The black sun hangs high

Chapter 135 The Times Are Moving Forward

"guest?"

Hughes raised an eyebrow slightly.

He didn't know what kind of guest in this world would choose to go through the window, where only half a body could stick out, instead of the main entrance.

Unless the other party also has the ability to squeeze through corners like you do.

Thinking of this, Hugh couldn't help but sense it slightly, and he caught a faint trace of magic power dissipating in the air, and the source of the magic power seemed to be outside the window.

This piqued his curiosity, but at this moment, neither pressing for answers nor lingering would be appropriate. So, Hugh decisively put away the velvet bag and turned to walk outside.

Before leaving the cold study, he nodded politely to old Zeke, his gaze lingering briefly on the glass display case behind him, before closing the door behind him.

The door closed, and old Zeke tightened his coat, turned on the expensive desk lamp with its warm, magical ritual, and coughed twice.

Immediately, the sound of flapping wings rang out outside the window, and then, in the bright light of the magic lamp, a huge raven with glossy feathers hopped in.

It looked like it was freezing outside, but instead of rushing to the magic lamp that emitted a warm glow, it raised its paw and deftly manipulated the open window, closing it a crack.

After that, it jumped onto old Zeke's desk in a few quick leaps and stood in the spot closest to the heat source.

“Your Highness, you should have been in your study earlier. If Finn finds out about this, he will definitely start complaining again.”

"That's what you said."

The raven opened its beak, and a human woman's voice immediately came out: "If I had known his magical perception was so sharp, I should have just pretended to be a pet raven... It's too cold outside."

"Hehe, let's do it this way next time."

Zeke raised his hand and moved the raven's body slightly away from the magic lamp to prevent the ongoing magical ritual from burning its feathers.

He then asked, "So? Did you hear everything we talked about?"

"I heard everything."

The raven, or rather Princess Sophia who had transformed into a raven using magic, seemed to have acquired the habits of a bird at this moment. She very naturally preened her wet feathers and said, "However, I am very confused... Is he really a member of your Ernst family? I don't think he is at all."

"Oh?"

“I have met many, many people from the plateau and plains, nobles, soldiers, officials and many ordinary people, but he is different from all of them.”

Princess Sofia commented very directly: "He is quick-witted and always able to grasp other people's ideas. He uses novel approaches when discussing issues, but at the same time, he can also grasp the core of the problem. However, what he focuses on is always different from what I have imagined."

"To be honest, he's more like those scholars... I'm not referring to the spellcasters in the council and the legal committee, but rather those who are truly trying to study and explore the secular laws within Vann. I noticed this from our last meeting; when faced with a problem, he always instinctively tries to conceive and find answers that are beneficial to the majority."

Old Zeke found his outstanding student's judgment quite amusing. He chuckled, nestled in his wheelchair, "What does Your Highness mean by 'the majority'?"

“The ‘majority’ that excludes royalty, nobility, and elites.”

"So accurate?"

"It's just a feeling, or maybe I'm overthinking it."

During the conversation, the raven finally finished preening its feathers, and then it spread its huge wings under the light to absorb more heat.

Old Zeke sighed: "In my eyes, it's not that complicated."

What are your thoughts?

"He probably wouldn't want to be the heir to the Ernst family, otherwise he wouldn't have reacted this way when he heard about Yerevan's death."

Old Zeke said slowly, "And before that, when I brought up the matter of succession with him, his first reaction was skepticism, and his second reaction was hostility... Ha, the kind of hostility that comes from being overly nervous and cautious, like a frightened groundhog."

"Teacher, that's not a good way to describe it."

"Oh, just saying."

Old Zeke laughed: "If Yerevan could still see what this child looks like, he would probably regret his past judgments and choices, but there is no such if... As for Hugh, I am sure that he really knows some secrets about the Black Sun Society and the prophecy, which is probably why he is so concerned about the strange events in Seren City and its surroundings."

"So, you really intend to make him the family heir? He clearly has many secrets, which makes things unstable."

"I do have that thought."

Zeke Ernst nodded very honestly: "But for now, this argument is just a loose rope, enough to keep him safe in Borden."

He breathed a sigh of relief: "As for the secret, we all have one. We can figure it out by slowly investigating and figuring it out. Then we can discuss the issue of stability."

"Well, that's good. I was thinking of finding another opportunity to talk to him... I really want to know what's going on in his head."

The raven folded its wings, then hopped to the middle of the desk and said, "Now, we need to talk about the issues in the Lyland District."

"I originally thought you wanted to talk about Muqi Workshop."

"That matter has been settled. Starting tomorrow, the Muqi family's weapons workshop will be brought under the jurisdiction of the Ymir Legion, and its name will be changed to the Royal Armory. From now on, we will participate in the research and development and testing of all new weapons."

Princess Sofia's tone was very serious: "If such weapons are truly just the beginning, then from now on, we will need to ban all unauthorized weapons research and production..."

……

"Mr. Hugh? Mr. Hugh?"

With Ellen's voice, Hugh's magic and consciousness finally returned to his body.

He quickly cleared the mist of the mirror image from his eyes and slowly turned around: "Sorry... I've been too tired these past few days. I just wanted to rest, but I ended up being a little absent-minded."

"The manor's butler has already arranged accommodations for you. Shall we take you there?"

“Okay, let’s go now. I need to get some sleep.” Hugh nodded, then picked up his things and stood up from the chair in the exhibition hall.

His recent adventure had left him with a cold sweat on his back. Although he felt a little uncomfortable, overall, the adventure had been very rewarding.

Fortunately, he was careful when he left the study and secretly injected the power of the Mirror Messenger into the glass cabinet door behind him that could serve as a mirror; otherwise, he might have missed these important messages and intelligence.

“I knew this old man’s relationship with Princess Sofia wasn’t that bad.”

Hughes silently recalled the words he had overheard. Judging from the conversation between Zeke Ernst and Princess Sophia, they didn't seem to harbor any hostility at the moment. At most, they were just curious and suspicious, and were preparing to pay some attention to him.

"I did reveal some flaws in certain aspects."

As Hugh followed Ellen out, he pondered to himself, "Fortunately, in their eyes, these abnormalities of mine seem to be explainable. They are very likely to attribute these traces to my experiences in Seren and the influence that the Black Sun Society's actions had on 'Hugh Ernst'..."

And so, Hugh walked out of the mansion, where an elegant carriage was parked outside the gate.

This retro vehicle stands out starkly against the backdrop of modern steam vehicles.

“Your lodgings are located at the other end of the manor, some distance from here, so it would be more convenient to take a carriage.”

The manor steward, around forty years old, took over Ellen's job. It was only then that Hugh noticed that there were also soldiers from the Fifth Regiment next to the carriage. Clearly, the military's surveillance of the entire Lyland district was very tight, and even the Ernst family was no exception. This should be related to the "Bolden Noble Strategy" that old Zeke and Princess Sophia had been discussing.

"Mr. Hugh!"

The young soldier approached Hugh and very proactively saluted him.

Hugh couldn't help but smile.

Because what appeared before him was a familiar face—his guard on the way to Borden was this young man, and Hugh remembered that his name was Duden.

"During this time, I will be your bodyguard!"

Duden readily accepted the revolver and folded coat that Hugh handed him, then stepped aside to let Hugh get into the car.

"Duden, who sent you here?"

"It's Major Alfred, sir!"

Duden followed Hugh into the carriage and replied, "The major asked me to tell you that he is very grateful that you were able to deliver the 'message,' and that everything is going well and everyone is very satisfied."

Upon hearing this, Hugh nodded silently.

In fact, he had not played the role of "messenger" very well. Alfred's idea of ​​having him hand over or show the revolver was probably to attract the attention of Zeke Ernst and the royal family. But in reality, these big shots who were aware of everything should have already noticed these promising new inventions. Even without him, they would naturally have put such an important matter on their agenda.

"Sir, would you like to go directly to your accommodation?"

At this moment, the butler's voice came from outside the carriage, so Hugh thought about it seriously and said, "No rush... Butler, where are the family's books and collections usually kept?"

"If you're asking about military equipment, then it's in the mansion's exhibition hall. But if you're looking for artifacts and books, I can take you to the gallery over there in the woods; it's not far from where you're resting."

"Okay, let's go."

At a command, the carriage pulled by the highland ponies immediately turned around and began to move forward along the road. These horses are close relatives of the magical creatures 'Earth-patterned packhorses', but they are even more miniature and therefore not suitable as warhorses or packhorses.

However, the highland ponies are more intelligent and have a very gentle temperament, which makes them very suitable for use as ordinary mounts and tools in cities and manors. Some noble ladies and noblewomen also like these mounts very much.

"By the way, Duden... how is Miss Sally, who came to Borden with us?"

During this time, Hughes inquired about Sally and old Schubert.

"After arriving in Borden, Miss Sally, with the help of her teacher, officially registered as an alchemist apprentice and should currently be studying at the Borden Alchemy Medical College."

"Medical school? I remember that school must have very high admission requirements, right?"

"Ah, yes... It ranks among the top in the entire Lovi Plateau, and the annual tuition alone is already outrageous."

Duden nodded: "However, one of Major Alfred's elders is an honorary professor there... Anyway, the major arranged this, and old Schubert was also sent there. I heard that his injuries have almost healed, but he has lost a leg and is very weak. I'm afraid he will have to stay at home from now on."

At this point, the young soldier pursed his lips: "But it's better to stay put, after all, we're about to go to war."

Are you nervous?

"Fortunately, although many people say the situation is changing every day, everyone is still very confident."

Duden pointed to the revolver that had been with Hugh for some time and said, "The weapons we use are changing very quickly these days. Look, this Mookie 2699 revolver you're using has a new improved version in the last couple of days. According to those who have used it, the new revolver means we don't have to manually adjust the cylinder after each shot like before, which increases the rate of fire by two to three times. Not to mention, we've started equipping ourselves with some new stuff, those are the truly terrifying weapons!"

"A new guy? What is that?"

"Uh……"

Duden scratched his head and said, "It doesn't seem to have been officially named yet, so for now we'll follow tradition and call it by the name of the master who made it, 'Kalvan Muchi'."

"If you ask me, it's a rather heavy, large firearm that has to be propelled by wheels. However, its rate of fire is just too fast. One of them could probably be worth an entire army of soldiers. With this weapon, even the armored earth dragons of the Black Nest Mountains would be turned into mincemeat!"

Upon hearing these words, Hugh's expression turned strange.

He clearly felt like he'd only been isolated from the world for a few days...

How come the version has been updated again?
Machine guns and airships have already been developed, so what's next?
...

It's the end of the month.

Humbly begging for votes ORZ
If you have any left over, could you just throw them at me?

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(End of this chapter)