Arcane splendor begins with the throne

Chapter 164
The dwarf brought over a large steaming bowl of broth, with barley, carrots, potato wedges and onions, and slices of overcooked... mutton.

The faint fragrance instantly aroused Brian's appetite.

He nodded his thanks to Varda, took the earthen brown bowl unceremoniously, let it float in front of his eyes, and ate a few pieces of dry, hard black bread quickly and politely.

I have to say that this dwarf who clamored to become a paladin was not bad at his craft, only a little bit worse than himself.

Although the taste of the soup is not strong, the heat of the stew is just right. After taking a sip on this cold night, I feel a kind of warmth from the heart to the whole body.

Especially when he is recovering from a serious injury and urgently needs to replenish his strength, being able to drink such a bowl of hot soup is really a blessing in disguise.

Moreover, Brian actually found a lot of fresh mutton in the soup.

This made him feel guilty.

Because when he first noticed these pieces of meat, he instinctively associated them with the most common goblin meat in the wilderness.

"Is there any problem, Brian?" Broto, the dwarf beside him, saw Brian frowning staring at a piece of meat in the spoon, scratched his head, and asked in doubt.

"It's nothing." Brian put the overcooked mutton into his mouth, chewed it twice, swallowed it, and said with a smile:

"I just think it's really surprising that you can still eat such fresh lamb in such a barren mountain, and it comes from a lamb. From this we can see how pleasant your trip is. .”

After speaking, through the firelight, he nonchalantly looked at the surrounding carriages, the tightly covered goods, and the traces of the wheels on the ground, secretly remembering them in his heart.

There are a total of six carriages, except for Gerber and Mario, and a total of 15 dwarf guards.

"What do I think is the matter?" Broto raised his head and took a sip of strong wine, handed the wine bag to Mario beside him, wiped his long beard stained with wine, and said:
"When we were on our way a few days ago, we just found this lonely and sad little thing deep in the mud in the wild, so that it would not starve to death miserably or be eaten by wolves.

In the end, after discussion, we kindly rescued it, slaughtered it, and turned it into useful food.You have to know, our group eats a lot. If we eat openly, we can eat a whole cow and drink two barrels of wine for each meal. This little lamb is not even enough to fit my teeth, so it is cheap is you.Brian, hurry up and eat, the weather is cold, mutton soup warms up the body, it won't taste good when it gets cold. "

"Hey! Varda, don't be sad anymore. Haven't we already mourned this little thing? This is enough." Brotto noticed the depressed Varda and comforted:
"After all, we still have a long way to go, and we can't grow grass on our buttocks. It's impossible for a little lamb to bounce around behind us. This poor little thing can help us, and you should do it for it." Just be happy."

Instead of joining their conversation about how much the lamb had contributed to the caravan, Brian focused instead on the big bowl of broth and the black bread in his hand.

Work in a while.

Under the strange gazes of everyone, he ate up the large bowl of broth, burped carefully, and then showed a smile of satisfaction.

"Bryan, now you can tell us what monster hurt you like this." Mario asked, holding his wooden harp like a child, unable to restrain his inner curiosity.

The bright campfire reflected the two receding horns of his forehead like gleaming obsidian.

"Judging from the traces of the claws... it should be a werewolf, Brian. Does this werewolf have red hair?"

The little dwarf, Gerber, huddled up beside the campfire, rubbing his hands together, and wrapped his tabby fur cloak tightly around him, like a shivering kitten.

But even that can't hide the most iconic feature of the body: a large hooked nose.

After speaking, he seemed to still feel cold, and unconsciously moved towards the fire.

"Garbow, if you get any closer, your nose hairs should be on fire."

Brian reminded with a smile, seeing the other party smile awkwardly, he quickly moved his huddled body back, and then he continued:
"That's right, it's indeed a werewolf with red hair. Judging by your nervous looks, you should know this werewolf, right?"

"Of course I do, you bastard whore." Broto cursed viciously, and said angrily, "This guy has been following our convoy since daytime, trying to catch our attention. We even had a fight with him."

"Brian, how is that werewolf doing now?"

When mentioning the werewolf, Mario seemed to think of something. He looked startled, quickly hugged the harp, looked around vigilantly, and said in a low voice:
"How did you escape from him? He wouldn't sneak up at this time, would he? I can't guarantee that this ballad can take effect twice in one day."

"Werewolf... I have already killed him, otherwise how could I sit here and chat with you well." Brian replied lightly.

As for the ballad mentioned by the other party, he vaguely guessed the reason for it.

"What!? The werewolf was killed by you? Is this true?"

When Broto heard this, he stopped drinking, his mouth grew bigger and bigger, his eyes became more and more rounded, and even his butt bounced off the stone, and then he stared at the calm Brian in disbelief.

Others showed the same expression one after another, waiting for his answer.

"Is there... is there any problem?" Seeing such a big reaction from the crowd, Brian was a little confused for a while, "Of course it is true."

In his opinion, it was just a werewolf, so there was nothing to make a fuss about.

"This is a mutant werewolf. Tonight is the night of the full moon. He is the strongest werewolf I have ever seen. His speed is too fast for us to react." The dwarf continued with a lingering fear.

Every time his words paused, the eye-catching hooked nose under the firelight would wrinkle, "We are no match for werewolves together, and magic has no effect on him. Brian, to be honest, you are really surprising You were able to kill that werewolf so that we don’t have to worry about tomorrow’s trip, thank you so much. Gods are merciful, you must have been guided by Gal to come here.”

How would you feel if you knew that I was guided by the devil, Brian thought to himself looking at the pious look of the dwarf.

"That's right, if it wasn't for the sudden inspiration of singing, he sang a song about wolves and made him roll his head on the floor as a lazy donkey. You wouldn't be able to sit here and chat with us, and you wouldn't be able to eat A big bowl of meat porridge, and it’s even more impossible for Gerber to stitch up your wounds. How does that song sing?”

Broto picked up the wine bag with a trembling hand and took a sip. When he was excited, he immediately became interested. He ignored the disgusted eyes from everyone, and patted the swollen wine bag with a tone-deaf voice, cheerfully sings:

Hey!Look at the dancing wolf in the woods,
Baring teeth and wagging tails, jumping like a colt,

Oh, why is it dancing like a demon?

For the merry beast is free!

……

Hey!Look at the clawed wolf in the woods,

With its head down, its tail between its legs, and it doesn't even open its mouth,
Oh, why is that beast so sad?

Either the marriage proposal is frustrated, or the bride is lost!
Aw... woo, ow... woo, ow... woo... woo...

……

"Shut up, Broto, you can sing worse than Mario's sheep." The dwarf wrinkled his hooked nose and complained, "It's midnight, what if the she-wolf is attracted?"

The voice just fell.

In the distant wilderness, the howling of wolves could be heard vaguely, which frightened the dwarf to shut up quickly.

Brian suppressed his smile, glanced at the satyr sitting opposite him calmly, and nodded secretly.

To deal with this kind of monster whose rationality and animal nature are struggling with each other on the edge, sometimes singing some touching songs can indeed achieve unexpected results.

If in his battle with the werewolf, if there was a poet's ballad that broke his defense instantly, he could easily kill this irrational werewolf.

At the same time, he finally understood why these dwarves showed such nervous expressions when he approached them. It turned out that they were frightened by a werewolf.

But what he couldn't understand was why the werewolf provoked the caravan for no reason.

And he vaguely felt that this thick and thin dwarf Broto seemed to be deliberately diverting his attention from the werewolf by singing.

"Brian, I heard that the werewolf is the red wolf from the Abbey of the Sword, one of the four legendary mutants." After a brief silence, Mario's voice sounded again.

"Your judgment is baseless."

Bryan threw a few branches into the fire and shook his head slightly, "Although I haven't seen a mutant red wolf, at least I know that he is a human or a magic swordsman, and the werewolf I killed, Just a beast without a mind."

Among the four strongest and most famous mutants, the strength of the red wolf is at least the second, but the degree of cruelty and bloodthirsty is unmatched by others.

Before leaving Golden Feather City, Brian had fought against the weakest Snake Eyes, so he naturally knew the true strength of these people.

"That mutant can't be a red wolf at all. I've seen him with my own eyes." Broto answered. He glanced at Brian and said:

"Five years ago, I met him in a tavern in Tegrila King City. I saw this guy drink two bowls of beef soup, but when the guy collected the bill, he said confidently that he only drank A bowl, everyone gathered around to testify and ridicule him for lying, and under the conclusive evidence, this mad wolf couldn't stand it, so he became angry, stretched out his scissors, and forcibly snapped the two eyeballs of the tavern owner He pulled it out, swallowed it into his stomach, grabbed the poor boss by the collar with his blood-stained hands, and asked him: "Did you see clearly, how many bowls of beef soup did I drink?"

Then he looked viciously at the crowd of onlookers, and shouted hysterically: "Who else wants to see how many bowls of beef soup I drank, just come here!" 'I was so scared that I ran away, damn it!At that time, he ran in such a hurry that he even forgot to drink half of the dragon bite beer in the glass.I guess he must have been stimulated by something, just like the singer sang: the marriage proposal was frustrated, and the bride was lost.That's why he did such a crazy thing. "

"How did it end up in the end? You know, that's the royal city of Tigrila." Brian couldn't help asking curiously.

"I don't know about that, I just remember that when I ran out of the crowd, I saw a man with silver hair and silver eyes going the other way, with a cold face, walking into the tavern without fear of death .”

Brotto shook his head, which was a little dazed from drinking, and let out a loud belch, "I guess he must be a mutant too, otherwise how could he have a pair of eyes that flowed like mercury, and if someone looked at him casually, it would be like As if being targeted by ferocious feline predators, the mutants of the Sword Abbey are simply a bunch of perverts and freaks.”

"To be honest, there is nothing uglier and more unnatural than mutants. They are the product of vicious magic and evil warlocks. They are truly demonic creations. They have nothing to do but kill." Dwarf Gale Bao poked his head out from the hood, his voice trembling with the purest hatred:

"The Abbey of the Sword, where killers, assassins, thieves, royal spies, shameless creatures, and evil sorcerers reside, and where they practice their malevolent arts. Gods be merciful, one day that castle will be in the Fallen Star Mountains Erase completely."

Brian remained silent and said nothing.

Because he had heard Broto mention that Gerber's grandfather, an illusionist, died at the hands of a mutant assassin with a rank of 'Purple Ribbon' in the Monastery of the Sword.

He clearly felt that whenever Mario deliberately mentioned werewolves to him, Broto would change the subject by saying something.

A bunch of queer people, he thought.

Of course, it is also possible that he really thought too much.

Mario's eyes flickered with emerald flames in the campfire, reflecting a hesitant expression.

He sighed in an inaudible voice, plucked the harp in his arms, and changed into a smiling face again, "Everyone, let's stop thinking about this heavy topic. Look, tonight's The moonlight is so beautiful, do you want to hear me sing a song?"

"Sing, as long as you are happy."

Broto muttered and spat, and added more firewood to the fire, "But, Mario, don't expect me to pay you a penny for your yelling. This is not a palace, nor is it a boudoir. boudoir."

"That's right." The satyr shook his head, glanced casually at Brian, and dialed out a beautiful melody.

"Since you don't want to hear it..." Brian slowly got up from the stone and looked at Broto, "Then let's take a step to talk, Broto, I want to talk to you."

"You can talk by the fire." Broto shook the empty wine bag, hiccupped, and looked drunk, "I'll open the barrel of wine again, we can talk while drinking."

"I just want to stay sober and talk to you, without others listening or drinking." Brian's voice was so soft that Mario had to stop playing and listen quietly.

"Why? In my opinion, only perfidious stalkers and informers can cover up, Brian, just speak up if you have anything to say." Broto said with a dissatisfied expression.

"are you going?"

Brian was unmoved and continued to look at the dwarf who deliberately pretended to be drunk with an unquestionable gaze.

"Okay, okay, I've convinced you, why not go with you." The dwarf was defeated, and followed Brian to the quiet lakeside.

Under the cold moonlight, there was a light sound from the glistening lake surface, first a swish, then a plop, as if a fish disturbed the still water surface, rippling in circles of ripples.

"Broto, what are the goods on your carriage?" Brian asked straight to the point.

He was well aware of this dwarf's talkative character, so naturally he didn't bother to talk nonsense with him.

The dwarf stared at him with piercing eyes. "The customer's goods, of course."

"Of course I know it's the customer's goods." Brian's deep eyes that blended into the night met his gaze and said meaningfully:
"Broto, you have to understand that I'm not asking you this out of curiosity."

"I know, I also understand what you mean." The dwarf said helplessly: "This is indeed the customer's goods, but..."

"It's just that this customer is a little... special, right?" Brian guessed what he meant, he smiled slightly, and asked curiously: "Then what are the goods you gave this special customer?"

"Food." Broto replied without thinking, embellishing his lie again solemnly.

"Flour, wheat, corn, and dried salted fish... are all food anyway, don't you know? Amastaxia is suffering from a famine, and these grains can be multiplied at least several times when sent over. We are A businessman, when it comes to business, it must be about profit, right? Besides..."

Of course, Brian knew that Amastaxia, where the winter was approaching, was suffering from a famine. There were various reasons for this, and it was impossible for him to learn the details from ordinary people.

Of course, this has nothing to do with him at all, it's just curiosity, and won't ask specifically.

As for the dwarf in front of him... He pondered for a moment, and said with a smile: "If you put dried salted fish on your carriage, wouldn't it be sausages in my scabbard? Broto, I don't have the habit of prying out other people's secrets." , but you warmly provided me with treatment and broth tonight, so, as friends, there are some words... I still can't help but want to remind..."

"There's nothing to remind! I don't need you to remind me!" The dwarf roared excitedly, his voice directly covering up the faint singing voice coming from the campfire.

"Bryan, don't you just want to say that I'm a fence-sitter, a fool on the wall, that I'm a running dog and traitor of human beings, and that for a few gold coins and unpalatable food, you can go with the wind, say it, give it to me directly Speak out! Don't mock me here, what I hate most is irony and ridicule."

"Broto, calm down." Brian said calmly, "I didn't say anything, can't you let me speak..."

"Yeah! You really didn't say anything!" The dwarf interrupted Brian's unfinished sentence again, and shouted:
"You just stared at me and smiled tacitly, a sarcastic smile. That's right, as you imagined, my carriage is equipped with weapons and equipment, including longbows, crossbows, chain armor, fine A steel scimitar, and the trade partner is an elf in the Dusk Forest.

In order to deceive others, I had no choice but to give up shipping and pass through Andair and the Kingdom of West.We are here to deal with humans, what are you going to do?
Brian, hurry up and use your identity as the Duke of Longshougang and the fiancé of the little princess of West to tell the army of the Kingdom of West to arrest us all, and watch us all hanged to death in peace. On the gallows, write: This is the fate of colluding with non-human races!
Then you have to stand in front of all non-human races living in human cities under the kind invitation of the old king, and proudly teach them a demonstration lesson, telling them today's theme: How should a peace-loving intelligent race face human beings? Conflict with non-human races. "

"Are you finished?" Brian watched him calmly.

"Not yet! As long as there is wine to drink, I can talk until dawn!" The dwarf said angrily.

"No matter what you do, I will not get involved in this conflict. I want to remain neutral." Seeing that the dwarf was silent and looking at the calm lake, Brian opened his mouth slowly.

The singing around the campfire has reached a climax, as if suppressing the quarrel between the two.

"This is impossible!"

Broto yelled, "You're a half-elf, you can't be neutral, don't you understand? Yes, you don't understand anything, so get out! Get on your horse and your neutral arrogance Get out of my sight.

Brian, you really annoy me. If you hadn't saved my life and helped our people seal the underground monsters, the hammer in my hand would have already hit your head. "

"Broto, you don't understand what I mean." Brian turned to look at the dwarf, and said patiently:
"Can't you see the state of the world? For example, two farmers fought to the death for a piece of land. On the second day, the field was razed by the men of the two counts, and these subordinates continued the fight.

People were hanged from roadside trees, robbers slit the throats of merchants, and in towns, every step of the way could be tripped over by corpses from the slums.Even in the royal palace, every minute at the banquet, someone may fall under the table with a pale face.Don't you understand my real intention? "

In the long silence, beside the campfire, the poet's ballad ended its climax and gradually came to an end.

"I see. If you want me to say it, according to what you mean, human beings will definitely not end well." While Brian waited patiently, Broto finally broke the silence and said in a gloomy tone:
"All intelligent beings in this world huddle together to keep warm when they are poor and unlucky. When times are tough, helping each other makes life easier. But what about humans? They just want to get rich from other people's misfortune.

Amastacia is suffering from a famine, and no kingdom is willing to share food. Instead, it seals off the border to prevent refugees from flooding in, and then chooses to eat the weakest of its kind.This practice is also used by wolves, in order to allow the healthiest and strongest wolves to survive.

In intelligent populations, however, this selection would simply allow the worst villain to survive and then allow him to dominate the rest.This way, the consequences are obvious. "

"It seems that you finally figured it out." Brian smiled.

"I know what to do, and I thank you for reminding me, Brian."

The dwarf said: "But you should be clear that under such circumstances, how difficult it is to maintain neutrality and protect yourself wisely, the Council of Elders of Thrane Kingdom will not agree.

Besides, let us give up the city of Abrera, where do you want me to find a foothold that can protect myself and make money.

I really want to go to your Longshou Port, which is the paradise of arms dealers, but that place has long been divided up by big-headed mercenaries, treacherous chambers of commerce, and damned pirates. Go ahead. "

Brian was taken aback when he heard this, and looked at the dwarf in front of him in surprise.

He talked to the other party, except for a kind reminder, he didn't think so long-term.

After all, as the lord of Longshou Port, the most important thing at the moment has not been completed, and he has not taken office until now, so naturally he dare not promise anything to others easily.

Unexpectedly, the dwarf took the initiative to express this idea to him.

"So Longshou Harbor and the Storm Islands need a real lord."

Brian thought for a while, and said to the dwarves: "Bluoto, if you believe me, then I will reserve a place for your dwarf race in Longshou Harbor."

"Of course I believe in your strength. It has spread throughout Golden Feather City, and everyone knows about it."

Broto said nonchalantly: "However, I don't know your real purpose and intention. If what you say sounds good, I don't mind bringing my boys and weapons to help you gain a firm foothold in Longshou Port. "

"If I say that I am for world peace, for every intelligent race to have a pure land to live in, to ensure the lasting peace of Asno Continent, and to benefit every creature in the world. Broto, do you believe it?" Brian thought for a moment and said in a calm tone.

In fact, even he himself didn't believe these words, but it was indeed what he thought.

He was even thinking that if the ancient evils were completely driven away, he planned to build this world into a high-level civilized magical country.

However, who would believe these words?
"Brian, can you let me think about it?"

After a moment of silence, Broto struggled to raise his head, revealing a firm gaze.

"You and I will safely escort this batch of goods to the city of Abrera. When we get there, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

"It just so happens that I plan to go to Abrera too." Brian nodded slightly and stretched out his right hand, "Then wish us a pleasant journey, and I will wait for your reply in the city of Abrera."

"No problem!" Broto gripped Brian's right hand as hard as a pair of iron tongs.

The singing of the satyr Mario had just ended, and the sparse applause was coming from there.

…………

(End of this chapter)