"This place is not marked on the map." Hitzfeld frowned. It was the first time she knew that the terrain in the eastern part of Xixinna Parish was so dangerous.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and a rift valley on one side, it is simply an "isolated island in topography." From this perspective, Sicinna and Manion are almost cut out of the map. Compared with the so-called inland cities and coastal cities, these two cities are obviously more inclined to the Buro Mountains. She would not be surprised even if they were built by the natives in the mountains.
"How should I put it?" Frick raised his eyebrows. "This is because we have to decide whether to take the initiative to disclose the situation here. There is also controversy in Xixinna."
"What kind of controversy?" Hitzfeld asked. "… Reputation?"
"You have a keen sense, Count. Indeed, you have a reputation for it."
After finishing the business, Frick was now very relaxed. Moreover, he brought so many troops with him on this trip, and they were coordinated and mobilized by people like Hitzfeld, so in his opinion, coming here was almost like a vacation, so he was in a good mood and talked more.
"The economic development of Xixinna mainly depends on three things," Flick said, "namely, mining, football and floating population."
When talking about the floating population, he smiled very playfully: "The last one is not limited to the slave trade, but also includes attracting explorers and scholars to visit and investigate Burro Canyon."
"Are they worried that announcing this rift would scare some people away and make them afraid to come?" Xia Yibing showed an absurd expression, "...Shouldn't this encourage more people to come?"
Explorers and scholars are not ordinary people. The former can risk their lives for the reward, and the latter can also sacrifice their lives for research. For them, they are afraid that your place is not dangerous enough, and there is absolutely no reason to dare not come because of danger.
"No." Hitzfeld looked at this aspect more long-term. "It should be because there were too many accidents... and they want to expand the market and turn exploration into a recreational project. This requires taking into account the thoughts of ordinary people."
It's incredible... The reason behind this is very simple to analyze. In fact, Xixinna wants to build itself into a tourist city. Only in this way can we explain why they want to cover up this rift valley.
"A lot of things have happened." Frick nodded. "This rift is more than a thousand meters deep...it gets hotter the deeper you go. Some people speculate that there is boiling magma at the bottom."
“And those explorers and scholars who were attracted to it would hear about people dying down there every once in a while. So much so that they now have to fence off most of this place, and only those who have applied can go down.”
"So this situation has been going on for a long time?"
"I estimate it's been at least ten years."
Hitzfeld tried to continue digging for clues about this rift, but Frick was not from Xixinna after all, and did not know much about it, so he could only provide her with this much information.
Then I guess this rift shouldn't be a big problem.
The airship was about to land. Hitzfeld looked out the window at the deep ravine on the side and felt that perhaps there was no need to waste time on it.
The reason is very simple - if this rift was really a big problem, it would have been listed as a restricted area like the Worm Plains. However, the fact that anyone can be allowed to explore it as long as they sign a death waiver agreement shows that it is not very dangerous.
"So there is no airport in Manion, right?" Xia Yibing asked.
"No... Manion is half the size of Sicin. It's a city that's almost cut out of the rock, so there's no way to build an airport there. I had the opportunity to go there once when I was young. To be honest, you'll be surprised when you see it."
With a shake, the airship landed. There was no need for them to stay here any longer, so the four of them walked back while talking, planning to pack up and prepare to land.
At the same time, a middle-aged officer slowly walked out of the wooden tower in the shadow of the airport.
The upright chest indicated that this was a man, and he was wearing a khaki officer's uniform, which was much darker than the soldier next to him. He wore an officer's cap, deerskin gloves, long boots, and held an officer's staff in his hand.
"What are they here for?" He raised his staff and pointed at the airships that were landing, and casually asked a soldier next to him.
"It's a Coneril Aviation airship, sir." The soldier answered cautiously.
"Inside information... there is a 3500-man troop that will be transferred here from the Central Diocese. They sent a telegram in advance. I think it can only be them."
"Insider information?" The officer frowned and his voice suddenly became louder. "How come I don't know such inside information?"
"This..." The soldier's scalp suddenly went numb, and he could only stammer to explain: "It may be because... Lieutenant Colonel Cab intercepted the telegram..."
"What about the others?"
"I think he is preparing to receive the envoy from Wayne."
"Special Envoy..." The officer's mouth curled up, "Hey!"
Then he quickly walked towards the airship, and several soldiers hurriedly caught up with him: "Sir! Sir!"
"I'm not old enough to need Kabu to do everything for me!" The officer cursed as he walked. "I'm about to retire, but what is he doing now? That shouldn't be his job!"
Halfway through the shouting, an airship slowly passed over them. The huge shadow completely covered the ground, and the roar of the engine and propeller was deafening. A group of people had to cover their faces with their hats to avoid being blinded by the dust.
"What the hell is that?"
Putting down his arms, the officer watched the big guy slowly land on the open space in front of the left. He covered his left chest with his hands, half sighing and half asking.
"This one……"
A soldier held up a wooden clip and flipped through the pages. "This should be different from the normal passenger model... but its size doesn't match any of the currently known cargo models. It should be a new one developed by Cornerell Aviation."
"Cargo?" The officer's eyes lit up. "As far as I know, no matter where the airship is from, it has to abide by the rules here, such as paying a custodial fee."
"The person coming this time is not an ordinary commander..." The soldier who spoke at the beginning reminded him carefully, "That is Count Xieyang... a favorite of His Majesty. It is said that she can see death. She was a powerful witch before she was conferred..."
"I don't believe in those supernatural things!" The officer interrupted him with a wave of his hand, "What witches... wizards... It's not that I haven't seen extraordinary people, but they can just remember what they dreamed about. I also have this ability!"
The soldiers looked at each other, and there was nothing they could do to him.
Colonel Bilis was completely different before he got his terminal illness. Although he was quite strict back then, at least he was reasonable. He wasn't as shameless as he is now and he always talks nonsense.
The bad news is that some bastard informed him that a lot of people would be coming to the airport today. The good news is that he will face Lieutenant Colonel Kabu in a while. He is the only person in the entire Xisinna who can check and balance Colonel Bilis. They will be relieved if they can hold on until then.
The middle-aged officer, Colonel Bilis, stood at the edge of the airport and watched for a while, looking at the ladders extending from the bellies of those airships, and watching some... well... obviously more well-trained soldiers than he had ever seen coming out of them. Then he pointed at the large airship that had just flown past him and asked, "Can we go up and check it out?"
"No!" the soldier quickly replied, "We don't have the authority to check."
"The other ships ahead all vomited people, but this one didn't. If I don't go up and check, how can I know they don't have any dirty stuff hidden inside?"
Several soldiers broke out in cold sweats when they heard this: "This... Colonel... Sir! Strictly speaking, the entire Xixinna Parish belongs to the power represented by these people. There is no need for them to bring dirty things here..."
This is already a very polite statement.
Damn it, that was an important minister sent by His Majesty the King! He represented the attitude of His Majesty the King himself!
What king would try to poison his land with dirt?
This matter must be reported to Lieutenant Colonel Kabu later... The colonel's condition has worsened again!
Bilis paced around, shaking his head, and no one knew what he was thinking.
However, he did not mention going up to check again, which made them feel relieved.
"Let's go." Bilis straightened his hat slightly.
"I've seen enough."
"I'm going to meet the so-called envoy."
At the same time, Hitzfeld and his team had met with Lieutenant Colonel Kab, the head of the parish's local defense, at the airport tower.
Lieutenant Colonel Kabu was a young man, compared to his position. He looked to be in his thirties at best, with a perfectly maintained figure, short dark blond hair and a pair of blue-gray eyes. His facial features were like a marble sculpture carved out by a knife, and he was definitely a very classic template for the protagonist's face.
But he is very stable.
So steady that it was even a little too steady... When Hitzfeld was looking at him, he was also looking at her. Their eyes met in mid-air, and Hitzfeld frowned slightly.
She had a feeling that this person would be difficult to deal with.
If she had to describe Commander Kabu in one word, she would use "quiet".
Not "handsome", not "young", not "stable".
But "quiet".
He just stood there with his hands behind his back, but it felt to her like he had been standing there for 10,000 years. His silence had been integrated into his unique temperament, and at first glance, he blended in with the environment, but you couldn't help but stare at him.
It feels a bit creepy.
Hitzfeld remembered a science fiction novel he had read in his previous life. There was a character in that novel who was described in this way. He was a madman with super powers who had the ability to control others with his mental power.
"Lieutenant Colonel." Xia Yibing interrupted her recollections. The woman took the initiative to step forward and shook hands with Lieutenant Colonel Kabu with her leather-gloved right hand.
"As you can see, we have a large group of people here. I want to know if there is any place in the local area that can accommodate us."
"This airport is right next to the barracks," Lieutenant Colonel Kabu said. "When the barracks were built, they were built to accommodate 15,000 people. There are only 2,000 soldiers there now. If you don't mind, you can stay there first."
“First?” Darent muttered in the back, “‘First’… Oh my God, he said it as if we have any other choice…”
"Mr. Darent." Frick approached him quietly from the side and squeezed his arm.
“…It hurts a bit.”
"I'm sorry, but Miss Hitzfeld asked me to shut you up at some point."
"She is so willing to do that... I think she has forgotten who saved her in those critical moments! I want to protest!"
"You can protest all you want once you get out of here, but as long as they're still talking about business, you're not going anywhere."
"Hey……"
Marseille saw this scene from behind and couldn't help but grinning happily.
Then he immediately saw the scary woman with a ponytail and long trousers glancing back.
“……” Marseille suddenly stopped laughing.
Under the puzzled gazes of a group of Silvers, he stood up straight, his posture even more standard than when he was in the training camp.
Ignoring the little episode that happened later, the people in front quickly reached a consensus on the stationing affairs.
Among the garrison troops sent this time, 3000 soldiers and 300 silver knights stayed in the barracks on standby, settled down first, and waited for mission dispatch at any time. The other 200 silver knights served as the guards of several officers and envoys to escort them to the government building, where they would spend the first night after arriving in Xixinna.
"Let's stay in Xixinna for one night."
On the way downstairs, Xia Yibing approached the girl and discussed with her, "Find out about the local operations and information - I think they must have records of the Manion wreckage case. Let's go there tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
Hitzfeld naturally had no objection.
If it was a normal investigation, they would definitely rush to Manion City as soon as possible. But this time they came with a large army to suppress the rebellion. Although theoretically she could ignore all the suggestions of the locals, if she didn't want to ruin the relationship right away, she'd better act calmly and let some people who were probably frightened at this moment relax.
After all, she wasn't here to settle accounts, she was just here to solve the problem.
Apart from the military camp, there are normal streets. The streets here are wide and the houses are low. It looks much more desolate than any city she has ever been to.
Especially with the scorching sun and blue sky above, you can clearly see a cloud of yellow dust rolling across the road from time to time.
Xia Yibing covered her mouth and nose skillfully, and also covered Hitzfeld's as well.
When they were about to get on the bus, an accident happened. They heard a heated argument coming from behind, and when they looked back, they saw an old man in a brown military coat pointing fingers at Lieutenant Colonel Kabu, and his attitude was really rude.
"Who is that?"
She frowned slightly and stared at the scepter in his hand.
Officer's scepter... not every officer is qualified to own this.
Only those who have reached the rank of colonel or above and have made outstanding contributions to the country have the chance to be awarded the officer's scepter by the royal family.
"It should be Om-Bilis." Someone answered.
"Before Kabu, he was in charge of local defense. He did a good job, but since he got the cerebral flexion disease, he has had some mental problems."
Hitzfeld put down her raised legs and turned to look at the source of the voice. It turned out that there were two tall and thin middle-aged men talking to her.
"I'm Harrison and he's Josie."
The one who spoke nodded to her.
"It's not convenient to visit you on the road, so today is a formal meeting, Earl."
"You didn't say this just to tell me."
Hitzfeld smiled at him.
"We're here to say thank you." Harrison also smiled. "I know - you know Frick and Marseille, and they may have said something bad about the Ascetics..."
"I admire the Ascetic Knights." Hitzfeld interrupted him, "If that's what you're worried about, then you don't have to."
"is it?"
Harrison was slightly stunned.
They didn't know much about the legendary Count Jiyang, so it was inevitable that they would have such concerns. But based on their first impression of the Countess, she was a nice person, and if she wasn't pretending, then they could put many of their thoughts aside.
"Anyway, thank you for inventing the blood boiling potion."
When he said this, his voice was very low.
"Although we don't use it ourselves, we also understand how many children's lives it can save... This is an impeccable contribution, and we all owe it to you."
"That's too polite..."
Hitzfeld wanted to say something polite, but immediately afterwards, a sharp noise came from the other side - where Colonel Bilis and Lieutenant Colonel Cab were.
...It's just like scratching a blackboard with a sharp piece of metal.
What the hell is that noise?
He first covered his ears, then turned around with everyone else and finally saw... a strange knight slowly walking out from the shadows at the stairs - the harsh noise just now should have been made by him scratching something with his metal armor.
