"Name. ”

A soft breeze rose from the dark room, and from that man's mouth came a cold like winter.

"Carl Colin!"

The Preparatory Night's Watchman, who was standing behind Ruth Infinit, stood up sharply and spoke quickly.

He knew that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"You are an East Sakrand native, and the only son of Baron Colin. Rutte Infinit turned around, his eyes like a flare of the sun, and looked up and down the night watchman with "enthusiasm", a smile of appreciation on his lips.

But it's not looking at people, it's more like looking at an object.

"Carl Colin... What is the purpose of joining the Night's Watch?"

The night watchman did not hesitate to speak: "For the glory of the Empire, for the glory of the Heavenly Dome and de Salion!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw that the smile on the corner of Ruth Infinit's mouth was getting bigger, and there was a hint of sarcasm.

"Well, you're a little nervous right now. Ruth Infinit smiled gently: "It's understandable, so I'll give you two more chances... I'm going to be honest. ”

Carl Colin shuddered.

"I... I am for the sake of the family, for the revival of the family. The anxious night watchman twitched his throat fiercely: "The Colin family has been in decline for a hundred years, and it is very costly to regain its glory, so it can only rely on the wealth and power of the Heavenly Dome Palace and the Night's Watch......"

The mild-mannered leader of the Night's Watch raised his hand to stop him, and just as he was about to speak, he chuckled:

"You still have... One last chance. ”

Hearing this, Carl Colin lowered his head suddenly.

But Ruth Infinit did not stop, but continued to look at him with great admiration:

"Your cousin's wife is your childhood sweetheart... I like her, but I don't dare to open my mouth, because your family is so bad that you can't even afford a wedding banquet, right?"

The eyelids of the night watchman who bowed his head twitched, and a bad premonition welled up in his heart.

"Your family owes a lot of debts, all because of the framing of your cousin's family, your father died depressed because your uncle, your cousin's father, took away the position of garrison officer, and your mother's marriage to your father was part of your cousin's family's plan, and she no longer secretly handed over your father's information and illegal evidence to her family all the time. ”

"Oh, your mother's death has nothing to do with you, but I guess when she was inspired by the Lord, you... Well, I'm sure that the child who wept on his mother's coffin wouldn't have the thrill of 'revenge', right?"

"Puff ——!"

Carl Colin fell to his knees, his body trembling, and cold sweat poured out of his forehead like water.

"Now, honest Carl Colin, tell me what exactly you're for. The gentle voice sounded again: "Tell the truth, and I will grant your wishes." ”

"I ......"

"Revenge on my cousin's family? No, no, no, no... You're a smart kid, otherwise I wouldn't have let you be here. Ruth Infinit shook his head:

"You know, my cousin's family is also just a pawn to be used, and the real mastermind behind it is someone who wants to exclude your family and want the people you like to occupy those positions... You're gifted, and you've dug up the outside line that your cousin's family is actually the Night's Watch. ”

"Tell me, Carl Colin;"

"Tell me that this faithful, simple and honest boy who is loyal to me before me approaches my purpose......"

"To kill me one day, and then ......"

“...... Fill somebody's shoes. ”

"Ah——!!!!h

With a scream, Carl Colin awoke from his nightmare.

The bandages that covered the whole body, the quilt that covered the body, were soaked in cold sweat.

In a trance, he could only see himself lying in a ward-like place, and a figure was sitting in front of him, smiling vaguely at him.

It also emits a gentle tone.

"Carl Colin?"

"Ah——?!h

"Lowe, Loren Duke of Turin?"

"Don't move, your body hasn't recovered yet, and you need to recuperate. Loren, who was a little puzzled by the other party's reaction, could only keep smiling: "Master Ashamai has just changed the medicine for you, and the wound has not completely healed. ”

"This is a room of the Wizards' Guild - there are too many wounded to arrange a ward for you, so I have to put it here, well, next to it is the laboratory and the alchemist's material room, which is also convenient for care and treatment. ”

Body wounds?

Carl Colin was stunned for a moment, then understood.

By the way, his legs and left hand had been cut off by the elf girl.

The witcher's eyes darkened.

"Y-How many days have I been asleep?" said Carl Colin, shaking his head vigorously.

"Three days, oh... It was the third day that didn't count that night. Loren looked at him calmly: "Master Ashamai arrived in time, and even the other two recruits with the Wings of the Firmament were also saved, otherwise it would ......"

He didn't go on.

Carl Colin already knows the answer.

Have three days passed since that night?

The sudden appearance of the elven assassin almost turned the entire Red Blood Castle upside down, and mourned everywhere - the court of the lord of Byrne and the cathedral of Byrne were almost attacked by the three elves together.

This is undoubtedly a slap in the face for the entire Byrne!

It's been three years... It has been three years since Byrne was reunited since the expulsion of the Governor, during which Byrne destroyed the Centaur tribe in the east and the dwarven capital Cloud Peak in the south.

It can be said that Byrne in the past three years, especially the demon hunters in the Wings of the Firmament, is full of confidence in himself, and even quite complacent, thinking that he is almost "second only to the Duke".

How proud the witcher is, how hard he falls this time!

Except for a very small number of experienced veterans, there is no room for resistance in one-on-one combat against the elven warriors, and it is difficult to stalemate with the opponent even by relying on the advantage of numbers, relying on the alchemy equipment on his body and the support of the accompanying wizards at any cost.

In order to prevent them from losing their lives in vain, the Duke could only choose to forbear and reach a compromise with the Assassins, and let the Assassins who had broken through the palace gates and churches and killed them calmly.

It's a great shame for Byrne.

...... yourself, too

Carl Colin sighed deeply, tiredly supporting his body with his remaining right hand, and barely sat up.

"That's... Circumstance... What happened in the end?"

He didn't know if he should ask this or not—the wrecks who had lost their left legs, the witchers and the night watchmen wouldn't want it, would they?

"The cathedral was preserved, thanks to Mentor Dalton. Noticing the change in the other party's expression, the impassive Loren said softly, "Not only that, but I also captured a 'Royal Court' elven warrior. ”

"The fallen Witcher recruit has also been properly buried - to the outside, it is said that he was the first to discover the Assassins, and was tragically killed in a dastardly sneak attack during the battle with the Assassins. Loren shrugged and smiled:

"I robbed you of the credit, there will be no opinion, right?"

Carl Colin shook his head, of course he knew this kind of thing.

"Finally... The captain of the Red Blood Keep Guard, Euron Eckert is dead - looking at the scene, he should have been killed by the sneak attack of the elven boy who escaped on the way to support the cathedral. The black-haired wizard silently:

"The son of Earl Eckert, Castle of Fury, who fell to his death from a hunting horse long ago; He is his only direct heir. ”

Before the words fell, Carl Colin's body trembled violently, lowered his head, and unconsciously grasped the quilt with his right hand.

Euron Eckert knew him, and knew better that the other party was a close confidant of Countess Charlotte - a simple and brave stupid big man, an honest man who knew his identity but remained the same, and never looked the other way.

He is dead, and he is still alive.

Because she was seriously injured at the time, there was no one at Countess Charlotte's side;

Because he only saw one assassin, he misjudged the form.

"I just went to see Count Eckert yesterday, and it seemed like I was suddenly ten years old. As if he hadn't noticed, Loren continued: "At his age, it's not realistic to have children... The direct line of Anger Castle Eckert is likely to be severed from now on. ”

With his head bowed deeply, the witcher's shoulders shook violently.

"Still, we're not completely without gains. The black-haired wizard barely showed a smile on his face: "It took a year to dig out the elven intelligence network in the principality and capture an elven warrior captive, which can be regarded as a blessing in misfortune." ”

"Oh, we've also gotten our hands on the elven intelligence networks of the remaining principalities, and sent a few witchers to send the information out - better than nothing, but... Maybe it can be of a little use, after all, the other party can't just be for assassination, it's probably for the next step......"

"Why?" Karl Colin, with his head down, interrupted suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Why are you talking to me about this?" Raising his gaze, his dim pupils met the black-haired wizard's, "Now I... You don't need to know that anymore. ”

"Really?" Loren raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't it?" snorted, the witcher's words tinged with self-deprecation.

The black-haired wizard hugged his shoulders and sighed, "It's not up to me, it's up to you to decide; ”

"But... Carl Colin, I'll keep my promise to heal your legs by any means. ”

"Maybe it's expensive, maybe it's not very good. ”

"But I'll try, as long as you still want to, and I still have the means, I'll keep trying. ”

"It's not to force or coerce you, it's not to make you pay anything, I'll do what I promised, and whether you get up and leave or stay... That's your choice. ”

Carl Colin froze.

For a moment, he suddenly wanted to laugh - because he couldn't tell the difference between the Loren Turin in front of him and the Lut Infinit who left him back then.

What difference does it need to make?

"Didn't I answer this question to you three years ago?" Carl Colin, who lowered his head, showed an indifferent smile at the corner of his mouth:

"You say... Our allegiance is not just to Byrne, not to you, but to fight for the entire Empire, and for every living person within the Empire;"

"You told us why... Even if not all, it gives us a choice;"

"If I had to choose a reason to die, it wouldn't be the best one, but it would be unique. Carl Colin looked at Loren with burning eyes:

"So if you think I should keep fighting, and keep fighting... Then I'll do that. ”

"Until the day you don't need me for you anymore!"

The voice is sonorous and powerful.

"I see. Loren sighed softly: "Lori Zade... Oh, it's that elven girl, her knife seems to contain some kind of special 'curse' - your legs and hands are still intact, but they are completely 'dead', so I can only consider giving you a new prosthetic leg. ”

"It just so happens that both the Ebolden and the Silverhelm Mountain Dwarves have this technology in their hands, and Master Ashmai believes that both options have merit, and the new product is still in the experimental stage...... Carl Colin, maybe you'll be able to experience this 'timeless' new creation for yourself right away, and no one will recognize you!"

Loren couldn't help but make a joke.

It's not funny at all, though.

"Knock knock. ”

There was a soft knock on the door, and the iron-faced Lusen was already standing outside the door at some point.

Carl Colin lay down silently and "cooperatively", and the black-haired wizard got up and walked to the door.

"There's news from Poi, Lothair, and Ellemont. The gray-eyed boy got straight to the point, and there was no nonsense at all:

"Arles, East Sackland, Ebolden, and the Oldwood Forest are either too far away, or our men can't penetrate them, so we'll have to wait a few more days. ”

"As for the imperial capital... There is so much false information that it is difficult to tell whether it is true or false, and there are only some unreliable rumors. ”

Loren heard his voiceover: "So... No good news?"

The gray-eyed boy shook his head.

"To what extent?"

"It's hard to describe, but... If you use the analogy of war......" Lusen swallowed his saliva and said with great difficulty:

"At most, it's a draw. ”

The black-haired wizard was silent.

It can be seen that Lusen has said that the result has been said to the good side as much as possible... In other words, I'm afraid for now......

Without saying a word, Lusen took out a letter directly from his clothes, the parchment envelope was almost soaked with the color of blood plasma, and only the words "urgent" and "confidential" could be faintly seen.

"Sent from Ellemont - the courier was ambushed halfway through, just in time to be met by the witcher on the other side who was returning from his mission... Only the letter was returned. The gray-eyed boy pursed the corners of his mouth, desperately trying to contain the anger in his heart, not letting it affect his sanity.

"What you want... It's all in there. ”