Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

Malin shaved the beard off his face and looked at himself in the mirror, with his youthful life smiling back at him.

According to intelligence from the North, news of Malin’s return had already spread along the battlefront from north to south. Soldiers from both sides began to openly defy their commanders’ orders — in fact, even the lower-ranking officers in the Northernist army had faith in Malin’s coming.

Only in the noble army, fearing rebellion, the officers didn’t have the courage to suppress it.

There were nobles who entertained illusions about Malin’s arrival, especially among the smaller nations between Sydney and the Northern Kingdom. Many nobles were eager for action, believing that as a prince, Malin would surely defend the nobility’s honor, and some nobles couldn’t wait to join Malin and set the North right again.

To this, in larger countries like the Farol Principality, not a single noble dared to make a sound — after all, they were afraid of Malin’s killing spree. In their memories, those hapless individuals hung on city gates weren’t unheard of, so in today’s unclear situation, it’s best not to come forward and seek death — after all, their prince always loved his people like his children. If such a thing happened in Farol... the nobles there might have already dug their own graves to lie in.

In the Sydney Union, both nobles and commoners were watching the spectacle — you see, in such an emerging nation, there were no serfs, and the nobility hadn’t yet solidified into the enduring burdensome tumors of the old kingdoms. Instead, feelings on both sides became much more harmonious due to the emergence of political rising stars like Malin. For a commoner legend, who was once an orphan, to marry the princess, such an inspirational story, even if impossible to replicate, still proved to everyone that in this nation, commoners could live a better life through their own power. This is why in recent years, Northern refugees flocked to Sydney and joined Malin’s group.

Faced with death and suffering in the North, why not come to Sydney and become a worker in Malin’s group.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Kingdom, whether serfs, freemen, or nobles, they all faced a tide of chaos. No one had the heart to play political games at such a time, especially when they faced the grave threat of annihilation.

Before leaving, Malin took the time to see Old Ferrero, this old elf who had aged a bit. Time, after all, left some marks on this half-blood’s face.

"Child, I still remember when you made a pinky promise with me, I told you I would teach you to make a fortune, but now the entire Westland is eagerly awaiting your decision." Old Ferrero embraced Malin as soon as he saw him.

Malin returned the embrace with a smile: "Who are you lobbying for today?"