The morning sun shone obliquely on the sea, shining with a silvery halo.

Every time the boat rows over the waves, the halo sways slightly, as if the sea is breathing.

The chill brought by the sea breeze cannot be eliminated even when the sun is shining.

On the second floor of this sizable merchant ship bound for the city of Lilåm, the wooden furniture and trim are delicate and welcoming, and Viscount Francis sits at the table, in front of which a brocade tablecloth is laid out and silver cutlery is lined up.

Middle-aged, he was wearing a dark gray suit with a family badge embroidered with gold thread, although his eyes looked a little tired, his meticulous dress still looked solemn and elegant, and his slender fingers could also see some traces of the sword he had used.

He gently forked a piece of smoked salmon and put it in his mouth, unconsciously keeping his brow slightly furrowed as he chewed.

However, it wasn't because the chef didn't play well today.

"Alas, I'm afraid it's not going to be easy to deal with in the imperial capital this year."

He sighed in his heart, but he didn't say it.

The Protos Empire had seventeen provinces.

The city of Lilom is the most remote of the already poor southwestern provinces, and if it weren't for the sea, it would have become almost a fortress city-state in the forest.

Now that the Protos Empire is in a state of extreme danger with the kingdoms led by the Kingdom of Ethertaran in the northwest of the empire, a full-scale war may break out in the northern continent at any time, and there is only one chance to ignite the fire of the century.

Although for a city like them in the southern rear, the war would not spread to this point, but once the war began, problems such as conscription and taxation would probably become a burden that a small and remote territory like theirs could not bear.

Not only that, but the most ridiculous decision of the Empire right now is to recruit the Resurrected Church.

This kind of behavior of seeking the skin of the tiger may seem to those powerful people in the imperial capital to be a clever move to control the tiger in one step, and it has indeed caused great terror and deterrence to the northern countries, but for the common people, it is undoubtedly a disaster.

Even in a border city like theirs, people are terrified by the resurrection cultists on the streets.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, interrupting Viscount Francis's thoughts.

"Is there any arrangement for this morning?"

As Viscount Francis's words fell, a young man dressed as a commander slowly walked in, who was Francis's secretary and his bodyguard.

"Lord Viscount, the guest is awake."

The secretary reported in a calm tone.

Francis slowly swallowed the food in his mouth and nodded, "Okay, I see, prepare some tea and fruit to send to his cabin, I'll be there in a moment." ”

For people who have been shipwrecked and may not have eaten for a long time, it is better to eat some fruits and vegetables and rehydrate before eating.

Recently, there has been a surge of magical storms at sea, and both passenger and merchant ships in the Imperial Harbor have stopped their southward routes.

The closer you get to the sea area between the north and south continents, the more frequent the accidents become.

Looking at the investigation report of the Empire, some disaster scientists generally believe that it was two extremely terrible creatures who fought to the death in the sea area to the south, and the unrestrained magic collision further intensified the spread of the natural disaster magic wave.

"Yes, sir."

The secretary bowed slightly, then exited the restaurant.

It didn't take long for Francis to finish his breakfast, he put down his cutlery, wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin, straightened his tie, and stood up with his cane.

Originally, it was just a normal trip to the large port city in the east to visit old friends and do some business, but this time there was a little more episode.

Last night, a storm had just raged across the sea, and the waves seemed to try to swallow up their merchant ships again and again, but this was nothing special for them who had been through the storm and waves.

However, suddenly a "thump-" crash broke through the air, clearly piercing the night and reaching the ears of the crew on the side of the ship.

Experienced crews can judge the texture of the collision object - wood just by the slightest sound.

When the crew looked down, they saw what appeared to be the wreckage of a piece of ship's log, but to their surprise, a teenager was attached to the wood.

The boy, who seemed to be seventeen or eighteen years old, was like a darling of fate, firmly hung by a piece of driftwood, drifted with the current, and luckily stopped next to their merchant ship.

What's even more reassuring is that the collision just now didn't hurt him in any way, as if someone had used force magic to bring him to the side of the ship.

The crew immediately braved the wind and waves and rescued the teenager.

Viscount Francis also gave instructions at the first time, instructing the ship's doctor to hurry up and treat the young man who was covered with wounds and take care of him as best he could.

The boy's brown hair was as smooth as silk, and his costume was also unique, as if he were a visitor from a distant and foreign land.

It stands to reason that unidentified people should not be saved.

At this time slot, everyone in the Protos Empire is in danger, and if they are not careful, they will be branded as a "cultist" and "capitulation faction" by people with ill intentions.

But Viscount Francis had always believed in the guidance of the goddess of fate and the truth that good and evil were rewarded, and he would not harm him until he was sure of the boy's identity.

"Alas, if you can't survive in another two years, let's take Zestyra to the Southern Continent, at least it won't be so ridiculous as to brand the Goddess of Fate Church as a cult."

Viscount Francis walked to the window, took a look at the rough seas and the unpredictable weather at sea today, and sighed.

Anyway, his daughter has been prejudiced and discriminated against since she was a child in Emperor Protos because of the characteristics of the demon race, and the big deal is to give up her current aristocratic status and go to the Southern Continent to start over.

Although it is difficult to find a country on the southern continent that can treat demons equally, at least it will not be like the Protos Empire, where even hiding racial characteristics is condemned to death.

Viscount Francis walked to the door, opened the heavy cabin door, and stepped out the door, where a few chandeliers burning with whale oil hung in the red-carpeted corridor, the flickering light made people feel a touch of home even at sea.

His steps were steady, but his mind was always thinking about things.

Finally, he came to the room, saw the secretary waiting at the door, exchanged a few words, and after nodding his head, Viscount Francis knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

Hearing a gentle response from inside, Viscount Francis pushed open the door and stepped inside.

In this simplely decorated yet well-furnished bedroom, there is a mixture of seawater and damp wood.

I saw a brown-haired young man sitting on the edge of the bed, he had beautiful emerald green eyes, not only the left eye was covered with gauze, and the bandage peeked slightly from the cuffs of his black suit, extending from the wrist to the elbow, and then through the neckline.

The strength of the magic power on his body is probably only at the first-order level.

And it doesn't look like a battle-hardened warrior with slender skin.

Only the vitality is quite strong, and after being so seriously mortally wounded, he has picked up a life.

According to the secretary, the brown-haired young man seemed to be unable to speak at first, but he had a tool card with translation magic, and he was soon able to communicate normally.

Although they hadn't even started talking, the first glance at Viscount Francis made it clear that he wasn't going to be a bad guy.

Because his eyes are clear, he naturally harbors compassion and concern, but he does not do it for himself.

Just to see all beings suffering.

It was the gaze of a saint.

(End of chapter)