Chapter 424

Chapter 424: First Arrival at the Imperial Capital

After understanding the truth of the world, Lolan Hill felt an extremely unreal sensation. It was as if everything had been a grand dream, and she had just barely awakened now.

In the dead of night, she sat by her desk, writing down her thoughts under the bright yellow light, organizing the contents of her mind.

After a long while, she put down her pen and walked to the window, breathing in the cool air by the windowpane.

Even though the words recorded seemed like they were from yesterday, in reality, this was already a very distant past, so far gone that there were no traces of the previous civilization left on the earth today.

Even if a small number of people from the human civilization had survived back then, society and the world should not be like this now.

But, it was not.

Before the First Era, it was an age of ancient wilderness, with dragons and giants vying for supremacy. Later came the elves, orcs, and then humans. Time had passed for too long. Now, people could only re-explore and develop a new civilization.

Although the system did not explicitly state it, information from covert sources and side materials indicated that the previous humans embarked on a path of extinction, closely related to the Ejkah Road developed in the later stages of the Twilight Era.

This was why the system did not leave any specific records about the Ejkah Road, as if someone had deliberately erased it, not wanting it to be picked up again.

It was time to head to Clancia.

For some reason, Lolan Hill suddenly had this thought. She suddenly wanted to know what the current situation in Clancia was like. Had they encountered new difficulties? Were they moving forward according to their ideals? Would they make new choices? Could they become the pioneers of the next era of humanity?

All these questions grew in her heart like wild grass.

—

A week later, in Clancia, the imperial capital of Solande.

The towering city walls were over thirty meters high, and wide gates teemed with bustling crowds. Some pushed carts, others carried loads. It was early morning, and the sun had just risen above the eastern horizon.

“Take your time, don’t rush,” the soldiers at the gate maintained order, wearing neatly arranged armor and holding spears.

Most of those entering the city at this time were farmers from the surrounding villages, bringing fresh vegetables to sell in the city for better prices.

A young lady, dressed in a light brown coat with a hood covering her hair and face, walked among them. Beneath the hood, her lively eyes peered curiously around at the people and things around her.

The slender young lady in front of me is none other than our protagonist, Lolan Hill. Instead of flying directly into the city or making a dramatic entrance into the imperial capital, she chose to walk from the outskirts of the imperial capital, personally observing the current state of this nation.

The villages surrounding Soland have developed very well.

Even she couldn’t help but admire it. The fields on the land were like large squares, reflecting different glimmers under the sunlight. Farmers worked within them, and the scene of a bountiful harvest gradually became apparent.

Those who labored had sweat on their faces, but their eyes also exuded vigor. It was not like two years ago when she left Westwind for Vergha and saw such a bleak and lifeless sight.

After some inquiries, she learned that over the past two years, Clancia had been vigorously reclaiming farmland. Every time new farmland was reclaimed, farmers could obtain one-third ownership of it. This greatly stimulated people’s desire to work. As a result, the national grain production increased year by year.

Although the current grain production still cannot be said to be fully adequate, everyone has confidence in the future. It’s just a matter of time. In a few more years, the food problem will be completely solved.

“Excuse me, may I see your proof?” A soldier clad in steel armor stretched out his hand to block the young lady, causing her steps to pause as she looked up.

When it was Lolan’s turn, she was predictably stopped by the guards at the gate.

“Mm, can you tell me what kind of proof it is?” The young lady’s voice was light and melodious, which made the soldier’s mood much better.

“It’s proof of where you’re from and what business you have in the imperial capital, Soland.” The soldier patiently explained.

Lolan moved aside to let the pedestrians behind her pass.

Perhaps it’s because my attire is rather unique, she thought. This isn’t hard to understand. But if she were to remove her hood, it might cause even bigger trouble.

“Is this acceptable?” She thought for a moment, reached into her clothes, and took out a small badge from a storage space in her ring. This was something prepared by Mira, the rabbit-eared girl, before she enrolled at Emeness.

The badge was made of brass, with the main pattern being an open book, and around it were two stars of different sizes.

“A student badge?” The soldier took the badge and flipped it over, seeing the name ‘Lolan’ engraved on the back, along with the issuance date.

“You wait a moment, I’ll make a record.” He held the badge and spoke to someone who seemed to be the captain, then wrote down the information in a small house nearby.

“Alright, here’s your badge back. Also, I should mention that this badge seems to have been issued about two years ago.”

“Yes, it will expire in another year, and you’ll need to renew it then.”

“Where can I go to renew it?” The young lady asked with great interest.

“You should check with your school. Generally, they will replace your student badge with a professional one when you graduate. Then it depends on what kind of work you do. It will also make it more convenient for you to enter various places and even purchase certain limited-edition items,” the soldier explained.

“Mm-hm, I understand. Thank you,” the young lady said, lowering her head to reveal a short strand of silver hair.

“You’re welcome. Just keep it up, study hard, and the future is in your hands,” the soldier said with a bright smile. He looked to be around 18-20 years old, and there was a faint scar on his neck, suggesting he had experienced war. Now, he was diligently performing his duties.

Although this was a common phrase, Lolan Hill felt a warmth in her heart. She smiled and agreed, then followed the crowd into the grand city.

The main street was incredibly wide, capable of accommodating eight carriages side by side. After passing through the inner wall and gate that stretched over a hundred meters, the scenery opened up before them.

Buildings of light red, deep brown, and pale yellow adorned both sides of the street. The first floor was filled with shops of all kinds, each with a unique style. There were fruit sellers, clothing stores, and shops selling daily necessities. Many of these styles were familiar to Lolan Hill from Yubaire.

The bustling sounds of vendors calling out, people chatting, haggling, footsteps, and animal cries filled the street. Here, one could see all kinds of attire and races.

There were winged girls tucking their wings away, orcs with large curved horns on their heads, elves with pointed ears carrying bows, and hawk knights wearing veils and carrying swords at their waists.

Some were guests and travelers, while others were merchants or mercenaries specifically here for trade.

Various dialects and languages mingled together, creating a lively and prosperous atmosphere.

“Extra! Extra!” A 16-year-old newsboy waved newspapers in the air. The thick stack of paper was printed with a lot of text and a few images, exuding the scent of ink.

“The Frost Rose has dispatched three golem legions northward to the border, with ill intentions! General Seg leads the troops southward, and the second recruitment drive for Klasia is about to begin.”