The City That Felt Like Home

Samuel not only admired the iconic building before him, but he also wanted to see the entire Komoy Fort.

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After looking at the clock, he began to wander around.

He wasn't just looking around aimlessly.

Rather, it's the arrangement and changes in every place and corner of this city that are incredibly surprising; you'd feel it's a pity to miss any of them.

The city was divided into orderly sections.

The road surface alone is enough to make one want to explore it.

The road is paved with an unknown material, which not only feels incredibly flat underfoot but also looks beautiful and clean, with no dust flying around when you walk on it.

Samuel could easily imagine that even if it rained or snowed, the city's streets would remain as clean as they were now.

The presence of the roads makes the city more pleasing to the eye; they are clean and tidy, and even the roadside is marked with directional signs or location signs.

Evergreen trees were even planted on both sides of the road.

Samuel noticed that there were even flower beds and lawns along the roadside.

When asked how he knew it was a flower bed, he said it was because a sign next to it read, "Protecting flowers and plants is everyone's responsibility. Please do not step on them. Thank you for your consideration."

Samuel watched very intently.

He would even ask passersby or vendors questions he didn't understand, because there were many things and signs in the city that fascinated him.

He learned about the asphalt concrete road surface and that the flower seeds buried in the flower bed were roses.

Someone told Samuel that because the family crest of the Lord of Desinia was a bright red rose entwined with thorns, the official flower of the Desinia Territory was also designated as the rose.

They will plant beautiful, vibrant red roses for the lord in the cities of Visas and Komoy Fort, so that May in the Desinia Territory will be filled with flowers.

Samuel couldn't help but look forward to it, imagining that the two cities would be incredibly beautiful by then.

He had never imagined that a city decorated with plants could be so pleasing to the eye and uplifting.

Samuel unconsciously maintained a smile on his face as he went on to observe other things or buildings he had never seen before—such as public toilets and public bus stops.

I had heard long ago that the Desinia Territory had issued a number of regulations three years ago.

This includes prohibiting anyone from urinating or defecating in the streets, with violators subject to fines.

Therefore, the purpose of this public toilet is self-evident.

The doors on both sides are decorated with small figures of a man and a woman. The figure representing the women's restroom is wearing a skirt, making it easy to identify.

Given the level of ignorance and backwardness in this era, the men's and women's restrooms are spaced far apart to maintain a safe distance.

Samuel couldn't believe he would ever be interested in toilets, and even went inside to experience it for himself.

After we come out...

He washed his hands again at the manager's request, making sure they were clean and smelled nice before leaving.

Before Samuel left, he saw the manager who had just made him wash his hands pour dirty water onto a rectangular grid on the edge of the road. The grid was made of iron and its bottom was connected to the road surface.

Samuel, curious, asked someone else about it.

Someone immediately and enthusiastically replied, "This is a drainage system devised by our young lord."

"The road was planned in its entirety before it was laid out, covering the entire city, including Visas... Since both cities were under redevelopment, it was relatively easy to implement at the time."

"However, implementing the drainage system in other cities will be somewhat difficult. But our city's Artisans' Guild are not to be underestimated; they've formed an Artisans' Guild Alliance and are planning to..."

The man Samuel casually grabbed was introducing himself with excessive enthusiasm, but Samuel listened with great patience.

Urban functional zoning planning, road paving, traffic facilities, drainage, landscaping...

Samuel lingered there, reluctant to leave.

He couldn't help but compare the city's past and present, and please forgive his crude analogy, but it was like the difference between copper coins and gold coins, separated by so many silver coins.

No wonder some people say that even the former royal city looks like a remote village compared to the cities of today.

Dirty and clean, messy and tidy...

Samuel couldn't help but sigh. He had heard some rumors about the Desinia Territory before—that the Desinia lord was doing something utterly meaningless.

However, when he actually came to see for himself, he realized that the rumors were not to be believed!

He was extremely grateful to the lord for bringing him here! This is a place where people should live!

Samuel felt refreshed.

He then went to check out the public transportation station.

The so-called train station was a construction project specifically initiated by official organizations, namely lords and mayors.

--The station has customized vehicles, specific routes and parking locations, and the times are consistent, with fixed departure and closing times.

Those who wish to take the ride only need to pay a certain amount of money to board and depart for their desired destination.

There are currently two types of trains available at the station.

One type is a long, covered carriage pulled by five horses. The carriage has doors on both sides that open up and down. Inside, there are eight rows of seats, with five seats in each row.

These large carriages were used to travel between the cities of Visas and Komoy Fort, running between the two cities.

Another type of carriage of the same design only traveled within the city, which was very convenient for commoners and slaves who had to travel long distances or carry heavy loads.

Samuel heard that there were annual and monthly rentals for using public carriages, with the price decreasing the longer the rental period.

If you don't use the carriage often, you don't need to go through this service. After boarding, you only need to pay one copper coin to get off at any stop within the city.

Samuel handed over a copper coin and went to check on the house.

He heard that all the houses in his neighborhood were built with red bricks and had a beautiful appearance...

As Samuel continued to wander through Komoy Fort, someone came to visit Cyrus's carriage.

He stared at the tall man opposite him, still shrouded in a black robe, and after a moment of stunned surprise, he accepted the man's invitation.

Cyrus left the carriage procession, followed by Judas and Ferdinand.

They followed the man in black to the entrance of an inn, where a deep voice announced, "The inn has been booked; His Majesty is waiting for you inside."

The man in black glanced at Judas and Ferdinand, indicating that only Cyrus could go in.

Cyrus nodded, told the two to wait for him outside, and then went into the hotel alone.

It's probably because they booked the whole thing.

Cyrus didn't see any reception staff on the first floor of the hotel. He continued walking straight to the second floor, where the man in black robes said that the Pope was resting there.

But why wasn't he told which room it was in?

Cyrus walked on the fluffy carpet on the second floor with a puzzled frown, her footsteps barely audible.

As he was contemplating whether to shout, a door he had just passed through suddenly opened silently—catching Cyrus off guard, someone grabbed him from behind, lifted him up around the waist, and swiftly subdued Cyrus's instinctive attack, gripping his wrist and enveloping his pale hand in their own palm.

A slight vibration came from the chest behind me, and a deep laugh was like a jar of mellow and rich wine, making me feel slightly intoxicated.

Cyrus suddenly turned her head and happened to meet a pair of golden eyes that seemed to contain flowing light. The beautiful eyes were slightly narrowed, showing that the owner of these eyes was in an extremely happy mood at this moment.

Segalot turned Cyrus around and hugged her, holding her with one arm and pinching Cyrus cheek with the other, then affectionately ruffled her hair, saying, "Long time no see."

Cyrus kicked her legs expressionlessly.

His toes barely touched the ground; the difference in height and size made his mood plummet. "Put me down."

Segalot did as she was told and thoughtfully tidied up Cyrus's somewhat disheveled clothes.

His lowered voice flowed slowly, like intoxicating wine. "Long time no see. I was just afraid you'd forgotten me."

His Holiness the Pope sighed as he spoke, his brows furrowing slightly.

When he deliberately restrains his aura and majesty, he can be someone who appears most approachable, yet remains so pure that people want to get close to him but dare not approach him.

Compared to before, Segalot is now several times taller, with a head of slightly wavy, smooth black hair cascading down his back. His face is handsome, his skin is fair, and his rosy lips create a breathtaking beauty.

This kind of beauty is full of masculine charm, without a trace of weakness, and is a beauty that gradually matures with the passage of time.

Sunlight streamed into the corridor through the windows.

Half of the light fell upon Segalot, as if gilding him with a dazzling, hazy gold edge, seemingly adding a touch of divinity to him.

As he stared intently at her, Cyrus finally understood why this man was so revered by the people of the Holy See.

Only those who have experienced it firsthand can truly understand— Segalot Wordsworth Augsger truly deserves to be hailed as the incarnation of the Creator God on earth.

"What's wrong?"

The young boy, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, stared at her in a daze. His caramel-colored eyes were so captivating that Segalot couldn't help but squeeze the palm that was still in his hand.

Cyrus immediately snapped out of her daze and pulled her hand away.

"How did you end up here all of a sudden?"

Segalot smiled and said, "I've come to give you a gift."

Cyrus looked puzzled upon hearing this.

He traveled all the way from the Saint Airo Empire to his territory just to give him a gift?

Are popes always this free?!

In the end, Cyrus was led into the room by Segalot.

He watched as Segalot walked to the window, turned to face a corner hidden by black curtains, and tapped the windowsill with his finger.

"Come out, little one."

Cyrus: "?"

Cyrus waited quietly for a while, and finally there was movement behind the curtains.

In his suddenly wide-open eyes, a small, chubby black paw emerged first, appearing silently as if walking on a cat's hind legs.

It looked no bigger than two adult palms, with a short, thick tail hanging down behind it, tied with a red ribbon.

Its fur was glossy black and smooth, without a single blemish, and its golden eyes were almost identical to those of the Pope.

Cyrus: "A little black leopard?!"

Startled by his voice, the little leopard stopped abruptly with its four paws, lowered its body slightly in a wary posture, and stared intently at Cyrus with its golden eyes, its ears also turned back.

Segalot chuckled softly. "This is my gift to you."