Chapter 1: Night Journey

Lin Qi just completed his eighteenth birthday celebration last month. He has been studying at the School of Finance and Accounting at Fifth University for a full three years. With black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, he possesses the typical physical characteristics of an Eastern person. However, unlike ordinary Eastern individuals, Lin Qi has a physique that rivals the strongest young men of the Western continent, with both height and shoulder width significantly exceeding that of the average person

Lin Qi turned back to glance at the few fourth graders standing in front of the school gate, silently smiling, while Enzo, who made no sound either, followed suit. The two of them, separated by nearly fifty meters, deliberately chose to navigate through the complex and winding alleys. Before long, they left the brightly lit university district and arrived at the northern old town of Boleili, known for its chaotic security.

In the winter of the year 1465, during the night.

Gazing at Enzo's distinctly outlined face illuminated by the distant lights, Lin Qi pinched the black cloth roll tucked under his arm. Beneath the thick black fabric lay a hard metallic object, the unique texture and shape confirming that it contained exactly what he needed. Lin Qi silently smiled and gestured with his hand.

Seeing Lin Qiwan and Tushuru emerge slowly like a big bear, Enzo hurriedly spat a mouthful of blood-red saliva onto the ground and let out a suppressed whistle. He peeked out from behind the large tree, waving to Lin Qi, saying: "Boss, over here, over here!"

The cold winds from the Arctic Odin Icefield swept across the Wudalian Islands, invading the western continent. Under the shroud of night, the capital of the Gallic Seventh Empire, Brelly, trembled in the cold wind, with streets and alleys rarely seeing any signs of life. Occasionally, imperial royal dragon cavalry, clad in black short cloaks and wielding silver long spears, rode by, the crisp sound of hooves causing certain creatures lurking in the darkness to feel uneasy

The courtyard gate opened silently, and four robust figures joined this small group. They followed Lin Qi at a distance of about ten meters, leisurely trailing behind Enzo as they continued forward

The buildings throughout the university town are illuminated, with individuals diligently studying in the lecture halls and libraries. Occasionally, the sounds of neighing warhorses and the clashing of lances can be heard from the training grounds of several military academies. In the workshops of the industrial college, there is an incessant, piercing metallic clanging that continuously stimulates and assaults the eardrums.

The strong and powerful chewing muscles exert pressure on the mixture of tobacco and betel nut, the intense and stimulating flavor invigorating Enzo. Just like the hat, cloak, and tight pants he wears, chewing the mixture of tobacco and betel nut is also a recent fashion trend that has gained popularity among the lower-middle class in Burleigh.

While greeting Lin Qi, Enzo tightened his grip on a black cloth roll held in his left hand. The roll, about four feet long, was tightly wrapped, and Enzo occasionally touched it. Even while conversing with Lin Qi, he remained vigilant, glancing around from time to time.

It was the best of times for the empire, and it was the worst of times for the empire; it was the most enterprising era for the empire, and it was also the most decadent and corrupt era for the empire

Lin Qi also glanced around, then quickly crossed the street, his robust figure disappearing into the shadow of the acacia tree

Thirty years ago, the century-long Land-Island War quietly came to an end after exhausting the last vestiges of vitality from the Western continent. The Sun King, Louis XIII, who rose to prominence during the later stages of the war, was a rare and exceptional monarch. The Gaulish Seventh Empire, as the main battlefield of the Land-Island War, received substantial economic aid from various European countries after the war. Utilizing this aid, Louis XIII vigorously developed education, and within a mere thirty years, established an unprecedented university city in European history. The Gaulish Seventh Empire, as the main battlefield of the Land-Island War, received substantial economic aid from various European countries after the war. Utilizing this aid, Louis XIII vigorously developed education, and within a mere thirty years, established an unprecedented university city in European history.

Enzo nodded slightly, took out a mixture of tobacco and betel nut, and stuffed it into his mouth. He carefully glanced to the left and right, then walked briskly along the street towards the north, keeping close to the wall. The robust and tall Enzo moved without making a sound, his hunched figure appearing and disappearing like a ghost in the shadows

In just thirty short years, countless elite talents have been nurtured here, providing a continuous influx of fresh blood to the empire, which had been left hollow after the war. Under the impetus of these elites, the vast empire stands like a waking lion in the far west of the continent, its formidable national strength causing the entire continent to tremble.

However, just as there are always shadows under the sunlight, within this vibrant and uplifting university town, there are always a few unusual characters.

As he passed by a certain courtyard gate in an unnamed alley, Lin Qi imitated a cat's meow in a strange and peculiar manner

However, as outsiders have commented, all students majoring in accounting at the University of Burleigh V are parasites of the empire, and Lin Qi, this parasite, has undoubtedly absorbed ample nutrients, resulting in a robust physique that is even somewhat corpulent. When he moves, he resembles a bear that has just awakened from hibernation, swaying noticeably from a distance.

Enzo stood at the street corner opposite Fifth University, partially concealed by a mimosa tree. He wore a wide-brimmed triangular hat with gold trim, which was the latest fashion, and a brown short cloak styled like a dragon cavalry uniform, also in vogue. A pair of tight-fitting pants made of black satin from the East clung closely to his long legs, accentuating the sharply defined muscles on his legs. Undoubtedly, these black satin pants were also the most popular style in Burleigh over the past three months.

However, to the west of the Core Victory Palace in Berleli, one can walk past the Champs-Élysées, known as the 'Pearl of the Continent', and continue along Green Shade Street and White River Street until reaching the end of Fleet Street, where a vast area of buildings is brightly lit. Berleli First University, Second University, up to the Fifth University, the Imperial Army Academy, Navy Academy, and Architecture Academy, the Imperial Administrative College, and Berleli Theological Seminary, along with dozens of highly specialized colleges, are gathered here, forming the 'Berleli University City', which attracts the attention of the entire continent.

In this era lacking nighttime entertainment, ordinary citizens retire to rest as night falls. However, in the university town, such lively scenes continue until around midnight before gradually winding down. The vast university town resembles a vibrant heart, where youth and passion are brewing and fermenting, as elite students are accumulating strength and enthusiasm for the future of the empire

The cold wind, like a whip in the hands of a giant, lashes fiercely at the entire city. The majority of the urban area is immersed in profound darkness, and all the law-abiding citizens have, at this moment, succumbed to sleep accompanied by the howling of the gale

As his classmates were striving hard for the rise of the empire, Lin Qi swaggered out of the gates of the Fifth University. His expression was gloomy, and the few fourth-year students on duty at the gate saw his stiff face, simultaneously turned their heads, pretending not to notice this third-year accounting student who was violating the nighttime curfew by leaving the academy