[Alright.] Xiaowei, are you ready? The girl asked. She was not wearing her usual dress today, but a plain black shirt and trousers, and her feet were also pure black boots.

[Of course, you can leave at any time," Xiaowei said, [but fly directly to the imperial capital...... Your ideas are so eclectic. She couldn't help but complain.

"We're in a hurry. The girl smiled. Every New Year, the imperial capital of Phoenix holds a grand celebration. For young girls, the sooner they arrive, the better. And flying directly over is one of the most convenient ways she can think of transportation.

The only problem is that neither Xiaowei's "flying technique" nor the girl's "Flaming Wings" can support a long flight all day. The girl's "wings of flame" only lasted two hours. Xiaowei's "flying technique" can last almost three times as long as the girl, but the speed is much slower.

Hopefully don't run into bad weather...... The girl prayed silently in her heart. It was a long way from Anselzhen to the imperial capital, and in her calculations, even if the weather was sunny all the way, it would take three days for her to fly to the imperial capital. If you have windy and snowy weather, it will be even slower.

Finally, nodding to the three Adeles, the girl soared into the sky, flew south, and disappeared into the sky in a short time.

-------------------------------

Okad Federation.

The old capital, the city of Bennetash.

Repeatedly attacked by enemy forces and losing its status as the capital, this gray city has long since lost its former prosperity. As a confidant of Speaker Nicholas, the new Lord of Bennetash sealed off the old city, which had been badly damaged by the war. Along with it were a dozen or so majestic mage towers: it is said that the owners of these towers tried in vain to contend with the great Speaker, and eventually lost their lives in fear and regret. Today, the old town of Bennetash has been reduced to a paradise of goblins and rats, and few sapient beings have set foot here.

Today, however, the Old Town has welcomed two unexpected guests.

A middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe, with a resolute face and a falcon-like gaze, walks through the dilapidated streets of the Old Town. He looked at the mage towers in the distance with a solemn expression. A young man with short black hair and a silver mask and a priest's robe followed him.

Long.

"Do you know why I'm here?" The gray-robed man, Speaker Nicholas, said.

"My subordinates don't know." The masked youth shook his head slightly.

"When I was a child," Speaker Nicholas whispered, as if caught up in memory, "I used to study spells here. ”

"You're not here just to remember the past, Speaker, aren't you?" The man in the white mask asked without moving.

Speaker Nicholas laughed, "I can't hide it from you, my friend. I'm here today to pay tribute to an old friend. ”

"Is that your fellow disciple?"

"He was my fellow disciple. This old friend of mine has been banished from his mage tower by my teacher," said Speaker Nicholas, "and he was hunted down, and I had to help him escape from Okad. ”

"You've been planning to destroy the city since then, right?"

"This city harbors the sins of Okard for nearly a thousand years, my friend," said Speaker Nicholas, "and my teacher has promised to protect his disciples forever. The teacher failed to keep his promises. Therefore, I also did not keep my promise to my teachers. ”

A moment of silence. Braving the bitter cold wind, the two of them walked slowly in the direction of the mage tower group.

"Your old friend, how did he pass away?" The man in the white mask asked.

"He died on the soil of the Empire," said Speaker Nicholas calmly, "and if I am not mistaken, it was Victoria Douglas who killed him." ”

"Victoria Douglas?" The man in the white mask was suddenly startled, "She should be protected by the French power." ”

"I'm confused, my friend," said Speaker Nicholas, "but I don't think I'm mistaken. The Empire sheltered Victoria Douglas, and she became stronger than ever. ”

"Well, we might as well assume that the Empire and the Fa Quan have reached some sort of deal," the man in the white mask said in a low voice, "There are many young mage geniuses in the Fa Quan, but the Empire does not. They would indeed be happy to accept someone like Victoria Douglas. ”

"It could be worse," Speaker Nicholas' eyes flickered, "I have just received news that Princess Albina of the Empire has been betrothed to Peter Cliff, the leader of the 'Golden Generation' of the French Powers. I'm afraid that when the Phoenix New Year celebration comes, this marriage will be officially announced. ”

"Are you going to stop this, Your Excellency?" The young masked man asked.

"Are you afraid, 'Eternal Blood' from another world, my most loyal friend?" Speaker Nicholas said, "Do you think that once the Empire and the French Power join forces, we will be defeated, right?" ”

"No, Your Excellency," the young masked man's voice was calm, "I just feel that courage is not a sign of wisdom. ”

"You're right," Speaker Nicholas smiled, "we have nothing to fear, but we can't remain indifferent." In any case, we should avoid French and imperial alliances as much as possible. ”

The two stopped in front of a towering mage tower. Compared to the many buildings that have been reduced to ruins, the impregnable Mage Tower is still intact, except that the glossy gray exterior walls are stained with moss from the past.

"You've got an idea, right? I will assist you in any way I can. ”

"Then, as my emissary, take a trip to Phoenix in the Empire before the New Year," said Speaker Nicholas, gazing distractingly at the mage tower in front of him, "The personnel of the mission are up to you." Remember, you are Okad, the only 'Eternal Blood' on the continent, and you prioritize your own safety over missions. ”

"If you send me to convince His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire not to ally with the Elrios," said the man in the white mask, "I don't think I can succeed easily. ”

"All you have to do is show our goodwill to the Empire." Speaker Nicholas was not annoyed at all.

"Then I'll act according to my judgment." The man in the white mask said. He knew the Speaker had a plan. The tripartite plot has already begun, and it is still unknown who will be better in the end.

The two stood in front of the Mage Tower for a long time. The man in the white mask knew that Speaker Nicholas was saying goodbye to his old friend in his own way.

"Let's go." After a while, Speaker Nicholas said.

"By the way, what is Victoria Douglas going to do?" The man in white asked, "She's a traitor to Okad, but I don't think the Empire will let her go easily." Need to bring Elizabeth Douglas back to Floating Sands from house arrest? ”

"No, that's fine." Speaker Nicholas shook his head.

"Are you trying to ......," the man in the white mask suddenly understood.

"Our chessboard is in need of a new piece, my friend." Speaker Nicholas said softly.

With a slight wave of his hand, the two of them disappeared in place. Silence reigned in the abandoned city. No one knew that two of Okad's most powerful men had ever been here. The sky was getting darker and gloomy, as if heralding the arrival of a snowstorm.