Rock Box Mountain is one of the transportation hub city-states in the northern part of the Protoss Empire.

Surrounded by rolling mountains, with winding rivers flowing through the city, it brings endless vitality to the city in the spring.

The architectural style is deeply influenced by the mountainous elements, mainly using stone and wood, cleverly integrated with the surrounding natural landscape.

But this year's climate is strange and particularly cold.

Even the cities in the southern part of the empire, which are warm all year round, are said to have had snowfalls at the beginning of winter.

It is now early March, and there is still no sign of the cold wave receding. From time to time, heavy snow falls, turning most of the city's buildings white, perfectly blending with the surrounding snow scene and ice-covered mountains.

The Magic Energy Train Station of Rock Box Mountain is located on the westernmost side of the city-state, known as "Rock Confluence." It is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the entire city-state, and even in the north. The building itself is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, combining modern technology with traditional stone processing methods, making it both strong and insulated from the cold wind.

On the train tracks of the station, the sound of brakes and the friction between the wheels and the rails gradually became louder.

A magic energy train from the south sped into the platform level.

Inside the carriage, next to the window seat in the front row.

"It seems that this is already a controlled area."

Lan Qi closed the book in his hand with one hand, put it away, and muttered to himself while looking at the gradually slowing scenery outside the window.

According to the itinerary, the two of them should get off at this city, and after passing the inspection, transfer to the next train.

Or rather, all passengers arriving at this station only have two choices after their passes have been checked.

Continuing all the way north leads to the northern border front line.

Turning westward will lead to the Northwest Province, which is also the province bordering the Kingdom of Asetelan.

"To be honest, even I haven't been here before."

Xi De yawned and said, covering her mouth.

When the three bishops chose to preach, Bishop Ba Tian chose the relatively stable and conservative South Bank, while Bishop Ji Mie chose the most chaotic imperial capital in the northwest, near the front line, and Bishop Ai Dao chose the wealthier area, but with the most complex noble forces, east of the imperial capital.

Almost each took a third, with the imperial capital of Heluo Mu as the meeting point.

From Lan Qi and Xi De onwards to the north, there were no longer any silver-armored Ba Tian branch priests, but rather Ji Mie priests mainly dressed in dark gray and Ai Dao priests mainly dressed in dark blue. Further north to the controlled area, there were only Ji Mie priests.

"Why didn't you choose the east side?"

Lan Qi asked curiously.

Although these were all questions that should not be discussed casually in public, it was precisely because other people would not understand what the two of them were saying that it did not matter.

"The noble forces in the east are very large, and there are many strong people. Their relationships and factions are very stable. Going there, you either have to please those great nobles, or you have to reach many cooperative relationships with them."

Xi De said, hugging her arms.

With just over a month left until the public election in the imperial capital, a large part of the votes were in the hands of the nobles in the upper house and the officials in the lower house.

Although choosing the east side clearly has a great advantage in the total number of key votes.

But she was clearly not the type to talk nicely to the great power holders of the empire. If the other party dared to take an inch, she might accidentally kill the noble.

Anyway, even if there was an eighth-order guardian family, she could still kill them if she wanted to. No one could stop her.

But if she did, her chances of becoming the person in charge of the Rebirth Church in the Protoss Empire would be almost ruined.

She would rather choose the north than the east.

"I see."

Lan Qi nodded, he thought so too.

It seems that with the help of himself, the forerunner, Ba Tian Church can lie down and gain a lot of support from nobles and officials in the south, even if he does nothing.

The key is to figure out how the Ji Mie branch in the north and the Ai Dao branch in the east are developing.

The east is easy to say, with Ba Tian branch informants investigating and reporting the situation in real time.

In the north, where news is blocked, even if Ba Tian priests in charge of intelligence are sent over, the transmission of news is seriously delayed.

So Xi Guide, as a Ba Tian bishop, simply came over to take a look for herself.

More importantly, if the two of them could cause trouble, it might seriously damage the reputation of the Ji Mie branch in the north.

"By the way, what is the attitude of those imperial noble forces in the east towards the war?"

Lan Qi was not sure whether what he had learned about the situation in the east was true. After all, some inside information could not be obtained just by asking around.

Xi Guide was, after all, someone who had chosen the south. She should know more clearly about the differences between the three areas of the empire.

Lan Qi had also heard that some great nobles needed to rely on war to consolidate their positions, after all, the positions of some families were based on force. He had also heard that those great nobles wanted to trick each other, but in the end they couldn't step down. He had also heard that some families had long been running military industries and were just waiting for the war to start.

"There are all kinds, but once the war starts, most of the nobles in the east are the kind who completely hold back. For them, their own interests are always paramount, so in essence, it is not wrong to say that they are anti-war."

"..."

"I don't want to deal with that group of great nobles, so I simply chose the conservatives in the south who are more determined."

Xi Guide clearly looked down on that group of great power holders in the east and did not covet their power and wealth.

But then she thought about it, and her eyes brightened as she looked at Lan Qi beside her.

"Logically speaking, after some time, the nobles in the east may know the name of Rocky McCarthy."

"Why?"

"But many nobles want to send their children to the Protoss Royal Magic Academy, the best school in the Protoss Empire."

If they heard that this Rocky McCarthy was the current principal, they would give him some face.

"I have always been fair in public and private matters. Don't expect me to use my authority to do some convenient things for you."

Lan Qi reminded.

He didn't want his sacred profession to be misused by Xi Guide.

Public is public, private is private.

The Protoss Royal Magic Academy is his personal property and should not be used for the public affairs of the Ba Tian branch.

"Tsk, favorability decreased."

Xi De clicked her tongue.

"Hey, didn't you say that the character of Xi De is separate from you? Why did Xi De's favorability decrease?"

Lan Qi opened his eyes wide and asked in surprise.

"Because Xi De is a very capricious girl."

"..."

Lan Qi wanted to complain but stopped.

He really wanted to ask about the real age of the Ba Tian bishop, but he was afraid that when he asked this question, Xi De would withdraw from the team.

——

ps: There is an easter egg chapter in front, Lan Qi Xiubolian Frey cat boss and Da Ai doll

(End of this chapter)