In February 10758, when the snow began to melt in San Lorenna, and after settling the affairs of Mount Azrant, Gray finally set out on his way to Black Dragon.

"Your Excellency the Paladin: It is a pleasure to hear your imminent news, and the Emperor of Gustavus is pleased with your decision, as well as appreciative. We look forward to seeing you there. Expect the meeting where we may decide the future of the entire continent. Sincerely, Cedric V. Cedric V sent a brief reply.

The wind blew softly, and the Silver Moon Banner fluttered in the wind.

Snow trickled from the stream, and Gray led the Knights of the Silver Moon through the pine forests where white and green meet.

It's another "expedition", but unlike countless times in the past, Gray's soul fire looks a little faint.

"There was a rope that held me back from running in the pursuit of justice. I tried to break free of it, but it got tighter and tighter. ”

"Did you really want to break free of it?" asked the black cat.

"Didn't I try to break free of it?" asked Gray rhetorically.

"Yes, you don't. I watched you come by, and I know you too well. Not only do you not want to break free from it, but you are even fighting it head-on. Because you don't essentially think it's a mistake to be a paladin as a lich, you're not even willing to cover it up, and you're not willing to lie about it to quell the rumors. You are deliberately ignoring the impending crisis, because you feel that if you take it seriously, you are surrendering to this unreasonableness, and you are acknowledging like everyone else that a lich cannot be a paladin. ”

"Now I have to go to Black Dragon City, I surrender, don't I?"

"No, you don't. You have a myriad of other ways to solve the problem. For example, directly wage war against the Gustav Empire and bring it down. For example, use Vivien's illusion to make many people 'see' your true face. For example, make a conversation that denies the rumors. But you don't even bother to do that. ”

"All of this is against doctrine. ”

"Yes, but none of this is anything compared to the mistakes made by the cardinals. The Holy Spirit has always taken a receptive attitude, hasn't he?"

"I'm different from them!" replied Gray, in a loud voice.

"So, you still haven't surrendered. The black cat stretched out in his armor and said, "Sometimes I really don't know whether to worry or be relieved of your stubbornness. ”

"Didn't I become a paladin in pursuit of justice, and if I became like that, what was the point of what I had done before?"

The black cat actually wanted to say, "You became a knight in the first place, just so that you could wear armor and not let people discover your lich identity." Now you have to risk revealing your identity in order to be a good paladin?"

Of course, he didn't say it after all. Meow Sheng is so wonderful, a thousand words, and in the end it can only be combined into a sigh.

Is it really just the Lich's identity that binds Gray? No, and his attachment to doctrine, sacred faith, and knightly oaths. Perhaps these were the ropes that really held him to him. And the black cat has also gone from being unstoppable at the beginning to being unbearable to stop it now. I could only watch Gray continue step by step, forward.

Catherine had returned to Shelley and Richie at Gray's request, and continued to help Gray look after his family. Vivien continued to travel back and forth, gathering information for Gray.

For some reason, people are starting to avoid talking about some topics.

The Gustavus Empire was vast, but the distance between San Lorenja and the Black Dragon City was not far. Even at a normal pace, half a month is more than enough.

At the beginning of March 10758 in the sacred calendar, Gray finally appeared calmly on the outskirts of Black Dragon City. Yes, "calm".

......

Black Dragon City, in fact, to be more precise, should be Black Dragon Port, which is a city by the sea. Located on a plain where two large rivers meet.

The black buildings spread all over the plain, like patches of black dragon scales, uneven, but with some kind of regularity, like a pattern drawn on the earth. The gap in the middle scale is a road. In the middle is the grandiose, dragon's nest-like palace of Gustav.

It was a very different palace from the Lion King's Palace. The Lion King's Palace covers a small area, but the floors are particularly high. Each building should have at least four floors. Gustav Palace, on the other hand, is more like an open fortress.

Huge walls with joints like the spine of a dragon, huge buildings with sky-high black "bone spurs" decoration, large courtyards, school yards, and even imperial palaces that are many times larger than the buildings, there is also a small "inland sea" that connects the ocean through small and narrow canals. In the middle of the inland sea, there is a small port.

Standing on the hill and looking down from afar, the Gustav Palace looks like a broken open space in the middle of the Black Dragon City, in stark contrast to the surrounding densely built area.

In fact, strictly speaking, Black Dragon City was not the largest city in the Gustav Empire. The real number one city should be San Lorenna. After all, San Lorenja is the seat of the Holy See, holds the authority of the entire continent, and is also the center of the inland trade of the Gustavian Empire, with a large foreign population. However, in terms of scale, Black Dragon City is much larger than San Lorenna, and the most important part of it is military.

Black Dragon City is not only the political center of the Gustav Empire, but also the most important military center of the Gustav Empire, and is actually a border city.

To the southeast of Black Dragon City is the port and the sea, and to the northeast is the towering Weeks Mountains, which separate the mainland from Vic, a small country to the north. To the west and southwest is its own territory, and to the northwest is the Lombak Empire, the great enemy of the Gustavus Empire.

In other words, the Black Dragon City, as the capital, cut off the Lombak Empire's road to the sea, and completely turned the Lombak Empire into a landlocked country. The so-called "opening of the southern trade route" of the Lombard Empire was actually to capture the capital of the Gustav Empire......

This is the source of thousands of years of disputes between Gustav and the nomadic state. Thanks to the help of the Holy See, the country of Gustavus Empire has existed for 3,000 years. In the past 3,000 years, the nomadic countries on the opposite side have changed several rounds, but no matter which one they are, they will take Black Dragon City as the biggest strategic goal.

Today's Lombard Empire is undoubtedly the most powerful nomadic empire in the past 3,000 years, so the battle line has also been pushed to the doorstep of the Gustav Empire.

Standing on a high place, Black Dragon City is surrounded by military camps, with a large number of troops stationed. The northeast side is covered with various military buildings such as castles, city walls, strongholds, and sentry posts. That area was even larger than the area of Black Dragon City itself.

Peace is temporary, and war can break out at any time. After all, the Lombback Empire never needed a reason to go to war, and the struggle for access to the sea and the huge profits of trade with the South was a reason in itself. They do not need to report to the Holy See when they start wars, because they do not believe in the Holy Religion at all.

Gray took the Silver Moon Knights and stood on the hill west of Black Dragon City and watched quietly.

The banner of the silver moon fluttered gently behind him.

"Dear Paladin, it's a pleasure to meet you! I am His Majesty's Chamberlain of His Majesty the Emperor! I have been ordered to pick you up!" a knight, with a whole group of cavalry, came to Gray and saluted him respectfully.

"Good work. Gray bowed his head and drew a cross on his chest.

Under the leadership of the squire, the Knights of the Silver Moon entered the city in a mighty way.

"Huh, the Silver Moon Banner, it can't be the Silver Moon Knights, right?"

"Is the one in the gray armor the paladin Gray, why is everyone else in silver armor, but he is wearing gray armor?"

"Didn't you say he's a lich?"

"Why did they come here?"

"Mom, come out and see the lich!"

"Bastards, what are you talking about! You slander paladins are going to hell!" the grumpy mallet roared angrily. However, it didn't work. The cavalry team that came to lead them didn't seem to hear, Gray didn't argue, and the Silver Moon Knights were silent one by one, letting the residents of Black Dragon City coax. The mallet's rebuke only drew a burst of laughter, and the mallet's face turned purple with laughter.

Black Dragon City seemed unprepared for Gray's arrival. The vast majority of residents are unaware. Of course, this does not prevent them from watching the lively heart. People began to pour in from all directions, crowding the streets.

After all, Gray is the man who has shocked the entire continent.

The soldiers who came to lead the way also did a bad job of maintaining order, and the scene was so chaotic that some even reached out to pull the beard of the mallet.

"Do you think he's really a lich, and if so, why do you spread the teachings around?"

"Maybe there's some big conspiracy, after all, he's in control of the church now, isn't it? ”

"Then why did he cut the church?"

"Maybe it's to paralyze us, or to weaken the Holy See. In short, there must be some conspiracy. ”

"Mother, mother, why did the paladins bring a group of dwarves, and were those dwarves messengers sent by the demons?"

The black cat hated it so much: "This is the most unqualified civilian I've ever seen." How dare they talk about it in front of you. If you're a lich, shouldn't they flee in fear?"

Gray didn't answer, as if he hadn't heard, and continued to ride his horse slowly.

As he walked through the crossroads, a boy shouted, "All sins will be reckoned with, and all souls will be sublimated." The sun shines on every corner, and there is no room for the slightest shadow!Justice will prevail!" and threw a stone at Gray. The stone missed, hitting Karl's head beside Gray. "Bang Bang".

"What are you doing?" the soldier finally spoke, but in the blink of an eye, the boy was already drowning in the crowd.

"Oh my God! They don't care? It's the worst welcome I've ever seen. No, it could even be said to be humiliating!" The black cats are starting to grind their paws.

Vivien was so angry that she couldn't say a word.

In the midst of such discussions, Gray walked through the long streets and finally came to the gates of the Gustav Palace.

The onlookers were finally dispersed, and the Knights of the Silver Moon lined up behind Gray in a half-moon pattern. Opposite Gray, on the other side of the palace moat, stood Bishop Gustav in a white robe.

The gray-haired Bishop Gustav walked across the bridge with the hem of his coat and his scepter, came to Gray, bowed his head and reverently drew a cross on his chest.

"Your Excellency, it is an honor to meet you. His Majesty the Emperor is already waiting for you in the palace, please come with me. ”

"Okay, thank you. Gray bowed his head slightly, reverently drew a cross on his chest, and then dismounted, and followed Bishop Gustav step by step to the palace.

Karl tried to follow, but was stopped by the guards.

"I'm sorry, but the only person Your Majesty wants to see is Lord Paladin. ”

Karl looked at Gray.

Gray glanced back at him and nodded slightly. Carl took a step back.

Following Bishop Gustav, Gray walked step by step towards the palace.

It was undoubtedly the grandest, most imposing complex Gray had ever seen. Perhaps the most magnificent and atmospheric complex on the entire continent. Standing in it, you can fully feel your own insignificance, like a grain of sand. Whether it is a building, a city wall, a school field, or a courtyard, they all embody a common characteristic, large. Big, rugged, quaint architecture.

However, Gray obviously didn't have the heart to appreciate these anymore, not at all.

Finally, led by Bishop Gustav, he arrived in front of the main building, located in the middle of the Gustav Palace.

It was a large-scale building, like a huge black dragon head protruding from the ground, creeping on the ground, first narrow and then wide. The spikes of the giant wood on the top look like dragon horns. Gray had to climb a hundred steps along the Dragon's Tongue before he could reach the main gate.

This unique building is equivalent to the entire Pierce Cathedral complex in the Lion King's Capital.

One of the guards walked up to Gray and the Bishop and held out his hands.

The bishop whispered, "Lord Saint, please surrender your weapons. In the Black Dragon Palace, no one can bring weapons in, except for His Majesty himself and his personal guards. ”

Gray reached out and unsheathed his sword, handed it to the soldier beside him, and then stepped forward and began to climb the wide staircase alone. From a distance, his figure was almost negligible compared to the grand scale of the Black Dragon Palace.

The wind blew softly, waving the black dragon banner that hung high above the royal family of Gustav.

Finally, Gray stepped up the final staircase and began to walk down the black carpet.

On either side stood a few emperor's guards in heavy armor and weapons.

The Black Dragon Hall is a rectangular structure, and from a distance, Gray has seen Cedric V sitting high on the throne in the depths of the golden hall. Like an evil dragon lurking in the shadows.

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