Chapter 878

Chapter 878: Midnight Search

In the forest, the first light of dawn appeared. Lolan Hill woke up amidst some noise. Opening her eyes, she saw Lotte clumsily trying to start a fire. From her appearance, it seemed she didn’t know how to do it properly.

“It’s important to leave gaps in the kindling, with a hollow in the middle. This way, air can better flow in and help the fire burn,” Lolan Hill patiently taught this fallen young lady, sharing the experience she had heard from adults when she was little.

“Thank you,” Lotte said, her face slightly flushed, but she nodded nonetheless.

Looking at this girl, who was as adorable as a sister, Lolan Hill’s lips curved upwards.

“Let’s have breakfast and then set off. We shouldn’t stay out overnight anymore today,” Lolan Hill stood up, took out the last few biscuits from her small bag, and heated them up before they started eating.

After the rain, the forest air was particularly fresh. The two quickly crossed the mountain ridge, crossed the river and the woods, and slowly arrived at the city they had previously visited.

After entering the city, they walked down the street and soon noticed something amiss. Today seemed much quieter than usual.

When they reached the square in the city, they saw a crowd gathered there. As they approached, they learned what had happened.

The search officials had come to this city, captured several fugitive criminals, whipped them, and hanged them in the square. Now, there were still two corpses hanging on the high platform.

“The criminal, due to violating the Empire’s laws and attempting rebellion, is sentenced to death by hanging,” several illiterate civilians read the notice, word by word.

“Probably remnants of the Basca family,” someone commented casually, as those noble lords’ affairs had nothing to do with them.

“No, it’s another group of people,” a hunter carrying a bow pointed at the words on the notice.

“They are revolutionaries from other provinces of the Empire.”

“What are revolutionaries?” Some people were puzzled.

“It is said that in the Purplewood Province, there is a group of people who want to imitate Clancia and overthrow the Empire’s rule,” an uncle whispered.

“That’s quite bold, tsk tsk,” a group shook their heads, thinking these people were crazy.

“How easy would it be to overthrow the Empire? Besides, why should they be allowed to?”

“I think no matter who takes over, things will turn out like this.”

“Let’s go.” Saying that, several people dispersed, no longer paying attention to the announcement.

Lolan Hill heard this and slowly stepped forward, reading the announcement and then looking at the two corpses, silently sighing.

Revolution was not such an easy thing, and it also faced more misunderstandings from others. Great endeavors were always fraught with difficulties at the beginning, making it hard to maintain hope.

“Let’s go back.”

“Mmm.” Lotte looked at the dead bodies, paused for a moment, and then followed Lolan Hill.

That night, the clamor of shouts and footsteps woke Lolan Hill from her sleep.

Opening the window of the inn, she saw squads of soldiers holding torches on the street. From their attire, they were all private soldiers under Baron Moroz’s command.

“All of you! Starting now, no one is allowed to leave the city,” a powerful voice broke the silence of the night.

Countless residents of the town were startled awake from their sleep, then opened their windows and doors, feeling anxious and uneasy as they understood the sudden situation.

The originally relaxed city gates and walls were now filled with soldiers, who, under the leadership of their captains, blocked the exits of the small town and conducted house-to-house searches.

“What’s going on?” A resident who got up in the middle of the night opened the door, anxiously asking the soldiers.

“Lord Moroz lost something, and now he wants to search the outsiders in the city,” these usually lax soldiers were cold and stern, searching each house one by one.

“Injustice, sir, our house is so small, how could we hide anyone?” This resident pleaded, seeing the soldiers roughly flipping through the hay and overturning beds, feeling heartbroken.

“Hmph.” After checking, the soldier turned around and led his men out of the house.

“Next house.”

Although Baron Moroz only had about 500 soldiers under him, the local residents dared not resist, and could only open their doors and allow searches.

Lolan Hill, puzzled, dressed and grabbed her sword, leading Lotte out the door and into the courtyard. Many members of the trade caravan had already gathered here, whispering among themselves.

“Miss Sharlin said that Lord Moroz seems to have lost something important, and now he’s searching the whole city,”

“What kind of treasure is so important?” Others were confused.

“I don’t know either, but I heard that Lord Moroz is very angry and has given the soldiers a strict order to find out the truth,”

“This could cause some trouble, it feels like many things might happen.”

Even though the trade caravan had nothing to do with this, they couldn’t guarantee that the angry noble wouldn’t take out his anger on them.

“We can only wait for Miss Sharlin’s news; she is currently negotiating with Captain Kevin,”

After hearing this, the others sighed and turned to see Lolan Hill coming down the stairs.

“Miss Mesia is also awake? It’s not peaceful tonight.”

“Mmm, I came down to understand the situation,” Lolan Hill nodded and asked about the current situation.

Knock knock knock—

Just as everyone was talking in the courtyard, the door suddenly knocked.

“I’m coming.”

The trade caravan members opened the door hesitantly, and a group of fully armed soldiers stood outside. They wore blue-checkered cloaks and chainmail, holding halberds, with a few black-clad soldiers standing nearby.

“Gentlemen, we are the Rengen Trade Caravan, old friends of Lord Moroz, hehe,” the trade caravan member spoke dryly, his voice gradually fading.

“Yes, I naturally know your origins, so you are also key suspects,” the captain of the soldiers was not Kevin, but a sinister man, a distant relative of Baron Moroz, and thus more trusted by Moroz.

“Have all your members gather in the courtyard. If you privately hide any outsiders, you know the consequences,” his voice suddenly became chilling towards the end, making people shudder.

“I know, I know,” the young man clearly felt afraid and quickly responded, then ran back to call everyone to bring their companions out of the rooms.

Seeing this scene, the captain of the soldiers was unsatisfied. He waved his hand, and his soldiers rushed into the courtyard like hungry wolves, quickly climbing the stairs, pushing open the doors amid cries, and swiftly checking every hiding spot.

Hearing the commotion upstairs, the captain of the soldiers finally showed a satisfied smile, then leisurely surveyed the people in the courtyard.

“You, and you, come out,” he soon focused his attention on two beautiful girls.

Under the torchlight, the two girls’ exquisite faces and figures stood out in the crowd, especially the golden-haired girl, whose hair shimmered like gold threads under the flame, smooth and captivating.

Good evening, everyone!

I’m back to talk with you all because today is my birthday.

Thank you for your support throughout the year. This is Azure Symphony, and I will continue to work hard.

(This chapter ends)