It was always good to have an idea, but it was hard to put it into practice. It was harder to build trust between different races. Even though Roddy had saved the entire village twice, he wasn't sure that Brody or Natha would trust him one hundred percent.
I can't be too hasty … Roddy looked up and saw Natha standing quietly. He knew what she was waiting for.
"You're waiting for me to tell you how to solve the village's problems, right?"
He sat down on a wooden chair beside him and asked aloud.
Natha nodded in silence. There was a bloody scar on her doll-like face, but it made her look even colder.
Roddy thought for a moment and asked a question that surprised her. "Do you know the professions of the enemies today?"
Natha shook her head. Apparently, she didn't have the concept of "professions" in her mind. The wood elves' village was basically a primitive barter system. There wasn't even a currency, and they didn't even have enough to eat. Who would think about "professions"?
"They're mercenaries, professional soldiers who do things for money." Roddy pointed at himself and continued, "Brody said that humans are greedy, and I admit that he's right. As long as there's enough profit, humans will do anything … including me. "
He then pointed outside the tree hole. "So this is the solution. To put it bluntly, humans can solve the hunger crisis that Elsa is facing."
Hearing this, Nata's eyes widened, and her face was filled with disbelief. If she didn't know that Roddy had saved the village twice, her first reaction would have been to beat him out of the tree hole!
Roddy ignored her expression and continued, "Why didn't the mercenaries kill in the battle today? Because living elves are more valuable than dead ones. In other words, humans will do anything for profit, including … helping the wood elves. "
Natha didn't say anything, but it was obvious that she didn't believe him.
Roddy wasn't surprised. He just shrugged and said, "You can choose not to believe me, but this is indeed the only way now."
"Only humans can help you. This is not a boast. Humans can help you resist all dangers, and you will never have to worry about starvation again. But the choice is yours, not mine. "
After saying this, Roddy shut his mouth and quietly waited for the other party's response.
These were all true words, but Roddy believed that the truer the truth, the more useful it was.
Having been "abused" by Natha many times, he knew the "mentor" in front of him very well. She had no interest in the ways of the world, let alone the intricate web of interests. Her way of thinking was simple: she only looked at the result.
The process didn't matter, as long as she was satisfied with the result, that was enough … This was the only conclusion Roddy could give to Natha when he was exhausted from the task.
That was why as long as Rody put the 'good result' in front of her, Nata would not even consider the 'feasibility'. She would only consider the 'price' to pay.
"What does the village need to give you?"
Sure enough, this was Natha's only answer.
Roddy thought for a moment and replied, "Money."
Natha frowned and shook her head. "We don't have money."
"Extra game, wine, herbs, they are all money." Roddy didn't explain the concepts of "tax sharing", "win-win", "cooperation and common interests" to her, because he knew Natha wouldn't understand at all. So he simply said, "In other words, the village gives me some resources, and I can let humans help you. It's just like how I told you these words after you settled Akasha. It's an equal trade. "
Natha narrowed her eyes and suddenly asked, "Why are you telling me this? I can't help you. "
This girl is not stupid at all. It seems that she was just too lazy to think about it before! Roddy sighed in his heart, but pointed to Akasha. "You took care of her according to the agreement, and I told you the 'solution' according to the agreement. This is a 'fair trade'."
Such an answer obviously surprised Natha, but she quickly accepted it. She seemed to want to say something, but she swallowed the words back. She just stared at the short bow hanging on the wall with a somewhat complicated expression.
Roddy knew that she was also struggling to believe him. He simply got up and left the tree hole, leaving these questions to his simple-minded "apprentice". The seed had been planted, and it was time to see how it would take root and sprout.
Darkness enveloped the village. When he looked up, the towering trees blocked the moonlight, and the lights of the fireflies that were used for illumination flickered as if they were breathing.
The leaves rustled, and he could vaguely hear the footsteps and shouts of a team setting off to the ruins of Wagra. Roddy took a deep breath and strolled along the road in the forest. The breeze brought with it a chill, making him even more tired after the battle. After walking for a short while, Hugo ran over with a message from Brody, asking Rody to rest in the warmest tree hole in the village. Rody waved his hand and smiled to decline Hugo's good intentions. He then found his luggage and set up a tent in the corner of the village. Rody then fell asleep without any precaution.
This night was destined to be long. Roddy left the dilemma and the difficulty of choice to the Wood Elves, and he was already relaxed.
Brody looked at Natha in front of him, his mind filled with shock at the "plan" that she had just told him about Roddy. He reached out to touch the wounds on his body that were gradually healing, but after a moment of thought, he used the light of the fireflies to find the letter that Hugo had given him. He softly read the words formed in High Elven.
"The last inheritor will be born from fresh blood … The cursed will walk alone in the darkness."
"The inheritor … The cursed …"
*****
Year 588 of the Elon calendar, the 22nd of October.
Viceroy Rubens's caravan had already arrived at the "Grimm City" in the center of the Kingdom of Karen according to the scheduled route.
Although the weather was slightly chilly, it was not at all as cold as the northwestern part of the kingdom. Although some places in the North were already snowing, the sun was still shining brightly in Grimm City. In the afternoon, people would even feel a little warm.
In the prosperous city, vendors were hawking their wares. The caravan with the "Rose Cross" symbol stopped in front of the monastery in the city. From its huge size, it was obvious that this city was sparing no effort in supporting the church.
Rubens's caravan received a warm welcome and accepted Count Langdon's invitation for a "lunch". Unexpectedly, the viceroy did not attend the banquet alone. Instead, he brought Sally along. His behavior was undoubtedly an affirmation and support for Sally. Therefore, both the bishop of the monastery and Count Langdon had a higher opinion of Sally, and their words were also very respectful.
Sally's social skills had always been strong. Her natural political sense and brain allowed her to deal with these "old fellows" with ease. After the banquet, Sally even received praise and praise from Rubens.
Naturally, they did not know that the reason why Sally was so "hardworking" was because of the letter Roddy gave her before he left. In the letter, Roddy had roughly pointed out some of the factions within the "Rose Cross", so naturally, Sally would use this "list" to help Rubens rope in his forces. Along the way, Sally knew who was worth fighting and who was going against Rubens.
Thinking back to Rubens's increasingly satisfied expression, Sally knew how much effort Roddy had put in for her. Although there was not a single word of concern on the letter, not even a signature or greeting, every time she took it out, she would feel a faint sweetness in her heart.
After the lunch banquet, the monastery arranged for the clergy to go to the slums to distribute food. Originally, Sally did not have to participate in such activities, but she still followed the group to the south of the city and personally distributed bread to the beggars.
This was not for show. When she was in Hollier City, she would also help the poor during winter every year. It had nothing to do with benefits, it was all out of kindness. But before the bread was distributed, the street in the distance suddenly became unusually noisy. Sally looked up and realized that the originally wide street was actually crowded with many onlookers. The crowd seemed to be surrounding something as they walked past, and there were even many cheers …
"What's happening over there?"
Sally asked the Templar Guard beside her. The latter tugged at the shield in his hand. He was also curious, so he ran over to ask around and reported, "It seems that a mercenary group hunted a magical beast in the forest. I heard that it is a very powerful 'Babylon Python'. Many adventurers have died to it."
"May those who have passed away rest in peace."
Sally drew a cross, prayed softly, and smiled, "Then this mercenary group can be considered to have gotten rid of an evil for the people. They should be very powerful, right?"
As he spoke, the noise from the crowd in the distance suddenly grew louder. It turned out that the mercenaries were using carriages to carry the giant serpent's carcass through the streets. Most of the civilians were just there to join in the fun, but when they saw the giant serpent, many of them ran away in fright. There were even curious children who cried out as they were picked up by their pale mothers. Then, they ran far away.
Sally gave out the last piece of bread and walked over curiously to take a look. The giant snake's body was actually more than twenty meters long, and just the snake's head was more than a meter wide. It was really frightening, and ordinary people would not be able to bear it.
However, Sally did not feel too much. She just shook her head and turned around to leave.
After the food was distributed, the temple guard prepared to escort her back to the monastery as planned. But because the crowd was blocking the street, Sally did not have the mood to wait in the carriage. She simply got off the carriage and walked casually on the street. She looked at the giant snake that was gradually disappearing from her vision. Her mind was thinking about her and Roddy's experience facing the Scorpion King in the Silent Forest, and for a moment, she was lost in thought.
That fellow, what is he doing now?
Her fingers subconsciously took out the voodoo die and rubbed it. Just as Sally was in a daze, she suddenly heard a slightly childish voice beside her.
"Sister, what are you holding in your hand?"
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