Upon the towering city walls, the Imperial Crown Emblem, the symbol of the empire's Golden Double-headed Eagle Emblem, and the Golden Griffin Carl Franz Clan Emblem wielding a Warhammer appeared on both sides of the city gate. Despite the gate being wide, dozens of carriages and nearly a thousand people were gathered at the entrance, all waiting to enter the city.

As a group of people approached the city gate, the Rick Guard began to fulfill their duty, these knights galloped on horseback, the sound of thunderous hooves echoed.

"Make way for the emperor!"

"Make way for the Karl Franz!"

"Make way for the emperor!!!"

"Dong dong dong dong~" The city gate opened wide, and all the residents moved to the sides of the road, allowing the large crowd to enter the city swiftly.

Upon seeing the High Elf Army appear, the human residents were very astonished, and a bit fearful.

No one cared about the feelings of the commoners. Under the protection of the Rick Guard, Tygris and Emperor Carl Franz rode at the forefront into the city.

Next was Laine and others.

The moment Laine and a few people entered the city, an ominous and dark atmosphere completely enveloped them.

The sun completely disappeared behind the tall buildings and city walls. The sudden change in lighting made Laine feel very uncomfortable, and after his vision adjusted in an instant, he saw a dirty and chaotic street.

On both sides of the street were workers, vendors, and beggars, most of them dressed simply, even filthily. Facing the arrival of the emperor, regardless of what these commoners thought, most of them bowed respectfully, making way for the party to pass.

A stench permeated the city, clearly due to the discarded waste. As Laine tried to glance around briefly, he could see hundreds of heads. The street was far more crowded than imagined, even some corners were packed with people. In the dirty alleyways, clothes were hung out to dry everywhere, belonging to people of all ages. While people retreated from the street, they also craned their necks to watch the emperor, the army's splendor, and the rare sight of the High Elves.

Everywhere in the city were small canals, many artificially dug waterways could be seen everywhere. These canals were used by residents for fetching water, washing clothes, or even as sewers. Tall buildings filled Laine's entire view, and he found that he could hardly see the sky, for the cooking smoke from every household covered the sky, and the roar of voices and noise drowned out his hearing.

This is Brunswick, the Imperial Capital, a city both great and glorious, and at the same time a city surrounded by slums and bogs, chaotic in construction, damp and filthy, filled with vices and order, brutally yet gently welcoming all who come here.

No other city can better embody the essence of humanity: noble yet base, kind yet insidious, wise yet foolish, virtue and sin intertwined. This is Brunswick, the Imperial Capital, the birthplace of Charlemagne.

After traveling through over a dozen streets, the Imperial Palace appeared before the group.

The golden palace hall, fifty meters high, crowned with the golden Griffin holding a Warhammer statue, represented the Franz family emblem. The solid and grandiose granite walls rose from the ground, with marble floors and silver-inlaid columns constituting the tallest and most sacred building in Brunswick. Since the Savior Ludwig abdicated, Emperor Leopold had presided over further expansions of the Imperial Palace.

The Golden Griffin Clan Emblem is the family emblem of the Savior Ludwig, and the Griffin wielding a warhammer symbolizes the family's holding of the imperial throne. In such a sacred place, mortals seemed quite small before the towering palace, at least Surya, Veronica, and Teresa felt awed.

Only the High Elves led by Tygris remained unchanged in expression. For the High Elves, human architecture was nothing significant, and for Laine, what country in the West hadn't he traveled to? The Throne Hall of Holy Terra far exceeded this Imperial Palace in height, so it was hard for him to be impressed.

However, there was still admiration, as around the palace are scattered statues of sacrificial heroes. Since the empire's establishment, endless wars have constantly surrounded this great nation in flames. Countless sacrifices have also brought forth countless human heroes, their names to be praised by the world until the world's end.

It is these noble sacrifices that allow the Mortal World to survive under threats from Chaos, Green Skin, and Undead.

"Lord Tygris, Lord Laine, our council will take some time to convene... Indeed, the Prince-Electors can teleport directly to the capital through magic, but they still need to resolve the matters in their territories first... or at least to a level they can temporarily leave." Emperor Carl Franz said to Tygris and Laine: "You will need to wait here for a few days, but not too long. During this time, you can wander around the city. My soldiers will ensure your safety, or rather, my soldiers will ensure the safety of the citizens in your presence."

"Are there any places we can't go?" Laine deliberately asked.

"Haha, within the palace basements, many forbidden books and Magic Books are sealed, but these aren't issues for you and Lord Tygris. Under the Cathedral of the Justice Church, however, there are many secret apparatuses. If you wish to visit, you'll need to negotiate with Archbishop Vicma. Also, inside the Imperial Royal Wizard Academy many powerful demons are sealed." Emperor Carl Franz nodded, "These aren't off-limits, but please notify the relevant persons before you and Lord Tygris visit, so they can make adequate preparations."

For Tygris, the empire's secrets were not secrets at all, as many forbidden books and seals were completed under Tygris's supervision.

Laine thought this is the benefit of strong legitimacy. For the rightful Emperor Carl, he obtained the empire's throne officially and legally, so he was not afraid of Tygris and Laine visiting everywhere: "I heard that the Royal Zoo has many rare exotic animals?"

"Indeed, if Lord Laine wants to visit, we can arrange it later." Emperor Carl Franz nodded, generously said.

"Rest first." Tygris shook his head, having little interest in those things, "Tomorrow, Laine, you and Miss Trovik, Lady Bernadotte, and I will visit the Royal Wizard Academy together... Your Majesty the Emperor, who is the current Chief Grand Mage?"

"The current Chief Grand Mage is Sernus German, also the headmaster of the Royal Wizard Academy and the dean of the Flame Academy, but I would rather introduce you to Biersaze Gaert and Odo, as well as Greg Matak," the emperor dismounted, attendants approached, he continued, "You will stay in the Royal Hotel next to the palace. I have already arranged rooms for you."

"Lord Tygris, Lord Laine, please follow me." An Imperial General stepped forward, "I am Heinrich Flins, you can call me Flins."

Two hours later, the Imperial Royal Hotel.

Inside the luxuriously decorated suite, the bathroom door opened, Surya, with a flushed face, too weak to walk, was carried out of the bathroom by Laine. The female knight lay weakly in her husband's embrace, her golden long curly hair swept the high-grade carpet, she mumbled absently, "Laine~ you, you're bad~"

"My lady, it's that you are too beautiful." Laine kissed his wife's lips lightly, he held the female knight like a flawless fragile jade, carrying her out of the bathroom.

He liked Surya this way, only in the privacy of just them two, the noble-born female knight would show a certain expression in front of Laine. This expression was special, Laine liked the female knight showing this expression because this is how a sweet, newlywed wife should be.

The suite where Mr. and Mrs. Laine stayed was the highest-grade "noble luxury suite," with all facilities complete.

"Clearly, you are too bad." Surya barely recovered, the female knight was about to speak further, her peripheral vision caught a beautiful figure sitting on the pristine white bed, her golden long hair covered the entire sheet, "Oh! No!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Surya almost fainted with shame.

The Lake Fairy, wearing a pink corduroy off-shoulder evening dress, was sitting on the soft bed in the room, a suspicious flush on her face, shaking her beautiful legs unnaturally, she said in a sour tone.

"Laine, you seem to be having quite an enjoyable time lately?"