The mountainous and rugged plateau is the most barren and inhospitable part of the northeastern continent of Eldland, and it is well known that the mountainous land is not suitable for farming, and the closed transportation not only affects the economic development, but also seriously hinders cultural exchanges with the outside world, and many people living in the deep mountains still live a primitive life in isolation.

Religion belongs to the ignorant backward ********, the more ignorant people are, the more people pursue the ethereal spiritual sustenance, personal belief is free, but it does not mean that any faith is positive, there is light and darkness, faith itself has an extremely strong emotional color, once faith goes to the extreme, it is easy to lose human reason, unimaginable criminal behavior will give birth to countless human tragedies.

Cults are terrifying, and people who have been deeply bewitched by cults are still on top of terror.

And the three villages that this trial mission called for annihilation are typical examples of completely incorrigible influences under the influence of the cult.

Human sacrifice.

Every year on the eve of summer, the people of the village choose a maiden who is in the flowering season, and they dress her in the most beautiful clothes, enjoy the most sumptuous food, bestow the most precious gifts, and provide the most comfortable service. Then, in the sacrificial bonfire feast, the maiden will ride on a purple and red sedan chair, and the four strongest sedan chair bearers will be sent into the blazing flames of the bonfire. Offering their most feared gods to bless the safety of the villagers and the probability of a boy being born.

Willy and the others had finally improved after the robber attack, at least they knew how to investigate and understand in detail beforehand, and when they heard about the trial village, everyone was indignant, no wonder the Holy Church would give them such a cruel task.

"Let's talk about everyone's opinions."

In a wooded area only half a day away from the trial village, Willy gathered his team to sit in a path shortly after Ralph, who was in charge of the reconnaissance, returned.

"Foolishness! Stupidity! Very foolish! Connell said angrily.

"According to our previous investigation, the reason why the villagers sacrificed people alive is nothing more than the fact that the birth rate of boys in the village has become lower and lower in recent years, and in the long run, it is likely that the entire village will cease to exist, and as a result, the evil cult has taken advantage of the situation and caused today's situation." Corrett calmly analyzed the inside of the village and said: "The strange thing is that since the villagers started the sacrificial ceremony, the number of males born in the village has obviously increased year by year, which shows that there must be something strange in it. ”

"I have inquired with people in the neighborhood about the history of these villages, and they have the impression that in the past, the birth rate of men and women in these villages was quite even, and it was not until more than 20 years ago that this changed." Ralph said in a deep voice: "At that time, the villagers initially thought that it was a problem of intermarriage between close relatives, so for a period of time, the village sent a lot of women of the right age to go out to borrow seeds, but the result was very little, and the villagers who fell into panic immediately began to try various solutions in a panic, but unfortunately, they all failed. Later, I don't know what happened, these villages gradually cut off communication with the outside world, and if it wasn't for the fact that the mountain hunters accidentally discovered the cult rituals in the villages and the ins and outs of the matter, otherwise the people would still be in the dark. ”

"I think the problem of the birth rate of men and women in these villages is definitely a cult person playing tricks in the dark." Connell cut the railroad.

"Even if that's the case? The more normal the birth rate of boys in the village, the more convinced the villagers are of the cult's demagogy, and this is something we have absolutely no way to change. Corette shook his head and sighed.

"What if we solved the problem of male and female birth rates in the villages?" Willie frowned. "Once we cut off the source of the villagers' belief in the cult, we will certainly change the situation of the entire village."

"Willy, have you forgotten that the requirement of our trial mission is to destroy the village instead of saving it?" Ralph spoke up.

"I ...... I just don't want innocent blood on my hands. Willy said after a moment of silence.

"Me too." Connell chimed in. "So I agree with Willy."

"If you can think of this, won't the Templars think of it?" Ralph said mercilessly, "But why does the Templar still require us to carry out destruction instead of salvation?" This shows that the Templars have given up on the salvation of these villages altogether. ”

"Maybe this is the hidden test that the Templar has given us?" Willie didn't back down. "The Templars have never been executioners who only know how to order killing!"

"Let's wait for our on-the-spot investigation to decide." Corlett spoke out in time to interrupt the two sides of their respective arguments.

Since Barbane's death and Green's departure, the trial team, which is no longer complete, has been in a depressing atmosphere, and the restlessness under the suppression is like a volcano that could erupt violently at any time. Unless it is for the trial task, and only sincere cooperation can complete the task, no one wants to stay in this environment and suffer.

Although Willy had rescued and taken care of them, this kindness was naturally unforgettable, but it did not mean that they had to obey Willy because of this. Everyone has their own thoughts, everyone has their own positions and concepts, maybe they are usually low-key, once there is a contradiction of different opinions, they will be more stubborn and resolute than ever.

For example, the little-spoken Ralph, who would have thought that he was actually an extremely radical and extreme person, and when it came to the question of the trial mission, his answer was only one word, kill!

No one knew why he was so unusual, maybe it was Barbene's death, maybe it was Green's deeds, maybe it was his own nature that he could no longer hide.

Lack of communication is only one of the factors in most closed regions, and fear of changing habits is the main reason.

Arun Village, an unremarkable village name.

When the team successfully arrived at the first target village in the trial mission, they quickly hid in the mountains and forests outside the village to carefully observe the appearance of the village.

The village is not large, surrounded by high wooden walls, the land is flat, the houses are like houses, the roads are staggered, and you can see villagers walking and going everywhere, except for the darker skin and fewer men, no matter how you look at it, it is a common ordinary village in the mountains.

The team members regrouped after their observations, as it was necessary for them to discuss their next steps.

"What do we do now?" A bewildered Connell was the first to ask.

"When the night gets dark, sneak in and kill them all." Ralph said coldly.

"We can't find anything from the periphery, so why don't we send two people to sneak into the village at night to investigate before making a decision?" Willie didn't bother to pay attention to Ralph's behavior of shouting and shouting at every turn, and asked directly to the calm Korret.

"It's a good idea." Corette nodded approvingly, and then said to Ralph with a gloomy face, "If we still haven't investigated the situation in the village, then we can only do what Ralph wants, after all, there is not much time left for us to test the trial." ”

“…… All right! Seeing that Collet, who was in a neutral position, was a little biased towards Ralph, Willy had no choice but to reluctantly accept it. But I had to be among the people to investigate. ”

"Then let Connell go with you, Ralph and I will stay here for the time being." Corrett agreed to Willy's request.

"Without further ado, let's sneak into the village tonight, Connell, and I'll get ready." Willie didn't say anything more, but greeted Connell, and then quickly packed his bags.

"Oh......"

Connell looked at the indifferent Corret, and then at the expressionless Ralph, and he wondered why the person Corrett called was not the most adventurous Ralph but him. He didn't think much about it, and soon followed Willy busy with preparations.

When night fell, the deep mountain forest was filled with an indescribable strange terror, and the hazy purple moon hid in the floating clouds from time to time, bringing a deep darkness to the earth.

"Treasure, stay safe! Exit as soon as danger arises, and we will be out there to meet you. ”

As he said goodbye, Corrett patted Willy and Connell on the shoulders and reminded him with a serious expression.

"Don't worry, I'm also a person who has died half of my life, and I won't give away the other half of my life here easily." Willie smiled lightly, and then slipped into the night without looking back.

Looking at the backs of the two leaving, Corette and Ralph stared for a long time, and after a while, someone broke the silence.

"Corlett! You really shouldn't agree with him. ”

"If I agree with your idea, do you think Willie and Connell will agree?" Corrett sighed.

"At least we're still operating as a collective, not taking risks out of the collective like he is now!" Ralph said hatefully.

"It's not your style to persuade someone not to take risks from the mouth of an adventurous person." Corrett seemed to joke.

"I like to take risks, but I don't like other people to take risks, my life is mine, but other people's lives are not mine." Ralph took a deep breath and said, "Do you understand this?" ”

"It's a bit overbearing." Corrett said.

"I'm not a domineering person, Green is." Ralph was silent for a moment, saying a name that was taboo to everyone.

"Indeed." Corette smiled bitterly and said, "Even if I still can't understand him now." ”

"Maybe he doesn't need other people's understanding, he just needs to do it himself." Ralph Road.

"I remember you didn't like to talk before, why did you talk so much after that incident? Even people have changed. Corrett said.

"When there is someone like you but stronger than you, do you think I need to speak?" Ralph Road.

"It's not necessary." Corette said thoughtfully: "Now I understand your change, it turns out that Green has always been a shackle on your head. (To be continued.) )