Alien Knights

Three days later, when Huggins appeared in front of Todd again, the somewhat fat middle-aged man seemed to be ready to wake up.

Todd shook the stack of paper in his hand and said to Huggins: "Sit down, I have some questions to ask you."

Huggins sat on the sofa and let out a long breath.

"According to this investigation report, you happened to be in the city one month before the Battle of Taylor City broke out?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I went to Taylor City to attend a friend's wedding."

"Rousseau Klein?"

"Yes, that's my friend's name."

Todd looked at the report: "It said that you left the city before the Battle of Taylor City began."

"Yes."

"At that time, Tyro closed the city and no one was allowed to enter or leave. Moreover, wars were going on on every road out of the city. How did you get out of the city?"

Huggins adjusted his sitting position: "I spent all the money I had at the time to bribe a gatekeeper. During the middle of the night, I put on a clergyman's coat and escaped out of the city."

"After leaving the city, I did not choose to go west. Instead, I first went east, around the peninsula, and then returned to Silver Ring City from the coast."

Todd looked at Huggins: "The timing is very good."

Huggins was silent.

"Before the Muxi Expeditionary Army attacked Taylor City, there were many rumors in the city that the expeditionary force was composed of monsters. Once the city was breached, it would definitely massacre the city." Todd said slowly: "Others may believe these. Rumors, but you probably won’t.”

"Yes, Your Majesty, I know Lord Cumberland's character and the character of the Knights. They will never do that."

Todd put the report on the table: "That would be very strange. At that time, you knew that it was safer to stay in the city than to risk escaping, so why did you insist on leaving?"

Huggins sighed forcefully: "Your Majesty, words may be too pale to express, but I am willing to show you my soul."

Todd thought for a moment and waved his hand to open the soul space.

Returning to the conference hall of the institute in the soul space again, Huggins stroked the cushion of the leather office chair with his hand and took a deep breath: "It's been a long time since I've been here."

He took out a can of beer from the freezer and threw it to Huggins. Todd sat on the chair and said, "Don't stand, sit down."

Lifting the lid of the can, listening to the crisp sound coming from the can, and looking at the foaming beer foam, Huggins said with satisfaction: "Sometimes, the outside world gives me an unreal feeling."

"Tell me, what exactly happened that day?"

Huggins took a sip of beer and continued: "Just a week before I decided to leave Taylor City, I encountered some strange things in the city."

After saying this, Huggins pushed his memory to the holographic projection in the center of the desk.

Taylor City, Shedley Street, one week before the black plague broke out.

“The price went up again today?”

Huggins looked at the price sign outside the bakery and said helplessly: "It has increased tenfold in half a month."

The shop owner also looked bitter: "Every road into the city is blocked, and food cannot be transported in. If this continues, I will even run out of wheat flour."

Huggins sighed, picked out a few smaller gray wheat breads, paid for them, and packed them away.

Shedley Street was originally a bustling street in the aristocratic district of Taylor City, but now it is sparsely populated and full of debris.

Looking around, there are only two or three shops along the street open, and most of the others are closed.

Huggins walked forward along the street, but the sound of footsteps in the distance made him frown.

A group of church catechumens in gray robes pushed a prison cart towards the main square.

Sitting in the prison car was a woman who had long been desperate and numb, with blood all over her body and mumbling indistinctly.

The priest in black at the head of the team held a cross in one hand and said loudly: "The power of Heavenly Father washes away all the sins in the world. Those who believe in cults, those with demonic powers, those with weak aspirations, and those who slander the church will eventually suffer. Punishment by fire!”

Noticing the gaze directed by the priest, Huggins slowly took off his hat, gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

The priest just glanced at him, lost interest, and continued walking down the street.

Huggins glanced at the advancing team and whispered: "The night will pass."

After walking through the streets, Huggins came to a low house and knocked lightly on the door.

The door was opened by an old woman. She saw Huggins, opened the door with a smile, and quickly urged the latter to come in.

Huggins walked into the house, handed the gray wheat bread in his hand to the old woman, and walked straight to the back room.

The innermost room is a bedroom, fifteen square meters, with no other furniture except a bed.

Huggins walked to the bed, looked at the young man lying on the bed, and said softly: "Rousseau."

The young man's breath was weak, his lips were white, one leg was firmly fixed by a splint, and blood stains after rinsing could still be seen on the clothes on his body.

The young man wanted to sit up: "Master Huggins..."

Huggins stretched out his hand to stop the other party's movements: "Don't waste your energy. I have given the rations for these days to your mother."

The young man looked grateful and nodded heavily: "Sir, if I hadn't invited you to my wedding, you wouldn't have been in danger."

"this is not your fault."

Rousseau looked ashamed: "In fact, if our group hadn't hindered you in the incident in Muxi City, you would still be a close aide of the Holy King."

Speaking of this, Huggins' face flashed with pain for a moment.

"What is past is past. I have betrayed the trust of the Holy King. It is already a great favor that he did not punish me. It has nothing to do with you."

"grown ups……"

Huggins waved his hand: "Don't mention the unhappy things. Let me ask you, what do you plan to do in the future?"

"from now on?"

"Yes, Taylor City will definitely be breached. It's time to make plans for the future."

"There are still tens of thousands of defenders in the city..."

Huggins emphasized his tone: "Taylor City will definitely not be able to be defended..."

Rousseau patted his leg in frustration: "On the day I got married, those church bastards said that since I migrated from Muxi City, I must be a spy who collaborated with the enemy. They tortured me, tortured me, and threw me into prison. Waiting to die, if you hadn't come to save me... Now, I can no longer walk on the ground, what else can I do in the future?"

Huggins touched Rousseau's head: "Life will always go on. Think about your mother. She will still count on you to take care of her in the future."

Rousseau raised his head: "But I can't do anything."

"I have already thought of a business for you - opening a hotel. I have opened one in Yinhuan City. The business is not bad, and I have some experience. But the key problem is - location selection." Huggins Pointing to the outdoors, he said, "In the Midmay neighborhood of the old aristocracy, there is a large house that originally belonged to Count Zickel. Do you have any impressions?"

Rousseau was a little confused: "Count Zickel?"

Huggins explained: "Because Count Zickel was reported to be involved in Protestant worship, the entire family, from the patriarch who was more than 70 years old to the infant baby, a total of more than 190 people, were all accused of heresy. The court arrested them. After these people entered the court prison, they never came out, and his mansion became empty."

Huggins paused for a moment and then said: "Now, that house has a new name, called the Sixth Parish Temporary Morgue."