must-stop for merchants.
One of the two most critical branches of the Silver Dragon Chamber of Commerce is located here.
However, recently, an inexplicably tense atmosphere has quietly spread.
This evening.
In the border military region, young soldiers from the ordnance station returned to maintenance as usual after training.
"It's the end of March and the weather is still so cold."
One of the recruits counted the bullets and complained in a low voice while breathing heavily.
"Just get used to it, you're new here."
Several veterans laughed.
"By the way, where are you from? I heard that mysterious incidents have happened in many places recently, and a large number of people died tragically. Is everything okay in your hometown?"
One of the veterans used cotton dipped in special gun oil, smeared it on the surface of the flintlock, and asked casually.
When the recruit heard the question, he couldn't help but trembled.
His mood suddenly dropped.
"Both my grandfather and little sister died. They died miserably. The officials at the public security station said that it was the evil god 'King of Blue Clothes' who was spreading darkness... He was the one who killed my relatives."
The recruit pretended to be calm, picked up a flintlock gun, and imitated the veteran's example of using cotton dipped in gun oil to smear it on it.
"I don't understand why. Wasn't he also a human being at the beginning? He was still a clergyman of the Zhengshen Church, and now he is killing innocent civilians... Why doesn't the Sun God punish him? Why can't His Majesty Andre do anything to him?"
As the recruit spoke, his tone was choked, his hand shook, and the cotton was stained with gun oil and sprinkled on the flintlock gun.
The veterans looked at each other.
"Hey, recruit, that's enough."
One of the older men stood up, came over and took over the work from the recruits, and said half-comforting and half-admonishing:
"This is the Imperial Army. Even if you are dissatisfied with His Majesty, don't say it. If it reaches Captain Aloma's ears, you will be dragged to the shooting range tomorrow...Give it to me, your gun is soaked in too much oil. On the battlefield, he will be very slippery."
The recruit looked stunned, then took a deep breath.
"Thanks."
At this time, a rapid whistle came from outside the ordnance station.
Beep--
The expressions of the new recruits and veterans suddenly changed.
Then the radio sounded Captain Aloma’s deep voice:
"Emergency! There is a contamination mutation in the No. 2 playground. The soldiers of the No. 3 Squadron have mutated into insect-men and need support! Repeat that..."
"Go, go, go!"
"Go to support!"
The soldiers in the ordnance station picked up their guns and ammunition and left one after another, heading towards the No. 2 playground.
The flintlock gun that had not been wiped clean and was full of gun oil was casually leaned against the box by the veteran...
*
*
*
The next day.
Xuejing City Border Defense Iron Mesh Area.
An imperial soldier who was on duty at the sentry tower was smoking a cigarette out of boredom. Suddenly, his expression changed, he quickly threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, and picked up the radio to notify the rear.
On the forest land, a group of strange troops came from the south.
The Imperial Army was immediately on alert, and a total of hundreds of people, both covertly and covertly, raised their guns and aimed at them.
After a while.
A middle-aged officer wearing a snow-white cloak slowly came to the foot of the tower under the protection of several guards.
His beret is engraved with a star pattern representing the capital of Shuoli.
The imperial military observers could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"It's Warwick, the border guard major general of Shuoli Capital. He was invited by General Mateo to discuss important matters...He will help transfer Captain Aloma and he will receive him."
"receive."
In the darkroom behind the tower of the sentry box, several observers communicated by radio.
But at this moment.
boom--
A gunshot broke the original silence.
"what happened?"
"Who fired the shot?!"
"Notify immediately!"
Under the horrified eyes of hundreds of border guards.
Major General Warwick, who came from the capital of Shuoli, fell straight down, with a huge blood hole on his chest, and his snow-white cloak was instantly stained red with blood.
Shuoli's military was immediately in an uproar.
"This this?!"
On the tower of the sentry box, an imperial soldier looked at the flintlock gun in his hand in horror. Green smoke was coming from the muzzle, and gun oil was slowly dripping from the trigger.
"I didn't mean it! The gun went off!"
"Damn it!"
"Private Flano, do you know what you did?!"
"Notify the general quickly!!"
Both armies exploded.
boom!
I don't know who fired another shot, which seemed to be the fuse, igniting the emotions of both parties, and eventually a horrific reaction occurred.
Bang bang bang! !
Suddenly there was a burst of gunfire, accompanied by a booming explosion, and the Shuoli military personnel fell on their backs, and the entire army was wiped out in less than a few minutes.
Not long after.
General Mateo of the Imperial Army hurried over and saw the mess and corpses outside the iron fence. He almost vomited blood in anger.
"Damn it! You all deserve to die!!"
His veins were exposed, he raised his head and shouted angrily.
He originally planned to discuss border pollution with his old friends to get some help, but unexpectedly the two sides exchanged fire for no apparent reason, and Warwick died directly here...
There's no way to explain it.
The capital of Shuoli will only think that this is a premeditated ambush by the empire.
At such a tense moment for the empire, this incident is very likely to trigger a greater conflict!
Mateo was shocked and angry. He immediately turned around and rushed to the headquarters without stopping, intending to report the situation to the Sun Royal Family.
But that night.
Shuoli's army, numbering tens of thousands, attacked aggressively, catching the empire's border defenses off guard.
Snow Crystal City fell in just half a day.
What's even more shocking is.
The local shelter was attacked by a branch of the Star Cult in the back. Except for a few investigators, everyone including the team leader Staffan died in the line of duty.
In this raid, two women were unfortunately killed by stray bullets. Their deaths were like raindrops falling into the ocean, without causing any waves.
Like the more than two thousand civilians who died tragically innocently, no one cared...
*
*
*
The main city of Hua Bang, Sunflower City.
The Seven-State Council, which governs all matters of the entire empire, is held here.
Early morning hours.
In the huge parliament hall in the city center, nearly a hundred members were having a heated discussion.
"In the western region, Xinbang has been invaded by the Kingdom of Beelzebub. In the southern region, the army of Shuoli Capital has even occupied six cities headed by Xuejing City!"
"The two vassal states openly tore up the agreement and attacked the empire's territory without authorization. This is unforgivable!"
"We must pay with blood!"
"Do not use force without authorization. The empire is suffering from the poison of the 'King of Blue Clothes'. Hundreds of millions of civilians have died tragically. Even if the trial team, asylum, security office and more than a dozen departments are operating at overload, they are unable to prevent the spread of chaos. ...The order of more than two hundred cities in the Desert State, Insect State, Gem State and other regions has collapsed. Launching a war under such circumstances will only bring down the empire!"
"Second the proposal! Focus on appeasement! Try to ensure the operation of the empire!"
"Andre the Great established the country with force and unified the continent. We must not show cowardice to the enemy and must retaliate!"
There were quarrels in the chamber.
What's more, the grumpy congressmen even rolled up their sleeves and prepared to fight.
At this time, the host on the high platform, Marquis Lechtrisur, a gray-haired but energetic old man with royal blood, said seriously:
"Silence! According to the procedures of the Seven Kingdoms Meeting, issues should be decided by voting, and the final results will be reported to the Sun King for personal review!"
The big council members fell silent.
With difficult to reconcile emotions, each of them put their own tickets into the box next to the armrest.
Among them, a senior congressman named Crum was staring at the second column of the ticket, which read "Support for war."
"Lilitha, Martha..."
Klam closed his eyes and thought of his wife and daughter.
They were brutally killed by Shuoli's military, which aroused Cram's resentment.
When he opened his eyes again, his eyes were red, and with trembling hands, he used a red marker to paint the box at the end of the second column red, and immediately put it into the voting box.
After a while.
The staff sent the collected anonymous tickets to the high platform, where Marquis Leitch personally counted them.
Final Results--
There were 65 votes that did not support waging war, and 66 votes that supported waging war!
There was an uproar in the chamber.
The old Marquis stopped him several times before lowering his voice.
He said in a deep voice:
"I will report the results of the meeting to the royal family, and His Majesty the Sun King will make a decision personally..."
*
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*
"Your Majesty, the situation in the empire is urgent. The suggestion submitted by the Seven Kingdoms Council is a good choice...perhaps we can use the war between Beelzebub Kingdom and Shuoli Capital to temporarily divert the internal conflicts."
In the conference hall of the Palace of the Sun in Tourmaline Kloster, the royal city, Judge McCallion said in a deep voice.
Sitting at the table were the heads of the Church of the Seven Gods. Except for the vacant seats in the Stars Sect, the faces of the other high-ranking officials were all clouded, especially Archbishop Tuke of the Church of the Sun.
In today's Sun Church, the pope has fallen, and there are only four archbishops left in Lieyang Monastery, and the strength of the top management has been greatly reduced.
It can even be said that the Sun Church, which was originally the most powerful among the seven churches, has now fallen to the bottom.
After the battle in the spiritual world, except for the Church of the Moon, the School of Madmen and the Council of Generosity, the other seven churches suffered heavy losses.
Everyone in charge is worried.
At the main seat, a blond middle-aged man wearing a white plain robe sat upright.
Even with a calm face, there is an aura of calmness and dignity.
"turn down."
Emperor Andre said calmly.
The people in charge did not dare to say anything and just nodded silently.
However, at this moment, the head steward, Babaye, walked to the side of the Sun King with an anxious look on his face, buried his head deeply, and handed out a document with both hands.
He said with a trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, there is urgent information from Lin Bang... The army of the Kingdom of Byron has invaded brazenly. The Madman School's Comet Group has dispatched five great mages. The main city of Lin Bang has been occupied, and His Majesty Farric died in the battle."
Uh-huh!
All the high-ranking people present turned their heads and stared at the old man in the seat of the Madman School.
Scholar Hernandez adjusted his glasses and showed a meaningful smile.
boom--
A golden light fell.
Hernandez was shrouded on the spot, and his incarnation and even the chair were burned to ashes.
Emperor Andrei had no expression on his face and slowly lowered his index finger.
All the high-ranking people present were shocked.
A thought suddenly emerged——
War is coming...
*
*
*
In that world, there is a drunken tavern.
Next to the carved window, a man with a ponytail in a tuxedo raised his wine glass and saluted out of the window.
He chuckled.
"Wonderful story, King Jingcang..."
Ding dong!
The crisp sound of clinking wine glasses rang out.
Chen Lun sat on the white throne and slowly put down the glass.
He took a sip of hot milk and turned his head to look down at the world.
His eyes were indifferent, reflecting the figures of countless armies, players ready to go, and many high-ranking people.
"The third step is that the King of Blue Clothes arrives and joins the hunt..."
(End of chapter)
