"May the flame of the flame shine on your path."

"May the flame of the flame shine on your path, brother—"

The caravan arrived at the south gate of Cuestak, where the companions parted and cherished each other.

A dark-skinned, wrinkled hand was reaching out from under his robe and slowly handed it to Fang Ou—he looked up in amazement at the wrinkled face of the caravan leader. The latter was smiling slightly: "Thank you for your hand on the way, young man...... It's your etiquette, but I'm not familiar with it......"

Fang Yu was stunned for a moment, couldn't help but smile, and shook hands with the other party. "It's just a matter of raising your hands."

The old man withdrew his hand, turned around and looked at the dusty sand dunes in the distance, and sighed a little emotionally:

"It's a gesture, but for those of us who make a living in this desert, the meaning is very different. In fact, since there are more and more electees on this road, the road is getting better and better, and although they can no longer make the same huge profits as in the past, young people can at least return home alive and reunite with their wives and children. ”

"The desert has also become closer because of this connection, and in my memory, before the king of the sand was last generation, it was still a plate of loose sand—"

He bent down, grabbed a handful of sand, and watched the gravel slide between his fingers. "Look, it's like this sand......"

The old man clapped his hands again and straightened up: "But today, it has gradually become like a real kingdom, a place where people can live in peace. Many people are opposed to today's change, but I believe that they are only being blinded for a while, and the rapidly changing life makes people feel uncomfortable, so they feel resentful, but one day, people will cherish all that was hard-won. ”

"The agreement with you, and your coming into this world, has brought about the best changes in all of this—and the Sand King and his father are the true masters of this sea of sand, for it is they who have brought it all over the course of two generations."

"It's the Stargate Declaration."

"Stargate Declaration." The old man repeated in a low voice.

"But I heard that some princes and nobles did not support them."

"But there are people who support it, isn't that enough?"

The old man looked back and said with a smile, "The Chosen One, yes, what a good name." So thank you, young man. ”

"Hey, I'm getting old, and I'm a little emotional for a while—"

Fang Yu frowned slightly, but then smiled.

It was a smile from the heart, yes, the opening of the stargate brought about a profound change, not only in Attaria, but also in the Earth, and in everyone's way of life.

Perhaps, the illustrious people who made the decision back then, could have foreseen this moment today: the signing of the two Suva declarations, the would-be utilitarian electors, bring about all the changes that are now being brought about – but is it merely 'destroying' the traditional ecology of Aitalia, as some have claimed?

But there are such good changes, right—even, a little more.

Tradition doesn't necessarily mean right either.

Istania's strict hierarchy, the slave trade, the rampant sand banditry, and the dangers lurking in the desert are also a tradition. Such traditions have become anachronistic today, and people will always yearn for a better life, not the same dross – and in such matters, perhaps only those who live here have the most say.

Hearing the words of the caravan leader, Fang Yu gradually understood the true meaning behind the path he adhered to-

Although he never thought of giving up in the past, he did not think about it carefully, and only felt that what the pioneers were pursuing was a more lofty ideal.

And what is that ideal?

Today, at this moment, he only slightly understood:

The change brought about by the explorer is courage, and it is also the longing and motivation for people to yearn for a richer life. Moving forward, perhaps the memory rooted in people's genes, has been engraved in the depths of their blood the moment they walked out of the forest hundreds of thousands of years ago.

"But there are so many sand pirates."

Fang Yu remembered that when he went to Bein, he also encountered a group of sand thieves - although the two before and after were almost all thieves, he only showed his battle outfit, and the other party was already half timid - but it was indeed too much, and it was slightly inconsistent with the impression of this land that seemed to him to be peaceful and peaceful.

The old man replied, "There have indeed been more sand thieves lately. ”

Fang Yu looked back at the other party in some surprise.

"Is there a reason?"

The leader of the caravan looked to the north and was silent. And Fang Yu looked at the other party's expression, and suddenly there was some understanding.

It was the cause of the unrest in the south of Cowling-

Perhaps, on the surface, there is little relationship between the two.

But on this continent, Kaurin-Eshurian is like a vast central empire, and its influence is strong enough to radiate to the surrounding area—the ancient towers, Istania, the Evan Quinn elves, and even the descendants of the djinn on Djinn Island. When the Central Empire declined, perhaps the signs of such aging had not yet appeared in the kingdom itself, but the surrounding areas were already showing some signs.

Fang Yu was in it, but he didn't understand this, and at this moment, he had to be reminded by the old man, so he reacted.

He looked back at this city with some history, and a thought faintly rose in his heart - is the arrival of the evil star and the appearance of holy relics in the world a sign of the troubled times in the future?

"Take care of each other, young man, and let the flame of the flame shine on your path," the old man took one last look at the setting sun in the distance, which seemed to be the last afterglow above the sea of sand: "I'm old, this may be the last time I walk this path, and this may be the last time I see such a scene, I only hope that one day after I die, Istania will be so peaceful for so long-"

'After I die, Istania will be able to live in peace for so long—'

Fang Yu suddenly remembered that he seemed to have heard such words somewhere.

And the equally solemn countenance of the Sand King Babaltan resurfaced in his memory again, only for a moment, and then vanished.

……

After he said goodbye to the old man, he went into the city alone.

As he walked through the city gates, taking off his turban and his scarf to protect him from the wind, Fang Yu looked around—the ship's master said they would come to pick him up and wash the dust. But before he could find anyone, he heard a voice coming from the side of the street:

"Ed!"

Fang Yu looked up, only to see that it was Alep, who was wearing a gray plaid robe and was waving at him.

"I heard Ravali say that you are coming back today," the other party walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "I was too busy a few days ago to leave the palace, I wanted to ask Afifa to send you a message, but unfortunately she said she was not available." ”

Fang Yu thought to himself that the other party had a ghost when he was free, and that Princess Afifa must not want to see him, but Luo Yu should have already returned to Cuestac, and he didn't know if the little princess had gone to look for him. As soon as he thought of the-for-tat confrontation between the other party and Tianlan, he couldn't help but shake his head in his heart.

I hope these two don't run into each other again.

He looked at His Royal Highness the prince with some surprise: "I thought you wouldn't be able to get out these days, and I originally planned to let Miss Lavalli say goodbye to you on your behalf." ”

"Goodbye?"

"We're leaving this place," replied Fang Ou, "we're building a ship in Tansniel, and the ship will be built shortly, and we'll leave this place after that." ”

Alepf was slightly stunned: "Ed, don't you really think about staying in this place for a while?" ”

"The Seven Seas Brigade has something else to do," Fang Yu replied, "and we're going to go to the Scepter Coast next to do some business. He looked at His Royal Highness the prince: "Alepf, don't worry, if we have the chance, we will come back." After all, Istania is where the Seven Seas Traveler departed, and for sailors above the empty sea, it's like a second home. ”

"We'll remember this place, it certainly means something else to us—"

Alepf added: "Is it because we are friends?" ”

Fang Yu couldn't help laughing: "You will become the king of Istania in the future, and with such a developed friend as you, of course I will not forget." ”

After saying that, he nodded again: "Yes, we are friends. ”

Alepf laughed: "I knew it. ”

Fang Yu also smiled and asked, "But you haven't told me the reason why the King of Sand let you out, is he very satisfied with your 'homework'?" ”

"Not really," Alepf shook his head, "under normal circumstances, of course I can't get out." However, my father is going to the Garden of Illusions, and Kaulin-Ihurian has sent an envoy, so he has no intention of caring for me for the time being, and I will have a chance to go out and walk around. But that's just for today, and once it's over, I'll have to go back to the palace. ”

In the end, His Royal Highness the Prince's tone was already full of pity.

"Kaurin-Ishurian sent an envoy?"

Fang Yu looked around, no wonder he had seen a lot of northern costumes on the street before—it seemed that there were a lot of Kaulin people, how many envoys did Kaolin Ihurian send? Although it was also a common thing for Kaulin and Istania to exchange envoys, at this juncture, Fang Yu couldn't help but think about it a little more.

Babaltan was also a little surprised to go to the Garden of Illusions, and he remembered that he had heard about the Garden of Illusions in Princess Celestia before, which was the royal garden of the Penelope royal family, located in an unknown place in the desert. Is it because of his 'plan' that the Sand King is suddenly going to this place at this moment?

Suddenly, he remembered something else. What Mai Yihil told him about the sand pirates, he felt a little familiar at the time, but at this moment he remembered that Her Royal Highness the eldest princess also mentioned to him about the sand pirates not long ago-

It was the king of the sand thieves, and it was the other party who stole a batch of Abyssal Sea documents from the Garden of Illusions. At that time, Her Royal Highness the eldest princess also mentioned that there were traitors in the royal family, but I don't know if the other party has found out who this insider is after such a long time.

And the 'intelligence monger' who connected with him, Mai Yishir said that the other party was also in contact with the sand pirates, what connection would there be between this?

Such thoughts flashed through his mind.

Because by this time Alepf had already interrupted his train of thought:

"By the way, Ed, your friends are here too."

"Friends?"

"yes, they're over there—"

Alev said as he winked at him, a little amused: "Ed, I didn't expect you to hide such a beautiful young lady, no wonder you came to Questak in such a hurry." Ravali has told me about you, don't worry, your crew has returned, and Count Nurman has received them—"

Fang Yu was slightly stunned when he heard this, His Royal Highness the prince would know about Luo Hao and his party, he was not too surprised. After all, he asked Ravali to help find someone, and it is unlikely that this earl's daughter and her father would not rely on the power of the royal family, after all, Afifa's identity may also have something to do with the king of sand, Barbartan.

And over time, it is normal for His Royal Highness the Prince to know all this, not to mention, he is now gradually taking over the affairs inside and outside the palace.

But it seems that he has already met the others.

Fang Yu looked up and looked ahead, and sure enough, he saw that not far away, the noble lady was there with the others.

Sylvid had apparently seen him—with a slight smile in her eyes.

"Captain."

"I'm back."

Sylvide slightly moved out of the way, and Fang Yu saw Luo Yu, Luo Hao, Ji Ta and the box standing there.

Even a few people from the Shield of Lufu were also in this place, not only Wu Xiaopang, ZXC and others who left on the 'Daoud' that day, but also other members of the Shield of Lufu who were stranded in Tansnir and Bein, almost all of them appeared in this place at this moment.

This was exactly what he had agreed with Count Nurman, and he would bring back Afifa, who would also return the men of the Shield of Lufu. It seems that the other party did what he promised, and not only released these people, but also sent someone to escort them to Questak. However, Fang Yu was a little crying and laughing, the Governor of Bein's move was actually a bit excessive.

He probably thought that the members of the Shield of Lufu were also his people.

In addition to these people, Miss Afifa was among them.

When Fang Yu saw the other party, he was actually slightly stunned. He thought that Count Nurman and the Mystic would take each other away, but suddenly it dawned on him that Afifa might not be aware of her relationship in this matter, or how important she was to the Mystic and the Earl.

She probably thought she was just an ordinary person.

And for some reason, the Governor of Bein, the Mystics, and even the Lord of Sands, Babartan, didn't seem to have any intention of letting her know about it.

Fang Yu suddenly remembered what the Sand King Babaltan had said to him not long ago—the other party seemed to ask him to help take care of the other party?

It turns out that the other party really didn't mention it casually.

"Mr. Ed," Afifa blushed slightly, "thank you." ”

……

Achilles was slowly passing under the porch, looking at the servants in the palace who had staggered past him. Most of them knew who he was, and they knew that he would pass by every day to meet Her Royal Highness the eldest princess under house arrest – or leave the palace from here.

Day after day, nothing unusual – just sometimes leaving earlier, sometimes later. The Sand King only put Her Royal Highness under house arrest in the palace, but did not restrict her from communicating with the outside world and contacting information from the outside world, so Achilles was able to enter the palace calmly and without much hindrance.

It's just that today is a little different-

It's not him.

Instead, it is evident in the palace that there are more people who do not belong here—those who come in and out, are the Yankees—the Kaulin.

Achilles silently looked at the envoys of the Korin who were out of step with the locals, and wondered in his heart. The appearance of these people was unplanned, but it was not uncommon for the northern kingdom to exchange envoys with Istania from time to time.

Even this time, there were indeed more envoys.

But what does this have to do with him?

Achilles shook his head slightly, reflecting on the news he had received.

As he pondered, a group of Korin envoys was approaching him, and between the long procession, there were some familiar faces mixed in—they were the courtiers of the Sand King. He had seen these people, but these people didn't necessarily know him, and these upstarts with hot status probably didn't look down on him as a little-known court alchemist.

Maybe he's a confidant of Her Royal Highness the Celestial Princess, but so what? Maybe one day Princess Rupert will become the next King of Sand, so that he will have a day of fame in the world, but now the candidate for the next King of Sand has almost been chosen, and it has announced that it has no chance with Her Royal Highness the Great Princess.

As the eldest son of the king, Alepf also has some fame among the courtiers and the people, which is well-deserved.

But all this did not even produce any fluctuations in Achilles's mind, and it was not what he was after. He only raised his head slightly, looking at the long line in front of him—this team appeared in this place every day of the week except for these Kaolins.

Because this is the moment when the council ends.

And every day, he would pass through this corridor at this time and go to the outer gate of the Kashan Palace-

He soon saw the faces in the crowd.

First was Seschel, the old patriarch of the Oath Keeper clan who didn't linger too much on the court alchemist, and maybe didn't even notice him. Then came Count Nurman, who, like the former, walked out of the porch with a straight face—not knowing what had happened, and the governor of Bein seemed a little displeased.

And in the end, it was the king of sand who accepted his fate not long ago, the left minister of this sand country.

Seneman raised his eyelids slightly and looked at him, his cloudy gaze only lingering on this court warlock for a moment.

And at that moment, Achilles's gaze was also falling on the other party. The two looked at each other for a moment, nodded slightly, but did not stop and staggered forward.

As the procession passed, Achilles stopped and glanced back. The courtiers' procession had disappeared to the other end of the corridor, until it came to the end, and the left minister of the kingdom did not look back again.

He lowered his head and muttered for a moment before moving on thoughtfully.

……

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