The spring in the southern continent has been extremely hot. At 5:30 in the afternoon, the heat accumulated for the whole day gradually dissipated. The north wind blowing from the endless sand sea brought rare coolness to the golden city. In the courtyard of the Harimaya Manor with the shadows of the trees dancing Inside, a grand celebration banquet has just begun. Colorful ribbons are hung between the palm trees. Men and women in costumes sit around a round table. Built according to the concentric circle symbol of the main god Luta, the giant round table can accommodate a hundred people dining at the same time. The seats were filled with distinguished guests. Exquisite dishes were served to the table by the valet in a flowing manner. There was a dance floor in the center of the round table. The setting sun illuminated the colored lights in the center of the dance floor. A small band of five people was playing a cheerful waltz.
What ran counter to all these warm and beautiful things was the depressing atmosphere of the banquet. Prince Harimaya, who was ashen-faced, was sitting in an armchair. He did not speak. No one dared to pick up the wine glass and say a word of blessing. There were nearly a hundred guests. I could only sit in my seat and watch the fragrant dishes slowly turn cold. At this banquet, "The wise, upright, and brave King Isaiah, son of Prince Amir Ibn Shakal of Harimaya, Du ibn Shakal, the close nephew of Emperor Ink, the mayor of Marakanda, the president of the Namoza Trade Road Association and the only royal inspector of the Northwestern Province, was not present. He supported Governor Herhemias. Of course, the distinguished guests did not show up. This was supposed to be a victory dinner for the royalists. However, a bold sneak attack took place right under the nose and the prince lost his face. Although the new baron was unscathed, the old prince's heart was at this moment. If there were ten thousand sand-eating worms galloping around, he would have wanted to cut the manor's head guard into pieces and feed them to the dogs to vent his anger. But in front of the two protagonists of the banquet, Emil Shakal could only hold back his anger. Angry. The right hand holding the wine glass couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Jonah and Asai sat on the right side of the old prince. The Easterner looked at the food on the plate eagerly and asked quietly: "When can we eat? You have been invited to attend the royal dinner at seven o'clock. But I I have to find a way to fill my stomach... This plate of pineapple and sour chili barbecue has missed the best time to taste it. The tender and juicy veal is getting colder by the second. The hot gravy condenses into a disgusting white color. Grease. Ahhhh...this, this is simply a crime."
The third-level astrologer lowered his head and showed a helpless expression: "The prince said that he must wait until the guard captain of the Golden City comes to apologize. Who knows when this officer will arrive at the manor..."
Asai secretly stretched out his two fingers to the barbecue on the plate. "Although in our Oriental dinner, the elder must use the chopsticks first. But compared to the heinous crime of spoiling food, I still violate my ancestors a little. After training... just eat a small piece. A small piece..."
Jonah slapped the Oriental's hand back: "Don't make trouble. Many people are looking at us."
This extremely large round table is actually a ring. Across from the small dance floor, dozens of bored guests on the opposite side are secretly observing the winners of the royal warrior selection. The new celebrities who are favored by His Majesty the Emperor. Several women. Bin stared at Asai with great interest and whispered to each other about the oriental appearance, figure and the unique braid. Of course, several younger aristocratic ladies were more interested in Yona. They had abandoned him within a few minutes. There were so many flirtatious glances that the astrologers did not dare to look in that direction.
Asai's affection for food reminds Jonah of a person. That guy can't be said to be an enemy or a friend. Captain of the Guards of the Golden Hammer Legion of the Zavi Empire, Joop, the Golden Land Dragon Knight. It seems that men who like food are all He is an optimistic, easy-going, and optimist who likes to smile. The difference between the two is that Qiaopu is a trustworthy warrior with strong beliefs. And this guy from the East is full of curiosity about everything and a little out of line in his work. Reliable man.
As if he heard the voice of the boy next to him. Asai, whose mouth was full, raised his head: "What."
"What, what? I didn't say anything." Of course, Jonah refused to admit his slander. He didn't believe that mysterious Easterners could be mysterious enough to listen to other people's voices.
"Oh. That's what I heard." Asai said vaguely. He swallowed a big mouthful of barbecue with difficulty. When the prince was not paying attention, he grabbed the wine glass and drank half a glass of sparkling wine. The valet behind him immediately came over. Come and help him refill his golden wine. He also thoughtfully removed the half-eaten appetizer and replaced it with a new plate of steaming pineapple, sour chili barbecue.
"...Don't tell me if it's hot..." The Easterner chewed the cold beef in his mouth and chewed it into a thick fiber cake. He neither swallowed it nor spit it out. He raised his head and looked at Jonah with a resentful look. "It's all your fault. Why are you so popular with bad people? You figure out how many fights I've had after staying with you for a few days."
"I didn't choose it myself." Thinking of this, Jonah himself felt a little angry. "Or you can go alone. Why do you have to come with me?"
Asai rolled his eyes at him: "Yes. There is a hereditary baron secretly protected by a great swordsman. I would be a fool not to act with you. Speaking of which, when will we leave for the Vedic Kingdom?"
While the two were chatting, there was a noise from the direction of the entrance of the manor. Not long after, three fast horses galloped across the green grass. They reined in a hundred steps away from the courtyard. The three men rolled their saddles and dismounted. . trotted to the banquet table. Accompanied by two light knights, the officer who knelt down in front of the prince and saluted was said to be Major Samus Sardis, captain of the Bactrian garrison. A man with an ill-fated fate. Sitting next to Asai was a talkative Earl of the Empire. Since just now, he has been explaining the political situation and character profiles of the Golden City in the awkward common language of the Western Continent. Whether the audience likes it or not, the lecture has always been uninterested. Minus. According to him, this Major Sardis is a civilian hero who grew up from a grassroots swordsman. He has no backstage background and is not inclined to any political force. Therefore, he can hold the sensitive official position of captain of the Imperial City Guard; But ever since he took office, the political struggle between His Majesty the Emperor and Herhemias has been turbulent, and he has become a public buffer and punching bag. It would be unfair for this man to be responsible for the attack at Harimaya Manor. But the Prince It seems that adults can't find a better step.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Duke..." Major Sardis, who had two small mustaches and looked a bit like the uncle next door, knelt on the ground and said hello respectfully. He was not stuttering. Because everyone here Among the many big figures in the country, there are only five dukes. There are countless counts and below. Prince Harimaya’s reputation is second to none in the Golden City. Everyone knows that the prince is the closest person to His Majesty the Emperor. Most nobles do the same thing as Jonah. I've made plans to catch two shows. First I'll have an early dinner at the manor, and then I'll have a late dinner at the palace. It's beneficial to get closer to each other.
Neither Jonah nor Asay were in the political circles. They had not listened carefully to the introduction just now. Now they were watching the old prince scolding the captain of the security team bloody. They felt a little miserable and bored, so they thought about themselves again. Chat secretly.
"You said to go to the Vedas. I just told the prince about it. I asked him to help me post notices on the main streets of Bactria to find my two companions. I must stay here before May 15th. This is Egypt. Liote, the agreement between Long Ji and me." Yona said.
"But I have to arrive early. Otherwise, I will miss the best opportunity and enter the recession period again. It will be much more troublesome to do things..." The Oriental man played with the ends of his braids in annoyance.
"Then why don't we wait until next month when you are stronger again?" the astrologer asked.
"This matter has been delayed for more than half a year. If it is not completed, I'm afraid the employer will go crazy." Asai said with a headache. "My credibility. My precious credibility is in decline..."
"Speaking of which, what are you going to do? I heard that the Vedas are a very strange place." Jonah asked.
"...If you want me to tell you the truth, you have to tell me your story first. Who are the people who protect and hunt you? What secrets are you hiding?" the Oriental asked slyly.
"...Then let's change the topic." The astrologer thought for a while and decided to postpone the matter for a while. Unlike all the partners he had met before, the new friends around him seemed much simpler and more complicated. Like a A mysterious aggregation of problems. You have to trust him completely. It will probably take a little more time.
Asai also looked relieved. "So, let's continue the interrupted topic. Regarding the partner you mentioned, the woman named Long Ji..."
Jonah did not hear the complete question. He suddenly fell into a very strange mental state. His soul seemed to be rising continuously until he left the body. He was suspended above the round table and looked down at his body. The surroundings became extremely... Dark. There was a weak colored flame floating on the head of each figure. Some were red, some were green. He couldn't see clearly the color of the flame on his head. But the flame of Asai beside him was actually black. .
Before he could react, a familiar voice sounded: "Jonah, can you hear me?"
"Miss Rose, where are you? You're okay. That's great." Yona cried out in surprise and looked around. This voice belonged to Rose Rose, the Archon of Sucasa Valley who disappeared after self-mutilation and injury." Was it the ghost's left hand that made me enter this state? What's going on with all this... Where are you?" The joy in the astrologer's words gradually turned into panic. He couldn't move. He couldn't turn his perspective. He couldn't even judge himself. Is there a sound? The surroundings are getting darker and darker. Even the flames on people's heads are gradually sinking into the shadows.
"Please listen. This is the first prompt I have received." Rose Rose's emotionless voice sounded.