Chapter 494: Observations
The steel behemoth roared across the vast wasteland, its steam pistons rhythmically churning with a deep, steady pulse.
Hours passed swiftly as Josef gazed out at the shifting landscape, listening to Heria recount the history of the Empire, filled with words like "loyalty" and "gratitude."
However, the overly embellished narrative only irritated him.
This woman was beyond saving.
She had been utterly bewitched by that red dragon, reduced to nothing more than a spiritual slave to the tyrant emperor.
Josef thought to himself.
"Look! A city!"
A sharp-eyed guard quickly spotted the distant silhouette of black city walls emerging on the horizon.
Josef turned his gaze toward it. The city was far larger and more fortified than he had imagined, exuding an invisible sense of oppression. Wyverns patrolled the skies above in vigilant formations.
"This must be Isthalia, the capital of the Ember Empire."
He mused.
It was far inferior to the former Holy City of Teotihuacan in the Fadlan Empire—this much was certain.
Even the poorest and lowest-ranking citizens of Fadlan would still puff out their chests with pride when recalling their awe-inspiring capital, for it was truly the most magnificent place that human civilization could conceive.
But after years of war, that once-pristine holy city was now riddled with scars, shrouded in smoke and ruin. The bodies of soldiers from the three kingdoms filled the trenches outside its walls, their blood forming rivers of crimson.
The war in the south...
Josef sighed deeply at the thought before commenting, "A fine city, but as an imperial capital, it still seems somewhat—"
Heria interrupted, pointing at the walls. "This is Blackstone Fortress, the largest stronghold in the Empire's south."
Josef's expression stiffened. He immediately fell silent, his gaze locked onto the rapidly approaching city.
"Blackstone Fortress Station, we have arrived."
The conductor's voice rang out clearly through the cabin, seemingly amplified by some kind of device.
The train slowed, stopping at the gates, where a throng of Imperial citizens eagerly boarded the waiting carriages.
Among the passengers were not only humans but also hobgoblins, tieflings, orcs, and even ogres, causing Josef's guards to tense in alarm.
Humans coexisting peacefully with these creatures, even chatting casually with them—this was astonishing to mercenaries who had spent years slaying monsters across the land.
"Make way."
"Don't block the passage."
"Baron, are you also heading to Isthalia?"
The cabin quickly became lively, though Josef remained undisturbed in his private VIP compartment. Large beings like ogres had their own designated train cars.
Josef quickly shifted his focus back to Blackstone Fortress.
Despite the towering walls obscuring much of the city, he could still glimpse the orderly, spacious streets and rows of identical brick houses through the gate.
It was an impressive city—both commercially and militarily.
As a merchant, he would gladly conduct business in such a well-planned metropolis. As a general, he could appreciate the tall, solid walls and protruding watchtowers that formed a formidable defensive barrier.
If even an ordinary city was built to such high standards, then what would the imperial capital look like?
Josef pondered.
Observing the rush of people boarding the train, he suddenly asked, "Why are so many people heading to Isthalia? What are they going for?"
Heria responded, "Isthalia is His Majesty's sacred coronation site and the heart of the Empire. It has the most job opportunities and the highest wages in the nation."
"However, land there is extremely expensive—ordinary citizens can scarcely afford a home in Isthalia. Even a basement can sell for hundreds of gold knals."
"As a result, many citizens choose to live in surrounding cities and commute daily by steam train to work in Isthalia."
"Is that so..."
Josef was taken aback. He had never seen such a way of life—living in one city and working in another.
Heria chuckled bitterly. "If I could afford a house in Isthalia, I wouldn't be working as a guide in Tahan."
The steam locomotive continued its journey, crossing rolling mountains and passing multiple cities.
"By Ammanata..."
A guard seated at the front gasped, his eyes wide with shock.
Josef followed his gaze. Despite mentally preparing himself, he was still utterly shaken by the scene before him.
"By the gods..."
He muttered.
Towering walls stretched beyond sight, enclosing a city of grand, uniquely styled buildings. Colossal chimneys rose into the sky, releasing plumes of gray smoke.
But what truly stunned him was the massive stone pillar at the city's center, hundreds of meters high, supporting a magnificent white altar shrouded in mist—like a divine kingdom descending upon the world.
—That was the Grand Altar of Isthalia.
For some reason, Josef was reminded of his first pilgrimage to the Holy City at the age of six, when he had gazed up in reverence at the "Tower of the Eternal Sun."
And now, Isthalia evoked the same awe-inspiring sensation.
"This is... a miracle."
He unintentionally voiced his genuine thoughts.
"Indeed. For us Anzetans, it is nothing short of divine."
Heria, too, looked up at the skyborne altar with devotion. "Mr. Josef, that is where His Majesty Cassius was crowned."
"No matter where you are in Isthalia, as long as you look up, you can see that sacred place."
"Isthalia South Gate Station, arrival. All passengers, please remember His Majesty's grace and disembark in an orderly manner."
"Finally here."
"Hurry up! You want to be late and lose your wages?"
Passengers exited one after another. Josef steadied himself with a deep breath before leading his caravan off the train.
His guards unloaded their cargo and prepared their equipment before marching into the city.
The streets were broader than he had anticipated—so wide they could accommodate a dozen carriages side by side.
The roads were also cleaner and smoother than any he had seen before, paved with a mysterious black material, free of the usual uneven cobblestones.
Tracks lined the streets, where smaller steam-powered trains transported citizens between districts.
The variety of races was staggering—humans, tieflings, hobgoblins, orcs, satyrs, ogres...
Yet despite the diversity, everyone seemed busy, walking with purpose, and their coexistence appeared natural.
"Citizens, obey the security regulations!"
Wyvern knights patrolled the skies, while tiefling guards armed with rifles marched in disciplined formations down the streets.
Compared to them, Josef's caravan was utterly insignificant.
Suddenly, an ogre approached, startling one of Josef's guards into raising his shield in terror.
"W-what do you want?!"
The guard had fought ogres before—he knew their brutality and had seen comrades devoured alive.
But the ogre merely snorted in disdain. "Another jumpy country bumpkin seeing the capital for the first time."
"Indeed. Foolish and weak humans."
A well-dressed ogre beside him sneered in agreement.
They left grumbling, while Josef's guard, drenched in sweat, realized he hadn't been attacked.
Josef watched in disbelief. "Miss Heria, I've been meaning to ask—"
"How did they suppress their nature? Ogres, wyverns—they're savage creatures."
"Yet here they are, abiding by laws and order?"
Heria clasped her hands together, gazing reverently at the distant white altar.
"Because of His Majesty's wisdom. He enlightened these creatures, bringing them into civilization."
"..."
Josef fell into silence.
Josef remained silent.
Before coming to the Empire, he had always believed it to be a land suffering under the tyranny of an evil dragon.
He had imagined people imprisoned in massive mines, bound in heavy chains, toiling endlessly to produce deadly firearms to satisfy the red dragon's insatiable greed for wealth.
But reality was vastly different from his expectations. According to this guide, the Dragon Emperor was spoken of as a radiant and mighty figure, akin to a sun god, worshipped by countless imperial citizens.
Gazing at the awe-inspiring yet uniquely styled architecture, Josef truly began to question whether the red dragon possessed some form of divine power.
Otherwise, how else could he have transformed the desolate and barren Anzeta into what it was now in just a matter of decades?
"All people worship together, the great red dragon above the heavens!"
"How can this grace ever be repaid? His Majesty lets mountain springs flow down across the plains, and timely rain nourish every land."
"His Majesty is like the sun in the sky, and we are like the seeds in the earth. His endless radiance shines upon the land, allowing us to grow and flourish."
Suddenly, a melodious hymn echoed from the distance, resonating through the city for a long time.
Josef furrowed his brows. "This is..."
Heria, listening to the familiar melody, exclaimed with delight, "It's the "Hymn of Cassius"! What a blessed song!"
"Oh, that's right, Mr. Josef. Today is February 29th—Coronation Day is almost here! It's the grandest celebration of the year."
Heria's voice was filled with excitement.
"..."
Josef listened to the lyrics—How can this grace ever be repaid?—and fell into silence once more, even beginning to doubt himself.
If the people of this nation were all this fervent and confident, then the Ember Empire was far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.