Heartbreaker

For seven days the bell tolled.

The weather was a bit cold, the sky stretched out its dark fingers, and the entire Vulture City was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.When the Winter Ting Army returned to the city not long ago, the ice-blue military flag was curled up on the flagpole, and a dejected soldier held it up.I squeezed anxiously among the spectators, but I didn't see the back of Lemon.As soon as the army left the lower city, I went to Chichikov. If he hadn't revealed something to us, I'm afraid I couldn't resist sneaking into the royal city that night.

"Prince? Are you kidding me? If that kid is a prince, I'm still the daughter of Sea God!"

Barbara rolled her eyes nonchalantly as she peeled an orange.The Bible that Popolo held in his hand hit him on the top of his head with a thud, and he shouted as if he had encountered some once-in-a-thousand-year miracle, "O Lord! Old man Chichikov, is what you said true?! Is Lemon really a descendant of Thor's family?"

Chichikov wiped his pipe indifferently, "Unexpected, right? According to legend, the Sol family has blond hair for generations, but he is red-haired, not to mention that his speech and behavior are completely incompatible with the status of a prince. It is normal if you don't believe it, but very Hurry up, I guess within ten days, the new king's coronation ceremony will be held in Wangcheng."

Popolo jumped up excitedly, "Lord, is Lemon really a prince?! Is it really Prince Sol?!"

Barbara said disgustedly, "Why are you so excited, silly monk? The saliva was sprayed on my arm."

"Oh, of course I'm excited! This is the blessing of the Lord, the blood of Sol's royal family has not been wiped out by Elliot!" Popolo jumped around the room with trembling shoulders, and took out a A golden badge with roses engraved on it.The black-robed monk rubbed the engraved seal and said with nostalgia, "This is the gold medal of the Santa Maria Monastery, which was awarded to us by King Saul himself. Lord, I was only 13 years old at that time, and I was still practicing. Qian, I only received a rose from the king..."

Barbara frowned in disbelief, "Satan, I can't see that you, a monk, have seen the king with your own eyes."

Over there, Popolu kept yelling around the portrait of God, as if he had taken some kind of invigorating potion, blessing and praying loudly.I hesitated and asked, "Chichikov, is Raymond injured?"

The old man gave me a sideways look, "In short, the situation is indeed not very good...but it's okay."

I lowered my head regretfully, "I should have followed him secretly... how many of them are there?"

The old man said, "They are still under the surveillance of the Winter Ting Army in the Royal City. The people of that legion are reasonable, they didn't torture them, and took good care of them. I guess they will be released when Lei Meng wakes up." .”

I said, "Then this death knell..."

"It's the marshal." Chichikov exhaled a puff of smoke, and said lightly, "The marshal of the Winter Tirion Legion is dead, in order to save Lemon, otherwise your master will be turned into a dragon by Elliott. The son of the marshal, That is, the little knight commander you met that day, in desperation, personally killed his father who turned into a dragon, and rescued Lemon."

****

I can't describe how I felt when I heard the truth.I asked Chichikov the name of the knight commander, Pharos Plummer, and of the late Field Marshal, Backhouse Plummer.I took their names to heart, telling myself that they were Lemon's and my benefactors.They fulfilled their responsibilities for me and saved Lymon's life when he was in distress, but I was still dreaming of nightmares in Vulture City.

A strong sense of shame welled up in my heart. I wanted to see Raymond, but I felt ashamed to see him.Jeremy and Feline walked beside me, talking enthusiastically about something, I didn't listen to a word, until Feline bumped my arm and pulled my thoughts out of my chaotic mind.

Feline asked me, "You look disturbed, what are you thinking, Rob?"

Jeremy smiled, "Yeah, brother, Feline is right beside you, how can you still be distracted?"

Feline glanced at Jeremy, and said, "If you feel uncomfortable, go back and rest. Today's business can be done by me and Jeremy alone."

I was taken aback, "What's the matter?"

"Oh, God, brother!" Jeremy covered his face helplessly, "We told you several times before we left, and kept saying that you didn't even hear me!"

I hastily apologized, feeling like a fool.Now that what happened to Lemon is irreversible, I still want to do my best for my younger brother and Feilin in front of me.The three of us carried baskets and sacks on our backs and walked towards the city gate along the lower part of Vulture City.Surprisingly, other people also hurried towards the city gate, men dragging bags and women pulling children, as if they were going to a fair.

Feilin said, "It is estimated that the supply truck is coming, so let's hurry up!"

The crowd suddenly rushed up like a tide, Jeremy jumped to the front of the line like a nimble rabbit, I struggled to make a way among the shoulders and legs of others, and asked breathlessly, "What supply truck? "

Feline pulled me, and didn't even care about answering, just squeezed the wall of people in front of us.A sea of ​​running people surrounded the city gate, and even the guarding soldiers put away their guns and stood aside in desperation.People ran out of the city sparsely, and when they saw a dark team not far away, they all raised their arms and shouted with joy!

The cheers were overwhelming, and my ears were filled with all kinds of laughter, but I haven't figured out the situation yet.The long dragon-like convoy had already arrived at the gate of Vulture City, causing the crowd to clamor even more anxiously.

This is a convoy of supplies.The soldiers guarding the supplies lifted the cloaks on the carriage, and I saw many scarce supplies, such as food, cloth, wood and mineral materials, piled up high on the cart to form a hill, especially food, grain and meat. .Most of the people surrounding the convoy were poor people from the lower city, with yellow and thin faces and ragged clothes, their eyes damaged by poverty suddenly glowed like beasts.

Heartbroken by those hungry eyes, I turned my head and saw a flag embroidered with a golden shield on the convoy—the symbol of the Twilight Empire.

The leader of the entire convoy came out of the carriage, wearing a thick cotton coat and sable fur, with a saber around his waist, he seemed to be a lieutenant.He commanded the soldiers guarding the convoy, and shouted to the poor in Vulture City, "Be quiet, poor fellows, no noise and beatings are allowed, and each person is only allowed to get one! Don't worry, our merciful emperor will give every poor The people here have prepared generous gifts, and these supplies are enough for you to last until the next convoy comes!"

There was a deafening roar from the crowd, like a group of hungry beasts rushing towards the cloaked convoy.There seems to be a seductive light shining on those fresh material piles.The soldiers formed a strong line of defense and pushed those hungry people out.Seeing that the scene was a bit out of control, the team lieutenant snorted angrily, and roared again loudly, "Stubborn citizens of the old country, have you forgotten the words of gratitude that you should have before receiving the supplies?! "

"Thank you, Emperor of the Empire!"

A wild voice suddenly exploded in the crowd.Immediately afterwards, those who were eager to receive the supplies shouted, "Thanks to the Emperor of the Empire! Thank you to the Emperor of the Empire!"

In an instant, the shouts for the Emperor of the Twilight Empire resounded through the snow field, and dozens of hands were raised together, as if some fanatical pagan ceremony was being held.The lieutenant laughed out loud, waved his hand, and signaled the soldiers to disperse.The people swarmed up like a rising tide, like a colony of ants around a piece of steamed bread.

Although the lieutenant had previously announced that "no noise and beatings are allowed, and each person is only allowed to receive one copy", no one obeyed the rules, and they were all fighting for more supplies.The cart carrying the supplies collapsed in a short while, and the supplies splashed all over the ground. People hurriedly stuffed as many supplies as possible into their sacks, punching and kicking at every turn, attacking regardless of gender, age or gender. A group of ferocious beasts fighting for territory and food.

The lieutenants and soldiers in charge of the convoy watched the chaotic scene in front of them, lighted cigarettes leisurely, pointed at the hungry wolf-like figures of the people, and laughed mockingly.

Feline filled three sacks deftly in a short while, and shouted to Jeremy, "Jeremy, I've got enough food, pick up more fabric!"

"Don't worry!" Jeremy yelled, his nimble figure disappearing into the crowd again.

"Luo, come and help me!" Feline spat out a mouthful of dust, knocked down a man who wanted to grab the sacks with one punch, and carried two sacks onto her shoulders.I ran to her side, easily picked up the remaining sack, and carried the two on her shoulders along the way.That's what I used to do when I was a kid, and since then no other boy has been able to carry as much as I have.

Although I generally can't grab too many things.

Feilin shook her disheveled hair, turned her sharp eyes towards me, and smiled, "You are really strong..."

——Let the Twilight Empire die!

Clement's scolding suddenly echoed in his mind.I was carrying the sack, and I was about to leave with Feilin, but my steps suddenly stopped, and I felt the materials on my shoulders were burning like pokers, which made my heart feel weak.Clement is the prince of the Wanjiang Empire, his homeland has been invaded, he hates the Twilight Empire, he hates Elliott—and I am moving the supplies brought by the Twilight Empire against his wishes...

"elder brother!"

Jeremy's cheering shout brought me back to my senses, and I realized that I had returned to Vulture City, sitting in the courtyard of Feilin's house in a daze.Jeremy snatched two bags of supplies and Phylln three, but she shared one bag of food with us and only needed some fabric and wood.

Jeremy whistled, and threw a bundle of frozen pork into the air with a smile, "Yo ho, it's so fucking cool! Twilight Empire will send a convoy here every month to distribute supplies, and they don't take any money! My God Ah, it's hard to believe how rich it is over there!"

"Yeah..." I replied in a low voice, feeling the guilt in my heart nail me again.I hesitated for a moment, and said, "Jeremy, Feline...have you always gone to the convoy of the Twilight Empire to pick up supplies? And before taking them, you still have to say 'thank you, the Emperor of the Empire'?"

Feline glanced at me, lowered her head to arrange the supplies, and said nothing.Jeremy made a grimace, and said, "Of course, those villains won't give us supplies if you don't shout! Isn't it just a simple sentence, you can get free items, and it doesn't matter."

No, it's not a "one sentence" thing at all.My heart became more and more depressed, and I couldn't help raising my voice, "Have you forgotten why you were driven here, Jeremy? I thought——I thought you hadn't surrendered to the new country, but you were sticking to your loyalty to the old country." , but now you..."

Jeremy snorted nonchalantly, "Loyalty? Can that thing eat? Heh, of course I remember what the new emperor Elliott did. But to be honest, all the Elliotts who surrendered back then were not embarrassed, and they killed all of them." They are stubborn idiots! Including us being exiled here, the new emperor did not attack halfway, and the human bones hanging on the city wall were not killed by our own people..."

"Shut up, Jeremy!" I stopped him, only to realize that my fists had been clenched into balls.Jeremy stared at me coldly, and muttered, "You didn't move when you were picking up supplies, and now you're acting like a big brother! You've been away from my mother and me for so many years, and you're on the backing but you don't care about us, don't you? Do you feel sorry for us..."

"I—" I was speechless, although I was angry, I didn't know what to blame and who to blame.Feilin slowly put the supplies back into the bag, and whispered to me, "Luo, we just want to live. For food, for survival, is there anything wrong?"

****

"Have you heard? It seems that one of our princes didn't die back then, he was still alive, and he was in Vulture City!"

"Ah, of course I heard. It is rumored that the Winter Ting Army came out of the city this time to get the king's crown and prepare for the new king's enthronement!"

"What? The new king is enthroned? The Wanjiang Empire is long gone, and it's just in this vulture city that doesn't shit?"

"But that is the blood of the former royal family. If the situation is true, as citizens of the old country who have not yet surrendered, shouldn't we support a new king?"

"Well... To be honest, I don't really hope this is true. God, what's the use of the new king, can he fill us up? The food harvest in the north is poor, the livestock are hard to raise, and the taxes are heavy. The few children in our family are struggling, how can we have the energy to raise a new king."

"I heard that the people in the Twilight Empire are very rich. The family has raised several litters of livestock, and the meals can be delicious and spicy. Damn, back then I scolded that spineless bastard for surrendering, now I see how he is doing Well, my stomach has gained a lot of fat."

"Yes, why didn't you surrender back then..."

In the ears are the voices of people whispering.I walked through the dirty and dilapidated lower city, through the deserted and lonely upper city, and looked at the royal city with a gray tower standing in the distance through a copper wall.The flag belonging to the Wanjiang Empire is still flying high above, but it is no longer a symbol of the empire that can be seen by everyone.

The death knell was sounded again, and the thick and silent bell sounded like the wings of a vulture, covering the entire Snow City.I hoped, hesitated, and stretched my neck, only silently expecting to see a touch of red on the stern and cold city wall, and a flame that seemed to melt all the solid ice and snow.

Lemon, no, Lemon Sol.