A different world game? A different world game!

Eastern Wilderness, Candlelight City.

This border city, once a symbol of exploration and struggle, is now a prosperous jewel in the heart of the continent of Anvien.

The clean and wide streets are lined with buildings that blend the minimalist aesthetics of the Night Watch with local practicality, and the air is filled with the tranquility and vitality unique to peacetime.

It's different from the city surrounding the tower.

The buildings here aren't grand, but they exude a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

However, a small group of people walking among them carried a sharp aura that was completely out of place with the tranquil atmosphere around them.

They are the legends of the Soul Guardians, Flame Descends.

As one of the earliest established Soul Guardian squads, Flame Descends has already achieved the astonishing feat of having all its members become legendary.

The leader, a young man with a calm face but eyes that seemed to contain the core of lava, possessed an aura as deep as the abyss, reaching the awe-inspiring level thirteen.

The longsword hanging at his waist, seemingly forged from solidified flames, silently proclaimed his terrifying identity as a decapitation expert.

This squad's seniority is almost as long as the history of the Night's Watch. They have appeared in the fierce war against vampires and are truly the first generation of Night's Watch members.

At this moment, they shoulder an important mission.

As guardians from the continent of Anvien, they will serve as temporary protectors for the emperor and his core team.

They also carried the crucial "beacon-style portable space door" to ensure the Imperial delegation could safely reach the City of the Ring Tower to attend the "World Federation" conference that would determine the fate of the world.

Walking on the familiar streets of Candlelight City, a long-lost feeling, a mixture of nostalgia and emotion, permeated the team members.

One of the team members, a fire mage with a posture as straight as a javelin, took a deep breath of the air filled with the fragrance of grass and trees, and sighed softly, "It's been almost ten years since I've been back, hasn't it? Time really flies."

"Ten years?" A burly man carrying a black steel tower shield almost as tall as himself retorted in a deep voice, his tone slightly mischievous.

"Old Lei, have you been holed up in the Abyss dungeon and never come out? I even came back for a visit two years ago during my vacation."

Master Lei was taken aback for a moment, then feigned anger: "Two years ago? You blockhead! You came back without even a word?"

"Hey, that was my private vacation. Who knew you'd never come back?"

The shield warrior chuckled, and the massive tower shield trembled slightly with his laughter.

Their captain didn't join in the bickering, but his gaze fell on a sturdy, aged warehouse building in the distance, and a rare, warm smile appeared on his lips.

"That building... I remember helping to move wood when it was being built."

His voice was deep and magnetic.

"Moving wood?"

An assassin, whose figure almost blended into the shadows, emerged, his tone mocking, "Captain, you weren't as fast as those ogres back then. They could carry three logs in one hand!"

Mentioning cannibals made them all laugh, and the air was filled with reminiscence of bygone days.

Old Lei sighed, "Those few rascals, I heard they're still in the city, spending all their time building their 'cave houses' in the forest, roasting ibex, and drinking ale. Their level hasn't improved at all."

"He's one of the earliest 'veterans' of our Night's Watch, and he lives a more carefree life than anyone else."

This relief didn't last long.

The team quickly arrived at the assembly area next to the central square of Candlelight City.

A considerable number of Night Watch warriors have gathered here, most of them veterans around level eight.

They may not have shone on legendary battlefields like the Soul Keepers, but their rich combat experience and years of dedication to the eastern wilderness have made them a backbone force in stabilizing the rear and handling local affairs.

Of course, they can no longer be considered front-line troops.

Time has etched its mark on their faces, but their eyes remain as sharp as ever.

Captain Yan Jiangshi's expression returned to its usual cold and stern demeanor.

He glanced at the Night's Watchmen present, his voice carrying clearly throughout the entire area.

"The mission briefing has been issued. We will divide into several groups and head to the Empire, the Alliance of Commercial City-States, and the kingdoms that responded to the call of the conference."

“Your duty is to escort the participants safely to the Candlelight City rendezvous point in the Eastern Wilderness. Then,” he gestured to the massive platform being erected in the center of the plaza—which would serve as the anchor point for the temporary teleportation hub.

“We will use the space gate activated by the ‘beacon’ to travel directly to the core of the Ring City on the Leviathan continent—the ‘Blue Ring’ teleportation hub outside the South City.”

He paused, his gaze sharp and authoritative: "Maintain the highest level of vigilance. No matter how calm the outside world may seem, never underestimate the madmen, fools, and scheming individuals lurking in the shadows. This world has never lacked such people. Take action!"

Upon receiving the order, the Soul Keepers and veterans quickly divided into groups, transforming into streaks of light and speeding towards their respective destinations using the city's convenient teleportation nodes or riding swift alchemical mounts.

Captain Flame Descendant, along with his shield warriors "Ironwall" and a small squad of elite level eight Night Watch veterans, embarked on the road to the Imperial capital.

The wilderness that once required a long trek is now connected by the well-connected, wide and flat "Night Watch Roads," with numerous outposts along the way, all in good order.

The name "Eastern Wilderness" still exists, but it has long since lost any connection to the word "wilderness."

The magnificent city walls of the capital appeared on the horizon.

Upon entering this city, which symbolizes the highest secular power of mankind, the Empire provided the Soul Guardians with a reception befitting their status, but the undercurrents beneath the courtly etiquette were still clearly perceptible.

In the magnificent audience hall, Captain Yan Jiangshi bowed slightly to the emperor, who sat high on the throne.

This is a basic courtesy to a secular ruler, a gesture that is concise, powerful, and neither servile nor arrogant.

He stated his purpose directly: "Your Majesty, by order of the Night's Watch High Command, we will escort you and your delegation safely to the World Conference venue in the City of the Tower."

"When does Your Majesty plan to depart?"

The emperor, a middle-aged man with deep eyes and a composed demeanor, looked at the captain of the Soul Guardians before him, whose aura was as deep as a mountain, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"Captain Yan Jiangshi, I've long admired your name. The Empire will be setting off at noon tomorrow. Thank you all for your help." "It's our duty."

The captain gave a brief reply and then took his leave.

He needed to use this brief time to personally confirm the security checkpoints within the capital and the details of the route for tomorrow's journey.

The following day at noon, the central avenue of the capital was cleared by the royal guard.

The grandeur of the emperor's procession showcased the majesty of royal power: magnificent royal carriages were pulled by swift and powerful horses, with princes and high-ranking officials each having their own carriages, followed by a vast army of guards, court attendants, scribes, and a large logistics support team.

The total number of people was nearly two thousand.

Banners fluttered, armor gleamed, and horses' hooves thundered rhythmically on the stone pavement, drawing crowds of people from the capital to watch and discuss the spectacle.

Captain Yan Jiangshi rode his mount at the very front of this massive procession.

His mount was no ordinary warhorse, but a magnificent fire chocobo!
This giant bird strutted with its head held high, standing over three meters tall. Its entire body was covered in dark red alchemical armor that shimmered with a metallic sheen, with flame runes cleverly carved into its joints.

Even more striking is that as it takes a step, crimson flames, like flowing veils, wrap around its ankles and the edges of its wings, radiating a scorching aura and a powerful pressure—this is clearly a level ten magical beast companion!

Riding alongside the captain and leading the way was a legendary commander of the Imperial Guard.

This equally powerful warrior, whose gaze was frequently drawn to the fire chocobo, finally couldn't help but speak, his tone filled with surprise and a hint of barely perceptible envy.

"Captain Yanjiangshi, your mount... is truly amazing! Forgive my boldness, but someone as strong as you must be among the top tier of the Soul Watchers, right? How long have you been a member of the Night Watch?"

The captain tilted his head slightly, and the Flame Chocobo seemed to sense its master's emotions, snorting and spitting out a few sparks. He looked at the road stretching ahead, as if traversing through time and space.

“It’s been a long time. So long that… the Crimson Cross still flutters in the wilderness, and we are still fighting the vampires for every inch of land.”

His tone was calm, yet it contained an indescribable sense of weight.

As they walked, the two chatted casually, their conversation revolving around their mounts, the Night's Watch's past, and the upcoming meeting.

The Commander of the Guard listened with rapt attention, gaining a deeper understanding of the Night's Watch, this colossal entity.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the continent of Anveen, teams escorted by other Soul Guardian squads or elite veterans also set off from their respective kingdoms and city-states, like streams flowing into rivers, heading straight for Candlelight City in the Eastern Wilderness.

Meanwhile, in Candlelight City, all preparations had already been made.

A huge temporary platform has been erected in the central square.

At the center of the platform, a complex device composed of runes shimmering with a ghostly blue light and intricate alchemical components—a beacon-style portable spatial portal—is ready to be activated.

The Night Watch crew is making final adjustments to ensure the precise anchoring of spatial coordinates.

Around the square, the night watchmen responsible for guiding, receiving, and providing security were in good order, and the air was filled with a tension and anticipation unique to the eve of a major battle.

All preparations are complete.

Once the delegations from all sides arrive, the portal to the City of the Ring will open, a portal to unity and resistance. The wheel of fate, with its countless gears meshing, is slowly turning in a direction filled with the unknown and challenges.

……

After the Flame Descendant Squad escorted the Emperor to Candlelight City, the other Soul Guardian Squads, also tasked with escorting him, arrived one after another.

In just a few days, this former eastern border fortress, now a pearl city in the heart of the Anvian continent, has been transformed into an unprecedentedly grand diplomatic banquet city.

Monarchs, dukes, councilors, alliance leaders, and their core members from all corners of the continent of Anvion—including high-ranking officials, generals, court mages, inner court stewards, elite guards, and even representatives of large merchant guilds with keen business sense—came from human kingdoms, city-state alliances, and free territories.

Like all rivers flowing into the sea, they converge here.

The city's wide main thoroughfares, meticulously planned squares, and embassy district, which was expanded specifically for this conference, were now filled with a variety of magnificent flags, coats of arms, and costumes of different styles.

The air was filled with different accents, the aroma of spices, and an atmosphere of indescribable tension and excitement.

For these rulers, who were scattered across the continent and who were usually allied, confronting, or never interacting with each other, such a face-to-face gathering was a rare spectacle that happened only once in a millennium.

The platform provided by the Night Watchmen is far more valuable than the "World Federation Conference" itself.

It is an opportunity to mend old grievances, a breeding ground for new agreements, an intelligence field to probe the truth, and a stage to showcase national power and prestige.

Regardless of their private feelings towards the Night's Watch or the Void Crisis, no visionary leader would willingly miss this historic event, unless they were a fool blinded by hatred.

Thus, while waiting for the few leaders of various factions who arrived a little later due to their long journeys, banquets were already in full swing in Candlelight City.

The lord's breakfast meeting at dawn, the informal consultations of ministers in the afternoon garden, and the grand banquets hosted by different hosts in turn after nightfall...

Amidst the clinking of glasses, there is a skillful exchange of diplomatic rhetoric, a cautious probing of interests, veiled predictions about the future world order, and the quiet brewing of some tacit alliances aimed at responding to potential changes.

Such an unprecedented expenditure was handled with ease by Candlelight City.

The Night's Watch, renowned for its near-terrifying logistical capabilities, continuously supplies everything needed.

The freshest delicacies, some even with slight beneficial effects, and the finest wines, enough to match the magnificent decorations and utensils of royal families from various countries, were lavishly transported to Candlelight City and arranged in various banquet venues.

For the wealthy diplomatic missions of various countries, purchasing these supplies was nothing more than a "lavish spending spree," and the Night's Watch had already made preparations, stockpiling massive amounts of supplies in advance to ensure an uninterrupted supply—let them exchange ideas freely, there will be plenty of supplies.

However, beneath this glamorous facade, undercurrents never cease.

Candlelight City, after all, is one of the core cities that the Night's Watch has managed for many years, and its control is by no means a mere formality.

The Night Watch's intelligence network and security forces act like an invisible net, tightly covering every corner of the city.

Any attempt to conduct illicit activities in the shadows was firmly suppressed beneath the surface, making it difficult to cause any real disturbance.

The nighttime operation reports from the past two days speak volumes: more than 100 nighttime incidents have been thwarted!
Among them, some attempted to conduct secret diplomatic contacts or private transactions without being detected; others harbored malicious intentions and plotted assassinations, kidnappings, or the spread of panic.
Many of these conflicts even stemmed from clandestine rendezvous or personal grudges among nobles and officials...

The night watch's patrols, lurking sentries, and ubiquitous surveillance operated efficiently, swiftly quelling these dangerous or absurd incidents and ensuring overall order. (End of Chapter)