Winter is approaching, the temperature is getting cooler, the lush vegetation on both sides of the Gorgon River is already showing a bleak appearance, the roads on the banks are decreasing from pedestrians, and only the occasional large caravans appear on the riverbank, almost all on the west bank.

The plains of the east bank remain barren, and the wounds of war are far from healed in that burned land.

A low whistle resounded across the river, the steel-covered bow split the water and marched high on the Gorgon River, leaving the sluggish old cargo ship far behind, and the highlander, a magical mechanical ship navigating the north and south, sailed like a proud swan on the water, and the magic wings behind the side of the ship rose high in the cold wind, sprinkling a sparkling glow.

A blonde young man in a dark blue tweed jacket stood on the side of the boat, looking out at the still barren and dilapidated east bank of the Gorgon River, his eyes deep and slightly melancholy, and a cold wind from the north caught up with the cutting-edge mechanical ship, so that the young man couldn't help but tighten his collar and turned back to his cabin.

A warm breath greeted you.

The cabin is simply furnished, but it is neat and comfortable, and there is a small desk by the window, on which ink, paper, pens and other items are placed.

The young man came to the table, sat quietly for a while, then took a piece of letterhead from the side, took a dipping pen, and wrote a text on the paper with a calm and indifferent expression:

"My dear Flower of the Mountain—

"The farther away from my hometown, the stronger I miss you, this long journey is really the first experience of my life, I never thought that I could leave my hometown and come to such a far place......

“…… Although I was occasionally lonely, the journey was still interesting, and I saw a lot of people and things, and after my eyes were broadened, I realized the shallowness of my previous life. There are many things that cannot be learned from books, and as my father said in his early years, a truly good playwright should have an unforgettable journey to get out of those rotten piles of paper and really grow up - but it was a bit frustrating that my father did not support my trip......

"You know, he's a cautious guy, and he's gotten more cautious in recent years as he's gotten older......

"If you don't like to hear me, I'll tell you what I've seen on my journey.

"It's a novel experience to ride the 'Magical Mechanical Ship', it's hard to imagine how the mages and craftsmen of the South made this creation, it's a huge magical device, and many of us live in the belly of this huge magical device day and night, and as it sails along the way, if you have the chance, you should really try it...... Although the ticket was expensive, I thought it was worth the money.

“…… The east bank of the Gorgon River is that battlefield, and when I see it, my inspiration and thoughts keep coming to me. What kind of thrilling and great war should that be? Brave warriors fend off the tidal tide of monsters, knights, soldiers, and mages on the scorched plains, and every day they hold their ground is perhaps more moving than any clichéd knightly tale......

“…… In the lower class below me was a family from Saint-Sunil, who had exchanged almost half of their possessions for a ticket to the south, in the words of the man, to 'try their luck in the south'. On this ship, there seem to be quite a few people who do this. The capital of the empire was set in the south, which attracted many people to the south to seek a way to survive, these people would discuss the future when they came out to breathe, and sometimes they would discuss their livelihood in their hometowns, most of them lived in the cheapest lower class, and some lived in the middle class like me, but we were all looking for new opportunities......

"My dear, you can't imagine what it is, I know, I know it's not as romantic and exciting as the knight describes, but I feel an emotion in the middle of it, so many people, with hope, going to a strange land—many say that this war has disrupted the ancient and solemn order of the kingdom, and has thrown everything into chaos, but I feel that something new awaits us.

"I don't know if you can understand it...... It was as fresh as the river breeze I was blowing on the side of the boat today, and although it was cold, it was invigorating.

"Isn't this happening on the ship more appropriate to the 'stage' I conceived than the story of the knight and the princess?

"Forever loving you, and thinking of you - Film."

With a smile on his face, the young man carefully wrote the last punctuation point, and then folded the letterhead carefully and put it away close to his body—the next time the ship docked, he could hand it over to the crew who was in charge of the matter, and the crew would take it ashore for the price of a silver coin, and the letter could be properly delivered to the north. Of course, if you are shy in your pocket, you can also choose a "cheap letter" with ten copper plates, but it is said that he may lose it, and he will not choose it.

There was the sound of footsteps outside the cabin, followed by another knock on the door, and Film got up to open the door, and a young man in a gold and blue silk coat, short silver hair, and a sunny smile stood outside.

It was a friend he had met on his journey, a northerner named Fendir, a cheerful and friendly friend, and a well-bred man, who did not know where he came from, but on the ship to the south, the two of them went hand in hand and got along very well.

"Hey, friend," said the silver-haired young man with a smile, "it's almost lunchtime - would you like to go to the restaurant together?" ”

"Quite willingly," Film laughed as well, closing the door as he walked out of the cabin, "I'm hungry." ”

The two young men talked and laughed all the way, and they walked through the open deck, through the closed corridors, past one after the other traveling companions who were on this mechanical ship to the south.

They were greeted by a tall, unsmiling man, a pharmacist from the North, with a certificate from the Artisan Guild and a contract of employment from a factory in the South, a generous and good man with a stern countenance.

An elderly couple walked through the corridor, from Brentard, west of Saint-Sunil, who were said to be watchmakers.

A few young men and women were coming up the stairs before them, dressed in burlap, and they came up cautiously, but with light in their eyes when they conversed with each other, and they had come from Saint-Sunil, and lived in the lower class cabins, and with the money they had made up for the journey, and with a little thought of the family, and with a "letter of recommendation" from the Archduchess Victoria, they were also going south to find a new life there.

There are down-and-out craftsmen, scholars seeking knowledge, businessmen seeking business opportunities, and even the old royal capital mages who are looking for magic techniques.

Some people have a lot of money and live in a luxurious upper class, some people are poor and shabby, and they are already stretched thin with a ticket to the lower class, some people have a mission to go to the south with the orders of a certain merchant and even a nobleman, and some people are desperate and leave their homeland as if they were fleeing the famine.

The mechanical ship that enforces the "Order of Cecil" is like a miniature city floating on the Gorgon River, containing everyone in its giant belly of steel and wood, sailing on the cold and steep river, carrying everyone's dreams to that legendary land.

The hum of the mechanical pod came from behind the partition in the hallway, and the magic-powered magic crystal lamp lit up the hallway leading to the dining room, and a young man named Fendil slowed down next to a runic device that had been structurally exposed due to maintenance, as if curiously observing the self-running magic machine, Film's voice rang out from the side: "Something incredible, huh?" I heard that it is everywhere in the south. ”

"That's what I've heard...... Fendil laughed, "tell me about your idea again, I'm really interested......

"Of course, my friend, but it's time for you to tell me about you, why did you go south? Also looking for opportunities? ”

"Aha...... I was reluctant to set off, I was forced to come by a letter from my aunt......"

"Oh? It sounds like your aunt is a terrible person, and a letter can get you out of the way. ”

“…… Haha, indeed, maybe she's the most powerful person in the north, and each of us is quite afraid of her......"

The silver-haired young man laughed, and his hearty laughter was like the rugged mountains of the north, causing Film on the side to laugh too.

A low whistle resounded across the river, and on the cold and windy Gorgon River, the Highlander spread its wings like a proud swan, and the bow covered with steel plates split the water, and sailed south full of passengers in search of opportunity and future.

……

The crystal glass blocked the cold wind outside the window, the fireplace was spitting warm firelight on the side, and the image projected by the magic net terminal was floating in the air, Victoria Wilde stood in front of the terminal and bowed her head slightly to the figure on the image: "Your Majesty, the third batch of craftsmen and young students sent to the south have set off on the 'Highlander', all carrying supporting documents and accompanied by guides, and it is expected to arrive at the port of Rock on the winter day." ”

Gawain in the holographic projection nodded: "Very good - by the way, your nephew is also on this ship, right?" ”

“…… Yes, Fendil is also on the ship," Victoria's expression seemed to change slightly, but in the end it was still a little indifferent, "I ordered him to go south to study, after all, as the future heir of the Wilder family, he can't stand still." ”

"Don't be too the young people," Gawain laughed, "but apart from that, has the situation in Saint-Sunil changed in any way?" ”

"The situation here is good, the government department is fully operational, and the MIA agents left behind by Director Amber are operating everywhere, 'dealing with' a lot of unstable factors, and greatly promoting the restoration of order. If all goes well, I won't need to be here next spring. ”

"Well, that's the best, you can also get back to the north as soon as possible to deal with things over there for yourself - the stability of the northern borders of the empire is very important."

Victoria bowed her head deeply: "Yes, Your Majesty. ”

Gawain nodded in the holographic projection, and then said, "By the way, Maggie is fine here, Rebecca and she have become very good friends, you don't have to worry." ”

"Thank you for taking care of her," said Victoria, her expression as cold as ever, but with sincere gratitude in her eyes, "Maggie is my trusting friend, and I'm glad she can help you too." ”

Gawain snorted, and then the atmosphere fell into a brief stiffness and embarrassment.

Anyone who talks to Victoria alone will inevitably find themselves in a similar situation.

The Duke of Ice was not a man of words, and even because of her indifferent expression, she tended to make the atmosphere cold in conversation, and once the business was done, there was only embarrassment between the interlocutors.

She was used to it, but Gawain on the other side of the communication seemed a little uncomfortable.

Perhaps in order to find some topics to end the conversation smoothly, Gawain was silent for a while and then suddenly said, "You are not too young......"

Victoria's calm and indifferent expression instantly stiffened a little: "Huh? ”

"Although you have Fendil, you don't have to worry about the heir, but don't you think about starting a family?"

Victoria: "Your Majesty...... Your Majesty? ”

"You're only two years younger than Hetty, you two, some places are too similar, I persuaded Hetty a while ago that you should start a family or start a family. Don't be verbose, I'm more or less a friend of Snow, and I should take care of his descendants......"

"Your Majesty, this matter ...... Don't talk about this at this time," Victoria showed a rare hint of panic, "I'll think about my own business, I'll think about it!" ”

The magic web communication was hung up by Victoria on the other side in a little hurry, and Gawain sat behind his desk with a slightly stunned expression.

Amber, who was standing next to her, couldn't help but roll her eyes: "You're really old, how can you talk about the topic and be biased to urging marriage?" ”

"After getting down to business, let's talk about family life, what's wrong?" Gawain seemed quite innocent, "And I just said it casually." ”

Amber pursed her lips, as if she wanted to mumble something, but before she could speak, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

Hetty appeared in the doorway with a large pile of papers and walked towards Gawain.

Seeing the large pile of documents in the other party's hand, Gao Wen felt a faint pain in his head.

In the spirit of not giving himself a headache alone, he glanced up at Hetty and said casually: "Hetty, you are not too young......

Hetty was stunned for a moment, and before she could get down to business about the document, she felt a chill in the back of her head......

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