Chapter 1: Night Journey

In the winter of 1465, Rejuvenation Calendar, night.

The cold wind from the far north Odin Ice Plain swept over the Five Great Archipelagos and invaded the Western Continent. Borelly, the capital of the Seventh Empire of Gaul, shivered under the night sky, with few people seen on the streets and alleys. Occasionally, imperial royal Dragoons wearing black short cloaks and holding silver Spears rode by, their crisp horsehoof sounds making some creatures that appeared in the dark uneasy.

The cold wind was like a whip in the hands of Giants, lashing the entire city fiercely. Most of the urban areas were immersed in deep darkness, and all law-abiding citizens had already fallen asleep to the howling of the fierce wind.

But from the Victory Palace at the heart of Borelly, heading west past the street known as the ‘Continent’s Pearl,’ and continuing along Shady Street and White River Street until the end of Fleet Street, there was a large area of buildings brightly lit. First University of Borelly, Second University, up to Fifth University, the Imperial Army Academy, Naval Academy, and Architecture Academy, the Imperial Administrative College, and Borelly Seminary—dozens of highly specialized colleges gathered here. This place was the ‘Berelli University Town,’ which attracted the attention of the entire Continent.

Thirty years ago, the Century-long Continent-Island War quietly ended after exhausting the last bit of Primordial Qi of the Western Continent. Saint Louis XIII, the Sun King who rose during the middle and late stages of the war, was a rare and outstanding ruler. As the main battlefield of the Continent-Island War, the Seventh Empire of Gaul received massive economic aid from various European countries after the war. Using this aid, Saint Louis XIII vigorously developed education, and in just thirty years, established this unprecedented University City in European history.

In just thirty years, it produced countless elite talents, providing a continuous supply of fresh blood to the depleted post-war Empire. Driven by these elites, the vast Empire stood like an awakened lion at the westernmost part of the Continent, its powerful strength making the entire Continent tremble.

This was the best of times for the Empire, and it was the worst of times for the Empire. It was the era of the Empire’s most vigorous advancement, and it was also the era of the Empire’s most extravagant corruption.

Lights flickered in various buildings of the University City. Some people studied diligently in teaching buildings and libraries. From the Drill Grounds of several military academies, the neighing of warhorses and the clashing of Spears could be heard from time to time. In the workshops of the industrial colleges, continuous, sharp, and piercing metal pounding sounds constantly irritated people’s eardrums.

In this era lacking nighttime entertainment, ordinary citizens would go to sleep soon after nightfall. But in the University City, such lively scenes continued until midnight before gradually settling down. The vast University City was like a vibrant heart, where youth and passion brewed and fermented. Elite students were accumulating strength and enthusiasm for the Empire’s future.

But just as shadows always exist under the sun, in such an enthusiastic and upward-moving University City, there were always a few unusual characters.

While his classmates were striving hard for the Empire’s rise, Lin Qi swaggered out of the gate of Fifth University. His face was gloomy. Several fourth-year students on duty at the school gate saw his stiff expression and simultaneously turned their heads away, pretending not to see this third-year Finance and Accounting Major student violating the nighttime curfew by leaving the academy.

Lin Qi had just turned eighteen last month, marking his coming-of-age ceremony. He had been studying at Fifth University’s Finance and Accounting College for three full years. He had black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, bearing typical Eastern physical characteristics. But unlike ordinary Easterners, Lin Qi had a physique no less robust than the strongest young men of the Western Continent, both in height and shoulder width surpassing ordinary people significantly.

However, as outsiders commented, all Finance and Accounting Major students of Borelly Fifth University were parasites of the Empire. Lin Qi, this parasite, was no exception—having absorbed ample nutrients, his stout body was even somewhat bloated. When he walked, he looked from a distance like a bear just awakened from hibernation, swaying noticeably with each step.

Enzo stood at the street corner opposite Fifth University, hiding most of his body behind a mimosa tree. He wore a currently fashionable wide-brimmed tricorn hat with gold trim, a similarly trendy brown short cloak mimicking the Dragoon style, and tight pants made of black satin from The East that tightly encased his long legs, prominently highlighting the well-defined muscle blocks on his legs. Without a doubt, these tight pants made of black satin were also the most popular style in Borelly over the past three months.

His powerful jaw muscles worked vigorously, chewing a mixture of tobacco and betel nut. The intense stimulating flavor kept Enzo energetic. Just like his hat, cloak, and tight pants, chewing the mixture of tobacco and betel nut was also a recent fashion trend that had become popular among the middle and lower classes of Borelly.

Seeing Lin Qi slowly emerge like a large bear, Enzo hurriedly spat a blood-red saliva on the ground and let out a suppressed whistle. He leaned out slightly from behind the tree and waved to Lin Qi, saying, “Head, over here, over here!”

While calling to Lin Qi, Enzo tightened his grip on a black cloth bundle tucked under his left arm. The bundle, about four feet long, was wrapped tightly. Enzo occasionally touched it, and even while greeting Lin Qi, he remained vigilant, frequently glancing around.

Lin Qi also looked around. He quickly crossed the street, and his bulky figure disappeared into the shadow of the mimosa tree.

Glancing at Enzo’s sharply defined face in the distant light, Lin Qi squeezed the black cloth bundle tucked under his arm. Beneath the thick black cloth was a hard metal object; the unique texture and shape confirmed it was exactly what he needed. Lin Qi grinned silently and made a hand gesture.

Enzo nodded. He stuffed a lump of the tobacco and betel nut mixture into his mouth, carefully looked around, and then hurried northward along the street, keeping close to the wall. Enzo, strong and tall, moved without making a sound. Hunched over, he appeared and disappeared in the shadows like a ghost.

Lin Qi looked back at the several fourth-year students standing at the school gate, smiled silently, and similarly followed Enzo without making any noise. The two moved one after the other, about fifty meters apart, deliberately choosing complex and winding small alleys. Before long, they left the brightly lit University City area and arrived at the northern old town of Borelly City, known for having the worst public order.

While passing a certain gate in an unnamed small alley, Lin Qi let out a few strange cat calls.

The gate opened silently, and four burly figures joined the small team. They followed about ten meters behind Lin Qi, keeping a steady pace as they trailed after Enzo.