Bab 138: Imperial Capital
No empire lasts forever, history teaches us that even the strongest will feel the effects of time. After a thousand years, the empire that once shone with glory and controlled unlimited resources began to show signs of aging. Like the cycle of human life, the once glorious and prosperous empire was now slowly declining, trapped in the shadows of its glorious past.
The once magnificent imperial capital, with its heavy traffic, now held silence amidst the crowds. The faces of the people passing by on the streets looked blank, unsmiling, as if trapped in an oppressive routine.
Behind the grandeur of the magnificent buildings and architecture, a dark shadow shrouded the city. The corrupt rulers, who should have protected and led the people, were instead trapped in power and personal pleasure. The people who were once proud were now suffering, trapped in the cruelty of rulers who had lost their humanity. Torture and oppression became entertainment for those who should have been protectors, creating a horrific reality behind the curtain of luxury.
In every corner of the city, the scent of despair could be smelled. The suffering people endured silently, hoping that one day the light would shine on their lives again. However, with every step taken by the selfish ruler, that hope faded.
Noah looked at the magnificent capital city in front of him and sighed that the magnificent empire could not escape the blade of time.
In the past few years, Noah has explored part of the empire with C.C and Esdeath. On their journey they saw many unique sights and cultures in each region of the empire, but there was one thing that was always the same, namely the miserable lives of the people.
Although the world of code geass is filled with war, the lives of those who have been conquered experience suffering and discrimination, but at least they can still live well and have hope for the future.
Unlike the empire where the people suffer because of the actions of the country's nobles themselves so that they even become numb and desperate.
This was the first time for them to see such a life.
Two years earlier Esdeath had separated from them because she wanted to join the empire, for Esdeath who loves battle and war, joining the empire was a good choice. In addition, after a long period of training, it was time for Esdeath to gain real combat experience, because although Esdeath had fought dangerous beasts, fighting humans was different and Esdeath had not done much. During their journey around the empire, she only fought weak bandits that could not arouse her fighting spirit.
Noah and C.C stepped through the gates of the capital, the first thing that greeted Noah was the bustling streets and magnificent buildings lined up neatly, but what was very contradictory was that although it was crowded, the surrounding atmosphere was very depressing and the pedestrians filling the streets had numb expressions. Although the merchants on the sidelines had smiles on their faces, Noah could see that the smiles themselves were just masks.
Ignoring the strange atmosphere in the capital, Noah invited C.C to go shopping.
Noah and C.C stepped into the capital with enthusiastic steps, even though the background of the city looked confusing.
"Look, C.C," Noah said, pointing to a small shop selling various handicrafts.
"Shall we start there?" C.C nodded, although her eyes were slightly doubtful. She could feel the tension in the air too, but her curiosity overpowered the discomfort.
They walked into the shop, which was surrounded by unique items displayed in the window. From small statues to sparkling jewelry, everything looked interesting. As they entered the shop, the chime of a small bell hanging on the door brought some relief. Inside, the atmosphere felt warmer, though there was still a strange feeling hanging in the air.
An old woman with gray hair and a friendly smile greeted them.
"Welcome! How can I help you?" she asked, her voice soft but with a hint of falsehood.
Noah smiled and began to explore the items around them. He picked up a small wooden statue, beautifully detailed and beautiful.
"This is beautiful," He said to C.C.
C.C. looked around, catching the old woman's expression. "Are all of these handmade?" she asked, trying to make conversation.
"Yes, they are all made with love," the woman replied, but there was doubt in her voice.
"We just want to make people happy."
"I want to buy this," Noah said, ignoring the old woman's fake smile as he pointed at the wooden statue she was holding. After paying, they continued their journey. They continued to explore the streets of the capital.
Along the way, there were various shops that caught their attention. There were clothing stores, bookstores, and small cafes that looked inviting. However, every time they entered, the same atmosphere always enveloped them—fake smiles and blank eyes.
"Shall we go to that cafe?" Noah pointed to a small cafe with a cute sign. C.C. agreed, and they stepped inside. The fragrant aroma of coffee greeted them, providing some comfort amidst the tension they were feeling. They chose a seat in the corner, away from the crowd.
"Two coffees, please," Noah ordered to the waitress. As they waited, they observed the other customers. Some seemed to be caught up in soulless conversation, while others were just staring blankly out the window.
"Noah, look at their expressions. It's like they're stuck in a never-ending routine," C.C. commented.
"Yeah, it seems like everyone here has lost their zest for life," Noah replied.
"But we can't let this ruin our day. Let's try to enjoy our time here." After the coffee arrived, they started talking about some of the things they had encountered on their journey.
After enjoying their coffee, Noah checked his watch.
"Come on, we should get moving. There are still a lot of places we want to explore." They continued their adventure, exploring the various shops and stalls along the way. As time went by and the sky grew darker, they finally found a hotel to spend the night.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone