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"What kind of ghost city is this? It feels really uncomfortable." Edward wrung out his clothes and pulled out the obsidian sword at his waist to take a look. Fortunately, in the darkness, the sword instead emitted a unique metallic luster, which somewhat comforted him.
Xiu jumped on the spot, getting rid of the water in his ears, and laughed, "This is Mavi City. Relying on the convenience of transportation on Lake Missouri and the nearby mines, it has become a mineral city. Look, there are huge mechanical buildings everywhere, very different from the environment in Silver Moon, right?"
Indeed, in the darkness, many strange and peculiar buildings stood tall. There always seemed to be a layer of thin dust floating in the air, probably something refined from minerals.
"The reason why the Lowell Empire has become an empire is because they have always used expansion as the principle of state governance. Therefore, this country is very aggressive. Black markets, theft, robbery, and other crimes happen frequently. Hehe, to tell the truth, I quite like this city; it is filled with the scent of science. However, it might be a bit bad for you guys, having deviated from your intended destination and landing at this port instead."
After a brief rest, Mengdie and her companions left the wharf and looked for a temporary place to stay. Only by actually walking on the streets could one truly understand how chaotic this city was. Soldiers patrolling everywhere, under the silent night sky, the only sound echoing was their footsteps on the ground. The whole city seemed dead, with no light coming from any building. It was as if this place was not a city, but a cemetery! And these soldiers were like guardians preventing any "dead" from rising again!
Hiding in a corner of a small alley, waiting for a team of armored soldiers to leave, Mengdie and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at this dimly lit city, it seemed impossible to find an inn to rest. Even if there were any, wandering around the streets and being caught by soldiers would be very troublesome. Especially since the relationship between the Kingdom of Silver Moon and the Lowell Empire was very delicate, and with Edward in the group, they had to be even more cautious. Therefore, they decided to rest in the alley for the night and act when it was light the next day.
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The night was deep, and all around was silent. Mengdie listened to her heartbeat but couldn't fall asleep. Numerous questions arose in her mind, some understandable, but more were incomprehensible.
Looking up, Mengdie realized how dark the sky above the city was. It was covered with clouds, not to mention the moonlight; even the faint starlight couldn't penetrate through the dense mineral dust. The three bright moons that could be seen in Silver Moon... cough, it was now unknown whether they were full or crescent.
Mengdie shook her head, her brows slightly furrowed with worry. Just then, Nia, using her knee as a pillow, let out a soft snore, smacked her lips twice, and fell asleep again. The worry on Mengdie's face was lightly dispersed by this unintentional action of the little girl. She smiled faintly, shook her head, took off her jacket, and covered Nia with it, patting her gently.
"If the two of you can't sleep like me, would you mind discussing it together?" Mengdie continued to pat Nia without looking up, and said with a smile at the corner of her mouth.
Edward, leaning against the wall, and Xiu sitting opposite Mengdie looked at each other and simply got up, sitting next to Mengdie.
Mengdie's smile gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"Before we discuss, I want to ask you first, Xiu," Mengdie turned to Xiu and said slowly, "you were dragged into this by us, and now that we have landed ashore, you are under no obligation to continue the adventure with us. What are your plans? If you want to buy a boat ticket home immediately, I still have 7 Sulas. Although it's 8 Sulas short of a ticket back to Garulu Town, with your intelligence, earning 8 Sulas shouldn't be too difficult."
Edward, holding his sword, also looked at Xiu, waiting for his response.
Xiu shrugged, smiled slightly, and said, "Ah, Miss Mengdie, you think too highly of me. Don't forget, we four are illegal immigrants now. What the relationship between Silver Moon and Lowell really is, who can say for sure? For me to wander alone in this city full of martial law, even nine lives wouldn't be enough. So, let me accompany you until I earn enough money for the journey home."
Mengdie nodded, about to speak. But before she could, Xiu suddenly added,
"Moreover, I still have the danger of being assassinated."
"..."
"Hahaha, Miss Mengdie, please don't look at me with such wary eyes. Don't tell me you haven't considered the two assassination attempts over the past few days.～～～"
Xiu's hint was clear enough, clear enough that no further explanation was needed. Mengdie and Xiu slowly turned their heads and silently looked at the other male sitting here—
Prince Edward Lansidemu of the Kingdom of Silver Moon, the next heir to the throne.
A cold wind entered the alley, causing Nia to curl up and shiver. Mengdie quickly covered her with the jacket and gently stroked her hair. Edward, however, was pale, with an expression of complete incomprehension, looking at Mengdie and Xiu.
"Well, this is indeed a problem." After staring for a long time, Mengdie seemed to give up, turned her head back, and nodded lightly to Xiu, "In that case, it's better for you to travel with us."
Xiu chuckled and said no more.
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