"Things are going like this for the time being, General. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ”

In Zaraha City, in the command room of the central hall, General Bernard, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Front with a tired face, was listening to a report from his own men. And for a period of time after the end of this sentence, this general, whose eyes were bloodshot and seemed to have not closed his eyes for a long time, did not say a word.

"They ......" for a long time, and then a very dry voice sounded from his mouth: "All dead?" ”

"Very few survived, General." The person who answered him said: "Many people are already in a weak state, so they ......"

General Bernard did not answer, but looked at him with some kind of inquiring look, and the latter hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head: "They...... Some people haven't eaten in days. ”

"Bastard!"

An angry roar suddenly came from this command post, and it was full of shocking roars, even the elite of the empire standing at the door and guarding couldn't help but tremble: "How many times have I told you!" This is a battle between the Empire and the Duchy, don't spread it to the civilians! You just don't listen! Well, now you dare to withhold even the rations that are distributed, you, what else do you dare not have, ah? ”

"You're dishonoring our empire! You are violating the will of Her Majesty Frey! You guys...... This is to lay the seeds for the future of the Empire! ”

The last few words were almost uttered by Bernard gritting his teeth, and his whole face became distorted after he had lost his usual serious expression: "Call Carias to me, I want to see who gave him such courage......"

"General."

The man standing next to him interrupted him in a low voice: "Carias can't be blamed alone, after all...... Our troops are now very strapped for their salaries, and since the city of Zaraha was occupied by us, it is close to the principality to the east...... There is no food left. ”

The man's voice became a little hurried: "This wilderness tactic practiced by Dusk has gradually taken effect, the empire has penetrated too far into enemy territory, Zaraha City is so far away from our homeland, the logistics are ...... There is no guarantee at all. ”

"In other words......" Bernard's voice became lowered: "We can't drag it out now?" ”

"There's no way around it, General." As the voice lowered, the man leaned his head over: "Your Majesty let us drag it down for the time being, and we can only drag it out like this, although the situation is getting a little worse now, but ......"

"Your Majesty's will, how can we not obey it."

"That message, and the decree that followed......" Bernard whispered, "what do you want to do?" Your Majesty......"

Silence permeated all corners of the command room, and it was not until a sonorous and heavy footsteps gradually approached that Bernard, who had regained his serious expression, seemed to wake up from deep thought: "How is the investigation going?" ”

"The previous conclusion cannot be overturned until there is other sufficient evidence." The man immediately replied, "But...... We have started a follow-up investigation to confirm that no more people are involved. ”

"No, don't look in that direction anymore." Bernard shook his head: "Those citizens have been taught a lesson, and their strength ...... I can't make any waves, I'm worried about other things. ”

"These days......" Remembering what the blue-robed woman said before leaving, Bernard's voice deepened again: "I always have a feeling of restlessness......"

"Report!"

Suddenly, the figure of a guard appeared outside the door: "General Combion Callogrenan, commander of the Snow Wolf Army, asks to see you." ”

"Let him in." Bernard said in a solemn voice, then turned to look at the guy who was reporting: "Morey, you go down first." ”

"Yes."

The guy known as Morey put away his report, saluted, and turned to walk out under Bernard's gaze, just in time to meet a stout Imperial general who had come in at the door. The man with the collar of his clothes about to be torn glanced at the man who walked out, and then straightened his body again: "Combien, the commander of the Snow Wolf Army, see Your Excellency!" ”

"What's the matter that you want to come and see me in person?"

"Uh......" The tiger's back collapsed suddenly: "That's right, this afternoon, a few adventurers broke into the left flank position we were guarding, and also broke into the temporary research room of Fredríguez......"

"What!" Bernard's face darkened: "Is it an adventurer from the principality?" ”

"Judging by the situation at the time, it should be."

Combion bowed his head and said, "One of them...... A sample was also taken. ”

"You ......"

The slender and serious figure was silent behind the table for a few seconds, and then stood up suddenly: "What do you all eat!" ”

In the command room of the central hall, a roar belonging to the commander-in-chief of the empire once again erupted.

****************************

The world was silent, the chaos was in front of me, and the blurry and illegible vision was gradually becoming clearer, but the process seemed to have gone through a long time, and it seemed that only a moment had passed—the concept of time seemed to disappear into consciousness, and finally, the fog-like feeling gradually disappeared, replaced by the gradual clarity of heaven and earth.

It's like waking up from a dream.

"Uhh......h

A subconscious moan came out of his mouth, and the focus of his pupils gradually converged on the top of his head, Duan Qing carefully recognized it, and then the word "ceiling" appeared in his mind. With a little force on his hand, he slightly confirmed his control of his body, then slowly got up, made a few snacks left and right, and then was a little sure that he didn't seem to be dead back to Tania City.

"Here...... It looks like a fortress. ”

The clean and tidy beds around him were scattered with some standard clothes belonging to the principality, as well as some white sheets and bedspreads that had not yet had time to be cleaned up, and the dim light shone into this room from his side, bringing light to this place at the same time, it also stretched Duan Qing's side-sitting figure very long. He thought about it carefully, and then remembered where this place was—he had been led here by the other party after discussing the mission with Colorful Aura yesterday, and it seemed that he had borrowed a wounded rescue room from Fars Fortress to rest for the night. I didn't expect such a place to be recorded by the system and become his rebirth point after his first death in the free world.

"Maybe it's because there's no one here."

Recalling the appearance of the makeshift hospital that looked like a public medical center he had seen when he was in Greenstone Village, Duan Qing shook his head with a wry smile before jumping out of bed. He didn't rush out of the room, but opened the system menu for the first time, and then checked his equipment up and down.

Thankfully, the huge long knife still hangs on his back.

"Whew...... Long live the Union. ”

Exhaling a long breath, Duan Qing smiled a little lightly - the severe injuries and unbearable pain that accompanied him for a period of time had also become a thing of the past with this death, and the various abnormal states that the system had marked for himself seemed to have all recovered. He moved his arms to make sure that his character attributes had returned to his usual state before pushing open the door in front of him and walking out of the room.

"However, such an experience ...... The less the better. ”

Perhaps because it was evening, there weren't many people in the fortress, both inside and outside. Through the walls of the fortress, Duan Qing did not hear the lively shouts that belonged to the players from outside the fortress gate in the past, and until he walked out of this place, the fortress guards who passed by him could be counted with one hand.

"Looks like everyone is busy......"

Talking to himself helplessly, Duan Qing came to the open-air square in the center of the fortress. Some players who went out early in the morning to adventure and complete the battlefield quest have already begun to rush back from the west side of the fortress one after another, some with every member of the team with a smile on their faces, and some with their heads down, probably because of the failure of the mission. Some of the fellows who knew each other also chatted with each other, and then walked in groups to the interior of the tavern, which was still makeshifted, to grab a place, or to sit down on the pergola near the square, and brag about their adventures. The NPC called the quartermaster by the colorful aura, the players around it have also begun to become more and more, presumably some guys who have completed the task can already find that person to claim their own rewards.

However, none of these things were Duan Qing's concerns. He straightened his hair, then walked straight to the west gate of the fortress.

In the dim vision, the setting sun gradually disappeared behind the gate that Duan Qing was looking at, and at the same time the shadow of this gate was over his head, he held the hilt of the short sword at his waist, and slowly leaned against the small door guarded by the captain known as Slanko, while checking back and forth the people who came in and out, hoping to find the figure he wanted to see. Perhaps because of the hour, the small door that kept players coming in and out was always open, and the loudest voice made by the bustling passers-by was the voice of the captain who came from outside the door.

"You guys! Don't linger here, go briskly......"

"Those guys over there! Don't think I don't know you, do you want to come in? You adventurers, even if you turn to ashes, I will recognize ......"

"Oh, dear Captain Nanami, you're finally back. How's it going, is today's mission still the same as ever? ”

"One, two, three...... How is there one person missing? Is it another death? ”

Frowning his brows, Duan Qing's attention was slightly attracted by these words, he looked at the disheveled figure in the middle of the principality guards on the other side of the small door, and shook his head secretly—this guy named Slanco Ferris seemed to have a great prejudice against adventurers, and judging from what Duan Qing heard while waiting here, this guy never hid his dislike for players, and he showed his sarcasm between the lines. Except for a few players who seemed to have a little friendship with Si Lanke, who were able to say hello to him when he entered the door, the rest of the adventurers who were originally very happy waved their legs and passed through the small door quickly, as if they were hiding something, and many players who had not succeeded in breaking through the level in the first place, the expressions on their faces became darker, making Duan Qing, who saw this scene in his eyes, shake his head in his heart, thinking that if the empire really fought one day, if the players remembered the hatred, That's really a sin that you did.

No matter how much you hate adventurers, they are a group of people who are helping the principality.

While thinking about it, the conversation in front of him continued: "Well, one of our teammates ...... to cover us."

"Okay, okay, don't talk about it, another one died, right? You adventurers, you are willing to go to the battlefield without any ability, and in the end you can't even run back, if you had replaced my soldiers, they would have all been saved a long time ago......"

Aren't the soldiers of your principality very good at running away......

The surrounding players frowned, cursed secretly in their hearts for a while, and then left separately. However, this was not what Duan Qing was thinking in his heart, and he even smiled, because the voice that replied was still relatively familiar to him.

"That...... We brought back a wounded. ”

In the midst of Captain Slanko's broken thoughts, the voice rang out again: "He claims to be a refugee who escaped from the city of Zaraha, and he is seriously injured......"

"What!"

Before the words fell, Captain Slanco, who was on the other side of the small door, suddenly shouted: "Refugees from the principality? Why so careless? Quick, you guys! Send him to Lena for treatment! ”

Amid the cacophony of hands and feet, the captain's shouting still did not stop: "How did you adventurers do it, you can't even protect the safety of a refugee?" Where are all the skills you usually brag about? If the MPs find out and pass the blame to the council, we're going to be unlucky, you know......"

"Hey, don't go too far." Another voice rang out: "We also worked hard to send people back, and even our teammates took a ......"

"So what, are your lives worth as much as these people's lives?"

As soon as these words came out, the players present looked in the direction of the captain in unison, and there was a certain unfriendly feeling in their eyes. Several Principality soldiers who were carrying the wounded were uncomfortable by these gazes, but the captain was unaware: "What are you looking at? An adventurer is an adventurer! When you become adventurers, you must have this kind of awareness......"

"Brother Aoyama!"

The voice of a young girl abruptly interrupted the conversation, echoing in the air inside and outside the small door.

Under the astonished gaze of the players and NPCs, a red-haired girl suddenly crossed the threshold of the small door, and then rushed to a player standing by the door with a smile. She looked at the other party with tears in her eyes for a while, and then the corners of her mouth deflated, and she threw herself into the man's arms with a "wow". (To be continued.) )