At the same time, on a balcony facing the setting sun in the imperial capital.

"Master, why are you helping that young man named Dylan today?" asked a man who looked like a butler, and today he followed his master to the Spartan jousting ground to watch the academy's evaluation.

"Oh, when did I help him?" said a red-robed female mage standing beside the butler in a flat tone.

The butler looked at the western sun: "When the master was in the jousting field, he didn't seem to help Dylan, and even some stood on his hostile side. However, you have said something very crucial. ”

"Oh, what is that?" asked the mage nonchalantly.

The butler replied, "You said that Dylan used shadow magic and finally won the championship, this championship cannot be counted! However, in recent years, the empire has always respected martial arts, and since Dylan has won by virtue of his strength, then he should be the champion, regardless of whether he used shadow magic or not." On the other hand, you are trying to award the championship to a loser. None of the audience in the room were going to agree with you, and I think you knew that at the time, and why would you say that? to hide your real purpose of helping Dylan. ”

The female mage smiled, "Well, you're not stupid. That's exactly what I meant, but I can't show it too obviously, or I won't be able to really protect him in the future. ”

The butler hesitated for a moment and continued to ask, "Can I know the reason?"

The female mage turned her head to look at the butler, but did not speak.

More than three months ago, she received a letter from the distant city of North Wind, an old friend she hadn't been in touch with for years. The man on the letter said that he hoped that she could help that man's son grow up safely in the imperial capital, but she did not reply, but she agreed in her heart, not only because of him, but also because of her beautiful dead wife.

For those military officials who collectively defended Dylan, in fact, she basically guessed the reason, thinking that the male lion who was sleeping in the city of North Wind also sent letters to many big figures in the military.

The mage's hood fluttered gently in the evening breeze, revealing half of her face, it was none other than Angela Vail, the archmage of the Vail family.

......

Three days after the college assessment competition.

The people of the Imperial Capital were still talking about the wonderful duel of the previous day, because for them, that battle was not only about the ownership of the championship, but also about the first victory of the commoners over the nobles.

During Dylan's three-day recuperation, his body has basically recovered. Stephen and Donald have also visited Dylan in the hope that he will recover soon.

Dylan was not so worried about his injury, but he was worried that the Empire would not be able to deliver on his demand: the complete return of Colin's freedom.

Rick was by the furnace at this time, looking at the red-hot meteorite in the furnace, but his face was preoccupied.

Dylan couldn't continue practicing forging for the time being because his body hadn't healed yet, so he stood aside and watched Rick keep busy.

The master and apprentice had their own thoughts, and they were silent all the time, and no one spoke.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside the blacksmith shop in Gomor, and the residents of the neighborhood poked their heads out of their homes and looked at the corner of the street not far away.

"What's wrong?" Dylan watched with curiosity as his neighbors reacted.

Rick stopped what he was doing and walked a few steps outside the door, when he saw a group of soldiers in black armor walking towards the end of the street.

Recalling what happened in the Spartan tournament three days ago, Rick turned to Dylan and said, "It's someone from the Imperial military, who should have come to you." ”

"Looking for me?" Dylan looked surprised.

Nearby residents also began to whisper.

"They're all wearing black armor? This is not an ordinary soldier, this should be an officer in the army, at least at the rank of second lieutenant. ”

"They're looking for Dylan, right? In that battle, Dylan played very well as the team commander!"

"Dylan has just stepped into the fourth level of strength and has become an intermediate magician, and he does meet the recruitment requirements of the imperial military. ”

As a shadow mage, Dylan naturally heard the voices of his neighbors clearly.

But he could only smile helplessly, how could he have the face to enter the imperial army with such a sick look now?

Soon, the sound of neat footsteps stood outside the door, and a warrior took off his heavy helmet, revealing the somewhat terrifying face inside.

I saw that he was about thirty-five or sixteen years old, and his face had many furrows, which made his face, which should have been extremely handsome, become a little hideous and terrifying, and he was blind in one eye, which was covered with a one-eye blindfold. Judging from the state of the wound, it should be a new injury, and the time is not long.

He bowed extremely respectfully to Rick, "Master Rick!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Rick's eyes, "Matthew, how did you become like this?" In Rick's impression, Matthew should be a handsome guy with a dashing appearance, not the weird-looking one-eyed dragon in front of him.

The warrior named Matthew smiled: "I went to the Warcraft Mountain to perform a mission before, and I encountered some small troubles, and then I became like this. ”

Rick's expression immediately became solemn: "What happened to the Demon Beast Mountain?"

Matthew smiled apologetically: "Master Rick, there are regulations on it, and there are some things that we can't disclose for the time being, I'm really sorry." ”

Rick snorted coldly and stopped talking.

Matthew walked up to Dylan's side with a smile on his face, but it touched the wound, which made people really cautious.

"Hello Dylan, my name is Matthew Wharton, Lieutenant Colonel of the Bear Warriors. Matthew held out his hand.

Dylan hurriedly shook hands with him: "Hello." ”

Matthew said, "Actually, I shouldn't have picked you up today, someone from the Mage Corps should have come to you, but there is an extremely important meeting of the Mage Corps going on right now, so I'll come forward to pick you up." ”

Dylan was a little dazed: "Pick me up?"

Ma corrected his face: "I think you should have heard that there are a large number of troops stationed outside the imperial capital now. In fact, many people there have been injured, and this time the battle situation in the Warcraft Mountain Range is more tragic. We need to replenish a large pool of talent. ”

"You want me to join the Imperial Capital Legion?" asked Dylan, looking surprised.

Matthew replied solemnly: "Yes, this time the battle is extremely special, and the specific situation requires you to go with me to the outside of the city, and when you get there, you will know a lot of things you want to know." ”

Dylan looked at Rick on the side, and Rick exhaled, "Go ahead, you can't swing the hammer right now anyway, and it's just a matter of annoying me here." ”

Dylan knew that Rick didn't think like that in his heart, he just said it on purpose.

Dylan thought for a while, and finally nodded in agreement: "Okay then, I'll go out of town with you first." ”