Blue sky, white clouds, sunny day, light breeze.

Under the banner of the Twin Crosses flying high, the standing army subordinate to the Central Command neatly bypassed the city walls and headed for the military camp on the southern outskirts of the royal capital.

Dozens of them, dressed in cloaks and surrounded by a carriage, left the group early and headed for Eternal Star City.

At the city gates, the city guards who had been informed took action early, restricting the flow of people, clearing the passages, and driving the accustomed people to the other side of the avenue according to the rules of opening the way for special messengers.

From the leisurely groom to the hurrying merchants, many passers-by pointed at the group of people curiously, especially the carriage among them, but no one showed any particular surprise.

Compared with the local people, the residents of the royal capital can be regarded as well-informed, unfazed, and naturally superior to others, they have even experienced such a major event as the recognition of the second prince by the Xingchen Kingdom at the meeting, what rare things can alarm them?

So, the carriage, surrounded by knights, passed smoothly through the city gate, entered the main road, and continued forward under the curious eyes of the people on the roadside.

In the group, a figure that appeared thinner than the others poked its head out of the saddle.

"Your Highness," Gilbert slowly caught up, nodding understandingly:

"Welcome back to Eternal Star City. ”

"Welcome home. ”

The thin figure didn't answer, just trembled slightly.

Eternal Star City.

Family.

He gazed intently at the towers that skimmed overhead, and sighed under his cloak.

After a few seconds, Tails turned his head and squeezed out a slightly distracted smile:

"Thank you. ”

The knight's procession hurried, and the prince under the cloak said no more, and the amusing Gilbert remained silent.

Family.

Tails felt the tremor of the horse's hooves on the galloping road, and silently looked at everything around him in the gap between the figures of the royal guards:

The main road that connects the alleys and forks in the streets, the rows of houses cut like pastries, and the various shops that open under the signs that flutter in the wind......

Citizens chattering in front of the municipal bulletin board, women holding a wooden basin in one hand to Muhe Huanyi, standing in the middle of the road with big eyes and ignorant expressions......

The charioteer who hurried to the point with his horse, the red-eared and red-eared priest standing on top of the wooden box in the corner, the orderly security team and the vigilante in the procession......

It's like a freeze-frame scene.

But......

"Strange ......"

Tails subconsciously spoke, he felt his eyebrows a little heavy, and his lips subconsciously tightened.

A strange and indescribable feeling came to my heart irrepressibly, but it was interrupted halfway before it was about to erupt.

It's like a bucket that draws water to the edge of a well, knocks it off, loosens its lanyard, and falls back into the well.

Only the splashes were innumerable, and the echoes were empty.

Let him be disappointed.

After the scene of "sending the sword", the royal guards around him, including the flamboyant Doyle and the expressionless Glove, became energetic and straight, separated from Tails, and no longer sneaked their eyes at the Duke of Star Lake from time to time as they were on the road.

Only Gilbert remained at his side, and spoke softly:

"Lord Duke, it's ......normal that you have lived in the north all the year round, and your memory of Yongxing City has faded."

Tails came to his senses from a complicated state of thought.

Gilbert still looked calm and continued:

"For example, the road we go into the city, it belongs to a section of the Avenue of Grace, and it is a little chaotic because it is closer to ......."

Right now.

"West City Gate. ”

His Royal Highness's voice came slowly:

"I know. ”

Gilbert paused.

Tails slowly raised his head and looked into the distance with feelings that he couldn't understand:

"It's close to the West Gate......"

West City Gate.

The voice of the Duke of Xinghu was like the echo of the hollow valley, and the clear stream was solt.

With an inexplicable melancholy.

Gilbert was slightly stunned.

To his surprise, the Duke only paused for a moment and then sneered.

"It's the most interesting place in Eternal Star City - farmers, vendors, messengers, officials, police officers, soldiers, priests, beggars, brave adventurers, curious tourists, despicable outlanders......"

"You can find everyone in the royal capital here. ”

Tails stared at the crowd of knights who walked along the road, avoiding their group of knights, as if looking at the most interesting storybook, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly:

"But be careful, don't accidentally squeeze into the clean and tidy main gallop and refuse to leave. ”

"Otherwise, the dedicated city guards and security teams will tell you what the king's authority is. ”

"Because on this, even a mane of a famous horse may be more expensive than the life of a homeless child. ”

Or more than one life.

Tails stared at the tiles under the horse's hooves, his thoughts dazed.

At that moment, Gilbert looked at Tails with a complicated expression.

"There......"

With an imperceptible smile, Tails pointed to a fork in the road in the distance:

"I remember, that direction leads to the lower town. ”

The duke's voice sounded faintly:

"If you go that way, you'll get to the Grand Bazaar first. ”

Gilbert frowned slightly, and stopped talking.

But Tails just looked in that direction stupidly:

"Cheap and diverse, it's a paradise for the local poor, but it also has its own rules, and it's a hell for outsiders who just come to it. ”

"The big bazaar is not easy to walk, the geography is messy, the layout is complicated, and many of the hawkers' stalls have taken root and become nails, but on the other hand, it is easier to hide and hide, and of course the barricades. ”

"Half of the regular vendors have dealings with the Black Street Brotherhood, and some have secret dealings with the Blood Bottle Gang, because the supply is complex and difficult to trace, and the big bazaar is the best way to deal with illegal goods and launder the stolen goods. ”

It is also the place with the most tourists and fat sheep.

Tails thought silently.

"Your Highness......" Gilbert was about to say something, but Tails interrupted him again.

"If you continue north, after the big bazaar there is a dirt road that leads to a stinky ditch and a sewer. ”

Tails' eyes welled up with the sentimentality of memories:

"The site belonged to the Iron Bat Society, and the earliest members came from the bottom of the scavengers and ditch diggers, who begged for a living in the sewer networks scattered throughout the city, and took advantage of the location to do all the dirty things of human trafficking, smuggling, and drug trafficking. ”

Tails said abruptly:

"But they know the times, and they were one of the first gangs to surrender to the Brotherhood of the Dark Street, so they survived to this day - if you have black goods and are not afraid of death, you may be able to get a good price from them. ”

Or deep remorse.

The procession turned a corner and onto another avenue, the louder and louder noise ahead, accompanied by rhythmic melodic music and eager shouts.

"Run, ignorant northerners, run, for you will all be destroyed here, for I have come to bring calamity!" a high-pitched voice rang out, piercing the crowd.

A row of stone tall houses appeared in front of the royal guards, and a stage was set up in the square in front of the high houses, and many people gathered under the stage, pointing at the actors on the stage.

"Temple of the Night," Tails looked past the backs of several knights, watched the actors on the stage perform hard, listened to the rousing music in his ears, and looked again nostalgically at the temple, which did not even worship idols, but was dedicated to funeral rites:

"In Eternal Star City, the only temple outside of the Morning Star District. ”

This time, Gilbert listened quietly.

"Their theatre has never been refurbished every year, from the stage sound effects to the prop actors, and there is no shortage of spectators – there are so many people in the royal capital who like to watch the excitement. ”

But Tails scoffed:

"It's a pity, it's all rotten books, either the dark night inexplicably went down to the earth to save mankind, or the dark night will eventually rule the world - maybe the Styx church thinks that as long as it is repeated too much, the world will take this as the truth. ”

Of course, maybe they're right.

Wait a minute.

Speaking of which, Tails looked at the fat actor on the stage who was wearing a big stack of red tentacle costumes, looking like an octopus, sweating profusely but still struggling to pull his throat, and realized that something was wrong:

"What's going on today?"

At this point, a calm, indifferent male voice interjected into their conversation:

"Night in the Sky". ”

Tails and Gilbert turned back in unison, only to see the leader of the procession, Lord Marios the Watchman, riding a horse to their side:

"It's Monday and they're going to put on some big scenes. ”

Marhros looked at the crowded theatrical stage with a calm expression:

"It's about an unknown continent where disasters are present, ravaging the north, and even killing a king. ”

Disaster.

Northern.

King.

Tails' face changed slightly.

Marlos looked at the burlesque dressed as a big octopus and continued:

At the last moment, the god of the night descended, manifested his power, summoned the dragon, and at the end of the night, the plague was defeated and disappeared without a trace. ”

Tails raised an eyebrow.

Dragon.

The end of the night.

"Really?" said the prince, frowning.

Marlos snorted softly, and Gilbert picked up:

"A few years ago, when the news of the change in Longxiao City reached the royal capital, there were all kinds of rumors. ”

The Foreign Secretary shook his head helplessly:

Since then, calamity and end-time dramas have become popular again. ”

Disaster.

Eschatological.

Tails looked at the big red octopus that was "killing on a large scale" on the stage:

"And they, the Temple of the Night, thinks the scourge is the monster, the hydra?"

Marlos was silent.

The stage was left behind them, away from sight.

After a second, the watchman nodded, glancing sideways at the prince:

"Or else?"

Tails had to avoid his suddenly sharp gaze and nodded:

"That's right. ”

Marlos still has that calm face:

"And if you don't mind, Your Highness the Prince, Lord Duke. ”

Tails looked up slowly.

"Six years later, you shouldn't know so much about Eternal Star City, especially Downtown," Marhos's face was expressionless, but his words were quite meaningful:

"After all, everyone knows you were raised by Lord Mann. ”

After saying this, Marios lifted the reins and rode his horses, leaving only their backs.

You shouldn't know so much about Eternal Star City......

Looking at the watchman in front of him, Tails' gaze became solemn:

"He knows?"

"My past?"

Gilbert seemed a little embarrassed, and he coughed:

"Lord Marlos has been sent as your personal bodyguard to lead your personal guard, Your Majesty...... Naturally, they trust him. ”

Lead my personal guard.

Oh, yes.

His Majesty trusts him.

Your Majesty.

Tails was still staring at Marios's back, and only slowly spoke after a while:

"Yes. ”

Tails tightened the reins.

"So ......"

"He's Tails' personal bodyguard. ”

"It's still the prince's and duke's...... Guards?"

As soon as these words came out, Gilbert was speechless.

His face turned ugly.

But the foreign secretary just bowed his head and didn't say anything after all.

The ranks of the royal guards continued their march, and after crossing an uphill slope, they came to another street.

Strangely, the street was wide, but in broad daylight it was empty, with only a few people hurrying around.

I can't help but think of the Ghost Prince Tower.

But......

Why is this place so ......

This time, Tails was stunned.

At that moment, countless memories flooded into his mind.

"I know this place, Gilbert. ”

The young man looked around and said with emotion:

"If you go in through that opening, you'll find ...... inside."

Tails said in a daze:

"It's ......"

Gilbert looked at the direction of Tails' finger, and suddenly blushed:

"Your Highness, you may not know ......"

Tails shook his head.

"I know," the Duke retracted his finger and looked calmly at the shadowy cluster of houses in the depths of the street, "that's ......."

"Red Square Street. ”

Tails only felt as if his blood flowed to a halt for a moment.

It is the southernmost street in the West Ring District, and although it is not in a good location, it is the most frequented place for dignitaries and dignitaries in the middle of the night. ”

He said dumbfoundedly:

"Once upon a time, the Blood Vials had a near monopoly on business here. ”

"Until six years ago. ”

Gilbert took a deep breath, then sighed slowly:

"Your Highness, Lord Marlos just reminded ......"

But Tails ignored him.

The young duke stared at the opening that was getting farther and farther away, and unconsciously pressed his chest, his eyes were confused:

"In the past, if you were lucky, beggars could get unexpected things here. ”

Like what......

A ...... that can change your destiny

Silver coin.

Gilbert sighed helplessly again, and no longer persuaded the prince, who was in a difficult mood, but restrained his expression and listened quietly.

The knights kept moving forward, and soon, more and more things stirred up Tails' emotions.

"You know, after walking in this direction, after walking through three neighborhoods full of inferior people, there is the lower town? ”

Tails gestured to a tattered doorway in the distance:

"Then you'll see the Black Street. ”

Legendary Black Street.

Facing the silent Gilbert, Tails shook his head slowly, and his tone was low:

"The people who want to make their home there are either ruthless or brave enough. ”

Or...... Desperate enough.

"There's a low-lying street not far from it, and everybody calls it an underground street. ”

Underground mall.

Tails breathed in a trance, and before he knew it, the object of the narration was out of sight:

"Every time it rains, it floods, so there's always a musty smell in the houses and shops, including the Grove pharmacy around the corner. ”

Grove Pharmacy.

The more Tails continued, the more complicated his mood became.

"Except for the Sunset Bar, which is the highest and best, and rarely flooded except for a back alley that is often full of garbage, but even better, few people dare to go wild there, just be careful about what you want to do and don't mess with the wrong people. ”

Sunset Bar.

The boy paused, a little choked for a moment.

Before a graceful figure came into his mind, he collected his emotions in time:

"And next to the underground mall......"

Tails took a deep breath and looked at the streets of Eternal Star City, only to feel his right hand tremble slightly.

Gilbert, next to him, pursed his lips.

"Next ......"

Tails swallowed his throat.

"It was an abandoned stone house. ”

His voice trembled a little.

"Gather half the city's homeless ......"

"Stray. ”

The sound of horses' hooves was still there, and the vigilance of the guards was undiminished.

But the Duke of Star Lake in the team slowly sank his head.

Even Gilbert had a solemn expression.

A few seconds later.

"Gilbert, I didn't have time to ask. ”

The boy's voice sounded faintly on the horse:

"But about what I've asked you to do in the past six years......"

Gilbert's face changed slightly:

"Oh, of course, your collection of certain books, including gifts for the Grand Duchess......"

But Tails interrupted him:

"No, Gilbert. ”

The prince raised his head, his eyes slightly dazed, but he regained his clarity after a few seconds:

"You know what I'm talking about. ”

Tails stared at Gilbert tightly, as if that was the way out for the lost.

Gilbert sighed.

"Lord Marlos just said ......"

But the Duke interrupted him again.

"Gilbert. ”

"I'm begging you," Tails said with a slight eagerness in his eyes:

"Please. ”

The team was still advancing, and before they knew it, they had left the western part of Eternal Star City, and the messy paths and forks were gone, replaced by wide, smooth, horizontal and vertical avenues.

"No, Your Highness. ”

Eventually, Gilbert exhaled a breath of exhaustion:

"I'm sorry. ”

Tails didn't speak.

He just waited quietly.

"I asked the people of the city hall and even the alert hall to launch several sweeps against the lower city and the West Ring District in the name of cleaning the city and the streets......

Sure enough, Gilbert spoke, with shame in his words:

"But as you know, every time that happens, in addition to arresting a few 'underworld forces' to appease the people, so that people continue to praise social stability and a better life......

Gilbert paused:

"Overnight, those ugly and pickled people and things disappeared completely, and there was no way to find out. ”

Tails stared at the ground.

Gilbert looked at the young man's expression, a little afraid to face him:

"My friend, they have swept up the underground streets and abandoned houses you are talking about. ”

Gilbert shook his head in disappointment:

"Of course, as is customary......"

"On that day, the underground shopping mall was full of antique shops and burial areas, as well as foul-smelling garbage heaps. The eyes of the gravediggers and the corpse-bearers were ignorant, sincere, innocent and helpless, and the vigilant officers were nitpicky and harshly interrogated, and at most they caught some trivial petty thefts, which led to a large number of poor people struggling for food and clothing, complaining and forcing the officials to stop. ”

"And the ruined house, like the dozens of inspections of the city hall before, has been turned into an empty dump and ominous dumping ground, with only a dozen homeless people and inarticulate madmen left. ”

"None of them were found. ”

Tails clenched his fists.

At that moment, he only felt a dull pain in his chest.

It seems that the wound from six years ago is still burning.

The procession passed by a crowd that seemed to be gathering to watch the jugglers, and the prince's mount neighed, causing the surrounding horses to stir uneasily.

The royal guards quickly quelled the commotion of the mounts, changed formation, and moved away from the juggling group.

But Tails didn't care.

He thought about something else.

In the face of power, whether it is the Brotherhood of the Black Street or the Blood Vials, they have their own methods.

Break the whole into pieces and break the tail to survive.

Wait until the wind has passed, and then go out of the nest.

And it's business as usual.

Tails struggled to breathe:

"So...... Red Square Street?"

Gilbert was beaten again.

"My Highness, I'm afraid," Count Cassel shook his head:

"My friend's level of power is not yet high enough to openly investigate Hongfang Street...... ...... behind it."

Tails closed his eyes and lowered his head.

"I see, Gilbert. ”

The boy opened his eyes:

"You need people who know how to do it, and you need people who really understand the market, not government officials who are high up and don't know the suffering of the people. ”

Gilbert didn't answer immediately, as if thinking about something.

But after a few seconds, he spoke:

"My friend did advise me, Your Highness, if you put up a bounty on the black market that they coveted—and certainly insignificant to us—useful clues would have sprung up on your table in a matter of months. ”

But Gilbert's eyes changed slightly:

And that also means that it will leave an unconcealable trail for those who care about us. ”

Tails frowned:

"We talked about this six years ago. ”

Gilbert nodded decisively, his eyes serious:

And what was said then is also true today. ”

Tails sighed.

Gilbert's words continued in a low voice:

"With your status today, it is not good for your friends to connect with you - the best outcome for them is to drown in a crowd that no one can find, and forget all about you. ”

By the end, Gilbert's tone became more and more serious.

But Tails was so distracted that he couldn't listen.

"Where's the secret department?"

Tails ignored the other party's words and asked:

"Have you looked for them? They're the best people to do this. ”

Gilbert frowned.

"Gilbert?"

Tails urged.

After a few seconds, the Foreign Secretary finally replied with a sigh:

"A few years ago, when you were not yet in the process of returning home, and there was little news, I tried to turn to Lord Hansen for help. ”

Lord Hansen.

Hearing the name, Tails felt a sense of discomfort out of thin air.

But in the past few years, his already modest appearances have decreased significantly, and he almost never shows up – even at the Imperial Council. ”

Tails' brow tightened the tighter:

"Then try the ...... of Mykory"

Before he could finish asking, Gilbert took his words:

"Young barren bones, your troubles are old?"

Tails glanced at him and nodded.

"Tried. ”

Gilbert shook his head expressionlessly:

But everyone in the secret department, from top to bottom, denied in unison that they had a cadre named Raphael Lindbergh. ”

Tails froze.

"Denial?"

"Even if he made a public appearance in the Hall of Stars six years ago?"

Faced with the prince's incredulous rhetorical question, Gilbert still shook his head:

"At least in Eternal Star City, this person doesn't exist. ”

Or not allowed to exist. ”

Tails understood what he meant.

The boy asked incredulously:

"Mycoe rejected you?"

Gilbert sighed slightly:

"Not exactly. ”

"What do you mean?"

Gilbert patted the horses beneath him, as if trying to find an entry point to something:

"You know, Your Highness, spying on intelligence and planning operations are Putira's specialty, but my specialty is to pay attention to the people who do these things...... And I can tell from their attitude and behavior that the Kingdom Secret Department seems to be interested in ......"

Gilbert half-raised his head and glanced at Tails:

"I have a deep ...... for you Prejudice. ”

Tails froze.

"Me?"

"Prejudice?"

The prince reacted, and at that moment, he actually had a sense of absurdity that was laughed at:

"What are you kidding?"

"I'm the poor guy who was hurt by them and left home for six years!"

But Gilbert just shook his head worriedly:

"I don't know what they think, but Your Highness ......"

"With all due respect, every promising king in the history of the stars has maintained a good relationship with the kingdom's secret department with his chief of intelligence......"

The line continued, but Gilbert's words had already drifted out of Tails' ears.

I saw the duke scratching his neck unhappily, indignant:

"But all I want is to find a few people......"

Gilbert shook his head:

"Are you talking about a few street children who have been missing for six years, unnoticed, nameless, during a chaotic night in the infamous Downtown Downtown?"

At that moment, Tails suddenly looked up!

"Yes. ”

He looked at Gilbert seriously, with seriousness in his eyes, which made the Foreign Secretary slightly stunned:

and...... A bartender. ”

Gilbert raised his eyebrows and nodded kindly:

"And a bartender. ”

There was a few seconds of silence between the two.

Missing for six years.

No one is paying attention.

No name, no surname.

Tails silently repeated Gilbert's words in his heart.

"And they're not unnoticed," Tails whispered:

"It's not nameless. ”

Several small figures appeared in front of him.

Gilbert looked at him with both relief and regret in his eyes:

"Your Highness, with all due respect, finding their whereabouts is simple - as long as we have a big enough move. ”

Tails looked up.

"But what about after you find it?"

Gilbert's face became serious:

"Have you ever thought about the impact your rewards, rewards, or even just shadowy observations might have on them?"

"It's easy to do something, but it's incredibly difficult to deal with the myriad consequences of it perfectly. ”

Tails wanted to say something, but was momentarily speechless.

Gilbert dignified:

"Especially after your much-anticipated return, sooner or later someone will notice your actions – and we can't count on their kindness and principles. ”

"It's not a good thing for either side. ”

Tails closed his eyes in pain.

"Maybe the day you find them," the Foreign Secretary's tone tense:

"The day you killed them. ”

Find them.

Kill them.

Just listen to Gilbert's heartache:

"Therefore I sincerely advise you, Your Highness, to give it up for your own sake and for their sake. ”

"Don't go any further. ”

Abandon?

Abandon.

It was a long moment before Tails opened his eyes.

He watched the ground under the horse's hooves slowly retreat, and couldn't help but be a little sluggish.

"Gilbert. ”

Tails spoke slowly, his voice hoarse:

"You knew it from the beginning, didn't you?"

Gilbert Odd said:

"Know what?"

Tails sighed.

"Six years ago, when I was in the Mindish Hall...... You tell me that when the curfew is lifted, I can go and find my friend......"

Gilbert's expression changed slightly.

"And after I became a prince, you said that you would wait for the limelight to pass before you could find my friend......"

The Foreign Secretary was silent.

"I arrived in the Northland, and you wrote to me, and you said that you found several useful clues and are tracking down ......"

Tails took a deep breath.

"At that time, I believed in you, but now ......"

Duke Xinghu raised his head, looked directly at the silent Gilbert, and affirmed:

"You already knew. ”

With feelings that Tails himself did not know, the prince said hoarsely and blandly:

"From the very beginning, from the moment I came to the Mindis Hall, you knew that I couldn't go to them. ”

"So at that time, you were just...... Just in the ......"

Tails choked up for a moment and didn't continue.

At that moment, six years ago, everything in the Mindis Hall suddenly became unfamiliar.

Gilbert closed his eyes and turned his head.

There was no answer.

Tails also lowered his head and didn't ask any more questions.

But he knew.

Eternal Star City.

Abandoned houses.

Mindis Room.

Those familiar hometowns......

He's ......

There's no going back.