Just like the thousands of people chanting "Forward!", the majestic and imposing motorcade is moving forward. It is almost nine o'clock, and the motorcade is about to enter "Blue Hibiscus Avenue", a straight road leading to St. Marienplatz. The street is very wide, a full eighty meters, and can accommodate thousands of people marching on both sides.

The guards driving the chariots then lowered the black masks embroidered with six-pointed stars on the faces of their warhorses. The heavily armored warhorses slowed down, and the convoy gradually slowed its pace.

Meanwhile, the cheers of the crowd grew louder and louder. As they marched in a grand procession, they looked up at the sky, as if they were anticipating something.

Gustav was getting more and more drunk; he was still laughing and waving his arms, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Finally, when the lead car carrying von Palen entered the hard surface of Blue Hibiscus Street...

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!"

In an instant, countless explosions suddenly erupted, and the cannons that had been placed on both sides of the road were lit. They shot into the dark sky, turning it into a bright day. In just a moment, this day, which was so bright it was almost blinding, turned into thousands of golden lights.

The dazzling golden light spread outwards, like stars falling from the sky, so magnificent that it shocked everyone who looked up, and some even trembled with excitement.

Such a beautiful scene can only be seen on New Year's Eve, and such a scene is enough for them to remember for a whole year.

The cheers of the crowd grew louder and louder with the explosion of the cannons. The warhorses that were advancing were covered with masks, but they still snorted uncomfortably. The guards gently stroked their bodies to calm them down.

Just then, amidst the booming of the cannons, a thud that went unnoticed quietly occurred.

Two breaths later, the guards driving the chariot cried out in alarm.

"General Gustav has fallen!!!"

Amid screams, the guards hurriedly jumped off the carriage and dragged Gustav out, who had just been run over by the wheels.

This little incident went unnoticed by most people, who were still looking up at the sky, completely absorbed in the magnificent scenery.

The convoy continued on its way and did not stop because of Gustav's accidental fall, as this was an unalterable tradition. Gustav, whose right hand was injured by the wheels, was in severe pain, which dispelled his drunkenness.

"Quick! Get me into the car!" he shouted anxiously to the guards, despite the pain.

The guards hurriedly carried him forward, but fortunately the convoy was not moving fast, and they finally caught up with the chariot.

Gustav reached out his left hand to grab the railing and jump up, but as soon as he did, someone on the train grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

"Thank you, Field Marshal Wolfgang," Gustav said, his face flushed and head bowed, after getting into the car.

Wolfgang stroked his beard, looked at him and smiled, "Gustav, I didn't expect you to be startled by the sound of the cannons. I didn't even notice you just now. I'm really sorry."

These words made Gustav even more ashamed, and he hurriedly said, "No, Field Marshal Wolfgang, how could I be frightened by the sound of the cannon salute?"

"I'm just a little drunk."

In response to Gustav's explanation, Wolfgang glanced at his chest, smiled, and made no comment.

Then, Wolfgang turned to look ahead and said with a smile, "Gustave, we'll be at St. Marienplatz soon. Let's drink until we drop tonight, haha."

Gustav, who was straightening his somewhat disheveled clothes, stopped checking them upon hearing this and turned to look ahead.

Under the illumination of the streetlights on both sides of Blue Boulevard, the magnificent St. Marienplatz at the end of the long road paved with brown flint was brightly lit by countless lights, and the towering statue of St. Marien appeared clearly in Gustave's view.

However, his gaze was drawn more to the building behind the statue.

That is the West Clock Tower. This ancient clock tower is 48 meters high, with several exquisitely crafted stone carvings on the eaves of each floor. At the top of the tower, four huge clocks facing the southeast, northwest and southwest directions turn their hands day and night.

Inside the clock is the centuries-old West Bright Clock, which will chime twelve times before midnight tonight, ushering everyone into the new year.

Now, the West Clock Tower has firmly captured Gustav's gaze. The magnificent and exquisite building makes it hard for him to look away. Even though it is still some distance away, Gustav feels as if he can see the hands of the clock swinging.

"Well, Gustave, the West Clock Tower has been completely renovated this year," Wolfgang suddenly said beside him.

Gustav then came to his senses and said with a smile, "Yes, at first I thought they had rebuilt the clock tower."

Wolfgang explained, "A few months ago, the Emperor ordered the West Clock Tower to be renovated. Apart from repairing some old and damaged parts, the biggest change was the color of the exterior walls."

"The entire clock tower has been painted a brownish-red, doesn't it look much brighter?" Wolfgang turned to look at Gustav's chest.

Gustav, still looking at the clock tower, nodded and smiled upon hearing this, saying:

"It is much brighter, but is it a brownish-red?"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, which had been run over by a wheel, revealing a bruise and traces of blood. Gustav gestured with his own hand, then laughed, "Why does it look more like bright red to me? Did the painter mix up the paint?"

Wolfgang laughed heartily: "Gustav, I didn't know you were so funny."

"But I must say something fair to the painters: this is a reddish-brown color, it just appears brighter tonight because the lights are so bright."

Gustav smiled and nodded, then looked at the West Clock Tower again.

Under the countless lights, it did indeed appear even more vibrant red.

——

With a "thump".

On New Year's Eve, Sergeant Yuri, who belonged to the 32nd Artillery Brigade of the Imperial Army, jumped into the sea from a burning warship.

The moment he entered the water, the icy cold seawater sent a shiver down Yuri's spine, and he couldn't help but let out a scream through his clenched teeth.

Seawater immediately filled his mouth, and he quickly closed it, then vigorously began to swim.

He began to search around, trying to find a plank to shelter on, but when the scene around him came into view, Yuri, who was soaking in the seawater, couldn't help but shed tears.

The sea was littered with burning warships, the wreckage of which covered almost the entire area. And rising with the fierce waves were the corpses of his comrades, so numerous that Yuri could not bear to look at them.

They died tragically, most of them even missing limbs; they were all victims of the shelling, the explosions and flames destroying everything.

Even the seawater at this moment has turned red.