"Pizos?" (Elven: Daddy?)
The little girl immediately raised her head and asked in surprise.
"What about your daughter?" Brando frowned.
"I will take care of her. Sifrid's mother is my adopted daughter … …" The Elder paused for a moment before he answered: "Don't worry, my lord. Besides, Bolton came willingly. He is very grateful that you brought Sifrid back … …"
He paused for a moment and stroked Sifrid's hair: "Of course, if I didn't have to stay behind to lead everyone, I would rather be your guide, my lord. Compared to Bolton, I am more familiar with this forest. I hope my lord can understand … … "
Everyone fell silent. As mercenaries, their knowledge of the Dark Forest was no less than Brando's. There were even more terrifying legends about this place than the most terrifying bedtime stories in Aouine that were used to scare children.
"What about her mother?" Amandina was the only one who asked with a frown.
Brando's heart skipped a beat when he saw the little girl's grip on her father's clothes.
The Elder sighed and replied with a hint of reminiscence: "Sifrid's mother is half Elven. She used to be the most beautiful girl in our village. She was also the happiest girl when she married Bolton. Unfortunately, in the last 'hunt', she had to protect the others … …"
Brando gritted his teeth.
Of course, he knew what a 'hunt' was. In most areas of Wohnde, the nobles regarded the conquest of the barbarians as a 'hunt'. This was a custom that had been agreed upon for centuries. However, this event had already become a symbolic act in most places, because the real barbarian invasion had completely disappeared after the first Holy War.
In fact, it was rare to see the most ferocious enemies of civilization in the present day except in Tongoya.
The so-called 'barbarians' were nothing more than a 'misunderstanding' created by Graudin and the others to satisfy their perverted desires. However, this misunderstanding was not only limited to the nobles, but also to the commoners.
"Alright." Brando nodded in the end: "Let's get back to the topic. Of course, I won't object to it. However, this isn't a trivial matter. How much time do you need to prepare? "
He glanced at Bolton, thinking that he should be able to guarantee Bolton's life with his own ability. After all, there were three Gold-tier players in his team. They were different from other adventurer teams.
In comparison, he was actually more worried about the people outside.
However, the Senia elder nodded, "Sir, there's no need to worry about the other problems. But I have to remind you that perhaps you aren't too familiar with the Dark Forest behind us. In fact, after autumn, the forest becomes extremely dangerous. Especially when winter is approaching, animals will become more aggressive due to hunger, not to mention monsters. In fact, I suggest … "
"It's okay," Brando interrupted him. "As long as you get us through the forest, we'll be fine. We just want to get through the forest. As for the rest, we can take care of it."
The old man was startled and opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He obviously didn't know that Brando was looking for the Druids of the forest. The Druids had been in seclusion for almost four hundred years and had almost no contact with the outside world. However, the young man was familiar with the habits of those who had a strong sense of territory. He believed that as soon as they entered the forest, they would attract the 'wild beasts'.
With Brendel's experience, he believed that it would not be too troublesome to reverse the process and find them.
As for how to convince the Druids to bring him to the legendary Lost Temple of Valhalla, that was another problem altogether. However, Brando had already made up his mind to change his original plan. He wanted to find the legendary Lost Kingdom first before meeting up with the Nightsong Tiger.
The reason why he did this was because of a series of problems that he had encountered recently. The number of enemies in front of him was increasing, and time was running out. He had to find a faster way to solve the problem. However, gaining the trust of the Druids was a problem. The Forest Hermits who had always maintained a neutral stance had always maintained a suspicious attitude towards outsiders. Although they had once been allies with the humans, this relationship had long been destroyed in the First Holy War.
This problem made him feel a little troubled, but he could only take one step at a time. After all, the Druids were different from the Silver Elves. The Silver Elves had completely sealed off all contact with the outside world, while the Druids were not completely isolated from the outside world.
It was just that they had very little contact with the Druids.
The Senia elder pondered for a moment. Although he did suspect that these people had ulterior motives, from Joel's description, they had the strength to raze their village to the ground, so there didn't seem to be a need for them to play any tricks.
Moreover, they had destroyed an entire group of noble cavalry.
The old man couldn't help but feel a little scared when he thought of this. He was different from the other youths in the village. His experience told him that Graudin would not let this matter rest, and he was afraid that his revenge would come soon.
When that time came, how could the village resist?
That was why he wanted to keep Brando's group here, at least for the winter. However, he didn't expect that the moment he opened his mouth, he was rejected by the other party. He couldn't help but think that these people didn't care about their lives and only wanted to make a deal with them.
However, the old man thought about it and decided that they didn't have the right to refuse. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh even more deeply, appearing somewhat helpless.
"I understand, my Lord." The old man bowed and replied helplessly: "I will arrange it for you as soon as possible. Please rest assured, my Lord."
Brando listened to the old man's words without batting an eyelid and only nodded.
… …
Looking at the Senia elder's back as he left, Brando finally felt relieved. He couldn't help but sigh. He understood the elder's worries, but he didn't have the time to stay here for the winter.
Moreover, there was no use in staying here.
He didn't mind telling Graudin that he was the one who did it, but he couldn't guarantee that the temperamental bastard wouldn't be angry at him.
It was almost certain that Graudin would be angry.
"Brando, can we help them?" The Roman tugged at his sleeve.
"Only if they are willing to enter the forest with us. But even then, we can't provide them with enough food for the winter. The only place we can buy food from is Graudin's territory. Little Roman, do you think he will provide us with food? "The young man asked calmly.
Romaine's eyes flashed.
"I'll stay." The red-haired girl sat at the side and rested her halberd on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked at Brando with her amber eyes.
Brando touched her forehead. The same spot on her forehead had a black pattern that was spreading like a shadow. Everyone knew that she had nightmares every night and was almost out of breath, but when the girl was awake, she didn't say a word about her situation.
"You can't stay, Scarlet." He sighed: "I don't even dare to let you stay too far away from me. You have to stay here for a few months. It's too dangerous for you and these people."
The red-haired girl gritted her teeth and snorted lightly as if she didn't care about her condition. But Brando's words moved her. She couldn't stay here. If she became an Oracle, these people wouldn't be able to escape death.
Amandina looked at everyone without saying a word. Even though she didn't like the Senia people, she couldn't help but clench her fists when she saw this scene.
At this time, Brando stood up. He tidied his black coat and let out a sigh of relief. He looked around and said: "I'm going out for a walk."
Everyone was stunned.
In their impression, this young lord was not someone who liked to wander around. But Brando saw that the Nightsong Tiger and Scarlet were about to follow him and waved his hand.
"Nightsong Tiger, Scarlet, stay here. Let me be alone for a while. The two of you should rest and prepare for the upcoming journey. "
The Nightsong Tiger and Scarlet were startled.
[Alone?]
… …
There was a well-known custom among the Senia, and that was their belief that the soul of a person would linger around the living after death, protecting them from the harsh environment of the Black Forest for generations to come. That was why they built long houses for the dead and set up the most important meeting place for the tribe.
That was why the souls of the dead were able to experience every moment of life and death with the living.
However, at this moment, this sacred longhouse ushered in a dispute.
"I don't agree!" The young man who spoke earlier shook his head: "Sifrid was saved with great difficulty, and this means that Goddess Niya doesn't want to see this result. But now we have to send her back? What's the meaning of this?"
"If we don't send her back, we'll all die," a thin middle-aged man said in a gloomy voice: "Of course, we don't want to, but we have no other choice."
"Haven't we seen enough deaths? Sifrid's mother also left this world for the same reason, but it's all for the sake of others. This is the sacred covenant of us Senia!" Brendel gritted his teeth. "Sifrid's mother left this world for the same reason.
"Of course, if one day the tribe needs me to complete this mission, I'll say the same thing —" He glanced at the young man: "What we need now is perseverance and calmness. Don't forget that the tribe did not rely on impulse to survive until today."
"Bolton, Sifrid is your daughter. What do you think?" He turned back to the old man.
The middle-aged man crossed his arms and did not say a word.
"Is there no other way?" The young man gritted his teeth: "How can we give away our own people?"
"Why don't we go into the forest?"
The Elder shook his head. The crops in the fields had not been harvested yet, and if they hid in the forest now, they would only face the fate of freezing or starving to death.
"Then are we just going to watch Sifrid throw her life away?"
"You can't say that. The Baron said that he wants to take Sifrid as his adopted daughter. Didn't he say that as long as we send Sifrid over, not only will we not have to hide in the forest, we can even become real citizens … …"
Someone in the crowd spoke in a low voice.
Everyone fell silent. [Take Sifrid as his adopted daughter?] Everyone knew that the Baron was lying. How could a Lord take in a Senia? Even if she was half Elven, there was no way he would do that.
Moreover, everyone knew how filthy and despicable those nobles were.
"Aren't you ashamed to say such words?" The young man coldly mocked.
"That may be the case, but we have no other choice. If the Elder thinks it's worth it, we can fight those bastards with our swords and spears. Elder? "The middle-aged man coldly snorted.
The argument in the Longhouse grew louder and louder until it reached the outside of the building.
He sat quietly on a rock and looked at the little girl squatting beside him, her green hair flowing like a waterfall. The latter was staring at the ants on the ground with a calm expression, as if she did not hear the argument in the Longhouse.
"Sifrid," The young man finally spoke: "You can understand my words, right?"
The little girl was slightly startled.
She raised her head and looked at him with her emerald green eyes.
"I … … I'm sorry, Elder Brother … …" She struggled to speak, but this time she spoke in Cruz's language.
"It's alright," Brando shook his head: "I know you were trying to protect yourself at that time. Sifrid seems to be a very smart child —"
The little girl smiled. Her smile was very sweet.
She thought for a moment and said: "Elder Brother … … Elder Brother … … I … … will … … bring … … you … … into … … the … … forest. I … … also know … … the … … forest. Mother, teach me … … "
Brando felt his heart soften, but he sighed and shook his head.
"Sifrid, even if you bring us into the forest, even if you're not here, the baron will still find us. Do you understand?" The young man spoke in Elvish.
Sifrid was startled for a moment, and her face quickly turned gloomy.
"I'm sorry." Brando whispered.
The little girl bit her lips.
But it was at this moment that the argument in the Longhouse became more intense.
… …
(Author's Note: I originally planned to update the character list today and reorganize the levels and equipment. But my mood has been unstable for the past few days, and my shoulders and neck are sore. I can't bring myself to do it. I can only apologize to everyone here, especially Sister Crimson. I'll definitely update it tomorrow. I'll go rest now. Thank you.
Also, according to the plan, there should be two more chapters for Gentle Words of Hope. After that, we'll be moving on to the next part of the story. If you want to know what's going to happen next, please go to www.qidian.com and read more chapters.
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