When Rita's enormous glass carriage appeared in the city hall of Twilight City, almost all the officials and citizens stopped what they were doing and stared at her and her maid with wide mouths.

Imagine enlarging your fish tank a hundredfold, adding wheels and seats, and having several mermaids swimming inside—everyone would be captivated.

As the crowd grew larger, the knights responsible for maintaining order had to step in.

"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" the lead knight shouted at Rita's coachman. "You! Move the carriage to the side entrance of the building! Don't stop here!"

Rita leaned over the edge of the water tank, took out a small bag of gold coins, and tossed it to the knight: "I'm very sorry for the chaos caused. May I ask if I can see the person in charge here?"

The knight caught the money pouch, tossed it back into the water tank, and said irritably, "Outsider, read the laws here before you come to Dragon Kingdom! I'll let it slide this time, but don't blame me for being impolite next time! Now, leave immediately!"

Frustrated, Rita ordered the car to leave the lobby and go to the plaza outside the building. The intense sunlight shining directly into the water made her feel dazzled and uncomfortable.

Several maids swam to her side, shielding her from the surrounding sunlight with their bodies, and asked in a low voice, "Chief, what do we do now?"

Rita glanced at the crowd that was gradually gathering around her, gritted her teeth, and said, "Have the car drive around the building and see where that side entrance is."

Soon, Rita completely regretted her decision.

Like a parade in a circus, the huge glass water tank carriage became the best entertainment for citizens wherever it went.

Children chased after the carriage, shouting and jumping; men peered through the glass, carefully "studying" the mermaid's seashell clothing, emitting bursts of laughter that only men understood; vendors, carrying their wares, followed the carts, desperately hawking their wares (the telescopes were all snapped up).

Rita swam around frantically in the water tank, completely bewildered by the scene before her.

Just then, a loud shout came from the street.

"Get out of the way!"

A female knight riding a warhorse, wearing white armor and with light gold braids, slowly approached from the other end of the street, accompanied by four squire knights.

The female knight wore white armor with a huge black dragon head on the front of her chest, below which were engraved intersecting warhammers and longswords.

“They are guards from Holy Guard City.” Someone recognized the newcomer: “To dare to ride a horse and wear armor like this in the city, it must be because of an urgent military situation.”

As the onlookers gradually dispersed, the leading female knight rode up to the glass water tank. Upon seeing the situation inside, she exclaimed in surprise, "Dragon God above, what are you?"

Rita bowed to the female knight from the water tank: "We are children of the sea. The Dragon God was merciful and took us in, promising to grant us citizenship. We have come here today to inquire about how to apply for citizenship."

The female knight seemed still in shock: "Children of the sea? I've only been away from Twilight City for a few years, what has happened here?"

Rita leaned closer to the glass and asked, "Sir, about the application for citizenship?"

"Oh, right, to apply for citizenship, you first need to make an appointment with the city hall."

"An appointment? What is an appointment?"

The female knight frowned.

Then, she turned to her squires and said, “Go to the government office and find Lord Elijah. Tell him that some guests from the sea are waiting for him. I’m going to the capital to report for duty.”

Seeing that the female knight was about to leave, Rita quickly asked, "My lady, may I ask how I should address you?"

"Dion de Beaumont".

At the same time, in the city of Muxi, at the Hill of the Dead, the cemetery of the defenders.

Huggins placed the bouquet of flowers in front of the grave and gently read the inscription on the tombstone.

"Adelina Sari Wilmot, an upright, humble, and courageous lady."

Alfonso de Carvalho, having removed his helmet and allowed the parasite's limbs to twist and writhe, said to the man before the tombstone, "Welcome back."

Huggins chuckled self-deprecatingly: "To be honest, there was a time when I thought I would never be able to return to Twilight City in this lifetime."

"His Majesty would not do that."

“I used to console myself in the same way, but I made a serious mistake during that rebellion, and exile might be the lightest punishment I could receive.”

Alfonso looked at Huggins' back, remained silent for a moment, and then repeated what he had just said: "His Majesty would not do that."

Huggins turned around, stared at Alfonso's face, and said, "Do you look in the mirror regularly?"

"how?"

"You've gotten old; you have gray hairs at your temples. You're only in your thirties, aren't you?"

Alfonso said nonchalantly, "So what? I can still wield my sword."

Huggins shook his head: "Find a woman, at least she can help you take care of your appearance before you go out."

Alfonso glanced at Adelina's tombstone and said in a low voice, "No need."

Huggins sighed and didn't try to persuade him any further.

The two walked side by side, following the pebbly path on the hill, slowly heading towards the city.

Walking with a limp, Huggins looked at the vegetation and sculptures on both sides of the road and said softly, "This place has changed a lot compared to before."

Alfonso said, "His Majesty has always taken good care of this cemetery."

Huggins said quietly, "Sometimes I find it incredible that His Majesty, as a god, always considers the feelings of us mortals."

Noticing that the immobile Huggins was falling behind, Alfonso deliberately slowed his pace and said, "God loves the world, and the world reveres God. Isn't that how it should be?"

Huggins said with a smile, "By the Dragon God."

Alfonso touched the dragon emblem on his chest and nodded gently: "By the Dragon God."

Stepping out of the cemetery and onto the bustling street, Huggins looked at the throngs of people and suddenly asked Alfonso, "I ran into an acquaintance in Terro this time."

"who?"

"Marcos".

Alfonso suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“It seems you still remember,” Huggins said calmly. “He, and an old monk named Myris, were key to unlocking the mystery of the Black Plague.”

Huggins turned to Alfonso: "His Majesty wishes to find them."

Alfonso straightened up and asked, word by word, "Where should I begin?"

Huggins patted Alfonso on the shoulder: "You misunderstood me. His Majesty did not order you to search for them."

"That is...?"

Huggins, limping, continued walking forward: "I just have a feeling that Marcos will come looking for you sooner or later."