One-Eyed Monster

Estev, the Deputy Court Chief of the Liuli City Court of Guards, recently received a letter of greeting. The letter was delivered to him through Luona’s Mail Bird System, which was much faster than the standard postal service. The speed of the Mail Bird System made many postmen worry about their future, as birds, after all, didn’t require salaries from the Empire.

However, the wise old Estev knew postmen wouldn’t lose their jobs anytime soon. After all, the birds used in the Mail Bird System were not common sparrows. Just as not all people could be postmen, not all sparrows could handle such laborious work. The birds used in the Mail Bird System were alchemical creations. It was impossible to convince Alchemists to hand over such things without a considerable amount of gold coins. Thus, the Mail Bird System was, plainly speaking, a novelty that only organizations with power or money could afford. Ordinary folk were still better off writing on paper, sealing it in an envelope, and finding a postman.

Estev unsealed the high-grade stationery delivered by the Mail Bird. He squinted habitually. Years of a life lacking excitement had made him forget many things, but some were deeply etched in his mind. These were like the blood flowing through his veins; to forget them was like obstructing that flow, making his whole body uncomfortable.

Smoking, squinting, and taking chances—these were the habits flowing in Estev’s blood.

A faint smile touched Estev’s lips; it seemed the letter’s contents were not mundane.

The letter had been delivered by Luona’s Mail Bird System. At first, Estev thought it was an order from Court Chief Aymond of Luona’s Court of Guards. But on reflection, he recalled he was merely a deputy chief. Orders of that nature would only be delivered to the Court Chief. My role as deputy is simply to run errands.

This was indeed not an official dispatch from Court Chief Aymond. It was a letter of greeting, addressed solely to Estev—a greeting from Luona.

The sender was Lord Aevernan, predecessor to Lord Babasha, Liuli City’s current mayor. Lord Aevernan now held a high position in Luona’s Department of Roads and hadn’t written to his old friend in a long time.

Estev and Aevernan shared a good relationship. When Aevernan had been summoned by Governor Rostov, he had wanted to take Estev with him, but Estev had refused. Estev had said he had become one with Liuli City and truly didn’t want to make a change.

Estev had his own life philosophy, so Aevernan hadn’t pressed him. However, Aevernan often missed his second home, the place where he had striven for many years. And so, Lord Aevernan poured all this longing into his letters, confiding these feelings of nostalgia only to Estev, his good friend far away in Liuli City.

"Old friend, life in the Imperial Capital is oppressive. Every day, people are at your heels, pushing you forward. Compared to Liuli City, life certainly has a sense of urgency..."

"Old friend, the steam car is truly a marvelous invention. When you see it with your own eyes, you’ll realize this thing can genuinely change the Empire..."

"Old friend, the pressure in the capital is indeed immense. The Lord Governor is single-handedly resisting the entire entrenched establishment. The path of reform is truly fraught with thorns, but the future is bright. Everyone should strive for this Empire..."