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Old York hated winter.

The cold winter reminds him of the days in the black district. Damn the black district, damn Partington, damn the big guys and those jackals who can never be satisfied. Life is like a pile of shit, and Old York pulls up his coat to cover his face.

He was actually in middle age, not old at all. But his eyes were as ferocious as a mad dog, which was frightening. Today, this vicious dog was finally going to leave the quagmire where he was born. He let out a long breath and stepped into the door of the Black Forest Tavern.

In an instant, he felt at least dozens of hidden gazes cast at him. Old York sat down at the bar indifferently. No one dared to come to the Black Forest Tavern to cause trouble. Those who dared to do so would become fertilizer rotting in the field. Old York put a coin on the table and said in a low voice: "I'm here to see the owner."

There is a mask engraved on the surface of the coin, which is the pass to the Black Forest Tavern. As long as you hold this coin, you can get everything you want in the Black Forest Tavern.

Old York exchanged everything he had in the black district for this coin and bought a new life from the shop owner. He hated the polluted air here and everything was disgusting.

The waiter took the coin and took him upstairs. Some people privately said that these people were the incarnation of monsters. They never spoke, moved as fast as the wind, and no one could catch their whereabouts. There was no distinguishable feature on their bodies. Old York had seen them throw out the bodies of troublemakers more than once. No matter how famous those people were in their lifetime, they were just garbage here.

Therefore, he was very respectful to the guide. The waiter took him upstairs and opened the door of the private room.

Someone had already arrived. Old York scanned the people standing in the box and saw familiar faces. These people were either tired of the life of fighting and killing, or wanted to leave Partington.

And now, they gathered here and made the same choice as he did.

“It’s nice to see you here.”

The person behind the curtain spoke, and it was hard to tell whether it was a man or a woman. Old York was a little surprised. He had met the owner before, and the other party should have a female voice. Most of the people present noticed this abnormality, and the speaker did not give them time to think. The figure behind the silk curtain flashed, as if changing posture. Then, the speaker spoke in a lazy tone with a smile.

"You have made your choice, so you are qualified to know my identity. I am the real owner of the Black Forest Tavern. You can call me a profiteer."

Old York felt vaguely familiar with the name, and he quickly matched it with the recently popular Chamber of Commerce in Partington. The Chamber of Commerce relied on novel product introductions and promotional plans to gain attention, and it was connected with many noble families. It was said that its tentacles had extended to the north, and it had obtained the cooperation and permission of the church.

As someone who has been in the underground of the black area, Old York knows more.

It is said that the name Partington first appeared in those street taverns. A black-robed businessman would appear in Partington's underground taverns from time to time, and as long as you paid enough, you could get everything you wanted from him.

This information was popular for a while, and some people went out of their way to look for him but to no avail. He never showed up in the bar again, so he was quickly forgotten. It was not until the emergence of the Corrupt Merchants Association that it became a rumor again.

The profiteer chuckled and said, "Many of you should have heard of my name. Now, I can give you one last chance. Those who don't want to leave the black area can leave now. The rest of the story is out of your hands."

Everyone couldn't help swallowing.

They longed for a free life and did not want to live their whole lives in the underworld and end up being prey for others. The profiteer took their silence as acquiescence and waited for a moment before continuing to speak.

"Now that you have made your choice, I will tell you the truth. Partington is a branch of my Chamber of Commerce, and the real headquarters is somewhere else, which is where you are going."

If even the branch is so impressive, how great must the headquarters be! ?

The bloodline people were surprised, as they had remained quiet for many years. The profiteer snapped his fingers with satisfaction, and everyone felt a subtle change in the air. They were stunned for a moment, and suddenly found that there was nothing under their feet.

"!?"

trap??

The thought flashed through their minds before everyone present fell into the black hole like a dumpling. They subconsciously wanted to draw their weapons, but in the gap between opening and closing their eyes, the scene in front of them had changed.

A cool wind blew in their faces, bringing with it a damp chill. The bloodline people stood stupidly in front of the village gate, unable to come back to their senses for a moment.

The town in front of us was obviously newly built. The fence was made of logs as thick as a man's embrace, and sharpened wooden spikes were inserted to prevent wild animals from climbing up. Through the gaps, we could see the houses in the town, which showed a rough and primitive style.

Even in the dead of winter, there were still tiny green plants climbing on the fence. Old York was keenly aware of the pollution from them, and only when he got closer did he see that these plants were bearing round fruits, the skin of which was so swollen that it was almost transparent, and he could see countless tiny spores inside.

Someone accidentally stepped on the snow hill under the wood pile, and the sole of the shoe crushed something hard. People then discovered that the snow hill was full of monster skeletons. These plants used it as nutrition and burst into vitality in the cold winter.

While he was hesitating, the gate of the town opened. A white-haired boy stood at the door, his skin was cold and white, and he was handsome. His scales and tentacles added a touch of weird beauty that did not belong to humans. His scarlet snake eyes stared straight at the person who came, and his split jaw opened to his ears and hissed, it turned out to be a severe mutant!

The Black Area Bloodline members' hearts skipped a beat, and they all thought of someone. In the stalemate, the young man spoke first: "What are you standing there for? Come in."

The bloodline members exchanged glances, and Old York asked cautiously, "Excuse me, do you know where this place is? We were originally in Partington, and suddenly we ended up here."

He wanted to describe the specific situation, but the white-haired boy glanced at them, and his attitude made the bloodline people feel strangely familiar.

"It's just a transmission. Don't be so surprised."

The same indifference, the same insolence, the same snake bloodline, even the tone of voice is so similar, could it be...

Everyone stood up in awe and asked, "Excuse me, are you the child of the owner of the Black Forest Tavern?"

white:"......"

If they were still in the tavern now, these people would be dead.

Feeling the murderous aura emanating from the young man, the Black Area Bloodline members felt relieved. This is what it feels like! We have come to the right place!

No wonder this is the headquarters. Don’t you see the owner’s family here? Although it looks poor, there must be something special inside!

"Don't look at me like that, it's stupid. Welcome to New Town, your future home. This is the Viscount's territory in the south. As long as you work hard, you can find everything you want here."

Bai spoke faster and recited the introduction that Mason had given him in one breath. Thinking of the chestnut-haired boy who was usually gentle and weak, and how Ronald had trained him to death, and how he had taken care of him on a daily basis, Bai added.

"The manager here has an old relationship with Oleus of the Luo family, and the Saint Canaan of the church came here specifically to treat him. He has been cursed by the black mist for more than ten years but has not died. He has a good relationship with his master and is loved by the townspeople here. He is a talented pharmacist. If you act recklessly in front of him, no one can save you."

He knew these people's character very well, and the words he used were as arrogant as they could be. After listening to this gorgeous description, the Black Area Bloodline people really fell for it.

Everyone in the black area knows how arrogant the store owner is. This young man, who can be called a replica, actually gave such a high evaluation. We really can't underestimate him!

The plain and simple building suddenly became tall and majestic in their eyes, and the simple decoration became mysterious. Bai knocked on the door and turned around to lead everyone into the town.

Most of the townspeople went to the river to prepare for the Edelweiss Festival. The snow-covered town was silent, with only the rustling of footsteps. If it weren't for the occasional smoke coming out of the chimney, Old York would have thought that everyone here had been killed.

Yes, killed them all.

The black zone blades are all guys who do everything. Even the shop owner was scared to death when he saw him for the first time, let alone these ordinary people? The moody mutants definitely can't stand the noise and pointing of ordinary people.

The man never thought that there was such a thing as blind faith in the world. Mason's attitude of building the town with them won the trust of the townspeople, the profiteer helped the townspeople solve a lot of problems with his own hands, and Ronald's protection over the years was highly recognized. These three people didn't say anything when they arrived, so why did they worry about it?

What? Scared? Bai, apart from looking different and being a bit lonely, never used his abilities to commit crimes, which made him much better than those bloodline people who did all kinds of evil. How could these bloodline people judge people by appearance? This kid is a really good person!

The more people thought about it, the more frightened they became. They lowered their heads and closed their eyes, not daring to look any further.

The headquarters of the Guild of Profligate Merchants is easy to spot. It is a three-story wooden building with white flowers swaying on the corners. When Mason is away, Roland is in charge of making sure that the outside of the Guild of Merchants is always green.

It was the business hours of the Chamber of Commerce. Bai Dai led the group into the Chamber of Commerce. The ceiling was covered with a kind of crystal clear plant, with slender vines hanging down from the ceiling and round flowers emitting a steady soft light.

As soon as people step through the door, they hear all the merchandise on the shelves singing in unison: "Welcome!"

The "fairy lanterns" laughed and sang, pots and pans banged, and the goods sang happy songs.

"Welcome to the Merchants' Guild, we have the best products!"

"Whether it's the terrifying black fog or the town, we'll be by your side. Just hand Robbie over to us and you'll be rewarded!"

"Hey, you must be an adventurer. Come and rest here quickly. We provide the best medicine!"

"Oh, you must be missing something. Come into our door quickly, there are surprises everywhere!"

Old York looked at the nearest axe in wonder and waved it, then greeted him enthusiastically: "Are you a carpenter? You look really strong, you must need my help! I can chop wood faster than the wind!"

"No, no, no, he must be a blacksmith. Look at how well-built his muscles are." The hammer next to him retorted, "You should choose me. I'm the best hammer in the shop!"

Others were like this, surrounded by commodities. This was the most wonderful experience in Old York's life, a group of commodities that could talk and were not pollutants!

Bai was already used to the noise of these commodities. Seeing that he did not stop, Old York quickly caught up with him.

They came to the wooden counter opposite the door. A beautiful woman sat behind the counter, smiling at the customers. Those who recognized her could not help but be surprised. She was clearly the owner of Violet Clothing on Partington Street, and she was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Welcome back, Bai. Mr. Mason and Mr. Ronald are waiting for you on the third floor."

"Thank you."

Bai Jianjie thanked him and climbed the stairs to the upper floors. The second floor was where precious treasures were sold, and the third floor was used to entertain important guests. Before the group stepped onto the ceiling of the third floor, they suddenly heard a horse neighing.

Why is there a horse neighing on the third floor?

Old York was confused, and met a pair of clear and quiet eyes. In the pure daytime, the horse with wings on its back was sticking its head out of the specially opened window to eat snacks from the boy's palm. The scrutinizing eyes slid across the face of the bloodline, making them straighten their backs involuntarily, as if they were facing a strict teacher.

After a while, Pegasus nodded to the visitor and flew away politely, leaving them some time to talk. The golden-haired knight in armor stepped forward and closed the window, blocking the cold wind from entering the house.

The chestnut-haired boy sitting at the main seat looked at the guests. A candlestick was lit in the room, and the candlelight reflected on the snow outside the window and flowed into the pair of warm eyes. It made his temperament more calm and composed.

"Welcome to New Town, bloodline of the Black District. The profiteer has informed me of your purpose. New Town welcomes all peace-loving people. I hope we can get along well."

The Black Zone Bloodline members were in awe, and believed the descriptions in the dialogue even more. The things they saw along the way were really strange. Who on earth are these guys? They look like they can't be offended!

Being under someone's roof, they were more sincere. Mason had prepared for psychological warfare, but he was surprised to find that these bloodline people were easy to talk to, and the communication was so easy that it was unbelievable.

Uh, it looks like the people who were chosen for free are pretty good?

He quickly put aside his confusion and smiled at the bloodline members who had reached an agreement: "You came at the right time. The New Town will soon hold the Edelweiss Festival, which is just the right time to host your welcome banquet."

......

Edelweiss flowers only bloom in the winter when there is heavy snow.

The five pure and clean petals look like gemstones, and their colors are extremely beautiful. Thousands of them gather by the river, echoing the color of the snow, and the beauty is so stunning that it makes people feel moved.

It was a rare festival to celebrate in winter. The men brought firewood and lit a bonfire on the spot. The firelight shone on people's cheeks, making them glow red.

Cheap beer is the best drink. The cooks cut the meat, grilled it with vegetables and sprinkled it with salt to make it the most simple delicacy.

The sizzling aroma of oil made people's appetites stir. Ronald learned his lesson this time and resolutely stayed away from alcohol, acting as a patrol for everyone else. Mason came on stage and spoke a few words, looking at the group of drunkards whose eyes lit up at the smell of alcohol, and he couldn't help laughing as he spoke.

"Okay, the rest of the time is up to you all. Today is to reward you all for your hard work throughout the year, so enjoy the Edelweiss Festival to your heart's content."

"Good! Enjoy the Edelweiss Festival!"

The townspeople cheered and some of them excitedly threw their hats high into the air. Bai Mei, who was looking for the profiteer, didn't notice and was caught off guard and got covered in the face.

The person throwing the hat: "......"

The man smiled awkwardly, and quickly came over to take the hat off Bai's face. He laughed heartily and said, "Would you like to drink? I almost forgot that you can't drink much, so I can't drink with you."

Bai jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on. Before he could say anything, the man had already let go of him and walked towards Mason. His back looked like he was running away. Mason couldn't help but laugh when he saw this. He pretended to help the man escape, leaving Bai feeling angry.

You are the one who can’t drink! What’s wrong with one glass? There is dignity in drinking one glass, okay?

Violet pursed her lips and smiled, staring at the group of country men. She rubbed her white hair, which felt smooth and slightly scaly. The white-haired boy's eyes were wide open, and the black area bloodline people were stunned and cast awe-inspiring glances at him.

She is worthy of being the woman who has made a name for herself in the commercial street. She even dares to seduce the shop owner's son!

A Bloodline muttered quietly: "Should we tell the store owner that someone is interested in her son?"

The others rolled their eyes and vowed to keep a distance from the idiot.

The two brothers, No-Brain and Unhappy, held Old York on the left and right and said cheerfully, "Come on! Let's drink!"

"Let me tell you, we have the most liquor in town. If you don't have enough to drink, just buy some from the profiteers!"

As if responding to their words, profiteers moved leisurely among the crowd, occasionally selling drinks, and wherever they went, there was joyful laughter.

Tenma stood alone, far away from the crowd, with a noble and elegant posture. The chestnut-haired boy walked over with barbecue to feed it. Tenma lowered his head and sniffed the barbecue, then began to eat.

I don't know who started it, but people started singing loudly. There was no distinction between ordinary people and bloodline people in the singing, everyone was from Xinzhen. The lively atmosphere infected everyone, and even Yan Han became lovable.

Some were playing snowball fights, some were drinking, some were making snowmen, some were wickedly stuffing snow into their brothers' necks, some were singing, some were dancing, and some were talking about love in front of the edelweiss flowers.

Roland squatted in front of the field to prevent the drunkards from destroying the fragile plants. He listened to the messy songs and felt happy from the bottom of his heart.

Newtown has a special magic that makes everyone who comes here love it. He is no exception. If time stops here, he would not mind enjoying the Edelweiss Festival for a lifetime.

Roland smacked his lips, thinking that he should have a drink. Just as he thought of this, he saw the black-robed merchant emerge from the crowd and walk towards him.

"So you're here. It was so easy to find you."

The Bloodline Man stood up straight in a hurry, feeling guilty for some reason: "Mr. Swindler, why are you here?"

"I have something good for you."

The profiteer handed him a wooden box in a mysterious tone, "S-level pollutant [Pot of Prosperity]. Any water poured into it will become fertilizer. It can promote plant growth. The disadvantage is that it can easily intensify the mutation of polluted plants. We will need to send someone to supervise this place in the future."

S-level pollutants? Has this person reached the point where he can give out S-level pollutants casually?

This was the first time Roland had seen such high-grade pollutants in his life, and for a moment he didn't know whether he should accept it. The profiteer added: "This is a loan to you, and I will share the extra money."

Hearing this, the Bloodline felt relieved and took the wooden box with joy: "Where did you get such a good thing?"

The black-robed merchant smiled and said, "It was given by a kind-hearted person."

The time goes forward to the early morning before the profiteer leaves Partington.

The profiteer deliberately received the reward promised by the chairman of the parliament before leaving. No one noticed that a black-robed businessman appeared in front of the central building. The door of the hall opened quietly, and the puppet responsible for guidance walked out.

After he got the [Pot of Prosperity], the chairman of the council appeared outside the door. The profiteer had expected this, so he was not too surprised.

The Speaker of the Council said, "You are here as expected. I have been waiting for you."

"wait for me?"

"Yes, I have a request."

Having said this, the Speaker of the Parliament took out a token and handed it to the profiteer.

This token feels heavy in the hand, with intricate patterns carved on the surface, with a human heart pattern in the center like stars surrounding the moon. The carving is exquisite and gorgeous.

"This is the Twelve Round Table Token. Only those who have made outstanding contributions and whose strength is recognized by the association can obtain it. Powers such as the Mechanical City have tokens, and the holders are eligible to participate in the Round Table Council. From today on, it belongs to you."

This gift is indeed very valuable. But the most expensive gift in the world is free. The reason why the Speaker of the Parliament did this is because it is profitable.

The profiteer instinctively thought about the dangers in his mind, but he couldn't find any benefit in himself. The chairman of the parliament has both money and fame. In the human society, he is as bright as the sun. The profiteer's ability is indeed outstanding, but it is not to the point of entrusting him with the mission of saving the world.

The chairman of the council saw through his thoughts: "Don't be so nervous. This is just a request, not even a deal. If the black fog counterattack is not successful this time, I hope you can attend the meeting then. We need your help."

"There are so many powerful people here, why do you need me for help?"

“You are different. Even among the three visitors from the Land of Stars, your ability is unique and it can play a decisive role. For me personally, there is another reason.”

The chairman of the parliament smiled and said gently: "I think you are a good person."

"Ha - I'm flattered to be praised like that! As you can see, I only act according to the transaction." The profiteer bowed and took the token. "But since you said so, I will accept it reluctantly. If I really encounter such a problem, it must be a big business. I will look forward to it."

"I will definitely not let you down."

The chairman of the council promised that he would let the puppet take the profiteer away after discussing the details. The huge space became quiet. He stood there motionless, as if waiting for something.

After a long time, the space lit up again.

The president of the parliament was the first to greet him: "Long time no see."

"It's been a long time indeed." The childish voice replied. "Why did you suddenly launch the second Black Mist counterattack plan? Our strength has not increased much from before, and a counterattack now may not be effective."

"You got it wrong. It's not that our strength hasn't grown, but that the black fog has been getting stronger. Someone predicted a long time ago that sooner or later, we would have no way to retreat. And that day is not far away."

"The first president of the parliament and the last stargazer, he predicted [This is the age of black fog, and the territory of mankind will eventually be swallowed up by the black fog. The road of the old era has been cut off. Man, struggle in pain and darkness until you find a new way out, or turn into a desperate beast.]"

The other party read out this prophecy, and the childish voice became heavy. "What did you see?"

"This is a test, and also humanity's last chance to resist." The Speaker of the Council was silent. "This is the moment to prove the way."

the way.

After entering the Dark Age, everyone is looking for the future of mankind. But who is right and who is wrong? Who can save humanity? They are all crossing the river by feeling the stones, testing the future step by step, and knowing nothing about it.

The two fell into a long silence, and the childish voice said: "I understand, I just have one question."

"Rui, are you still willing to fight to protect humanity?"

This name has long been lost in time, so much so that even the owner feels strange when he hears it. The Speaker of the Council has replaced his name and become a mask that he cannot take off. But his determination has never changed.

The man answered gently and calmly, just as he had done thousands of times before, and he was firm in his choice.

“Everything I do is for humanity.”

The childish voice smiled with relief: "Me too, it's great, I'm not alone with you accompanying me all the way."