Click...

With the sound of swift and neat footsteps, Caterina, accompanied by Gregor and several other retinue, strode from the harbor to the town of Headington.

Her lips were pursed and her brows were deeply locked, which made Katerina, who already had a cold beauty, exude a cold aura that rejects people thousands of miles away. Coupled with a few tall pirates following quickly, the residents of Dington, Shanghai all the way automatically gave way to the side of the road.

There are a lot of strange things happening in the town today, first there is a loud bang from the dwarven blacksmith's shop, followed by the inexplicable collapse of the bell tower, and now the female pirate is back.

When Caterina walked by, the residents looked at her graceful back and gathered to talk.

I'm afraid something big is going to happen, right?

"Ka, Miss Katerina, please... Please wait a minute. As a rule, you should stay on your ship and wait until we have informed Lord Raymond before entering the city..."

A port official trotted after him, pleading as he briskly followed Caterina.

"Then go tell Raymond I'm coming. Caterina said without turning her head.

"I—I've already sent someone, please be sure—" The official tried to persuade in vain.

A tall pirate swept the thin official away with an impatient wave of his hand, and by the time he finally got to his feet, Caterina and his party had gone in great strides.

"Alas, this... This—" The official stomped his feet in a hurry. But everyone knows that this female pirate has an unusual relationship with Raymond, and she also played a role in saving Sophia in the first place, so he didn't dare to really send a garrison to forcibly intercept it.

In desperation, the dutiful official could only chase after him again: "Miss Katarina, please wait..."

As soon as Caterina walked into the downtown area, such a conspicuous group of people immediately attracted the attention of many onlookers. But the vicious pirates glared around. Immediately frightened everyone to avoid their gaze, and consciously made a circle around them.

For a moment, all the pirates stood proudly in the downtown area, whether it was the residents passing by or the carriages pulling goods, they all carefully "squeezed" through the few gaps left around them, and the traffic was chaotic. But because the pirates are from Caterina below. All of them had cold faces and imposing momentum, and no one dared to complain.

After standing for a while, the pirates were already surrounded by neighing and shouting, and there was confusion. Realizing that this is not the way to go, Caterina swept her eyes around, and then said coldly: "You, come here!"

A merchant was so overwhelmed by the carriage beside him that he walked into the invisible "circle" around the pirate. But see him hold his breath. The whole body tensed, and he lowered his head and moved little by little, trying to fool the past, for fear of attracting the attention of Caterina and the others.

Who knows that Caterina still saw this "prominent" unlucky ghost at a glance.

Frightened by Caterina's shout, the merchant immediately broke out in a cold sweat from his head, and at the same time scolded the carriage that had just squeezed through him.

"There's... What's the matter?"

"Where is Raymond?"

The merchant just wanted to say that he didn't know what to do, but when he remembered something, he hurriedly said, "I just heard someone say it." Lord Raymond went to the Lovel ghetto, as if at the dwarven blacksmith's shop. ”

"Take me there. ”

How dare a merchant accompany the pirates: "Ugh. I have one more thing to do..."

Caterina didn't say a second time, just glanced at him coldly with her eyes. The merchant almost urinated at that time, and immediately said respectfully: "Yes, I understand." ”

Then, like prisoners, the pirates followed the poor merchant, who was almost crying. Walk towards the Lovel ghetto.

After they left, everyone in the downtown area breathed a sigh of relief, and the pedestrians and carriages immediately filled the gaps in the road, and the traffic gradually returned to normal.

"This morning a crow has been crouching in a tree in front of Passel's house. Alas, I knew he was going to be unlucky. A passer-by who knew the businessman.

"May the god-king Tyron bless him. ”

The rest shook their heads and sighed.

At the same time. In front of the dwarven blacksmith's shop.

"Good granddaughter, what the hell are you doing!"

Raymond receives news that Caterina has returned to Headington and prepares to meet her. Suddenly, there was a shouting and shouting, but it was Hitchis who ran towards him.

"Teacher, wait, please don't do this. His beloved apprentice, Boris, was in hot pursuit.

In the stunned gaze of the crowd, Hitchis hurried to the blacksmith's shop. Look at the iron barrel that Thor had just named "Cannon", and the red "gunpowder" that remained on the ground. Hitchis grabbed Alina's shoulder and shook it, "Elena, didn't I tell you many times? This thing is a demonic invention, you must not use it..."

Before his ghost scream fell, Alina unceremoniously flew up and kicked her grandfather away: "I'll take care of you." ”

"Wow, teacher!" Boris hurriedly rushed up to pick up Hitchis.

Reed said angrily, "Alina, how can you do this to your grandfather!"

Alina snorted angrily: "Whoever told him to always harass me without doing anything will not work this or that, and no one will want me to give up this invention." ”

Because of Emir's affairs, Reed was already in a terrible mood, and when he was rejected by his daughter at this moment, his face sank and he raised his face.

Alina has been used to opposing her parents since she was a child, so she was afraid of him, and raised her snow-white face defiantly: "If you fight, if you dare to beat me, tell my mother to go." ”

"You... You... You!" Reed pointed at his daughter with trembling fingers, so angry that he almost burst his veins.

"Ahem. Thor coughed dryly, drawing everyone's attention, and then deliberately asked, "Hitchis, why did you say that?"

Everyone had just heard Hickis's exaggerated shout, and their attention was really attracted to it, and they looked at the old magician, which was also a round for Reed's father and daughter.

Then, while people weren't looking, Thor whispered to Alina, "Good kick." ”

Alina stuck out the tip of her tongue. A sly smile was returned.

As a dignified lord, he actually taught a child like this, Jessica on the side saw the small movements of the two in her eyes, and was so angry that she twisted Thor on the arm.

Thor grinned in pain, but he didn't dare to cry out in pain, so he had to rub the sore spot incessantly.

Then he saw Hitchis pointing to the cannon and saying, "Because this is an evil thing." It must not be allowed to appear in this worldly realm, otherwise it will bring great calamity. ”

Although Hitchis had always been chattering, his high-pitched voice still startled everyone.

In particular, the terrifying power of the cannons and gunpowder just now seemed to confirm his statement, and some onlookers were already talking in horror.

Let this old man talk nonsense any longer, sooner or later it will bring panic. Raymond glanced at one of the officers who were maintaining order around him, and the officer understood and immediately ordered his men to disperse the crowd.

"Alright, alright. There's nothing to see, let's all go back. ”

Driven by the garrison, the crowd gradually dispersed. However, many people still looked back at this place as they walked, and it was estimated that it would not be long before the rumors that the little alchemist of Headington had invented something demonic would be flying all over the sky.

"Grandpa, what the hell are you doing!" Alina finally made a splash today, but everyone was driven away. She couldn't help but scream in anger.

Although his granddaughter did not respect her, Hitchis was not angry. He said patiently: "Alina, listen to Grandpa, this thing must not be allowed to flow outside." ”

Seeing that Hitchis seemed to be very wary of Alina's invention, Jessica finally couldn't help but say, "Hitchis, why are you so afraid of Alina's invention. Can you tell us about it?"

This is also a question in the hearts of many people, and everyone looks at Hichis, waiting for his answer. Hitchis coughed, straightened his back and said proudly, "Because with it, magic will no longer be useful in the future." ”

"Cut—"

Everyone thought he would say something shocking. Unexpectedly, a hanging heart fell straight to the ground, and people couldn't help but let out a sound of dissatisfaction.

"I say, Hichis, you're not going to be too suspicious. Cress.

"Yes, we know that you love magic, but it's a little too much to worry about. Kafir said unceremoniously: "And even his own granddaughter has to be intimidated, which is really tasteless." ”

Even Boris thought that Hitchis was jealous, and couldn't help but blush and said, "Teacher, you really shouldn't be like this..."

Lowell had been in Beddington for a long time, so Raymond and the others knew that the old man named Hitchis was an avid "lover of magic." They couldn't help but laugh at his words, it seemed that Hitchis was really paranoid and thought that Aliana's invention would be a threat to magic, so he made such an unwarranted rebuke to his granddaughter.

Seeing that everyone was accusing him, Hitchis couldn't help but say anxiously: "Do you all think I'm crazy!?"

No matter what he said, he was Reed's father-in-law, and Thor coughed dryly: "Uh... Of course not. ”

But looking at the eyes of everyone looking at Hichis, it obviously means the same.

"Damn, you short-sighted fellows, one day you will understand what I said, this thing is far more terrible than you think..."

Seeing that he was still entangled, Boris really couldn't stand it. He grabbed Hitchis's arm from behind and dragged him out, "Okay, teacher, let's go back." ”

"Boris, let me go, I'm not done yet!" Hikis said angrily. However, Boris was very decisive and resolute and quickly took him out of the crowd.

"Listen, magic is powerful, but it can only be used by magicians who have studied hard. While being dragged backwards, Hitchis shouted at everyone unwillingly: "But this thing, even an ordinary person can cause terrible damage, and it is very cheap, if it is allowed to spread, it will soon be a big mess in the world!"

"Hey, did you hear me? Thor, Reed, tell Alinor to seal that thing away. ”

"Demons! That's a demonic thing! Magic is dying, and the balance of this world no longer exists!"

......

In the distance, Hikis could be heard screaming hoarsely, and although everyone thought he was insane, they could not help but feel a chill at the words.

"Sister Jessica—" Marlene was frightened and leaned in towards Jessica.

Jessica put her arms around Marlene's shoulders comfortingly: "It's okay." Don't take his words seriously. ”

Beside him, everyone else also looked at each other, and no one spoke for a while. Fortunately, the onlookers had already been dispersed by the garrison, otherwise it was unknown how much commotion it would have caused.

Only Alina's newborn calf was not afraid of tigers, and she didn't take Hitchis's words to heart at all, and she even deliberately grimaced in the direction where Hitchis left: "Hmph." The old-fashioned will not understand the greatness of my invention!"

"Alright!" Reed said with a straight face, "No matter what, you can't do this to your grandfather." Make such a big mess, and don't put your things away. ”

Alina pouted, reluctantly retracted the gunpowder into the box, and then instructed the dwarven blacksmith to carry the barrel back to the blacksmith's shop.

"What do you think, Lord Raymond?"

At this time, as the situation calmed down and everyone left, Freddie caught up. Asked Raymond in a low voice.

"That thing, if used well, might be a powerful weapon. But to say that it replaced magic and caused chaos in the world or something, it is still too exaggerated. Raymond said.

Freddie nodded: "I think so too, that old man named Hitchis is really just alarmist, don't pay attention to him." ”

"But as you say, it's powerful and inexpensive. Over time, it will definitely become a better weapon than a burst bomb. It seems that it is necessary to fund her to continue her research. Transfer to us for later use. Last, he said.

Although the blast bomb is powerful, because it mainly uses magic crystals as raw materials, the cost is quite expensive, and the process is complex, and the output has always been very small. It is not suitable for large-scale combat use.

This time, Elena's new invention, which Saul called "gunpowder", was cheap and simple to make, and both Raymond and Freddie were keenly aware of its great military value.

But. After all, the two of them were people of this era, and due to the limitations of their knowledge and vision, they did not understand the true meaning of Hitchis's words.

Especially today, when magic has been prevalent for thousands of years and the power of the Wizards' Guild is extremely huge, everyone regards the existence of magic as a matter of course, and is accustomed to magic permeating every part of this world.

Therefore, no one could have thought that a little girl's new invention would pose any threat to the magic system that had existed in this world since ancient times, and even Alina herself would never have imagined that her invention would have such a great impact.

Everyone else was like the two, so everyone saw Hitchis's worries as unfounded.

It's just the crazy words of an old man who has been enchanted by magic.

Except for one person!

A man whose vision and insight were beyond this era was shocked by what Hitchis had just said.

At this moment, Thor's heart was turned upside down.

Unlike the others, Thor understood what his concern was almost as soon as he heard what Hickis had said before leaving.

In fact, what he thought of was the great changes brought to the world by the large-scale use of gunpowder in his own time.

The powerful and easy-to-operate gunpowder weapon completely ended the solidified social system formed by the feudal system for thousands of years.

Tall castles, strong walls, noble knights armed with a lot of money and training... What had once maintained the feudal kingdom and was once thought to be unchanging was completely shattered in the face of gunpowder, a new thing that was cheap and could be used by the common people.

What followed was great social upheaval and change, and the feudal system was gone forever. Of course, one of the side effects of progress is that the war is becoming more and more bloody...

And these are almost what the world world here can expect in the future.

Although such a great change is unlikely to come immediately, Sol knows that the appearance of Alina, the equivalent of gunpowder in his own time, is a sign that great turmoil is about to begin.

And magic, a skill that only a few elites can master, will probably disappear into the long river of history in the future, just like the once proud noble knights.

That's what Hitchis feared!

Of course, this is not to say that the gunpowder invented by Alina is enough to completely change the world. But its appearance will be a landmark event.

In the future, more and more new things will appear along with gunpowder, not only magic, but also many things in the world of Mojina.

This is also the reason why Thor insisted on refusing to make gunpowder in the first place. For him, he could not afford the terrible side effects of changing the course of this world.

But just as Saul knew before, the course of history cannot be changed or stopped after all, the difference is only that the day will come sooner or later.

Now, the end of the "feudal era" in this world may finally come with this seemingly inconspicuous invention.

Thor has been in the Mojna World Realm for more than 20 years, and has gradually forgotten the past and completely integrated into this world. But suddenly. He finds himself about to witness a new era, and with it great chaos, escalating wars, and untold bloodshed.

This undoubtedly shocked him greatly, and now he finally understood why Hitchis was so exhausted.

The old man had already seen the future and felt powerless to change, so he could not help but cry out in despair, but unfortunately almost no one could understand.

In this sense, Hitchis is a wise man in the truest sense of the word.

"Thor. Thor!"

Suddenly, a call woke Thor from his thoughts.

"Ahh What's the matter?" He saw Jessica looking at him worriedly.

"You're all right, are you?" asked Jessica.

From the very beginning, Thor's face was cloudy, and it seemed that he was so troubled by something that he ignored Ron and Lisa's shouts.

Jessica had never seen Thor like this, and she couldn't help but be extremely worried.

"Oh, nothing. Thor's heart was turned upside down. But he couldn't say anything to people at all, so he had to smile disguisedly: "I'm just distracted for a while." ”

But Jessica has been married to him for so many years, and every subtle abnormality of Thor can't escape her eyes. Jessica could tell at a glance that something was wrong with Thor.

"No, you look weird. Jessica shook her head and said, "What happened?"

Sol looked left and right and said, "It's nothing. I'm just worried about the necromancers. ”

"......" was silent for a while, and Jessica said slowly: "No, you can't fool me, you must have something to hide from me." ”

When Saul's face was embarrassed, she continued, "If you don't want to say it, I won't force it. But I want you to understand that no matter what happens, we are here, and there are so many subjects, who will support you. ”

Kafir also walked over and said, "That's right, no matter what happens, don't hold it in your heart." We have all come through so many winds and waves, what else can't we overcome. ”

Looking at the concerned eyes of the two women, Thor was greatly moved. He held Jessica and Kafir's hands and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, nothing can stump your husband." ”

"Well, we believe in you. The two women looked at each other and nodded at the same time, their eyes revealing great trust in Thor.

casually told a joke, and Thor just covered it up. At the same time, he sighed in his heart, forget it, let's do this for the time being, this is no longer beyond his control.

Just when Thor was worried about the future of this world, Alina, the most prominent person today, was pestering Raymond.

"How's it going? You've seen its power, right?" At this moment, Alina was excitedly saying to Raymond and the others, "As long as I give me more time, I will definitely be able to make it into a powerful weapon." ”

The performance of "gunpowder" and "cannon" just now completely shocked everyone. Charlotte couldn't help but say, "Can that thing really be used in war?"

"Yes, of course I can!" Before Raymond could speak, Alina had already rushed to say, "I can further improve the recipe, increase the power, reduce the cost, simplify the production process, and..."

Before she could finish speaking, Freddie interrupted coldly, "Okay, how much money do you want?"

"Hey, hey..."Her own careful thoughts were broken, and Alina scratched her head embarrassedly.

Now she is like an inventor looking for venture capital, and today's performance is just to better promote her invention. Now that the goal has been achieved, although it is a little regrettable because of Hitchis's disturbance, it is generally satisfactory.

Although Alina was young, she inherited from her father's vision very accurately, and she could tell at a glance that Raymond was very interested in this thing.

So she confidently held out two fingers.

Seeing this, Rickett breathed a sigh of relief: "Twenty thousand gold coins?

Before he finished his words, Alina said contemptuously, "You really underestimate my invention. Sorry, but add another zero. ”

"200,000!?" everyone was shocked when they heard it. (To be continued......)