The outer walls of Paltennoia appeared on the horizon. To be precise, their outlines began to faintly emerge.
The capital of the Empire is the center of its industry, manufacturing, and culture. This meant that the black smoke covering Paltennoia’s skies wasn’t just ordinary dark clouds.
Paltennoia, the so-called city where the sun doesn’t shine. The black smoke pouring out from the heart of the city is a product of modern engineering. Because of this, the great city is shrouded in twilight shadows all year round.
“Such grandeur… Back in the day, it was just a human tribe that knew how to handle iron tools,” Abel muttered absentmindedly. The black smoke, like a dragon’s breath, rose straight into the sky, spreading out somewhere above to form clouds. Occasionally, blue currents of electricity flickered through them.
From a distance, it looked exactly like a storm cloud. But that was the byproduct of factories handling magic circuits, and below, uncontrolled primal magic was likely scattering and dispersing.
“If they knew how to handle iron tools when other tribes were barely using bronze, it means they’ve now mastered ‘technology’ unlike other nations that still rely on iron,” Abel mused.
“Impressive,” Abel smiled warmly. Though the capital’s actions—polluting the atmosphere and reshaping nature at will—were no different from destruction, she seemed unbothered.
When Fernandez asked about it, Abel shook her head and replied, “Why should nature maintain harmony? Even the term ‘nature’ is laughable. The material world has always been about survival. Just as tigers sharpen their claws and snakes wield their fangs, humans compete with technology.”
The perspective of an ancient dragon was quite different from others. However, it was clear that not all immortals shared this view.
As they approached the capital, loud coughing sounds came from the back seat.
“I’m dying!! What is that smoke?!”
“It’s the byproduct of burning magic stones.”
“The Goddess is dying! The Goddess is in pain!”
Freya screamed and caused a scene. It was clear she wasn’t doing well. While the magic in the air wasn’t harmful enough to damage divinity, Paltennoia’s atmosphere was far from friendly.
“I can’t take it anymore!!”
Freya swung her hand, and a bud bloomed at her fingertips, sprouting fresh leaves. She buried her face in the leaves, gasping for air.
“Wake me up when we arrive!”
It could be seen as a kind of motion sickness. Fernandez shrugged and pulled on the reins. Soon, they crossed the hills and entered the main highway.
From the low hill, the vast plain stretched out below. The highway, like a spider’s web, extended across the plain. Each small branch of the road was large enough for a legion to march, and Paltennoia, located at the center, looked almost like a still-life painting.
Since its founding, this sacred ancient city had never been reduced to a battlefield. This meant that even the smallest brick in its walls was an ancient relic with a thousand years of history.
Thus, Paltennoia itself held magical power. A history long enough becomes myth, and a thousand years signified the period since the Celestial War when civilized society first took shape.
A time when myth and history coexisted. When deserts, jungles, grasslands, and forests were humanity’s enemies. From that era when the world outside settlements was entirely hostile, Paltennoia has stood as a city symbolizing human civilization and will.
Towards this pulsating, colossal city, a carriage slowly made its way along the road. A beautiful carriage adorned with flowers.
“Halt! Identify yourselves!”
“We’ve come to see His Highness, King Carvelier. Where is His Highness?”
The combination of a cheap carriage decorated with flowers was too conspicuous. When Fernandez crossed the capital’s gate, the gate guards immediately stopped them and approached.
“Are you guests of the Commander-in-Chief?”
“There’s urgent news from Ribue and Bülrang. We must report directly to His Highness. Please guide us.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Many in His Highness’s retinue would recognize my face.”
“Good. You there! Escort them to Limbarga, 37th Street!”
“Yes, sir!”
The guards’ inspection was surprisingly reasonable. Considering that during this time, gate guards in other territories or small nations rarely refused bribes, this was even more notable.
-Suspicious.
Faijashi grumbled. It was true. In fact, that made it even more suspicious.
In this situation where the Imperial Palace’s corruption was evident, the system was too well-organized. Moreover, the expressions and gazes of the outer gate guards showed no signs of being influenced by vampires or the like.
Had they hidden themselves better than expected? Or was there another reason? Fernandez followed the guard’s guidance, lost in thought as he drove the carriage.
Watching Fernandez’s flustered face, Erbe sipped his tea with an awkward expression. Fernandez soon frowned and set down his teacup.
“So, you still haven’t met the Emperor in person?”
“The permission to enter the palace hasn’t come through. If I were the Emperor, now would be the perfect opportunity, with no military forces in the capital.”
“…Indeed.”
Fernandez leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. Strange. Had he missed something? The moment Fernandez arrived in the capital, he sought out Duke Carvelier to gauge the Emperor’s schemes.
If the Emperor was as cunning as he thought, he would have already mobilized the nearby regions…
