"You must accept the reality, Caroline. The world is not as bright and pure as you imagined. People's hearts are sinister. How many people are doing shameful things under the mask of hypocrisy. Those nobles and rich people, what do you think they are?
Climb up? Are you doing business in a proper manner? Or are you promoted by the Ice Queen by relying on your ability to manage a land? No, neither... everything is just hypocrisy, and everyone may be lying.
"
After returning to the hotel room, Rhodes and Caroline had a long conversation. Her performance tonight was so eye-catching, a delicate lady, a commoner girl who didn't look like a commoner. Rhodes must talk to her well.
Of course, he did the same thing. But it seemed that it was very difficult and painful for Caroline to accept these realities and perspectives.
First, the queen sent vampire men to the military camp, and then she saw the civilians living such a dark and difficult life. Everything that happened during this year destroyed her fragile and sensitive heart, and the originally beautiful world view gradually collapsed.
"Don't we have anyone we can trust?"
Caroline asked rhetorically. She seemed to still want to refute, and also wanted to deceive herself and return to the world she was familiar with.
"No, on the contrary, we should trust everyone." Rhodes paused and continued. "At the same time, we must doubt everyone..."
Caroline looked confused after hearing this. These words were obviously contradictory and she couldn't understand them.
"It means that since you have chosen your allies, your subordinates or assistants, you must trust them unconditionally. Only when you treat others sincerely will others treat you sincerely. However, in some things, you cannot put your own
All your trump cards are placed on one person, and you should always leave yourself some way out."
Rod comforted Caroline like an uncle. These words should have been said to her by her father, but Varrel also seemed to be a protective fiend, just like he once protected Dennis, always doting on her.
She is unwilling to let her children accept the cruel reality, just like protecting a caged bird, but whether this is to love her or harm her, it is difficult to say clearly. Especially Caroline is still a frost witch. Who knows in magic
During those days in the academy, what concepts did those instructors instill in her...
Caroline nodded painfully, but she didn't know that Rhodes was also facing her with the same attitude at this moment. It was trust, but not complete trust. After all, who knew that the girl in front of her was under the magic of Kislev?
No matter what she has experienced in the academy, she is still loyal to the Snow Queen, but it is impossible for her to be loyal to that female devil. Before Caroline fully wakes up, she still has to be careful.
"Okay, it's very late, go back to your room and rest. You have been longing for a clean bed along the way, and you can finally get it this time. The room is quite good, not as dirty as the tavern hall downstairs.
.I checked and there is no drunkard in the closet. Of course, just to be on the safe side, lock the door."
Rhodes joked and consoled her with a slight smile. He knew that when Varrel was away, he had to provide Caroline with some mental help and support.
"Well, I know, thank you..."
The Frost Witch said softly. She stood up from the bedside and raised her proud chest as usual.
"By the way, your injury?"
Caroline walked to the door and suddenly turned back. She stared at Rod's shoulder and asked.
The shoulder socket wrapped in gauze still looked dark red, but it was much better than the previous few days. There was no more blood seeping out. When he was outside, Rhodes put his clothes on, and no one saw it.
Only take it off to breathe when you are in the room.
"never mind."
Rhodes returned with a smile.
But Caroline still turned back, "Let me check." She said and stared into Rod's eyes... as if to say, he should listen to her on this matter...
Rhodes shrugged and said that you can just check it... The witch used her slender fingers to unbutton Rhodes' shirt, exposing the strong chest of the uncle in front of her, and then carefully removed the bandage. Because they were so close, the chest
The scenery in front of Rhodes was once again unobstructed... It was still the same deep ravine, and it was still the same beautiful scenery. The white lace bra paired with the velvet top with a shallow V-neckline... This reminded Rhodes of Caroline when they first met.
Dress up, you know how noble ladies dress.
Caroline carefully untied the bandage on Rhode's shoulder, and then changed the dressing seriously, not paying attention to the way Rhode looked at her... Well, she did seem to trust herself... Rhode sighed -
Still a little girl...
A few minutes later, Caroline changed the medicine and covered Rod's wound with gauze again. It was lucky to be able to recover from the puncture wound caused by the Ghoul King to what it is today.
"Next time you take action, think carefully about yourself. In that case, you are no match for it."
Caroline's words of reproach were laced with concern, which made Rhode feel quite comfortable. It was like a little lover's coquettishness. Sometimes Rhode felt that it was a good thing to take this little witch with him along the way, otherwise the journey would be boring, and he would just investigate information along the way.
, kill ghouls...
…
Erengrad.
"Old guys, the Snow Queen's army is here. We are going to be in big trouble soon."
In the luxurious Erengrad municipal residence, the young mercenary leader Master Bloodhand was standing in front of several nobles, talking about the war ahead in a measured tone. They had won all the way, but since that
After the guy named Rodlawn turned their defeat into victory in the Whispering Woods, the mercenary group has been in a bad situation. The northern coalition forces and the southern troops merged, and the Griffin Army and the Kislev Shooting Army also came.
They can no longer get the slightest advantage. They can only rely on constant guerrilla warfare.
"Trouble? No, it doesn't exist. Our great, young and promising General Master will solve them. The Bloodhand mercenaries are the most powerful mercenary army in the entire Sea of Claws. You and the Norscans
The legion has been defeated, hasn’t it?”
The great nobleman Morlock spoke calmly with his big belly.
"Humph, you know a lot. But you have to know that the Norscan Legion that invaded the empire was not as powerful as your queen. A blizzard can bury half of the Legion. Oh, I am afraid of such an opponent.
.”
Master, the young mercenary leader, supported his waist and responded with a sarcastic tone.
"But you can still deal with it, can't you? You still have follow-up troops. You are a celebrity in the empire."
Morlock continued.
"Stop talking nonsense, just tell me, increase the price. If you want me to continue to work for you, just add the price. Otherwise, with the thousands of people I have at my disposal, I have no chance of winning against your queen.
"
The mercenary leader Master said loudly. His voice was like a loudspeaker here, and his loud voice echoed throughout the hall.
"We have negotiated the price before, and the contract is still there. Where is the spirit of your contract? Mr. Master?"
Jeram Marcus responded. As the finance minister of Erengrad, he is one of the most important roles in the Alliance of Erengrad nobles.
"Has the price been negotiated? Yes, it has been negotiated. It was agreed that I would help you out, but I didn't say that I would help you deal with that crazy queen. What's more, there is an additional double divine choice? Do you know him? I think I do.
, one person killed more than 300 of my people in one battle. Haha, these are not within our contract, right?"
Master sneered. He was holding his beloved Knight's Sword in one hand. It was awarded to him by the Elector of Nordland when he was a captain in the Northern Army of the Empire. It was a long sword made of fine steel with carvings on it.
He wears the emblem of the white wolf, which symbolizes justice and bravery. Sadly, many years later, he became the villain of the empire.
"This is not our business. When you signed the contract, you should have considered the strongest opponent. This is not a sure-win deal, is it?"
Alderman Tiers laughed.
"So, you don't plan to pay the remaining fees?"
Master sneered.
"Where does the remaining fee come from? This is obviously an additional fee, and extra things are not included in the contract."
"I don't have time to talk nonsense with you bunch of soft persimmons here. If you want me to stay in Kislev, please pay more and double the price. Otherwise, I will leave this cold hellish place.
Return to the empire and be my city lord." Master said, "You may have forgotten how this chaos was caused. Haha, when those vampires and ghouls were causing trouble in the city, who hired the killer to take advantage of the situation?
Eliminate those black policemen (1) and claim that they were killed by vampire monsters? When those frost witches were investigating the vampire rebellion, who instigated the witch hunters to target them?"
Master's words sent shivers down everyone's spine. This was a conspiracy, and several great nobles were involved. However, the ignorant people thought that the alliance of nobles had saved them...
"Are you threatening us? Threatening the city?"
Morlock asked loudly.
"Not really, I'm just reminding you. I need more money to recruit more soldiers." Master said, leaning over and putting his hand on the shoulder of the elder Congressman Morlock, "Of course.
You can also not pay this fund. In that case, my soldiers will leave this battlefield in a few days, and you can deal with the Ice Queen yourself. This city has strong walls and angry mobs, doesn't it?"
After saying that, the young general smiled, a strange smile.