Chapter 657 Froz
In the central-northern part of Faraluo, Froz.
It was still cold in January, with cloudy skies revealing weak sunlight. The sunlight shone upon the vast city’s buildings, and a gentle breeze swept through the streets and alleys, finally converging on the huge square at the center of the city.
Amidst countless neatly arranged structures, a broad, massive square appeared in the heart of the city. Large expanses of clean stone slabs extended far into the distance, with patches of shrubs and lawns dotted around, and numerous citizens wandered among them.
On the northern edge of the square, a tall church building stood out prominently. Intricate carvings adorned the exterior walls of the church, more elaborate than those of other countries’ churches. At the center of the square stood a bronze statue of a young woman over tens of meters high, clad in simple clothing, holding a long sword, barefoot, smiling, and dancing gracefully with her long hair flowing. This statue seemed to be the most prominent feature of the entire square, serving as a landmark.
“This… Is this the Victory Dance Statue? It’s the first time I’ve seen it so closely. Quite impressive…”
Standing before the enormous bronze statue in the middle of the square, Dorothy, wearing a black-gray coat, a small lady’s hat, and her silver-white hair tied up, looked up at the magnificent structure and sighed. Beside her, Adele, also wearing an insulating coat and sunglasses, slowly began to explain.
“The Victory Dance Statue was erected by the Bourbon Dynasty to commemorate their miraculous victory over the Pritt army during the War of Succession in the Black Forest. Legend has it that Duke Henry of Bourbon got lost while marching through the forest and met a young dancer who guided him out of the forest and even led his troops behind the Pritt army. Seizing the opportunity, Henry launched a surprise attack, securing a great victory.
“Afterward, Henry publicized this event widely, claiming that the young girl was a messenger sent by the Three Saints to save Faraluo, with the support of the Church. After the establishment of the Bourbon Dynasty, symbols and emblems related to the Victory Dance began to spread throughout Faraluo. This statue is one of the largest, built by King Charles ‘the Dapper,’ the father of Greedy King Robert. During his reign, the Bourbon Dynasty reached its final glory.”
As Adele narrated the history of the giant bronze statue, Dorothy nodded thoughtfully.
“So… This is a testament to the last glorious era of the Bourbon Dynasty? Interesting…”
Dorothy said, then turned her gaze to another spot near the Victory Dance Statue where a large crowd had gathered. Someone had built a small platform with wooden crates and was standing on it, while more people surrounded the edges. An elderly man standing atop the platform was enthusiastically raising his arms and shouting to the crowds.
“Fellow countrymen! Our brothers and sisters! Listen to me! Faraluo has weathered countless storms to reach today. Hardship and sacrifice are the backbone of our nation! Heroes who have dedicated themselves to our nation have written epic tales…
“Ah… The Victory Dance! This is the national dance of Faraluo! It is the brilliant light that emerged from our ancestors’ struggles a hundred years ago, a testament to our glorious victory against the Pritt invaders! It is the indomitable pride of all Faraluo! Every Faraluan is born hearing the story of how the Dance of the Deity guided King Henry, a memory we share together…
“Now… Some want to destroy this memory! Those who hide in parliament, scheming and corrupt, want to deny it, to deny the spirit of Faraluo! This is something we cannot allow! Led by Sander, those scoundrels! They are the spawn of Pritt! They want to destroy our country…”
The frail old man, agitated, repeatedly called out to the crowds, passionately addressing the citizens and spectators below. Many of his listeners were equally incensed, occasionally shouting back at him, creating a cacophony of applause and exclamations.
“What are they doing?”
Watching the scene from afar, Dorothy couldn’t help but ask curiously. Adele responded lightly beside her.
“Street political speeches are common in Faraluo. People here are quite spirited, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Oh…”
Nodding in response to Adele, Dorothy then looked up at the sky, reached into her pocket for a pocket watch, and checked the time. She then continued.
“It’s getting late, we’ve done enough sightseeing. We should head to our main business.”
“Wow, time flies so quickly. Let’s go.”
With a soft exclamation, Adele and Dorothy slowly walked away from the towering Victory Dance Statue, heading toward the edge of the square.
After walking a few steps, Dorothy and Adele arrived at the edge of the square, where a group of plain-clothed young men were gathered. Seeing Dorothy and Adele approach, they immediately approached, smiling and pulling out some small gifts.
“Hey, wait a moment, two beautiful ladies. You must be tourists, would you like to buy some souvenirs?”
“Look at this, ladies. Our shops work with the Church, and every purchase helps poor, homeless children. Have mercy!”
In the midst of their chatter, several young men selling souvenirs gradually surrounded Dorothy and Adele, seemingly unwilling to let them leave without making a purchase. Facing this situation, Dorothy sighed slightly, and Adele smiled and spoke.
“These items… Their craftsmanship is quite exquisite. It’s worth buying something as a keepsake since we’ve come to Froz. But there are too many choices here, I can’t buy everything. So what should I choose? It’s quite a headache…”
Scanning the items being promoted by the men, Adele spoke in fluent Faraluo, revealing a hint of desire mixed with hesitation. Her eyes seemed to possess a certain charm, instantly capturing the attention of the surrounding men.
“My my, buy mine, miss. That guy’s stuff is cheap and fake, worthless.”
“What! How dare you call me a fraudster?!”
“Get out of here, this is my territory!”
Suddenly, the young men selling items started arguing among themselves, their words becoming increasingly heated until they escalated into a physical altercation. The scene became chaotic.
As the brawling broke out, Adele, the instigator, smiled and left with Dorothy. Turning back to look at the brawl, Dorothy calmly commented.
“I feel like there are more scammers in Froz than in Tivyán…”
“Heh… Not just scammers, but outright robbers aren’t uncommon either. So far, we haven’t encountered any because I’ve made sure those interested in us remain calm. It’s rare to travel with a little detective, and I don’t want to ruin the mood.”
Adjusting her sunglasses, Adele continued speaking to Dorothy, who replied frankly.
“Seems like Prith is safer than Faraluo in terms of security. Perhaps it’s due to national character. Faraluans tend to be more spontaneous and direct.”
As they spoke, Dorothy and Adele walked to the side of the square and boarded a carriage that had been waiting. Once inside, the coachman drove the horse, entering the street and leaving the square behind.
Shortly after the New Year in Tivyán, Dorothy and Adele left Prith and arrived in Faraluo’s capital, Froz. According to a letter Adele received, she was invited to a gathering on January 18th to meet with various members of the Bourbon Royal Family and discuss the search for the Bourbon treasure.
Due to the Bourbon Dynasty’s deep research into the Path of Desire, Adele hoped to find clues for her advancement within their remnants. Therefore, she accepted the invitation and came to Faraluo, hiring Dorothy as a detective to protect herself and assist in the investigation.
Dorothy agreed to accompany Adele mainly because Adele had helped her before, and she felt indebted. This trip was to repay that debt. Additionally, Adele mentioned that Faraluo was the largest colonial power in Northern Ufeiga, with many relics of the First Dynasty stored in Froz. As the country with the deepest research into the First Dynasty among major nations on the mainland, Dorothy might find some clues for her advancement there.
This was Dorothy and Adele’s first day in Froz. They arrived by train in the morning, settled into their hotel, and spent the day sightseeing while waiting for the meeting with Mr. F. Now, they were heading to the location where Mr. F had arranged to meet them.
Sitting in the carriage, Dorothy unfolded a local newspaper and read it. Unlike newspapers elsewhere, which primarily focused on news, Faraluo’s newspapers had extensive coverage of politics, discussing every debate in parliament and different politicians’ views. Professional political commentators and their articles were abundant, and each newspaper had distinct political leanings, engaging in fierce verbal battles with one another. To Dorothy, it seemed Faraluans were more passionate about politics than citizens of other countries.
“Le Goff Sander, one of the five governors of Faraluo, continues to be a topic of debate. There are differing opinions on whether to further purge traces of the Bourbon Dynasty. Supporters claim that symbols of decaying royal power should not persist in the new republic, breeding unhealthy thoughts. However, many oppose this, arguing that much of the Bourbon legacy embodies the spirit of Faraluo and should not be stripped away. Chevalier, another governor, publicly stated that Le Goff Sander’s remarks were inappropriate.
“It is reported that Le Goff Sander’s comments about the Victory Dance are still causing controversy…
‘Sander…’
In the swaying carriage, Dorothy stared at the report, her attention caught by the name Sander. Earlier, when visiting the Victory Dance statue, someone had mentioned this name during a street speech.
Curious, Dorothy began to carefully read through the various newspapers she had purchased earlier, gaining a thorough understanding of the events and controversies. Soon, she grasped the gist of the matter.
Le Goff Sander was one of the five governors of Faraluo and the most recent elected among the four assistant governors. He was a young, energetic reformer.
Since taking office, Governor Sander has been committed to implementing various reforms in healthcare, education, culture, and more, aiming to break away from Faraluo’s old systems and complete the transformation. Each of his reform initiatives was significant, such as promoting compulsory secondary education, garnering much support but also facing immense pressure.
Sander was a reformer and clashed strongly with conservative factions in Faraluo’s political arena. In his youth, he seemed to have built his political capital by criticizing the Royalists. His recent controversy stemmed from some seemingly casual remarks he made in public.
“Although the Victory Dance is considered a symbol of Froz, ultimately, it is a relic of the Bourbon Dynasty, a symbol of the evil monarchy that the Bourbon Dynasty established at great cost. Faraluans do not need this to remember the Battle of the Black Forest; it should be torn down.”
Upon these words, a storm of criticism erupted in Faraluo’s political circles. Countless critics believed Sander was attempting to undermine the national spirit of Faraluo. Some even suggested he might be a traitor and launched investigations. The whole country was abuzz, and even today, Sander remains a hot topic, with debates raging across different regions, leading to street speeches.
‘Goodness, this statement caused quite a stir. As a public figure, he should be more careful with his words.’
Reflecting on the report, Dorothy thought to herself. With the passage of time, the carriage they were riding in had reached their destination.
“Flowerfall Hotel… This is it. Stop here.”
Looking out the window, Adele said directly. Hearing Adele, Dorothy put down the newspaper and instructed the zombie coachman to stop the carriage in front of a tall building.
“I’ll go up myself. The invitation didn’t say I could bring anyone else.”
Sitting in the carriage, Adele told Dorothy straightforwardly. Dorothy replied leisurely.
“Go ahead, it’s fine. Recite the name of Akka, and I’ll watch over you.”
“I know that, little detective,”
Smiling, Adele said to Dorothy, then opened the door and stepped out, looking up at the grand hotel.
Taking a deep breath, Adele quickly walked forward, climbed a series of stairs, and entered the hotel lobby. Then she approached the reception desk and asked:
“Excuse me, where is Hall 0417?”
“Right here, esteemed lady.”
Before the hotel staff could answer Adele, a voice preempted the response. Adele turned and saw a mysterious man dressed in a black cloak, a tall hat, and a half-mask standing there.
“I’ve been waiting for you, distinguished guest. Allow me to guide you.”
