Chapter 399: The Holy Blessing City

The jeweled lances draped in silk and brocade stood like green hedges outside the windows, highlighting the delicate golden roses and scripture emblems with striking clarity.

Luo Yan sat upright in the carriage, his finger gently stroking the young female dragon resting on his knees, who emitted a contented rumble from her throat, like a sleeping cat.

At this moment, they were riding in the carriage of Cassit Hilfen, head of the Hilfen family, en route to the temporary residence prepared for Prince Corinse Prince Prince Kelin.

This was an invitation voluntarily extended by the Hilfen family.

As the most honored guest of the Holy City, Prince Prince Prince Kelin could reside here indefinitely; in exchange, he need only leave behind a single portrait… The Hilfen family would arrange the city's finest painter to create a masterpiece destined to endure for eternity.

It must be said, this was precisely the Hilfen family's brilliance: for centuries, they had amassed a vast collection of outstanding portraits through such generosity… The value of those oil paintings alone already surpassed that of the estate itself.

And guests invited by the Hilfen family would never presumptuously overstay—so there was no need to worry about the problem of "easier to invite a god than to send him away."

In truth, Luo Yan had no intention of lingering indefinitely.

Before disembarking, he had already arranged for Lumir to contact his several suddenly appearing "poor relatives," to assess whether their genealogy held any value and identify any gaps needing filling, while also helping him secure a property in town befitting his status.

Tich Cosia, Baron of Tich, had also disembarked with Lumir; though the high nobility of the Holy City showed no interest in him, countless knights and barons were eager to meet him.

His goal now was to publish a book, give interviews, and return home in glory—finally, after ten years, to fully flaunt all the arrogance he'd suppressed.

As for Sarah, she carried demon blood and remained aboard the ship, waiting until fewer people were around before disembarking.

Though the Holy City did not reject impure blood as fiercely as Lei Ming City, demon lineage was still unacceptable in public; one must conceal demonic traits and operate quietly in the shadows of one's master.

She would join him later.

Luo Yan's gaze, through the latticed window, keenly observed the scenes of the Holy City's streets.

On either side of the broad avenues stood magnificent, solemn buildings; bustling citizens occasionally cast curious glances at the procession, whispering among themselves.

To be honest, this was entirely unlike what he had seen in the Demon King Academy's library. Theoretically, residents of the Holy City should all be robed ascetics chanting sutras, surrounded by muscular men clad in ornate armor, clustered around a corpse-like Emperor—there could be no such vibrant colors.

Yet Luo Yan understood: those who truly comprehend are the beneficiaries, and what they say behind closed doors is never spoken in public.

The Holy City's library surely did not objectively describe what the Demon Capital was truly like—so his elder and younger brothers might as well stop laughing at each other.

As Luo Yan observed the street scenes outside, Cassit Hilfen, Earl of Hilfen, was carefully studying him.

He was an elegant middle-aged gentleman, dressed in a precisely tailored black formal coat, embroidered on the chest with the Hilfen family's golden rose and scripture emblem; his golden sideburns showed faint streaks of gray, yet did nothing to diminish his refined, approachable demeanor.

"Rare indeed… is that a dragon cub?" Since boarding the carriage, his gaze had never left the dragon between Prince Prince Prince Kelin's legs; only after hearing the contented rumble did he finally blurt out his astonishment.

He considered himself well-traveled, yet this was his first encounter with the legendary creature.

And not just a legendary creature—but a dragon cub, rarer still!

"Yes, a tiny thing that hatched not long ago. I encountered it near the Sun Stair Mountains," Luo Yan replied, withdrawing his gaze from the window and smiling warmly. "In ancient fables of Jiana Continent, that is where dragons are born."

Taf opened one eye, glanced at Luo Yan, then thought better of arguing—obeying his command, she emitted only a rumble.

Before arriving at the harbor, Luo Yan had given her two specific instructions.

First, never speak human language when others were present; second, never lay eggs when others were around… unless absolutely unavoidable.

These were not inherently problematic—some intelligent dragons naturally spoke more than dragon tongue—but he found them inconvenient and wished to avoid unnecessary complications.

"What a darling little thing," Cassit remarked with envy, then added, "Too bad it's so small. I've heard dragons take over a century to mature…"

"Indeed," Luo Yan shrugged lightly, sounding regretful. "This time, I plan to travel to the Empire's academic lands—not only to study their advanced magical knowledge, but perhaps also to seek a potion capable of accelerating a dragon's growth."

The Empire's research into magical creatures could never rival Hell's mastery of monsters—Luo Yan had merely spoken casually.

Yet Taf shuddered instantly at those words, nearly expelling something small.

Cassit stroked his chin thoughtfully, then said:

"Dragons lie beyond my knowledge, but I know several mages of profound magical expertise… perhaps they could offer you some assistance."

Luo Yan did not refuse his kindness, smiling gently.

"If you could introduce me, I would be deeply grateful."

"A mere trifle," Cassit smiled, as if he had done nothing more than pick up a fallen handkerchief.

The two continued chatting along the way; sensing Taf's growing discomfort, Luo Yan smoothly shifted the topic to the Holy City itself.

When the subject turned to the Holy City, Cassit immediately revealed his erudition—discoursing on culture, customs, religion, and philosophy as if reciting from memory.

The scenery outside the window mirrored his eloquence—this was indeed a thriving, magnificent metropolis.

The entire Campbell Duchy's prosperity could barely sustain one Queen Street; here, nearly every avenue rivaled it.

Tall, slender towers rose everywhere; streets were wide and immaculate; passersby wore elegant attire; the horses pulling carriages were large and noble, not diminutive goblins.

Cafés along the roadside overflowed with refined gentlemen and ladies engaged in graceful conversation; bookshop windows displayed lavishly bound volumes; in a street-corner square, a group of young students diligently sketched, their model a delicate-featured girl.

She sat beside a fountain, motionless as a statue, bathed in morning light, resembling the Virgin Mary before the Church of Saint Clement.

At that moment, distant music and drumming suddenly erupted ahead.

The carriage slowed; the accompanying Royal Knights pulled their reins to prevent the horses from being startled.

Luo Yan turned curiously toward the sound and saw a wedding procession slowly approaching from the opposite end of the street.

The bride and groom sat atop a carriage adorned with flowers and ribbons, cheeks flushed, smiles radiant; their clothing was simple yet neat, clearly those of Holy City citizens.

Musicians in festive attire surrounded them, playing bagpipes and accordions, while several lively children scattered petals; passersby paused to applaud and whistle their blessings.

"Looks like a celebration today," Cassit smiled politely, then tapped twice on the window frame, signaling the knights to halt and wait.

The lead knight nodded slightly; the Royal Knights halted in perfect unison, allowing the procession to pass.

As the music drew nearer, a short, stout man spotted the Royal Knights' emblem, turned beet-red with excitement, removed his hat, and waved enthusiastically: "Thank you, my lords! May glory be with you always! May Saint Sis bless you!"

The lead knight maintained a solemn expression but did not ignore the gesture—he nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the citizen's gratitude and respect.

Cassit, smiling warmly, turned to Luo Yan and whispered: "After all, they are children of Saint Sis—we must not spoil their joy. I beg your pardon, Your Highness."

"Of course," Luo Yan smiled and nodded cheerfully. "We have plenty of time—no need to rush this moment."

To be honest, Luo Yan was genuinely surprised by the Holy City's openness and tolerance. After all, while Lei Ming City's nobility would never yield to commoners beneath Saint Sis's light, here they did.

As for Hell—

Hell was never so hypocritical. If a goblin got in the way, the honest demons would simply kick them in the rear.

But it didn't matter—though goblins denied it with tears in their eyes, their bodies secretly enjoyed being treated that way.

"I never imagined, in five hundred years, this city would change so dramatically," Luo Yan remarked sincerely, offering a comment fitting his persona.

Opposite him, Mr. Cassit offered a gentle, refined smile.

"Your family has been away from the center of civilization too long—it's natural you're unfamiliar. In the past century, the Holy City's progress has surpassed the previous thousand years. Not just in magic and religion—we've achieved astonishing breakthroughs in literature, painting, music, philosophy, mathematics, geometry, and countless other fields… what you see now is merely the tip of the iceberg. I believe you'll soon encounter even more places that will feel both familiar and astonishing."

Luo Yan slowly nodded, his expression one of quiet wonder—as if witnessing a miracle in holy light, or a shipwrecked sailor who, after five hundred years adrift, finally glimpsed his homeland.

"This city is truly extraordinary… Saint Sis above, to witness my homeland flourish so in my lifetime—I feel no regret left in this life."

Cassit nodded slightly, his demeanor elegant.

"I am honored you hold such thoughts—it proves we have not failed the expectations of our ancestors."

As he spoke, a hint of pride entered his gaze, followed by another remark:

"By the way, the square you see before you was designed by a professor from our Imperial Academy of Arts… though at the time, he was merely a recent graduate."

"Oh?" Luo Yan's eyes showed precisely the right measure of interest. "I've heard you are the academy's rector—surely you govern with great wisdom?"

Cassit smiled, waving a modest hand. "I merely followed the winds of the age, offering slight guidance. The true protagonists are the young scholars of the academy… By the way, I believe you might find our academy's latest research intriguing."

Luo Yan: "Oh? What is the subject?"

Cassit's expression turned mysterious, as if preparing to shock him. Luo Yan, as expected, leaned forward, feigning keen interest.

After building the suspense, Cassit spoke solemnly:

"Our scholars have recently proposed a bold hypothesis… they believe the earth beneath our feet is not flat and endless, but a vast sphere!"

"Sphere… a sphere?!"

Luo Yan froze slightly, a flicker of unmistakable astonishment crossing his face.

He was truly startled—not because of the idea itself, but because it had been uttered by a favorite of the Pope!

In Lei Ming City, no one would dare speak such words; before reaching a priest's ears, the local farmers would have already buried the speaker under their hoes.

Seeing Luo Yan's shock, Cassit appeared quite pleased, and elaborated: "Precisely—or more accurately, an elliptical celestial body we call a planet. The evidence lies in the continent you've just returned from—Gana Continent—like a thousand-year-old puzzle piece that has finally fallen into place."

Luo Yan fell silent for a moment, gazing out the window at the towers and churches, then ventured: "This view seems to contradict the teachings of the Holy Scripture…"

Cassit's eyes gleamed with appreciation for the prince's honesty and piety, then smiled and continued:

"Five hundred years ago, this was indeed a forbidden topic. But in the past two centuries, things have changed—especially under Pope Gregory IX, who wrote works supplementing the Holy Scripture's omissions. The theory that all things orbit the Holy Light is no longer taboo. And as we all know, Holy Light and the Sun share the same origin; demons' aversion to sunlight proves it."

Demons did not fear sunlight—they merely disliked it, as humans disliked dark places or scorching lava.

Yet Luo Yan did not interrupt; he listened with keen interest as Cassit continued.

"Of course, heliocentrism is not our only theory. There is also the double-arc hypothesis, though fewer study it: our world is a bowl, the surface the convex side, Hell the concave side. The Sun rotates along the rim—on the surface, daylight shifts, days long and nights short; in Hell, twilight shifts, days short and nights long."

"An astonishing idea," Luo Yan murmured, though Taf had barely suppressed a snort of laughter.

From a modern perspective, these ideas were fanciful—but science has never been the standard answer in a textbook; it is a method of seeking truth.

Bold imagination and careful verification are the path to truth—they have already birthed the seed of science, however crude.

Moreover…

He had no reason to claim they were certainly wrong.

First, the universe here was different.

Though many physical laws resembled Earth's, the existence of the Aether Space meant this universe's space was clearly discontinuous, and the information accessible was far greater than in other universes.

Watching the seemingly awestruck Prince Prince Prince Kelin, Count Cassit smiled and continued:

"…Your Highness, as you see, we are entering an unprecedented golden age. And I believe your return is one of the heralds of this glorious era! Permit me, on behalf of my family, my honor, and my faith, to welcome you home!"

Luo Yan listened in silence, then smiled warmly.

His gaze passed beyond the bustling streets outside the carriage, settling on the distant, majestic palace—and the cathedral spire, now level with the palace as they drew farther away.

"Thank you. I, too, on behalf of the Prince Prince Kelin family, extend my gratitude for your welcome… It is an immense honor to stand with you as we unveil this splendid prologue."

…

The Tardieu family lived at 11 Loyal Street—a name that clearly wasn't for the wealthy, but for the Empire's premium leeks.

And indeed, that was the truth.

Dense three-story terraced houses lined both sides of the stone-paved road; occasionally, a cargo cart rattled past along the relatively spacious street.

From the archway at the entrance, the Tardieu family enjoyed a detached house—an impressive feat—but unfortunately, their neighbors did not.

Below the adjacent house was a cobbler's shop, where the clanging sounds would likely last from morning until the evening bell rang. Nearby, a resident dumped a basin of vegetable rinse water onto her doorstep, seemingly trying to dilute the foul stench rising from the drain.

The only thing better about Lei Ming City was its drainage system, built by Lin Te Isak—even in summer, one never suffered from the stench of feces. But living in a neighborhood that had once been expensive, yet where the old-money families had long since moved out, one could not expect much from the neighbors' manners.

Yet Lumir did not look down on them with snobbery; after all, his own origins were no more noble—indeed, they were the rural outskirts of Lei Ming City, so obscure that even mentioning them would make others blink in confusion.

But while Lumir didn't care, Edmond, standing beside him, was sensitive and suspicious, fearing this noble distant relative's servant might doubt the authenticity of their family crest.

"We still own a farmstead in the suburbs—Tardieu Manor… left to us five hundred years ago by Mr. Fernando Corin!"

Before Lumir could speak, his eldest son, Lucien, quickly chimed in.

"That's right! I've been there several times—every summer I practice horsemanship there, training to become a glorious Royal Knight… the pastures are enormous!"

Sophie, by contrast, was more reserved and understood the art of subtlety. She slipped quietly behind her mother and spoke in a soft voice.

"Mother… it's time for my piano lesson. May I be excused for a moment?"

Anna's eyes darted, and she nodded hastily.

"Of course… go on, play the one you just learned—Moonlight Blossom… blossom… Blossom Under the Moon?"

Sophie replied swiftly.

"Concerto in Moonlight, composed by Mr. von Ershadt to commemorate the summer of Sacred Year 668, dedicated to the maiden he met in his garden…"

Watching his sister suddenly recite like a textbook, sixteen-year-old François stood beside her, scratching his head in bewilderment—his bookworm's eyes filled with confusion, unable to fathom why his family was acting this way.

Was this Mr. Lumir an examiner from the Imperial Academy of Arts?

Six-year-old Emily understood even less. Excitedly, she raised her sugary little hand, declaring she was just as impressive as her brothers and sisters.

"Oh! Emily should go to Miss Agnes for her lesson—she's teaching us arithmetic—"

Anna clapped a hand over Emily's mouth, ignoring the girl's muffled protests, and forced a smile toward Lumir.

"Emily means Miss Agnes will come to teach her—she's our hired governess. But she got it wrong; Miss Agnes is unwell today and took the day off…"

Lumir pressed his temples, beginning to doubt whether choosing this family had been a wise decision.

Yet soon he remembered Tich and himself—

The ability to turn decay into wonder was precisely the Mowang 's miraculous trait, especially since he had personally witnessed the Lord transform a pirate into a true baron, then turn a genuine captain into a pirate wearing a viceroy's skin.

This family still had potential.

At least they possessed the ambition to grow stronger.

"I apologize for interrupting your schedule today—"

Seeing Lumir apologize voluntarily, Edmond replied with trembling reverence.

"No! Mr. Lumir! You haven't disturbed us at all—we'd be honored to accompany you on a stroll nearby, or we could go straight to the farmstead now—"

Lumir shook his head, cutting him off.

"No, no need. I mean, you needn't be so formal. I will certainly visit that manor—but not now…"

He didn't care about the family's clumsy performance. The only thing that truly caught his attention was Edmond's remark—"Five hundred years ago, Mr. Fernando Corin left the ancestral home to Marguerite Tardieu."

The Mowang didn't care whether the bloodline was real or fake—it was fake to begin with, and truth or falsehood didn't matter at all.

He only needed an identity he could freely rewrite—and that would determine what script would unfold next.

He paused, his gaze sweeping past the sweating family, pulled out his pocket watch to check the time, then looked upward.

"Let's sit upstairs for a while. Then tell me everything you know about Mr. Corin and Miss Marguerite—including showing me any relics they left behind."

"Afterward, I will relay everything I hear and see to the esteemed Prince. The final decision rests with him alone."

(End of Chapter)