CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 2: THE PUZZLE OF THE KING OF GOLD

At noon, a bird’s squawk pierced the sky over Ximu Town. The townspeople, delighted, came out to the streets. Some of them had prepared fruit baskets and some cured meat products, laying them flat on the ground, waiting for the golden sacred bird to descend from the sky.

The sound device powered by the energy crystals in the town square was broadcasting today’s program.

"Ladies and gentlemen, hello, I am your good friend Rowena, welcome to today’s Empire Voice..."

This was a new change brought about by the outbreak of disaster. Almost every border city of the Empire had installed such energy crystal sound devices, allowing residents to listen to broadcasts from the imperial capital every noon. There were three regular broadcasters: Empire Princess Sophia, scholar Rowena, and Imperial Knight Commander Higan. Out of them, Rowena had become the most popular broadcaster among the Empire’s residents due to her lively personality.

Empire Voice brought news about the eastern front and the Western Continent.

During a meeting earlier today, the internal opinions of the Deep Sea Council had reached consensus, and diplomat Richard made a speech in public, expressing a firm position of alliance with the Empire.

Although now the Empire and Ophira had become minority voices, when Empire residents heard that there were people fighting alongside them from unknown places, they felt relieved.

When the sacred bird slowly descended in the central square of Ximu Town, the townspeople gathered around, affectionately stroking Miss Keroy’s feathers.

"Ethan, my brother!"

This hearty greeting made people voluntarily make way for the owner of the voice, clad in pitch-black armor and a magnetic crossbow on his back, the voice crossed through the crowd, striding toward Ethan, then gave him a warm hug.

"How are things?"

"Recently, they’ve been much quieter, but I feel they’re planning something big in Siwalant."

Hagrid said.

In fact, since the failure of the general assault two months ago, King of Gold’s army hadn’t crossed the border line a single step, and everything became silent, but no one dared to let their guard down. Everyone knew this was the calm before the storm. Whether the Empire or the Western Continent’s situation wasn’t very favorable, their range of activities had become quite limited. Even traveling among the Empire’s various cities often required the use of teleportation arrays set by the Astrology Guild.

Once exposed to the golden radiation for an extended time, one would be assimilated by the consciousness of the King of Gold.

Radiation was also a concept mentioned in the Empire Voice radio, it was through this way that he made everyone submit to his will.

"That Princess of the Fallen Country mentioned things called ’Hunters’ by the Siwalant people. They said it stood three or four stories high and was made entirely of special materials, which revealed weaknesses in the known weapons’ inability to penetrate its defense."

Captain Hagrid expressed his concern slightly.

The team responsible for escorting the princess on her escape was wiped out, including some of the followers of the Father of War. They were an elite group of daredevils, carefully selected, who completed their mission in Siwalant well, yet encountered pursuit by the "Hunters" during their retreat.

They couldn’t hold out for very long.

Maybe when the next war comes, Ximu Town won’t be met by humans in golden masks, but these monsters entirely forged from gold.

They were being produced in astonishing numbers, continuously in the factories of Siwalant.

Perhaps they should upgrade their equipment too.

"Where’s the princess now?"

"Resting at the baron’s place, she ate something earlier and has been sleeping since."

Hagrid had to admit this Princess of the Fallen Country was unexpectedly strong. He thought a girl of her age facing such upheaval would mostly fall into depression, but this child ate and drank as she should, with an unusually good appetite, eating and then falling asleep as if she truly treated the Baron’s manor as her home.

"Come on, Baron Gledin has been waiting for you for quite some time, we haven’t seen each other in a long time, let’s find a place and have a drink tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Ethan let Miss Keroy stay here, the little hen had been waiting for Ethan to speak, as soon as she did, she stuck her head into the fruit basket given by the townspeople, letting out a contented "gurgling" sound.

Compared to the friendly townspeople, Baron Gledin was anxiously waiting on the path at the manor entrance. As soon as Ethan and Hagrid arrived, he came to greet them.

The pressure the "Hunters" brought him was much more intense than it was for Hagrid.

According to what the princess said, just the border cities of Siwalant held at least a hundred "Hunters," and apart from these spider-like behemoths, scholars dispatched by the King of Gold were studying dragons capable of flight, which could air-drop gold masks to the ground.

A moment later, the baron led Ethan to the second floor and knocked on the guest room door.

The princess was already awake, lying in bed wrapped in a blanket, with her bare feet exposed. As soon as she awoke, she had the manor’s maid make her a cup of lemon tea, and also asked for a plate of fruit dessert, which she was enjoying with half-closed eyes when they entered, indulging in the food.

Baron Gledin’s face stiffened, shaking his head helplessly. It was hard for him to believe she was a refugee.

The girl’s gaze skimmed over Gledin and Hagrid, both familiar faces, finally resting on Ethan. After sizing him up briefly, she questioned with a doubtful tone, "Are you the Ethan they mentioned?"