蒼藍帝國自數十年前人口大幅增加以來,積極擴張領地,選擇了重要的資源、要道、地形等等做為發展重點,並以此為中心形成各個大城市。16Please respect copyright.PENANA271yi5wuTr
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而城市與城市之間還有許多未開發的較安全空地,蒼藍帝國便將其賜給各地貴族與世家,藉此獎賞並充份發展國力,同時還吸引不少人材加入帝國。16Please respect copyright.PENANAsHeZHwX37G
16Please respect copyright.PENANArqZL5C9DTF
這項獎勵政策效果非常顯著,現在蒼藍帝國已經是五大國度中領地最大且人口最多的國家。16Please respect copyright.PENANA5kElfsSgib
16Please respect copyright.PENANAxFa02DbMtq
蒼藍帝國的廣大領地,一個座落於悠長山脈腳邊成形不久的小村子,千人不到規模不甚起眼,位於首都巴蘭多通往水運城市雅洛克的路線之一上,若是有商人、旅客或冒險者希望在中途休息,這裡會是不錯的落腳地點。16Please respect copyright.PENANAfL0Gs7ZIbn
16Please respect copyright.PENANA819r6WdOha
村名坎達貝斯,擁有者為文森特從男爵。16Please respect copyright.PENANA1kYYchy7ij
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坎達貝斯背靠附近最高山脈,茂密森林一路沿伸至村子附近,有條清澈河流自山中蜿蜒而下經過,是居民主要用水來源。16Please respect copyright.PENANA9R6ajpdIXD
16Please respect copyright.PENANAFG51dsuG3D
村內都是些簡陋木房,四周原野開拓成大大小小農田,不時有山風吹拂而下,旅人也僅是三三兩兩經過。16Please respect copyright.PENANA0Qj1Y2Orfa
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雖然不特別,但顯得平和寧靜。16Please respect copyright.PENANACfKxutzZJQ
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「喂......聽說了嗎?我們的領主變成真的男爵大人啦!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAEUPfQLRHrI
16Please respect copyright.PENANAizl0VclIMk
「笨蛋,你的消息太老舊,聽說剛剛有帝國特使過來,我們男爵大人又變回從男爵了。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAxMIIRn1gGu
16Please respect copyright.PENANAns3mBK6gI0
「怎麼會這樣......男爵大人人很好,希望他能夠真的成為這裡正式領主。」16Please respect copyright.PENANATgsKEOlxVb
16Please respect copyright.PENANAxMco2UR2aK
「你真的是什麼都不知道,我們的男爵大人好像已經戰死,所以之前才會榮賜爵位給他。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAJs2WYDFskU
16Please respect copyright.PENANA3kgFadLOGI
「什麼!那......那為什麼又要收回?而且......而且以後坎達貝斯要怎麼辦?難道是那位夫人......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAm7IdHMAMXT
16Please respect copyright.PENANA5OQXvKDrvU
「噓!不要亂說話,我們去屋子裡再慢慢說。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAJxNRnK16Pc
16Please respect copyright.PENANAWqDA4irSXX
農作後,居民各自圍在一起討論傳言,有些疑惑更有些擔心。16Please respect copyright.PENANAEYnlzbwqkL
16Please respect copyright.PENANA4jn2Yh2bSU
村子內,佔地最廣的木式大屋,主位坐了一名女人,她披著軍式大衣,眼睛閉起,修長雙腿交錯疊靠在桌子上,兩手放置於小腹,似是在休息著。16Please respect copyright.PENANAWAnQnUk4Tk
16Please respect copyright.PENANAuye5UbjGxI
「夫人,目前農田作育狀況良好,今年糧食產量沒有問題,甚至還有餘力向外出售,派出的人也成功從附近城市招來不少流民加入村子,相信坎達貝斯很快可以再次擴建......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAQL1s0xf6Eo
16Please respect copyright.PENANAZbffIJ2hJa
女人沒有回應,依然在閉目休息。16Please respect copyright.PENANAW68rLi0Azi
16Please respect copyright.PENANAea9DiD2x5V
髮絲蒼白,已頗顯老態的波文見狀暗嘆口氣,他發覺自己越來越看不懂對方,也讓他懷疑當年是否對神諭會錯意,留在兩個女孩身邊的選擇或許並不正確。16Please respect copyright.PENANAc8ONY9ZfTU
16Please respect copyright.PENANAmafG24JefO
一個擺明不在意、一個擺明是利用,姐妹兩人差不多,都表達出個人強烈傾向與欲望,神靈在她們眼中也只是個可供借用力量的棋子。16Please respect copyright.PENANAb7e53fisbw
16Please respect copyright.PENANASbdvMQ5a5r
不過,這或許就是不知名所希望看見,不然神術指引又怎麼會對她們產生從未有過的反應。16Please respect copyright.PENANA8MPqX6wLKv
16Please respect copyright.PENANAe1mEBHJFOm
「……總結來說,坎達貝斯發展良好,另外,昨天商人阿諾德申請正式進駐村子,以他個人名義,我判斷應該是......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAiQ97iGR8H6
16Please respect copyright.PENANAPE11BTJ4da
波文說到這裡,主位上的女人眼睛突然睜開,一對鮮紅色瞳孔,深邃美麗的彷若璀璨寶石,她接著對方的話說下去。16Please respect copyright.PENANAlZo2zhCBXP
16Please respect copyright.PENANAVmGGSSFcZb
「應該是知道我丈夫死了,想先藉由商業力量控制村子,之後再逼我改嫁,他就可以得到爵位和領地,甚至連桃樂西也可以為他暖床。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAyLNI152oVq
16Please respect copyright.PENANAYCeyv1qGQU
「嗯......我也是這樣判斷。」不知道該說什麼,波文只好附和回應。16Please respect copyright.PENANA1ICZVLxN06
16Please respect copyright.PENANAxVqehB9OAX
沒有下一步指示,女人只是拿起身旁煙草與煙紙,隨手捲了捲後點燃,深吸一口吞雲吐霧,靜靜的看向上方屋頂。16Please respect copyright.PENANAmlEYs48WrB
16Please respect copyright.PENANAtUAMzi4STp
看見對方這副平靜姿態,相處多年的波文知道實際上是暗潮洶湧,他感覺有事情就要發生了,不過最終還是沒說什麼,只是搖搖頭嘆口氣。16Please respect copyright.PENANAnLbiY3utbA
16Please respect copyright.PENANA8YfBOVpaKK
沒多久,女人自桌上收回修長雙腿,站起身,抽著煙草不急不徐的走出大屋,只為煩惱至極的老人留下一襲軍式大衣飄揚的背影。16Please respect copyright.PENANAhiG4HDpvVj
16Please respect copyright.PENANA4dK6b5RhTI
「唉......」波文有著不祥預感。16Please respect copyright.PENANAb5TDzHocaf
16Please respect copyright.PENANA1fqL0rhyHw
光神在上,今天的坎達貝斯依然風和日麗,溫暖光芒照耀每個人,還在辛勤勞動的居民於心中暗暗感謝時,就看見那位夫人自大屋出來了。16Please respect copyright.PENANAl7HPLeLNpI
16Please respect copyright.PENANACqm1m93bsg
金色長髮在光芒下更加刺目,隨風飛散顯得肆意張揚,但麥褐膚色和沉靜表情給人一股穩重的反差感覺,令人無法輕易明白她的心思。16Please respect copyright.PENANAAR9VCxsN0J
16Please respect copyright.PENANA3agaFGDyrX
只有那雙鮮紅瞳孔堅定無比,透露出強烈意志,無視任何阻礙,直直朝著目標而去。16Please respect copyright.PENANAtSNONA6G0O
16Please respect copyright.PENANAEskmSlWQWF
「是夫人......她......她又要做什麼?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAs3AyG2BQ6O
16Please respect copyright.PENANAqwqvOs2PwN
「男爵大人不在,會不會出什麼事?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAGc9PfzPu4B
16Please respect copyright.PENANAys5XirVp8q
「你還不知道嗎?男爵大人已經戰死,夫人會繼承他的爵位,唉......也不知道是好還是壞。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAxSc7NDMqAy
16Please respect copyright.PENANARhuAZbiGzQ
看見叼煙且披著軍式大衣高挑身影走過,居民們下意識的讓開道路,夫人雖然不需要他們的恭敬有禮,但誰也不可以擋在她的路上。16Please respect copyright.PENANA7JJBGQr06F
16Please respect copyright.PENANAcqRNJVhZUW
村口,坎達貝斯裡唯一酒館兼食宿的旅店,此刻已經被包了下來,數十名雇傭兵正盤據此處,他們坐滿整間小店,店主人只能小心翼翼的提供服務。16Please respect copyright.PENANAucEQ0TEcTa
16Please respect copyright.PENANA3VSLJLdRI5
其中,一名微胖男子和一名高大傭兵正坐在主桌上,愉快大笑的用餐喝酒。16Please respect copyright.PENANA4VjB0f4fPd
16Please respect copyright.PENANAknNVMvoehy
「阿諾德先生,承蒙招待,以後還有類似任務的話請你多多照顧。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA8QFC3Xhqxc
16Please respect copyright.PENANA0QqpgJSfnz
高大傭兵笑笑說著,這次任務相當簡單,在這個小村子裡保護眼前胖商人,不僅能夠休息還有賞金可拿,眾人都樂壞了。16Please respect copyright.PENANAAyD1JMGUEn
16Please respect copyright.PENANA4rEuje9vXo
對面阿諾德笑得更加開心,胸有成竹的道:「放心,之後還有許多地方要麻煩,如果不嫌棄,也可以留下來做坎達貝斯的守備隊,這可是能讓黑烏鴉在帝國官方機構上掛名呀......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAyKHwAKxuIr
16Please respect copyright.PENANAXmMfFojZpG
聞言,高大傭兵也有些心動,這代表他們傭兵團能夠變成蒼藍帝國承認的半官方人員,可以享受到許多保障和補貼,雖然沒有出任務來的多,但勝在穩定,不用再過朝不保夕的生活了。16Please respect copyright.PENANAW4bZ5mXScc
16Please respect copyright.PENANApNQ8tGrdzP
「這個......讓我考慮考慮看看,阿諾德先生,你也知道,傭兵團總是會有許多不同意見,而且......你真的能夠決定這座村子的事情嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAuQXaf9h7A0
16Please respect copyright.PENANA2C0eviTMLs
高大傭兵有些不解的問,他依稀記得坎達貝斯的主人是位同行,而且還是憑功勳獲得從男爵地位的厲害冒險者。16Please respect copyright.PENANAfcaD3xlnVD
16Please respect copyright.PENANAuVVYqxHVsB
憑著第一手消息將未來都計畫好,阿諾德沒有正面回答高大傭兵,只是神祕的笑了笑,他可不會傻傻透露答案,要是為自己招來競爭者就麻煩了,反正能雇傭的傭兵團多的是。16Please respect copyright.PENANAOHy7utJ1NL
16Please respect copyright.PENANABZL6iGYyj1
眼見雇主不願意說,高大傭兵也是適時一笑化解尷尬,繼續招呼大夥開心的飲酒作樂。16Please respect copyright.PENANAhOny7Xjp7y
16Please respect copyright.PENANAyJ2r3qxknW
就在此時,高大傭兵聽見了,後方傳來小店主人唯唯諾諾的聲音,道:「夫......夫人,您怎麼來了......我......我不是故意要違背您的規定,只是......只是阿諾德先生就這麼帶他們進來了......」16Please respect copyright.PENANAmaYjkhz1dw
16Please respect copyright.PENANAujSyKlRqqU
高大傭兵聞言轉身站起,心神有這麼一瞬間為之震懾。16Please respect copyright.PENANAobgnwHGGsC
16Please respect copyright.PENANAts40MswTcu
約莫三十年紀,歲月刻劃使那沉靜面容帶有股令人想要服從氣息,張揚金髮與軍式大衣更顯自信與霸氣的姿態,她的五官雖然不算美麗,卻是英武凌厲的無法忽視。16Please respect copyright.PENANA6sNAEjrjgq
16Please respect copyright.PENANAf6wsJxVugd
一對如同寶石般的鮮紅雙瞳,更有種攝魂奪魄吸引力,讓人無法輕易移開視線。16Please respect copyright.PENANAt536sMVc2s
16Please respect copyright.PENANAJj4mMJprId
「唉呀,這不是厄瑞嘉嗎?怎麼了,是親自來答覆我進駐坎達貝斯的申請嗎?如果是的話,那可真是聰明選擇,以我的財力加上與商會的關係,很快就能讓座小村繁華起來!」16Please respect copyright.PENANADwpVbwkdnb
16Please respect copyright.PENANAPAFdUjNI92
見到來人,阿諾德推開擋在身前的高大傭兵,笑嘻嘻走上前,肥膩油滑的大手伸出牽住女人的手。16Please respect copyright.PENANALHV29Pme2T
16Please respect copyright.PENANAVGPSGjdTLJ
不知為何,高大傭兵看到這一幕心裡有些不太舒服,他看了看四周團員,臉上表情顯然也是同樣感覺。16Please respect copyright.PENANAjpI7LEYaLh
16Please respect copyright.PENANAnbHzvTq3ma
對於伸過來的髒手,厄瑞嘉沒有閃躲,只是靜靜的看著對方牽起自己左手,任憑揉捏。16Please respect copyright.PENANAyuMcWFiDzh
16Please respect copyright.PENANAc49MZRHC8C
「阿諾德,我之前警告過你,坎達貝斯是個小村子,過多外來者進入會影響治安,他們不應該出現在這裡。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAdxYExT6MDB
16Please respect copyright.PENANAmrP497HaYv
「這......這位夫人,妳是坎達貝斯的守備隊長嗎?」16Please respect copyright.PENANAC0JEwQq9zb
16Please respect copyright.PENANA0SNMoavCeS
不知道該怎麼叫,看了看對方的軍式大衣和腰間軍刀,高大傭兵便照著店主人稱呼詢問。16Please respect copyright.PENANA0NsxI9KSO0
16Please respect copyright.PENANA0gTP2QVOeE
不管是基於什麼理由,他並不想得罪對方,蒼藍帝國對於在領地內作亂者的懲罰非常嚴重,當初進村時雇主也沒說過村子有這條規定。16Please respect copyright.PENANA4rJXPTDbhh
16Please respect copyright.PENANA558cUeeTpZ
但金髮女人還沒回話,阿諾得卻是突然發怒似的變臉喝道:「混帳!她怎麼會是守備隊長,厄瑞嘉可是從男爵夫人呀!」16Please respect copyright.PENANA5tahDRtf1c
16Please respect copyright.PENANA2EEJY8OJUm
還不等高大傭兵表示驚訝,阿諾得隨即又故作哀傷的道:「喔,不過聽說文森特兄弟最近發生了遺憾事情,現在......應該叫妳從男爵大人吧。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAs8p5Kx5XbO
16Please respect copyright.PENANAWzAcyIMi2d
聽到這裡,高大傭兵有點明白為什麼這次任務如此輕鬆,同樣身為冒險者,這種任務再輕鬆也會讓他們心理不好過,表情不禁有些難受彆扭起來。16Please respect copyright.PENANARZeeKzoXgq
16Please respect copyright.PENANA3l3L0aqraZ
但這不是他能決定事情,只好客氣的道:「抱歉,從男爵大人,我立刻就讓團員退出村子,他們會好好待在村外,不會惹事情,等......『護衛』任務結束就會離開。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA1vNatfBYyT
16Please respect copyright.PENANA2quMf9Lk6L
在護衛兩字上說的特別用力,高大傭兵希望對方不要誤會,他們絕對不是跟這名胖商人有企圖的共謀。16Please respect copyright.PENANAszx926ohsg
16Please respect copyright.PENANAaBTJh6ZSHC
厄瑞嘉點了點頭,平靜的道:「離開時候,把阿諾得帶走。」16Please respect copyright.PENANATHMEc0L7XM
16Please respect copyright.PENANAnyocGMOQIy
正沉浸在女人沒有拒絕自己接觸高興之中,阿諾得卻突然聽見自己被叫到,還是要離開村子,遐想與現實的反差立刻讓他心生憤怒。16Please respect copyright.PENANA3EAaMnLQl2
16Please respect copyright.PENANAca4hc2sqny
「為什麼我要離開!厄瑞嘉,我沒有違反規定,妳這樣亂來對待輪與足跡的商人,小心我回巴蘭多時候投訴妳,讓這個破爛小村沒人敢再來!」16Please respect copyright.PENANAaTIjd99nA7
16Please respect copyright.PENANAvNbf90nGPo
高大傭兵見狀,擔心這名鄉下的金髮女人會怒極掉入對方陷阱,連忙好心的當調解人,道:「從男爵大人,違反規定的是我們,我這就帶人離開。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAgy1IeOR7e8
16Please respect copyright.PENANAQQbkUkCoTl
厄瑞嘉不語,左手仍是任得意不已的阿諾得牽著,再看了看高大傭兵和四周傭兵。16Please respect copyright.PENANAtWt3MdES0t
16Please respect copyright.PENANAogaMWq2ZAY
店主人不知何時已消失無蹤。16Please respect copyright.PENANAzTm8A8DrDW
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一道刀光閃過。16Please respect copyright.PENANAqFtemFaK4G
16Please respect copyright.PENANASqTeSlx1oI
仍然在笑著的阿諾得,右手、肩膀、半顆頭已掉下,只有使勁握住對方的手掛在那麥褐色手中。16Please respect copyright.PENANAaGQmoUGJ8O
16Please respect copyright.PENANAI2UyzbXkCL
瞬間少了斜半邊的屍體,鮮血如噴泉般暴射而出,所有人都無法理解發生什麼事情,只能呆愣愣看著眼前金髮女子。16Please respect copyright.PENANARq8iaDEgVn
16Please respect copyright.PENANAnO2xo0C8ot
她右手高舉一把鋒利軍刀,上面佈滿鮮血,那是剛剛斜斬劃破阿諾得所留下的痕跡。16Please respect copyright.PENANAhDvOXpI2g9
16Please respect copyright.PENANA3lnvNGJAwY
「商人阿諾得,惡意聚眾鬧事並襲擊當地領主,我,從男爵,厄瑞嘉,依帝國法令當場擊殺。」16Please respect copyright.PENANA9dwzegRkFg
16Please respect copyright.PENANADOsk6At78m
將掛在左手上的肥胖大手舉起,她續道:「這就是證據。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAePIWNDu2pa
16Please respect copyright.PENANAkPGd34yjip
右手一振,甩去刀鋒鮮血,厄瑞嘉將商人的手拋給高大傭兵並命令道:「協助當地領主維持治安不算違背任務,你將屍體帶回去巴蘭多領賞,我會通知首都的治安官處理。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAMJerFcRxj3
16Please respect copyright.PENANAKYUDuLZ4rP
「是!」不知為何,高大傭兵下意識挺直了身體回答。16Please respect copyright.PENANA8QdYXxvuM5
16Please respect copyright.PENANAUNUYzIrkIi
正推開門走出,身體大半邊沾染血跡的金髮女子聽到應聲,頭也沒回的道:「不錯,可以來坎達貝斯當守備隊,考慮一下。」16Please respect copyright.PENANAGxjxKAyLD9