I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The further south they flew, the denser the crowds became on the ground. After a few more days, the group finally arrived at the approximate location predicted in the divination.

"Why are there so many people?" Lilith peered down, clinging to the edge of the dragon's neck. "How many soldiers are there? Are they going to war?"

The golden dragon descended and circled around the nearest camp, its appearance causing a commotion below.

Several soldiers looked up and saw the giant golden shadow in the sky. They hurriedly ran to report to their superiors.

Ji Tian patted Jinlong's neck:

"Little Flower, land in that open space over there. We'll walk into the city; you stay outside."

Jinlong snorted, but knowing that his size wouldn't allow him to squeeze through the city gate, he adjusted his direction and landed on a patch of compacted ground on the outskirts of the camp.

After landing safely, everyone rolled off.

Little Flower folded its wings, and Mia patted its scales:

"Wait for us here, don't wander off."

Xiao Hua glanced at the soldiers who were peering out from a distance, rested her head on her paws, and said nothing.

The tiger demon was also released. It huddled beside the golden dragon, lying obediently, as docile as a big cat.

Ji Tian led Elena, Lilith, Ophelia, and Mia toward the outskirts of the camp.

They hadn't gone far when a patrol of soldiers came rushing towards them.

The leader was a sergeant wearing faded leather armor, with a sword hanging at his waist. He looked to be in his early forties, with a weathered face.

The sergeant's gaze fell on the direction of the golden dragon and the tiger demon, then turned to Ji Tian and Mia, judging that they were noble knights with fairy companions, and bowed to ask:

"And who are you, gentlemen?"

Ji Tian asked casually, "Passing knight, why are there so many people at the city gate? Is there a battle going on inside?"

"You flatter us, sir. We are all here to pay our respects."

"To pay an audience?"

"The eldest prince, who had been missing for many years, suddenly returned and was even named crown prince. After the news spread, envoys from lords all over the country, representatives of the army, people from the merchant guild... all came. The capital was packed with people inside and outside, and even the area outside the city was filled with camps."

Lilith peeked out from behind Ji Tian, ​​looking puzzled:

"It's fine that the eldest prince is back, but why did you bring so many troops? What if the old king suspects you're plotting a rebellion?"

Rebellion? Us?

The sergeant's eyelids twitched; he thought the other party was deliberately picking a fight, but given the other party's undoubtedly high status and position, he couldn't afford to offend them. He explained with a forced smile:

"As long as we don't bring any fairies into the city, it's fine. Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince is about to make a southern tour, which is exactly the time when he needs people."

In this world, "fairies" hold a status that transcends the realm of ordinary combat power; ordinary armies are utterly insignificant in their presence.

They chatted for a few more minutes, and the officer mentioned that the eldest prince was currently giving a lecture in the central square of the capital, and suggested that they go and see him if they were interested.

After saying this, he bowed and led the patrol team back the way they came.

Elena waited until the officer was out of sight before speaking softly, "It seems this prince is quite shrewd. Not long after the news spread, forces from all over have come to pledge their allegiance."

"Yes, but I think he must have done something big to establish his authority beforehand, otherwise it wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

The group walked across the stone path in front of the city gate, which was polished smooth by the footsteps of the passing crowds. The city gate of the capital was wide open.

Perhaps because so many knights and nobles from all sides had flooded into the capital in recent days, it was no longer worth questioning them one by one. The guards standing on both sides casually glanced at the swords at their waists and then let them pass.

Upon entering the city, the noise from both sides of the street immediately hit us.

Shop signs along the street swayed in the wind, the oil pans for frying dough rings sizzled, and several children, brandishing wooden swords, weaved through the crowd, shouting "Take this! Take this!" before being grabbed by the back of their collars and pulled back by adults.

The closer you get to the city center, the denser the crowds become, eventually leading to a complete traffic jam at an intersection.

The central square is not far ahead.

The square was much larger than Ji Tian had expected, enough to hold thousands of people. The shade of the trees around it was full of people, and even the windows on the second floor of the shops had many heads sticking out.

In the center of the square stood a wooden platform, about two people high, covered with a deep red velvet carpet, with several flags embroidered with the kingdom's coat of arms fluttering on the pillars on either side.

Guards dressed in standard armor stood around the high platform, with long swords at their waists, their posture upright.

On the high platform, a figure dressed in a dark blue robe and a silver-gray cloak stood in the center, speaking to the dark mass of people below in a loud and steady voice, without any notes in his hand.

"...As you all probably know, I have been away from the capital for twenty years. In these twenty years, I have traveled through mountains and rivers, seen scenery you have never seen, and also encountered difficulties you cannot imagine."

But wherever I go, I always remember one thing—I am ultimately a child of this land!

The applause from the audience surged like a tide, wave after wave, occasionally interspersed with a few loud cheers and slogans.

Mia had been staring at the platform for a long time, and murmured:

"That prince should be my teammate... It's a pity Xiaohua is outside, otherwise I would have recognized him."

"Even face blindness shouldn't be this bad, right?" Ji Tian thought to himself, but he was certain that the person was a magician who had been swallowed by the door.

"He used amplification magic when he spoke, so he must be one of your teammates. And judging from his physique, he's probably not a pure mage or healer. He's most likely Ian, the captain of your mission."

Mia blinked. "I see. As expected of the Hero."

"Wait, did you determine my identity by the Hero's Sword?"

"Hehe~" Mia smiled slyly.

Ji Tian sheathed the holy sword and then asked, "So, who do you see me now?"

Mia was taken aback by his words, then somewhat embarrassed, she whispered a defense:

"I'm face-blind, not stupid."

"..."

That eldest prince was indeed the adventurer who was swallowed by the door.

Ian's speech lasted for nearly fifteen minutes, covering topics ranging from economic development and military reform to tax breaks and border defense, almost entirely copying the laws of another world.

Finally, he raised his right hand, clenched his fist in front of his chest, paused for a moment, and said loudly:

"For the future of the kingdom!"

Thunderous applause resounded throughout the square.

Amid cheers, Ian nodded slightly to the audience, turned and walked off the wooden platform toward a temporary auditorium on the north side of the square.

The crowd began to disperse slowly, and murmurs rose and fell. Just as Ji Tian was about to lead the group out along the street, a young man dressed in a dark gray short robe with a bronze token hanging from his waist strode through the crowd, stopped before them, and bowed respectfully.

"My lords, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence."

Lilith asked curiously, "Did he see us?"

The messenger politely refrained from replying and continued to gesture "please".

"Alright, let's go take a look."

Passing through a curtained passageway at the edge of the square, we arrived at the entrance to the auditorium.

The curtain was lifted, revealing a simply furnished temporary reception room. Ian was sitting at one side of the long table, smiling and greeting everyone.

"Mia? You came in too?"

Mia hesitated before confirming:

"Are you really Ian...?"

"it's me."

Mia sensed the relief in his tone, and the thin layer of fog in her heart gradually dissipated, making her relax a little. She asked, "What about Evan and Dean? Are they also in the capital?"

Ian put down his water glass, his eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

"They each have important matters to attend to at the moment and cannot come. I will arrange a meeting for you once you have settled in."

As he spoke, Ian turned his gaze to Ji Tian and greeted him with a smile: "And this gentleman is?"

Mia seemed to have reverted to her usual socially awkward self, blushing as she thought carefully before speaking:

"His name is Ji Tian, ​​and he's my friend."

"Not a girl? If you're going to introduce us, fine, but why are you blushing?"

Ji Tian suddenly felt a chill down his spine, and in a daze, he felt three pairs of eyes staring at him at the same time.