The Book of Hibernation

The light came in from the small window at the top of the warehouse, and it should be the moment of sunrise over the sea.

Ryan stood up and walked to the door.He has realized that things have changed. The elf rescue team did not come, and Dorin did not pass on the news.

If the action is canceled, what should be the next step?Go to another place and meet again?Or go to the Blackfish Boat Tavern after evening?

Dorling hadn't said any of this to him, and they hadn't made a backup plan at all.

Ryan decided not to wait here, but to go out and check the situation.He said he was going to take a tour outside, and the others had no objections.

As soon as he walked out of the warehouse gate, he saw a group of people coming from the main road, heading towards the warehouse where they were.

This group of people is obviously not an elf rescue team, they are all human beings, there are city guards, there are a few ordinary people who look like businessmen, and the two people walking in the front are dressed as officials, looking sleepy.

Behind these people followed a group of longshoremen leading a group of freight wagons, which were empty.

Lane was at a loss.With so many people coming towards him, he had no good reason to slip away in front of him.

The man dressed as an official saw Ryan, recognized him as an apprentice knight, and nodded politely to him, and Ryan returned the greeting in a daze.

Then, a large number of dock workers poured into the warehouse, moved the boxes, and moved them to the carriage outside the door.

While they were moving, some official-looking people handed over some paper scrolls to the caravan staff. Judging from the few words they talked, it seemed that some kind of formalities had been completed and the goods could leave the dock warehouse.

Ryan wanted to step forward to ask, but before he could pass, another temporary bodyguard approached to ask.

The bodyguard of the caravan told him: Yes, our documents are all down, and the formalities are complete. The caravan and goods will leave the dock area today, and your temporary guard work can be over.

Lane wanted to yell at them, "You can't go," but he wasn't ready for that.

The documents in the hands of officials and caravans all have signatures from the city hall.

This batch of "goods" was originally waiting to complete the procedures. This is a normal development in their plan, and it is not an unexpected situation.

And what about the elves' rescue team?According to the previous arrangement, the rescue team should show up at dawn, and they should have evacuated by now.

Then, Ryan observed another strange thing: After the goods were moved out, the four bodyguards also wanted to leave with the carriage. At this time, many people stood up among the workers and the group stopped the four bodyguards. It's because they don't want them to follow the goods.

Those people were far away, and their voices were not loud. Ryan could only judge from his body and expression.

The four bodyguards seemed to be arguing about something, but the other side had a tough attitude and did not give any explanation.

Those who stopped the bodyguards were definitely not real dock workers. Judging from their physique and posture, they should also be a group of well-trained thugs.

The four caravan bodyguards couldn't figure out what was going on, so they didn't dare to be too tough.

In the end, they were invited to a separate carriage, and after getting in, the coachman unexpectedly put a lock on the door.

Seeing all this, Ryan was confused. He didn't know what happened to the elves, and he didn't know whether the situation in front of him was good or bad.

The dock area was so busy that no one paid any attention to these makeshift bodyguards.Ryan quietly got into a nearby alley, and rushed towards the fishing port along the planned route that the elves should take.

=============================

Winter Thistle sleeps all night in Aldin's room.He didn't dare to sleep on the bed, and felt that the chair was really uncomfortable. Finally, he found a bay window covered with velvet blankets and silk cloth. This one was not bad, so he dragged his sprained ankle and moved himself to the window with difficulty. .

In order not to let passers-by see, he deliberately pulled the curtain tightly.

At first, he tossed and turned with worries swirling in his head, unable to sleep.Later, he gradually fell asleep, but he didn't expect to sleep soundly. He slept until dawn and woke up much later than usual.

After waking up, Winter Thistle hid in the house for a long time.Because the corridor and the yard were noisy in the morning, there might be some servants moving around, so he didn't dare to go out directly from Aldin's residence.

He didn't sneak out until the outside became quiet, thinking to go back to his room first and then wash and tidy up.

Because of a sprained ankle, he could only walk slowly while leaning on the wall. He got into the corridor of vines, and before he had walked a few steps, he met Kanai head-on in embarrassment.

Kanai was carrying a fanny pack with a spell-casting material bag in his hand, and a document or something under his arm. It looked like he had just returned from the outside and was about to go back to his residence across the yard.

He looked Dong Ji up and down, and said with a light smile, "What's going on, you're lame anyway."

Winter Thistle explained that she accidentally sprained her foot, which was not serious.

Kanai said: "There are several steps in the corridor over the guest room. How do you go up in a while? Since you are injured, you can either stay in Aldin's room and have a good rest, or call a servant to help you. You are not a thief, why? So sneaky?"

Seeing Winter Thistle's stiff face, Kanai said again: "Don't be embarrassed, I know you're in Aldin's room, I've seen him, he told me. But he didn't tell me you were injured."

"Is Lord Aldin back?" Winter Thistle asked.

"Not back. He's at City Hall. Don't worry, he's here to catch up. He has a few old acquaintances over there."

After finishing speaking, Kanai walked out of the vine corridor, and stopped a passing servant, asking him to help the winter thistle to walk.

After giving the order, Kanai turned around and left, and yawned with her back to Winter Thistle, it seemed that she didn't sleep well yesterday.

Winter Thistle originally wanted to ask about Ryan's situation, but in the end he didn't ask.

After returning to the guest room, the servant left, and Winter Thistle finally relaxed a bit.There was no one in the next room, and sure enough, Ryan hadn't come back yet.

Winter Thistle probably washed up, rolled up his trousers and inspected the wound.When I just sprained yesterday, I used cold compresses for a while to calm the affected area. In the future, I can use hot compresses to make the bruise subside quickly.

He touched his ankle, and suddenly remembered what Kanai said when he saw him just now, "You're lame anyway."

"Also...?" Dongji thought this was strange.

He pondered carefully again, Kanai looked very relaxed when he spoke, and the meaning of jokes was greater than worry.Thinking about it this way, it shouldn't be a big deal...

During this day, Dongji's heart was always up and down.He was worried about Ryan, worried about those elves, and a little worried about Aldin.

He was afraid that Ryan would be implicated in the issue of slave trade, and that the elves would be caught by the city guards. As for Aldin, although he was well respected in Harbor City, there should be no personal danger, but he might not be able to contact him about this matter. would be too easy.

If it wasn't for the sprained ankle, Winter Ji would really like to go out for a walk, and listen to what passers-by and street vendors in Harbor City are talking about today, is there any news that the city guards have captured the island elf, is there any rumor of slaves hiding at the pier...

Although he was worried, Dong Ji still remembered that there was a batch of tests to be done today, and it would not be good to delay it.So he found a crutch and slowly moved to the laboratory.

Before he knew it, Winter Thistle stayed in the laboratory until the afternoon.

His worries deepened.At this time, Ryan, who is on vacation, should return to the mansion.

If the elves have rescued the slaves, Ryan's guarding work is over, and he should come back; if the elves have not rescued the slaves, and the slaves are still in the warehouse, then Ryan's rest time is now, and he should also come back.

Ryan has no news at all, so what's going on?Could it be that he was really implicated and taken somewhere for interrogation?

In the medicine bowl on the test bench, the dragon scale powder changed color slightly, and the next step was ready.This is a very important step, with high difficulty, and finally succeeded, but Winter Ji didn't feel the slightest joy, and just recorded what should be memorized with a blank face.

The end of the experimental process also means the passage of time.

It was almost dusk again, and no one came to the laboratory to look for Winter Thistle all day today. Aldin did not come to disturb him, Kanai did not come to explain things temporarily, and Ryan did not go to the back of the house to knock on the wall.

Winter Thistle couldn't stand it anymore, and decided to go out and find out the situation herself.

He didn't take care of his injured ankle all day, didn't apply plasters, and didn't apply medicine. Not only did his feet not get better, but it seemed that he couldn't use any strength.

He walked out of the laboratory on crutches, and when he was about to close the door, he was pleasantly surprised to see Aldin.

Aldin was wearing a relatively neat suit and cloak, and he should have just returned from the outside.

He walked through the garden, walked straight to the door of the laboratory, and gave Winter Thistle a hug.

Dong Ji was startled, but she didn't resist, afraid that something might have happened.

When Aldin relaxed his arms, Winter Thistle raised his head, meeting Aldin's smiling eyes.

"What's wrong?" Winter Thistle was still worried.

"It's pretty much settled, there's nothing to worry about," Arden said.

"Really?"

"Really, the elves did not launch an attack at all, and the city guards naturally did not conflict with them. I have also communicated with many parties about the slaves, and there are some problems and some misunderstandings."

Of course such a simple description is not enough, Dong Ji is still very worried and wants to continue asking.

Aldin took one of his arms and said to him, "Don't worry, I'm just in time for dinner. Come on, let's sit down and talk while eating."

Winter Thistle nodded, still looking a little anxious.Aldin supported him, but he froze on the spot and was a little dazed.

Aldin asked: "Your feet hurt and you can't walk? I can also carry you there."

Dongji hurriedly said no, and walked forward clutching the crutches she just borrowed today.Aldin snickered, and grabbed him back, letting him lean on himself.

============================

Today's meal is simple and everyday, not a formal banquet.Aldin, Kanai, and Winter Thistle sat at the table, and Aldin himself poured some wine for them respectively.

Winter Thistle didn't notice what was on the plate.His eyes wandered between Aldin and Kanai, hoping that they would talk about something serious. If they didn't talk, Winter Thistle wouldn't be in the mood to eat at all.

Aldin and Kanai were in a very relaxed state. They slowly talked about what happened in the past day like a daily chat.

Before sunrise today, the customs clearance procedures required by the Carlos family caravan were all signed and stamped, and sent to the pier by the city hall courier.

Aldin had seen these documents with his own eyes.He frankly told Winter Thistle that the goods were indeed humanoid creatures, gray mountain spirits transported from the island to the land, and they would be accepted by the Salvation Society next, get the status of assisted refugees, and be arranged to go to other kingdoms.

Winter Thistle had observed those boxes, and there were not only gray mountain elves in them, but also barbarians and island elves.When it comes to races other than Gray Mountain Elves, Aldin's attitude is a little more serious than before.

He looked directly into Dongji's eyes and said, what I'm going to tell you next is the truth, maybe it's hard for you to accept emotionally, but anyway, I hope you'll think about it after listening.

He said that he didn't know that the "cargo" included barbarians and elves in addition to gray mountain spirits, so he hurried out to find the Carlos family's representative to understand the situation.

Then he figured out the whole thing.The elves are indeed different from the gray mountain elves. They are not voluntary laborers, but criminals expelled from the island elf kingdom.

The barbarians and island elves live on several islands and are divided into several tribes. Each tribe has different living habits, creeds and laws.

Among so many islands, only the elves of Susi Island have relatively mature laws, including courts, punishments, prisons, and the death penalty.Except for them, the other elves and barbarians are led by tribal elders, and there are no established laws, and there is no place to forcibly detain dangerous elements.Due to their beliefs, they are unwilling to kill any compatriots with their own hands, even if that "compatriot" has taken the lives of other compatriots.

Therefore, the way those barbarians and elves treat sin is: give the sinner a canoe and send him into the sea.

If the sinners can reach other islands or land, it means that the God of Plenty has forgiven them, and the elves will no longer hold them accountable.If they were buried at the bottom of the sea, it would be divine punishment from the God of Plenty.

In the eyes of humans, isn't this approach similar to that of pirates... a bit hypocritical and a bit funny.But the elves mean it seriously.

Caravans of the Carlos family did participate in the slave trade.The "slaves" they transported this time are composed of the above-mentioned criminals and gray mountain spirits.

Now, the caravan of the Carlos family has left the dock and successfully entered Sandonia.

After entering the country, they will wake up the island laborers, and the Salvation Society personnel will check their health conditions, and then the caravan will go all the way west, and the final destination is the border territory in the northwest of Sago.

Winter Thistle mentions that many of the slaves have actually died, rather than being faked by magic.

Aldean said that is indeed the case.While sailing at sea, there were fights among the island races, resulting in several deaths on the spot, and some were seriously injured for several days and eventually died.After all, it was a group of criminals and ogres, how could order be better among them?

But the caravan can't throw the corpse casually.If the number is wrong, they will be held accountable, and if they are not dumped, the dead bodies will pollute the ship.So the mage accompanying the team had to use magic to preserve the corpse and bring them back to land before making other plans.

As for the elf rescue team, the people from the caravan stopped them. They didn't go to the warehouse at all, and turned back to the island on the sea.

In the early hours of the morning, there were indeed elves' ships appearing in the South Fishing Port.Before they approached the land, several fast boats from the Ten Sail Street Caravan surrounded them and boarded the elf's ship directly.

The rescue team was not many in number, they were all young elves from several different islands.They opposed the exile of criminals in the tribe, and believed that they should learn from the mature system of Susi Island.

To these elves, the people from the Chamber of Commerce did use some threats.The negotiators told them that the human caravan has gone through all the formalities, and each laborer has a legal identity recognized by the Salvation Society, and they have all left Harbor City.

If the elves insist on chasing it, and even conflict with the human kingdom, their actions will not only be illegal, but also doomed to be futile.

Once their actions are discovered by their respective clans, they themselves will violate clan rules.Even if he is not exiled, he will definitely face some punishment.

Aldin said the negotiations did not go well and took a long time.Fortunately, the negotiators were very experienced and knew the elves very well. They threw out the necessary threats and inducements, and presented some supplies to show their goodwill. In the end, the elf rescue team agreed to leave.

The elves did not land in Harbor City from the beginning to the end, so they did not violate any local laws and did not cause any conflicts.

After hearing these things, Winter Thistle nodded woodenly.

Compared with the version narrated by the elf Dorin, what Aldin said does not seem to be much different.However, Aldin gave more details than Dorin, and the customs and laws of the island elves were exactly the same as what Winter Thistle had learned.

Winter Thistle's mind was a little dull. After hearing so much, there was one question that made him uneasy. So he took the initiative to ask: "What about Ryan? Has anyone held him accountable? Where has he gone?" "