As the group of five happily departed, Sif slowed her pace, approached Roland, and walked alongside him with a composed expression.

"Did you feel it?"

"Someone's watching us, a transcendent," Roland said calmly.

"Could be Tier Seven, but it's definitely not Sofia," Sif whispered.

"Reason?"

"If it were that woman, it's impossible for us both to notice unless she did it intentionally. She is the Empress, after all; there's no reason for her to run around wildly every day."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sif felt her words were somewhat presumptuous and quickly added softly, "I'm different from her; I haven't formally ascended the throne yet."

As long as it's not that woman.

If it's someone else, even if they are a Tier Seven transcendent, so what?

As long as we protect our main force, Master Anthony, ordinary Tier Seven is no match.

Roland glanced sideways at Anthony's sturdy figure and suddenly felt that this bear-like unconventional mage didn't quite need protection.

Anyway, it was a close call tonight; let's go back and rest well.

Without a word, the five rode back to Hansa City.

At this time, the early morning sunlight was slowly rising from the east, illuminating Val City.

Upon entering the city, Anthony and Lisa went to find a place to rest at the hotel, and Christine also made an excuse to leave.

"Roland, I must go and preside over the transfer ceremony."

Transfer ceremony?

That's right, today is the day the Val City State flag officially lowers.

Val City State will announce the end of its last day of official business at noon and transfer its power to representatives from all sides.

Because it is a peaceful transition, the personal and property safety of Val City State's numerous officials is guaranteed by several major countries.

But they also lost the most crucial thing, power.

Previously, Val City was not so significant, and the plenipotentiary representatives sent by various countries and groups were not so weighty that they could entirely accept them.

However, after the Magic Crystal Ore Vein appeared, Val City had already become the focus of various powers.

This place is destined to become a micro-battlefield, where elite forces from various countries will engage in bloody, brutal yet controllable clashes on this stage.

Through this confrontation, countries will probe and pull each other, ultimately determining whether and how the continental treaty will be renewed.

If any faction can monopolize or form an alliance to occupy Val City, the ownership of the Magic Crystal Ore Vein will naturally be revealed.

Of course, all this is already irrelevant to the officials of Val City State.

Under the morning's first ray of sunshine, Mr. Tony looked at himself in the mirror, noticing crow's feet already at the corners of his eyes.

He was already forty-seven, in the latter half of his career peak as a man.

He should have held power, maneuvering skillfully among countries to secure benefits for Val City.

However, international circumstances suddenly changed; who could have predicted it would come to this?

In diplomatic negotiations, he truly did his best.

But unfortunately, diplomatic skills couldn't change the fact that Val City State is weak and helpless.

Among this group of tigers, leopards, jackals, and bears, the sheep at the table have no chance of changing their fate of being torn apart and devoured, no matter how innocent.

Unlike beasts, humans have slightly better manners, and that's the only difference.

Tony stepped out of his room and headed towards the municipal hall.

The city-state government is the city government.

To improve administrative efficiency, Val City State did not employ many idle, redundant officials.

Their streamlined government framework brought extremely high administrative efficiency.

Although Val City State was just a small force with a population of tens of thousands, it could control the Golden Waterway and accumulate vast wealth; this effective administrative system is largely to thank.

This administrative system is very advanced, far surpassing the cumbersome bureaucratic systems of several major countries.

However, it's of no use.

Against absolute power, the best skills are useless.

Laughing at himself, Tony walked towards the municipal hall.

People on the roadside recognized him.

People stopped walking, watching the old leader go to work for the last time.

Usually, they had some complaints about the officials, disliking their profiteering and inefficiency.

But as Val City State was about to cease functioning, all complaints disappeared.

What use is there now in saying this; the nation has fallen.

People remembered the benefits of having a city-state government.

In this era of officials' absolute power, Val City State had a relatively clean official system and basic civil rights assurances.

All this is gone.

When the Val City State flag lowers, they will become subjects of Sussex, Vladimir, Tirol, and other countries.

Moreover, they are destined to be second-class citizens without civil rights.

Even among locals of these major countries, only a few possess rights to participate in governance and politics.

Thinking about the inevitably bleak future, the people standing on both sides of the road felt a sudden heartache.

Mr. Tony took off his hat, waved to the crowd beside him, and greeted them warmly.

But attentive observers noticed the tears in the corners of his eyes.

As he was about to enter the municipal hall, he slowly turned around and bowed to the crowd along the road.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your support over the years. Today is the last day of work for Val City State. If there's anything..."

Tony paused for a moment, laughed at himself, "If there is something, we probably can't handle it, but I can document it for you and pass it on to the new government."

"After all, this is our last chance to make a request; they should consider it."

As he spoke, Tony's voice choked up, unable to continue.

"We want Val City State!"

A young girl's clear voice broke the silence.

Her mother, terrified, covered her mouth and forcibly dragged her to the nearby alleyway, spanking her hard.

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