549.Chapter 549
Nolan thought, “She must have fallen in front. That’s probably where she slipped”
Given how thick the snow was, it made sense. She had gone alone–though he didn’t know how Eliza managed it, it was clearly too dangerous.
A single misstep and she could have been buried by the snow.
Nolan decided that, after all this, he’d make sure to warm Eliza up with a heater so he wouldn’t catch a cold and fall ill. That would be disastrous.
Thanks to Eliza’s efforts, most of the snow blocking the mountain road had already been cleared. What would’ve taken an entire night was completed in just over an hour.
Because of this, Nolan wasn’t in such a rush anymore.
Once he was sure that Eliza was warmed up and wouldn’t fall ill from the cold, he led the Black Flag Army and the convoy forward.
After a day and night of travel, they finally reached Saint Snow City in Wotería,
With their arrival in Saint Snow City, they were only a short distance away from Centrina City.
Woteria, with its harsh weather and long winters, has three out of four seasons filled with snow, making it an area that is far less prosperous than other states like Bortenland.
It even ranks second to last among the ten largest states.
Still, Woteria’s former governor had worked tirelessly to make the most of its unique characteristics, transforming Centrina City and Saint Snow City into the only two prosperous cities in the area.
Yes, these two cities were the lifeblood of Woteria.
If Centrina City was the most populated, then Saint Snow City was the most famous for its ice sculptures.
Saint Snow City holds two major festivals each year: the Ice Sculpture Festival and the Saint Snow Festival.
The Ice Sculpture Festival, as its name suggests, is when the people of Woteria show off their ice carving skills, creating beautiful sculptures that decorate the city for everyone to admire. The best sculptures are selected and transported to Hasen City or even presented to the King.
Eliza was well aware of these festivals because she had received such special gifts twice in her life: once when she was born and once at her tenth birthday party.
Back then, people from all over the world sent congratulatory gifts, and among them were the exquisite ice sculptures from
Woteria.
These sculptures were like crystal, vivid and lifelike, glittering in the sunlight with unparalleled beauty.
Although they didn’t last long, once you’ve seen such a sculpture, it’s unforgettable.
Eliza could never forget those ice sculptures, which were the pride of Woteria.
She had thought that such beautiful sculptures meant that Woteria must be an equally beautiful place.
But now, as she arrived in Saint Snow City with her own eyes, the sight before her was nothing like what she had imagined. The city, filled with suffering, was completely different from her expectations.
Yes, there were ice sculptures everywhere, but these sculptures weren’t made by artisans. They were made from the bodies of those who had died from the cold.
Nolan muttered, “How could there be so many frozen bodies? How long has it been snowing in Woteria?”
Woteria had seen snow before, and people had died from the cold, but never in such numbers.
Frozen bones littered the streets, visible wherever one walked. No one would believe this was the second largest city Woteria, Saint Snow City.
If Saint Snow City had fallen into such dire straits, what about Centrina City, the largest city?
And what about the more impoverished areas and their people?
How were they surviving?
Without charcoal, without warm clothes, and it Successfully unlocked! nuch longer could they hold on?
With these thoughts, Eliza and Nolan quickened their pace.
Soon, they arrived outside the city’s administrative building.
“Prince Regent and his army are here to assist with Woteria’s relief efforts. Where are the officials of Saint Snow City?”
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549 Chapter 549
A group of disheveled officials staggered out of the building, smelling strongly of alcohol, as though they had just woken up after a night of drinking.
“You… you dare impersonate the Prince Regent? You… you’re looking for death!” Felix Malone, the county magistrate, slurred, pointing at Nolan and his group, barking orders.
“Come… come here! Arrest them… no, arrest all of them!” he commanded, his speech thick with drunkenness.
Immediately, the officials‘ guards rushed forward, attempting to surround Nolan and his group.
But when they saw the Black Flag Army behind Nolan, with supplies in tow, they froze.
Wait, this… this really might be someone from the royal court.
Before Felix and the others had come out, Nolan had already put a conical hat on Eliza’s head.
Since Hasen City hadn’t yet announced that the Holy Lady had come to Woteria for disaster relief and blessings, this would be the perfect opportunity to hide her identity and observe Woteria’s true situation.
But Eliza never expected that her first sight of Saint Snow City would be this heartbreaking.
Truly, the saying “The rich live in decay, while the streets are lined with bones” rang truer than ever.
From under her veil, Eliza frowned as she watched the scene.
Nolan, too, frowned in displeasure.
In a cold tone, he ordered, “Wake them up.”
Several Black Flag soldiers stepped forward, initially ready to beat Felix and his crew with their scabbards.
But before they could, Nolan spoke again, his voice full of menace, “Scabbards? No, break their hands if they’re unawake, break their legs if they’re drunk, and if they keep pretending, chop their heads off.”
Nolan’s cold, cutting gaze swept over the officials‘ guards, and he threatened, “Anyone who tries to interfere with the Black Flag Army’s work will have their head chopped off.”
“Yes, sir.”
At these words, the officials froze, dropping their weapons in fear and hurriedly dropping to their knees, unable to look up.
Felix, still drunk, looked around in confusion. He stumbled over to one of the kneeling guards, slapped him in the face, and grumbled, “What is this? What are you all doing?”
“What? Are you daring to defy me, you little bastards?” Felix snapped, his drunkenness flaring up again.
Felix bent down to grab a sword from the ground, intending to behead the disobedient guards.
But just before his hand reached the sword, a flash of cold light passed before his eyes.
The next second, his hand was lopped off with a swift motion.
Blood splattered across the guards, drenching them, but none dared to look up. They only lowered their heads even further.
“My hand! Who… who dared to cut off my hand?” Felix howled, his face contorted with rage and pain. I’ll kill them all! I’ll make them pay!”
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