XII

---------

The inconspicuous boy leaned against the gilded doorpost, half-closed eyes, counting the number of women who passed in front of him, and counted the time.

Young girls and ladies came and went up the steps of "pure gold", and everyone looked sideways at him. Soleton felt a little uncomfortable and began to do the basic skills of concentration-relaxation-concentration.

Fortunately, Danica didn't linger for long. Probably when the boy's eyes were just beginning to feel numb to the beauty, the brown-haired girl with a ponytail appeared outside the pure gold door. By the standards of ladies, the speed is already fast.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Soleton. Is there a hurry?" Denica López now uses very elegant and polite words, fully in keeping with her status as a general.

- In other words, she was very different from her usual, Soleton thought. Maybe it's because of a friend nearby? Speaking of Denica's best friend......

The boy set his sights on the back of his childhood sweetheart. As he expected...... It's the kidnapping woman. He quietly shifted his gaze back to Denika, deliberately ignoring the presence of the other person.

"I have good news. He smiled and said to Danica, "St. Grace's Welfare Home doesn't need to be moved!"

Hearing this, a smile immediately broke into the girl's face: "Has the nun succeeded in convincing the bishop?

Soleton corrected: "Not persuasion, exactly, but money to buy it." From now on, the welfare home will be the joint property of teachers and nuns. ”

Danika was also taken aback: "Bought it? Is the teacher so rich? How much?"

"£80,000 because business has been good lately. We're celebrating tonight, so go back early. Soleton glanced at the hostage next to him, and swallowed the words he was about to say in praise of "pure gold" back into his stomach.

He knew very well that under the gentle and beautiful face of the blonde girl, there was a tyrannosaurus that would turn its face at any time. Not savagery like Denica, but truly unscrupulous...... Denica doesn't just put a dagger around someone's neck.

"Thank you, Anne. Thanks to your help, we will be saved from the scourge of relocation. It's a pity that Danica, who doesn't know the inside story, can't understand his intentions at all.

"You're welcome...... However, someone seems to be trying to hide and ignore my existence. Anne Seffier smiled meaningfully. However, her next sentence made the teenager feel that his self-esteem was frustrated: "Speaking of which...... What's your name?"

“...... Soleton. The teenager, who really had no sense of existence, replied in an accentuated tone.

"After all, this is our third conversation, right?"

In the boy's eyes, her gaze was like a knife - straight to his thoughts. Indeed, although the two stores are next to each other, the two have only spoken three times. Soleton had been careful to dodge her.

Soleton quietly looked away, prevaricating, "Uh...... Probably, I'm not impressed. ”

But Danika was surprised: "You've known her for so long, and you've only talked to her three times?" Anne and Bonnie often come to our orphanage to play...... Aren't you there?"

The boy reluctantly replied, "It's probably a trick of fate." ”

"Well, indeed—it's a trick of fate—. ”

Anne's voice dragged out, and Soleton noticed a sarcastic look in her eyes. No...... Not just sarcasm, but something more complicated, like the second time he met her.

Is that...... Three points of mockery, three points of sarcasm, and four points of ...... Why are there worries?

The girl in front of her seems to have mature eyes that don't match her age.

---------

She was looking at him as he was looking at her.

Anne Seiffel looked at the teenager in front of her, mobilizing distant memories. It's a face that's hard to remember, but I haven't seen it for a long time, so it's even more indifferent. However, she still remembers the bullet that was deliberately hit on the hilt.

"Speaking of which, how old are you, the same year as Denica?" asked Anne after a moment's thought. She wanted to make sure.

"yes, what's wrong?" replied Soleton, a little surprised, wondering why she was asking.

"That's 18 years old. She looked at him thoughtfully with piercing green pupils — no matter how you look at it, Danika López's childhood sweetheart is also an unassuming, understated, unobtrusive teenager who lacks memorable features. Anne can see that although these two people are not as glued as in romance novels, they are not without affection.

"It can't be. ”

After a long time, she finally shook her head and smiled, denying her senseless speculation. She turned around indifferently and walked towards the store: "Forget it, I won't trouble you, go back quickly." ”

"See you tomorrow, Annie, don't forget the two extra sets of underwear I ordered!" Denika's voice came from behind.

"Don't worry. Anne smiled slyly back, "Also, don't run around tonight! ”

Although the content of her words sounded a little frivolous, her intentions were very serious and serious. Anne Seffel hopes that her friends in this era will escape the flames of the coup.

"What are you talking about, I'm not in that relationship with him!" Denika's face turned red at the hearing of Anne's words. She picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it at Anne.

The blonde girl was hit in the back of the head, turned her head, stuck out her tongue mischievously at her, and hid inside the store.

"Don't make a fuss, let's go have lunch first. How about going to Sunset? I'm in for a treat...... "It was Soleton who persuaded Danika away.

After watching the pair disappear into the crowd, Anne felt like she was back to normal.

For some reason, when she gets along with Denica, Anne has the illusion of going back to her high school days. At that time, she was always carefree, feeling that there was still endless youth to squander, and countless futures to look forward to - just like Denika now.

"Anyway, the coup d'état can be solved overnight, so it shouldn't be dangerous, right?" thought my sister, who hadn't looked at the map carefully, and returned to the manager's office.

Seeing her return, Bonnie stood up from her desk: "The accounts are finished." There are only four hours left and there is a lot to do before that......"

"There are only four hours left, what do you mean?" asked Anne.

"According to our history, before sunset, the coup army would occupy the police headquarters and the parliament building. The brunette girl put some key information and samples into her magic handbag, "It's time for us to start preparing." ”

"By the way, have you already secretly sent the news to Clad López?" asked Anne suddenly.

"It's all about being on the safe side. After all, we don't know how variable we have been. ”

---------

"Sunset" is busy at noon, but after two o'clock it is no longer busy. In the more southern republics, this time is called "tea time".

"Steak, medium rare, a glass of black label wine. After expertly ordering his share, Soleton handed the menu to the girl sitting opposite.

The brown-haired girl took it, didn't look at it much, and ordered directly. "Steak, medium rare, fruit salad, a glass of iced milkshake. ”

"Okay. The waiter made a note of the list and left. While waiting for the food to be served, the boy and the girl chatted with each other.

"Do you come here often? Soleton asked.

"I've been to Clad twice. Danika replied, "What about you? ”

"I've been here a few times before. As soon as he touched on this topic, Soleton subconsciously recalled the dagger around his neck and the owner of the dagger. And the boobs of the owner of the dagger - it was just embarrassing when they met, but in retrospect, the touch behind it was still good......

While the boy was immersed in the fantasies peculiar to youth, the waiter had already come up with a plate. Two fine steaks, glowing with a slight blood, arouse people's appetite.

"Speaking of which, why did you remember to invite me to dinner today?" said Danica, picking up her knife and struggling to saw the steak.

"Because today the teacher is kind and earns some extra money. "The medium-rare steak is basically raw inside, and you can enjoy the umami unique to fine beef.

"It seems like the two of us haven't eaten out in a long time. It seems like the year before last, right?" Danika recalled.

"We used to eat together when we were hanging out on the streets of Lenny......" Soleton gobbled down the steak and wiped his mouth, "until we got Mr. Namen back." ”

"The word 'pickup' is so apt, he was a charlatan back then...... Who knew he was a mage who had fled from the north. ”

"It's been six years in the blink of an eye...... "Soleton sighed as he sipped his wine. "I'm wondering, am I almost ready to open my business?"

Hearing this, Danika "fluttered" and smiled: "Is this...... Magic doesn't just depend on talent. As long as you work hard, you can always improve your realm. ”

"I'm not talking about magic, I'm talking about clothing stores. I wondered if I could also be a tailor or a designer...... The way of magic, I'm dying. Maybe I really don't have the talent. The boy shook the wine glass in his hand slightly, and the ice cubes hit the wall of the glass, making a slight "pop" sound. The latter words he did not say: if you don't open your business, you can't stand on your own. If he can't stand on his own feet, he won't have the opportunity to propose to the general's daughter......

"How can you say that?" retorted Denika, "as long as you work hard, you will definitely be rewarded!"

"Yawn......" "Lazy Soleton" shook his head, "I have seen the end of my magical path. It's been six years in the blink of an eye. Magic is like music, painting, writing, people who work hard are everywhere, but they are almost never rewarded. I don't want to go on anymore. ”

Danika's face turned cold: "You invited me to dinner today, did you just want to say these frustrating words?"

"No, no. Soleton hurriedly changed the subject, "Do you want to order something else?"

"No need, you really don't have much money, next time I'll go to Zaklad. Check out, go home, right?"

Danika's words were unintentional, but to Soleton's ears, they were tantamount to a tactful reproach—the harshest reproach than to reveal the facts. He was indeed poor, lazy, and untalented, and could not be compared with the wealth of a general...... The boy drank the black label in his hand with some bitterness.

"Waiter, checkout......" he raised his hand and flicked his fingers.

"Miss, a bottle of royal black label!" the table next to him intercepted the waiter he had called. The boy frowned, and turned his head away, wanting to emphasize that the first to come, the first to come—the moment he saw the man at the table, the thought was dispelled by himself.

Obviously, it was a team of adventurers. They ordered much more than he ordered, much more luxurious, and there were 5 bottles of Royal Black Label worth 250 pounds on the table. The leader appeared to be a young knight, dressed in well-made chain mail, the pattern undoubtedly a blessing of magic. The female companion beside him was a beautiful black haired woman, and her outfit could tell that she was a Muska devotee. The team also included a burly middle-aged man, possibly a warrior, and the last was a young man no more than twenty years old, with a dagger at his waist.

The adventurers are rich, and they seem to be short of a mage...... A bold proposal swept through the disheartened Soleton, but was then rejected by himself.

That's too dangerous a job, otherwise it's a good way out for a magician. The boy who pursues safety has never considered this profession in his own consideration - after all, there are few famous and high-status adventurers in the entire civilized world. The vast majority of mage adventurers have lost their lives in their first adventure.

"Checkout. He snapped his finger again listlessly, paid off the £16 for his meal, and went out the door with Danica.

"Let's go home!" the girl stretched, "Daddy should go, right?"

"You go back first," said Soleton, "and I'll have to buy something to eat and celebrate." ”

"Be sure to make it to the celebration!" Danica admonished.

"Don't worry. Soleton counted the last few gold coins in his pocket, and replied stubbornly. You'll have to find the cheapest bazaar, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until it's over...... He thought.

What he didn't know was that this would be the last time he and Danika López would ever meet......

...... It's just the way it should be. Because, there are butterflies flapping their wings.

---------

Supreme Superintendent Jemet Rudel is always uneasy today. Uneasiness for no reason.

It stands to reason that today was a very quiet day. There were no major cases, no tricky matters such as strikes or marches. On such a peaceful day, the Supreme Superintendent felt uneasy from the bottom of his heart.

He took a bunch of hay from his desk, held it in his hand reverently, and began to recite the incantation. He asks for a parable from the god he believes in, and he is able to explain the parable of his restlessness.

Under the power of the spell, the hay began to move slowly and eventually formed four peculiar figures.

Rudel looked over one by one, staring nervously at the figures of the sacred haysticks, figuring out what they meant.

"The first word is...... Army. The army represents repression and domination, and its appearance in the first place symbolizes the alternation of forces. ”

The second word is...... Let's go. Action represents determination and will, and the appearance of the second represents the occurrence of major events. ”

The third word is...... Change. Change represents the beginning of a new era or a very important turning point......"

"The fourth word is...... Dangerous. Danger represents death and war......"

What does this represent? Army, action, change, danger. What are these four parables trying to tell me?

Jermit Rudell thought nervously, and sweat began to form on his head. Either way, it's certainly not a good parable. Coup d'état, military conspiracy, invasion of the North, citizen revolution?

"It is better to be prepared than not to be prepared" is one of his tenets. The Supreme Superintendent stood up from his desk and pulled the bell, trying to call the secretary over. He was determined to put all police forces on alert – even if they were held accountable by Parliament.

No response. The Supreme Superintendent was a little annoyed, pressed it again, and swore in his heart that he would look good for the damn secretary.

At this moment, the bell struck three times. With the sound of the bell, the door opened silently.

Rudel's secretary appeared in the doorway.

"Why is it so slow!" asked the Supreme Superintendent angrily.

"Sorry...... Someone wants to see you, Your Excellency. The secretary stammered in reply.

"Why don't you report it?!What are you doing!"

"I'm sorry, I asked him not to tell me. Mr. Rudel, you should be honored. Now, in front of your eyes, there is a great opportunity to receive the Medal of Freedom. The man then walked into the room. On his epaulettes, there are two gold stars decorated with a silver cross.

"You...... Who is it?" Rudel asked in a slightly trembling voice. A coup d'état?

"I am the commander of the 3rd Independent Artillery Regiment, Interim Lieutenant General Clad López. At present, within 200 kilometers of the capital area, the only military personnel loyal to the government of the United Nations Government. Clad smiled, "I'm here to stop the coup." ”

"Who wants a coup d'état?!" asked the Supreme Superintendent with some surprise. "That's treason! It's a capital offense!"

"If the coup succeeds, it's not. The putschists are ......" Klad's voice was as cold as ever, but every word of the content sounded like a magical "mantra": "Chairman of the Staff Council of the Free Army, Marshal Govar. He took control of the garrison of the Capital Special Military Region, as well as the 10th Division 'Lenni'. ”

"So...... What do we do?"

"Preemptively. The lieutenant general ordered, "Mobilize all police forces at once." The commander of the garrison, Diko Lemda, must have already begun to prepare for the mobilization of his troops - we are going to take him by surprise. I don't want to see Lenny in flames because my daughter is in the city too. ”

"Yes. Jermit Rudell replied reflexively. The man's orders in front of him have the power to compel others to obey.

(At 5:45 p.m. on December 7, 1665, all police forces were disarmed by the garrison of Lenni stationed in the city, and the entire city was taken under the control of the coup soldiers...... ）

This is how history should have gotten this way, but there have been small deviations.

Three days ago, Hull Tedwood, who had concentrated all his hands around the ring fort, had made it exactly time and plan for the coup. As long as he knows his target, the major is indeed a genius of intelligence, and all he lacks is a sufficient number of subordinates.

So, at 3:15 p.m. on December 7, 1665, the Lenny police force was urgently mobilized. The actual commander of them was the temporary lieutenant general of the Free Army, the general of the Western Tang Dynasty, the ranger of the Dahua Empire, and the man nicknamed "Count the Solution" in the East, Clad López.

He was to suppress the coup d'état before Dick Lemda could do it.

"Their goal is the parliament building, and our goal is the ring fort, first come, first served. May you fight to defend your freedom. ”

Welcome the majority of book friends to come and read, the latest, fastest, the hottest serialized works are all here!