Chapter 327: The City of Holy Blessings

The luxurious carriage drove slowly away from the port under the escort of the Royal Knights, the wheels rolling on the stone road making a steady and brisk sound.

The lances draped in brocade were like green hedges standing outside the carriage window, setting off the exquisite golden rose and scroll crest more vividly.

Luo Yan sat in the carriage, his index finger fiddling with the little mother dragon lying on his lap, the latter making a purring sound in her throat, just like a sleeping kitten.

At this very moment, they are taking the carriage of Casit Silfin, the head of the Silfin family, to the temporary mansion prepared by the Silfin family for Prince Roxey Kelin.

This is an invitation actively proposed by the Silfin family.

As the most noble guest in the Shengcheng, Prince Kelin can live here for as long as he wants. And in exchange, he only needs to leave a portrait in the gallery... The Silfin family will arrange the best painter in the Shengcheng for him, to paint a classic that can be passed down forever.

It must be said that this is precisely the brilliance of the Silfin family. For thousands of years, they have accumulated a large number of excellent celebrity paintings by relying on such generous behavior... and the value of those oil paintings alone has exceeded the manor itself.

And guests who can be invited by the Silfin family will of course not have the cheek to live here all the time, so there is no need to worry about the problem of "it's easy to invite a god but hard to send him away".

In fact, Luo Yan indeed had no intention of disturbing them all the time.

Before getting off the ship, he had already arranged for Lumier and his few "poor relatives" who suddenly appeared to contact, to see if their genealogy had any utilization value, and what loopholes needed to be filled, while helping himself find a property that met his identity in the local area.

Along with Lumier, Baron Titch Kosia also got off the ship. Although the big nobles of the Shengcheng were not interested in him, the countless knights and knights were full of interest in him.

What he has to do now is write a book, accept interviews, and then return home in glory! And pretend to be forced that he didn't pretend for ten years, pretend enough at once!

As for Sarah, she has the blood of a Demon, and is still on the ship now, having to wait for the people on the port to be less before coming down.

Although the Shengcheng does not exclude impure blood like Deadwood Harbor, the Demon bloodline is still not on the table, and can only hide the characteristics of the Demon and be active in the master's shadow in a low-key manner.

She will meet with him later.

Luo Yan's gaze passed through the hollow window, observing the scene of the Shengcheng street with interest.

Magnificent and solemn buildings stood on both sides of the wide street, and the bustling citizens looked at the motorcade from time to time, whispering and discussing.

To be honest, this is completely different from what he saw in the Demon King Academy's library. Theoretically, the residents of the Shengcheng should all be ascetics wearing robes, and the muscle blocks wearing gorgeous armor should be crowded around the Emperor who is like a dried corpse, and it is impossible to have so many colorful colors.

However, Luo Yan can also understand, after all, clear-headed people are vested interests, and what they say behind closed doors naturally cannot be said when the door is opened.

It seems that the library of the Shengcheng will not objectively describe what the Demon Capital is like. On this matter, the eldest brother and the second brother should not laugh at each other.

Just when Luo Yan was observing the street scene outside the carriage window, Count Casit Silfin was also carefully examining him.

That is an elegant middle-aged gentleman, wearing a black long dress with exquisite tailoring, with the crest of the Silfin family's golden rose and scroll embroidered on his chest, and the golden sideburns are slightly frosted, but he has not reduced his elegant and easy-going demeanor at all.

"It's really rare... is this a cub of a dragon?" From the moment he sat in the carriage, his gaze had been fixed on the dragon between Prince Kelin's legs without moving, until he heard that purring sound, and finally couldn't help but exclaim.

He considered himself well-informed, but it was the first time he had seen this legendary species.

And it was even rarer than the legendary species—a dragon cub!

"Yes, a little guy who just broke out of the shell not long ago, I met it near the Sun Staircase Mountains. In the ancient fables of the Gana Continent, that is the place where dragons are born." Luo Yan's face showed a gentle smile after taking his gaze back from the window.

Taf opened half an eye, looked at Luo Yan, and wanted to argue a few words, but because of the master's order, finally only made a purring sound.

Before arriving at the port, Luo Yan specifically ordered her two things.

One is not allowed to speak human language when there are others around, and the second is not allowed to suddenly lay eggs when there are people around... unless it really can't hold it.

These two things are actually nothing, some smart dragons are not just able to speak dragon language, but he just thinks it's troublesome and doesn't want to cause extra trouble.

"What a cute little guy." Casit said enviously, and then said after a moment, "It's a pity it's too small, I heard that dragons need more than a century to grow up..."

"Yes," Luo Yan shrugged his shoulders gently, saying with regret, "I plan to go to the Empire's Academy this time, besides learning the Empire's advanced magic knowledge, I also have the idea of looking for 'magic medicine that can accelerate the growth of dragons'."

The Empire's research on magical creatures can't be better than hell, which plays with monsters, Luo Yan just said it casually.

However, Taf still trembled when she heard this sentence, and almost dropped something small again.

Casit touched his chin and pondered seriously, and said after a moment.

"Dragons are beyond my knowledge, but I do know a few magicians with profound magic attainments... perhaps they can provide you with some help."

Luo Yan did not decline his kindness, and said with a smile.

"If you can introduce me, that would be really grateful."

"It's just a matter of lifting a finger, it's my honor to be able to help such a noble person as you." Casit smiled slightly, as if he had just done a trivial thing.

The two chatted along the way, and Luo Yan, who noticed that Taf was about to be unable to hold on, calmly shifted the topic to the Shengcheng itself.

And when the topic turned to the Shengcheng, Casit immediately showed his learned side, from humanities and customs to religious philosophy, which can be said to be well-known.

At this moment, the scene outside the carriage window also set off his talkativeness—this is indeed a prosperous and great city.

The prosperity of the Campbell Principality's national strength can only support one Queen Street, while here almost every street is not inferior to it.

Tall towers stand, the streets are wide and tidy, passing pedestrians look at the motorcade with curious eyes from time to time, or whisper and discuss.

To be honest, this is completely different from what he saw in the Demon King Academy's library. Theoretically, the residents of the Shengcheng should all be ascetics wearing robes, and the muscle blocks wearing gorgeous armor should be crowded around the Emperor who is like a dried corpse, and it is impossible to have so many colorful colors.

However, Luo Yan can also understand, after all, clear-headed people are vested interests, and what they say behind closed doors naturally cannot be said when the door is opened.

It seems that the library of the Shengcheng will not objectively describe what the Demon Capital is like. On this matter, the eldest brother and the second brother should not laugh at each other.

"It seems there is a happy event today." Casit smiled appropriately, then reached out and tapped the carriage window twice, signaling the knights outside to stop and wait.

The leading knight nodded slightly, and the Royal Knights stopped their steps neatly, waiting for the parade to pass.

The sound of drums and music got closer, and a wedding parade was slowly coming from the other end of the street.

The two newcomers sat in a carriage decorated with flowers and ribbons, their cheeks flushed, and their smiles bright. They were dressed simply and neatly, looking like citizens of the Shengcheng.

Musicians in festive costumes gathered around them, blowing bagpipes, playing accordions, and several lively children scattered flower petals, and passing pedestrians stopped to send applause and whistles of blessing.

"It seems there is a happy event today." Casit smiled appropriately, then reached out and tapped the carriage window twice, signaling the knights outside to stop and wait.

The leading knight nodded slightly, and the Royal Knights stopped their steps neatly, waiting for the parade to pass.

The sound of drums and music got closer, and a wedding parade was slowly coming from the other end of the street.

A fat man saw the crest of the Royal Knights, flushed with excitement, took off his hat and waved enthusiastically to the knights: "Thank you, my lords! May glory be with you! May Saint Xisi bless you!"

The leading knight was serious, but he didn't remain indifferent, nodding slightly to respond to the citizen's gratitude and respect.

Casit smiled warmly, looked at Luo Yan and said softly: "After all, they are Saint Xisi's children, we can't ruin their interest, please forgive me, Prince."

"Of course," Luo Yan nodded with a smile, and said happily, "Our time is still long, don't worry about this moment."

To be honest, Luo Yan was still surprised by the openness and tolerance of the Shengcheng. After all, bathing in the glory of Saint Xisi, the nobles of the Deadwood Harbor would never give way to civilians.

As for hell—

Hell wouldn't be so hypocritical. If there were annoying goblins, the true-natured demons would of course kick them in the ass.

However, this is actually nothing. After all, although goblins don't admit it, their eyes are tearful, but their bodies actually enjoy being treated like this.

"I didn't expect that in five hundred years, the changes in this city would be so great." Luo Yan sighed sincerely, giving an evaluation that fit his persona.

Casit, who was sitting opposite, showed a gentle and elegant smile.

"Your family has been away from the center of civilization for too long, it's normal not to understand the situation here. In the past hundred years, the development of the Shengcheng is more amazing than the past thousand years. Not only magic and religion, we have achieved amazing achievements in literature, painting, music, philosophy, mathematics, geometry and many other fields... What you see now is just the tip of the iceberg, I think you will see more things that make you feel both intimate and surprised in the future."

Luo Yan nodded slowly, the gratified expression was like witnessing a miracle in the holy light, and like a castaway who had been drifting on the sea for five hundred years finally saw his hometown.

"This city is indeed extraordinary... Saint Xisi above, to be able to see the hometown so prosperous in my lifetime, I feel that I have no regrets in this life."

Casit nodded slightly, saying elegantly.

"It's an honor to make you have such an idea, which shows that we have not failed the eyes of our fathers' expectations of us."

Speaking of this, his eyes couldn't help but carry a bit of pride, and he added a sentence behind.

"By the way, the square you see was designed by a professor at our Imperial Academy of Arts... although he was just a student who had just graduated at that time."

"Oh?" Luo Yan's eyes showed just the right interest, and he followed his words, "I heard that you are the principal of the Academy of Arts, you must have a way of governing?"

Casit smiled and waved his hands modestly: "I'm just following the wind of the times and guiding it slightly. It's the young scholars of the academy, they are the real protagonists... By the way, speaking of a recent research project of the academy, perhaps you will be interested, Prince."

Luo Yan: "Oh? What topic?"

Casit's expression suddenly became mysterious, as if he was prepared to give the other party a fright. And Luo Yan also leaned his body close as he wished, making an interested look and waiting.

After selling enough suspense, Casit said seriously.

"Recently, our scholars have put forward a bold conjecture... they believe that the earth under our feet is not flat and boundless, but a huge sphere!"

"Sphere... sphere?!"

Luo Yan was stunned for a moment, and a trace of undisguised surprise flashed on his face.

He was indeed shocked, but not because of the point of view itself, but surprised that—this sentence actually came from the mouth of a favorite beside the Pope!

If it were in Deadwood Harbor, no one would dare to discuss it like this, and it might not have reached the ears of the priests before being hoed by the old farmers in the Deadwood County.

Seeing Luo Yan's surprise, Casit seemed quite satisfied and explained further: "Yes, or to be more precise, an elliptical celestial body, which we call a planet. What supports this speculation is the continent you just returned from, the Gana Continent—it is like a puzzle that has been lost for thousands of years, just falling on the confusion we have."

Luo Yan was silent for a moment, his gaze looked towards the high towers and churches outside the carriage window, and tentatively mentioned: "This point of view seems to conflict with the doctrine of "The Holy Word"..."

Casit's eyes flickered, expressing appreciation for the honesty and piety of this Prince, and then continued to smile and say.

"Five hundred years ago, this was indeed a taboo topic, but it has been slightly different in the past two hundred years. Especially in the past two hundred years, Pope Gregory IX—our great Pope wrote a supplement to the content not mentioned in "The Holy Word", and the theory of all things revolving around holy light is no longer a taboo. And as everyone knows, holy light and the sun are of the same origin, and the fact that demons fear sunlight just proves this."

Demons don't actually fear sunlight, they just don't like it, just like humans hate dark places and magma that is too hot.

However, Luo Yan didn't interrupt his words, but listened to him continue with interest.

"Of course, heliocentrism is not our only theory, besides that there is also the theory of double arcs, but there are fewer researchers. That is, our world is a bowl, the surface is the convex side, and hell is the concave side. The sun rotates along the edge of the bowl, the surface daylight rotates, the day is long and the night is short, while hell twilight rotates, the day is short and the night is long."

"What an incredible idea." Although Taf couldn't help but snort with mockery, Luo Yan still sighed sincerely.

From the perspective of modern people, these ideas are of course whimsical, but so-called science has never been the standard answer in the exercise book, but a method and thought to explore the truth.

Bold imagination and careful verification are the ways to study the truth. They have already given birth to the sprouts of science, but everything is still very sloppy.

Besides...

He actually has no reason to say that they must be wrong.

First of all, the universe is different.

Although many physical rules in this world are similar to those on Earth, due to the existence of subspace, the space in this universe is obviously discontinuous, and the information that can be contacted is obviously more than people in other universes.

Looking at Prince Kelin who seemed to be shocked, Count Casit continued to smile.

"... Prince, as you can see, we are entering a golden age that has never been seen before. And I think your return is one of the signs that unveil this beautiful era! Please allow me to represent my family, my glory and my faith, welcome you home!"

Luo Yan listened quietly, a happy smile on his face.

His gaze passed through the prosperous street outside the carriage window, falling on the majestic palace in the distance, and the church spire that had been parallel to the palace in the distance.

"Thank you, I also represent the Kelin family, thank you for your welcome... It is a great honor that I can unveil this prosperous prologue with you."

The Dantès family lives at No. 11 Zhongcheng Street. This name doesn't sound like a place where rich people live, but where the Empire's high-level leeks live.

And the facts are the same.

Dense three-story row houses stand on both sides of the stone road, and a cargo carriage occasionally runs on the street that is still spacious.

From the archway at the door, the Dantès family enjoys a detached house, which is very remarkable, but unfortunately, his neighbors are not.

The ground floor next door is a shoemaker's shop, and the clanging sound will probably last from morning until the bell rings at dusk. And the residents not far away are splashing a basin of vegetable washing water in front of the door, as if wanting to dilute the terrible smell emitted from the drainage ditch.

Deadwood Harbor is only better than here in one point, that is, the drainage system was repaired by Lint Isaac, and there is no need to worry about the smell of feces even in summer. But living in this community where "the house price was once expensive, but now the old money has long moved away", the quality of the neighbors doesn't need to be counted on too much.

However, Lumier didn't look down on them snobbishly, after all, his background wasn't very noble, and it was even a countryside in Deadwood Harbor that would make the other party subconsciously confused "what is that".

However, although Lumier didn't care, Edmond standing beside him was sensitive and suspicious, fearing that this noble distant relative's servant would doubt the quality of his family crest.

"We also have a farm in the suburbs, called Dantès Manor... it was left to us by Mr. Fernando Kelin five hundred years ago!"

Before Lumier could speak, the eldest son Lucien standing beside him hurriedly echoed.

"That's right! I've been there several times, and every summer I practice horse riding there, in order to become a glorious Royal Knight... the grassland there is so big!"

Sophia is more subtle and understands the art of euphemism better. She quietly walked behind her mother and said in a fine voice.

"Mom... it's time for me to practice the piano, can you allow me to be excused for a while?"

Anna's eyes turned, and she nodded hurriedly.

"Of course... go quickly, just play the "Moonlight Flower"... flower... flower before the moon?"

Sophia said quickly.

"Moonlight Concerto, it is a piece written by Mr. Von Elstadt to commemorate the summer of 668 in the Holy Calendar, dedicated to the girl he met by chance in the garden..."

Looking at the sister who suddenly started reciting the textbook, sixteen-year-old second son Francois stood beside him scratching his head blankly, his eyes full of confusion, not understanding why his family members were like this.

Could this Mr. Lumier be an examiner at the Imperial Academy of Arts?

Six-year-old little Emily didn't understand even more, excitedly raised her little hand stained with frosting, indicating that she was as powerful as her brother and sister.

"Wow! Emily should go to Teacher Agnes's place for class, she wants to teach us arithmetic—"

Anna covered little Emily's mouth, ignoring the latter's protest, and looked at Lumier with a smile on her face.

"Little Emily means that Mrs. Agnes will come to teach her class, that lady is the tutor we hired for her. But she remembered wrong, Mrs. Agnes is unwell and asked for leave today..."

Lumier rubbed his brows with a headache, and even began to doubt whether choosing this family was a correct choice.

However, he soon thought of Titch and even himself—

Turning decay into magic is the incredible thing about the Demon King, especially since he watched that lord train a pirate into a real Baron, and then turned a real captain into a pirate wearing a Viceroy's skin.

This family still has potential.

At least there is an ambition to become stronger.

"I'm sorry to disturb your arrangements today—"

Looking at Lumier who took the initiative to apologize, Edmond said fearfully.

"No! Mr. Lumier! You didn't disturb us, we are very happy to accompany you for a stroll nearby, or we go to the manor in the suburbs now—"

Lumier shook his head and interrupted his words.

"No, no need, I mean you don't have to be so polite, of course I will disturb that manor, but not now..."

He didn't care about the clumsy acting of the Dantès family at all, the only thing that aroused his real attention was the sentence mentioned by Edmond—"Five hundred years ago, the ancestral home left by Mr. Fernando Kelin to Miss Marguerite Dantès".

The Demon King didn't care about the authenticity of the bloodline at all, because it was fake in the first place, and the truth didn't matter at all.

He just needed an identity that he could tamper with at will, and this would determine what kind of script would be staged next.

Pausing, Lumier's gaze passed over the nervous family, took out his pocket watch to check the time, and then his gaze fell upstairs.

"We'll sit upstairs for a while, and then you tell me all the stories you know about Mr. Fernando and Miss Marguerite, including showing me the relics they left behind."