"Before we talk about this matter in detail, I think it's best for us to find a quiet place." Vincent looked at the eyes gathered around him, patted the Mond knight on the arm, and said, "Maybe we can talk while eating. Well, I don’t want to go on land and look for fish and shrimp to satisfy my hunger.”

This suggestion was easily approved by everyone, but the mage's ideas were never rejected. First of all, the little angel Soka has full trust in her brother Vincent, and Shelley will not disclose any objections in front of the mage - privately, it is possible. Four people and a tiger soon found a quiet merchant bar, where ship owners and business groups negotiated deals.

There is no need to worry about the noisy environment outside, and there will be no fights among sailors who gain infinite power from alcohol.

"Listen to me, Vincent." Knight Mond got straight to the point when he came up: "Although Holy Greafury is now attacked by orcs and has become a little embarrassed, it is still considered the strongest country in Blasares . Do you agree with this?"

Vincent nodded, took a sip of the red wine that was served and said: "Yes, in terms of military strength, I am afraid that only the united southern lords can compete with the Holy Greafury . This time, if it were not for the fact that the number of northern orcs is yours Three times more, Holy Greafury would not have ended up in such a miserable state."

"This is all because I lost Moon Harbor City." Mond's face was covered with a dark cloud, and he remembered the sad past again.

"Don't think about it for now. Let's talk about how this has anything to do with the doctrinal changes you want to talk about." Vincent and Shelley looked at each other, thinking of the dark elf family in the underground world. Vincent said, "Shelley, have you heard about the doctrinal change?"

"No, no." Shelley immediately replied: "Such a thing is almost impossible to happen, unless those priests want to lose the ability to use magic."

"Our Holy Greafury , nothing like this has ever happened since the founding of our country." Mond continued Shelley's words: "From the beginning, the military power of the Holy Greafury has been quite strong, but in more than a thousand years, But it has not expanded an inch of land outwards. It has not had any wars with neighboring countries. The only place full of war clouds is the front line against the orcs in the north."

"But the reproductive capacity of the orcs is so strong, it is enough to keep you busy." Vincent smiled bitterly: "Even the Mage Association is not capable of eradicating those louse-like creatures."

"This is not the key point." Mond shook his head: "In the past teachings, we advocated the protection of a kind world and the maintenance of fair laws. When the borders between countries are determined, the Temple of the God of Light will absolutely respect it. This agreement will not violate it. Therefore, even though the relationship between Holy Greafury and the merchant country Yim was very bad, there has never been a war. We believe that although he does not believe in Greafury, the light god, as long as he is still good Yes, they are friends."

"In other words, once you launch a war of expansion, you will be punished by God. You may even lose the entire priest system?" Vincent was surprised: "It turns out that the god Greafury is pretty good."

"The great God of Light is very good. You will know if you know more about it." The knight continued: "But now, according to the priest of the temple, 'because the evil of the orcs has tarnished the glory of the God of Light, all Both knights and priests should do their best to eradicate them.' So the teachings changed. Fighting evil became the first priority."

After listening to what Knight Mond said. Vincent immediately frowned, thinking about the mystery of these words. It sounds like there is no difference between "protecting good" and "fighting evil", but in a country with strong military power, subtle changes may occur. After witnessing the "evil" of other parties. What decision will the temple of Holy Greafury make?

But after a while, Vincent's frowning eyebrows relaxed. He drank the light wine in the cup in front of him, and then said with a smile: "Knight Mond, I think you are worrying too much. Even though the new doctrine has a tendency to develop outward, please imagine where Holy Greafury is. Geographical environment. To the north, that is the territory of the orcs. The barbarians and huge monsters in the north survive in the ice and snow. If it develops in that direction and eliminates the evil orcs, I can applaud and welcome it at any time. The east and west sides of the Holy Greafury It's the sea. Until all the Paladins' mounts learn how to swim, they still have nothing to do . As for the south, it's the only direction that can develop."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about." Knight Mond sighed: "While the orcs and giants were attacking, the warriors of the Holy Greafury were bleeding, but Im was making a lot of money from the war. Although he transported a lot of supplies and weapons to the north , but it adds a lot of price for nothing. Before I left Holy Greafury , many people in the temple expressed dissatisfaction with this phenomenon, saying that their behavior was actually not much different from the evil orcs in the north. I was worried, Once such emotions are intensified..."

"It can't be fought." Vincent pointed to his head: "Knight, you have forgotten an important force, the Mage Association. In Im. We mages live an undisturbed life and can conduct research calmly. And At the great conference of Im, the mages also have considerable power. If the paladins who worship the gods want to attack this country, the Mage Association, which has a history of killing gods , will also side with Im in order to protect itself. I don't think the Holy Greafury would be stupid enough to fight against 'the faithless ones who have mastered the power of magic'."

"Perhaps what you say makes sense. The Mage Association is indeed an important balancing weight." Knight Mond nodded, "But I still feel an ominous premonition."

"The Five Realms Mountains cross the road to the south. Holy Greafury 's strongest cavalry unit cannot overcome this obstacle in any case. And on the other way out to the south, it happens to be the country of the dwarves, the Hammer of Gunn. Vincent smiled, dispelling Mond's last doubt: "You have never been trained to drill into caves, have you? Are you going to attack dwarves? Let me tell you, such a doctrinal change seems quite worrying, but it's just It’s just a way to boost morale.”

"Maybe you are right, I think too much." Knight Mond nodded: "Maybe I have lived in the temple for most of my life, and now that I have left, I am too sensitive to some changes. I think I need some Fresh air. While it’s still dark, I’ll go for a walk on the pier, and you guys can rest here.”

After saying that, he stood up. Slowly walked out of the tavern. It seemed that even after the mage's troubleshooting, he still had a lot of doubts in his mind.

"Is things really as simple as you say?" Shelley moved a chair and sat closer to the mage: "The change in doctrine is just to boost morale? It doesn't look like it to me."

Vincent put away his relaxed expression and became very serious. He sighed softly and said: "I just want to reduce the mental burden on Knight Mond. He is old and it is not good to have a sad face all day long." He looked at Shelley's purple eyes and blinked twice. Then he said: "There is only one possibility to change the doctrine, and that is that the priests have been instructed by the God of Light, Greafury . For those high-ranking holders of divine power, it is difficult to guess what kind of things are planned in their heads."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"It seems that this so-called God of Light is no different from the Spider Goddess." Shelley smiled: "Especially in the eyes of you mages. All gods are actually the same. They are just creatures that have mastered power and have no real meaning. .”

"I hope this is just a joke of those gods." Vincent said the impossible thing while casting his gaze to the sky: " The continent of Blasares is becoming more and more weird, especially in the north. Where have those peaceful and peaceful days gone? ?How many battles have I been through since a year ago? When will I be able to settle down?"

There are many guests in the tavern, and they are discussing their plans to make a fortune. When the cold winter is about to come, it is the hot season when speculators are preparing to make money. The sacred Greafury cities besieged by orcs , especially those along the coast, are a hot topic among the Yim. Negotiate prices here for food, wine, clothing and other daily necessities. When ready to turn into a shiny metal coin. But there was a table that was surprisingly calm. Vincent is thinking about the future peace of the entire Blasares continent, but this business seems destined to fail.

But life goes on, no matter how much brainpower Vincent has to use. He is powerless to change the direction of the future. The moon slowly climbed into the sky, and at least on this night the stars were still shining. After sending Shelley and Sokka to rest, the mage returned to the lobby of the tavern alone. He sat in the corner, trying to sort out what he had experienced recently.

The dancing firelight in the fireplace reflected his face red, but it also left a lot of shadows on the bridge of his nose and eye sockets. The mage held a large wine glass in his hand, but never put it to his mouth to taste. The unique smell of herbs and spices wafted from the chipped cup , diluting the smell of alcohol.

"Thomas is still alive. He has never explained the details of Moon Harbor City to the outside world. However, Holy Greafury has made the credit I have done public. Even if Thomas wanted to frame me, it would be very difficult. But why didn't the temple tell the public what Thomas had done? What's your fault?" Vincent bit his lower lip. I muttered in my heart: "If Thomas is dead, the temple may forget this matter in order to continue to have a good relationship with the Mage Association. But now Thomas is like a hidden trap, and the Holy Greafury may be targeted at any time. Don’t they care about the association’s good intentions?”

"In addition, Pajis accused me of handing over the secret of the spell to the dark elves. Could it be that besides me, there is someone who has been to the underground world, knows my whereabouts and framed me?" Vincent recalled that dark place and thought of the darkness. tunnel and the painful wails that echoed inside. I immediately shuddered. "Could it be that the drow mages have started to contact the association again? Could it be that Brisha, the first matron, wants to kill someone with a borrowed knife and instructs their mages to say so?"

"If that's the case, I'm not too worried. The worst-case scenario is to use the dark elves' magic secrets in exchange for my freedom. After all, this is what most people in the Mage Association dream of." Vincent scratched his head : "It's just that Shelley's current The situation is very dangerous. If the drow's power penetrates into the ground, no family will let go of the task of clearing out the traitors. This is a good opportunity to please the goddess. The best way now is to leave for the north as soon as possible. In that area No one can find her on the ice sheet."

Vincent then began to think about how to survive the winter in the Roof Mountains, when the sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts. A heavy "dong-dong" sound drifted towards the hotel from a distance. It seemed that a big bear had learned to run on two feet and was now practicing. No matter what, the mage always felt that the rhythm of this voice was very familiar.

The door of the tavern was knocked open by a gust of wind, and then a barrel-shaped guy rushed in. There was a flame burning on the silver-white armor all over his body. But when the figure stopped shaking, Vincent realized that it was just a trembling red beard on his chin.

"Newton? Why are you here?" Vincent stood up. But he immediately planted the powerful staff in front of himself. If the dwarves pounced on him and used their warm hugging ritual, the mage couldn't stand their strong arms.

"Haha! You are here as expected, you guy who loves to run around." Newton walked over quickly and looked up and down the mage's body: "It seems that you didn't suffer much after going to the Elf Kingdom, and you are a bit stronger. . But if you ate the food of our dwarves, you would have become strong a long time ago!"

"How did you know I would be here?" Vincent quickly set up a seat for Newton, and then asked: "Aren't you in the Holy Greafury ?"

"Wow haha, I don't have anything to do there for the time being. I'm on vacation, vacation." Newton said: "Actually, I accompanied Lambert here to pick up guests and send some guys with pointy ears to the north. Originally, I didn't want to Come, especially when you go back, you have to take a boat. But I heard that Carol will also come here. I am actually here to persuade her not to take the boat."

"You can't let Miss Elf walk just because you don't like water." Vincent called the tavern owner and asked for some good wine. "You still can't forget that time you fell into the wine vat?"

However, the dwarf Newton surprisingly did not drink all the ale in front of him. Instead, he looked at the cup and swallowed hard twice. He said: "I have long forgotten what happened that time, except of course the deliciousness of the vat of wine." He pushed the cup aside and said with some pain: "Recently, I lost a bet with Lambert. .

I can't drink for the time being. "

"It seems that guy came up with a way to control your big belly." Vincent smiled: "But it's quite difficult for you."

"Haha. It's nothing. My will is as strong as a rock, there won't be any problem." Newton proudly touched his beard and combed out the tangles on it that would never be smooth: "Vincent. This is Why did you come to the north? Did you originally decide to find us?"

"Yes, but I didn't expect to meet you here." Vincent thought for a moment: "Did you meet Knight Mond at the dock and he told you my news?"

"Wow, haha, that's right. It seems you can figure it out without me having to tell you the answer." Newton moved closer to Vincent and said , "Although Mond is still a little depressed now, he is much better than when he first left Moon Harbor City. If it hadn't been for him, Lambert and I would never have survived."

"Keep these things in mind and don't forget them." Vincent joked: "But since you can't drink now, your memory will naturally be much better than before."

"Don't mention this matter. It's my own misfortune." Newton knocked on his armor: "Maybe it's because I'm too far away from the mountain, like a stone rolling down a cliff. Although it's still extremely hard, it's I couldn't find a place to belong to, and my luck started to go bad. In fact, the identity of this Paladin was not what I wanted, it was just the temple of the Holy Greafury that gave me this honor."

"I understand this, Newton. They also want to posthumously confer me as a martyr. But I am not living well." Vincent looked at the dwarf and suddenly had an idea: "Newton, if you have nothing to do in Holy Greafury If so, how about accompanying me to the mountains in the north? I have already found the Mond knight as a guide. But for that place..."

"Of course you should ask me about that place!" Newton said proudly: "Except for the dwarves in the Five Realms Mountains, we are the ones living on the northern roof peaks. I'm not bragging, even with our eyes closed, I can also tell you every trail and thoroughfare. Our family has been living there since tens of thousands of years ago, drinking snow water and carving rocks. Did you know that the highest point in the world is standing on the roof of the mountain? Marked by the dwarves. It’s always right to look for me there!”

"That's great." Vincent said with a smile: "I have been to Lambert's hometown, and also to the country of elves and halflings, but I haven't visited your home yet. Newton, if you haven't gone back for such a long time, your home It won’t be full of dust, right?”

"Dust? You really know how to joke!" Newton laughed loudly: "If you say it is full of old wine, I might agree, but it is impossible to say that it is dust. When you get to my place, I will let you see it. The craftsmanship of our dwarves! Although there is no mention of the wine and rice cooked by the halflings - of course, your craftsmanship is not bad - but compared with our great chefs there, it is still not as good as the fire. The stone slab barbecue he made is simply... ...Oh! I can’t do it anymore, I want to go back now!”

"Okay, okay, calm down now." Vincent quickly held down the dwarf's shoulders to prevent him from running away alone on a whim: "I can't use teleportation spells, we can only walk step by step. Now we have to think about it first There’s a supply problem on the road, so you’d better calm down.”

"Okay, but I'm looking forward to seeing your expression when you see the Roof Mountains." Newton laughed and said, "It must be full of surprise! This is absolutely true!"