Chapter 1373: Chapter 92: Rebuilding the Nation (19)

[Maplestone City]

[Day of the Inauguration of the Meeting of Free People]

Large patches of pale yellow clouds drifted quietly high in the sky.

A gentle breeze stirred the clouds, trailing behind them a long tail.

This tail extended downward like undulating waves, casting the surface of the Anya River into a pale red jade disc.

The early morning Maplestone City was shrouded in a veil of stillness.

Until the sun rose, shining on the roof of the Great Cathedral, illuminating the golden dawn.

Suddenly, the church bell tolled, spreading invisible ripples through the alleys and main streets in all directions.

“It’s time.” Gerard, who had been waiting in the foyer for a long time, struggled to rise, supporting his knees: “Let’s go.”

Pierre wanted to help his father up but was firmly refused. So Pierre bent down to hand his father the old cap.

“Alright then.” Pierre said with a smile: “Let’s go.”

They opened the door, and the blue dawn poured in from outside. Vaguely, one could see the officers’ residence across the road with people leaving.

Eileen escorted her daughters to the door.

“There’s no need to prepare food or drink for us,” Gerard said with the authority of the head of the household, kissing his wife and daughters goodbye: “I don’t know when we’ll return today.”

With that, he left the house with his son and son-in-law.

Pressing his right hand against the front yard gate, Gerard remembered something and turned to ask his son: “Did you find the person you were supposed to look for?”

Pierre looked troubled: “Xial hasn’t given me any news yet.”

Mr. Old Mitchell stood silently for a moment, sighed, pushed open the gate, and disappeared from his wife and daughters’ sight with his son and son-in-law.

On the streets of the officers’ community, there was a clear distinction between the professional officers, appointed officers, and the unofficial officers of Iron Peak County.

The professional officers all wore impeccably tailored dress uniforms, their boots shining brilliantly, walking with heads held high, making it hard for anyone to look directly at them.

The appointed officers were also dressed up splendidly, but their steps lacked confidence, and their expressions were uneasy. Even though their tailor-made uniforms were identical to those of the professional officers, they could still be easily distinguished.

The unofficial officers of Iron Peak County didn’t need identification.

Because the officers of Iron Peak County simply didn’t have uniforms. On them, you couldn’t even find two pieces of clothing with the same color or style.

The Iron Peak County Military, regardless of officers or soldiers, still wore civilian clothes from enlistment, only dyed the same color as a makeshift uniform.

And because they couldn’t find quality dyes, the Iron Peak County Military’s “uniforms” would fade after just one or two washes.

So at a glance, there was a dazzling array of blues.

However, the Iron Peak officers’ sheathed swords were the most luxurious, and the sound of their boot heels hitting the ground was the loudest.

Because whether professional officers or appointed officers, they had to buy their clothes at their own expense.

The boots on the feet and the swords at the waist of the Iron Peak officers were seized from the hands of the enemy.

And a seizure was undoubtedly the most dignified way of acquiring something.

So the chins of the Iron Peak officers were also held highest.

Though wearing coarse old clothes amongst the “peacocks,” their faces showed no envy or shyness, their aura overwhelming the other two groups.

Because the meeting site of the Free People was so close to the officers’ residential area, there was no need to ride horses.

So the officers leaving their residences all walked straight to the gate, with no one heading for the stable.

The officers walked forward with stern expressions, as if each knew the destination and their purpose upon arrival.

In the background, the footsteps merged into a unified rhythm, turning into a steady drumbeat.

Witnessing such a scene, Gerard’s son-in-law was a bit nervous, but Gerard indicated it was nothing to worry about.

Old Dusack, leading his son and son-in-law, naturally blended into the crowd and followed the procession out of the officers’ residential area, walking a stretch upstream along the Anya River, then crossed the bridge.

At each corner and alleyway, armored gendarmes stood guard. Fully-armed cavalry patrolled the main roads, making the atmosphere tense, causing people to subconsciously hold their breath and lighten their steps.

After crossing the bridge, the town hall of Maplestone City— the meeting hall of the Meeting of Free People— was now within reach.

Upon reaching the plaza in front of the assembly hall, the atmosphere of sacred solemnity reached its peak.

The entire plaza was completely surrounded by the imposing Honor Guard.

Luxurious tapestries adorned the external walls of the buildings around the plaza, while also blocking out any ill-intended prying eyes.

Non-military free individuals provided lodging by the convening parliament entered the civic plaza from other entrances, then were guided into the venue according to their areas.

Gerard’s son-in-law Alex reluctantly bade farewell to his father-in-law and brother-in-law— he had to join the free people of Thunder Group County.

Afterward, Gerard also waved his hand, declining his son’s offer to see him to the location.

After verifying his identity, Old Dusack followed the directions and stepped alone into the dark assembly hall.

Though there were up, down, and turns, there was only one path underfoot, so Old Dusack arrived at the main venue without difficulty.

Upon stepping under the dome, he comprehended the mystery of the venue’s layout:

Inside the assembly hall, the originally tiered circular seating had been divided by railings into eight equally-sized segments;

Each segment’s front end connected to the central “stage,” while only one passage was at the rear;

From Gerard’s previous observation, each passage was also connected to only one entrance;