After Carmen Alicia and Tully bid farewell to the Fonta family in the central capital, they rode in a carriage to the South Ridge Fortress, a fortress in the southern checkpoint of the Midtown Federation. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

The South Ridge Fort can be said to be the gate of the southern part of the Midtown Federation, and through the southern fortress, it is equivalent to leaving the sphere of influence of the Midtown Federation.

The rulers of Southridge Fort were the Rolando family, who were known for their extravagance and arrogance, and the Rolando family was apparently instructed by the Fonta family, and under the leadership of the patriarch of the Rolando family, Rolando McMillan, the Rolander family warmly entertained Alicia and the others.

Rolando's reputation is not too popular in the entire Midtown Federation, Tully has met the Rolando family at some banquets before, and Tully never cared about such a dispensable role at that time, but this time seeing the Rolando family made Tully alert.

This is not because of the greasy-mouthed, powdery-faced patriarch Rolando McMillan, but MacMillan's cousin, Rolando James, as soon as Tully saw this person, he felt that this person was extraordinary, no wonder the Fonta family would let the Rolando family rule this southern stronghold of the Midtown Federation, it seems that it is because of this James.

James is not like his cousin, he is not as incomprehensible as his cousin, only flattering, and in every conversation between James and Alicia and Tully, there is a shrewdness, he will test the foundation of the Free Frontier, and he will also test how Alicia and Tully view the Midtown Federation, so in the face of this person, Alicia and Tully can't put their minds at ease.

After resting for the night at Southridge Fort, Alicia and Tali bid farewell to Paul Redondo, abandoning their large and conspicuous wagons and heading on foot for their journey home to the Free Frontiers through the war-torn southern free city-states.

After stepping out of the territory of the Midcity Federation, it means that danger may come at any time, and several free city-states not far from the Midtown Federation are relatively stable, but the deeper you go into the free city-state area, the more you can feel the situation of war.

This area, no one has been able to unify for hundreds of years, and the lords of various places have fought with each other, but they have never thought of the Midtown Federation that is eyeing this territory, but the Midtown Federation will not easily invade here, because once the foreign enemy invades, these opponents of the Hundred Years War will be full of tacit understanding to unite to resist the foreign enemy.

Alicia and the others came to a relatively stable free city-state, where they found a tavern, intending to rest here today and continue their journey tomorrow.

The tavern was noisy, and there was a troubadour singing here, but there weren't many listeners around him, and to be honest, he did sing badly.

At a table in the tavern sat four local peasants, who were complaining about the war, and it was said that although the neighboring cities would declare war on it, the peasants complained about the war, and if the two sides went to war, it was inevitable that their relatives and friends would die on the battlefield.

Alicia and the others kept a low profile, if their identities were revealed, it would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble, everyone kept their heads down, ate their meals, and tried not to be too public, if it weren't for the fact that the room in this tavern was too small, they really wanted to go back to the room to eat.

"It seems that this small and peaceful city-state is also going to be involved in the war. Spencer Jessica said helplessly, she was full of nostalgia for the Free Frontier, where although not rich and full of danger, there were no such lords with sinister intentions.

In this place, the war between the free city-states has lasted for hundreds of years, and there is no way to be in this land, after all, the lords will not give up their territory easily. Jotun said softly.

He also spread his hands helplessly, human desires are endless, so the war in this place is also endless, unless anyone has the strength to unify here, but that is too difficult.

Speaking of this, Miria suddenly stared at Joseph, she looked like she wanted to say something, which attracted Joseph's attention, Joseph looked at Miria with a smile, waiting for Milia to speak.

"Speaking of free city-states...... How is your hometown of Feiyan Castle, and is there any war there?" Miria asked softly, for fear of provoking Joseph's heart, it was rare that Miria would think of humanity like this.

"Huh. Joseph chuckled softly, "If I could, I would have liked to see the war going on there, but unfortunately, Feiyan Castle is located in the south, far away from this war-torn area." ”

Miria wanted to say something more, but she couldn't open her mouth, she understood the sorrow in Joseph's heart, so not saying anything at this time was the best help for Joseph.

While they were eating, they chatted about the situation, and when the food was finished, Tully told everyone to go back to their rooms, not to do too much, and to continue their journey after tonight, and early tomorrow morning.

One by one, everyone walked towards their rooms on the second floor, and Tully followed everyone to the second floor room, but at this time, Tully noticed a figure sitting in a dark place in the corner of the tavern, wearing a travel cloak and hood, eating silently alone.

"Maester Tully?" Alicia noticed Tully as he stopped, and she turned back to ask.

"Ah...... Little Ellie, go back to your room first, I have something to take care of. When Tully heard Alicia's shout, he turned around and smiled at Alicia, but his tone was a little excited.

Alicia nodded slightly, and turned to walk up the stairs, although she didn't know what Tully was going to do, and she also noticed that Tully was a little abnormal, but Alicia had 100% trust in Tully, so she let Tully do what he thought was right.

Tully looked at Alicia's back, for Alicia's trust, Tully was grateful, such a queen is really worthy of Tully's full assistance, Tully smiled slightly, he turned around, and walked towards the man in the corner of the tavern.

The man in the corner was eating, he was eating fast, it seemed that he was in a hurry, and Tully suddenly sat down in the seat in front of him, the man was slightly stunned, stopped eating, he raised his eyes slightly, stared at Tully, and Tully stared at him, he lowered his head slightly, pulled his hood, and continued to eat.

"I just left the Midtown Federation a while ago, and I'm about to return to my current home, the Free Frontier. Tully stared at the man and said softly, while the man, as if he hadn't heard, was still eating.

"I feel like everything has changed so much, two years, just two years, and everything has changed. Tully continued to whisper, but the man remained unresponsive, and Tully looked up at the ceiling of the tavern as if he were talking to himself.

"A lot has changed, the former family has declined, the lady has died of grief, the patriarch has gone mad from shattered dreams......" Tully stared at the man again, and this time, the man trembled slightly, and then he continued to eat.

Tully just kept looking at him, silent, Tali didn't want to say anything more, Tully just watched his reaction until he finished eating, and the man just sat there, both of them silent.

"Midnight, Seongnam Cemetery. When the man had said this, he got up and left, and Tali looked at his back and sighed.

Tully returned to his room, he was still in the same room as Jotun, Jotun saw that Tali was preoccupied, but Jotun, a cat spirit who liked to speak well, did not ask anything this time, Tully was very grateful for this, and he lay down on the bed, thinking about his past experience, he could not sleep at this time, because he still had important things to do.

At midnight, at the cemetery in the south of the city, Tully waits, and the cold wind of the night is cruel, they will go straight to the marrow of people's marrow, and pierce people's hearts.

Tully stood there, waiting for the man, an old man, and the old man did not disappoint Tully, and he came to the cemetery, and the two of them stood facing each other, silent to each other, and in the cemetery at midnight, all that could be heard was the sound of the cold wind blowing.

"Talligo......" the man whispered, still wearing his hood and looking cautious.

"Butch ......" Tully nodded, tears already welled up in his eyes, that person was none other than Lee Baggio, who was once famous in the Midtown Federation, but now Baggio has long since lost his surname.

The two of them stepped forward and hugged each other, everything had changed so much, two years ago, who would have thought that everything would be like this, Tully looked at Baggio, he had really changed too much, the handsome young man who used to be had become a troubled and spiritless man, his beard had not been taken care of at all, he looked so dirty, his travel cloak was also dirty and smelly, Tali was very sad to see Bagio become like this.

Bagio asked Tully about his current situation, and Tully answered truthfully, including the plan to build the Great Wall, as well as some of the circumstances of their trip for a year, Bagio sighed again and again, Tully has always been Baggio's idol, and seeing Tully's ambitions in the Free Frontier, Bagio is really happy for Tully from the bottom of his heart.

“...... Talligo, you said before that my mother had died?" Baggio asked uneasily, though he already knew the answer, but he wanted to make sure.

"Yes, Mrs. Li was overly sad because of what happened to you, and she passed away early. Tully said truthfully, although all this was very cruel, but what Baggio would have to face next was probably an even more cruel reality, and that Tully had to tell Baggio all this, and that it was better to learn all this from Tully than to find out later.

"My father...... Crazy?" Baggio's voice trembled, his mother had always loved him, so Baggio's heart was full of pain now.

"Lord Poser has lost his position as a ruling councilor, to be precise, he has lost everything, the people of the Lee family have dispersed, and Lord Bosser has always had a strong sense of power, so he has not withstood such a blow. Tully said softly, and Baggio covered his face with his hands, tears streaming down his fingers.

"That'...... What about Rihanna?" Baggio gritted his teeth and asked about his sister, his favorite and favorite sister, he really didn't want to hear the news of Rihanna's misfortune again, after all, Rihanna was also the one who helped him escape, and he was afraid that Rihanna would be in danger.

"Rihanna got into a fight with Master Poser shortly after Mrs. Lee's death and ran away from home, no one knows where she went, but Rihanna is very smart, and I am convinced that she will not be in danger. Tully whispered, trying to comfort Baggio, but he didn't know if it would work.

"Did Rihanna run away...... Then she should be safe...... She's a mage...... I think she's going to go to some mage's meeting. Baggio seemed to be relieved by this, and Tully breathed a sigh of relief, but Tully felt that what happened next would be a big blow to Baggio.

"As for Cory......" Tully said, not knowing what to say.

"Corey, what's wrong with him, is there nothing wrong?" Baggio tensed, fearing that Coriano would be in danger at the thought of how Coriano had fought with his life to help him escape.

He ...... He's fine...... Corey ...... Married to Alice......" Tully, though full of uneasiness, still told the truth, and Baggio, who heard the truth, was completely stunned.

"Corey married Alice?...... That...... That's nice...... Cory and Alice are both the most important people to me...... Together...... Very good......"

Although he said this, Baggio's tears still couldn't stop flowing, Bagio knew that Alice married Coriano, must have saved his life, but Bagio's heart was still uncontrollably uncomfortable, Alice, the woman he loved the most, Bagio missed Alice every day and night, but now, Alice has become his younger brother, Coriano's wife.

"Butch, I think you should be more wary of Cory, he's changed, he's changed more than you, he's sworn to kill you!"

Tully's expression suddenly became serious, which made Baggio stunned slightly, and Tully told Bagio about his conversation with Coriano, which Baggio couldn't believe it, but these words came from Tully, whom he trusted the most.

"Butch, don't do anything for the Crow Passage anymore, the war with the Midtown Federation, the Crow Passage is not an opponent, even if the famous general Ross Dappel is there, but the strength of the Midtown Federation is too strong, and their commander will definitely be Ike, Fonta Eduardo, you know his talent best!" Tully painstakingly advised Bagio, who only smiled bitterly.

"Leave the Crow Passage...... Where can I go...... I'm homeless for a long time......" Baggio's words were very bitter, he really had nowhere to go, since that encounter two years ago, Baggio had been like a stray dog, helpless.

"Come to the Free Frontiers! with your talents, you will become the greatest person in the Free Frontiers!" Tully said this, looking very excited, Tali knew better than anyone about Baggio's talent, Tali wanted Baggio to follow him to the Free Frontier, and the Free Frontier needed a talent like Baggio.

"Free Borderlands...... Fontaine Le Mans once mentioned it to me...... I did think about it...... But certainly not now......" Baggio said with a little sadness.

"Why?" asked Tully, hurrying.

"I wandered aimlessly for a while after I escaped from the harbor of Garin, and then I was saved by General Ross Dapel of the Cross Passage, and I was really half dead at that time, so I swore that I would serve General Ross Dapel in return for his life-saving grace and understanding. Baggio gave his reasons, and Tully was helpless about it, knowing that he would never be able to convince Baggio of his determination.

"Okay, but be careful, Butch, the chances of victory in the Crow Passage are too small, you have to be careful of Ike, you have to be careful of the warlike lords of the Midtown Federation, and even more so your brother...... Cory!" Tully still reminded Baggio, who was heartily grateful.

The two chatted about some more content, and the night passed quickly, and the two also knew that it was time to separate, and when they parted, neither of them said anything more, but hugged again.

Baggio turned to leave, he had more important things to attend to, and Tully looked at Baggio's back with emotion.