"If you're going to go back with them, re-plan, and make arrangements, I'd think it's prudent, but if you're trying to deal with the enemy alone...... Maybe you just want to protect these people, but IMHO, this is their homeland, this is their battle, and sooner or later they will have to face their enemies, and you can't solve everything for them. ”

Norway disagreed, but he seemed to take Scott's purpose too lofty.

"I don't see myself as a savior. Scott smiled wryly and told the elves the truth: "Ed is in the hands of the necromancer, and Iss is probably there too...... I can't take these people with me. ”

Norway was silent for a moment, but shook his head, "Are you sure? I don't think Iss will join forces with the necromancer, let alone hand Ed over to the necromancer. ”

The elf's affirmative tone made Scott's heart conflicted.

"I can be sure that Ed is in the necromancer's hideout, and he was supposed to be with Is...... Why can you trust him more than I do to be evil?" he couldn't help but ask, which he had always wanted to ask, "You, and Ed...... You've only seen him once, and I raised him......"

"Ed is by nature, he always looks at the best of his life. And I, maybe it's just because I don't care about him as much as you do, so I can see more clearly. "Your brother, there's no shadow in his eyes, Scott." If he hurt someone because of a momentary loss of control, it was possible, but he would never be able to do something like handing over a friend who came to him desperately to a necromancer. ”

Scott hung his head, unable to speak for a long time.

"I had prepared for the worst......" he said, his voice trembling slightly, "but you gave me hope, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing." ”

"I always prepare for the worst. "But I've always had the best hopes, and it turns out that hope is never a bad thing." ”

Scott took a deep breath. As he gradually regained his composure, he realized that his original plan was not only arrogant and selfish, but also threatened to undermine Dutton's rare trust in humanity, which could have been an opportunity for friendship between the two races.

"I'm glad you're here. He smiled heartily at the elf. Keller Brian is a trusted friend. But the Half-Elf prefers to help him clean up the mess while sneering after he has done something wrong, rather than stopping him before he does something wrong.

“...... Maybe you won't be so happy anytime soon. Norway smiled wryly and looked at the barbarians who were gradually coming around. His last encounter with the Blackmane Tribe was anything but pleasant.

Sure enough, the appearance of the elves caused an uproar among the people of the Blackmane tribe.

"Aren't you supposed to be banished from the ice field with those two witches?" Zac asked aloud, "Where's the escort you?!"

"We got lost in a snowstorm and happened to find the camp of Benlu. Norway replied half-truthfully, glad that the men had left the camp before his frightened men returned, "We were separated from your men before then, and I don't know where they were." ”

Sax glared at him suspiciously. That blizzard passed them by, and he couldn't judge its power. There's no way of knowing how much of what the elf said is true, he just thinks it's too coincidental.

But they could not dispute the news brought by Norvi. Knowing that he might not be trusted, the attentive and cautious Elf brought Dutton's token and a simple letter that Domt was able to confirm was his father's handwriting.

But as Scott had predicted, no tribe was willing to give up.

"The people of the Blackmane Tribe don't have to obey Dutton or any human. If you want to quit, we can do it ourselves. Sack couldn't ask for that.

"There's only half a day's way left!," cried Domt unwillingly, "Shall we just go back like this?!"

"I didn't say that. Scott replied, "I just hope you all understand that this mission is more dangerous than previously anticipated." ”

"We are not afraid of danger. Sack said proudly.

"I'm scared. Scott said, calmly accepting all kinds of stunned or contemptuous glances, "We don't know the power of the enemy in the first place—there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of the undead hidden in the darkness...... And even more terrible enemies. And they are ready now. One step would wipe us out, and it won't help your people except to add a few dozen undead minions to the necromancer. So, if we're going to do this together, we have to trust each other. He looked up at Zack.

“...... What do you want to say?" asked the barbarian, who was taller than many of his kind, frowning.

"I have a plan. Scott replied, "But if you still see yourselves as Blackmane, a running deer, and a winter wolf...... And not the Ice Barbarians. If you are not brothers after the same giants, you can't succeed. ”

"Why should we accept a human plan?" asked Zac subconsciously.

"You don't have to take it. Scott tried his best to be patient, "You can continue to doubt humans, you can doubt elves, you can doubt people of the same race as you...... But what can these doubts bring you? Can they make you stronger? We are facing a common enemy. If you don't even have the courage to trust others, you can leave now. You already know where those caves are, you can mount your horses and go straight to the enemy's lair, and then you don't know anything about them! You can bravely challenge and then die senselessly, becoming an immortal monster - that will be the only thing you can get, but is that really what you want? When you know that you can avoid such a foolish sacrifice by letting go of a little pride and suspicion, or is that pride really more important than the souls of your ancestors and the future of your loved ones?"

His voice was not loud, but it was calm and powerful. Sack looked back at his companions, the expression on his face changing and seeming to be moved, but still hesitant.

"It takes everyone to succeed, and I know you won't give up. So—" Scott's gaze slowly swept over the energetic faces of each of the young savages, "I can't promise that there will be no sacrifices, but we can choose to fight together...... Or die alone. ”

Silence hung over the snow. People of different tribes and races looked at each other in anticipation and anxiety until Domt reached out to Zac without saying a word.

Sack stared at the hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out his right hand as well, clasping it with Domt.

"We fight together. He said. There was still a hint of stiffness in his voice, but his expression was much more relaxed.

Amid the barbarians' cheers, Scott secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"You know. ”

Nutka said.

She looked at Norway and Scott, her deep blue eyes calm and wary.

She didn't believe them - Norway realized, and she had good reason.

Lies always have a price, no matter what the reason.

But at the very least, Nutka chose to talk to them privately rather than publicly announce that they were liars. The female warrior was already much calmer than most barbarians.

Norway glanced at Scott, who hesitated for a moment and nodded.

At this point, there is nothing to hide.

"We do know. Norway whispered, "Remember I told you that the ice dragon was raised by humans?"

"Another lie!" Nutka roared, a look of anger on his face. She's come to give humans and elves a chance to prove themselves, and they're still lying to her!

But she couldn't help but think of Naria's words.

"He's my brother. ”

The human girl was stubborn, determined, but with a hint of sadness as if it was right in front of her eyes, and it didn't seem like lying.

"Not a lie. Scott spoke calmly: "His name is Is...... Isis Christus, I raised him. ”

“...... Why do you want to raise a dragon!"

Nutka involuntarily raised her voice.

Novi looked around quietly. A few savages looked at them suspiciously, but the wind was blowing behind them, and they were so scattered in the snow that no one should be able to hear what they were saying—except for Celebrian.

The Half-Elf Priest followed them a few paces behind, no emotion on his indifferent face. He probably knew more secrets than they did.

Scott didn't give Nutka any explanation, just walked in silence.

"He was a human baby...... "Noway had to explain for him, "no one knew he was a dragon." ”

It sounded more and more unbelievable, but Norvi's expression was extremely sincere. Nutka frowned in confusion and shook her head, deciding to give up dwelling on the question she couldn't figure out.

"But you know now!" she said angrily, "it attacked our camp and killed my father...... It's the same demon as the necromancers we're looking for!"

Scott stopped abruptly.

"They're different!"

He growled, his light blue eyes burning with rage.

What he meant was that we weren't sure that Is's did it. I told you there was another ice dragon, and that's not a lie. Somewhat reluctantly, Norway took on the role of appeasing the female warrior.

"What if that's what it did?!" Nutka asked without giving an inch.

Scott looked up, and for a moment Norway almost thought his eyes had turned a dazzling golden yellow.

The sun fell on his unusually bright eyes, but his face was pale and cold.

"I'll kill him. He spat out the phrase almost word for word, "I started it all, and I will end it all." ”

The look on his face made Nutka's heart suddenly twitch, and he didn't know what to say.

"I'll end it all. Scott repeated in a low voice. He almost blurted out another sentence, but finally swallowed it back.

- And you, and your people, had better stay away from him!