Chapter One: Qiao

The laughter of the youth was exceedingly faint, while the surrounding crowd was bustling with noise, which was extremely loud

One by one, blue and white or blue and red striped tents emerged from the sea of people like mushrooms, popping up in the gaps.

The flamboyantly dressed clown musician swayed his body with great amplitude, playing various instruments amidst the crowd. The cheerful music invigorated the lively young men and women, who joined hands and formed a long human dragon, swiftly dancing and weaving around the square

The melancholic Qiao Mianpi quickly became flushed and red, and he abruptly drew the baton from his waist, leaping off the wooden platform like an enraged wild bear, striding towards the two boys whose faces had suddenly changed.

Qiao stood foolishly on the wooden platform, wearing a heavy, brass-cast high-top police helmet on his head; his body was clad in a thick, non-breathable black linen police uniform, lined with anti-stab wire mesh; a thick leather belt with a rigid brass buckle was fastened around his waist; and he wore long boots made of thick leather that tightly wrapped around his entire calves

Gorkin, of the Imperial Army, dressed in a smart and immaculate uniform, paraded through the Gran Province in a grand and ostentatious manner, reclaiming the territory lost by the Empire for over a century

Cheers

A frenzied celebration, three consecutive nights of joy, a night of miracles where anything can happen

Two boys laughed and made a face at Joe: "Hey, a black-skinned dog, look at his silly look!"

Two ragged boys sneaked past the wooden watchtower. Their waists were bulging, and through their tattered clothing, several silk wallets could be seen.

Cheers

Medlan Glory, August 15, 1379

One and a half months ago, at the end of June this year, Qiao, having achieved excellent evaluations in all subjects and ranking first in total GPA, honorably joined the Tulong Port Police Department under a personal recommendation letter from the Dean of the Tulong Port Judicial Academy

Over the past three years, I have poured my heart and soul into arriving late and leaving early, I have devoted myself to skipping classes and fighting, I have exhausted my mind and spirit in drinking and brawling, and I have persistently been absent from exams. I even, on the eve of graduation, took a desperate gamble and "accidentally" set fire to the college's administrative building

A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd, as the buildings to the east, west, and south of the Queen's Square opened their windows forcefully on the side facing the square. Many young ladies dressed in splendid long gowns held small baskets, vigorously tossing down emerald green osmanthus leaves and pale silver osmanthus flowers.

Among them, there are inevitably some ragged boys or young men, who dart through the crowd like swimming fish, their keen eyes scanning the waistlines of the people around them with concern and care. Their fingers, as slippery as eels coated in grease, deftly slip into belts, skillfully pinching out bulging wallets.

The nuns of the Silver Laurel Church, arranged in groups of ten, hold candles in their hands as they stroll slowly around the square. Dressed in pure white linen gowns, they slightly lower their heads, walking while chanting hymns in praise of Metis.

... ...

... ...

The gas streetlight emitted a bluish-white light, illuminating the large marsh wolf shield emblem at the center of the high-top police helmet

Countless enthusiastic young women threw themselves at them. Yet, Golkin and his companions had to feign reluctance, saying to those lovely young women, "Oh, no, no, really not possible, due to the regulations of the imperial military law, we cannot do this!"

Night of the Osmanthus!

Qiao's ears twitched, and he clearly heard the mocking laughter of two young boys

Qiao let out a breath, looked around, and gently loosened two buckles on the tactical belt around his waist

Once again, he loosened a notch on the belt. Qiao glanced around and secretly unfastened the flintlock pistol and the long chain handcuffs that were hanging from his belt, placing them on a small square table behind him

Reaching up to touch the wolf emblem at the center of his helmet, Qiao let out a deep sigh filled with melancholy

Is it really impressive to have money at home

Flowing with honey and milk, a land blessed by the gods, a place of civilization reborn, all glory belongs to Medelan

Outside the tent, on various grills of different sizes, strings of plump sausages sizzle and ooze oil, while a rich aroma wafts freely through the air, tantalizing the appetites of countless people

The cheerful shouts rolled through the dense crowd like the thunder of a summer night, spreading out in all directions.

Mid-Autumn Night

The children surrounded the acrobats, screaming and laughing, jumping around like drunken monkeys

In the new urban area of Tulum Port, at the Queen's Square, along the central axis of the square from north to south, twelve giant group sculptures are lined up beside the fountains, gradually attracting cheerful people to gather

Various acrobats are showcasing their skills to the fullest amidst the crowd

Every Mid-Autumn night is so piercing, so unrestrained, like a beautiful dream, immersing one within it

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is the birthday of the Silver Moon Goddess, Mutesthe, the sister of the supreme king of the gods, Mu. It is also the traditional harvest festival of the Delun Empire.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival two years ago, Qiao gave away his first kiss

When the gas lamps on both sides of the main road east and west of the Queen's Square are lit, the square is already filled with a crowd of people laughing and chatting.

Armed with a two-foot long, weighty lead-filled copper baton hanging on the left side; on the right side, a one-and-a-half-foot long, equally heavy short double-barreled flintlock pistol, already loaded with ammunition and sealed with a soft leather plug in the barrel; and at the lower back, three pairs of still heavy, finely crafted iron handcuffs hanging!

At this time last year, Qiao was still one of the crowd. Dressed in a splendid festive gown, holding a sausage or other delicious food in his left hand, and raising a wine glass high in his right hand, he indulged in feasting and revelry among the crowd, sweating profusely and squandering his energy.

The deep and resonant sound of the bell spreads gently in all directions with the sea breeze

MiddleLand

This year's Mid-Autumn night

Dressed in splendid attire, men and women exude the fragrance of perfume as they come and go from one tent to another, holding large beer mugs made of wood, iron, or copper. Some of the more luxurious ones are even crafted from crystal. The beer mugs clink joyfully against each other, splashing frothy white beer everywhere.

At exactly 8:00, as the full and rounded face of "Mutesete" gradually ascended into the night sky, its silvery light illuminating the earth, on the northern side of the Grand Square, at the landmark of Tuluan Port, the bell tower of St. Hilder Cathedral, which stands 224 meters tall, several cloaked clerics held their breath and forcefully pulled the mechanism, causing twenty-four giant bronze bells to roll from side to side, producing a tremendous roar

Harvest Night

Qiao glanced at the two young men with a sense of melancholy, sighed, turned his head away, and pretended not to see them

And what about me? A freshly minted police dog, with a silly-looking dog badge on my head, standing here foolishly, drenched in sweat, parched, watching them eat, drink, and have fun

However, in the years leading up to the year before last, on several consecutive Mid-Autumn nights, Qiao would end up passed out on the street, being searched for by family members among the pile of drunks and carried back home

Cheers

At the southeast corner of the square, beneath a bronze victory column, on a makeshift wooden platform for the police, Qiao gently patted his protruding beer belly with both hands, gazing wistfully at the cheerful crowd.

It is extremely dark

The Queen's Square suddenly came to life

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, if it had not been for the timely intervention of his family, Qiao would have almost lost his virginity.

And I, surprisingly, am still a good student, still an outstanding representative of this graduating class of the Law School

Breathing fire, tossing wooden balls, riding a unicycle on a tightrope, with vibrant flowers continuously emerging from one's hands, or directing colorful parrots to fly low over the crowd while carrying various tarot cards...

In the evening

Turen Port, the most striking jewel on the crown of the Derun Empire, a land of flowing gold and silver, a place of immense sinfulness