In fact, by the end of the year 92617 of the Nebula calendar, the Principality of Diamond was suffering from internal and external difficulties, the external was very difficult, the internal was very rotten, and the situation was very unoptimistic.

Militarily, the whole line was defeated, and it was difficult to find a victory; Economically, the workshop is in decline and the industry is in recession; Politically, suspicion is rampant, and people's hearts are scattered; Culturally, there are many holes and beliefs are shattered; In terms of public opinion, it has been attacked and criticized everywhere, and it is passive everywhere. This is the current situation of the former Terran overlord Diamond Principality.

Nebula calendar year 92617, December 12.

The main city of the Principality of Diamonds, Diamond City.

Diamond Avenue South, Hung Fook Building.

On this day, after the owner of the workshop, Ferdinand, dismissed the last four workers, and Lehman, the manager of the workshop, came to the Hung Fook Building and had their last meal.

In three days, Lehman will depart for the return of Red Maple City, his homeland in the southeastern part of the Principality of Diamond.

Ferdinand wants to drag his family and leave Iron Sword City, the main city of the Iron Sword Federation.

Ferdinand and Lehman worked together for two decades, and the two men forged a strong friendship in addition to their relationship as employer and employee.

Thinking that after saying goodbye today, the day after tomorrow, it would be difficult to see each other again, Ferdinand and Lehman's mood was a little depressed.

"How good the business of Hung Fook Lou used to be! Not anymore, there are very few guests. At some point, Ferdinand suddenly sighed.

There were more than forty tables in the hall, but only two people sat at the table, Ferdinand and Lehman.

"Yes! Back then, when I came here to eat, it was crowded with people, and I had to queue for an hour. Looking at the present, there are so many people that I can't see a single guest for half a day. Lehman looked at the empty hall and was also very emotional.

"Alas! Now the townspeople have empty pockets and can't afford to spend. Ferdinand smiled wryly.

"The war is still going on, the economy is declining, a large number of workshops are in trouble, and many city residents have lost their incomes or even lost their income, and they are afraid to go out to spend, which is one reason. Another reason is that the current prices are too high! Lehman said.

"Alas......" Ferdinand sighed when he heard this.

"I remember that twenty years ago, you and I had a meal at the Hung Fook Building, and it only cost one gold coin. Nine years ago, you and I had a meal at Hung Fook Building, and it still only cost one gold coin. But now, if you go to a noodle restaurant in the alley to eat a small bowl of clear water noodles, it will cost 300 diamond coins, and you can't afford to hurt it! Lehman said.

"It's all to blame for this damn war!" Ferdinand said hatefully.

"Everything has changed since the outbreak of war, when the Principality issued paper diamond coins instead of gold coins. One gold coin is exchanged for one hundred diamond coins. In order to support the Principality, we exchanged all our wealth for Diamond Coins, and our well-being and the fate of the Principality were tightly tied together. Unexpectedly, in order to maintain the operation of the war, those bigwigs of the sect have been frantically printing diamond coins in the past few years, resulting in the maximum dilution of our wealth...... Alas! Lehman shook his head, helpless.

"The life of the city residents is not easy now, and I am afraid that it will become more and more difficult in the future!" Ferdinand said.

"That's for sure! The war has caused all kinds of damage, and in the end, whether it is victory or defeat, its glory and shame will not belong to the people, but the suffering will be inflicted on the people. So, now those who have the conditions, the ability, and the ability to move have all begun to flee, selling their properties and belongings, and rushing to the Iron Sword Federation or the Rango Federation, such as you. Lehman said.

When Ferdinand heard this, he drank a glass of wine and did not make a sound.

"The rest of us who are unconditioned and can't run can only wait pessimistically, hesitantly waiting, and can't see the future." Lehman continued.

"Don't talk about that, it's too heavy, let's talk about something light." Ferdinand said.

"Alright! Chat lightly. Lehman smiled.

"Huh...... Lehman, you say, Malou is so beautiful and so sexy, how could Betancourt break up with Malou? Ferdinand asked.

Ferdinand looked at Lehman with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"Quite simply, Lina is prettier and sexier than Marlou, and ...... Younger. Lehman said.

Ferdinand's Petencourt is the star of the Diamond City Dream Theater. Pétencourt was handsome, charming, and suave, and was the dream god of many women in Diamond City. Marlou is the star of the Diamond City Time Theater and Betancourt's seventh public lover. Eight days earlier, Bettencourt had abruptly abandoned Malou, and things had caused a stir. Eight days have passed, but to this day, the names of Bettencourt and Malou still dominate the front pages of media outlets large and small in Diamond City.

Lina is the star of the Diamond City Happiness Theater. It was Lina's involvement that led to the breakup of Betancourt and Maru. These days, as long as the citizens of Diamond City open any newspaper newsletter, they will be greeted by all kinds of news about Betancourt, Malou, and Lina, and even the war reports on the front line of the Qingshan War Zone are squeezed into the most corner of the page.

Ferdinand and Lehman drank and talked about the affairs of the theater stars, and their depressed mood slowly became relaxed.

However, when he had finished eating and drinking, Ferdinand frowned again.

This meal cost Ferdinand three thousand diamond coins. You know, nine years ago, it only cost one gold coin.

"HP, why is the price going up again? Now you have one price a day, and the price is getting higher and higher. The dishes are also the same every day, and the portions are getting smaller and smaller. Ferdinand complained to the waiter beside him.

"Your Excellency...... As you know, business is not doing well now, prices are soaring, and 3,000 diamond coins is already the minimum consumption, and we are not making money. The waiter, named Hewlett-Packard, said cautiously.

"Also, the taste of your dish is not right, it must be using recycled oil. The taste of the wine is also not right, it must have been mixed with a lot of water. Ferdinand continued to count.

HP lowered his head and didn't respond.

"My lord, let's go! It's not like it used to be, it's everywhere now, just get used to it. Lehman said helplessly.

"Let's go! Let's go! Go far! Ferdinand sighed.

After Ferdinand finished speaking, he shook his head, and walked out of the Hongfu Building with Lehman one after the other.

Nine hundred kilometers southwest of Diamond City, on the north bank of the Yeluo River, 10,000 meters in the air, there is an ethereal cloud with a radius of 100 kilometers.

In the misty clouds, there is a huge and majestic ancient city.

This ancient city is the location of the sect of the Principality of Diamonds, the Sky City.

There are hundreds of federations and principalities in the Star Continent, but there is only one city in the sky.

The city in the sky is the best embodiment of the magic and economic strength of the Principality of Diamond at the pinnacle of the Terrans, and it is also the best symbol of the Principality of Diamond leading the federations and principalities of the Terrans.

Today, however, the majestic and popular city of the Principality of Diamonds is no longer as prosperous as it once was. The houses in the city are deserted, the palace is lonely, and it looks quite bleak.

Also on December 12, Castle in the Sky.

Senate, the Great Hall of Deliberations.

On this day, Wan Shixun, the suzerain of the Principality of Diamonds, and the eighteen elders of the Senate of the Principality of Diamonds gathered in the main hall to hold a major meeting concerning the future and destiny of the Principality of Diamonds.

The two guards on both sides of the gate of the main hall were as straight as a pine, and their faces were grim.

At this time, the outside of the council hall was silent, but the inside of the council hall continued to resound with uncontrollable quarrels and heated arguments.

The interior of the main hall is very large, and the mutton fat and jade walls on all sides are carved with simple murals.

In the middle of the main hall, there is a large mutton fat and jade ring table. In the center of the circular table, in the void at the level of the tabletop, a three-dimensional map of the territory of the Principality of Diamonds outlined by purple light is suspended. Between the territory map and the table, there are dotted with brocade flowers.

Wan Shixun, the suzerain of the Principality of Diamonds, and the eighteen elders of the Senate of the Principality of Diamonds sat around the circular table, sitting precariously, and the hall that should have been ** and solemn was filled with a kind of tension and anger.

"Mistress Picaré, you think that the military government has been seriously derelict in its duties, and that the war has been lost. It would be unfair for you to attribute the current predicament of the Principality solely to the Military Administration, passing the entire blame on! Now that you've made your point, I'm here to make my point. The disadvantage of the war is determined by many factors. I can tell you that the serious inaction of the workshop industry in charge of you is also an important factor in the disadvantage of the war. Volle, the senator in charge of military affairs in the Senate of the Principality of Diamonds, looked at Bicaré, the senator in charge of the affairs of the workshop, and his face was very displeased.

It turned out that just now, Picaré questioned Volle about the military passivity of the Principality of Diamonds.

"Lord Volle, the incompetence of the military and the successive defeats, what does this have to do with the workshop industry of the principality?" Picaré asked.

"It matters! And it's a big deal! Mistress Picaré, it is your dereliction of duty that has led to the passivity of the military! Volle said solemnly.

Picaré stared at Volle and did not answer.

"Now I will give two examples for the adults here to judge." Voller said.

"Madam Volle, please give proof," said Bicaré.