Chapter 779: City in Turmoil

"Have you heard about it?"

"What did you hear about?"

"Duel..."

"Ah, I heard about it. A peerless master came from Rome. He said he was going to sweep the entire martial arts world in mid-winter. He said he was invincible before he was canonized, and he could fight anyone above him."

"That's so arrogant. Tell me more!"

"Please read the newspaper for details."

"Give me a copy!"

"Here."

"Go ahead!"

"Don't you have a newspaper?"

"I bought the newspaper, and you still want me to read it? What are you doing with your mouth? Tell me what's going on!"

"Okay, listen to me... It's like this, This and that."

"It sounds like the nobles invited two knights to duel. How can it be as exaggerated as you say?"

"Well, I am from Daxia. Isn't it normal to use some exaggerated rhetoric? Just like this sentence "One sword frosts fourteen states."

"Isn't this realistic?"

"...It seems so."

The newspaper seller patted his knees: "But this duel is indeed the focus of all the nobles in the mid-winter. Tickets for the Jianlan duel in the morning are now hard to come by."

...

In the same breakfast shop, the newspaper seller was chatting and talking loudly.

On the seat next to him, Bai Yu drank hot coffee silently and took a bite of the soft bread that had just been baked.

"The news spread so quickly. It's only the second day and it's already known to the whole city."

"That's right. I don't know who is exaggerating so much... When did I exchange one for one above the Three Purities?"

Bai Yu was tired. He was just one mouthful of rumor making, but he couldn't move his legs to refute it.

Melusina closed the newspaper and frowned slightly: "Someone must be fanning the flames and promoting it in a high-profile manner. Is this trying to play psychological warfare? It's despicable."

"It seems that the nobles have already selected the right candidate, so they want to make a big fuss. If they are not sure of winning, who would publicize their failure?" Bai Yu ate and talked, and his true energy transmitted his voice: "And if nothing unexpected happens, the selected duel agent is that Pendragon."

"Are you so sure?"

"On the one hand, it's intuition, and on the other hand, it's because the direction of the carriage last night was wrong."

"What's wrong?" Melusina tilted her head.

This expression made Bai Yu a little cute, and he couldn't help wanting to pinch the president sister's face.

But as soon as he raised it, Melusina held it.

The president sister noticed that there was jam on his fingers, looked around, and confirmed that no one noticed this side, then lowered his head and stuck out his tongue, like a kitten drinking milk, and licked it.

Bai Yu's originally organized thinking was immediately disrupted.

"So, why is the direction wrong?"

"Uh, well, this..." Bai Yu may have lost her memory because her mind was controlled by the little head for a second: "What did I want to say just now?"

Isn't this the car to the kindergarten?

No, it doesn't seem to be this sentence.

"Hmm~" The president sister rolled her eyes very charmingly and put down her clean fingers.

After breakfast, Bai Yu was held by Melusina's arm.

She was wearing high heels, and the height difference between the two was less than three centimeters, so she was not a petite girl.

"Does Donghuang have a newspaper here?"

"The media are tools controlled by the nobles. They can only let the citizens see what they want them to see, just like now... overnight, the streets and alleys of the capital in midwinter are discussing this duel."

"Have they not considered what would happen if they lose?"

"Maybe the media won't mention this at all by then." Melusina knows this operation too well: "Cold treatment is... or throwing out other hot spots to cover it up. It just so happens that the Queen's birthday is coming."

Bai Yu smiled: "It seems that they can't suppress it."

The president sister thought for a while: "Ah, that's true."

The gift of the Sun that Never Sets is still a big deal, and it is definitely unstoppable. Who dares not to report it in all the media?

If Bai Yu wins this duel and returns the Sun that Never Sets, then the nobles will not be able to suppress the raging public opinion, and will have to pinch their noses and publish newspapers to praise his great shortcomings and virtues.

"However, this newspaper..." Bai Yu looked at the paper products all over the street: "It really gives a feeling of being advanced and backward."

Rome has already fully entered the modern information age, while in Longdong...it is still at the stage where newspapers and magazines are the main carriers.

Longdong and Rome are different countries after all, and it cannot get the operating technology of Rome's World Tree Network.

But in fact, the World Tree is produced in the Fairy Country. Longdong has the World Tree, and there are far more than one.

It's just that they are not very interested in developing this technology.

The reason is that the market in Longdong is very small. The arrival of the information age means that a new free market has been provided, which is not convenient for the nobles to monopolize the market.

Therefore, even if the World Tree is obtained, Longdong's technology has only developed to the stage of television. Longdong people just watch fixed TV programs, and other media are still mainly newspapers and magazines.

It can't be said that it is a completely foolish policy, but it is indeed a closed-door policy.

So the nobles are afraid of the capital monsters bred by the free market in Rome. They know very well that once free trade is opened, their industries will be smashed and penetrated, and even the entire Longdong economy will be destroyed.

They are trying their best to disrupt the succession of the Laurennin family, and the high-profile publicity of this duel is essentially deceiving themselves.

It was clearly a struggle for internal family interests, and a conflict between the nobles and foreign groups, but it was named in the name of national justice.

Just fool the citizens, but don't fool yourself, right?

I feel like I've seen this development somewhere before.

Bai Yu pinched his nose, looked at the not-so-bright sun and said, "There's nothing new under the sun."

Melusina asked, "Do you want to stay in seclusion for two days to adjust?"

"The name of the duel agent will be announced tomorrow. There's no need to worry now, it will make you look insecure." Bai Yu smiled and said, "Just treat it with a normal heart. Let's go to the theater... I'll tell you a story on the way."

"Fairy tale?"

"Is it? It's a fairy tale for adults... "Hamlet"."

...

Buckingham Palace, back garden courtyard.

Lyudmila is in front, Cordelia is behind.

The former is in casual clothes, and the latter is in a holy robe.

"You two, please come in." The palace maid led the way in front: "The Queen, the Prince and the Princess have been waiting for a long time."

This place is the private territory of the royal family, and no one can enter without an invitation.

Although the saints and saints of the Roman Church are of noble status, they cannot violate the rules here at will.

Fortunately, this meeting is not a meeting in public, and the rules are always more relaxed.

Even so, Cordelia is still secretly a little nervous. Even though she meets many big figures on weekdays, this time she is going to meet Victoria.

Queen Victoria, she is a legendary figure.

This is an empress who has never traveled all over the country, but has been canonized with extraordinary vision.

The royal family of Longdong is different from Rome. There is no saying of compulsory canonization succession system, which also means that the imperial power of Longdong is not particularly strong. Only when there are particularly strong emperors and princes, can it be possible to achieve a balance between the imperial power and the aristocratic parliament.

There is no doubt that Victoria's sudden appearance has raised the national strength of Longdong by several stages.

Although Longdong is still considered backward in the eyes of Rome, in fact, before the empress came to power, Longdong could be said to have only half a breath left.

During her reign, she not only recovered the ghost fleet under Nelson, but also hit the market monopoly of the nobles. By establishing friendly relations with Rome, she obtained certain technology transfer and financial support, promoted the development of scientific and technological progress, and relaxed immigration regulations, no longer focusing on the nobles.

Such measures have raised the dying Longdong to the category of a normal person, even if one leg is longer than the other.

Queen Victoria is highly regarded among all countries and has a very good popularity. Because her "vision" is very long-term and she can always give very accurate and subtle suggestions, countless people hope to meet her.

The meeting requests received alone have been scheduled for ten years later.

Most girls have regarded Victoria as an idol, and Cordelia is no exception. It is inevitable that she is nervous.

After entering the garden, she did not dare to raise her eyes for a while.

The garden here is a whole greenhouse. It is called a garden, but many types of plants are planted.

There was a small table between a few trees, and three members of the royal family were sitting there waiting for the guests to arrive.

The Queen, the Prince and the Princess... a family of three, Victoria looked the youngest.

"It's been more than ten years since we last met, Lyudmila." Victoria smiled. She looked no more than forty years old, like a well-maintained lady, with a warm and friendly temperament: "Is that the lovely Dewdrop next to you?"

"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty." Cordelia saluted.

"Don't be so formal, it's just a private meeting." Victoria said with a smile: "Please take a seat."

The princess poured two cups of black tea herself and asked with a smile: "You two have worked hard to escort the Sun that Never Sets. If it's convenient, can you let me take a look at it?"

After sitting down, Lyudmila said directly: "The Sun that Never Sets is not in our hands now... someone will deliver it on the birthday."

The prince was slightly displeased when he heard this rather impolite remark: "Saint, you are joking. If it is not in your hands, then where is it? Such an important thing can't be handed over to random people, right?"

"Of course it is in a very safe place." Lyudmila replied.

"I want to know the more detailed location." The prince asked and turned to look at Cordelia.

"In the hands of a friend of mine." Cordelia thought there was no need to hide it. She came here to talk about this matter: "He is from Daxia. We discovered the Sun That Never Sets together. Without his help, I would not be able to bring back the lost treasure."

"Oriental man?" The princess was surprised: "What's his name?"

"Bai Yu, Bai Yujing."

"It's a strange name." Victoria smiled and said: "Why don't you bring him with you?"

"He has some private matters to deal with." Lyudmila picked up a biscuit and threw it into her mouth: "You don't have to think about keeping talents, you can't keep them."

"Oh?" Victoria tapped the table with her fingers: "The more you say this, the more I want to 'see' him with my own eyes."

"There will be a chance." Lyudmila held her chin: "Victoria, we should talk about something else. You know I'm not here to reminisce with you."

"Well... okay." Victoria ordered: "Children, take the guests to walk somewhere else."

The prince and the princess stood up at the same time. Cordelia stood up, saluted to the two, and then left the greenhouse.

Within five steps, all the conversations behind him fell into complete silence.

On the way to another place, the princess showed great affinity, while the prince looked calm and even left halfway with an excuse.

"Don't mind, he has always been like this." The princess spoke well for him: "Although he is impatient, he has no malice."

What else can Cordelia say? She can only smile to show that she doesn't mind.

Soon, they entered a horse farm.

This is considered a private property of the royal family. It can be used to raise horses and as a golf course.

Two beautiful white horses rushed over from the pasture and stopped in front of Cordelia.

On the horse's back was a pair of beautiful twins... This pair was called the national treasure of midwinter.

The elder sister was named Sissi and the younger sister was named Helen. When they were only fifteen years old, they were famous in Europe for their beauty.

The two princesses had just passed their coming-of-age ceremony at this time and were quite lively and active.

When they saw Cordelia, who was of the same age, they immediately invited her to ride horses and stroll together.

The princess watched nearby and asked the maid to prepare tea and cakes.

The tired people returned to rest near the princess.

Princess Sissi smiled and said, "The saint has gone to such a far place at such a young age. It's really enviable."

Cordelia was proud in her heart, but modest on the surface: "I am the Lord's agent, so I can't slack off every day. How can I compare with the two princesses."

Sissi smiled and asked, "Does the saint have someone she likes?"

Cordelia didn't understand why this sentence was so out of place.

Helen said faintly, "She is showing off, because many people have written love letters to her and invited her to see theatrical performances."

Cordelia replied steadily, "I am a saint, I also have feelings, but if I like someone, it is best if they are mutually in love."

"I think so too." Helen said dignifiedly, "I will not accept other people's invitations casually."

"You obviously don't want to go because you think it's troublesome." Sissi said angrily, "You hold books all day long and read them. It is said that there is no love in the books. How can a dragon capture a princess, and then a knight crosses mountains and ridges and goes through untold hardships to rescue her? If it really comes to that, I think the knight's true love is the dragon, not the princess."

Helen snorted, turned her head, and said stubbornly, "I believe in the existence of love, and I believe in the beautiful love I am referring to."

The princess looked at him with a smile, neither stopping nor commenting.

Cordelia cast a puzzled look.

The princess lazily said, "I think they are cute. After all, they are my daughters, so it is right to be romantic... Well, I lived in Flora, Rome when I was young."

Cordelia understood immediately.

"Do the two princesses have lovers?" Cordelia asked at the right time.

"I..." Helen hesitated.

Sissi suddenly changed her words: "I received an invitation letter, inviting me to watch the knight duel the day after tomorrow. I heard it will be very exciting. At present, most people in the capital know about this matter. It is spreading like wildfire. Do you want to go and watch it together?"

Helen was puzzled: "Why do you suddenly say this?"

"Because..." Sissi lowered her voice: "One of the parties is the red dragon of Pendragon."

"Ah, the knight who looks most like the knight king? He seems to have golden hair." Helen blinked: "But don't all the Pendragons have red hair?"

"He is a bastard, but he does look like King Arthur..." Sissi couldn't help but say a few more words.

"You know so much." Helen looked at her sister: "Did your invitation come from him?"

"No, of course not." Sissi quietly looked at the princess's expression and shook her head: "It was sent by a marquis."

Cordelia was not very interested in this. She asked: "If the strength of the two duels is not equal, there is nothing to see. Pendragon is known as the Red Dragon of Britain. I think he is a very powerful person. So who will his opponent be?"

"This, the invitation letter didn't say." Sissi hadn't thought about this.

Helen felt more and more that her sister must have mentioned it on purpose.

The princess said to the attendant beside her: "Go check it out."

Soon the attendant came back with a handwritten letter: "This is the duel application form for the Camlan duel arena."

The twin princesses took it and saw one of the names, and the other name was completely incomprehensible.

"How do you read this? It doesn't seem to be European."

Cordelia looked down and froze for a few seconds. She probably didn't expect to see this name here.

Her reaction did not escape the ideas of the princess and the twin princesses.

"Does the Saint know him?"

Cordelia opened her mouth, unable to deny.

"I know him."

She sighed deeply, calmed down, sat dignified, and smiled confidently.

"To be frank and regretful... Pendragon's red dragon has kicked the Alps."

"Oh?" The princess asked excitedly: "Who is he?"

"I have mentioned this name just now... His name is Bai Yu, Bai Yujing - he once challenged the demigod of the secret sect but returned safely. It can be said that... he is almost invincible below the canonization, and one-on-one above the canonization."