The steel behemoth galloped across the vast wasteland, and its steam pistons kept turning, making rhythmic, dull sounds.

Several hours passed quickly. Joseph looked at the changing scenery outside the window and listened to Heya's narration of the history of the empire filled with words such as "loyalty" and "gratitude".

However, Joseph felt a little annoyed when he heard the history which was obviously over-embellished.

This guy is hopeless.

She had been bewitched by the red dragon and became the spiritual slave of the evil dragon emperor.

Joseph thought so.

"Look! It's a city!"

Soon, the sharp-eyed guards spotted the black city wall gradually emerging in the distance.

Joseph looked over and saw that the city was much taller and more solid than he had imagined. It gave people an invisible sense of oppression, and there seemed to be flying dragons circling and patrolling in the sky.

"This should be the so-called Istalia, the capital of the Burning Empire."

He thought so.

It is true that it is far inferior to Teotihuacan, the former holy city of Fadlan.

Even the poorest and lowest citizen of Fadlan would puff out his chest with pride when thinking of the magnificent holy city - because it is indeed the most glorious place that mankind can imagine.

Unfortunately, after several years of war, the once pure and spotless holy city has become riddled with holes and filled with smoke. The corpses of the soldiers from the three kingdoms have filled the ditches outside the city, and their blood has turned into a flowing moat.

The War in the South.

Thinking of this, Joseph sighed a little. He sighed deeply and then commented: "It's a very good city, but as the capital of an empire, it is still a bit..."

Heya pointed at the city wall and introduced: "This is the largest fortress city in the south of the empire, Blackstone Castle."

Joseph's expression suddenly became stiff. He stopped talking and just stared silently at the city that was getting closer and closer.

"Blackstone Station, here we are."

The attendant's clear voice echoed in the carriage, as if it had been amplified by some device.

The train approached and stopped at the city gate. The citizens of the empire who had been waiting on the platform for a long time poured into the carriage.

Among the passengers were not only humans, but also hobgoblins, tieflings, orcs and even ogres, which made the guards of the caravan feel a little nervous.

Humans lived peacefully with these monsters and even talked to each other occasionally, which amazed them as they had traveled far and wide and killed many monsters.

"Give way."

"Don't block the aisle."

"Baron, are you going to Istalia as well?"

The carriage suddenly became a little noisy, but fortunately Joseph had booked a VIP box, and large monsters like ogres have their own special carriages.

Joseph was briefly surprised and then focused his attention on Blackstone Castle.

Although blocked by tall city walls, he could still see through the city gate the clean, tidy, wide and flat streets, as well as the brick and stone houses that looked like replicas.

It's a really nice city, both from a business and a military perspective.

As a businessman, he would definitely like to do business in such a beautiful city, and as a general, the tall and thick city walls with protruding towers would also become an important barrier against foreign enemies.

If even an ordinary city is built like this, what would the imperial capital be like?

Joseph thought so.

He looked at the people rushing into the carriage and suddenly asked, "Why are so many people rushing to Istalia? What are they going there for?"

Heya replied: “Istalia is the sacred coronation place of your majesty and the center of the empire, where there are the most jobs and the highest wages in the country.

But on the other hand, it is also a place where every inch of land is valuable. It is difficult for ordinary citizens to afford a house in Istalia. Even a basement can be sold at a sky-high price of hundreds of Kinnars.

Therefore, some citizens would choose to live in other cities and take the steam locomotive to Istalia every day to work. "

"Is that so?"

Joseph was a little stunned. He had never seen such a new lifestyle, living in one city and working in another.

Heya smiled bitterly and said helplessly: "If I could afford a house in Istalia, I would not go to Tahan to be a guide."

The steam locomotive sped along, passing through several rolling mountains and several cities.

"Amaunator, above."

The guard sitting in the front row opened his eyes wide, opened his mouth, and let out an uncontrollable sigh.

Joseph couldn't help but look out the window. Although he had made a lot of mental preparations, he was still deeply shocked by the scene before him.

"Gods"

he muttered.

In the distance, I saw towering city walls that seemed to have no end, spectacular and unique building complexes, and tall chimneys rising from the ground, with gray smoke coming out of them.

The most shocking thing is the huge stone pillar hundreds of meters high in the center of the city, on which stands a magnificent white altar, surrounded by clouds and mist, like the kingdom of God descending to the earth.

——That was the Great Altar of Istalia. For some reason, Joseph suddenly remembered the first time he worshipped the Holy City at the age of six and looked up at the "Tower of the Eternal Sun God".

And now Istalia gave him such a feeling.

"It's a miracle."

He couldn't help but speak out what was really in his mind.

"Yes, for us Anzeta people, it is a miracle."

Heya also raised her head and looked at the altar lifted up to the sky with a pious expression: "Mr. Joseph, that is the place where His Majesty Cassius was crowned.

Wherever you are in Istalia, if you look up you can see that sacred place.”

"We have arrived at the Istalia South Gate Station. Please remember His Majesty's kindness and get off the train in an orderly manner."

"finally reached."

"Hurry up, do you want to be fined for being late?"

The people in the carriage got off one after another, and after calming down and taking a few deep breaths, Joseph also got off with his caravan.

He asked the guards to unload the cargo from the carriages and take their equipment, and the group marched into the city in a mighty procession.

The roads here were wider than he had imagined. The width of the main road was even wider than that of the Holy City, and could accommodate more than a dozen carriages running side by side.

The roads here were much cleaner and smoother than any he had ever seen. They seemed to be paved with some kind of black gravel, but without any unevenness of the stones, which amazed him.

There are tracks on both sides of the road, on which small steam locomotives run, while residents in the city wait and travel at the platforms.

At a glance, you can see all kinds of races: humans, tieflings, hobgoblins, orcs, satyrs, ogres
No matter what race they are, they are all very busy and in a hurry, and people seem to have long been accustomed to all this and are used to getting along with different species.

"Citizens, please obey the law and order!"

Knights riding on wyverns were patrolling in the air, and tiefling guards armed with rifles were marching in neat rows on the right side of the street.

Their caravan was completely inconspicuous in this city.

A tall ogre came towards them, scaring the caravan guard so much that he raised his shield and broke out in a cold sweat.

"You, what are you going to do?"

The guard had encountered ogres in the wilderness and his teammates were eaten alive. He was well aware of the brutal nature of these monsters and was terrified of them.

But the ogre just glanced at him with disdain and snorted: "What a fuss-making country bumpkin! This is how you act when you first come to the capital."

"Yes, stupid and weak human."

The other ogre in a suit next to him was still echoing.

The two ogres left cursing, and the guard's back was soaked with sweat. He thought he was about to be eaten.

But they just let me go like this?
Seeing this scene, Joseph couldn't help but said: "Miss Heya, there is a question that I wanted to ask just now.

How do they suppress their nature? Those ogres and dragons are obviously the most brutal monsters.
But now he has become like this, and he can still obey the order?"

Heya looked as if it was a matter of course. She raised her head again and looked at the white altar in the sky.

She clasped her hands together and whispered, "Of course it is His Majesty's credit. His wisdom is as deep as the ocean. He has enlightened these ignorant creatures and brought them the light of civilization."

"."

Joseph was silent.

Before coming to the empire, he always thought it was a place ruled by an evil dragon and full of suffering.

People were imprisoned in huge mines, working endlessly in heavy shackles, constantly producing deadly firearms to satisfy the red dragon's endless greed for wealth.

But the gap between the reality and his imagination was so huge. In the guide's words, the Dragon Emperor was described as a glorious and majestic being like the sun god, worshipped by countless people of the empire.

Looking at those exceptionally spectacular and unique buildings, Joseph really began to doubt whether the red dragon had the so-called "divine power".

Otherwise, how could he transform the desolate and barren Anzeta into this state in just over a decade?
“All nations worship together the great red dragon in the sky!”

"How can I repay this kindness? Your Majesty, please let the springs from the mountains flow down to the plains, and let the rains moisten every place."

"Your Majesty is like the sun in the sky, and we are like the seeds on the ground, shining endlessly on the earth, and growing vigorously until we finally become seedlings."

Suddenly, a melodious chanting sound came from afar, and the sound echoed in the city for a long time.

Joseph frowned: "This is..."

Heya listened to the familiar melody and said in surprise: "It's the 'Ode to Cassius'! What an auspicious song!"

"By the way, Mr. Joseph, it is now February 29th, and the Coronation Day is coming soon. It is an annual event."

Heya's tone was excited.

"."

Joseph listened to the song "When will this kindness be repaid?" and fell silent again, even beginning to doubt himself.

If the people of this country are all in this fanatical and self-confident state, then the danger level of the Burning Empire will be even higher. (End of this chapter)