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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAIZCfSbuFvm
49Please respect copyright.PENANAIXXL8rYKFC
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANA0abdGzR4iD
49Please respect copyright.PENANASdFQIIqtPw
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANA43ATBbElQ3
49Please respect copyright.PENANAnjg1eVSByB
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAXlzxCHaFzJ
49Please respect copyright.PENANAHIe6RtqJEm
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANACVhOKIQY7D
49Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9DAa5HKdX
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAQCghAkheBQ
49Please respect copyright.PENANACmrllSnt4T
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAZQ6qKz67xu
49Please respect copyright.PENANAlFRHDTtjzI
這裡就是邊境最前線,同時也是皇家冒險團駐紮地點。49Please respect copyright.PENANApSvefGdlps
49Please respect copyright.PENANA6x12EzpAZG
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANASGMmZSx7UU
49Please respect copyright.PENANAOHCTsgmMOX
「呼哇!終於到了呀,希望可以好好放鬆一下。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAQuhKV6JNsK
49Please respect copyright.PENANA9SG8u42CtS
「哈!誰不想放鬆一下,只是這裡不知道有沒有......」49Please respect copyright.PENANACcWgpKcbLT
49Please respect copyright.PENANAa4x502JVBu
「怎麼樣都好,要有酒!要有肉!這是最基本!」49Please respect copyright.PENANATG9rtOAl2O
49Please respect copyright.PENANA8k5Ne6zekP
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAZdXgOeNHnX
49Please respect copyright.PENANAbp2xVlirp9
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAPZenqMd80B
49Please respect copyright.PENANArI9m5kJQ58
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAMUMHcG5ipK
49Please respect copyright.PENANA2ctonpLYMY
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANA5EXq8c7B1d
49Please respect copyright.PENANAnJJPuLEjHu
獸車角落,最有經驗的老巴達卻是面露沉思神色。49Please respect copyright.PENANAFgmOjNhtLC
49Please respect copyright.PENANAUaL94WMnvi
「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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAMByPFFND5h
49Please respect copyright.PENANAMxd0N86eFr
「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。49Please respect copyright.PENANANn9ebjsYdc
49Please respect copyright.PENANA3YnHKYEeIh
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAzsjcOjpr51
49Please respect copyright.PENANAEIMYtFrRZe
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAHhzFEdACJY
49Please respect copyright.PENANAfttOEzYAmX
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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANApJG8Vx3pTV
49Please respect copyright.PENANAqNnSstJoN8
「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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ9PKtUJCn
49Please respect copyright.PENANA4UbxQE0PEg
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAUhKJRJId7W
49Please respect copyright.PENANANWNJXtoaE1
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?」49Please respect copyright.PENANAOpn5QgmdIC
49Please respect copyright.PENANA363LrV4aNc
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANATBotUod93O
49Please respect copyright.PENANAkwwBhY8A1b
「說起來,這其實也是帝國不足地方。」卡洛微微沉聲說著。49Please respect copyright.PENANAbYq7hE4GxB
49Please respect copyright.PENANA7ynij79hFB
「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......」49Please respect copyright.PENANAvyD4wVLWuC
49Please respect copyright.PENANARziOsnR6qH
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAvrbcgHuGaV
49Please respect copyright.PENANAgVlS8f00z0
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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAGVKKsGUM8n
49Please respect copyright.PENANAwxDpX0W0JG
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANASKg6wRvfgf
49Please respect copyright.PENANAS7Vs259rHd
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAokppPp7bSf
49Please respect copyright.PENANAmxiYl0MoLD
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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAAo6bUvRe6o
49Please respect copyright.PENANAvbq8visiyn
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAIfhQ2zH3eg
49Please respect copyright.PENANApcr7QC2DgJ
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAGbrt8T0cNh
49Please respect copyright.PENANARiZ3jv4ZGp
「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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANA5m5sCZ8sYi
49Please respect copyright.PENANA1q1khrn5Yi
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAipNe0fNhax
49Please respect copyright.PENANAOP9X10XheT
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!」49Please respect copyright.PENANAm8QLd2vTx6
49Please respect copyright.PENANAgOs3bF00CI
「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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAp5tkkA0bJH
49Please respect copyright.PENANAzIHqoPGg7j
聞言抬頭,文森特看了看眾人,這才點頭道:「是真的。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAQAedxOmYkl
49Please respect copyright.PENANA3KBDMuRwb7
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!49Please respect copyright.PENANAMGSj8FypHm
49Please respect copyright.PENANARY8e5sV3SC
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAdHHEJHNfrA
49Please respect copyright.PENANAvRltAPtYAr
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANATrcwkOCdB3
49Please respect copyright.PENANAORfIYl3tXC
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!49Please respect copyright.PENANAQnzkDxAjy3
49Please respect copyright.PENANAm1MvOUBatm
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAqPtRJ4bwfv
49Please respect copyright.PENANAprpB8yvCPU
「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?」49Please respect copyright.PENANAJCr5YIa2ye
49Please respect copyright.PENANANHveShFx1I
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。」49Please respect copyright.PENANALg2s7rny6f
49Please respect copyright.PENANADft1sxfloC
他成為男爵,妻子與妻妹自然也就是貴族了。49Please respect copyright.PENANAF3QLHQKtHi
49Please respect copyright.PENANAtlVdyzrlg2
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAUJHV87pGsT
49Please respect copyright.PENANAX9aj5sIDvc
不過,才失落一會兒,傑特很快又振作起來。49Please respect copyright.PENANA2cUVHC0q4m
49Please respect copyright.PENANAJoDU3z7Mbi
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAo7GurqOpgQ
49Please respect copyright.PENANA1l49wSxhv0
想到這裡,傑特又重新有了勇氣,道:「文森特大......」49Please respect copyright.PENANATYeeNtAvVZ
49Please respect copyright.PENANAP8obSbFAae
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANAa9odeThk6R
49Please respect copyright.PENANAZmsvtAcO8c
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。49Please respect copyright.PENANABorEpZ8Tyd
49Please respect copyright.PENANAUdJXJssV3o
「我不是你大哥,不要靠近我,也不要靠近桃樂西。」49Please respect copyright.PENANAUo8EK4xiQT