"Trouble?"
Veronica tightened the fur coat on her body, revealing the graceful curves of the female legion under the coat. It was the same color as the light brown background of Kirrlutz's winter military uniform – the same color as Kirrlutz's famous brown rock. She walked towards Brando, passed by him, lifted the blanket, and looked out warily. The cold wind whistled, making everyone in the tent shiver. The lady put down the blanket, turned around, and said seriously, "What I'm about to tell you, you can only listen with your ears, and keep your mouth shut, everyone."
"There are three hundred soldiers in this camp, but from today onwards, the food reserves are only enough to last until next week."
Brendel suddenly understood why Veronica was so serious about this matter. If this news were to spread, it would definitely cause a commotion. This was the army brought by Veronica, which was the elite of Cruz. If it was the private army of the nobles, it was not impossible to cause a riot. Cruz's tacticians called the food reserves that were enough to support an army for a week. Normally, an army participating in a war would consume two basic units of food a week, and the garrison would be relatively less. If the food reserves were less than four basic units, it meant that an army that could still fight would have to consider whether to retreat or not. If the food reserves were less than two units, it would only happen if they were in a desperate situation. If an army with less than one unit did not riot, it meant that the commander had suppressed the news very well, or that the army was very elite, or both.
However, Veronica had participated in the last Holy War and was a well-known general of Cruz. With the title of Goddess of War, she would never make a low-level mistake in this kind of issue. Brendel seemed to have immediately guessed why the Kirrlutz people were facing the current predicament, and he asked with some understanding, "Is part of your food missing?"
"How do you know!?" Veronica suddenly turned her head, and her originally frowned brows relaxed, but immediately frowned again. "Do you know something, Brando?" She asked suspiciously.
"Don't you know what lives in this snowfield? Didn't I ask Aloz to remind you? "Brando was equally confused.
This snowy plain was the lair of that damned Frost Wyrm, and this little one just so happened to be a famous glutton. It was very timid, and only knew how to steal the food of travelers. It had been doing this in this forest and Lake Vallenden all year round, so it was very skilled at its job. If normal people did not pay attention, they would easily fall for its tricks. Of course, other than being proficient in this field. This Frost Wyrm Whelp was also an expert at sneak attacks and sneak attacks. In short, it would never fight you head-on.
If there are any vile adjectives, they must be reserved for it.
"Aloz?" Veronica thought for a while before she remembered the doll-like girl who had accompanied Mephistopheles. But the only impression she had was that she always had a sour expression on her face. She did not understand why Brendel would let a little girl pass such an important message to her. "Her?" Veronica looked at Mephistopheles.
Brando saw Veronica's expression and understood that Aloz had done something good. No, she might have forgotten about it long ago. "That girl …" He suddenly realized that he had made a mistake. He should have let someone more reliable come, such as Amandina.
Brando could only tell her about the rumor about the dragon on the lakeside road.
Veronica walked back to her seat, glanced at the parchment map, and threw the hare pelt in her hand on the table. The table was actually made up of a few boxes. "You mean, the one who stole our food is that Dragon Whelp? But that's nearly two months' worth of food for three hundred people, three whole carriages. "
"Dragons always have some mysterious spells. If it wants to hide its tracks, it's not difficult to not be discovered by you." Brando was also a little helpless. If a dragon wanted to steal your things, it would be really difficult to deal with.
"It's really surprising that dragons would use their noble spells to steal. This … is a little different from what I read in the books." A girl in white in the corner suddenly spoke. Brando had noticed her early on. The girl had a cute baby face, a white scholar's hat on her head, eyes as blue as the sea. She was wearing a long robe with two blood red crosses on her shoulders, a pair of gray squirrel leather gloves, and a thick book with a small brass cross hanging from the end of the book between the pages.
"I'm sorry, I'm not questioning your words, I'm just curious —" Seeing Brando's gaze sweep over, the girl hurriedly explained with a smile.
"And this is?" Brando read some confidence from the other party's clear and transparent eyes. The girl was obviously not good at hiding her thoughts. Although she tried her best to appear approachable, she still gave the Erouine people present the feeling of being treated as barbarians.
This was a typical Cruz aristocrat's sense of superiority, but it had not yet turned into arrogance. She must be a child who left home for the first time.
"Shido, she's a descendant of Marquis Toon and is now studying at St. Eberson. She's a smart child with outstanding talent. Brando, you'll definitely like her. A wizard from the Mithril Society also took a fancy to her talent and hoped that she could enter the White Tower for further studies. " Veronica did not reprimand the girl for interrupting, but looked at the other party with gratified eyes as she introduced, not hiding her affection.
"St. Eberson Academy? Buga people? " Brando's heart sunk. It was indeed a great talent to be chosen by the Silver Folk. Of course, there was also enough luck. He asked, "Marquis Toon? Is it the conqueror Toon who crossed the sea on a dragon-headed warship and conquered Chevilian? "
"It's my ancestor." The girl's eyes lit up slightly. She probably did not expect that there would be someone in Erouine who could tell the origin of her family, especially the legend of her ancestor conquering the Chevilian area. She had always yearned for it and was also the pride of her family.
"You're treating Erouine as an uncivilized area." Brando saw the look in Shido's eyes and knew what she was thinking. He glanced at the other party's attire. The cross on the white shirt was a typical Blood Cross emblem. The Blood Cross was a prestigious scholar's organization in Cruz. Its status was a bit similar to Erouine's Royal School of Geography, but the Blood Cross did not have such a young member. He must be an honorary apprentice in name.
"Then who is this?" Brando looked at the corner of the tent. He had already noticed the man who had been quiet and had not spoken. The other party was wearing a coat sewn with mink, and under the coat was a military uniform, but there was no family emblem on the silver breastplate, only an eagle emblem. This kind of attire looked a bit like a mercenary, but the plaid trousers, brand-new deerskin boots, and the gem on the hilt of his sword proved that the other party's identity must be extraordinary.
This was a man who could keep his composure. As soon as Brando walked into the tent, he saw him and Shido standing behind Veronica together. But unlike the frivolous curiosity of the other young scholar, this older young man had not spoken, but looked at them with sharp eyes in the dark. His silence made Brando feel a soldier's reticence.
But until this moment —
"Lenarette Aurelius." Before Veronica could speak, the young man answered in a cold tone, as if he could be proud of this surname. After he answered, he closed his mouth and resumed his previous silence.
So it's you! When Brando heard the name, he thought that the other party could indeed be proud of this surname, because it once belonged to a man with the name of an eagle, and the words associated with it were the Empire and the supreme power — His Majesty the Emperor.
But at this moment, Brando could not help but think of Laurenna and Filas strangely, for no other reason than that the other party was the victim who was rashly killed in Filas' dream — the eldest grandson of Emperor Grantody the Great.
And also the future His Majesty the Emperor.
Brando also did not expect that the future legend would appear in front of him, and so young at that, he could not help but take another look at the other party. As if noticing his look, Veronica's face showed a smile of amusement, "Now I don't need to introduce you, little guy."
Brando smiled bitterly, of course there was no need for that. The nobles of Cruz had an ancient practice of sending their children out to gain experience, but this tradition was no longer followed by most families, because too many outstanding descendants died in the experience because of assassinations and accidents. But the royal family of Cruz was really bold.
"Dragons are high and mighty in the eyes of us mortals, but they also have many eccentricities. For example, they have an almost paranoid greed for wealth. As far as I know, this time we are facing a timid young dragon. It chose to act sneakily, not because of the dragon's nature, but because of its personality, "Brando continued.
"A timid dragon, huh? Interesting. Teacher was right, you can only see this complicated world clearly when you go out of the door," Shido praised with some surprise.
"Don't underestimate it because it's timid. No matter what, dragons are terrible opponents. Even if it's just a young Dragon, even the most cowardly person would dare to easily crush an ant to death. "Brendel warned.
"You're right," Shido nodded politely at him.
"This little guy …" Brando was a little speechless.
Veronica, however, heard the hidden meaning in his words, narrowed her eyes and asked, "Brando, you mean you can find it?"
"I don't have the ability to track a dragon, that's the job of the elven dragon hunters in Esotok, but I happen to know where it's hiding." Brando smiled slightly.
"You know where it's hiding?" Veronica's green eyes lit up, she turned her head and couldn't help but praise, "You really didn't let me down, little guy, it seems like nothing can stop you?"
"You flatter me, I was just lucky. Don't forget, I'm on good terms with Duke Anthony, and Duke Viero isn't against forming an alliance with me. They're the real masters of this place. This young dragon has been living in this area for quite some time, and the locals can't be ignorant of it, "Brendel replied humbly.
However, Veronica seemed to be really troubled by this matter, she still looked at Brando with appreciation, "Brando, you make me regret — I mean at your age, sigh, if only you were willing to join the Cruz Empire, how great would that be."
"Aren't I standing with the army commander now?" The army commander's hospitality was a little overwhelming for Brando, but he couldn't choose to become a Cruz noble anyway, he chuckled and cleverly changed the topic.
"Hmph." Veronica snorted softly, expressing her dissatisfaction with Brando's perfunctory answer. She picked up the map on the table, shook the dust off it, and asked, "Where is the dragon, it seems that we have to catch it before it uses all our food to fill its stomach."
"Army Commander, are you going to move now?" But compared to Veronica's haste, Brando seemed calmer.
"Hmm?" Veronica looked back at him in confusion, "Of course, we can't delay it any longer, I don't know how long this matter can be kept a secret. I've already ordered the food ration to be reduced, but this is only a temporary measure, sooner or later someone will figure it out. "
She suddenly stopped and asked, "Brando, do you have any other ideas?"
Brando nodded, "Actually, I brought you a message."
"Message? Good or bad? If it's good news, tell me. If it's bad news, then forget it, there's enough bad news, let's put it aside first. " Veronica froze for a moment, then replied with the willfulness of an army commander. She walked behind the table and took her long sword from the shelf.
Brando looked at the woman a little helplessly, "Before we came here, we found traces of Arreck."
Veronica's hand froze. She put down the sword with a click, turned back, her emerald eyes flashing with a glimmer, and looked at Brando strangely, "Are you here to bring me good news today, little guy?"
"It seems that the Holy Cathedral of Fire is really worried about this batch of portal fragments." Brando looked at her, but replied to himself.
"You guy … They, no, of course we are anxious, do you know how much face the Empire has lost this time? You have a part to play in this, don't be too proud, someone will settle the score with you. "Veronica saw Brando smile and knew what he was thinking.
Brando glanced at the other two, Lenarette was silent and unmoved by his and Veronica's words, sitting there like a sculpture; while Shido held a book in both hands and looked at him curiously. In Cruz, Brando was now a household name.
Since the last Holy War, had the people of Cruz ever been defeated?
"Tell me, what the hell is going on." Veronica asked.
Brando then told the story of the huntress, and when she heard what had happened to Peya, Veronica's face did not show much sympathy, but said coldly, "Arreck is digging his own grave."
In the end, she turned back and asked carefully, "You said that the girl followed the trail all the way here, which means that her brother is still alive, and left marks all the way, telling you that Arreck had passed through this area." She looked puzzled, "But what is the connection between these two things? Are you trying to say that Arreck is also moving towards the young dragon's lair? "
"Exactly, Lady Veronica, before coming here, in order to avoid leaking the news, there is one thing I actually did not tell you." Brando replied, "You already know that Arreck's trip is for the Heart of the Dragon, but you don't know that the Heart of the Dragon is in the Glacier of Despair, guarded by the young dragon."
Veronica was stunned for a long time.
"So you have some kind of conspiracy, right?" She stared at Brando and asked.
What do you mean by conspiracy! But Brando still nodded, "Whether it's an adult dragon or a young dragon, it's not so easy to deal with, and Arreck may not dare to say that he has it in the bag, so I suspect that they will go to one place first."
"Where?"
"The Holy Cathedral of the Hibernator."
When Veronica heard the name, it was as if she had been pricked by a needle. She narrowed her emerald eyes, revealing a dangerous light, "I've heard of this place, you're not going to tell me that those 'things' are still alive, are you?"
Of course they were still alive.
The alpha wolf Échis was only temporarily sealed and fell into a demigod's slumber, not to mention her children. Back then, the Dusk wolves chased the father of the giants, Milos the Frost Weaver, to this place. After a great battle, the Frost Giant God fell here, and Échis' blood also flowed on the snowy plains, and foul creatures were born from it. Those dark children were later sealed, but still slept in the Holy Cathedral of the Hibernator.
Arreck certainly had no way to deal with a young dragon, his only chance was to release those children of Échis. Brando almost immediately guessed the duke's idea.
But the duke certainly did not know what he was about to release. It was not the mixed bloodlines of the Calamity of Wolves, but the real pure-blooded demonic wolves born from Échis' blood, the real creatures of Chaos.
Opening the Holy Cathedral of the Hibernator would also open the path to the team dungeon at the center of the Stained Frost Forest Labyrinth.
But fortunately, Brando knew that it was a seal based on time, and unless it was opened from the inside, Arreck was bound to be disappointed. But he had an idea, and this idea would not only make Arreck return empty-handed, but also make him suffer a great loss.
This idea, to say that it was a conspiracy, did not seem to be a completely unreliable thing.
Seeing the look on his face, Veronica knew that the young man had a well-thought-out plan. However, now was not the time to discuss action plans. She chose to believe in the young man, but she also said, "It seems that you have thought about what to do, but I still have a question —"
"Hmm?"
"What exactly is the Heart of the Dragon you speak of? I once thought it was the heart of a dragon."
"Well …" Brando was somewhat innocent, "I don't know."
"What!?" Veronica immediately revealed a murderous look.
"Lady Veronica, you also know," Brando glanced at the big book in Shido's hand, "Much of the knowledge of Wizards comes from books, and before you really see it, you rarely know what it is. You don't think that my experience is so rich that I have seen everything, do you?"
"Hmph, a sly answer." Veronica glared at him, "Don't think that I don't know what you are hiding from me. You go rest first, wait for me to gather the others."
Brando broke out in a cold sweat under the stare of the Legion Commander. He did not expect Veronica to see through his lies. It was just that he did not lie about the origin of the Heart of the Dragon, but he did not tell the Legion Commander that the reason he knew all this was not from books, but from a game with the same name as this world.
This was something that could not be explained in the first place, was it not?
Brando did not intend to be entangled in this issue. He simply bowed to the female Legion Commander, turned around, and prepared to leave with the others.
But at this time, Shido followed closely behind. Before Brando lifted the felt of the tent, she shouted, "Mr. Brando."
Brando turned around.
"What, I was just a little curious. Mr. Brando, you are the most knowledgeable Erouine person I have ever met. Do you really know the habits of the Dragon race? "Shido asked curiously in a low voice.
But Brando always felt that there was a hint of suspicion in her pure and innocent eyes.
"No, I don't know." He simply shook his head. There were some things that could never be explained to such a prejudiced little girl, especially when the other party was a stubborn scholar, a female scholar. "I've only heard rumors. I also heard that dragons especially like human girls, and would snatch beautiful girls back to their lairs. Did you know that?"
Shido's eyes widened. Her blue eyes were like sapphires. She looked at Brando with sparkling eyes, "Mr. Brando, you really know how to joke. I, I have never heard of this …"
"How smart." Brando thought.
The girl hesitated for a moment before asking, "Mr. Brando, I heard that you are a descendant of the Highland Knight? I heard that the people of Cartier still maintain their tradition of marrying stepmothers and daughters-in-law as wives. I heard that after your death, your souls are not purified in flames, but collected and stored in jars and buried on both sides of the road. Is this all true? "
Brando looked at this girl strangely. He was stunned for a moment before answering with a straight face, "Yes. Not only that, we also maintain the habit of drinking raw meat and drinking blood. If there is a disagreement, we will draw our swords and kill. Where we come from, women can have many men, and men can have many women. How is it, are you scared? "
Shido was stunned. Her face was full of disbelief. The girl just stared at Brando with her mouth open.
"Sorry," Brando looked at her and added, "What I said before was a lie."
… …
(PS: That's all for today. 6K words. I have to go out in a while. I will come back later to look at the book review section and answer any questions from yesterday.) (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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