The black sun hangs high

Chapter 29 Big News

Hugh himself, of course, had never been here before.

In fact, even in the more prosperous world of the past, he had no experience with this.

On the contrary, the original owner of Hugh's body was indeed a "regular" on Ladies' Street and Water Splash Street.

However, Hugh Ernst himself did not have much money to "spend". As a down-on-his-luck young writer who made a living by writing erotic literature, his only goal in coming here was to gather material, and he had done many things in order to do so.

Interviews, documentation, field research, or even begging customers and nightingales to recount their "real-world experiences"... In short, aside from actual consumption, Hugh Ernst tried almost everything.

As a result, he was exceptionally familiar with these two streets.

His first two works, which brought him into the public eye, were based on this.

To this day, "The Splash of Water" and "The Tenant on Lady Street" are the most popular works by Hugh Ernst among the general public.

Of course, this is something that Hugh doesn't want to admit at all right now.

Hughes was naturally unwilling to discuss these things with Verine, but just as he was pondering how to deal with her questions, his previously tranquil mental world stirred once again.

Hugh was already quite used to this inexplicable feeling. He looked up and saw that the people who were originally walking in twos and threes had suddenly separated, as if they were avoiding someone or a group coming from the front.

Hugh didn't have time to think. He raised his hand and grabbed Vera, then turned and led her to a secluded spot on the side of the street.

Several nightingales who had been secretly watching the two young people chuckled. In their eyes, young people who were good-looking and appeared on the same two streets at the same time often had some purpose that they were ashamed to talk about with others, so it was perfectly normal for such a thing to happen.

Hugh and his companion paid no attention to the nightingales' thoughts. They silently passed through the gap between the two houses and came to a very secluded path.

In fact, this is not a regular road at all, but a path next to an artificial river. Perhaps because most of the residents here are nightingales, this narrow waterway remains clear. There are even some decorative flowers placed along the waterway. The nightingales' lives are already very difficult, and no one wants to open their window to see a stinking, murky ditch.

“Mr. Hugh, you had better have found something.”

Perhaps because she had just witnessed an astonishing scene she had never seen before on the street, Vera's complexion looked slightly rosier than before. She was also a little unhappy because she was displeased with Hugh's sudden tugging at her. However, it was precisely this expression that made her seem more real and vivid.

"They chased them to Ladies' Street, not far from the main road just now."

Upon hearing Hugh's words, Vera raised an eyebrow. She glanced around and, seeing that no windows in the nearby houses were open and no one was observing from the shadows, quickly began casting a spell. She took out the exquisite pouch filled with animal bones again, and soon, with the flow of magic, a slender and elegant black cat appeared before the two of them.

Violet habitually bent down and gently scratched the chin of the summoned cat before controlling it back onto the street outside.

While Vilin was investigating the situation, Hugh also observed the magic disc in his mental world. He noticed that the mad rat pattern that was bound in the magic groove had changed its appearance. It was now curled up, its fur covered with scattered scars and marks, and it seemed to be asleep.

"It seems that I will not be able to call upon its help anytime soon."

Hugh sighed softly. As a beginner who had just acquired magic and magical power, although he had won the previous encounter in the forest by virtue of his own strength and special methods, this victory was actually just a forced interference with those pursuers. Hugh knew very well that if it weren't for the Blue-winged Raven summoned by Verin, the Running Rat would most likely have been chopped into pieces by those terrible Iris Guards the moment it appeared.

However, he also realized that his previous performance seemed to have won the approval of the female mage beside him. As a lake-level mage, she was willing to take him out of the forest despite his limited mobility, and she was willing to listen to his suggestions at the moment. The cooperative relationship between the two had finally been initially consolidated.

Veraine quickly finished her exploration of the streets. The magical glint in her eyes faded, and she nodded to Hugh: "Very accurate judgment, Mr. Hugh... However, the team that came to search was not a tracking team with hunting dogs or spellcasters, but a group of police officers and guards from Seren. They are questioning people on the street."

Upon hearing this, Hugh immediately frowned: "Quite a few people have seen us."

“These local police officers were not careful at all. They didn’t seem to think I would come to a place like this… and they were very perfunctory in answering questions from passersby.”

Hughes nodded: "It's good news for now, but... Miss Veraine, we can't stay here. Nobody knows if they'll send more professional people here. We have to find a hiding place as soon as possible."

"So, have you thought of any suitable places to go?"

Veraine's question was a bit strange, so Hugh frowned and made a sound of doubt: "Uh?"

“Mr. Hugh, you may have forgotten... During our second meeting, I read a portion of the manuscript you left on the table, and I remember the title of the article was ‘The Tenant on Lady Street’.”

The female mage's slightly teasing words struck Hugh's head like a bullet from a crystal gun: "'Master of Pleasure,' if you still can't think of a suitable place to go, perhaps we'll have to become 'tenants' for the Delan people tonight!"

Hearing this, Hugh sighed helplessly. He searched his memory twice and finally found a very inconspicuous address in an extremely inconspicuous corner.

“There are places to hide, of course, but… I hope Miss Weilin won’t be too concerned about the environment.”

Hugh emphasized in his tone, "After all, we are all refugees now, and we are not in a position to make too many demands." Hearing Hugh's words, and considering the special nature of Ladies' Street and Water Flower Street, even Verine, who was a Lake-level mage, felt a little uneasy.

……

While the residents of the secluded city of Seren were discussing the sudden fire at Ernst's old mansion, the residents and nobles of Borden, the capital of the Kingdom of Water, located in the heart of the Lovi Plateau, were briefly agitated by a breaking news story.

Breaking news! Breaking news!

In the central square of Borden, the news anchor's booming voice carried through the light of the magical megaphone. More and more residents opened their windows or came to the perimeter of the central square, looking at the anchor in the center of the square with a mixture of tension and curiosity.

"The great, magnificent, and ever-standing Kingdom of Walter signed a new cooperation agreement with the Kingdom of Hein and the Kingdom of Saint Steel three days ago!"

The announcer's voice was impassioned, not intentionally, but because the content of the impromptu news report in his hand could truly shock and excite every Votel resident who loves their country.

"As required by the agreement, the Kingdom of Water, as the most dazzling jewel in the Lovi Plateau, will engage in 'close cooperation like blood brothers' with friendly nations and all vassal kingdoms in the fields of military, commerce, magic, and the highly anticipated steam power!"

The announcer's voice grew louder: "Meanwhile, Crown Prince Havid and his wife, who were attending the Ceasefire Ceremony in Seren, have arrived at 'Peace Hill' northwest of Seren and have successfully met with Prince Henry, the representative from the Kingdom of Delan... After the Ceasefire Ceremony, Prince Havid will travel to the rugged hills west of Seren to preside over a military exercise involving the various kingdoms of Lovi!"

The shocking news echoed through the central square, drifted into the sky, swept past the sharp, sword-like spires of the cold, imposing buildings, passed through the plumes of smoke emanating from the factories and workshops, and finally disappeared into the invisible ritual space that enveloped the entire capital.

A middle-aged nobleman dressed in magnificent clothes came to the window. He listened to the sounds coming from outside, then raised his hand and closed the window.

"You should listen more to what's going on outside."

A dignified and aged voice came from the direction of the door. The middle-aged nobleman turned his head and saw an elderly figure in a wheelchair slowly entering his room, accompanied by servants and guards.

“My child, I have said it many times… The Ernst family can remain proud, but they must never close their eyes and ears.”

The old man waved his hand, dismissing the maid who was serving him. He then wheeled himself to the small round table opposite the fireplace, reached out and picked up a beautifully decorated bottle of wine, and poured himself a little.

The middle-aged nobleman said helplessly, "Father, we already knew about this, didn't we?"

"Heh...yes, we can get almost all the important news and intelligence in advance, but the Ernst family still can't be one step ahead at every stage and moment."

The old man picked up his wine glass and slowly inhaled the aroma of the wine, but he never actually drank it.

The current head of the Ernst family, the former Minister of War of the Kingdom of Wotel, and Marshal Zek Ernst, known as the "Three-Clawed Falcon," is now a centenarian who can no longer even enjoy fine wine. With the help of the Law Council's magic and potions, he has successfully overcome one physical hurdle after another. However, the aging process brought about by age is irreversible. He can no longer even leave the Ernst family territory, because he can only continue to survive by staying in the huge magical ritual field set up in the family territory.

"Father, do you still think we made plans and arrangements too late?"

"Night?"

A smile forced across the old man's gaunt face: "Perhaps... If I were to handle these matters, I might choose a more direct approach."

He gently rubbed the pattern on the wine glass with his fingers and said slowly, "Erevan, the plans you made were actually very timely, but I think it was an extremely bad choice to mix family and divine affairs with the kingdom's mission."

The aged marshal of the kingdom raised his withered hand and pointed to the huge map hanging on one side of the room: "Our king has finally made this decision. Now, the armies of the Lovi Kingdom participating in the exercise have gathered near the rugged hills. In a few days, even the Hein people from the far north will arrive."

The middle-aged nobleman known as Yerevan sighed softly, continuing his father's words: "By then, the narrow passage connecting the Lovi Plateau and the Goddess Plain will become a giant oil drum, where even the slightest spark will cause an explosion."

As he spoke, he came up behind his father, pushed the wheelchair, and led him to the map.

The old man tilted his head back, squinted, and quietly examined the city that was being aimed at by countless arrows. He said softly, "The ignition has been prepared for over a hundred years. The Delan people know this very well, and so do we. If nothing unexpected happens, the situation in Seren should now be under the control of those plainsmen, right?"

"Yes, according to reliable intelligence, their operation has also received the support of the Legal Committee... I'm afraid that in a while, the Legal Committee's magical advisors and ambassadors in Merlinle and at headquarters will come to visit us."

"You should have paid a visit long ago."

Old Zeke finally couldn't resist the temptation of the wine in his hand. He took a small sip, and after the mellow flavor of the wine permeated his lips, he let out a long sigh: "Those arrogant mages, they don't even want to go and see the factories on the plateau, but that doesn't matter anymore. Before long, all of Vaan will understand that magic is no longer a power that can completely control this world, and those gods cannot protect their followers... They can only become totems of the old era in the end."

The head of the Ernst family gently placed his wine glass on the table, leaned back slightly, and greedily took in the entire map.

“Erevan, send the rest of the family’s spies there. You may not care about your son, but he is now extremely important to the Society’s prophecy… The coming of the Black Sun cannot be missed.”

(End of this chapter)