Arcane splendor begins with the throne

Chapter 173 The Sparrow Party

The sun had begun to rise when they came down the slope, and the dawn light was flooding the land.

This is a road leading to the twilight forest, so in this famine age, few people will go to the perilous forest to face the evil humanoid creatures with their starved and skinny bodies.

Therefore, so far, they have not encountered a single figure on the road.

Broto stopped suddenly, as if listening to something.

They were on flat ground at this time, and after the twists and turns, the road became straight forward and passed through the grass.

The forest ahead is not far away, and there are some sporadic tall trees growing on the grass on the outer edge.

"How long will it take to get to the 'Farewell' tavern." Brian pulled the leather curtain of the car and got out, sitting next to Broto.

"Are you okay?" The dwarf looked at the energetic Brian, and quickly put the wine bag in his hand back on his belt.

"Do you think I seem to be in trouble?" Brian replied with a smile, facing the cold breeze, took a deep breath, and his mood became cheerful involuntarily.

In fact, if they walked at a normal speed, they could have reached their destination before night fell last night.

But on the way, he accidentally discovered a group of about [-] ogres burning, killing and looting in a small town. Out of need for experience points, he put the team on standby and cleaned it up by himself. This group of ogres.

Although his arcane energy was almost exhausted after the group of ogres was eliminated, and his spirit was exhausted, fortunately, he was not injured.

The harvest gained is also very good, each ogre provides at least 150 experience points, a total of more than 4000 points.

He is only 4 points away from raising the level of the battle mage to level 200.

After all, ogre tribes were rare, and even though he wandered around the goblin wasteland in the Kingdom of West for nearly a month, he only encountered one.

After finally meeting them again, he would naturally not miss this opportunity to gain experience, so as to delay them for a day.

"It's okay, I don't worry."

Brotto gave the horse a whip and continued on his way, "Based on the current distance estimate, we can arrive at noon. As long as we deliver the goods to the elf couple in the tavern, we can easily get on the boat and travel in the moonlight." down the stream until it reaches the port of Abrera."

Brian nodded slightly, looking ahead thoughtfully, "Did you just feel the vibration from the cavalry's iron hooves in front of you just now?"

"You felt it too?" Broto sat up straight, moved his stiff buttocks, and said, "I thought it was a hallucination, it seems that there are really cavalry coming towards us."

"Whose territory is here?" Brian looked around and asked curiously.

"The lord is the Viscount Blue Rose, and his castle is about 3 kilometers away from our current location."

"Then don't start a conflict, and find a way to fool their scout cavalry." Brian looked at the front of the convoy, "After all, we have arrived at the tavern and will leave the next day. There is no need to offend their lord, lest cause unnecessary trouble."

As soon as the words fell, the scouting cavalry of the Blood Eagle Mercenary Regiment rushed over and reported the newly discovered situation to their regiment leader nervously.

"Wait here, let's go." Brian signaled Broto to stop the carriage, and then jumped off.

"Boys, pay attention, all stop and stand by." Broto stood on the carriage, shouted at the convoy, jumped off immediately, and followed Brian's footsteps.

"What's the matter?" Brian stretched out his hand to signal the mercenary leader Tie Ying not to be too polite, and asked directly.

Tie Ying looked at the other party with an expression that seemed to have been expected, a look of surprise flashed through his sharp eyes, and then said respectfully:

"Your Excellency Brian, my scouts have spotted a cavalry force of about 1 men 20 kilometer away, flying the flag of the blue rose. Do we need to bypass it or eliminate it on the spot?"

"It's too late, just follow my orders and just fool them around. There's no need to start a conflict. This will only bring us more trouble." Brian didn't take the two suggestions put forward by the other party.

Because it is too close to the viscount's castle, the scout cavalry disappeared for no reason, and will soon be discovered by other scout troops, and it is very likely that they will be found along the convoy's mark.

Their carriages were equipped with a full six carts of weapons, which can be described as very heavy, resulting in slow movement speed, how could it be possible to race with the light cavalry.

After a while, the cavalry with the blue rose banner quickly approached.

"Stop...stop!" shouted the rider at the front, a young knight with freckles on his face, wearing a brand new blue cloak with a rose embroidered on it, it seemed to belong to the group. Boss, "Who are you?"

"Captain of the Cavalry, we are heading to the Fire Forged Chamber of Commerce in Abrera City." Brotto, who had a battle ax on his waist, replied: "This is the pass issued to us by the Red Rose Duke of Abrera City."

"I don't care about the passport of the Duke of Red Rose." The young cavalryman held the rein in one hand and the whip in the other, with a hint of sternness in his slightly immature voice:
"This is the territory of the blue rose viscount Sir Sirs. If you want to pass here, you must show Sir Sirs' pass. Another point, I am not the captain of the cavalry, but the deputy captain of the cavalry."

"Okay, then... the vice-captain of the cavalry, how can I get the pass of Lord Seers?" Broto cursed in his heart, and put away the pass.

"It's very simple." The cavalry raised his head proudly, looking down at everyone on his horseback, "Just let us check the goods on the carriage, if there is no problem, then follow me to Lord Viscount's castle, believe me, you guys You only need to spend a few gold coins to apply for an unimpeded pass."

"Vice Captain, your order." Brian took a step forward, pressed the hilt of his sword, and said in a cold tone: "I'm afraid it's only for those rabble, refugees, thieves and vagrants who may cause trouble, and so on. I think we businessmen Not listed."

At this time, he had clearly seen the purpose of this group of scout cavalry, which was nothing more than to drive away the refugees from going to the Lord Viscount's castle.

As for the passing caravans, they used their passports as an excuse to slaughter them hard to be safe.

"I won't let anyone pass without a pass."

The young vice-captain of the cavalry shrank his eyes in shock from Brian's cold gaze. He seemed to feel that something was wrong. He quickly mustered up his courage, puffed up his chest, and answered bluntly, "I swear..."

"Hey! Cavalry Captain, there is no need to swear." Broto and Bryan exchanged glances and interrupted with a smile:
"We'll just listen to you, but the weather is so cold. Before heading to Lord Searles' castle, I suggest you come over and have a few sips of fine wine to warm up your body and take a rest. Can we start again?"

"I reiterate, I am the deputy captain!" the young deputy captain of the cavalry emphasized to the dwarf.

"Sorry, I remembered, but you have to trust me, you will be promoted to captain soon." Broto quickly apologized, and then greeted warmly: "Come down, the soon-to-be-promoted vice-captain, what are you doing?" Do you have to torture your butt on the saddle? If your butt is worn out, how can you be a nobleman in the future."

"I think so too. I will definitely be promoted." The young vice-captain of the cavalry seemed to enjoy the dwarf's praise very much, and nodded with reddened cheeks.

He signaled the men behind him to stand by on the spot, then got off his horse and walked towards them with his head held high.

"Varda, get some wine for our noble knight master!"

Broto yelled, and the tone of the 'Mr. Knight' was deliberately aggravated, making the 'Mr. Noble' who was walking over feel a little embarrassed.

Broto and Brian sat on the grass with the cavalry deputy captain, around the newly moved wine barrels.

"Come on, drink, brave captain." Broto raised his glass and said respectfully.

"I'm just a vice-captain, not a captain." The young cavalry vice-captain hiccupped and emphasized again.

"But you will definitely become the captain. This is obvious." Brian smiled slightly and raised his glass, "A smart boy like you is really young and promising. He can be promoted and make a fortune in a blink of an eye...promote and make a fortune. ,step up."

As if realizing something, Brian, who was too quick to talk, quickly changed his words.

The young vice-captain of the cavalry enjoyed this treatment very much. Following the example of a nobleman, he took a sip of the wine with noble movements, and his face turned even redder.

"I'm sorry." He smacked his lips, drank a gulp, and said slightly drunk: "I can't let people pass without a pass. I have no choice but to obey the order. Our Lord Searles issued an order, let us drive away Refugees should not approach the castle, and all caravans carrying food and weapons in the past must be brought to the castle for temporary requisition. Therefore, no one can pass without a pass issued by the Viscount himself."

Brian looked at Brotto and nodded slightly to him.

"Can I pass 50 gold coins?" The dwarf took out a money bag from his pocket.

"Please put down the purse, Your Excellency." The young vice-captain of the cavalry hiccupped and said righteously, "This is blatant bribery. Even if it costs 100 gold coins, I won't let you pass."

"What about 200?" Broto took out a bigger purse, "200 gold coins, there are 20 of you in total, each of you can get 10 coins, of course, the exact amount is decided by the captain himself. "

"My God, let these bulging gold coins smash me to death."

The young vice-captain of the cavalry quickly put two money bags, one big and one small, into his arms, and said distressedly: "But, how should I explain to our Lord Lord?"

"It's simple, you can tell him..." Brian stood up from the grass, patted the dust and grass clippings, and pointed to a big tree not far away, "Seeing this scene, you were scared to pee."

"Which scene, Your Excellency?" The young deputy captain of the cavalry raised the wine glass and asked doubtfully.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that the big tree not far away was suddenly struck by lightning, and a fire was ignited from the root to the top of the tree, and it turned into a burnt wood with billowing smoke in an instant.

The deputy captain who was sitting on the grass was suddenly shocked, his mouth was wide enough to stuff the wine barrel next to him, and the leather wine glass slipped from his palm, and the wine just spilled all over his crotch.

"Boys, let's go!" Broto jumped into the carriage, raised his whip, and shouted.

"My lord, wizard, take care all the way!"

The deputy captain with a bright future and a solid pocket watched the caravan disappear from his sight.

As Broto estimated, they arrived at the 'Farewell' tavern near noon.

Brian looked thoughtfully at a blurred, faded, and damaged female elf on the tavern signboard, and a few drops of blood that had dried up on her delicate face.

He had been to this tavern three years ago, and what impressed him most was the kind-looking elf couple and the dough cakes made of rose petals and oat flour.

"The situation is not good." Broto muttered uncomfortably.

"Your Excellency Brian, this tavern seems to be empty." Mercenary Captain Tie Ying said in an uncertain tone.

"It's not what you imagined, there are definitely people in the tavern." Brian sighed, and said his inference, "And their boss has already met an accident."

The main reason why he was so sure was because he had his familiar, the Little Devil, scout it out in advance.

As long as there are no wizards nearby, such a trivial matter is easy for him.

"Oh, damn it!" Broto cursed, "If the elf couple are dead, how should we deliver the goods to them?"

"Let them stay where they are, and you two go in with me." Brian did not answer his question, but after thinking about it, he ordered the two of them.

He got off his horse and walked straight to the door of the tavern, followed by Broto and Tie Ying.

"boom!"

The moment he arrived at the tavern, Brian kicked open the closed door without hesitation. Even the dwarves and the mercenary leader next to him were startled by his rude move.

As the gate was kicked open suddenly, a loaded crossbow appeared in sight of the three of them.

"You...you...who are you?" A boy of twelve or thirteen said tremblingly.

"A passing adventurer." Brian said in a slightly cold tone.

After speaking, he walked towards the child curled up in the corner without slowing down.

"You...you don't come here! Take one more step forward, and I...I'll shoot you to death!" The little boy screamed in fright at Brian's cold gaze.

Brian turned a blind eye. When he suddenly turned his gaze to the counter of the tavern, he suddenly stretched out his right hand.

——"Spell-like ability: Dimensional Vortex!"

A magical aura flickered in his palm, and the counter of the tavern began to shake violently like an earthquake. The wine glasses and bottles placed on it rattled, and even fell to the ground and were shattered.

Along with a scene that seemed like the air was distorted, a human exclamation came from behind the counter.

In an instant, a black figure was strangely drawn towards Brian in the distorted air.

The moment this black shadow appeared, a long sword with a cold light just rested on his shoulder, making his hair stand on end, he was so frightened that he dropped the weapon in his hand, raised his hands, and remained motionless.

At the same time, the short figure of Broto charged suddenly, rushed to the child with eyes full of fear in the blink of an eye, smashed the crossbow in his hand with a hammer, and knocked him to the ground.

"Tie Ying, tie the two of them up." Brian confessed to the mercenaries beside him.

Work in a while.

The two people in the tavern were tied up and placed on the ground, and Mario and Gerber also walked in.

He automatically filtered out the boy who was trembling with fright, and directly set his eyes on this man who was as thin as a bone and as slippery as a loach.

"A man who is not the boss, can I call you that?" He said casually.

"Hmm." The man who wasn't the boss saw Brian's face clearly, his black eyes suddenly widened, then flickered a few times, and then nodded hastily.

"Very good, it was a pleasant cooperation." Brian sat on a fairly clean chair, his tone restrained, "In this case, then, I need to ask you a few questions next, and you must answer them seriously. If you dare to lie..."

"Hey! Skinny monkey, listen to me, although the dwarves of Thrane don't invent many cruel methods of torture like you humans do."

Broto raised his warhammer, "But I have the simplest and most efficient method. See if you have the warhammer in my hand. As long as you dare to lie, I will smash your hard bones to pieces, starting from your toes. Watching me smash it bit by bit, just like a miller grinding flour."

"Don't worry, I have plenty of pleasant interrogation methods here, so I don't need to worry about the dwarf friend's warhammer." Tie Ying stared sharply at the bound thin man, patted the dagger pinned to his belt, and revealed A cruel and indifferent smile.

"Gods be merciful, I think it's too cruel for you to do this, he doesn't look like a bad guy." Mario said with a sad face, and unconsciously dialed out a sad note.

"Fuck you, sheep-headed man! I don't need you to sigh here! You fucking hold the bull's horns and say it to the cow's ass!" The man who is not the boss suddenly struggled to his feet, like Like a shrew, he cursed loudly at the poet Mario.

Even Brian on the side was surprised by the other party's impulsive appearance.

He could clearly feel that the other party's black eyes were burning with the purest hatred for the poet.

"Sheep-headed man! Sheep-headed man!"

The crow on the dwarf's shoulder flapped its wings excitedly and screamed.

The satyr Mario, who was shot inexplicably, suddenly showed a wounded expression.

"Aha, this skinny monkey hates the poet so much, he must have been robbed of his wife by the poet."

Brotto walked up to the man who was struggling to get up and punched him in the stomach. He instantly curled up on the ground like a ripe lobster.

"Fart! You have just been robbed of your wife by a poet, and your whole family has been robbed of your wife by a poet who is a son of a bitch! My wife is always by my side, and every night the deer will scurry around waiting for me to drink her nectar. "The man who is not the boss struggled again, spat, and retorted cursingly.

"What about your wife?"

Brian frowned and signaled Broto not to make a move. He always felt that the other party looked confident, but he didn't know where his inexplicable confidence came from.

"What do you want to do?"

The man who was not the boss suddenly raised his head warily, looked at him suspiciously, and then smiled openly, "Of course, if you really want to do it, sir, we can discuss the price."

"Slick tongue, Broto punched him in the face to make him understand his identity." Facing the ridicule of the man who is not the boss, Brian looked cold.

"I'm willing to help you. I've already seen his mother's displeasure." Broto swung his iron fist and knocked him to the ground before he could speak.

The latter let out a scream and spit out a tooth from his mouth. Seeing the dwarf raised his fist viciously again, he hurriedly begged for mercy: "Don't, don't, don't! My lord, please forgive me, Lord Brian, please forgive me."

"Now that you know me, we have a lot of topics in common, don't you think? A friend from the Kingdom of Seer." Brian said calmly.

"Of course, of course, we have a lot of common topics." The man who is not the boss nodded quickly.

"Let me guess your identity." Brian looked at him meaningfully, "Green Chaos? It doesn't look like an elf, and it's even more impossible to plunder the mercenary group. Are you a subordinate of the 'Mad Hunter'?"

After finishing speaking, he involuntarily looked at the little boy beside him. His thick hair was messy, and his pair of black bare feet were as hard and rough as tree roots.

"That's right, I'm a subordinate of the 'Mad Hunter'." The man who wasn't the boss had a look of surprise in his eyes, and then said truthfully: "To be precise, our organization is called the 'Sparrow Party'."

"It's interesting, let's talk about it." Brian used his magical energy to look directly into the opponent's eyes, and saw that he didn't seem to be lying.

"Sparrows are the most common and humble birds, and our 'Sparrow Party' members are all the most common and humble people." The man who is not the boss suddenly changed into a heavy tone, and said slowly:
"In the place where the green chaos of the elves, the famine of the kingdom, the evil humanoids, and the mercenary group are rampant, we spontaneously established the 'Sparrow Party' under the leadership of the 'crazy hunter' Carlot. , a gathering exclusively for the poor."

Brian nodded thoughtfully, listening to his introduction of the 'Sparrow Party' made him unconsciously think of the 'Gang Gang' in martial arts novels and the church of Irmat, the God of Suffering.

This made him understand that he might have really misunderstood the two people hiding in the tavern, thinking that they killed the elf couple here.

Thinking of this, he signaled Broto to untie the two.

"If your Excellency is really Lord Brian, the lord of Longshou Harbor and the Storm Islands, then I have some important news about you." The man who is not the boss sat on the chair, glared at the dwarf viciously, and wiped his hand. Wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"What?" Brian asked with interest.

To his surprise, the other party suddenly hesitated.

"How much is it, let's make a price." He instantly understood what the other party meant.

"This news is worth one gold coin." The man who is not the boss said his price without thinking.

"Here is 100 gold coins, which is more than enough for me to support your 'Sparrow Party'." Brian took out a bag of gold coins and threw it to the other party.

"Sparrows don't need help, they only take what they deserve."

The thin man took out a gold coin from the purse, bit it, put it in his pocket, pushed the purse back to Brian, and continued:

"Six days ago, 11 of your subordinates passed by here, and the leader was the second son of the Marquis of Stormy Waves City."

"Are they planning to pass through the Twilight Forest?" Brian frowned and expressed his guess.

"That's right, the second son of the Marquis left his horse here in exchange for a fishing boat and headed up the Yuexi River." The thin man said, "I'm worried that they will get involved in the war between elves and mercenaries, so I will guide them." A path that can be avoided."

"You are so enthusiastic, why don't you worry about them becoming suspicious?" Brian asked curiously.

"So, I pointed out two roads at the same time, and told them very enthusiastically and maliciously that they must take the incorrect road." The thin man smiled, and the wound at the corner of his mouth made him gasp.

"If these people are not stupid, they will definitely change to another path. Although that path is a bit dangerous, it is better than losing their lives when they get involved in a war between elves and mercenaries."

"Then I'm here to thank you for them." Brian thanked him apologetically.

at this time.

Broto's nephew Varda suddenly rushed in and shouted: "Uncle Broto! Come and have a look, there are many corpses floating from the upstream."

…………

(End of this chapter)