In front of him is a strange building, which seems to be a large illegal building made up of many roofs stacked on top of each other. An iron chimney snakes up along the roofs, and a lazy dog lies on the red tiles.
The handsome black cat was wagging its tail and basking in the sun with half-closed eyes.
The old white walls are covered with ivy, and a wooden signboard is placed outside the door of the store, with a line of large words written in italic Cruz script - 'Addicted to Roses'.
Seeing this line of text, Brando knew that he was in the right place.
This is No. 5-201 Suman Street. On the surface, it is an alchemy shop with a history of thirty years. But in fact, there is a secret hidden underground. Brando knows that this is the Hazel people's store in this city.
One of the secret contact points.
"Is this it?"
Brando nodded.
Charles looked at the place up and down and couldn't help but said: "It doesn't look any different, but those Hazel people hide it so well. Sir, do you really think they need to intervene?"
"This is not a question of whether it is necessary or not," Brando swept the dust on his chest with his hand and replied matter-of-factly: "This is just a convenient thing for them, but it can get a lot of benefits, and
Even if it fails, there will be no loss for them, so why would they disagree?"
"But there is no airtight wall in this world, Lord. They should know very well that the Cruz people will find out who helped us behind the scenes afterwards."
"So what?" Brando asked back: "It seems you don't understand the Hazel people very well, Charles."
"Does the lord know it very well?"
"nature."
In fact, the relationship between the empire and Hazel is very special. Before that, Hazel was a loose city-state. The short Hazel people are naturally good at magic, but unlike the Buga people, they are more interested in magic.
Researching and developing various method storage devices, they believe in the Dragon Crystal of Wisdom and believe that the spark of thinking and wisdom is the power that inspires everything.
At that time, the empire's strategy for Hazel was to secretly support some city-states. Create conflicts between city-states and maintain balance and balance of power, so that Hazel could never form a political and military entity that threatened the empire.
This balance of power lasted for hundreds of years.
But about one hundred and thirty years ago, a prophet was born among the Khazer people. This sage put forward a famous hypothesis - the theory that "the individual is the whole". In this theory, the Khazer people
It is believed that individual wisdom is limited, but the collision of ideas can sublimate wisdom, thus giving birth to a god-like brilliance.
Therefore, the Hazer people believe that in a whole, the wisdom of each individual is crucial. The whole is composed of individuals, so individuals will also be an indispensable part of the overall wisdom.
Under the guidance of this theory, the Hazel people carried out a complete revolution - a revolution that popularized magic technology. At the same time, a republic composed of city-states was established as if by lightning. By the time the Cruz people
When he reacted, he realized that a powerful opponent had appeared beside him.
Hundreds of years of enmity have made it almost impossible to create peace between the two countries - while the Empire holds great power, the Hazel Legions armed with magic technology have no power when facing the Empire.
Don't fall behind.
So the war broke out.
Although the Empire is powerful, only one out of ten people can be trained to become a qualified knight. Although the Republic is weak in individual strength, as long as their ordinary soldiers are trained a little and equipped with magic weapons, they can have knights.
Strength.
The empire has a group of magicians. Although the magicians of the Hazel people are not good at fighting, they have artillery and tanks. The empire has Pegasus knights and gryphon knights. The Hazel people also have airplanes and airships. Even though their combat effectiveness is high,
There is a slight difference, but they can make up for it with quantity.
It takes almost five years for the Empire to train a qualified Pegasus knight. However, it only takes six months for the Hazel people to build an airship at most. Even if they exchange three or four airships for one knight of the Empire, it is still cost-effective.
In fact, after decades of popularization and advancement of magic technology, the Hazel people have gradually reversed their retreat on the frontal battlefield and even launched a counterattack. If the magic wave had not broken out, the Cruz people would have probably been in the west.
Facing an embarrassing defeat online.
"In fact, the most recent war between the Cruzes and the Hazel people was seven years ago. At that time, the White Army invaded Banlin Valley and occupied Banlin for three years. However, it was not long after that that it was occupied by Banlin.
The Khazerians came back."
"The defeat of Ban Lin, the empire did not publicize this war much for this reason, but in fact the Hazel people have the upper hand on the border at this moment."
"This war is not over yet. It's just that both parties involved in the war are exhausted and unable to fight anymore. They can only stare at each other on the confrontation front - which is also the border line."
"Under such circumstances," Brando replied: "Do you think the Hazel people will be afraid of the anger of the Cruz people? They would like to extend the battle line to other places-"
"Have they not considered a truce?" Ciel was a little surprised: "Especially since the Empire does not only have the Republic of Hazel as its only enemy."
"How can hundreds of years of hatred be lost so easily?" Brando shook his head: "Perhaps one day in the future, the Hazel and Cruz people will resume normal relations between countries, but then
It was also after they shed all their blood."
"This is a generational hatred, and it must be quelled with blood."
"It's really scary." Charles couldn't help but sigh.
The two of them stood outside the house for only a moment before they attracted the attention of the people inside - a rather respectable-looking young nobleman from a foreign country, with his wizard follower, and a sword with a scabbard made of dark leather and the top of it.
The silver jewelry is of extraordinary value at first glance - one can tell that this is a lavish customer.
In many big cities, magic shops are not just for wizards. Ordinary people are their main customers. Deodorants, insecticides and some convenient alchemy products, including various types of incense, are daily necessities.
Taste.
But to be a truly big customer, you have to be a wizard.
"Mr. outside the door, why don't you come in and take a look?" The boss, with a big belly, shouted to them from behind the counter.
"You don't have what I want here." Brando smiled back.
The boss was displeased: "Hey, young man, please don't lie. I guarantee you with the reputation of being addicted to roses for thirty years. You can't find a more complete range of goods than here in the imperial capital - this place has a good reputation, you can go and ask."
ask."
That's more like it, Brando thought to himself.
"Really, then I want the radiance of Zell, the unyielding sword, the light of thinking, and the brilliance of wisdom."
The boss's face changed: "I don't understand what you are talking about, young man."
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Let Meude come out to see me. What I want to discuss is big business."
The boss glanced at the two of them with a complicated expression. Even though they were far apart, he still saw Charles showing his white teeth and smiling at him. His face darkened and his shoulders sank slightly.
But Brando spoke: "I know you have an IV flintlock gun under the counter, but that thing is useless to me. The patrolling cavalry will pass by here in a quarter of an hour. You won't do anything stupid, right?"
The boss's movements froze, and he spoke again after a long while: "Who are you?"
His voice was a little hoarse.
"Foreigners," Charles replied with a smile.
Brando shook his head; "It doesn't matter to you who we are, what's important is that we have no ill intentions."
"Then I can't guarantee it." The boss frowned and replied.
"Although the imperial capital is big," Brando glanced at him lightly, "I can still find Fort Robi wherever it is."
Fort Robi is the headquarters of the patrol cavalry. I heard Brando say this. The boss believed it twice. He put down his gun and looked at the two of them carefully before replying: "You guessed one thing wrong, Eruin."
Come sir. What I have is a Type III rifle."
Brando then remembered that in this era, Hazel's IV had just been developed and had not yet been officially installed, and the change of equipment by these foreign spy agencies was naturally even later.
He smiled nonchalantly at this small mistake.
The boss looked around warily before waving to them: "Come in and talk, you two."
Brando and Charles walked into the shop. The light in the room was slightly dark. The first thing that caught their eyes was the various closets and shelves on the walls. There were a dazzling array of strange and weird items on them, most of which were
Various potions, a few daggers and a light crossbow were placed on the counter, as well as a box with velvet covering the inside. The groove in the middle seemed to be used to hold these weapons.
He turned around again, and on one side was a huge glass display window. From inside the shop, he could clearly see the scene on the street outside.
It seems that these Hazel people are still very vigilant. The layout of the store is very conducive to observing the movements outside, and it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. The specially arranged messy house is also convenient for hiding weapons. As long as there is an intrusion, people in the store can take advantage of it at any time.
Dangerous defense.
The key point is that even after such an arrangement, 'Drowning Rose' is still the most traditional magic shop.
At least there doesn't seem to be any flaws on the outside.
Hazel and Cruz have been fighting for hundreds of years, and there are countless spies in their respective territories. They are already rich in experience in this regard.
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment. I need to seek Mr. Mudd's opinion."
"As you wish."
The boss then tapped an iron piece embedded on the counter a few times, long or short, with no rules. But after a moment, he raised his head and said to Brando; "Mr. Mudd agrees."
Yes, but there is one condition: you can go in, but your entourage must stay."
"Then I'll stay." Charles shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
The boss was slightly stunned. He originally thought that the other party would hesitate, but he didn't expect it to be so straightforward. Moreover, the wizard attendant seemed not to care about his master's safety at all. No matter whether there was danger or not, how could he just give in as a follower?
What if your protector leaves your side?
Of course he didn't know that Charles, as a planeswalker card, could be summoned to Brando's side at any time, so it made no difference whether they were separated or not.
Brando smiled at him: "Since I dare to come here alone, I am absolutely sure."
"In that case," the boss's face changed again: "Then just follow me."
As he spoke, he opened the door and let Brando in. The two went up the stairs to the second floor. In a room facing the street on the second floor, Brando met the person in charge here.
A Hazel man who is only half the height of an ordinary human. He is wearing a decent black dress with a white vest underneath, a silver chain hanging on his trousers, a pocket watch in his purse, holding a civilized stick, wearing a top hat, and his hair is neatly combed
Meticulous.
He doesn't look like a spy chief, but more like a gentleman.
This little Hazel man had a mustache and a monocle. While Brando was looking at him, he was also squinting at Brando through the lenses of his glasses.
"An Eruin," he said; "Why is an Eruin here at this moment?"
Brando looked at the little man. He only knew that the man was called Meude. About his experience as the person in charge here, he later learned from his personal resume.
This shows that this guy was promoted later, because only for NPCs whose status reaches a certain level, players will create detailed resume information for them to facilitate tasks and gain reputation.
Judging from Hazel's bureaucracy, this guy was probably promoted to ambassador to a foreign country or deputy director of the security department after meritorious service.
"I'm here to ask you to do me a favor." Brando said straight to the point.
Meude smiled: "I think I know who you are."
Brando didn't take it seriously. It would be strange if the other party couldn't guess who he was. As a spy network, if you don't even know what has happened in the empire in recent times, it would be better to go home and plant seeds.
sweet potato.
"Your Excellency is Count Toniguer, oh. It is said that he is about to become Count Gendenel. You know, I am very happy to see Mr. Count appear here at this moment, because Mr. Count appears here, which means that the Empire is in trouble.
Already."
Mudd shrugged: "You know. Whenever the empire is in trouble, I am very happy - praising the light of wisdom and thinking. So, Mr. Earl, how can we help you?"
"Also," he waved the civilization stick: "What benefits can we get?"
"It's not troublesome for me to ask you to help." Brando replied.
"No trouble," Meude nodded: "This is one of them. I know you have something else to say, please continue."
"I want you to help me investigate the whereabouts of a person. This should be a simple task for you."
"Then who is he?"
"It's her," Brando corrected: "Countess Wallach, you should have heard of this name."
"It turns out it's her," Mudd's monocle reflected the light: "I understand, it's wonderful. It seems that Mr. Count wants to make the empire lose face."
"It's not just about the face," Brando said, "it's also about the mountain people."
Meude took a breath: "I have to say, you are right, it seems like this is a good deal." He paused: "In other words, we only need to help you investigate Wallach.
The whereabouts of the Countess—"
"That's all it takes, and I'll do the rest naturally."
"Then what benefits can Mr. Earl get? As far as I know, the Empire is the enemy of the Republic, but it may not be the enemy of Eruin."
"Being able to rescue my subordinates is the greatest benefit."
Meude couldn't help but look at him deeply: "The Republic never gives up on any of its subjects. Wisdom and glory are one, and the individual is everything——"
He stretched out his hand: "It seems that Hazel and Eruin may not necessarily fight side by side on the battlefield, but they can still be good allies."
Brando smiled and shook his hand: "Happy cooperation."
