The Royal City of the Twilight, the royal garden.

Sitting on a bench in the corner of the flower bed, Todd held a bag of fodder and listened to Dion's report while feeding the birds and beasts on the ground.

"The city of Taylor has become a dead place, and the undead are roaming around, and there is no sign of any living creature left. Both on the street and on the river, there is a thick layer of parasites, which from a distance looks like wriggling black weeds or algae. ”

Todd looked up at Dieng, who was on one knee, and asked softly, "The whole city is like this?"

"It's the same for the whole city. Dieng said: "We have sealed off all four gates of the city, placed sentries at every section of the wall, and dug huge trenches. ”

"Any undead in the city that comes close to the walls of the city will be shot and burned on the spot, and even if some fish slip through the net, they will fall into the trenches outside the walls and be killed directly. ”

Recalling the scene in his memory, Dion shuddered imperceptibly: "There are two things I have been thankful for. One, these undead creatures are afraid of fire, and destroying their heads can kill them completely, these two weaknesses are the biggest support we can rely on until now, and second, these creatures do not have the team action mentioned before, they have not formed a large-scale corpse wave so far, and they are all small-scale solo actions. ”

Todd put down the feed in his hand and said, "I guess you didn't come back to say that." ”

Dieng bit his lip and whispered, "Your Majesty, the situation may have deteriorated. ”

"Things are getting worse?"

"We blocked the access to the ground of Taylor with a trench and the water with a dam, but there was one passage that we were powerless to do. ”

"What?"

Dion said in a deep voice: "Underground waterways." ”

"The underground waterways of the city of Taylor were built nearly a thousand years ago as an underground shelter against barbarian invasions. Later, after countless craftsmen transformed and extended, it gradually developed into today's underground labyrinth like a spider's web. ”

"With a total length of more than 240 kilometers, it has 27 main waterways, hundreds of branch waterways, and a multi-level underground pipe network. Dion paused: "And these figures, not including those secret waterways and ancient waterways, we have gone through the entire city structure map of Taylor, and only less than half of the sewer routes have been tolled. ”

"Just last week, the Valkyrie reconnaissance team found several undead in the forest north of the city, and after eliminating them, they found a hidden passage in a nearby cave that led directly to the city. ”

Dion rubbed his slightly sore knees and continued, "The Valkyrie then blew up the secret passage with spores, but judging from the footprints at the entrance of the cave, there may be some undead who fled into the mountains in the north. ”

Hearing this, Todd's expression was unshocked, and he patted the other end of the bench: "Get up, sit here and talk." ”

"Your Majesty, this is not in line with the process of official debriefing......"

"I've listened to your debriefing in the garden, and who cares if you're kneeling or sitting when you're debriefing?"

Dion stood up with some embarrassment and carefully sat down on the bench beside Todd.

Todd dumped the rest of the feed on the ground and left the birds and beasts scrambling for food.

"Have the fleets from Froststone City and the Navy arrived?"

Dion nodded: "We have already arrived at the Duchy of Duokeqi in the south of Tairo City, because the port is too small, and the fleet can only partially dock. ”

Todd nodded: "I'll give another warrant for the fleet to start preparing for evacuation." ”

"Evacuees?" Dion suddenly reacted: "Your Majesty, are you going to give up Taylor City?"

Todd said calmly, "I will give up all the lands east of the Holy Acropolis. ”

Dion stood up in surprise: "Your Majesty, do you know what that means?!"

"Not only the Papal States that you have just captured, but also more than thirty small countries that have just been annexed to you, all of which you intend to withdraw and give up?"

In the face of Dion's questioning, Todd stopped his eyes on the birds and beasts on the ground eating food: "The black plague will soon spread on the earth, and it can't be defended. ”

Dion grabbed the corners of Todd's clothes with both hands, knelt down on one knee in front of him, and shouted anxiously: "Your Majesty! Although the situation is not optimistic, every soldier is willing to protect your land with his life, please trust us......"

Dion is fair-skinned and picturesque, and always pretends to have a resolute expression because of his delicate appearance and weak appearance on weekdays, but now he is in a mess, and he doesn't know what to do.

Todd smiled and patted Dion on the top of his head with one hand, interrupting him, and pointed to the birds and beasts on the ground with the other, and said, "What really made me give up...... It's them. ”

Dion looked at the birds and beasts on the ground, his face full of doubt.

Todd said softly, "Do you think the Black Plague will only infect humans?"

As soon as these words came out, Dieng was like being struck by lightning, and the whole person was stunned.

"Whether it's a bird flying in the air or a rat hiding in a hole in the ground, they will be transformed into immortals by the black plague. Todd sighed, "When you pay attention to the citizens of the city, you don't know that the plague has already spread. ”

"Now, the infecting of humans by animals may be unheard of, but soon, these rats and birds will shroud the entire continent in the shadow of the Black Plague. Todd looked at Dion and said slowly, "So, the purpose of me letting you be there is not to defend Taylor City, but to delay the evacuation of everyone as much as possible." ”

Dion swallowed hard: "Then now, is it too late for everything......

Todd said slowly: "The major chambers of commerce in the city have prepared the food and tents needed by the refugees in accordance with the emergency mobilization order, the tribes in the north have already prepared wood and stone and transported them to Dusk City, craftsmen and apprentices are using these materials to start fortifying the entire city, the Knights and the Holy Cult Army have entered a first-level combat response state, and all soldiers have canceled their vacations and are stationed in the camp, and the scholars of Dusk West University are studying the black plague day and night, hoping to come up with a solution as soon as possible." ”

"The whole kingdom seems to be functioning as usual, but only those on the front lines will understand that we are facing a great crisis. ”

Dion thought for a moment, stood up and said firmly: "Your Majesty, please allow me to return to Taylor City immediately, I hope to do my part on the front line against the Black Plague." ”

Todd shook his head and said, "No, I want you to stay, I'll find someone to replace you in Taylor City."

"...... stay?"

Todd turned his gaze to the city: "It's not just the Black Plague, within the kingdom, we still have a battle to fight, and you will be the best commander in this battle." ”