"This small town called Utopia is not fundamentally different from the ones I've visited before. Whether it's folk customs, ethnicity, or architectural style, they all belong to Loen.

“I’ve heard that the Southern Continent has many strange and unusual customs, and I hope to experience them in person one day. Of course, that would be after peace is restored between East and West Balam.

"Back to Utopia, the most special thing here is that the climate is changeable and there are often storms, so most people have umbrellas and raincoats coated with the sap of the Toningsman tree. The hotel waiter told me that as long as you have a certain income and have to go out to work, you have to save some money to buy raincoats no matter what, otherwise the disease will take away more.

"There are no meteorologists here, so I have no idea why the weather is so changeable. I can only guess that it has something to do with being close to the sea and being in the hurricane belt. Yes, there is a deepwater port a few kilometers away from Utopia, but they are understaffed and cannot operate it well, so they can only maintain a small scale.

"They don't have local newspapers either. After all, this is just a small city with a few thousand people. Newsboys mainly sell the Tussock Newspaper, the Dixie Mirror, and the Sea Breeze Newspaper...

“The second reason I like this place is that many people in Utopia are cheerful and optimistic, and full of enthusiasm for life.

“As I write this, there’s a band passing by outside the hotel.

“This is not a professional band, but a group of amateurs. Among them are government employees, justices of the peace, solicitors, professional police officers, school teachers, candy factory workers, and shop owners… Among them, those who have money and time are responsible for playing more difficult instruments such as tuba and violin, while the lower and middle class citizens use simpler instruments such as lyres and harmonicas.

"On some days off, they would take to the streets, starting from the Plaza Mayor, going around the city and back to the Church of Santa Ariana near the square. They called it the 'Music Parade'.

"During the parade, they not only did not exclude citizens from joining in, but encouraged them to sing or dance along with the team. From what I observed, the participants were very happy and satisfied, expressing their love for life to the fullest, which made me feel a vigorous and upbeat attitude.

"I have to admit that this is very contagious. I tried to join the parade. In the music, dance and singing, I forgot my troubles and only remembered happiness...

“They were not on parade today, but went to the church to bless a newlywed couple.

"Speaking of weddings, the thing I cannot understand most about Utopia is that it only has the church of the 'Goddess of Night'. You know, in most places in the kingdom, even in a small town, there will be at least two churches, one for the 'Goddess of Night' and one for the 'Lord of Storms'.

“Before today, I could never imagine that there would be an ordinary town in the kingdom that only believed in one god.

"However, this will not cause much trouble to me. Before I was eighteen, influenced by my family, I could only believe in the 'Lord of Storms', but after I graduated from grammar school, I truly understood that the goddess is the most benevolent and merciful one.

“Speaking of the wedding itself, I attended a wedding two days ago and found that Utopia has some special customs in this regard.

"What I appreciate most is that when the pastor announces the establishment of the marriage, the bride and groom will bow to each other. There is no question of who is higher or lower, but they just sincerely express their gratitude for spending their lives together.

"Perhaps this is a manifestation of the equality of men and women in the Goddess' teachings...

"In addition, there will be some special game sessions at the celebration after the wedding, for example, asking the bride and groom to tell their love stories.

"It might be quite embarrassing for them, but quite entertaining for the guests. Yes, I think so too, but I certainly wouldn't add something like this to my wedding.

"At that wedding, I heard the best love story I have ever heard in my life. If there is a chance, and if the readers of this column like it, I will consider retelling it. Of course, I will change the names and some details so as not to bother the couple...

"The most important reason I like Utopia is that the food here is very delicious. The limited number of restaurants are of high standard, and the best one is undoubtedly the restaurant attached to the 'Iris' hotel where I stayed.

“Whether it’s the most basic fried steak, fried pork chop, charcoal grilled meat, pan-fried meat and fish, or the more complex or difficult pea stewed lamb, cream soup, butter mashed potatoes, baked potato skins, they are definitely at the level of urban chefs. In addition, the chefs here are also very good at creating peculiar dishes and food, such as sour and sweet meat cubes and grilled fish repeatedly coated with various seasonings…

“As for the staple food that seems impossible to be varied, the chefs in Utopia have not given up. I have eaten all kinds of toast in this city: mashed taro, mashed potato, butter, light cream, fruit cubes… As long as I want, I will not eat the same variety twice in a week.

“And the most admirable thing about all the food here is their desserts:

“Cream pudding, fruit pudding, Black Forest cake, carrot cake, milk cake, muffins, egg tarts…

"As I write this, I feel hungry again, which is why I don't want to leave after staying here for a week. What I am most worried about now is not my wallet, but my weight. I am glad that the hotel does not have a mechanical scale, but I also complain that they do not have one.

“Utopia’s red wines are also quite good, the only problem is that they lack the sedimentation of years, which seems to be lacking in the estates around this town.

“Here, I would like to solemnly recommend a drink, Utopia Sparkling Iced Tea, which is very special and has a more wonderful experience besides the sweetness and bubbles…

“Every evening, I would go for a walk in the Town Square, which is also the favorite leisure place for the citizens of Utopia. They have an extraordinary love for those white pigeons.

"I met a painter in the town square. His name is Anderson. He is handsome and has excellent painting skills. Unfortunately, he is mute...

"I also met another writer named Alesu, a rather strange name. He said he was writing a novel and asked me to appreciate the beginning.

“I have no comment on his novel, but I just felt strange that several familiar names appeared at the beginning of the novel.

"This includes Anderson, Wendy, um, the owner of my favorite bakery...

"I raised this question, and Alesu told me seriously that when a writer can't think of a character's name, it is very reasonable to use people he knows as reference.

“I agree very much.

“…

"Due to space limitations, this sharing ends here. Love you, Charlotte."

Monica put down her pen and read the manuscript carefully twice, correcting the errors in vocabulary and grammar.

She was a writer who was not famous originally and could only make a living by writing third-rate romance novels. After she converted to the "Goddess of Night", her father almost cut off all contact with her.

But ever since Miss Fors Wall, who wrote Stormwind Manor, started a travel column and gained considerable popularity after the war, Monica also began to write travel notes for some Backlund newspapers. This perfectly matched her hobby, and her hobby gave her articles a unique vitality, helping her become a well-known travel writer.

Charlotte is her pen name.

After the handwriting had completely dried, Monica made another copy, stuffed it into an envelope and put a stamp on it.

After confirming the address was correct, the lady with wavy black hair and a Dixie Bay style picked up her handbag, left the hotel and headed for the Utopia Post Office.

The post office was next door to the telegraph office, and Monica always felt it was a waste whenever she passed by the latter.

In her opinion, there were very few things that required telegrams in Utopia, and it would be too extravagant to set up a special telegraph office.

After sending the letter, Monica looked at the sky and strolled towards the town square.

When she arrived at the door of St. Arianna Church, she met Byers.

This is a policeman who once went to the Iris Hotel to question Monica about the witness issue in Tracy's murder case.

Unfortunately, Monica didn't know the man named Wendell.

After nodding and greeting each other, Monica entered the church, found a seat and sat down, quietly listening to the sermon by the pastor named Townsend.

This was the most clergy-like pastor she had met since she converted to the "Goddess of Night". He had half-white hair, spoke slowly, had a peaceful temperament, and a low voice, which always calmed people down without them realizing it.

Monica then closed her eyes and listened to the sutra attentively.

…………

In East Chester County, in a forest belonging to the Hall family.

Alfred, Hibbert and Audrey led their respective foxhounds and a varying number of servants, chasing their prey around the edge of the forest.

This was the first time the three siblings had gone hunting together since they became adults.

In front of their sister, Alfred and Hibbert were having a great time, at least on the surface.

For Alfred, the biggest problem is how to control himself and not behave in a way that is too different from ordinary people. Otherwise, if a "Punishment Knight" participates in the hunt, others will have no chance at all.

He knew that his sister was a Beyonder, but he also knew that a Sequence 7 from the Spectator pathway would not have any real direct combat capabilities.

During the chase, they rushed out of the forest and saw a wheat field.

"Where is this?" Audrey, who was wearing a hunting suit, asked casually.

It was her first time hunting in this forest and she had no idea where the surrounding areas led to.

Hibbert was also not very familiar with it, so he turned his head and said to his attendant:

"Ask someone."

While waiting, the three siblings laughed and discussed their recent gains, and the big golden retriever Susie glanced at the foxhounds that wanted to approach her and made them consciously keep their distance.

After a while, Hibbert's attendant returned and reported:

"My Lord, there is a village called Hedrak nearby..."

Hedlak... the village with dragon worship customs? I came here from another direction? Audrey was stunned.

PS: It’s the last three days, please give me a monthly ticket~