The capital of the Lorne Empire is Kennas, known as the "City of Thousands" and the "City of Stars."
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It has another na, the Misty City, due to its unique charm; positioned at a corner of the Claud World, it has beco a place many yearn for in their hearts.
As its na implies, Kennas is shrouded in a veil-like mist all year round.
At dawn, the mist interweaves with the morning light, and the entire city seems imrsed in a gentle golden ocean. The outlines of buildings appear to flicker, like mirages, kindling endless fascination.
At night, lights penetrate the mist, forming columns of illumination that adorn the city like a resplendent starry sky fallen to earth, a sight too beautiful to behold.
This strong and prosperous city of Kennas is undoubtedly the center of the Ouden Continent and even the entire Claud World. For centuries, it has been an ideal place many aspire to reach, where people can pursue their dreams and futures.
Yet, Kennas also lacks no place to hide its filth, where countless individuals fail to fulfill any dreams and completely lose their futures, rely reduced to fuel for the enjoynt of the Extraordinary nobility.
At this mont, within the palace of the Lorne Empire, seventeen people standing at the very center of imperial power are actively discussing matters about Cyart.
The majestic and valiant Emperor of Lorne sits on his throne, eyes closed, leaning slightly backward, seemingly indifferent to the matter at hand.
Below him, the sixteen mbers of the Lorne Cabinet discuss amongst themselves.
"We have already helped the Fischer family and the Romann family of Cyart to successfully win their war, and a new queen has ascended the throne, nad Peggy Adler."
The speaker, the Pri Minister of Lorne, "Diamond Man" William Pitt, is a frail old man nearing eighty, his deanor utterly calm. Dressed in black clothes, he appears severe and ticulously tidy.
Suspended around his body are a myriad of differently colored stones, imbued with Extraordinary power. Of these, at least a dozen can be counted, one of which is the ultimate miracle of alchemy, the "Philosopher's Stone."
"From now on, we can indirectly control Cyart by puppeteering the Fischer family and the Romann family, and the Lorne Empire can take this opportunity to reap many benefits. It is ti to receive our dues."
The elder Pri Minister paused, then continued, "But I'm not optimistic about the future of Cyart."
"The Emperor of the Seven Stars will surely not stand by idly. He might command his dogs... the Carnian people to make trouble for Cyart, and the Rhea People also deeply hate the Cyart people."
One of the cabinet mbers imdiately asked a question:
"So, if a war against the Cyart people does break out, should we send the Vania people to assist and help Cyart through the crisis?"
Just then, a deep voice said:
"It doesn't matter, even if Cyart is completely destroyed in the end, as long as the Empire can plunder enough benefits in the anti."
The man, clad in Lorne military uniform, looked to be only about thirty years old, with a resolute face, blue veins visible beneath his pale skin, and an overtly reserved deanor in his eyes.
Most Extraordinary Exponents would likely feel panic-stricken at the sight of him, then involuntarily deem the man as "a very decisive ordinary person."
However, everyone in this city knows him!
He is the strongest of the Empire, the "Iron Blood Marshal" Horatio Wesley, the protective deity of the Lorne military!
"Once the power left by the gods has vanished, the unprotected Eastern Four Kingdoms will sooner or later beco colonies of the Empire. Right now, we should conserve all our strength and attention for that 'Military God' of Seven Stars."
The voice of the Iron Blood Marshal remained low.
----
The power brokers of Kennas are three mighty legends of Heavenly Enlightennt: the Emperor of the Empire George Fryer, the Pri Minister of the Council "Diamond Man" William Pitt, and "Iron Blood Marshal" Horatio Wesley.
Beneath them is the Lorne Council.
National matters should be discussed by the Council, and even the wise Emperor must cooperate with the Extraordinary nobility to resolve issues, a belief firmly rooted in the hearts of Lorne citizens.
The Lorne Council has a history of several hundred years and is the supre legislative body of Lorne, the political epicenter. Successive Lorne governnts have arisen from the Council and are accountable to it and to the Emperor.
In reality, the Lorne Council is divided into the House of Nobles and the House of Commons, but the House of Commons is practically powerless, as the people with power of Bloodline, the Extraordinary nobility, possess trendous authority and can easily veto proposals from the House of Commons!
Power is indeed the root of authority!
Today, so mbers of the Kennas Council are having a small gathering at the ho of one of the mbers, discussing matters related to colonies on other continents or even in alternate worlds.
"Those troublemakers in the colonies are unbearably audacious, to actually burn down my warehouse, resulting in a significant loss of Extraordinary materials..."
"How could they do such a thing? It's just outrageous!"
"Indeed, fortunately, the local general helped out, and all the tribes involved have been dealt with. I've managed to vent quite a bit of frustration because of it."
At that mont, a lesser-known newly risen mber of the Council brought up a small country to the east of the continent, Cyart.
"How much do you know about the Eastern country, Cyart?"
This councilman was none other than Viscount Johnville who had acted as a go-between for the Fischer family, providing many forms of assistance.
He narrowed his eyes, which gave him a shrewd and rcantile appearance, a nobleman with the air of a businessman.
The counciln were montarily stunned before they began sharing their impressions of Cyart, thinking back and forth.
"I know their country has particularly good seafood; it's sothing of a fishing nation, I suppose. But overall, their seafood seems to be not as good as that from the Western Moon Sea and Dragon Bay, right?"
"Lobsters, Cyart's lobsters are definitely in first place! Not even Moon Sea and Dragon Bay can compare!"
"Cyart, a friend of mine bought so indigenous slaves shipped from there. Oh yes, there's a certain special stone on the Great Snow Mountain nearby. It's quite a fine piece in collector's clubs."
The councilors chatted away, and overall, in the upper echelons of Lorne Empire society, few people had much understanding of Cyart, a remote small country on the continent.
Viscount Johnville laughed with a "hehe," shook his head, and said, "Actually, the eleven-year civil war in Cyart has recently ended, and Queen Peggy, supported by the Lorne Empire, has finally ascended the throne."
"Oh, an eleven-year civil war? That sounds like a terrifying thing," said another councilman nonchalantly.
Viscount Johnville took a deep breath.
He spoke solemnly, "Respected counciln, there is a rather important piece of news. The fact is that Queen Peggy was soone I found and brought to the prominent Fischer family in Cyart, so she and the local Fischer family would give so face."
"So if any of you has sothing you want to trade, or hope to sell to the people of the Eastern Four Kingdoms, or want to set up a factory in Cyart... you can co directly to after this gathering."
Everyone showed a dawning realization. So that was it; Viscount Johnville's "investnt" in Cyart was ripe for harvest.
He was not only pulling everyone together to reap the resources of Cyart, but he was also flaunting his own achievents.
Soone said with a laugh:
"It was because of this achievent that the Pri Minister let you into the council, right?"
Viscount Johnville nodded and replied, "Perhaps, but it's mainly because the Pri Minister has a keen eye for people and gave a chance. I think I will do even better in the future."
When Viscount Johnville returned ho, a very special guest had arrived at his villa.
Being a mber of the Imperial Council, he was undoubtedly a genuine high society figure, not soone just anyone could casually et.
However, upon learning of the visitor's surna, Viscount Johnville was very pleased to receive them.
"I really did not expect soone from your family to co to Lorne; I am very happy to et you!"
The visitor was a young man with silvery-white hair, wearing a monocle and a light black tailcoat and having only one intact arm. His face bore an inscrutable smile.
"Hello, my na is Karno Fischer."
It was Karno's first visit to Kennas, the capital of the Lorne Empire.
He had had several dreams a few months ago.
In these dreams, if he ca to the Lorne Empire, Karno would et a mysterious deceased who would bring him many things, even sothing unforgettable for life, and should he miss it, terrible things would happen.
At the sa ti, the na "Andersen" would keep appearing in the dreams...
Karno was well aware of what the so-called "Andersen" was— a veritable nightmare causing even Extraordinary Exponents to pale, very dreadful indeed.
For decades, many of those who had died in the adventures of the Spirit Realm gradually ca to believe they were soone called "Andersen" in real life, eventually losing all sense of their forr selves.
Over these many years, people were completely powerless against this, not even the heavens could awaken those individuals to their true selves.
As for what exactly "Andersen" was?
Nobody knew.
Karno felt he might find the ultimate answer to the problem in the Lorne Empire.
In the end, he chose to trust the prophetic dreams he had, and so he ca alone to Lorne, the strongest empire in the world, and since he knew no one else here, he went straight to Viscount Johnville.
What exactly did that dream an?
Regardless, he knew the first thing he needed to do was to complete the promotion ritual for the "Eye of Fate" at the 5th Rank; otherwise, the end of his life would draw nearer.
"My life shouldn't be over yet, right? Great Lord of the Lost."
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