Followed by the two royal guards, the female mercenary held her head high and walked through the nearly 20-meter-high red copper door with only a gap open, like a huge mouth, without fear, and strode forward
Go to the front of the throne and bow casually.
"The leader of the Lili Nono Regiment, Lili Nono." She said loudly, "Or, if you are happy, you can call us September?"
The Elastian clan stood next to Lily and only greeted him in the manner of a follower of the "Lord of Light" without speaking. The girl followed closely behind, almost jogging to keep up with the two of them. She folded her hands.
On the lower abdomen, he bent slightly to show courtesy, then straightened his body and looked at the marble throne dotted with flame star spots.
She had read a description of this royal court from a book, as well as the author's praise for it. But only when she was in it, she saw with her own eyes the walls made of rocks without any gaps, and the pillars that towered from the sky to the ground.
, the deep and distant vaults, and the sense of majesty and oppression brought by it all, can truly make you feel the superb architectural attainments of the Belon people and their glorious history.
"Ann de Saint Violet, the fifth princess of the Violet Empire, would like to send my regards to you on behalf of the Grand Duke Egmonton de Saint Violet. I wish you good health, Your Highness Karim."
The volcanic fortress is also proof of a larger scale. Two thousand years of time have settled on this fortress, but it has not made it fragile in the slightest. If no accident occurs, it will still stand here for thousands of years, thinking quietly.
Mellon's king, Karim Rockfire, looks a little older. The corners of his eyes are slightly droopy, his body is strong but no longer upright, and half of the reddish-brown beard hanging on his chest is gray. Ann remembers that he is Grant.
·The eldest grandson of Yanhuo - or the nephew of the previous King Belon, Fordalon Yanhuo. The Kingdom of Meron is quite traditional in terms of inheritance, which also means that it is inevitable for Karim to 'take back' the throne from his uncle.
Has plenty of advantages.
He propped up the throne with his elbow, leaned on his right fist, lowered his head slightly, and looked at Lily and the others condescendingly.
"I've heard about you, the descendants of Egmonton's 'explorers', and the 'living gods' of the northern forest." The elder Belon narrowed his eyes, his voice was low and full of majesty, "You are here.
Tell me, has that desert—and your hometown—been freed from the curse and no longer swallows the lives of travelers?"
"This is the first thing we report to you." An bowed slightly again, raised his head, and calmly met King Karim's eyes, "The root of the curse is the wizard two hundred years ago, Fimmel Stark.
Transformations of the forest, its guardians and a lich
——The clone he left behind in the main plane." The girl turned her head and looked at her companions, "Now that the guardians have been liberated, the clone has also been killed by Yue Yue and Ariel. However, the North is going to do it again.
It may take several years or more to become a livable place."
"Very good. The Belon people have lost it for two hundred years, and we don't care to wait a moment longer." Karim nodded slightly, was silent for a moment, and then raised his eyelids again, "It seems that you have other things to do?"
An nodded. Lily raised her hand to signal to the other party, and then answered.
"In the past three weeks, several Belon people have died for no apparent reason. Are you sure you know about this?"
"certainly."
The king of the Beron people put down his right hand and straightened his body. "Dead by Mar's magic, this is the conclusion reached by the wizards unanimously. Are you trying to tell me that it is another curse?"
"Our team members are still investigating, and we will surely find out the truth soon?" the female mercenary shook her head, "But we have asked the "Black Crow" who you regard as the criminal - they neither know the whole story nor did they do anything.
Things that have harmed others." She puffed up her chest, "You should know that no one can lie in front of us."
"I agree with what September said, as evidenced by the honor of the Elastian clan." Ariel spoke for the first time, and Karim couldn't help but pay attention to the clearness of her voice. "The Black Crow Knight is a believer in Mal, but he is both
Neither the incarnation of evil nor the messenger of destruction. Apart from them, there must be other beings on this continent who can use the magic of the "Lord of the Earth" or similar means."
"And they are definitely not easy to mess with." Lily shrugged and added casually, "Is it the second thing to blame the wrong person? If the 'real murderer' is still wandering around in this fortress, you won't be able to sleep peacefully?
"
King Karim leaned back on the throne, raised his left hand and stroked his long beard. After a long time, he spoke again, "The 'gods' of the north, and the messengers of the 'Lord of Light.' Even if what you said is the truth, what do you plan to do?"
What do you want from me—or rather, from the Mellon Kingdom?"
An turned her head, looked at each other with Lily, and gave the answer they had agreed upon halfway.
"We need to borrow two royal wizards from you, plus a "witness" with sufficient identity. The "Lilinono Group" and the helpers we found will accompany them to visit the suspicious places in the volcano castle.
Everywhere, investigate every hidden clue." The girl raised her head slightly and replied easily and smoothly, "As long as the 'sinner' is still committing crimes, there will definitely be more clues left; and I believe that as long as you see
Through the expedition report we submitted, you can understand the strength of the "Lilinono Group"."
"Of course, I know your abilities." Karim closed his eyes and pondered, speaking out each word slowly, "But are the 'helpers' you mentioned the knights of the black crow?" Seeing An nodded slightly, he
He leaned forward and clasped his hands in front of his chest, "No matter how you explain it, they are the most suspicious targets today. If you are wrong, you dare to bear the corresponding consequences."
This was not so much a question, but more like a test of their confidence. This was all within her expectations, An Xin thought, and naturally she would not flinch.
"I am certain that "Black Crow" is innocent, and I am willing to make a bet with you, Your Highness Karim." The girl replied.
The elder Beron tapped the throne with his fingers and pondered for a long time, a light smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Okay. If you win, I will publicly acquit Black Crow, compensate them for their losses during this period, and at the same time give you appropriate compensation for solving this problem. And if you lose -"
"Everyone in the Knights will leave the Volcano Castle and never set foot in the Melon Kingdom again. If someone does commit murder, the criminal will be handed over to you." An's voice was soft and calm, but with unshakable confidence.
"In addition, the results of our adventure, including the maps we drew and the specimens we collected on our return journey, will all be given to you free of charge as the price for our misjudgment."
Karim's smile deepened, he raised his hands and clapped three times slowly.
"The kingdom will lend you the best wizard. I hope you can give a satisfactory answer, Lilinono Group."
…
The first floor of the Volcano Castle Hotel is usually spacious and bright, but the rooms on the second floor are lower than other places. A long time ago, Old Grum once told her that for the Belon people, the sleeping area is smaller and more comfortable.
Make them feel at ease.
Not long ago, this room seemed too crowded. At that time, Sean and Alea, Alphonse and Lily, Elio and her, Bell, Groome and Ariel, as well as the knights who came one after another
The group members were sitting or standing crowded in the room, making the already somewhat gloomy atmosphere even more depressing.
But no one paid attention to that, and few people even made a sound. Only the girl who called herself an explorer consistently asked questions, listened to the answers, wrote notes in her notebook, and then raised her head and asked the other person to call the next person -
This time, a female knight came, dressed in black, unarmed, and looking slightly embarrassed. She raised her right hand, first saluted to Sean's side, and then bowed to An's direction.
"Excuse me. Claire Walker, right?" the girl looked into each other's eyes and asked softly.
"Ah...yes, miss."
"When did you join the Black Crow Knights and where do you belong?"
"Four years ago, Miss. It now belongs to Commander Cathy's Fifth Legion, but it is temporarily... being disbanded."
"How long have you been in Volcano Castle, and what have you been doing here since then?"
"Two months... less than half a year. I... worked as a waitress in a tavern, and... sometimes did some escort work, helping the boss deal with miners who drank too much. But..." She lowered her head
Head, "Until two weeks ago."
"You were fired, right?"
The female knight nodded slowly. "The shop owner who hired me was very good... In the first few days, he also told me that those things had nothing to do with me and asked me to do my job... Even if it was because of me, the shop owner
There are a lot fewer guests. It’s just..." She sighed slightly, "Two weeks ago, his cousin... the owner of another hotel, died."
"I understand." An wrote a few words in a flash, his face still calm, "Has your employer asked you anything?"
"He...he got angry at me and asked me if I was an accomplice of the 'murderers'. But after he sobered up, he apologized to me." Claire clasped her hands in front of her, "He did not continue to blame me.
I even gave me more than ten silver coins, but just said that I didn’t want to see me again...so..."
"What was your answer then?"
The female knight paused for a moment and cleared her throat, "I said I don't know, I don't know anything. In fact, I'm also worried...who among us did these things, but I can't figure it out. Hanks and Wood
It's impossible, not even Cynthia and Martha, Prince... I haven't seen him for a long time..."
"That is to say, you have thought about it but came to a negative answer." An raised the corner of her mouth slightly and looked at her encouragingly, "Have you thought of anything else?"
Claire shook her head and glanced at Sean Tambor who was standing in the corner, with a faint look of fear on his face, "I don't know...but Grand Commander, could it be that...our people really did...that kind of thing?"
thing?"
She didn't hear any response, so Ann raised her head and looked around everyone in the room. Next to Claire were two knights who also belonged to the Fifth Legion. At this time, they were looking worriedly at several officers of the knights; Cathy herself stood
On the other side, his arms were crossed and his face was calm, but the smile of the past was missing; Lily and Alphonse were holding hands and sitting on the edge of the bed, looking out the window as if they were distracted.
Sean looked at her for a few seconds, then moved his gaze to the ground without saying a word - she understood that the leader of the Black Crowes wanted to prove the innocence of his subordinates, but was also afraid of hearing another answer.
.
"I don't think so." The girl replied on Sean's behalf. This was more than just a consolation - the Black Crow Knight had nothing to do with the Belon people, and she couldn't think of any motive for doing so. Ann's understanding of divine magic was limited.
, but everything she has experienced is enough for her to understand that the truth of many things may be hidden under the fog on the surface.
The female knight seemed relieved and her body straightened up slightly. Ann stood up lightly and bowed to Claire.
"Thank you for your answer. There will be an answer soon, trust us."
Claire slowly turned around and left with the two knights who accompanied her. When the door to the room was closed again, the girl leaned back on the chair and gently closed her eyes.
"Lily?"
"She didn't lie, and she was really worried about those Beron people and the Black Crows." The female mercenary replied simply, "Like everyone before?"
"That is to say, all the Black Crow Knights living here subjectively have no intention to commit murder." An slowly turned over the book and scanned every line she recorded, "And it sounds like they have no memory either.
Conflict, or interruption of consciousness... and the like, signs of being manipulated by magic or drugs."
"Could it be while sleeping?" Lily raised her eyebrows and asked tentatively, "Look, most of the victims... died at night?"
An shook her head.
"Even if they are manipulated in their sleep, generally speaking, the subject will still have vague memories." She thought of the beautiful dreams she had had and the secret incense used to create them. "On the other hand,
, it would be difficult for anyone to benefit from killing a few Berons and then blaming the blame on the Black Crow Knights. I think...if we only focus on finding the 'murderer', we may not be able to find out everything.
The truth.”
"Then what do you think...it could be?"
"A sacred object belonging to Mal, an altar sleeping somewhere, an evil guest from another world, or even a curse that originated from unknown time." The girl counted her fingers and counted what she was thinking of.
Possibility, "Most of the people who died were miners - even if there were a lot of miners in this city, were those people 'lucky' to find something?"
"We did ask about this." Cathy clapped her hands and took over the topic, "But those people didn't say anything and didn't give us a good look!"
"After all, something terrible happened, and the Beron people are not willing to trust outsiders." An turned his face and met the eyes of the old Beron man, who nodded understandingly, "Grum, and
Bell, I’m going to trouble you for clues in this regard.”
"Don't worry, leave it to me!" The young Belon man patted his chest, "Those little girls in the tavern are happy to chat with us!"
The girl couldn't help but smile, and straightened her expression the next moment, "Well, Lily, when King Karim summons you later, take me with you. In order to solve this matter, we need his assistance."
The female mercenary blinked and nodded in agreement without much thought. Cathy turned to face Sean, raised her head slightly, and stared at the other person's sad face.
"This expression doesn't suit you at all, Captain. You saved the entire regiment from the Empire and that bastard Cullen. With such great achievements, you need to be more confident!" She stretched out her hand.
Patting Sean's hair, the man's expression changed from surprise to helplessness, and then he turned his eyes to An, "Speaking of which, we are the parties involved after all, don't we need to do something?"
An lowered her gaze and tapped the table with her index finger. The current information was still quite insufficient. She could neither determine the true face of the 'opponent' nor whether the Knights could help. She couldn't help but miss the seemingly omnipotent
Jill then thought of what Kailo had said to her in the past six months in 'history'——
"Making decisions for other people is difficult. But it's not just responsibility, it's also trust. They trust your judgment, so you just have to trust yourself."
"Captain Sean, Alea, and Cathy. Please call all nearby members and get them ready for battle." The girl raised her head and said softly, "I don't know what our 'enemy' looks like.
, but it should have the power to confer death. As believers of Lady Mar, and... bearers of the power of Edda, perhaps you are the most suitable people to solve this incident."
…
"Then, what should we do next?" Leaving the royal court along the original road and heading towards "The White Ape's Rest" again, the female mercenary patted her on the shoulder, "You asked Sean to gather everyone.
You must have thought of something?"
"A little bit." The girl nodded and admitted, "I speculate that in a sense, the "Black Crow Knights" may not have anything to do with this incident."
"Huh?" Lily's eyes widened.
"Mal's magic is magic after all. You told me before that the current "Lord of the Earth" is Fimmel Stark - but as we know, he will not do such meaningless things.
"She explained in a low voice, as if she was trying to convince herself, "And apart from that, the most likely thing left is -"
"The previous "Divine Envoy", Tiana, and the things she left behind."