The snow pressed down on the branches, covering up the low sound of wind outside, and the tent seemed a little quiet. It was just a temporary shelter built with fallen pine branches. There was no lighting, but only a few pairs of bright eyes immersed in the darkness.
Fang Yu looked at the young man and said, "Let's talk about it."
Ben seemed a little hesitant, but he felt the calmness in Fang Pliong's words. He raised his head and looked at the 'leader' who was about the same age as himself. He seemed to feel relieved. He took a breath and answered. Said: "I suspect that all this has something to do with the Crow Claw Temple..."
After he finished speaking, he looked up again at Fang Plover, Saya beside him, and Miss Nightingale, who had been silent until now. Seeing that there were no strange expressions on the faces of the three of them, he continued. His voice was a little low, as if he was telling a story quietly: "Captain Ed, do you still remember what happened when we met that day?"
Saya was startled for a moment, and a trace of surprise flashed in her green eyes. She couldn't help but turn her head and look at Fang Plover. She originally thought that the other party asked her to help find this person. It should be the first time for the two parties to meet, but she didn't expect that, The two actually knew each other. But she remained calm and did not ask.
There was no surprise on Fang Plover's face, he just nodded slightly.
"I actually joined the Redeemed very early. No, to be precise, Mr. Gray Whistle and the others saved my life." Ben looked at the pine needles that made up the tent and said, "I was captured by the Gray Knights." I managed to escape with my life during the arrest, but fell into a coma due to serious injuries. However, Mr. Gray Whistle and the others happened to be in that area and were enemies of the temple. During this period, they met me who was seriously injured and lying in the forest. So I took him away and treated him."
"That's when I joined them... Later, the temple was purged in the Altori area. We were severely reduced in number. Our companions sent news from the south that a large number of refugees were gathering in Corvi, so we crossed the Frost Mountain Ridge. , came near Gray Owl Town."
"Ban," Saya suddenly turned around, looked at him with bright eyes and spoke, "It turns out you are not from Gula, you lied to us, and you have nothing to do with Mrs. Janis."
The young man replied to her apologetically: "I'm sorry, that's true. Old Mrs. Janis is a little delirious. It was through her cover that I joined your camp with her, Miss Saya. You are a good person, but I may not be. I was ordered by Mr. Gray Whistle to see the situation of the refugees and hibernate in the camp."
"So you have been observing secretly. You already knew there was a traitor in the camp. You knew that person was Grid, right?"
Ben did not refute, nodded and said: "I should have contacted you earlier, Miss Saya, but I realized that there was another force in the refugee camp, so I had to temporarily suspend the plan. But I started I really didn’t notice that the person was Grid. In fact, I was also looking for them, and even suspected you.”
Saya looked at Ben silently. The other person was a completely different person from when he was in the refugee camp. The young man in her impression seemed nervous and sensitive, a little timid and afraid of getting into trouble. She had never paid much attention to this person, but at this moment, the other person's words changed. He seemed calm and rational.
"Forget it, that's your business," Saya shook her head, "If it weren't for you, Mrs. Janis would probably not be able to reach Gray Owl Town alone, and I'm not even the owner of the camp. You can't do that. correct."
"Thank you for your understanding, Miss Saya."
But Saya only sighed softly: "I want to leave alone for a while, Ed."
Fang Yu looked at her and understood that it was uncomfortable to be kept in the dark, especially since the other party was a person with quite his own opinions, otherwise he would not have broken with Hongye and the others and chose to stay in the Oak Knights. But the disintegration of Tapolis, the crisis in the refugee camp, and maybe even Xiao Kong's incident, plus everything going on right now, may have made the other party feel a little exhausted.
In the darkness, Ben asked softly: "Did I make Miss Saya unhappy?"
"That's not the case," Alyssa said: "That lady is a very strong person. I think she just thought of the people who died in that battle and the people who betrayed you. You didn't She did nothing wrong. Just leave her alone and she will recover."
Fang Yu looked back at Miss Nightingale in his team. When did she know her so well?
But Alyssa turned back and winked at him, "Saya, I, and Hongye talked a lot that day. The two of them have reconciled, and everything is getting better, but people are always sentimental, Especially ladies, in these troubled times.”
The smile in her eyes seemed to say that he would never understand a woman's heart.
But Fang Yu didn't have the intention to understand this complicated theory. Just analyzing the current situation took up most of his energy. But after listening to Alyssa's words, he knew that the other party was fine, so he didn't Worry about this again.
Seeing that the other party's figure had disappeared into the snow, he turned back and asked Ben:
"Let's continue talking about Altori."
Ben nodded, "I have two friends, one named Cordier and one named Glodia. This is their ID, but I don't know what their real names are... We are in Etali. Ya knows that Cordir is a Chinese in reality, and Glodia is from the second division, the Hill of Giant Trees..."
"There are many theories about the disappearance of Altori, but most of them believe that it was caused by dragon beasts or shadow people. My friends and I took a fancy to the Adventurer's Guild's commission to investigate the whereabouts of the missing people. After all, People with Xinghui have disappeared inexplicably and their whereabouts are unknown. News like this has spread and has caused panic..."
Fang Yu listened silently, but couldn't help but think of another disappearance case. That was about Miss Attila's brother and the adventurers hired by Sylvester. They also suddenly disappeared under the starlight, and were finally discovered by people in the Traveler Swamp. A corpse that has lost its starry glory.
The two disappearances that occurred more than a year ago and now have one thing in common, which is that they both occurred in the North. The first disappearance was proven to be related to homeless people, so what about these current disappearances? Could it be that homeless people have returned to this place?
But there is another possibility. After all, the wanderers and the disappearances here seem to be related to the Shadow Man.
So what exactly is a shadow person?
However, he did not raise these questions and just listened to Ben continue: "...During the investigation, we gradually obtained some evidence and found that all the disappearance cases were related to a place called Snowstone Manor. . There is a castle in the south of Altori. It once belonged to an ancient family, but that family has long disappeared in history... The castle was later bought by a noble from Elpaxin as a separate property. "
"We learned that there were only some servants and guards taking care of the castle on weekdays. Cordier thought there might be shadow people lurking in it. After obtaining enough evidence, we notified the Crow Claw Temple and contacted Al The people from the Torre Adventurer's Guild went together to investigate the castle."
At this point, Ben stopped.
"Due to some personal matters in real life, I didn't go with Cordier and Gloria that day. Besides, they also needed someone to contact them in town, so they agreed that I stay in Altori," his tone changed. He felt a little low, as if he was recalling an unpleasant history, "I didn't expect that would be the last time I met them. They went to that castle that day, and there was no news from them since."
"Where are the people from the Crow's Claw Temple and the Adventurers' Guild?" Alyssa couldn't help but frown and asked, "Didn't they go to that place with your two friends? They didn't come back either. ?”
"I don't know," Ben shook his head: "But I think so too. I went to the Crow's Claw Temple to ask about my friend, but the other party didn't know. But when I went to the Adventurer's Guild, The Gray Knights suddenly appeared, claiming that I was possessed by the devil and betrayed my friends, and then attacked me."
"But I was lucky and escaped..."
Ben raised his head again and looked at them, "Captain Ed already knows what happened after that."
Fang Yu was silent for a moment before replying: "Thank you, this information is very important to us."
But Ben looked at him and asked, "Does Captain Ed also think there is something fishy behind this matter?"
However, Fang Plover did not answer.
After all, before this, he could not be said to understand the causes and consequences of these events. If he used this to doubt the Crow's Claw Temple, it would be somewhat unreasonable. Although this is indeed the most effective way to defeat the opponent——
It fundamentally overturns the legitimacy of its existence.
The Ravenclaw Temple exists to fight Nicol Bolas, but if they collude with the dark forces, the legitimacy of their existence will be wiped out in an instant.
But it cannot be said that there must be some conspiracy behind the high-pressure rule of the temple and the suppression of refugees. The Lord of Storms was once a righteous god. Different gods also have different teachings, some are tolerant, some are strict, and some are tolerant. It is not impossible for a silent god to return.
But the reason why he came to this place was for other reasons.
Among the responses given to him by the three goddesses, Malan's motives are the easiest to guess - he is the chosen person of the righteous lady, and acting in the name of the former, she will naturally give certain promises to her chosen ones.
The goddess of nature had a relationship with him once, and was a staunch ally of Malan, so it was nothing to express a stance with the goddess of war.
As for Mirela, it might be to repay a favor he had on Fenris Island. Fang Yu thought about it and concluded that his only connection with this lady was limited to this.
But the god is a god after all, and Malan regards him as a chosen one because she recognizes his actions and can act for her and implement her teachings. God's favor is not eternal. He asked for help from this righteous lady and received a response. The fundamental reason was because Marlan also agreed with his approach.
By analogy, Amaya and Mirela should have the same view.
But if the Lord of Storms Aidanlian returns from the abyss, as one of the saints of the Ori system, he is an enemy of his believers, but he is in line with the three requirements of Marlan, Aimea and Mirela. There are obviously some contradictions in the teachings of the goddess.
Why do the three goddesses think that they are hostile to the Crow's Claw Temple?
“God works through human hands.”
"So they don't tell us the answer, we need to find the answer ourselves."
"But since the three ladies have acquiesced in standing behind you, it at least means that the answer exists, doesn't it? Although you may not know exactly what the answer is, Mr. Leader, the question itself is enough to serve as a guide - "
"If everything is clear, then things should appear to us to be logical and logical. But if there is something abnormal behind something, it means there is something hidden here that we don't know, and that may be where the answer lies. .”
That was what Sylvide told him before leaving Gray Owl Town. At the same time, it also started from that night's counterattack against the Crow's Claw Temple. The guidance of all these tactics - from Gray Owl Town to Gula, from Gula to this place, every step they took was within the plan. .
Ever since the rumored army of the undead moved south from the Long Roar Mountains, the four towns in the north have long lost contact, and all news in the north is unclear. But judging from the reaction of the Crow's Claw Temple, they did not rush to support the four towns in the north. Instead, they stood ready in the Gray Tree Ridge area. Who was the Temple guarding against?
"Do you think there is a problem in the four towns in the north?" Fang Yu remembered what he asked the ship officer at that time.
Sylvide only smiled softly: "I wonder if the captain still remembers the disappearance case that occurred in the Altori area."
Fang Yu asked, "Does that have something to do with all of this?"
"I don't know if it's relevant," Sylvide replied: "But this is exactly the anomaly we are looking for, isn't it? I think we can test it."
"How to test?"
"Take the initiative, use the attack in the direction of Gula as a cover, and then test in the direction of Gray Tree Ridge," Miss Ship Officer's white fingers gestured on the map, "If the other party is concerned about Gula Port, or is eager to destroy us, All troops will be deployed in this area."
"but……"
She paused, then raised her head and looked at Fang Plover with her wonderful eyes: "If under such circumstances, they still divide their troops to defend the Gray Tree Ridge area, then what do the regiment leaders think they are guarding against?"
Fang Yu fell silent: "What if they really think we will attack Gula Port?"
"Two possibilities," Sylvide tapped the map lightly with her knuckles and replied: "First, Bard Blackfeather is a very cautious person. I have reason to believe that he will guess some of our intentions. "
"But what if it doesn't happen?"
"Then we have at least eliminated one answer," Sylvide replied softly: "There is no perfect example when making plans, and you will always have to take risks. But the three goddesses have at least given us a possibility, which is already It’s very certain.”
"Secondly," she added, "all of this must be based on the fact that the leader can defeat Bader Black Feather."
Fang Yu was silent for a moment, nodded and said, "I'll give it a try."
And this trial led to many things after that.
He came back from his memories, looked at Ben in front of him, and replied softly: "Maybe, but it's too early to talk about it now." In fact, the other party's previous description had already given him considerable confidence. , because Sylvide rarely makes a wrong judgment on one thing, at least in the general direction.
It is true that Bard Black Feather is still sending more troops to Gray Tree Ridge under such circumstances, so everything seems to indicate that the cautious guard seems to be worried about something. And now there are more details as support for this speculation, and the rest seems to be just waiting for them to verify.
Outside the shelter, the wind and snow had gradually subsided, and the night seemed to have entered its deepest moment. Fang Lu silently took out his pocket watch, flipped open the cover with his thumb, and glanced at the time on it.
Almost just before dawn——
"In short," he replied, "take this place first, and then talk about the rest."
…
At the last moment before morning, the wind and snow stopped.
This is the end of this snowstorm, and in the next week, the entire northern border may usher in a period of sunny weather.
However, people understand in their hearts that the cessation of one storm is just the beginning of another storm. The war in the north that has been dormant for several days will soon begin again.
The redeemed who disappeared in the blizzard a few days ago will eventually reveal their whereabouts, and the army of the Crow's Claw Temple gathered in various places will be ready again - if the battle does not take place in Gula Port , then it will also happen in Gray Owl Town soon.
But where people's eyes are not looking, in the darkness, an army of thousands of people is marching in quietly. Those gray cloaks, with silver armor hidden under each cloak, are marching. There was a rustling sound.
But the snow and the silent woods absorbed all sounds, making the night seem silent and peaceful. Under the cover of darkness, there were rows of solemn-looking knights of the gods, rows holding giant swords high, their rolled-up flags and spears like a marching forest, slowly moving forward among the cedars. .
The thin white air sprayed under the metal mask lingered into a white mist, and sharp eyes passed through the mist, staring at the towering black wall of Gray Tree Ridge Fortress a thousand meters ahead.
Along with everyone's steps, the dark stone wall slowly advanced between the trees, like a constantly changing picture. At the end of each queue, the knight captain occasionally used a low voice to maintain the distance between the teams.
The army quickly followed the cliff and came to the edge of the forest, and then stopped.
About three o'clock in the morning——
Fang Plover closed the watch cover, put it in his arms, glanced at the forest, then turned back and pulled down his goggles.
"Ed."
A low voice came from the crystal on his chest.
That is the voice of Hongye:
"We have arrived near the fortress."
A silver construct flew up from behind Fang Plover. He silently stared at the raised field of vision and answered:
"Prepare for action."
…
