In the new administrative system, the news of the King's impending coronation quickly spread from west to north, causing a great stir in various places.

Unlike the past, when news was transmitted by merchants and boatmen, the city halls in various places posted announcements in the most conspicuous locations in the towns and arranged for narrators to explain them, seemingly intentionally allowing the common people to understand the royal decisions. Under such an attitude from the authorities, the matter's popularity swept through the streets and alleys of the city in just a few days. No matter where one went, one could hear related discussions, as if even the winter cold had faded a little.

The "Underground Trumpet" of the old royal capital was no exception. After all, taverns were always a gathering place for hot news. Sitting by the stove, drinking a mug of ale, and chattering about rumors heard from who knows where was one of the few forms of entertainment for the common people.

As the new owner of the Trumpet, Black Hammer had been smiling almost non-stop for the past few days. After entering winter, the tavern's business had become much quieter, but after the coronation news came, it had returned to its former liveliness. Watching the income soar, his mood also rose.

It was expected that this level of discussion would continue until His Majesty officially completed the coronation and the dust settled.

Deciding to ascend the throne in Evil Moon was simply a brilliant decision. If he could see His Majesty in person, he would not hesitate to bow down and piously kiss His Majesty's boot tips.

After all, there was nothing more adorable than gold royals in this world.

Of course, with their former rat identities, the possibility of being allowed to approach Roland Wimbledon was very slim. It was already very good to be able to see Tassah once in a while.

Black Hammer was quite aware of this.

It should be known that the current Tassah was not the former down-and-out patrol captain or the nameless guard of the Fourth Prince. Since Tifeeko failed in the fight for the throne, he had faintly become the first person in the old royal capital. Naji, the tavern owner who wouldn't even give a rat a straight look in the past, was sent to a remote place with one sentence from him. During the subsequent black street cleanup operation, they were also able to shed their Skull Finger disguise and transform into formal residents, taking over this Underground Trumpet tavern, because they received a tip from Tassah.

Black Hammer would never forget this act of promotion.

He planned to pull Silver Ring, Pottery Jar, and Little Finger to visit and thank him properly before he left the old royal capital – even though it would cost an extra sum of gold royals, as long as he maintained this relationship, he would earn it back sooner or later.

In addition to this, he had not forgotten what he should do.

That was to collect intelligence for Lord Tassah. Whether it was a merchant's boastful self-promotion or a traveler's roadside experience, as long as there was content that Lord Tassah was interested in, he had to record it and report it to the contact person.

And now, obviously, the most important thing to pay attention to was those potential rebels.

Such as the guests at table number six...

"Don't you think this is too coincidental?" A red-faced trader exclaimed, "It's fine to ascend the throne in such a hurry, but His Majesty just announced that he was going to marry a witch who couldn't have children, and then he got the news that the eldest prince's widow was still alive and had a child. It doesn't seem reasonable at all!"

This statement was echoed by some people, "I heard that Prince Goron was not interested in women at all, and some people even rumored that he had an affair with a young knight. How could a fiancée suddenly appear?"

"Really?"

"You're not from the royal capital, so you don't know. Compared to the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince, he rarely even attends banquets. This can't be wrong."

"And think about it," the merchant said again, "His Majesty only said that he would summon the two of them back to Neverwinter City, but he didn't clearly state the status of the posthumous child. Isn't this deliberately leaving controversy and focusing everyone's attention on the inheritance qualification? Which family does that woman come from, and does the child she gave birth to have the blood of the Wimbledon family? These are enough to argue about for several years, but no one is paying attention to the real life-threatening things."

"What... what do you want to say?"

"What do you mean by real life-threatening things?"

"That's a witch!" He poured a large mouthful of wine for himself, "They secretly control His Majesty and create the so-called widow and child in order to distract our attention and achieve the conspiracy to control Graycastle!"

The audience was in an uproar, "Can witches create people?"

"I'm telling you, there's nothing they can't create!" The merchant said angrily, "Even stones that float on water are possible, let alone a person? It's because these monsters are rampant that no one is renting my ship anymore! Of course, it's probably still impossible to create a flawless person now, so the witches need time. When they are completely successful, that child will naturally be unnecessary!"

"Hahahaha... I think you're out of your mind. Do you think there's only His Majesty in the palace, and he only has one God's Stone of Retaliation by his side?" Everyone laughed, and the tavern was filled with a happy atmosphere for a while.

"You burp, just laugh, the mining workers in Silverlight City have been replaced by the gadgets made by the witches, and the rivers are full of stone boats from Neverwinter City. When it's your turn, let's see if you can still laugh!" The merchant said with a slurred tongue.

Hmm, although this information is not very valuable, having rebellious intentions is also treason... Black Hammer picked up a charcoal pencil and wrote the other party's characteristics on a piece of paper with crooked writing, as well as the words "slandering the royal family and harboring malice towards witches," and stuffed it into an inconspicuous crevice behind the liquor cabinet.

If there were no accidents, the Police Department would react soon, and the merchant would probably be caught as soon as he left. As for whether the other party had any rebellious actions, that was the task of the interrogators and had nothing to do with him.

...

At the same time, in the inner city, the Earl's Mansion.

"How about this dress?" Yoko put a high-necked dress made of good fabric in front of his chest, "Wouldn't it look too bulky?"

The person answering was none other than the female merchant he met in Dawn City, Dennis Patton. She leaned lazily on the head of the bed, pulling up half of the quilt to cover her bare chest, "I've never seen you so proactive when dating me. Now you haven't even received an invitation, and you're rushing to prepare to leave as soon as you hear the news?"

"His Majesty Roland and I have been old friends for more than ten years. What kind of invitation do we need for such a friendship? Those are for outsiders to see." Yoko shook the clothes, "You haven't answered my question yet, what do you think of this one?"

"To be honest, you look pretty much the same in anything," Dennis yawned, "Anyway, it's not your appearance that attracts me. But if you're going to Neverwinter, what about me?"

"Uh," he hesitated, "if you want to have fun, I might be able to introduce you to a few nice..."

"No interest," Dennis interrupted bluntly, "I prefer to choose my own targets. Besides, I came all the way from Glow City to find you, and is this your way of treating guests?"

Yoko knew he was in the wrong, so he had to sigh and said, "Then what do you want?"

The female merchant raised the corners of her mouth, "Take me to Neverwinter with you. I've long wanted to see what the monarch who turned Dawn City upside down looks like."

"This..."

"Since you've been old friends for more than ten years, His Majesty must have invited you to attend his banquet, right?" Dennis lifted the quilt, turned over and got out of bed, and walked towards Yoko step by step, "Then you just need to bring me in as your partner. When I was in Glow City, I accompanied you to so many banquets, this time you should satisfy my little wish, right?" As she spoke, she put her arms around Yoko's neck and put her lips to his ear, "Don't worry, I know you have someone you really want to see... Not only will I not interfere with you, but I might even help you."

...

As the news spread, both the common people and the new local officials became busy.

However, the person at the heart of the vortex was completely unaware.

It wasn't until a week later that the Roland-class shallow-water gunboat arrived at Evernight City in the Northern Region.

This peace was finally broken.