Chapter 1993 - 539: The Hyena Follows Up_5

And not to mention he was originally a bandit, those knights and the old men of the Judicial Court also used the same tactics in Sparrow Wood Territory.

He was merely retaliating.

On the other side, far up the Rushing River, a nondescript flat-bottomed cargo ship slowly docked at the river port outside Roland City.

A group of men dressed in simple robes jumped off the ship and silently blended into the crowd, like ink smudges dripping into the night.

Their faces were expressionless, the faces under their hoods steady as Corpse Ghosts, yet their eyes burned with a Soul Fire even hotter than lava.

Especially when they saw the dead streets, the arrogant guards, and the people busy in despair... the war intent in their hearts boiled unprecedentedly, wishing to charge into the Royal Palace right then and set it ablaze!

In the Winter Moon of 1053, their Majesty sent them to the neighboring country, promising rewards in the name of justice and Noble Titles, to support the honorable Earl Derek, to save the Campbell people in dire straits, to make achievements on the land of the neighboring country... only to decisively forget them.

The summer of 1054 witnessed the miracle named republicanism as they finally realized where the true enemy of the Ryan people lay.

The citizens of Thunder City do well without the Nobles dictating everything, and they can still eat well after abolishing serfdom.

It was after reading the Encyclopedia that they knew, a Kingdom need not be built upon one class exploiting another.

That is called feudalism.

And besides feudalism, there is another ideology named republicanism in this world, meaning various classes unite to govern, negotiate, and consult together.

Professor Ferguson brought the Encyclopedia to the Ryan people, the torch of knowledge passing through the hands of the stone masons.

Now, it was the officers' turn to do something for their compatriots...

...

The stale scent was blocked behind them by the towering Rapids Pass, and Erin felt the horse beneath her hooves become more lively as they bid farewell to fellow soldiers leaving the castle guard.

Approaching the vicinity of Glanton Castle, she raised her hand to shield her clear brows, looking out at the land she once thought would turn into scorched earth.

In the Winter Moon Coup that shook the entire Duchy, Glanton Castle was the heart of the Noble rebel army, and the final battle that ended the rebellion was the siege of Glanton Castle.

On the Aus Continent, siege warfare was always the most grueling.

Whether it was for the defending troops within the castle or the civilians outside, it was a test of the limits of physical and Spirit endurance...

Erin had originally prepared to face reality, yet when she officially set foot on this land, everything before her left her stunned.

No burnt villages or collapsed mills, no corpses left for the crows to peck at or Undead wandering the wild.

The first thing that caught her eye were two black lines etched into the earth.

Like scars after a wound scabs over, straightly cutting through the undulating wilds, dividing the Forest and farmland, extending all the way to the edge of sight.

She stared for a long time before realizing it seemed to be steel ingots cast in iron, laid on rows of neatly cut sleepers.

And not far away, hundreds upon thousands of Lizardmen were pushing carts and wielding hoes, shuttling back and forth at the still extending end of the track.

"Theresa..."

Erin stared dumbfounded at the bustling construction site for a long time, only squeezing out words from her slightly opened mouth after a while.

"Why are they laying steel on the ground?"

No matter their plans.

This seems too extravagant!

Upon hearing Erin's inquiry, Theresa's expression was hesitant, clearly unsure as well. Although the Thunder City Daily occasionally arrived at the front, not every issue reached Twilight City, and busy playing Erin, she had no leisure to attend to such trivial matters.

"Your Highness, I heard someone mention that this might be called... railroad."

"Railroad?"

Erin pondered over this unfamiliar term, from the word alone, she could not imagine what things could traverse it.

"It's said to be a type of road specially designed for 'trains'..."

Theresa shook her head, the Giant Sword on her back clanking slightly, "I'm not sure of the specifics, but I think when we get to Glanton Castle, people there might have answers for us."

Riding behind them, Sarah did not speak.

Having seen this thing in Beifeng City, she wasn't unfamiliar, even found it noisy.

But to avoid showing she knew everything, she tried emulating Lord Demon King, squeezing out an astonished smile from her face...

Okay, she gave up.

Just as Sarah was silently feeling inexplicably downcast, the ground suddenly began to tremble, causing the warhorses beneath everyone to anxiously paw their hooves.

As everyone was perplexed by what was happening, a massive beast billowing white smoke rolled toward them along the horizon.

Erin instinctively gripped her sword hilt, the Northern Relief Army behind her also stirred into a commotion, followed by exclamations.

"Saint Sis above, what is that thing?!"

"I heard it's a train... my father wrote in a letter telling me, saying he'd meet me at the station in Glanton Castle to bring me home."

"The station in Glanton Castle? Are you referring to a relay station??"

"No, it's just a station! Although I don't know what it actually is, I heard it only takes a few hours to get from one station to another."