The return journey was calm and far quicker than the journey deeper into the forest. When crossing the real stream, Bonin couldn't help but look at the water, hoping to see the nymph.
But nothing. During the frost moon season, even fish are rare, and a thin layer of ice forms on the water's edge. The experience of the underground stone gorge was like a dream. He could not remember the way to the cave, nor could he recall the voice of the water fairy. Only the heavy harvest kept reminding him that there were still some things that followed him back to reality.
The reality I have to face. "Xin, what is that stone gorge?"
"The territory of the water fairies, the source of the living stream. When I received the mission, I knew that the herbs would grow there. The light is dim and the water is sufficient - the banks of the underground river are perfect."
"Did you know earlier?" Nymph, Living Creek, and their territory...
"I'm not completely sure. If the nymphs didn't take away the luggage, I can only guess." The mercenary pushed aside a clump of frosted feather leaves and scraped off some raised bark with his dagger hand. "Polygonum truncatula is too rare. It is very difficult for this kind of plant to adapt to the climate of the four-leaf collar. It can only grow in a specific environment." His tone was calm, which made Boning deeply uneasy.
"It's rare for an adventurer to be as knowledgeable as you." The alchemist muttered, "Do you also know something about mysterious plants?"
"You misunderstood. This is information I collected temporarily and cannot compare with your professionals. In my opinion, since we have accepted the employer's mission, we should make some preparations. If you don't understand the target, you have to wait in the forest It will take weeks to find it."
For ordinary adventurers, his consideration is certainly necessary, but to Bonin it sounds like nonsense. Damn it, did he even hear that? Or do you simply think I've been attacked? If it was the latter, naturally everyone would be happy, but if it was the former, his previous attitude was not quite right. The relics left by the gods, the Bible, the Kingdom of Washimuth, and the Tower... In a panic, Brenanin mentioned many things that the "down-and-out alchemist of Bures" should not know. After knowing these things, are the mercenaries enemies or friends?
He tried his best to recall the scene at that time, but he was too nervous and excited, and many details were blurred and could not be distinguished clearly. You are single-minded and can only focus on the goal in front of you. The old wolf always laughed at him like this, and now Boning had to admit that his assessment was right.
He was eager to determine the mercenary's attitude, but he subconsciously made insinuations and was unwilling to ask directly. Maybe I still want to stay, Bonin thought. After a few days, the Knox Mercenary Group was no longer a strange group of adventurers, and Painter and Xin had indeed given him a lot of help.
But what does this mean? The adventurers in the Four-leaf Territory don't know anything other than the mission. They only drank and had fun, and got paid by guarding caravans, exploring secret places, and hunting wanted criminals. Sometimes they also gambled, committed crimes, and fought in groups, causing headaches to the city guards and irritating the lords. The only good thing is that these bastards knew how much they were worth and did not rashly get involved in the Seven Pivots' demon-hunting war and party strife. They were indifferent to national affairs.
Brenanin never thought that he was on the same side as them, and he even still harbored the idea of using the "Song Girl" potion to secretly control the mercenary group. But whenever he decided to take action, strange things would always happen, making him doubtful. Wait and see what happens. Is this a coincidence, or... "But, how do you recognize the water fairy?"
"Everyone has their own territory, Bonin. When you and they live in the Four-leaf Territory at the same time, you will meet one day." The mercenary's words seemed perfunctory, but his tone was different. Bonin couldn't tell.
After returning to the main road, it started to rain. They stopped riding horses and only carried their luggage on their horses. Seeing this, some fellow travelers came to talk to him. Most of them are questions such as "Have you ever seen a man with long hair?" and "Should we go east or west to Silver Ding City?" There are also questions such as "How to sell Polygonum truncatula" and "My boy can work, take him away." Such requests were accompanied by attempts to rob them or lead them astray with trinkets such as tobacco and silver coins. Bonin remained silent all the way, leaving Xin to deal with them.
And that mercenary - Gods bless him - was far more dangerous than any of the travelers that came his way. He didn't bother to respond to the guy who was looking for someone to ask for directions. He only opened his mouth when he was asking about herbal medicine and selling children. He only moved his sword slightly, and the person disappeared on his own. As for the road robber, most people recognized him, said hello to each other and turned away, but a few young people who were new to the industry rushed forward and lost their lives in a moment. Xin looked at their bodies one by one, pulled off their masks and scarves, and then searched their pockets. It can be seen that he regrets that there are no valuable items like the "Treant Gang" among them.
Finally, Boning couldn't help but ask him: "Are you a mercenary group or a gang from the Four Leaf Territory?"
"Oh, I hope it's the former, but business isn't that easy. After Boss Calder broke up the Crow Man Gang that was entrenched in the Deepwater Port, there are no more gangs in the South. It's no wonder we have it. The other party's price is too high and they won't negotiate. reason."
"So there is only the Knox Mercenary Group in the South? Those families, I mean, they always support small gangs and form river gangs and the like. Well, I have seen many..."
"The Duke does not allow rats in the city, whether they are in the halls or in the sewers. The knights of Frostleaf Castle implemented her will, and the vassals followed suit. Deepwater Port, Pinegrass City, and Stone Spring City all have only Private guards for nobles and chambers of commerce, no gangsters.”
And you, the adventurer team, the wandering mercenaries. Brenanin said nothing. The famous Knox Mercenary Group is not a local gang in the Four Leaf Territory, but originates from the Ice Territory further south. Many mercenaries were profiteers in the war, but not Knox. When the Ice Territory fell into war, which continues to this day, all of them moved to Yotsuba City.
"We follow the Duke's order and clean up the gangs in the city?"
"Ha, Tracy is a good employer. As long as she pays you, what's wrong with her? The Crow Gang is a gang formed by refugees and they don't know the local rules. They should ask more." The mount suddenly neighed impatiently. Xin waved away the boy who was pestering the woodcarving seller, kicked the stall he blocked to the side of the road, and reached out to lead the horse. "Don't block the road on the highway!" he shouted, "One more time, I will crush your wood!"
When we returned to the city gate, it was already noon the next day. The journey to the forest takes half a day, and the return journey takes even more time. Brenanin spent most of the time on horseback. In the second half of the journey, the mercenaries found a cart so that people and goods could get off the horse.
Seeing the city gate makes people relax even more. The flag on the watchtower was faded and disconnected, like a crimson dead leaf swaying in the wind. When Brenanin saw it, he couldn't help but joke: "I heard that Tracy spent more time in the Royal Capital than in the South Country, and it's rare to come back in a year. We can go home earlier than the Duke."
"Yes, there are no food-recruiting soldiers on the road. God bless you."
"Food levy soldiers?"
"Come from the south. There's nothing to eat there."
"I guess they are the model soldiers of the Seven Pillars. These people have blocked the Eternal Blue Vein in order to hunt demons."
"There are also ice leaders." Xin told him.
"What?" Even if the refugees can break through the blockade, the food levy soldiers are sent by the lord and can only operate in the ice territory. "The Earl of Iceland is Tracy's daughter. Could it be that they..."
"Although the Earl of Iceland is the daughter of a duke and has a strong reputation, in terms of rule, she is still a little girl under twenty. Lancoste's Silver Eagle Legion cannot control the Iceland Territory. In fact, some Silver Eagle Knights will also participate Loot." The mercenary didn't even say "requisitioning food." "In short, it's easy to dispatch bandits, but it's not easy to deal with the lord's knights. Even Knox mercenaries have to spend a lot of effort."
Brenanin frowned: "It costs money?"
"You have to pay tax." Xin patted the herb bag, "About 70%."
"You will stay 30% longer than when you meet a robber." Bonin spat.
"The robbers also have to pay 70%, just like us. So why not go and rob? The adults won't treat them differently anyway." They had already arrived at the city gate, and such topics stopped. The long procession stretched all the way to the hunting grounds on the outskirts of the city, turning in front of the fence to form a loop. "Looks like we'll have to wait until night."
His Highness Brenanin did not have to wait, but Alchemist Bonin could only wait in line. The mercenary didn't seem to be in a hurry. He dismounted from his horse and moved forward step by step with the reins. He had no interest in jumping in line, protesting, or showing off his mysterious power, which might lead to early entry into the city. No wonder the Knox mercenaries recommended him to manage the Adventurer Youth League, Bonin thought to himself, this guy is quick to act, but also very patient when doing things.
Therefore, it is impossible to count on him. "My potion will help, Xin." Bonin reminded. "In my opinion, the sooner we complete the task, the more generous our employer will be."
"There is a detection station in the city, so you can't mess around."
What do you mean, detection station? "Hey, is it allowed to use mysterious power in Yotsuba City?" He said calmly.
"What method do you have to pretend to be a distant relative of the Duke? It is said that a companion has done this before." Send him to Frostleaf Castle. The Shadow Knight there is not easy to fool."
"Quite creative." Brenanin couldn't figure out what he meant. "My method is safer: use alchemical potion."
"No, there is magic in the city wall. There were demons who tried to use their natural abilities to get out of the city, but were repelled by the mystery imprinted in the stone bricks." At this time, Xin Ruo glanced behind him consciously, and Boning immediately tensed up his muscles. , pretending to be listening to local rumors and interesting things. "The only way to get over the gate is to climb over the entire wall."
"But we have the goods."
"So now we just have to wait."
Brenanin shut up, now he didn't dare mention his potion. In silence, the alchemist showed as much patience as possible. Suddenly he realized something. "When there is no cargo, the mercenaries will climb over the city wall...?"
"Haven't you seen my magic?" Xin made a gesture. "Don't touch it, kid," he warned a boy reaching for the frame. "Next time I will hang you as a flag!" The thief turned around and ran away, escaping into the team.
I don't know whether the thief moved too much or there was other trouble. The team gradually became chaotic, accompanied by increasingly loud noises. Suddenly the line stopped moving, people left the track and swarmed forward, a swarm of figures, horse hooves and wheels. Bonin instinctively grabbed the pocket containing the herbs.
"What's going on?" he yelled, but his voice was lost among the same voices. Damn, there were people making noises in front and behind, and he really wanted to use the potion to make everyone mute, except Xin. In the chaos, Boning lost track of the other party and didn't even know when the other party disappeared. "pungent!"
"Don't let go, this is our harvest." The mercenary's voice suddenly sounded from the right side. Bonin saw people trying to climb onto the carriages and others scrambling to hold their horses, but most didn't care about their luggage.
"What happened? Why are people moving forward? The city gate is open?"
Xin held the reins firmly and steered the horse's direction. A disheveled man jumped on the saddle and hurriedly tried to cut the rope. The mercenary's wrist flicked, and the rope pulled the man's knife away. He then picked up the man by the shoulders and dropped him into the mud like a sack of potatoes. "Yes, but not for us. Look!"
Could it be that the Duke is back? Bonin followed his hand and saw an unfamiliar flag. It was a flag with a dark red background and ancient symbols drawn in the middle. The symbol looks like a snowflake, with straight and sharp edges and veins stretching like cracks. No, it was definitely not a snowflake. Bonin saw seven points, not six. In fact, the symbol looks more like a neatly divided round moon.
The flag bearer was obscured by the crowd, so he stood on the carriage, looked over everyone's heads, and saw a group of strange knights. Each of them rides a horse, wears black, green and orange-red armor, and their limbs are covered with thick fur. A silk cloak as white as fresh snow was tied around the shoulders of the leading knight, and his face was covered by a hood.
"Who are they?" Bonin muttered.
No one responded, and in the crowd, the fence in front of the city gate groaned. Everyone wanted to get in, so everyone was blocked outside. Bonin heard the soldiers guarding the city gate curse loudly and even show their weapons. He saw more soldiers appear at the city gate and roughly drive the crowd out. When he thought that the city guards were going to maintain discipline and arrange the troops entering the city in an orderly manner, they quickly withdrew into the city. Then the door closed.
"The number of places to enter the city is limited." Someone shouted from behind the battlements, "It's full today! Go back!"
"Quota?" Bonin blurted out, "I didn't hear about any quota. What's going on?"
Naturally, the people on the city wall couldn't hear his question. The mercenary snorted, "Of course it was a last-minute idea to close the door quickly." He frowned at the team of knights behind him. "It seems that these people are unfamiliar enough to the Four Leaf Leaders."
"You don't recognize it?"
"It's too far away for me to see clearly. What did you see?"
"Flag." Bonin had to raise his voice, and the people around him were drowning in shouts and curses. "Dark red, silver symbols, and cracks..." He described what he had just seen. But in his heart, Boning felt that the other party did not know the answer. He vaguely felt a sense of familiarity from the leading knight in white cloak.
As expected, the mercenary couldn't answer. "It sounds like the moon." He mused, "But since they come from the south, it is normal for the flag to have a broken moon pattern. The Ice Leaders are afraid of darkness and long for light and fire, but they are also fascinated by the night and the broken moon. The moon is filled with adoration.”
"The flag of the Ice Leader, are they the Earl's cavalry?"
"Lancoster? That's not the case. Maybe it's just a small family from the Ice Land. I don't know the coat of arms of every noble lord." The mercenary shrugged, "Anyway, anyone with a coat of arms can't be offended. What’s the difference?”
Having said that, the people who were stopped outside the city gate were not so easily persuaded. People refused to disperse, like the seaweed beside the rocks, which was tangled and tangled, and the people at the front even began to attack the city gate. Bonin caught the crackling sound. After all, it's not just ordinary people who are blocked from the door.
"Damn it, didn't you open the door before?" The alchemist was almost pulled off the frame. He had had enough. "Why are the city guards so crazy?"
"I'm afraid I was too far away and didn't see the flag clearly. I thought it was Duke Tracy who was back." Xin was trying to turn the carriage around, although it was almost impossible to do it in the crowd. "The city lord's hospitality was given to the wrong person."
Then the acting city lord became angry and turned away the guests? It's ridiculous no matter how you think about it. "Then we shouldn't close the door! If nothing else, what should the envoy do?"
"Times have changed, Bonin. Safety and caution come first now."
Brenanin couldn't help but think about these words. The situation in the Ice Territory is unpredictable, and refugees continue to flow to the north. However, a team of fully armed knights with an unfamiliar flag is a completely different matter. Whose messengers will they be? What's the purpose? Everything is unknown. Even if they are just soldiers coming from the south to collect food, the Yotsuba leaders will find it troublesome - the Earl of Iceland is Tracy's daughter after all, so it is easy to drive them away, but taking responsibility is another matter. If it were me, I would be extremely vigilant.
Others don't think so. People's shouts and movements continued, but the soldiers on the city wall turned a blind eye. A few seconds later, a cluster of arrows flew out of the hole in the wall and stuck at people's feet, causing dust to fly.
All the clashes and shouts suddenly disappeared and turned into an angry murmur. Bonin almost drank the paper window, but finally calmed down. For a moment, he thought the archer was aiming at the crowd. Some nobles were indeed capable of such a thing.
"The quota is full!" The soldiers were still shouting, "Come back tomorrow!" I don't know whether it was to the people or the cavalry.
The last arrow passed over people's heads and fell straight towards the cavalry in the distance. Bonin saw the tether on its tail.
"There's something on the arrow," he reminded.
Xin didn't even raise his head, as if he was indifferent to this. "Anyway, it's not for us, let's go. Wiggins doesn't plan to open the door again today."
"What if the two parties reach an agreement?"
"You mean, they are neither here to collect food nor to ask for support?" the mercenary smiled, "Sir Batchelor will happily open the door, apologize to the envoy, and renegotiate at the dinner table, but Fritz will not . He is the second son of a duke, so he always pursues perfection, and the slightest risk will not appear in his plans."
Needless to say, the current acting city lord is Fritz Wiggins. This guy might lock the door until his mother comes home, which would make me laugh out loud... It would be even funnier if I wasn't locked out with him. "Will the two sides fight?" Boning had new worries.
"I can't say for sure."
However, mercenaries always predict accurately. The knight in the white cape grabbed the flying arrow and broke it without even looking. "Tell your master that we will not enter the city." The voice rang in people's ears, "In the name of Your Majesty, I guarantee that we have no plot against Yotsuba City."
"Then you can leave." came the response from the city wall, "In my name, Fritz Wiggins, we will not pursue you."
"Oh, you misunderstood, Sir. Four Leaf City is just a small city in the Eastman Kingdom and is not worthy of communicating with us and other gods' chosen people." White Cloak said, "I want to speak to your master. Tell me, mortal, Where are the defenders of the tower?"
When these words came out, there was a moment of solemn silence. They were by no means the nobles of the Ice Territory, Brenanin was willing to bet. But since they were looking for the defenders of the Seven Pillars...he suddenly had a strange premonition about the identity of the envoy.
Humiliated in front of everyone, the Duke's son turned around and walked away, his anger visible to everyone. The officials on the left and right hurriedly tried to persuade them, and then they reluctantly brought back their leader. "Who are you? Where do you come from?" Fritz Wiggins asked with his last courtesy. "The Ice Land has never had that kind of flag. The Chosen People of the Gods? Nonsense!"
"I am the messenger of the empire, bringing the emperor's will."
"What, Bures?"
"The Byrne Empire is a mortal. Brestatik is a bloated and weak country, not worthy of being called an empire. Imperial power comes from mystery and fire, and is not a game among mortals." A mocking message came from under the white cloak. "Okay, now answer the question! I've said enough. Where is Croy, the Tower of the Sky, the garrison sent by the star-gazing idiots to govern the vassal kingdom?"
Fritz and his kin looked at each other. This short-sighted and ignorant aristocratic young man, Bonin thought to himself, does not understand what the Byrne Empire represents at all. He probably hasn't heard of it. A complete fool! Even I know it! Ice Territory, Demon Hunt, Seven Fulcrums, and Byrne. Byrne!
In the end, they classified each other as a mysterious organization. "The Eastman Kingdom does not participate in battles in the mysterious realm, Your Excellency." Fritz declared expressionlessly, "We refuse to answer your questions."
"It would be unwise to refuse me. Boy, is your mother at home? If she were, she would open the city gates and let us spend the night, and give us the answer with both hands... if she knew it. You'd better do it, young man, I suggest You should learn from others, so as not to be scolded by your mother in the future."
Fritz looked angry. He is married and has children. He is over middle age and is the heir appointed by the Four Leaf Leader. No one in the entire Eastman Kingdom dares to insult him again and again. "The Duke will not welcome bad guests, and neither do I. Eastman is still a vassal state of the Tower and will not participate in any diplomatic disputes at the Seven Pivot Points." He emphasized the "Seven Pivot Points" and "diplomatic disputes" in a cold tone. "Please leave immediately, otherwise there will be blood under the city gate."
Envoy Bain laughed loudly: "Seeing blood? This is what I want."
Brenanin's heart raced. Byrnes, imperial envoys, and conflicts that could break out at any time. Everything happened so fast. He opened his eyes wide and looked at the legendary savior of the Nameless One, thinking about how to protect himself in the upcoming fierce battle, while secretly providing help to the Byrnes.
However, just after saying these words, the heir of Duke Yotsuba hesitated. "...He's not here." Fritz responded reluctantly. Regardless of whether the imperial envoy outside the city is real or fake, the Four Leaf Territory is unwilling to start a war while Duke Tracy is away. "The tower garrison is not in Yotsuba City. You are looking in the wrong place, Your Excellency. After the closure of Croy Tower, no foreign ministry garrison has arrived. Eastman is not an empty island after all."
"Is this the truth, or is it a lie you just made up?"
"Believe it or not, Ai. Maybe he came, but stayed in the royal capital. Yotsuba City is not Eastman's only city, and the person you are looking for is not here."
The knight stretched out his hand to shake off the hem of his clothes that had been blown to his thighs by the wind, and the white snow and black iron reflected each other. "In this case, as lords, you should open the city to entertain us before we set off again."
"The harvest is not good this year, Your Excellency." The corner of Fritz's mouth twitched. He had already exposed his fierceness and inner weakness, and he would rather die than open the door. "The entertainment is still waived. If you must fight, then the city wall is here, we will see."
The white cloak didn't press any further. "I think so. Compared with Iron Claw City, Four Leaf City is just a little girl under her mother's skirt, not much to look at." His words sparked laughter from the cavalry behind him, but the Duke's son remained silent. "Nothing to see!" he repeated, and then led the team away. The weird cracked flag also turned around, dancing above the steel helmet and armor, heading further north.
But Yotsuye Castle still has not opened its gates. Bonin had to spend the night at the foot of the city wall, while the tent clung to the base of the wall like shellfish that covered the rocks after low tide, forming an ugly brown scab.
"They are looking for the garrison." Before the break, Bonin mentioned to the mercenary the cavalry team under the unfamiliar flag. Everyone was talking and whispering about closed gates, haughty envoys and amusing quarrels. People want to know when the city lord's anger will subside, where the garrison the White Caped Knight is looking for is, and whether they come from the Ice Territory or the Seven Pillars... But only Brenanin knows the true identity of those people. They are my compatriots. definitely is.
"The defenders of the tower." Bonin repeated. "It is said that the Tower of Sky withdrew all its envoys and then sealed the Floating Cloud City of Brumnot. Didn't the defenders of Eastman go back?"
The mercenary yawned. "God knows." He waved his hand. "It's none of my business. You stay up until midnight and wake me up later."
"But the Knox Mercenary Group..."
"...employed by those who pay the bills. Regardless of party disputes or the mysterious fulcrum, it has nothing to do with the adventurers. Do you want to go to the vigil?"
This guy really has no structure at all. Bonin originally considered supporting him, but now it seems that it is better to exchange it for a bag of Abi gold coins... when he makes enough money.
Early the next morning they returned to camp.
