小小插曲風波很快過去,這只是旅程中的調劑品,冒險者們早已習慣長時間的等待與準備。39Please respect copyright.PENANA6lRsaJyKLa
39Please respect copyright.PENANAejWhRKZOmr
十數天後,運送隊伍穿越大片山路及原野,終於來到帝國邊境。39Please respect copyright.PENANAVjShtahQHS
39Please respect copyright.PENANANhfoDyiWVc
獸車行走在高處山丘上,不少冒險者已自行站起遠目瞭望一切。39Please respect copyright.PENANAA2uksr0Z9H
39Please respect copyright.PENANATH1MpThmUO
遠方原本的綠色雜草及間或幾顆大型樹木景色,自一段距離後逐漸稀疏,取而代之是慢慢加深的死氣灰褐色彩,不斷伸長至天際邊線。39Please respect copyright.PENANA8YEXXY7tVz
39Please respect copyright.PENANAYqFSfgRukl
彷若壞死大地之上,極遠處可見兩道貫天徹地突破雲霄的巨大山脈,如同遮天蔽地無法超越,其夾縫中的裂谷高低縱深,好似被神靈偉力劈開。39Please respect copyright.PENANAqsHBjVYDQt
39Please respect copyright.PENANAZjxplGKWPW
附近更有數處大型湖泊,但越是遠方者顏色越是怪異,混濁深沉的令人心驚,上頭可見不少大型獵屍鳥群正在來回徘徊。39Please respect copyright.PENANASAdWbxzcdg
39Please respect copyright.PENANAXmO1A8LtYt
而與遠方詭異壞死景色截然不同,自山丘下來是塊地勢平坦巨大綠色原野,生機盎然。39Please respect copyright.PENANAYiyqXZbqNW
39Please respect copyright.PENANA1T3VLp0lUN
這裡就是邊境最前線,同時也是皇家冒險團駐紮地點。39Please respect copyright.PENANAQeNd6vlAA5
39Please respect copyright.PENANAihr9NYFWkG
還在山丘上就可以見到,營地內建設完善頗具規模,分成數個大區塊,外邊已有簡單圍牆與瞭望塔,不少人群來來回回走動,看起來相當熱鬧。39Please respect copyright.PENANAJFpS9R9UVF
39Please respect copyright.PENANAeGlgylxcBa
「呼哇!終於到了呀,希望可以好好放鬆一下。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAnwmxF0YnAy
39Please respect copyright.PENANAYnUH3CyTAn
「哈!誰不想放鬆一下,只是這裡不知道有沒有......」39Please respect copyright.PENANAtbu6d6o3ud
39Please respect copyright.PENANAUHOF2kToJY
「怎麼樣都好,要有酒!要有肉!這是最基本!」39Please respect copyright.PENANA0KjkkOGnI4
39Please respect copyright.PENANABVQTFPuO1s
眼見就要到目的地,乘車將近一個月的男性冒險者們只差沒有興奮的歡呼起來。39Please respect copyright.PENANAq1DBJWJViz
39Please respect copyright.PENANA8pnpFXbnKo
坐在前方駕駛的運送人員聽到喊叫,也因為就要順利完成這次任務,笑咪咪的解說著。39Please respect copyright.PENANAemSlbGvIs2
39Please respect copyright.PENANAAqebi30ziT
「各位冒險者請放心,帝國有考慮到攻略迷宮城是長期任務,為了讓大家能盡心盡力完成任務,所以不論住宿、用餐、酒館還是......都早已準備好。」39Please respect copyright.PENANA3rzq0FHFTS
39Please respect copyright.PENANAw4lMplT6wV
幾聲高昂歡呼立時傳出,不少人已經熱烈討論接下來的行程。39Please respect copyright.PENANALc7sw9Khqk
39Please respect copyright.PENANAviUoedj1xK
獸車角落,最有經驗的老巴達卻是面露沉思神色。39Please respect copyright.PENANAK5OC0IEKOA
39Please respect copyright.PENANAqEP1txbGsa
「不止大手筆清剿野外,還花費這麼多心思積極建設,蒼藍帝國這次是打算攻略迷宮城的同時順便拓荒?」老巴達低聲喃喃的說著。39Please respect copyright.PENANA2cOb4Zy58m
39Please respect copyright.PENANAEHISRKhEM0
「也有可能是新迷宮城難以攻略所以才有長期打算?」另一名較悲觀的冒險者跟著道。39Please respect copyright.PENANAc64tDmquyx
39Please respect copyright.PENANAfwzkgJDlnT
「又或者這裡有什麼值得蒼藍帝國長期進駐的素材和資源?撇開壞死大地部份不談,其它方向倒是看起來頗有潛力。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAfmTKZ4rUXK
39Please respect copyright.PENANAxsawGLfZVk
幾名較有經驗冒險者低聲討論幾句無果後,便將視線轉向身旁的卡洛,他之所以被選為這次臨時隊長,是因為本身就是蒼藍帝國出身的冒險者,也是隊伍中最老牌的當地人。39Please respect copyright.PENANAhCNrjpK0cU
39Please respect copyright.PENANAHwksiEZIhb
知道有經驗的冒險者不像菜鳥好唬弄,其中更有老巴達這位有名冒險者存在,卡洛也不藏私,便道:「哈哈,這也不是什麼秘密,我就稍微解釋一下吧。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAI6v9JYQn0X
39Please respect copyright.PENANAWLwDBDsS8j
「帝國不是特地在這裡建設,而是每發現新的迷宮城和禁忌之地都會投入如此多的人力和物資,這點花費對帝國來說算不上什麼。」說到這裡,卡洛臉上流露出些當地人的驕傲。39Please respect copyright.PENANA5Yt8F0uJE7
39Please respect copyright.PENANADibh4gVHdg
「呵,早聽說蒼藍帝國是五大國度中最為富有,如果不是這樣,大老遠跑來接下這次任務就沒意義了。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAEQjMFlhM4q
39Please respect copyright.PENANAV8sQZOW20d
輕輕捧了一句後,其中一名冒險者才續問道:「不過,再多的錢財也不會有人拿去填水湖,更不用說最會作生意的蒼藍帝國,那麼......是為了什麼呢?」39Please respect copyright.PENANALt4ECCcFWY
39Please respect copyright.PENANANLy6wpyRs8
卡洛心裡默默讚揚對方一句,懂得搭臺階的人總是令人欣賞,不愧是走過許多地方的有經驗冒險者。39Please respect copyright.PENANAVj21aB6W0l
39Please respect copyright.PENANAXeMk92ERsi
「說起來,這其實也是帝國不足地方。」卡洛微微沉聲說著。39Please respect copyright.PENANAKDoJXFdriU
39Please respect copyright.PENANAu0SWE9n9Of
「我們都知道,自混沌時代崩壞以來,近千年間,智慧種族好不容易崛起,更陸續建立了五大國度,成為勢力最大、領土最廣、數量最多的種族,如果不是幾十年前『血染薔薇』事件......」39Please respect copyright.PENANAMqwjT9eMvR
39Please respect copyright.PENANA8RdideSXXq
聽到這裡,老巴達咳了兩聲,其他有經驗冒險者也故作不知的四處張望,彷彿什麼都沒聽到一般。39Please respect copyright.PENANAzplLnXOU8a
39Please respect copyright.PENANA2J6Ed0XHWo
卡洛知道自己失言,偷偷瞄了一眼不遠的女性冒險者車隊後,連忙改口道:「......人類停下急速擴張腳步的同時,也發現自己不足之處。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAqOJbPGutkR
39Please respect copyright.PENANA053sKS1yPU
「席洛大陸實在太大,即使到現在人類再加上其他智慧種族也尚未能探索完全,說不定連一半都不到,更不用說還有大量混沌時代遺留下來的迷宮城、禁忌之地與海外群島了。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAXrbiv0kTOK
39Please respect copyright.PENANABWQgmTUWiD
「就在這些我們所不知道地方,大量魔獸、野盜、邪惡體甚至是惡魔種族依然存在,並且不斷繁衍擴大,這些都是智慧種族生存所必須要面對的威脅。」39Please respect copyright.PENANABd07OflvsR
39Please respect copyright.PENANAcpH9RB8Usp
其中一名冒險者聽的有些不耐煩,道:「隊長,歷史就不用再介紹了,那些詩人已經唱到我們連酒都喝不下啦。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAQjawmbaObS
39Please respect copyright.PENANAK2jI7gogSM
看了打斷自己談興的冒險者一眼,知道不是每個人都像有經驗冒險者這麼捧場,他只好簡短的繼續解說。39Please respect copyright.PENANAiYnjKijmMz
39Please respect copyright.PENANAPHKusWIq6d
「總之,與四大國度比起來,雖然蒼藍帝國擁有唯一的海上航行與強大貿易能力,又位處五國較中心位置,所以能夠賺取大量通用金幣,但缺乏能與其它國度相比的決定性戰力,因此特別重視迷宮城與禁忌之地。」39Please respect copyright.PENANALSuJS1o0Lf
39Please respect copyright.PENANArqmt37in3b
「只要能從中取得秘寶、古代魔法、失傳技術又或是特別素材與資源,對帝國都有很大幫助,這也是為什麼帝國即使要花上更多金幣,也不惜繞過遊騎兵公會請大量冒險者來協助原因。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAT9OVZEoH0D
39Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ09WzLyXm
其實還有一個隱藏原因,那就是花錢請人去送死探路,損失冒險者總比損失帝國自身戰力好的多,不過這點卡洛就沒說了。39Please respect copyright.PENANA8BRVEelCjV
39Please respect copyright.PENANAxlEGggyyfo
頓了頓,卡洛見大家聚精會神在聽的模樣,單手用力握拳,激動的道:「所以呀,公告出來的豐厚獎勵可都是真的!只要各位能完成任務,金錢、權勢、地位......都會有!」39Please respect copyright.PENANApkd8yK0AZV
39Please respect copyright.PENANALSh2QFpQPN
「你說對吧?姐夫,從男爵大人。」說完,卡洛還笑著點了下坐在角落不語的男人。39Please respect copyright.PENANAt3a6lE5Ayh
39Please respect copyright.PENANAiyb9PdMtyV
聞言抬頭,文森特看了看眾人,這才點頭道:「是真的。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAtCbnZOZ61A
39Please respect copyright.PENANA9Sw8EFsbSP
不知何時,討論人群早從小圈子擴大,原本還在高興要到達目的地的那些冒險者也早已圍過來,許多人聽到文森特回答都激動的討論起來!39Please respect copyright.PENANAyQe7EKVray
39Please respect copyright.PENANAZEcQEP7lSx
如果說卡洛的話大家還有質疑,那文森特的話就沒有人懷疑了。39Please respect copyright.PENANAssNGFZ2cU0
39Please respect copyright.PENANAOOYfKbd2tt
平時越是沉默的人,說出來的話越是令人相信,更何況說話者還是實打實以功勛換來從男爵地位的人。39Please respect copyright.PENANADntUm3l1XG
39Please respect copyright.PENANAAgkYA0trE4
雖然聽起來好像階位不高,但文森特可是只差一步就能正式成為帝國貴族的人,到時候不僅有領地可以世襲,更可以享有律法、稅務等大量優惠,也許還是他們以後雇主呢!39Please respect copyright.PENANAyPAz6WjHDG
39Please respect copyright.PENANA1RZhFIWZY6
隨著越是接近營區,眾人越是按捺不住躍躍欲試心情,就在獸車上一片興奮混亂之中,傑特來到文森特身邊坐下,神色緊張低聲問著。39Please respect copyright.PENANAQRgbuDmb6Y
39Please respect copyright.PENANAP9vVjxfENR
「文森特......大哥,所以你會成為貴族,以後......以後桃樂西也會變成貴族嗎?」39Please respect copyright.PENANAAODEL221cl
39Please respect copyright.PENANA6FMjfzTn9a
不言不語的木毅面容,散發無聲壓力與氣息,文森特看向傑特,簡短的道:「完成這次任務,我就是男爵。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAjKnS3Ca6B9
39Please respect copyright.PENANAQfM1HiNOYL
他成為男爵,妻子與妻妹自然也就是貴族了。39Please respect copyright.PENANANZIjyBrbca
39Please respect copyright.PENANAwKV3ALxagE
傑特聞言表情有些失色,他雖然家境不錯,但也就只是中小商人家庭出身,想要高攀貴族實在有點困難。39Please respect copyright.PENANAHlV0rp0dKW
39Please respect copyright.PENANAHC4oaYTso8
不過,才失落一會兒,傑特很快又振作起來。39Please respect copyright.PENANAUMzUH2sek5
39Please respect copyright.PENANAScfKvLmRZc
他知道這些新興貴族向來很缺乏金錢支援,畢竟一塊新領地從無到有需要花費長年時間建設與大量物資,如果能有自家商隊幫忙,或許對方會願意讓自己與桃樂西交往。39Please respect copyright.PENANANEV1NaDF7a
39Please respect copyright.PENANA3OQqIBMF9W
想到這裡,傑特又重新有了勇氣,道:「文森特大......」39Please respect copyright.PENANAfSmzsOPo31
39Please respect copyright.PENANAegppf01M6b
但話還沒說完,圓臉青年就見到對方灰白頭髮下那雙銳利眼神。39Please respect copyright.PENANAiGiAPGJXQf
39Please respect copyright.PENANAoUtO38JHlE
一股被盯視感覺升起,心中頓時為之震懾,連後面的話都說不出來,只能呆呆的聽對方說著。39Please respect copyright.PENANAGikhT64882
39Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8AGZ7cpLO
「我不是你大哥,不要靠近我,也不要靠近桃樂西。」39Please respect copyright.PENANAotFvJdSszH