"...Oh, are you the new guy over there?"
"Ah, yes, my name is Linyuan Duanshui, and I am a member of the Imperial Investigation Team. I came a little late because I have some things to deal with."
"Some things need to be dealt with? Are you referring to the matter of you cubs wandering around Fars Fortress in the name of investigation? Or the matter of sending uninvited guests back with your own hands?"
"It seems that you have investigated our whereabouts very clearly. You are indeed Fatty Yang, who is in charge of the principality's intelligence department... No, where is Minister Yang? Why, have you gained a few pounds of fat recently?"
Quietly walking up to the fat man who was feasting at the table, the conversation between Duan Qing and the fat man started tit for tat in this situation, although the two of them still looked calm, even eating.
There was no change in the movements of one party while eating, but the content and tone of the conversation were full of the smell of gunpowder. Before coming to the camp on this side of the hall, Duan Qing had exchanged opinions with Xue Ling Huan Bing about the candidates who came to test.
After discussing for a while, although the result of the discussion turned into almost an order-like request, the reasons given by Xueling Huanbing and other members of the Qingling Adventure Group were still very consistent and very convincing.
The intelligence minister of the principality in front of him, Lux Yang, who acted as harmless as a pig. Among the people present, there should be no one who knew him better than Duan Qing.
"I saw the white-haired swordsman lady talking with Princess Reina just now. Why did it take so long for her to be replaced by you?"
"Maybe it's because I'm easier to bully. Of course... in front of you, it will probably be the same no matter who you are."
"Yes, I have investigated every member of your adventure group, and I also know all the experiences of that dangerous woman, including the various crimes she has committed on the Free Continent, and the ferocious cruelty she displayed in the Battle of Sky City.
, and the fact that she later inexplicably ran into your empire... But you? Who are you? How come you have never appeared in my intelligence list? "
"I really don't know whether I should feel lucky or sad, because most of the nobles of the empire also want to figure this out."
Touching his nose to hide his expression, Duan Qing's eyes were roaming back and forth on the familiar fat man in front of him: "You don't want me to introduce myself to you now, do you?"
"If you can introduce yourself, I won't stop you."
Still stuffing a large amount of food into his mouth, Lux's small eyes that were squeezed to the point of being difficult to recognize showed a sharp feeling: "Anyway, no matter what you and your master say, I won't believe it.
of."
"...Have we, the people of the Empire, become so miserable in your eyes?" So Duan Qing could only let out a few wry smiles: "We have lost even the most basic trust between people?"
"There is naturally trust between people, provided that the target is a 'person'." Chewing the food in his mouth vigorously, the fat man raised his gaze as if he was looking at an animal about to be slaughtered.
: "For you, any rules and regulations that are used to set people are probably inapplicable."
"……I do not understand."
Duan Qing put away his desire to continue tit-for-tat and suppressed the anger in his heart. He asked in a low voice: "Why is all this happening? Why are you targeting us like this?"
"Don't ask why, to use a common saying among you adventurers, you are the enemy." The fat man slowly removed his gaze from Duan Qing: "Since we are the enemy, there is nothing to be polite about.
What?"
There is no need to be polite when dealing with enemies. This is a rule that players have always believed in. The vicious conspiracies and tragic events that have occurred in countless past virtual game histories are all based on this rule that players believe in.
This kind of extreme hatred of the enemy is naturally universally condemned by most ordinary players, but it has never died in a virtual world full of freedom and individuality. Revenge or great pleasure
Later, this reason was no longer the main reason why this kind of concept became rampant in the world, but because only by using all possible means can we quickly and effectively defeat enemies stronger than ourselves.
Just like the current relationship between the Empire and the Principality.
"First of all, my companions and I still don't know what happened."
Duan Qing slowly lowered his hands on the table in front of him, ignoring the glances around him, and then said in a low voice: "But what I want you to understand is that we came here because we sincerely want to solve the problem.
Here, Her Royal Highness Princess Rena and the other imperial nobles accompanying us all have the same idea in their hearts."
"If you don't believe our intention, you should at least give us a chance to prove our intention." After saying this, he stroked his chest, as if he was paying tribute to Lux Yang with the imperial standard aristocratic etiquette: "Everything.
Conflicts and disputes all start from misunderstandings. If we are not even given a chance to communicate, then there will be no possibility of clarifying the conflicts between us, right?"
"Although I think what you said is nonsense, this is the most reasonable thing I have heard in the past few days." The fat man paused for a moment in his eating action: "But this does not mean that I will agree. I and I
The principality behind me will not let you in because of this."
"Because we have given you many opportunities." He chopped the knife and fork in his hand hard into the dinner plate in front of him, making a crisp sound of chopping the dinner plate and table board together: "And you are extremely arrogant.
But the country consumes our good intentions and tramples on our dignity again and again!"
"Do you think we'll always be stupid?"
He widened his small eyes and declared loudly to Duan Qing across from him, and then when the principal guards around the hall heard the sound and wanted to come over, he waved them back again: "Okay, the nonsense is over.
Enough said."
"Are there any other topics? If not, please go back." He looked at the food in front of him with disgust, then folded his arms and quietly closed his eyes: "I don't have anything anymore.
Something to talk about.”
"...Okay." Looking helplessly at the fat posture of the other party who was thousands of miles away, Duan Qing finally gave up the idea of continuing to inquire about the news: "Then if there is still a chance"
"grown ups."
Ruoyouruowu's voice then came from the side door of the hall in front of Duan Qing, accompanied by the figure of a player walking slowly with a big sword on his back: "We are back."
"...How's your search for information going?"
"Replying to my lord, it is indeed as you thought."
As if confirming something, the swordsman player cast his gaze on Duan Qing in front of him: "They are the main instigators of this farce."
"Hey, wait a minute." Duan Qing, who was about to leave just now, hurriedly put his hands back on the table: "Don't spit in front of me. When did we become the masterminds of some conspiracy again?"
"He was talking about the battle that just happened near the east gate of the fortress." Fatty Yang replied while turning a blind eye: "Why, we have evidence and witnesses, and you still don't want to admit that this matter was your fault."
Did it cause it?"
"Well...ah hahaha." Duan Qing scratched the back of his head, and his expression gradually became embarrassed: "That battle is indeed related to us, but we are also passive victims. Someone is against us.
We have launched an attack, do we still have to sit back and wait for them to be killed?"
"Someone launched an attack on you?" Fatty's expression became unkind: "Who is the attacker? Do you want to tell his identity and name?"
"...Looking at your expression, it seems that you are sure that I will definitely tell you about the principality." As if he understood the meaning of the other party's unkind eyes, Duan Qing sighed and shook his head: "Our empire has such a
Is it despicable?”
"Yes, this is the consistent style of your empire." Nodding to each other with the player next to him, Lux Yang put on a matter-of-fact look: "This kind of thing has happened in the past.
Countless times, your empire has successfully used it as a reason and excuse to invade our principality. Since our countless resistance and explanations are meaningless... don't expect us to be weak again."
"We will never give in or compromise."
He gestured to the big sword player next to him, and then said these words word by word, and the big sword player codenamed Aqiang then nodded in agreement, and at the same time looked at Duan
Qing waved his hand and said: "Go away."
I didn't expect this guy to have climbed to such a high place now.
Duan Qing sighed involuntarily in his heart. After standing up, Duan Qing slowly walked back in the direction he came from. His frustrated expression later attracted the attention of several people from the empire. At the same time, he showed
The natural expression: "It doesn't seem to be working."
"Not even Her Majesty Reina and Count Diploma. How could a group of adventurers like them succeed?"
"So I opposed His Highness's decision to use adventurers from the beginning, and I don't know why His Highness trusted them so much..."
"Shh, don't question Your Highness, and we really have no good solution now. There is no problem in letting these adventurers go for a collision..."
"Have you been sprayed by someone again?"
The voice full of laughter then interrupted the whispers that came quietly, and also interrupted Duan Qing's chaotic thoughts full of sadness. He looked at Xue Ling Huan Bing who appeared in front of her and not far behind her.
The smiling faces of the other players appeared everywhere, and they scratched their cheeks helplessly: "Ah, that's right, you cowards, you were ready to see my jokes from the beginning, right?"
"No, we just think that there is a 200% chance that this negotiation will fail." Xueling Huanbing tilted her head and looked in the direction of the principality people behind her: "I didn't expect you to retreat so quickly.
"
"No way, they actually have players to help." Pointing to the figure of the big sword player who was still talking to Lux, Duan Qing shrugged his shoulders: "If I don't leave quickly, this morning
We might have to take the blame for that battle again."
"What? They actually want to blame us?" Xue Ling Huan Bing raised her eyebrows: "Can't he see that we people are so seriously injured? Are they still not human?"
"We are almost no longer regarded as human beings, so these questions are meaningless." Duan Qing sighed and sat on the edge of his wine table: "I only understand one thing: the trust between the principality and the empire.
, it has indeed dropped to a historical low.”
"……Why?"
"I also want to know why."
Faced with the questions cast by several people, Duan Qing's head became even lower: "When we were in the principality, we also racked our brains to resist the invasion of the empire, and even in the end we tried our best to promote the adventurer behavior.
The Lord’s strategy will make adventurers the main force in the principality’s resistance to the empire.”
"This method seems to be very successful so far. It seems that the principality will no longer be afraid of the empire." He sighed softly: "Unfortunately, we are now standing on the opposite side of this spiritual defense line. It is really disappointing.
I’m not happy at all.”
"It's always gratifying to see that your efforts have been successful." Understanding the other party's complicated mood at this time, Xue Ling Huan Bing sighed quietly: "Unlike me, even the team didn't stay in the end.
Down."
"Don't you still have us now?" After a moment of silence, Duan Qing laughed again: "You still have me."
"You?" Xue Ling Huanbing looked at the other party with squinting eyes: "Can you withstand the power of the entire guild? Do you have the mood and courage to fight against your former country?"
"Well..."
As if he was finally forced to the end of the answer, Duan Qing, who chuckled twice, slowly stood up, and then walked to Princess Reina in full view of the crowd.
At the table in front of His Highness: "At least you have to take responsibility for your past."
"...Responsible? What are you talking about?"
"nothing."
Putting on his polite posture, Duan Qing regained his usual calm face: "I just want to tell you our reply to the commission you proposed. We agreed."
"So you are willing to accept this important task?" Rena showed an expected expression on her face, twirling her fingers and smiled softly: "What about the conditions? I know that you adventurers like to negotiate conditions first, and we also
A generous enough reward has been prepared.”
"No, we don't need any reward."
Duan Qing shook his head, then turned around and walked back in the direction of his team: "You just need to pay attention to one thing."
"Please be mentally prepared in advance that the results of our investigation may not satisfy you and the empire."
This chapter has been completed!