Observations

The steel behemoth raced across the vast wasteland, its steam pistons constantly turning, emitting rhythmic, muffled sounds.

Several hours passed quickly. Joseph gazed at the changing scenery outside the window and listened to Hera recount the history of the empire, filled with words like "loyalty" and "favor."

However, Joseph was somewhat annoyed by the overly embellished history.

This guy is beyond saving.

She had been bewitched by the Red Dragon and had become a spiritual slave to that Dragon Emperor.

Joseph thought so.

"Look! It's a city!"

Soon, the sharp-eyed guards spotted the black city walls gradually emerging in the distance.

Joseph looked over and saw that the city was much taller and more solid than he had imagined, giving off an invisible sense of oppression. It seemed that there were Wyvern circling and patrolling in the sky.

"This must be what is called Istaria, the capital of the Embers of the Burned Empire."

He thought to himself.

It is far inferior to the former Holy City of Teotihuacan in Fadlan, that is the truth.

Even the poorest and lowest-ranking Fadlan, when they think of that magnificent Holy City, will proudly puff out their chests—for it is indeed the most glorious place that humankind can imagine.

Unfortunately, after years of war, the once pristine Holy City has become riddled with holes, filled with the Gunsmoke. The corpses of soldiers from the Three Great Kingdoms filled the ditches outside the city, and their blood formed the flowing moat.

The war in the South.

Thinking of this, Joseph sighed deeply and commented, "A very nice city, but as the capital of an empire, it still has some shortcomings."

Hera pointed to the city wall and introduced, "This is Blackstone Fortress, the largest fortress city in the southern part of the empire."

Joseph's expression stiffened instantly. He stopped talking and silently watched the city draw closer.

"Blackstone Fortress Station, we have arrived."

The attendant's clear voice echoed throughout the carriage, seemingly amplified by some kind of device.

As the train approached, it stopped at the city gate, and the imperial citizens who had been waiting on the platform for a long time poured into the carriages.

The passengers included not only humans, but also Hobgoblin, Tiefling, Half-orc, and even Ogre, making the caravan's guards somewhat nervous.

Humans and these monsters lived together peacefully, and even occasionally talked to each other, which amazed them, who had traveled all over the country and killed many monsters.

"Make way."

"Don't block the passageway."

"Baron Excellency, are you also going to Istaria?"

The carriage suddenly became a bit noisy, but luckily Joseph had booked a VIP compartment, and large monsters like Ogre have their own special compartments.

Joseph was briefly surprised, then focused his attention on Blackstone Fortress.

Despite the high city walls blocking his view, he could still see through the city gates the clean, tidy, wide, and flat streets, as well as the brick and stone houses that looked exactly like replicas.

It's a really good city, both from a business and a military perspective.

As a businessman, he would absolutely be willing to do business in such a beautiful city, and as a general, the tall and thick city walls with protruding towers would also become an important barrier against foreign enemies.

If even an ordinary city is built like this, what must the imperial capital be like?

Joseph thought so.

Looking at the people rushing into the carriage, he suddenly asked, "Why are so many people heading to Istaria? What are they going there for?"

Hera replied, "Istaria is His Majesty's sacred coronation site and the center of the empire, where there are the most jobs and the highest wages in the country."

However, in contrast, it is also a place where land is extremely valuable. Ordinary citizens can hardly afford to buy a house in Istaria, and even a basement can sell for hundreds of Ginar.

Therefore, some citizens chose to live in other cities and travel daily by Steam Engine Car to work in Istaria.

"I see."

Joseph was somewhat taken aback; he had never seen such a novel lifestyle before—living in one city and working in another.

Hera gave a wry smile and said helplessly, "If I could afford a house in Istaria, I wouldn't be working as a guide in Tahan."

The Steam Engine Car sped along, passing several rolling mountains and cities.

"On Amanata."

The guard sitting at the very front stared wide-eyed, mouth agape, and let out an uncontrollable exclamation.

Joseph couldn't help but look out the window. Despite having prepared himself mentally, he was still deeply shocked by the sight before him.

"O gods!"

He muttered to himself.

In the distance, towering city walls stretched as far as the eye could see, along with a magnificent and uniquely styled architectural complex. Tall chimneys rose from the ground, emitting wisps of gray smoke.

The most breathtaking sight is the massive stone pillar in the center of the city, hundreds of meters high, which supports a magnificent white altar surrounded by swirling clouds, like a divine kingdom descending to earth.

—That is the Istaria Great Altar.

For some reason, Joseph suddenly recalled the scene when he was six years old and first visited the Holy City, looking up at the "Eternal Sun God Tower".

And that's exactly how Istaria is making him feel right now.

"Truly a miracle."

He couldn't help but reveal his true feelings.

"Yes, for us Anzeta people, that is a miracle."

Hera also looked up beside her, gazing devoutly at the altar that was being lifted into the sky. "Mr. Joseph, that is the place where His Your Majesty Keosius was crowned."

No matter where you are in Istaria, as long as you look up, you can see that sacred place.

"We have arrived at Istaria South Gate Station. Please remember His Majesty's kindness and disembark in an orderly manner."

"We've finally arrived."

"Hurry up, do you want to be late and get your pay docked?"

People gradually disembarked from the carriages, and Joseph, after calming himself down and taking several deep breaths, also led his caravan off the train.

He had his guards unload the cargo from the carriages and take their equipment, and the group entered the city in a grand procession.

The roads here were wider than he had imagined; the main road was even wider than in the Holy City, wide enough to accommodate more than a dozen carriages traveling side by side.

The roads here were much cleaner and smoother than any he had ever seen. They looked like they were paved with some kind of black gravel, but without any unevenness, which amazed him.

Tracks were laid on both sides of the road, on which small Steam Engine Car ran, while residents of the city waited and traveled at the platforms.

At a glance, one can see all sorts of races: humans, Tiefling, Hobgoblin, Half-orc, Half-goat Human, Ogre. Regardless of race, they are all quite busy and in a hurry. People seem to have long been used to all of this and are quite accustomed to interacting with other species.

"Citizens, please abide by public order regulations!"

Knights riding Wyvern patrolled in mid-air, while the Tiefling Guard, armed with rifles, marched in neat rows along the right side of the street.

Their caravan was completely inconspicuous in the city.

A tall Ogre approached, startling the caravan's guard so much that he raised his shield and broke out in a cold sweat.

"What, what are you going to do?"

The guard had encountered Ogre in the wilderness, and his teammates were eaten alive. He knew the brutal nature of these monsters and was terrified of them.

But the Ogre merely glanced at him disdainfully and snorted, "What a fussy country bumpkin, acting like this the first time he's in the capital."

"Yes, foolish and weak humans."

The other Ogre, dressed in a suit, was also chiming in.

The two Ogre left cursing, while the guard, his back soaked with sweat, thought he was about to be eaten.

But they just let them go like that? Seeing this scene, Joseph couldn't help but say, "Miss Hera, there's a question I wanted to ask you earlier."

How exactly did they manage to suppress their true nature? Those Ogre and Wyvern, the most brutal monsters, could now transform into this, and even obey orders?

Hera looked at it as if it were perfectly natural, and she raised her head again to look at the white altar in the sky.

She clasped her hands together and murmured, "Of course it's thanks to His Majesty. His wisdom is as deep as the ocean, which has enlightened these ignorant beings and brought them the light of civilization."

"."

Joseph remained silent.

Before coming to the Empire, he had always thought it was a place ruled by evil dragons, a place of misery and suffering.

People were imprisoned in a vast mine, toiling endlessly in heavy shackles to produce deadly firearms to satisfy the Red Dragon's insatiable greed for wealth.

The reality was far different from his imagination. According to the guide, the Dragon Emperor was described as a radiant and majestic being, like Sun God, worshipped by countless citizens of the empire.

Looking at those exceptionally magnificent yet uniquely styled buildings, Joseph truly began to doubt whether the Red Dragon possessed any so-called "divine power."

Otherwise, how could he have transformed the desolate and impoverished Anzeta into this state in just over a decade? "All people worship together, the Great Red Dragon in the heavens!"

"How can this kindness be repaid? Your Majesty has allowed mountain springs to flow down to the plains, and timely rains to nourish every place."

"Your Majesty is like the sun in the sky, and we are like the seeds on the ground. Your endless radiance shines upon the earth, and we grow strong and eventually become seedlings."

Suddenly, a melodious chanting sound came from afar, echoing throughout the city for a long time.

Joseph frowned. "This is..."

Hera listened to the familiar melody and exclaimed with delight, "It's the ' Keosius Anthem '! What an auspicious tune!"

"By the way, Mr. Joseph, it's February 29th now, and the Coronation Day is just around the corner. It's an annual grand event."

Hera's tone was excited.

"."

Joseph, listening to the song "When shall we repay this debt of gratitude?", fell silent again and even began to doubt himself.

If the people of this country are all in this fanatical and confident state, then the danger level of the Embers of the Burned Empire will be even higher.