西曆1631年10月4日 聖山(大杜王國領地)
時間:凌晨 天候:陰
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扣除緊急召集返營的10位哨兵,目前在第一班據點待命,含幹部共計20員,全擠進由數個帳篷連接,臨時組合的應急會議室。將原先擺放的裝備拖出帳外,硬是騰出足夠的空間,讓所有人或站或坐。但為了彰顯馬祿的班長身份高低,幹部們一致命令各隊部屬席地而坐。518Please respect copyright.PENANAbNs4vSUTAO
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三路人馬由幹部領隊,排成三方縱隊,井然有序地面向馬祿。耳聞「軍議開始」的始動指示──足以稱是一瞬間──所有人倏然挺胸正座。518Please respect copyright.PENANAK3t27OqNPA
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厚實雙掌慎重地蓋在膝頭上。馬祿微微仰起視角,仔細卻快速地掃過底下每雙,將滿腹不安情緒傾倒而盡的愁眉苦面。518Please respect copyright.PENANAflyQJk8sIC
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馬祿緩緩吐息稍作呼吸。518Please respect copyright.PENANAgFArypbXau
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緊接著,他以不算大聲,卻帶著微妙精神的音量宣達:518Please respect copyright.PENANAbA71Z7syVW
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「那麼,請各位無須在意階級、席次,依序表達看法吧。」518Please respect copyright.PENANAVK4xIB0UK3
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所謂的微妙程度,大概就是……容易引人注目,但心情不會受到煽動的程度。畢竟這是軍議,統籌各方不同意見並加以過濾出結論,才是會議的主旨。否則,不過是獨裁者為了賣弄權力,利用輿論壓力扼殺不同立場的聲音罷了。518Please respect copyright.PENANAONjdE1ClKU
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表明了要所有人擱下身段盡情發表己見的用意。馬祿遂將目光移向左邊第一排。518Please respect copyright.PENANAmokJMPMZAp
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排頭。那位將顎下銀冉,綁束成一條粗壯麻花捲的虎背老漢。518Please respect copyright.PENANAF5EHCUD2Ep
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「霧厙守備長,請。」518Please respect copyright.PENANAzMfEXsXnpL
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馬祿恭敬地平舉抬手。將先發言權,讓給不論外貌或資質上,都具備相當份量的守備隊隊長。同時,此人正是他們口中的「老爺子」────518Please respect copyright.PENANAc87VHM0Un8
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安魯邦‧C‧霧厙。518Please respect copyright.PENANAFoHSw6qbZH
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「感恩至極──」蘊藏著濃厚歷練的厚沉嗓音,給予相襯的禮遇性回應。518Please respect copyright.PENANAv39KIwNyOT
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乘著對方的敬意,安魯邦泰若自然的輕咳幾聲。做足心理準備後,慎重開口:518Please respect copyright.PENANAPgz5EShaQG
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「恕老夫直言。依本班現在的立場,若貿然主動展開突擊,必定慘敗。」518Please respect copyright.PENANALJdxhQarkK
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此話一出,除卻面容沉澱的守備隊班兵,其餘人都不敢置信地面面相覷。518Please respect copyright.PENANA3lEUkNfWg9
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────他剛才……說、說什麼?!518Please respect copyright.PENANAnOGymKdbia
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一張張錯愕的臉,彷彿……不,已經有別隊的班兵承受不住,那滿胸懷抱著初出茅廬的好戰情操,受到退役老將無情冷諷的屈辱。518Please respect copyright.PENANA82Lms6EyJZ
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坐在第三排──別動隊後段的年輕班兵憤然起身,嚴厲指責安魯邦的發言:518Please respect copyright.PENANAK0sQmmZWFJ
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「身為守備隊幹部,竟鼓吹未戰先敗,帶頭貶低士氣,成何體統!!」518Please respect copyright.PENANArFnqbBjfdW
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然而,懷著激情的意氣指責,換來的卻是沉甸甸的嘆氣聲。518Please respect copyright.PENANALe4eDL9Gsm
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不論是自認己身過去的戰役資歷,在場的人除了喀爾爾、馬祿以外,無人可以理解他的遠瞻,也是理所當然的發展;抑或是……單純的自恃傲人。518Please respect copyright.PENANAYb8GX8c9Jq
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總之,安魯邦無視背後,那雙乍然初苗的烈火青眼,繼續用平穩的語調說了:518Please respect copyright.PENANAV61yhBf51A
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「請別誤會。老夫只是將實際戰力與現況做粗略的交叉比對。要打?當然可以!若諸位由衷地秉持…不,是堅持──*!『縱然徒勞無功,也要硬幹到底』*的心理建設,老夫自然無話可說。」518Please respect copyright.PENANA7ScxvKJ4JC
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「所以您現在是奉勸我們,直接投降的意思?」緊接著,是隔壁排的年輕班兵。518Please respect copyright.PENANAmWUz87GtbI
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────是偵查隊的……嗎?518Please respect copyright.PENANANlrsTQVN15
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安魯邦的餘光注意到,坐在年輕班兵前方。518Please respect copyright.PENANAckLvM77uoT
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那位閉目養神,行為舉止略為貓膩的嬌小幹部。嬌小幹部保持著淡然笑容,纖細手指不斷輕輕敲點太陽穴。看似指令卻又嫌曖昧不明。勸退部下嗎?518Please respect copyright.PENANAnB7U2iCIl3
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不對,這種暗示未免太力道不足。最合理的解答───518Please respect copyright.PENANA4Y6GVQjTh2
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果然在隔岸觀火,站在觀望的立場,等候良機吧?518Please respect copyright.PENANAKA5tUMZWx1
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唉,帕祖啊……好大喜功的乳小子。對於同儕的爭功心態,安魯邦暗自感嘆。518Please respect copyright.PENANAVeKqxwCc7Y
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「如老夫前言所述,這僅是單純的個人見解。首先,乾糧要比預期減少的快速;再者,我方對敵人,也就是『二班』、『三班』的地形情報有限────」518Please respect copyright.PENANAu3ws1fua34
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遺憾的是,這句尚未說完的良性建言,儼然成了引燃唇槍舌戰的狼煙信號。518Please respect copyright.PENANAPZUv9YlslO
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下一秒,貌似兩隊班兵早串通好似的。除了排頭的兩位幹部全數起身,共同指著守備隊及安魯邦痛罵。518Please respect copyright.PENANAYESZJLmjN2
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「可恨──!!別以為你高齡老邁,就能仗著經驗搬弄是非,妖言惑眾!」518Please respect copyright.PENANAJCvUcM025N
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「沒錯,我身為偵查隊一員,職司調查,豈有不明白本班現況的道理?!」518Please respect copyright.PENANAcXSEqTA4r3
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「這點我能做證!我們別動隊,在偵查隊的勤務上略有支援!反而是貴隊伍,自本班建立『隊伍管理制度』起,守備隊始終隔絕其他隊伍的支援!」518Please respect copyright.PENANA7wln37Z2hz
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當然,身為事主方的守備隊班兵,斷不可能忍氣吞聲。518Please respect copyright.PENANAePNYVuvYGB
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基於捍衛上司的忠誠與守備隊尊嚴,隊員們不甘汙衊,倏然築起一道堅硬人牆。518Please respect copyright.PENANArnCMNTsJcz
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「給老子收回那句屁話!只敢躲在暗處窺視的蟲子,憑什麼插嘴前線勤務!」518Please respect copyright.PENANAHpLPUiQVnY
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「別動隊的蛀蟲也是!敗壞風紀的禍源,豈會輕易讓你們破壞守備班的名聲!」518Please respect copyright.PENANA8uzlhRqo8u
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雖然早有預設最壞的發展。頂多各隊堅持己見相互激烈辯論。但卻從未料想到,竟會惡化成無效性質,單純的爭鋒相對。軍議最忌諱提出藏匿著私人情緒的發言,相信這是在場所有人都能理解的基本共識。至於為何變成如此,其實不難猜想。客觀點的說法──不,是再退一步的推測:518Please respect copyright.PENANAsjgVGdxemk
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恐怕是安魯邦所點出的癥結點,嚴重詆毀到其餘兩位幹部──帕祖和喀爾爾所涉獵的勤務範圍,才導致一觸即發的火爆局面吧?518Please respect copyright.PENANAHiIoGPONXD
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────話雖如此,但更讓我在意的是……馬祿看了一眼另外兩位幹部。518Please respect copyright.PENANAHfUHgRF2gx
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────他們,居然沒有一絲勸阻的意願?518Please respect copyright.PENANAc4KICxnEnu
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雖然各自用不同的方式沉思,但觀望的意圖非常明確。518Please respect copyright.PENANAnFN5sRcJTI
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這個現象有兩種解釋:第一, 帕祖和喀爾爾也在思考著相同問題,但礙於身份或情勢發展而不容置喙。至於第二……這是馬祿,最想否定的猜測────518Please respect copyright.PENANAPFGw03UVka
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惡性爭功518Please respect copyright.PENANARgADXFAgHc
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總之,現下已嚴重偏離會議的主要性質,是該出面化解陷入白熱化的惡兆518Please respect copyright.PENANAUhrJ1JsCED
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碰──!碰──!碰──!!518Please respect copyright.PENANAccr2yZYvoz
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木槍重擊草地的悶響,儘管聲音不大,仍瞬間彌平了會議室高漲的激昂聲浪。518Please respect copyright.PENANA1NGTrXwWV4
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劍拔弩張的三隊人馬同時停下動作,用近乎驚慌的表情轉向眉頭緊鎖的馬祿518Please respect copyright.PENANA0Kb6TqBC2S
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「你們,都給我冷靜一點。」518Please respect copyright.PENANAR3ju4M60h9
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此刻,其餘兩位幹部──偵查長‧帕祖,別動長‧喀爾爾,總算有了應對動作。518Please respect copyright.PENANAbtq5UIoMeg
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帕祖優雅地舉起小食指晃了幾圈。喀爾爾則邊嘆氣,邊落落大方地擺手。518Please respect copyright.PENANAYV6SYlPGw1
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「哎呀,敝人的部下冒犯了。請容敝人以『偵查長』身份,向您致歉。」518Please respect copyright.PENANAMvQugFAAM4
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不好意思呀,霧厙守備長,呵呵────518Please respect copyright.PENANAQmzeCe75wA
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說歸說,但帕祖那張得意的小臉蛋,全然不見丁點的歉意。反倒像參加鬥犬的飼主,不小心咬死對方飼犬,嶄露勝利者獨有的輕蔑笑容。518Please respect copyright.PENANADOjknSawyP
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「不好意思啊,老爺子。出手晚了,抱歉抱歉。」518Please respect copyright.PENANA24J79y0tj0
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相比之下,喀爾爾強壓闖禍的部下們,逐一朝安魯邦和馬祿低頭道歉。即使言辭過於隨興,舉止堪比市井混混的致歉方式,誠意仍是有餘。518Please respect copyright.PENANAsq1h3QJIEZ
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倘若帕祖的個性屬於陰天,那麼他的血親哥哥──喀爾爾,肯定為晴天。518Please respect copyright.PENANAfv0MMe1TD4
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「無妨。各隊都是為了一班而心急如焚,行事作風略為焦慮也是情有可原。」518Please respect copyright.PENANAU754WFwzjb
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說到這,安魯邦罕見地皺起眉頭。原本佈滿皺褶的臉龐越發滄桑。518Please respect copyright.PENANAh3AtEoOVQu
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他緩慢嘆息。捻著銀白麻花冉的傷腦模樣,看起來貌似又老上好幾歲。518Please respect copyright.PENANAO1AKHvXBpt
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難怪村里的長者常言:過度的壓力,容易使人快速成長。518Please respect copyright.PENANAX9arxeZR2A
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相互表達理解對方舉止的同時,氣氛終於降回適合商討議論的溫度。518Please respect copyright.PENANA87Ykxu4vn9
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馬祿抓緊主導權,將會議導回正軌。518Please respect copyright.PENANAGqy21NVbcD
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「那麼,這便是守備隊的看法,是嗎?」馬祿雙手盤胸,閉眼沉思了一會兒。518Please respect copyright.PENANAhut3Lkwt7d
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在安魯邦以點頭作為答覆之後,馬祿繼續把話鋒轉給下一位發言人順位,帕祖。518Please respect copyright.PENANAc1c8sF7zec
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「沙漉偵查長,讓我聽聽你的分析。」518Please respect copyright.PENANAc8hTut9c8d
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「……咦?!唔咳咳……是,遵命。」帕祖低頭聽命。518Please respect copyright.PENANAuhrzSynFQm
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有那麼一剎那,帕祖在大夥都看不見的角度,偷偷露出「終於輪到我了!」迫不及待、好求表現,完全不符合小孩年齡該有的社會人奸笑。518Please respect copyright.PENANANnp3M9G6U9
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「就本隊蒐情、勘查等類報告的成果彙整顯示,本班非但握有絕對權、先發權兼具完備的地緣上風位置,各隊職司的勤務:人力規劃、緊急補給、臨時哨,全都能在最短應變時限內,確實達到低風險的良性反應。換句話說,若用時間單位來制定,反應時間絕對在『五分』…哦不,只需要『三分』即可。」518Please respect copyright.PENANA8uU0VYkYe9
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即使概略說明了「地緣位置和危機應變速度」皆站在我方的立場鳥瞰戰局,恐怕這些戰爭話術除了有過「義民軍」經驗的安魯邦、喀爾爾、馬祿以外,沒人能體會,藏在那股使勁壓抑的平淡語調中,逐漸瀑漲的激昂情緒吧?518Please respect copyright.PENANAcPYOBwbS6t
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瞧見眾人包含自己的隊員,都露出無法理解的困惑表情互相對看。518Please respect copyright.PENANAShRXSIyjEU
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面對擴張延伸至整個會議室,怕被責難而刻意壓低的討論聲、悄悄話,帕祖顧慮到假若忽視軍議的基本常識,當面數落其他單位的下屬沒有見識,這般行為確實有失格調──雖然他非常想這麼做──於是,帕祖刻意無視背後的竊竊私語,將目光鎖定在馬祿身上。盡可能催眠自己,現在是跟馬祿召開單獨密會。518Please respect copyright.PENANA8pSqVU2rfQ
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「講得更簡單一些:『有人會在獵犬、獵具、獵場皆新穎、齊全且高熟悉度的狀況下,放棄好不容易等待了一整年的狩獵旺季?只因出門少帶幾塊乾糧餅?!』嗎?」說到這,帕祖脾氣使然的補上一句:518Please respect copyright.PENANAB34rjCDQf6
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「相信在場稍有文學造詣的諸位,都能明白語中含意吧?」518Please respect copyright.PENANAPBh2oRGShK
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五隻細嫩的小玉指抵在平坦的胸腔。帕祖勾起嘴角,保持一貫的招牌微笑。518Please respect copyright.PENANAHsudyVleuT
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這番言論宛若一條救命繩,著實拋向每位相繼露出豁然展顏的班兵。518Please respect copyright.PENANAwBlbjT1vCD
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撇除他們的內心,是否真能理解的這項疑問。最起碼能確信一件事────518Please respect copyright.PENANAmIkMCuEgpp
第一班即使在試戰的尾聲,也並非全無希望。518Please respect copyright.PENANA7S56IT9VbP
518Please respect copyright.PENANAEKebqJYP2u
於是,現場揚起了一片重獲希望的握拳聲響。518Please respect copyright.PENANALrHieobmxc
518Please respect copyright.PENANAWpqIzTsvsa
勝利!輿論風向正式倒戈!帕祖難掩好勝心的暗自竊喜。518Please respect copyright.PENANArk16kAGuZm
518Please respect copyright.PENANApeqwELpITb
「所以,偵查隊的看法是──」馬祿問。518Please respect copyright.PENANAZmlSLi7154
518Please respect copyright.PENANAo0QfjWcep1
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「出擊!敝人愚策,應趁夜寐之刻,出籠撕咬獵物,殺個措手不及!!」518Please respect copyright.PENANArXU0aizq31
518Please respect copyright.PENANAE4Ey3DIDQx
518Please respect copyright.PENANA8oJobDRPbg
518Please respect copyright.PENANAvhX2G3bZiE
語畢,帕祖自信滿滿地彈起雙腳,氣勢十足的重擊胸口。518Please respect copyright.PENANAl52noJIFM6
518Please respect copyright.PENANAXatEYzvq4o
受到帕祖所營造的澎湃氛圍影響,班兵們甚至是部分的守備隊隊員,都紛紛做出一樣的動作並齊聲附和:518Please respect copyright.PENANAExP68jQTNR
518Please respect copyright.PENANAwFfG29nJVf
「出擊!出擊!出擊!!」518Please respect copyright.PENANAyVSRGDhCFx
518Please respect copyright.PENANAhUZbJCEtEz
「讓他們見識見識第一班的威猛!」518Please respect copyright.PENANA5ww2yIjbz6
518Please respect copyright.PENANAtkhS3qu6RE
「唔哦哦哦哦────!!」518Please respect copyright.PENANAv2NRLdJxNp
518Please respect copyright.PENANAZpFzequOoq
可是,這股猛然竄起的熱流,並未感染到別動隊排頭的喀爾爾與馬祿二人。518Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7SCJuskkF
518Please respect copyright.PENANAko2ya2VBeZ
身為會議擁有最高裁定權的馬祿,理當必須保持中立角度,鞏固會議的公正性。518Please respect copyright.PENANAcHzf8QLTA9
518Please respect copyright.PENANA2M48b1PXfd
對於擁有「義民軍首領」歷練的馬祿,真正在意的是喀爾爾的反應。518Please respect copyright.PENANAdbbl2MzhiP
518Please respect copyright.PENANANhXJHMdAmm
據往例而論,喀爾爾的態度,不論本質上或言行舉止,絕對與運籌帷幄的智將搭不上邊,這是大家都有的共識。但說是萬夫莫敵的悍將,又缺少該有的紀律。518Please respect copyright.PENANAQEjfW4x4W6
518Please respect copyright.PENANAhgpMi7GxnF
────大概,除了周遊列國,博學多聞的「客將」以外,沒有別的形容詞吧?518Please respect copyright.PENANARAJ5krMgi5
518Please respect copyright.PENANAcPC2wUtR3n
儘管時隔多年,馬祿對喀爾爾的觀感一直是如此。518Please respect copyright.PENANAz9sCZrbf48
518Please respect copyright.PENANAIegWqpxJj4
「偵查隊的看法,我理解了。那麼,別動隊呢?」518Please respect copyright.PENANAf8PFMUBs7X
518Please respect copyright.PENANArIKjVP6FLC
馬祿朝眾人高舉拳頭。明白用意的班兵們,紛紛聽命將高亢的情緒壓下,給予喀爾爾適合發言的空間。518Please respect copyright.PENANAldH7ESCUAQ
518Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5SZK3F41d
「唔……」喀爾爾搔弄著雜亂的鳥窩頭。手指擱在滿是鬍渣的下巴,沉思起。518Please respect copyright.PENANAxkjUvgPa9v
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「老實說吧────我不清楚。」518Please respect copyright.PENANA2rQ8W7KJYZ
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什、什麼────?!!