As night fell, a thick darkness enveloped Twin Flag City, creating a suffocating atmosphere.
The situation seems a bit strange.
With Ajax's army finally withdrawing half a month ago, the most brutal battle was over, and the shadow of war that had shrouded the sky had been lifted. Logically speaking, Twin Flag City, now back to normal life, should at least be filled with a lively and bustling atmosphere, even if it wasn't as brightly lit as the magically advanced Chambord City.
This was, after all, the largest city in the northwestern border region of the Zenit Empire.
However, the scene below left Sun Fei, who was standing in the void, feeling somewhat confused.
Twin Flag City is only seven or eight hundred kilometers away from Chambord City. For ordinary people, it would probably take more than ten days to reach it, but for a strong person like Sun Fei, it only takes a dozen minutes. Even without using the [ Throne of Chaotic Times ], the speed of the Silver Sword Wings is like a streak of light. Sun Fei quickly arrived in the sky above Twin Flag City from [ Five Sword Heaven Peaks ].
Judging from the time, it was only around 10 p. m.
Based on Sun Fei's previous understanding of Twin Flag City, unless there was an official curfew, this should be a time when the giant city is brightly lit and bustling with people. However, Twin Flag City was deathly silent at this moment.
Sparse lights shone here and there, mostly coming from Barracks and some of the main buildings in the city. There was not a soul on the streets. The desolate spring wind blew the yellow sand, making a whistling sound. There was no human presence, and it seemed to have become an empty city or a ghost town.
A faint smell of Bloody filled the air.
Sun Fei could vaguely sense that wisps of resentful, deadly energy were relentlessly rising and echoing above the city.
"What's going on? Could it be...?"
Sun Fei frowned, thought for a moment, then his figure flashed and he silently swooped down towards the original Barracks of Twin Flag City. He wanted to find Ribery and the others first and find out what had happened in the city.
Twin Flag City, formerly the garrison camp within the city.
A chilly night wind blew, and wisps of smoke danced in the air.
On both sides of the camp gate fence, the dark red flames in the high-standing braziers roared in the wind, seemingly in danger of being extinguished at any moment. Strands of Mars were blown up from the embers and scattered in all directions.
By the dim firelight, one could see that, at some point, twenty wooden pillars, each ten meters long, had been erected on both sides of the camp. At least three or four corpses were hanging from each pillar, swaying back and forth in the wind. Their faces were ashen, and their tongues were sticking out. They had clearly been hanged there by being strangled alive. These corpses were wearing military uniforms and had not yet begun to decompose, indicating that they had only been dead for four or five days.
On all four sides of the camp, large groups of armored soldiers stood ready, while soldiers in gleaming armor patrolled back and forth, exuding a chilling aura, constantly monitoring the camp.
Inside the main camp, all the garrison troops of Twin Flag City were required to rest, and no braziers were allowed to be lit in their tents.
A faint silver flame flickered, and Sun Fei appeared at the camp gate.
Looking up at the hanging corpses of soldiers, he frowned, a sense of confusion and anger beginning to rise within him. He recognized several of the dead; they had fought bravely in the defense of Twin Flag City, earning his commendation and being soldiers whom Sun Fei admired. He couldn't understand what military discipline they had violated to be hanged.
Filled with doubt, he walked step by step toward the camp.
The clanging of armor and the gleaming of swords and spears in the night were unsettling. Squads of armored soldiers patrolled back and forth, but even as they brushed past Sun Fei, they could not detect that His Majesty the King's strength far exceeded that of ordinary experts. As he walked, an invisible ripple of power emanated from him, blocking all sight and perception.
His Spiritual Power radiated outwards like a tidal wave as Sun Fei began his search for Frank Ribery.
However, after a while, His Majesty the King was surprised to find that the garrison commander was not in the camp.
The commander's tent.
Since no brazier was lit, a terrible darkness engulfed everything, with only a few long, drawn-out breaths audible.
On the upper right seat of the main tent, Fernando Gago, the garrison commander of the Twin Flag City, had eyes that gleamed with a cold, angry light in the darkness, like the eyes of a hawk.
Not long ago, he received a Dou Qi manual as a reward from King of Chambord Alexander. These days, he has been practicing diligently, and his strength has finally advanced to the Four-Star Class. Like the other generals with good strength in the tent, he can see in the dark. So even without lighting the lamps, he can see the sad expressions on the faces of his companions in the other seats.
"What should we do, everyone? Our lord has been gone for three whole days, and there's still no news. I'm afraid he's in grave danger. Those despicable bastards have surrounded the camp and won't let us go out to gather information. Are we just going to sit here and wait to die? All of you here are comrades and brothers whom Lord Frank trusts and relies on most. In this time of crisis, we must do something!"
Gago's sharp eyes swept across his companions' faces, his voice low, clearly suppressing his anger.
"The camp is now under blockade, and the Military Department envoy forbids anyone from leaving, threatening immediate execution. Alas... Kelen and Yule... such brave warriors in battle, just for trying to sneak out to gather information about Lord Frank, they were strangled to death by those bastards... If all else fails, we'll rebel, kill all these ungrateful scum, and rescue our lord..."
"Yes, Fernando, say the word, and I think all the brothers will be willing to do it. Kill them all! Don't think our garrison is so easy to bully!"
"Yes, you damned scum! What were these damned noble lords doing while we were bleeding and sweating to defend Twin Flag City?"
"Bah, that's right. As soon as they arrived, they seized all the brothers' military merits and demanded that we confess to some bullshit facts about Alexander's treason and collusion with the Ajax. They used all sorts of excuses to torture us, driving so many of our brothers to their deaths..."
"It's truly chilling! Such good brothers! They didn't die on the battlefield, they didn't die under the scimitars of the Ajax Sand Demons, but they died at the hands of their so-called own people. It's a disgrace! We are heroes of the city defense, but what has become of us? I think that damn Military Department envoy, Mataisen, is determined to kill us. We might as well rebel! Those bloodthirsty bastards outside the camp, we can wipe them all out in just half an hour!"
"Kill them, storm the city lord's mansion, skin that damned viper Soroyev alive, and rescue Lord Ribery!"
Inside the tent, the crowd was in a frenzy. Everyone gripped the hilts of their swords, their faces contorted with rage. Just thinking about what they had been through these past few days, the fury in their hearts was enough to set the entire city ablaze. No one had expected that they, who were originally heroes of the victory, would be treated like criminals and villains.
The roars of his comrades made Gago feel his blood boiling uncontrollably.
He gripped the hilt of his sword in his right hand, feeling an urge to immediately draw it, rush out of the tent, sound the war horn, assemble the garrison, and charge out to rescue his respected Commander Frank Ribery, washing away the mistreatment and humiliation he had suffered these past few days...
But at the very last moment, he had to forcefully suppress his crazy impulse.
"We could indeed slaughter all those scum in the city, and perhaps even rescue Lord Ribery, but what then? Would we really rebel against the Empire? We cannot bear the consequences of such an act. As soon as the Empire's pacification army arrives... no, perhaps we won't even need to send an army. As soon as the Judgment Knight of the Knights' Hall arrive, we will be routed... We don't care if we die in battle, but are we to let twenty thousand brothers in our army perish with our crazy decision today?"
Gago Earth Inquiry with a bitter expression and difficulty.
These words, like chunks of ancient ice, fell upon everyone's hearts, forcing them to gradually suppress their burning anger. The Resist power of the Imperial Military Department filled everyone with humiliation and despair.
"Then what do you suggest we do? Are we just going to sit here quietly and do nothing? Lord Frank, he..."
"No, of course we have to do something." Gago's bright eyes gleamed with a hint of adventure and madness. He lowered his voice, looked at the faces of the crowd, and slowly said, "We don't need to drag down 20,000 brothers. Just the few of us are strong enough. We'll sneak out late at night when those bastards are letting their guard down, storm the city lord's mansion, kill that damned envoy and the city lord, rescue Lord Ribery, and then leave Twin Flag City... Doing this is a bit dangerous. Do you dare to do it?"
"Okay, I, Drenthe, will do as you say, that's settled!"
"That's right, that's a good idea. For Lord Ribery, I'd gladly face a thousand cuts, I'll risk it all!"
"No problem, my great axe has been itching for a long time!"
However, some raised a question, "After rescuing the lord, what should we do next? This matter will definitely alarm the Imperial Knights' Hall, and when the Judgment Knight are dispatched to investigate, we will have nowhere to hide. We must think of a place to go before we take any action; we cannot act rashly!"
A smile appeared on Gago's face.
"I've already thought this through. After rescuing Lord Ribery, we'll immediately rush to Chambord City to seek refuge with Lord Alexander. The King of Chambord is a man of unparalleled loyalty and righteousness, a true friend of Lord Ribery, and possesses extraordinary strength. Only he is unafraid of the Imperial Knights' Hall ' pursuit!"
Upon hearing this, most people nodded in agreement.
Indeed, at this moment, it seemed that only that man's figure could provide a sense of security.
Second update.
Thank you everyone, that was awesome! We made it onto the top vote leaderboard today, and I'm still updating three times a day. Even though I stayed up late watching the game, with everyone's support, I can't let you down. I'll give Xiaodao my all!
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