From Prisoner to Si Chen

At the breakfast banquet, both parties successfully reached a willingness to cooperate. After more than half a day of consultation, the charter was initially drawn up, and everyone was happy.

The Bremen envoys have finally concluded their visit and will return home. According to the charter, Bremen will send a professional technical team to provide guidance and help, and cooperate with the Iron Blood Royal Court to build a "water transfer terminal" and lay water pipelines.

But these are all things for later.

The time for the group to leave was set for the morning of the next day, when Foreign Minister Doroteo would personally see them off. The delegation would be sent to the border in a carriage arranged by the royal court, and then take a train across the desert and back. Bremen Empire.

That night.

Gillan was invited again and went to the territory of Duke Hawkes to have a dinner at the other party's manor villa.

Duke Hawkes was the first high-ranking member of the royal court that Gilan met when he first arrived. During this visit, the other party was very supportive and helpful.

In view of the goodwill of the other party, Gillan is naturally willing to continue to have a close relationship with him.

At the dinner, the two parties had a tacit understanding that they did not talk about work, but talked about their lives and hobbies like ordinary friends.

Duke Hawkes, who is over fifty, was quite surprised when he learned that Gilan's life was like that of an ascetic, with only work and practice.

As a great nobleman in Stuttgart and an elder of the royal court who holds real power, he is quite familiar with the matter of enjoyment.

This young and outstanding Foreign Minister of Bremen has no interest in enjoying it!

"Your pursuits and realm are far higher than this old guy like me, haha... It's no wonder that you are able to take on the important responsibilities of the Bremen Empire at such a young age and possess awesome power."

Duke Hawks picked up the golden cup and praised it sincerely.

"Here's to you, Mr. Gillan."

"Your Majesty the Duke is so complimentary."

Ji Lan also raised his glass in response and smiled:

"It's just that everyone has their own pursuits, it doesn't matter whether they are high or low... Speaking of hobbies, I actually quite like watching movies."

"Oh?" Duke Hawkes was a little surprised.

He is also quite familiar with the situation in Bremen and knows that "movies" are contraband in that land at this stage. But the Duke is also a man with extremely high emotional intelligence. He did not mention this, but said with a smile:

"It just so happens that I also like movies."

"Twenty years ago, when I was young, it happened to be the time when cinema was popular in Bremen. This novelty was introduced to Stuttgart and gradually became popular."

He said with a somewhat emotional expression, as if reminiscing.

"It's a pity that with some policy changes in Bremen, many movies have disappeared..."

"Mr. Gillan, I have set up a small collection exhibition hall on the third floor. There are some out-of-print film reels in it. Are you interested in visiting it?"

Hearing this, Ji Lan raised his eyebrows.

"Of course, Your Majesty the Duke."

"Come with me."

Hawks put down his glass and stood up with a smile.

Gilan followed closely behind and went upstairs together.

'I don't know if Duke Hawkes has any real film...'

He thought to himself.

Follow the Duke all the way to the third floor. At the innermost side of the corridor, there is a double-open carved wooden door with a circular relief decoration on it.

There are hollow glass windows on both sides, and you can see the warm orange light inside, as well as some display cabinets containing various precious jewelry and pottery.

Hawkes and Gillan stopped at the door, took out a pair of keys from his waist, and inserted one of the silver-plated keys into the central hole of the circular relief.

Click.

The double wooden doors made a soft noise and opened immediately.

"Feel free to visit, Mr. Gillan."

Duke Hawkes turned sideways upright, raised his hand and said with a smile.

"If there is anything you like, feel free to take it back. It will be regarded as my parting gift to you on behalf of the Barbaroche family."

"The Duke is so kind."

Ji Lan smiled and walked in slowly.

He looked around at the collections in the exhibition room and let out a sound of admiration, which greatly benefited Duke Hawkes.

Warm light casts down from the wall, illuminating the collection in the glass cabinet dazzlingly. Gold-plated black cat statue, sterling silver knight statue, five-color jewelry music box, diamond crown, pearl necklace, snake-eye ruby ​​ring, etc.

Each item is valuable and has a historical story behind it, which is recorded on the parchment attached to the side of the display case.

"This scepter was used by Queen Martinez in an investiture ceremony a hundred years ago..."

Duke Hawkes came over and introduced the collection in the display cabinet to Gillan.

Ji Lan nodded and praised repeatedly.

Soon, the two of them walked to an exhibition cabinet in the corner. This collection is an old projector. According to the description on the parchment, it is the first generation projector publicly sold by the Bremen Empire.

Duke Hawkes has maintained it very well, and according to him, if he can get the corresponding original battery, the projector will still work normally.

"...These are the film reels in my collection, but they are all black and white films, and they are still silent."

The Duke pointed to another exhibition cabinet next to him and said with a chuckle.

In this glass exhibition cabinet, separated by partitions, there are large film reels with a diameter of 5 to 60 centimeters.

Gillan glanced at them calmly, but was quite disappointed because these were not real films.

"...By the way, there's also this."

Duke Hawkes seemed to suddenly remember something. He used the key to open the drawer under the display cabinet and took out a box.

With a click, he pushed open the metal lock of the box, opened the wooden lid, and showed Gilan the contents inside.

"This is a film reel that I accidentally collected. As far as I know, it has never been circulated on the market. It seems to be an undisclosed master tape... Unfortunately, it was damaged, and only this is left. A small portion.”

Duke Hawkes explained to Gillan in a low voice.

Ji Lan looked at the scattered tapes in the wooden box and his pupils shrank.

The colorful light in his eyes flashed, and the "Guide Tip" immediately described the incomplete film:

"Curtain Call (Incomplete #4)."

"A part of an important biographical film, created by the 'director' Si Chen, who symbolizes February, to record a character, a life and a promise."

"...(the rest is unknown)"

Ji Lan looked at the crooked colorful words and was shocked.

He said silently:

'I have never seen such a description as an "important film". This real film may have something very special... Unfortunately, it is incomplete. ’

"Mr. Gillan, do you know the origin of this film?"

At this time, Duke Hawkes standing aside asked.

Gilan retracted his thoughts and shook his head.

"Not sure." He pointed at the wooden box and asked, "Can I get my hands on it and take a look?"

"Of course, please do so." Duke Hawkes smiled and gestured nonchalantly.

Ji Lan thanked him, took the scattered film in his hand, and looked at it carefully.

He found that the entire film was pitch black. Even if he looked at it against a wall lamp, he could not see the unique reverse color outline of the film.

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary roll of black tape, the kind that has too little to tie up any sundries.

"If Mr. Gillan is interested, you might as well take it back."

Duke Hawkes smiled when he saw this.

Gilan thought for a moment and took off his hat.

"I am indeed quite curious about this film... In that case, I will accept it."

"Where are the other collections?" Hawkes waved his hand, not caring much. He pointed to the exhibition cabinet in the room and asked with a smile: "You can choose whatever you want, sir."

"Thank you Duke for your kindness, this broken film is enough..."

Regarding the Duke's enthusiasm, Gillan just smiled and declined.

"Okay." Hawks shook his head, seeming rather regretful. "But as long as Mr. Gillan likes it."

…

…

Bang bang, bang bang.

The next day, the train drove through the endless desert.

The wind blew in through the open car window, raising the gradient hair on Jilan's forehead.

He was sitting by the window of the VIP carriage with an attentive look on his face, playing with the film in his hand. He had rearranged the originally scattered tape and rolled it into a palm-sized disk, which he was holding in the palm of his hand and looking at carefully.

‘Whose story is told by this real film that can make the “director” pay so much attention to it...'

He looked thoughtful.

'The name of this film is "Curtain Call". Does it have any special meaning? ’

Gilan shook his head and had no choice but to put away the incomplete film temporarily.

At this time, there was a crisp click of high-heeled shoes in the aisle behind him.

Lenis, a female secretary in uniform and glasses, stepped forward, saluted Gillan, lowered her head and said:

"Sir, Mr. Moody and I have just called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey the process of this diplomatic visit in the form of a briefing."

"Well, okay. Thank you for your hard work."

Gilan turned to his secretary and smiled.

"There are still a few days left for the return journey, so you should have a good rest."

"Yes, sir." Lenis adjusted her glasses and said. "You should also get more rest."

After that, she turned and left.

Gilan adjusted his sitting posture, leaned on the soft leather seat, and slowly closed his eyes.

Taking advantage of the boring time on his return trip, he planned to go into a dream and devour the two Kingdom Brands he had obtained during the trip.

As his consciousness sank, the blackness he felt became deeper and deeper, until the sound of the whistling wind, the sound of the wheels, and the whispers of the members of the envoy also faded away.

Gilan came to the spiritual kingdom again.

He went straight to the Cross Sword bonfire in the open-air stone palace, raised his hand and took out two colorful Kingdom Brands.

They all originate from the top of the "White Dove Tower", and are respectively the "Farmer", one of the former "Three Fables", and the "Winter Snake", one of the current "Three Fables".

A level 6 "traitor" and a level 5 "phantom".

"This is the first time I have swallowed the Kingdom Brand of the original 6th level. I don't know how much improvement it can make..."

Gillan murmured.

Immediately, with great anticipation, he threw the two Kingdom Brands in hand into the bonfire.

Bear! !

Suddenly, the fire raged!

The pillar of fire soared into the sky, forming a canopy-like spiral fire mass in mid-air. The intense light and heat instantly illuminated the entire island.

Jilan looked up and saw countless twisted phantoms, howling and struggling in the flames.

They swirled with the flow of flames, gradually being burned out and disappearing without a trace.

And one invisible force after another surged from Jilan's heart, giving him a strong feeling of heat.

'Feedback is coming...'

Ji Lan secretly thought.

Click, click, click! !

The open-air stone hall expanded again, and new carved stone slabs emerged from the soil at the edges, splicing themselves together.

At the top of the "thumb" stone pillar, the Mad King sitting on the throne also underwent new changes.

His body began to shrink, from the original three meters tall, gradually becoming the same height and body shape as Jilan's body.

However, after this "concentration", the Mad King's momentum did not decrease but increased, and there was a strong sense of oppression around him.

On the translucent scarlet cloak behind him, there were some twisted ghosts, which always exuded a deep black flame.

This kind of flame seemed to have the effect of hallucination and blinding perception... Obviously, it was a new ability generated after swallowing two kingdom seals.

As for the wild sheep standing next to the throne, it also shrank to the size of a normal horse. At the same time, its body gradually became translucent, and the whole body was emitting black flames.

'The strength of the kingdom of the mind has increased again, and the strength of the Mad King has been greatly enhanced... Although the wild sheep has lost its entity, if it descends to the mortal world again, it will not be restricted by physical damage, and at the same time, it can ignore gravity and run in the air. ’

Jilan felt the change and showed joy on his face.

However, the two kingdom imprints were of high rank, and the remaining power was not completely absorbed by him. The overflow was divided into four parts and transmitted to the other four members of the "Hand of Dawn" in a way that Gilan did not understand.

At this moment.

The four people, Black Snipe, Gray Stork, White Gull and Red Bird, who were in various parts of the empire, all felt a powerful force bursting out from their hearts.

"This feeling is coming again..."

The four of them stopped what they were doing at the same time, and were surprised.

And this time, the infusion of power was far greater than before!

In an instant, the four people who had already visited the God's Hometown·Toyalan and formed the "God's Hometown Imprint" almost unhindered, came into contact with the 4th-level essence they were trying to pursue...

Boom!

They immediately closed their eyes with strong expectations and entered the kingdom of the mind uncontrollably.

Gilan looked up.

Four beams of light fell, landing on the stone pillar seats of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and pinky finger respectively.

The spiral fireball in the night sky has not disappeared yet, still emitting light and heat.

At this moment, the open-air stone hall seemed to be holding a mysterious ceremony. The four people on the seats closed their eyes, slowly raised their heads, and smiled with joy.

Soon.

The four "Hands of Dawn" exuded a powerful aura-

They were promoted almost at the same time!

They crossed the stage of spiritual secrets and officially entered the long-lived. The natural life span was extended to 150 years, and the body, spiritual knowledge, spirituality and other aspects were qualitatively changed!

The black snipe changed from the original "beggar" to a "patient", and the plump and rosy cheeks became thin and pale at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The stork climbed from "private soldier" to "flag bearer", the windbreaker fluttered, and there was a sense of majesty between his eyebrows.

The white gull became "whispering", and the red sparrow became "match". The appearance of the two ladies did not change much, but their temperament was more restrained and elegant.

The four of them opened their eyes and stood up in unison.

They all bowed to the purple-eyed young man beside the bonfire below.

"Hello, Mr. Jilan."

"You are all now long-lived people, this is really good news... and the overall strength of the 'Hand of Dawn' has also risen to a higher level."

Jilan put his hands behind his back and smiled slightly.

"In the future, we will definitely realize our original ideals and live well in this chaotic world!"