The capital of Soland.

Loran Hill was dining on the second floor of a restaurant, with a busy street downstairs.

The restaurant's decor is somewhat quaint, and the wood carvings on the tables and chairs suggest it's been around for quite a while. Seating is quite tight, and the place is practically full before dinner time.

Fortunately, Luo Lanxi was not in a hurry, so he chose a time when there were fewer people. There were not many guests on the second floor at that time.

"Hello, miss, what would you like to eat?" The waiter in the restaurant was a young man about 20 years old. He handed over a menu.

The girl looked at the dishes. Most of them were common ingredients. There were no rare ingredients. The variety was far less than that of Yubere.

"Are these all the ones in the store?" She wasn't being picky, she just wanted to know what life was like in the royal capital these days.

"Yes." Seeing that the girl seemed to be from another place, the waiter explained.

"The food supply in the capital is now based on quotas. Even our restaurant must first obtain the corresponding receipts from the food department before purchasing food. Otherwise, it would be illegal."

"Is it because of a shortage of food? Has even the capital reached this point?"

"There's barely enough food, but the government has ordered that some of it be stored for future use, so things are a bit tight. This method is being adopted to prevent waste and balance supply."

"Oh, I see." Loran Hill nodded.

While eating lunch, the girl also took a moment to check on the other guests. Generally speaking, Solander's food selection wasn't extensive, but the most basic vegetables and a small amount of meat were still available, and the prices weren't too high. While the wealthy might find it difficult to adapt, for most ordinary people, it wouldn't have much of an impact, and the cost of living wouldn't be too high.

After finishing her meal, she continued walking on the street, looking at the shops and people passing by.

Compared with Hopeland and Uberei, Solander is worthy of being the capital of the West Wind for nearly a thousand years. Most of the buildings here are tall and gorgeously decorated, and its style is majestic and grand.

The high-rise buildings on both sides of the street are all no fewer than four stories high, and the business here is extremely developed. Loran Hill even saw the Yagtilin family's furniture store, with its familiar olive and shell patterns.

The types of shops there are also extremely rich, including jewelry, furniture, clothing, wine, weapons, ceramics, etc. There are even specialized doll shops, bookstores, shoe stores, etc., which also indirectly reflects the wealth of the locals.

After all, this is the royal capital. If even the people living here are poor, then other places will be even more difficult.

After a brief stroll, the girl stopped in front of a bulletin board. This board displayed recent announcements from Clancy, along with various new regulations and laws. Two guards stood guard to prevent malicious tampering.

The girl finally understood why even the waiters knew the origins and reasons behind these regulations. Whenever a new rule was introduced, it would be posted here, briefly explaining the reasons behind it. This way, the general public could understand the reasons behind these restrictions and regulations, reducing unnecessary misunderstandings and resistance.

This is a good thing.

The girl stood aside and watched quietly. She was inconspicuous among the crowd in her light brown robe.

"Make way, the Star Leader is coming." Such a voice came from the other side of the street, followed by the crowd's whispered discussions.

"I didn't expect Lord Pullman to be patrolling the streets again today." said a native.

"Pullman, isn't that the king today?" This was a traveler.

"You don't understand. Currently, there is no king in Clancy. There are only Star Leaders elected by the conference."

"Isn't it just a change of name?" the passenger said with some disdain.

"Humph, how shallow! This isn't a privately inherited title or position, but a leader representing the will of the people." The Clansian on the side explained angrily.

"Yes, I understand. Can you put your fist down?" The traveler looked at the local man and said with some concern. Seeing the unfriendly looks from the people around him, he realized that his previous remarks had angered everyone.

"Then why doesn't this gentleman work in the palace, but on the street?" the traveler began to change the subject.

"This is the people-friendly nature of Lord Pullman." Another local explained with a hint of pride, as if he was also very proud to have such a leader.

"Lord Pullman was born in humble circumstances, and it was through the guidance of wise men that he achieved his present success. It's for this reason that he often personally visits the people to understand their realities. If anyone has grievances or urgent matters, they can address them with him. As a result, few officials in the capital dare to commit corruption and evil."

"So that's how it is. He is truly a rare wise ruler." The traveler wiped the sweat from his forehead and praised him hurriedly.

--------

Pullman was no longer the young man he had been back then, but had become much more mature and steady. He rode a black horse, flanked by a group of knights in black armor, and followed by several attendants in various clothing.

He himself wore a dark red cloak on his back, a special steel-colored armor on his body, and a long sword at his waist. He nodded slightly to the citizens around him, and then looked at the scenery on the street.

Although he could not go to various places to investigate the real situation among the people as freely as before, after handling government affairs, he would take a little time every few days to walk around the streets.

This is not to show off, but because he doesn't want to be too detached from the masses. He deeply understands how those rulers who are indifferent to the world gradually become disconnected from society.

Around 4 p.m., the sunlight had faded, turning a softer golden hue. It reflected off his metal armor, casting a halo of light. The ruler of Clancia, with his sharp brows and sharp eyes, and the scars on his face added a touch of age and maturity to his appearance.

As the people around him bowed and saluted him, the calm leader gradually stopped his horse and stopped moving forward. Instead, he stared blankly at the figure in white on the side of the street.

The slender figure stood on the stone steps nearby. The hood and coat on her head had been taken off at some point. Her silver hair emitted a light golden halo in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Although so many years have passed, the girl's appearance and figure remain the same as they were back then, without any change. It seems that time has ignored her and left no trace.

The girl with a simple white dress, snow-white skin, and eyes as clear and transparent as the sky, who left a deep impression on Pullman and even haunted him in his dreams, appeared before him again.

After thousands of days and nights and stars, the silver-haired girl in the forest met the boy again.