"...The situation is exactly what I just said."
"No, I don't believe anything you say now. You have too many secrets..."
"Okay, okay, isn't there just one more Queen Maggie? The Fool Adventure Group has colluded with underground forces in the principality... ah no, there is cooperation, isn't it a secret known to everyone?"
"But we didn't expect that the relationship between them is so good! Even such a big misunderstanding can be easily resolved...According to the normal bloody routine, players like us who passed by by accident should have been hunted down as murderers, and then
A new plot line has been triggered."
Unable to help but keep a distance from the woman who was still inspecting the body, the Legend of Flame team, which retreated to the side of the murder scene, quickly dragged Duan Qing to the same roadside, while carefully paying attention to the woman.
The movement of the woman in black gauze who seemed to be powerful but dressed extremely hot started another interrogation of Duan Qing. Duan Qingfei briefly explained the relationship with the NPC and smiled bitterly for a long time.
After a lot of talking, he put aside all the envy, jealousy, and hatred that the fat thief and the potato swordsman had towards him, and then brought the topic that had been diverted by the woman who suddenly appeared back to the conversation between everyone:
"Easy trust is just the surface you see. The identities of the deceased... are probably the main reason why she trusted us so easily."
"Yes, that's right." The Flying Hero turned around again and carefully looked at the still blurry faces of the corpses: "I didn't expect that a place like the free world would have skills like disguise...
"
"Regardless of whether such skills really exist, they are definitely no longer civilians." Tudou replied thoughtfully: "Ordinary civilians will not put their face on their faces, nor will they use it when escaping.
This kind of skill should be used for sneaking, deceiving and abducting..."
"So you want to say that those people are actually thieves?" Legend of Flame held his chin and turned to look at the other person's face: "The kind that have something to do with similar shadows?"
"No, they are my subordinates."
Following the conversation of Legend of Flame, the corseted woman who called herself Kaisha came quietly behind everyone. She seemed to have finished the examination and smiled again on her face, but the aristocratic smile through the black gauze was invisible to everyone.
His eyes became a lot blurry: "There are still some people from the Shadow Society, but... with the current relationship, it is not an exaggeration to say that they are subordinates."
"Shadow Society?" So Duan Qing asked with confusion: "What did they come here for? And why now..."
"Since Tania has become much peaceful, we people have been busy dividing the territory."
Without answering the other party's question directly, the woman turned and walked to the other side of the road: "Because of the lack of competition, this process did not take a long time, but a moment of monopoly did not bring us much good business, and even more
What's more, those nobles who have just woken up from their dreams... their trust in us is very limited."
"In order to survive, we have to go outside to take orders." Her voice became much deeper, as if she was remembering the hardships the gang encountered in a certain period of time: "delivering goods, escorting, and taking care of family property."
, as well as the purchase and sale of various items... We also learned from you adventurers for a long time before we learned these common ways of making money."
"I'm sorry that I'm not here during this period." Sensing the hardship in the other person's words, Duan Qing shook his head apologetically: "Otherwise... I should be able to help."
"The little guys under you have helped us a lot." Maggie replied nonchalantly: "For example, the magician named Qian Zhihe... left me with me when we worked together before.
We were deeply impressed, and the President of the Adventurers Association, Mr. Freestone, also gave us a lot of help during that time..."
"So what does this have to do with what happened today?"
As these words appeared, the big shield warrior named Legend of Flames walked to Duan Qing's side in two steps: "I don't really want to interrupt the old memories between you, but... can you make the important things clear first?
Woolen cloth?"
"……Who is this?"
"Legend of Flame, the leader of the adventurer team in front of you."
Reaching out to gesture to his side, Duan Qing introduced the Legend of Flames to the female gang leader in front of him with a smile: "You are currently employed by me, and you can also be considered as my companion."
"... Among the commissions we have received, there is also the task of bringing back refugees who are thousands of miles away." Then Queen Maggie showed her friendly smile again, and pointed at several corpses not far away from her:
"Usually they are entrusted to us by family members who have fled back to the capital. We hope that we can bring back other relatives in Zaraha City..."
"Even Tania's underground forces have begun to contribute to saving refugees. It's really touching." Legend of Lieyan on the side still held his arms: "It's just... those who have just lost most of their family property.
Refugees, I guess they don’t have much remuneration to pay, right?”
"...No need to defend, I know that your companion is doubting our motives."
Reaching out to stop Duan Qing from interrupting the other person's words, Maggie looked at Legend of Flame's face with interest: "You... seem to know the situation of those refugees very well."
"We are mercenaries, so we have naturally seen the plight of these people." Legend of Flames replied noncommittally: "Whether it was Zaraha City at the beginning or Fenghua Town later, we have fought with those who were impoverished and had nothing to lose.
I have dealt with people who have no chance of survival. It’s not that I look down on those refugees, but the rewards we received when we were doing tasks in the Windy Night Forest were not even able to swallow, so I don’t think you are like this either.
Guys will have enough compassion to care about these groups that can bring you no benefit at all."
"...You are right, the remuneration they gave is very low." After blinking at Legend of Flames for a while, Maggie chuckled and admitted the fact: "If it weren't for other reasons, we really don't do much.
I want to accept this cheap commission."
"If... these people didn't exist."
Pointing to the corpses whose true identities were revealed lying on the ground, Duan Qing said in a low voice: "Are they undercover agents who have infiltrated this group of fleeing refugees? Now that the empire has discovered their intention to evacuate?"
"bingo."
Making a beautiful gesture to Duan Qing, Maggie turned and walked towards the direction of Zalaha City: "If it weren't for the purpose of picking up these companions who were mixed in the refugee team..."
"I wouldn't come here myself."
In the biting cold wind, she looked back at Duan Qing, and then slowly moved towards the west with her still silent footsteps and the murderous aura that penetrated all around: "But now... they are all dead.
Already."
"Although they are a group of losers in my eyes, but... I am still very angry."
************************
"Hey, are we really going to Zaraha City?"
Some time later, at the border of Hylaya County, at the edge of the Rondel Mountain Canyon, several players following Duan Qing not far behind were carefully paying attention to the surrounding movements while discussing their current whereabouts in a low voice: "Then.
Aren’t the Qingshan brothers going to Hylaya to look for some mission clues? Are you giving up now?”
"Everyone has already agreed that our captain let himself go once in Anderson. What will happen if he lets himself go once?"
"And this is his own task. He doesn't want to do it himself. What can we do..."
"But that's Zaraha! It's not like you don't know what it's like there now. You can't just rely on that dangerous woman's one-sided words..."
"No need to say any more."
With a low voice, he interrupted the whispers between several people. Legend of Flame gently waved the shield in his hand: "We have received money from others, and we will follow their arrangements. Mercenaries must have mercenaries."
It looks like this, otherwise... it will not be good for our reputation if word spreads about it."
"It was profitable before in Anderson Independent State, so I was able to persuade that guy. Now... although that woman looks cold-blooded, we should still be doing good things." He squinted at the rest of the people.
teammates, finally said in a low voice: "If that Mo Shang Qingshan really wants to lead us as bandits to smash, smash and rob, I will have no objections to you, but now..."
"Hey, you haven't believed that woman's story, have you?"
"People believe us so easily. It doesn't matter if we believe her even once. What's more... well, I guess Brother Qingshan has already thought of this."
Looking at the approaching outline of the canyon, Legend of Flame's eyes became serious: "With the current situation of Zaraha City, if you want to successfully sneak into the city..."
"Maybe we have to use their power."
Following his gaze, several people's eyes also fell on the leader Duan Qing. He was walking side by side with the woman in tight black clothes and then he put down his eyes to observe the other person and slowly vomited.
A few smiles: "...So you guys seem to be working really hard lately."
"What's that look in your eyes? Am I originally a very fat person?" Maggie glanced at it and immediately replied angrily: "Even if it is to maintain a state that can be disguised at any time, I must maintain my figure.
!”
"Uh... I mean, your nightclub influence seems to have not been doing well in Tania in the past period of time." Duan Qing scratched his nose in embarrassment: "Listen to what you just described.
, you seem to have suffered a lot from the parliament..."
"After all, we are a group of people born in darkness. It is impossible for the official of the principality to recognize our status." As if she was talking about her own pain point, Maggie's tone became lower again: "And Hank,
As well as those guys supported by the aristocracy and the common people... Even in an era when adventurers are reused, we guys still can't really walk under the sun."
"The gray people are still the gray people, and my wish has never been realized." Her tone paused for a moment, and then floated to the sky as she looked up: "Now that I think about it... I accidentally saved the principality.
Our situation is really embarrassing."
"...I will go back and mention this to Pamir." Duan Qing, who was silent for a while, said in a low voice: "For example, setting up an organization similar to the Shadow Society..."
"The Shadow Council won't agree to it, right? What's more, we are still in a state of cooperation." Maggie withdrew her gaze with a hint of helplessness: "Compared to the overt and covert fighting between them, the differences between us
The appeal seems extremely small... By the way, why do you appear here?"
"...Before leaving Fenghua Town, I had a last conversation with Lorna."
He also looked up at the sky, and Duan Qing's eyes also revealed a look of memories: "Because of the Void Library, she revealed a lot of content to me, including some records about the world of destiny, and
Records of the pursuit of that world by powerful men from many past eras..."
"Wait wait...what are you talking about?"
"...Okay, I'll just say the conclusion. The next target of the restorers may be the City in the Sky." Duan Qing rolled his eyes and helplessly jumped over the pile of information in the middle: "Although I am in the mountains of Hulan Mountain
We met them again at our feet, but judging from the recent series of situations reflected near Hylaya... they should have been operating here for a long time."
"City in the Sky... Heh, no wonder there are so many weird guys lurking in Zaraha City. It turns out there are people behind it."
"Zaraha City has been within the observation range of the Mages Council a long time ago, but whether it is related to the Sky City... it is still impossible to prove. Since you are aware of the same situation now, then this matter is not that simple.
Now, if you have time, can you first explain to me the current situation of Zaraha? The situation nearby, or the situation in Hailaya can also be..."
"I……"
As if the path was blocked by the huge canyon in front of them, the cold wind passing by here stopped as Maggie suddenly stopped speaking, and the quiet atmosphere then became alert along with the two people walking in front of the team.
The appearance began to spread, and finally gradually spread to the earth and rock wall covered with a little snow near the north side of the canyon. The faint black shadow then appeared on the left and right sides of the road accompanied by Maggie's slow waving movements.
In the shadows, they quickly rushed towards the cliff, but the warning sound belonging to the Legend of Flames sounded immediately behind them, drawing Duan Qing's attention back from the front: "It's here!
It’s from the Wings of Liberty!”
Looking at the few figures vaguely emerging from the depths of the mountains, the shield warrior shouted loudly with strong fighting intent: "They..."
"As expected, they still caught up."
This chapter has been completed!