The night in the upper city of the imperial capital [Zesertoria] is different from the border farming town of [Celeria], and even at night, it will not be quiet or silent. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 The info is different from the glittering shopping streets of the entertainment city of Aitania, but from each aristocratic mansion, the laughter of the guests and the music of the dance party can be heard.

Speaking of the unique situation of the imperial capital, although Sophia had also imagined it as a model for countries with huge wealth gaps on the earth before stepping into the city, but after actually witnessing it, the difference was completely beyond her imagination.

Although they are both part of the Fengdu built on the same mountain, the upper city and the lower city are two worlds apart. To put it more extremely, the aristocratic inhabitants of the upper city and the poor people of the lower city are not the same species at all.

The corrupt aristocrats hid in their mansions and enjoyed the rich life night and night, while the poor were more than ten times as large as the nobles, who lived without a meal, and the wealth they had forged with their lives was easily swept away by the nobles.

It was incredible, to think that such a child's play had lasted for eight years, and that there had been no large-scale popular uprising to this day, and that the royal government could still stand.

The folk saying is that the royal eagle dogs, the 'Legendary Blade', have absolutely overwhelming force, and they will mercilessly strangle all signs of resistance in the cradle.

But this sounds extremely unreasonable and ridiculous to Sophia. Of course, she didn't doubt the Legendary Blade's combat capabilities. In this world with the concepts of 'magic' and 'fighting spirit', a person's force may be comparable to the tactical weapons on the earth, and the power of the 'Legendary Blade', she has also experienced it firsthand.

But, despite this...... Is it really possible to dominate the country's politics and people's livelihood by relying only on purely military groups?

You must know that the 'Legendary Blade' is at best a small elite group, and the total number of members is only seventeen. Even if their combat effectiveness is comparable to that of seventeen armed divisions, this is limited to force and can only be used for tasks such as suppressing unrest.

However, in order to maintain the tranquility of the urban state, it is clear that repression alone is not enough, and the more critical question is how to 'manage'. Now that the economy of the imperial capital is stagnant, all educational institutions are paralyzed, and the lower city is completely self-destructive, this is not 'politics' at all, even the refugee camps on the earth are much stronger than the lower city. However, the soldiers of the Imperial army were all recruited from the poor people of the lower city, after all, the nobles who relied on those wine bags and rice bags were not capable of fighting at all.

How could such a hopelessly incorrigible mess rely on a mere seventeen people to maintain the current stable situation for eight years? To this, Sophia could only say—incredible...... It's incredible.

In the end, these are just doubts caused by what she has seen and heard in the city for half a day, Sophia is ignorant of the deeper political situation of [Zesertoria], and there may be a huge force under the surface stage, or a method and means that are absolutely unimaginable on 'Earth', maintaining the delicate balance of this strange city.

It's just that there is no time for Sophia to think about the political situation in the imperial capital at the moment, and there are more urgent situations in front of her that require her to concentrate on dealing with them.

"What are the results of the investigation? ”

Sophia is perched on the roof of a building, hiding herself in the night, calling to the communication magician.

[This is Cam, Miss Sophia, and the target enters a building in Uptown.] 】

"What kind of building?"

Cam is following a figure - it's a mysterious invitation delivered to his father, Lutega?? Crewsnier in his hands and personally drove him to the 'banquet site' as a guide.

The guide drove off after loading Rout to his destination, the building at Sophia's feet. Cam followed him in order to find out the identity of the other party and lay the foundation for the next 'negotiations' and 'requests'.

[The gate is guarded by soldiers, and there is a high wall outside the building, and there are patrolling troops inside the high wall.] 】

"So...... Is it the mansion of a noble or royal family?"

[No, probably not, Miss Sophia, from the point of view of the structure, all the rooms in the building are sealed with iron windows, and the vents are also equipped with strong iron fences, so I think this is probably a 'cell' or something.] And ......]

"And?"

[Also, I can smell a lot of 'kindred' scents from inside.] 】

Cam's kindred, that is, 'orcs'. In Shangcheng, the imperial capital where the most high-ranking elites of the empire are concentrated, and where the influence of the 'Goddess Sect' is quite far-reaching, a prison for the 'lowly beasts' was actually built, and heavy troops were assigned to guard it.

Sophia felt that something was wrong, no matter what she thought. I thought that the messenger would lead Cam to a inn, inn, or some nobleman's mansion, but I never imagined that the destination would be a heavily guarded 'cage'.

[What to do, Miss Sophia, do you need to sneak inside?]

Infiltration is also part of the training program of the Celestial Garrison, and Cam has excellent night vision, which is a mission that can be said to play to the advantages of the race.

"Wait, one last question before that, Cam...... Have you seen the 'guides' enter the facility?"

[No...... At the last corner leading to the building, the 'Guide' was lost, but judging by the situation and geography at the time, he had nowhere else to hide but this building. 】

"Then don't act rashly, stay put, keep an eye on the entrance and exit of that building, and report any information to me in a timely manner. ”

[Understood.] 】

Sophia finally made the decision because she didn't believe in Cam's abilities, but because her intuition made her feel a little dangerous, as if she had been "deliberately guided".

However, she also knew that it was very likely that this was just a suspicious ghost, if it was a 'man in black' from her previous life, she would probably not hesitate to order her subordinates to infiltrate the investigation, but because she had just lost her excellent Charlie, this made Sophia subconsciously cautious.

After all, his father Lutega is in the building under his feet, and the organizer of the reception must be among them, so he can act himself and start directly from this side, there is no need for Cam to take unnecessary risks and infiltrate a well-guarded prison.

[This is Shephia, Sophia, do you hear that?]

"Well, I can hear you. How's it going on over there?"

[There are results, the most representative is the Duke of Pattiste, one of the main representatives of the imperial capital monarchy, and has no connection with the rebels...... The others all have a similar feeling, without exception kingship. 】

"Monarchy...... How can this be ......?"

The report from Shephilia on the other side made Sophia frown and fall into deep thought. Shephilia was also on a tracking mission, but the target she was tracking was a different carriage driver.

And the coachmen, all of whom were carrying guests, had come here to attend the same banquet as Lutga. According to Sophia's assumptions, those guests should be members of the 'rebels', or at least people who are inextricably linked to the rebels. Unexpectedly, the banquet was attended by all hard-line kings, that is, some people who would not hesitate to throw Lutga into prison, and it was impossible for them to exchange glasses and drinks at the table with their father.

In other words, her guess has made a fatal mistake, and in doing so, it has become difficult for Sophia to decide what to do next. Because she couldn't figure out who it was, and for what purpose, she had entertained her father in such a banquet hall where tigers and wolves gathered.

"The prison where the beasts are imprisoned, the banquet where the royal power gathers, and the ......invitation of mysterious origin," Sophia muttered to herself, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became, the information was too little, and she didn't know the identity of the person behind the scenes, plus the father's signature appeared on the invitation, indicating that it was a targeted plan from the beginning.

Under such uneasy multiple factors, she even began to secretly review how to immediately break into the banquet hall and rescue her father from the tiger's den.

[Hmph, Sophia, it seems that you are in distress, it's really rare. It should be said that I didn't expect you to show a scared side. 】

Probably conveying his uneasiness through the communicator, Shephilia on the other side chuckled sarcastically.

"Well, it's distressing. In any case, I can't put my father in danger. I made an appointment with Sister Alice and Sister Eliza. ”

In the face of sarcasm, Sophia unabashedly admitted the uneasiness in her heart.

[Expose your weaknesses to me, okay? I want revenge anytime and anywhere?, maybe I'll take advantage of your most cherished characters...... But that aside, I have some impressions of the fire paint on the invitation, and if you bow your head and beg me, I can't tell you. 】

"It doesn't matter, even if this weakness is exposed to you, it doesn't matter. ”

Sophia did not waver in the slightest sign of the threat of the orc girl.

[Bah, your self-confidence is really annoying......]

"It's not self-confidence...... It's just that if Shephilia wants to use hostages to frame me, she doesn't need to find someone else at all, just use yourself as bait, and I will definitely take the bait easily. ”

[What, what does it mean......]

"Because you are also one of the most 'cherished characters' that I absolutely do not want to lose. You're my friend and I like you, Shephilia. ”

[-Woo meow!]

The sudden attack, which was completely unexpected, caused a cat-like exclamation to be heard from the communicator. Sophia seemed to be able to imagine Shephia's cute demeanor on the other side of the communicator, with her face flushed and her ears trembling rapidly.

"So, dear friend, can you give me any information about fire paint?"

[Really, I can't help it! That's the seal of the Imperial Chefs Association!No, but don't get me wrong! Now that you're my employer, I'm obligated to provide information!...... not because I think of you as a friend or anything]

So, the cat-eared girl, who claimed to want revenge, said in a reluctant tone, and finally answered honestly.

"The organizer is the 'Cooking Merchants' Guild...... and what kind of organization is that?"

[It is a chef chamber of commerce that specializes in providing high-end cuisine for the upper nobles, after all, in the imperial capital, there is no business-type catering venue. In order to frequently host high-end banquets at home, the chefs of the Chamber of Commerce would make high-priced hire offers almost every night. They not only have the first-class cooking skills of the empire, but also monopolize the purchase channels of the freshest and most high-end ingredients, which can be regarded as one of the more influential organizations in the imperial capital. Of course, Shang Xing will also take the initiative to hold banquets in its own name......]

"So, you mean that the dinner party hosted by the Cooking Merchant Guild sent an invitation to my father? What is the motive? Father, no matter how you think it, you can't get along with these guys. ”

[I don't know about this, but the dinner hosted by the Cooking Merchants Guild is of a very high level, and according to the information we have 'Tooth', only the royal family in the empire has the right to interfere with their named invitations. 】

The royal family specified...... Hahh......"

It's a good thing to have new information, but once again, the situation has become complicated, and she can't see the full picture of what is happening.

Speaking of the royal family, due to the 'turmoil in the imperial capital' eight years ago, now only His Majesty the Emperor and the Emperor's sister, Princess LaBel, are left in the direct royal family. Although His Majesty the Emperor has a large number of wives and concubines, he still has no heirs, and Princess LaBelle is even more awaiting marriage......

If Shephilia's information is reliable, then only His Majesty the Emperor and Princess LaBelle are the only ones who sent the invitation. Among them, Princess LaBelle does not participate in political affairs, and her father Rutega once mentioned that she and His Majesty the Emperor had a friendship in previous years, which means that the invitation came directly from His Majesty the Emperor.

If this is the case, the situation is developing in a better direction, after all, it saves the trouble of how to meet. If it goes well, you will be able to complete your original goal tonight, and leave this panicked and strange peak capital with the knights of the 'Legendary Blade' openly.

- No...... There is no room for blind optimism, the most critical pieces of the puzzle are still missing......

From the main entrance of the building, two large trucks loaded with iron cages were transported. The iron cage is covered with canvas and cannot be seen inside, but judging by the smell...... There should be orcs, and more than one. 】

"Cam, keep track of the two vans, keep me informed of progress, and abandon the tracking as soon as they leave Uptown. And Shephilia, come and join me at once. ”

[[Understood.] 】】

Faced with all kinds of misguided information and inaccurate predictions, it is completely impossible to predict what will happen tonight, Sophia holds a nervous state of mind, and stands up from the roof of the building in the cool night breeze. She only felt as if she was being watched by some dangerous monster.