"Lord Lamar lodged a protest against us, their party had left behind many of their belongings because of the speed of their march, and after two camps, their remaining supplies were no longer enough to support all the retainers they carried......"

"Incompetence! I didn't see any of them during the battle, but when it was time to eat, I jumped out in a hurry...... What kind of faces did they make these demands on me? Let him fend for himself! ”

"Sirkardo's convoy also made a suggestion, and their convoy appeared to be in need of repairs, and Lord Sicaldo explained that the reason was that their carriage had been in a semi-dilapidated condition due to the lack of preparation......"

"Then leave them here and fix their own! Really...... How did these guys, who usually only know how to enjoy flowers and hunt, and have no grace and glory when they go on expeditions, become the nobles of the empire? ”

The small rose-colored carriage rested quietly in a clearing outside the city of Zaraha, next to it was a spacious and neat camp, and the door of the camp of the royal soldiers and the imperial guards of Zaraha City was also heard at the door of the camp of the eldest princess, and the dull figure of the princess walking back and forth in front of several imperial nobles: "Although I have long been prepared for the possible inferior qualities of these nobles that my father threw to me, But I didn't expect them to be able to do these most basic things well...... If we reach the principality like this, we will lose all the face of our empire! ”

"If it works, we can choose to leave these jagged entourage nobles here." Pointing to the city gate not far from the white tent, a middle-aged nobleman named Diploma whispered back to his top hat: "The defenses of Zaraha City are strong enough, coupled with the existence of Sky City...... Even if they leave us all behind, they shouldn't have a problem. ”

"That's not good, the Frey Empire's appointment papers still have their names on them." On the other side, an imperial aristocratic man with a slightly long face and a two-puff mustache then retorted mercilessly: "And to leave this group of incompetent people here to enjoy the blessings, wouldn't it be cheaper for this group of waste?" At least wait until negotiations with the principality begin, so that it would be more appropriate for them to act as cannon fodder first, right? ”

"Devil! You devil! Before the middle-aged nobleman could finish his words, Field Pamuel, who was sitting next to him, propped up his fat body: "What kind of attitude do you have?" You actually want to sacrifice our compatriots to the death of the principality? What is your heart? ”

"The useless Imperial aristocracy is naturally not qualified to be called the Imperial aristocracy - is this also something that the Chancellor of the Exchequer wants to oppose? Oh, I'm sorry, I should have called you the 'former' Chancellor of the Exchequer. ”

"Landnar! You bastard! You're provoking me, aren't you? ”

"You think that's it—what? You're going to duel with me? Do you have the guts to throw your own white handkerchief in front of me? ”

"You! You-"

"Okay, stop arguing."

Coldly dropping this sentence, Her Royal Highness Princess Rena, who was standing in the middle of the tent, said in a low voice, and then put on an indifferent expression on her body, which had stopped pacing back and forth, and looked at the two nobles who were about to fight with cold eyes and quieted down: "We are here to discuss the next move of the investigation team, not to find a place for you people to quarrel, the dispute between the Pamuel family and the Landnar family, you had better solve it by yourself at another time and place." ”

"If you have any difficulties, please report them immediately." Her voice paused for a moment, and her gaze full of majesty swept over the faces of the rest of the silent nobles present: "Marquis of Rhône? Do you have any questions over there? Count Duploma? ”

"If there are no other questions, let's start talking about the next step of the plan." She withdrew her gaze, and at the same time slowly sat back on the felt seat in the center of the tent, supported by the two attendants: "Lot." ”

“…… At. ”

Still wrapped in a large area of bandages, the great sword warrior named Lott slowly stood up from the corner of the tent when he heard the voice: "What does Your Highness command?" ”

"Don't be so polite, you're the captain of our convoy." Her voice softened a lot, and Rena, whose eyes were flickering, slowly pushed the long golden hair on her forehead a little: "Considering the series of events that have happened recently, there should be no one more vocal among these people present than you." ”

"Don't dare to be."

Still maintaining the salute of touching his chest with one hand, Lott hid his expression deeply: "Your Highness is the leader of this investigation team, and all the actions of this general are also in accordance with His Highness's will." ”

"As the heir to House Gloria, General Lott is simply a role model for the nobility of the Empire." Princess Rena's expression softened a little: "But what we need now is not your military character, you are now one of the imperial nobles invited to participate in this regular meeting, I hope you can stand in the position of helping this investigation team and speak freely in front of us." ”

"Then ...... Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness. ”

Slowly raising his head, Lot's voice relaxed slightly: "What does Your Highness want to ask?" ”

"About the culprits of the attack and how we responded afterwards...... I wonder what General Lott thinks? ”

Leaning back slightly, Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, who put her fingers on her chin, inadvertently showed her mature body: "Should we continue as planned, or should we rest here for a few days as suggested by His Excellency Diproma?" ”

"The purpose of the Imperial Investigation Team is to go to the Duchy of Elnifia to investigate the attack on His Royal Highness Prince Chris." The salute did not change at all, and Lot, who ignored the change in the atmosphere in the tent, replied without humility or arrogance: "Three days have passed since the news, and the safety of His Highness Chris is still uncertain......

"It seems that the Admiral is supporting the side that leaves for Tania as soon as possible." Count Dupromar, who was sitting on the side, said in a low voice: "What a strange ...... I heard that you and His Royal Highness Chris seemed to have some conflicts when they were in Tanzanian City, which also indirectly led to the result that you were finally escorted back to the imperial capital, why are you starting to think about Chris now? ”

"At this time and that time, my opinion of His Highness Chris is just a little personal opinion as a nobleman, and now that I have become the general of the Rock Bear Army and the escort leader of the investigation team, of course, I must fulfill my due responsibility."

"Your Excellency the General really has a lofty vision, and there is a clear distinction between public and private."

Turning her gaze away from the position of Her Royal Highness Princess Rena's increasingly shining gaze, Diproma shook her head again: "Then from the perspective of the Guardian Commander, let's answer this question for us—if we set off now, what is the probability that we will be attacked?" ”

"Ben knows what you're worried about, but it's not really Ben's responsibility." Slowly straightening his body, Lott gradually shifted his gaze to the foreign secretary: "The general's duty is to guard, no matter what enemy comes to attack, the general is confident that he can drive them back, but if you let the future analyze the possibility of being attacked...... I'm afraid I'll encroach on the rest of you. ”

"The general doesn't have to excuse himself, I'm afraid there is no one more suitable to answer this question than the general." Waving her hand, Rena's gaze also became expectant: "As the head of the investigation team, I also hope to be able to understand the possibility of this risk, and I hope that the general, Your Excellency Lot, can do his best to assist and maintain the safety of me and the entire investigation team." ”

"It's not like I'm shirking, it's just that people have been deliberately ignoring it." There was a slight silence for a while, and then Lot, with his hands arched, turned and replied, "To answer this question, it is enough to find out the identity of the attackers and what they want to achieve, and this question-"

"This adventurer who just arrived should know a little better than me."

He turned sideways, and then showed the figure of a gray-robed magician who was gradually approaching the outside of the tent in front of everyone.

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

“…… Call. ”

In the evening of this day, countless caravans and players kept coming and going at the gate of Zaraha City, and Gedmayne, who had been waiting for a long time at the edge of a small camp, then clapped his hands, and at the same time showed a little smile at Duan Qing, who was walking slowly: "How is the situation?" ”

"It's better not to participate in this kind of meeting in the future."

With a look of deep exhaustion on his face, Duan Qing, who dragged his steps back to the camp, replied in a low voice, "If it weren't for the presence of our dear Lord Lot, this regular meeting would have turned into a judgment meeting against myself. ”

"No way, who let them identify you as a direct agent in the attack." Gedmayne shook his head, "Did you explain it to them?" ”

"I just described how we were attacked yesterday and told them the name Ivorst by the way." Sitting on the edge of the tent, Duan Qing spread his hands and replied, "As for whether they know the identity of this Ivoste, and whether they can recognize the power behind him...... That's not something I can control. ”

"According to our lords, we are the target of that mysterious enemy." Gedmane lowered his arms: "Ambiguous statements are sometimes good for both sides, otherwise let alone explain, our survival will probably become a big problem." ”

"Ivorst will definitely be back."

The voice became low again, and Duan Qing's eyes who were sitting on the ground gradually became serious: "Her Royal Highness the eldest princess and those imperial nobles are considering the possibility of leaving immediately, and those hidden attackers are also one of the key factors in whether we leave Zaraha City immediately, if Ivorst really brings reinforcements that can deal with Violet and attack this convoy again...... We may really not be able to handle it. ”

"So what do you want to do? Quietly leaving the team with the team? Gedmane rolled his eyelids, "What did that Princess Rena say?" ”

"She asked me a bunch of questions, including our relationship with the Centefinger Crane." Touching his nose, Duan Qing squeezed his eyebrows as if he sensed something: "Speaking of which, that guy is also one of the 'attackers', although I haven't fully explained the relationship between us, but at least Her Royal Highness the Princess shouldn't find any other faults in that girl...... That's right. ”

"Where's she?" After looking around the tent left and right, Duan Qing's face gradually became puzzled: "Is it really a split relationship with us?" Not even coming back? ”

"But the boss of the Mage Council who claimed that he must squeeze into our team, how could he give up so easily."

With a slight sigh, Gedmayne then pointed in a certain direction within Zaraha City, "Don't forget that Sky City is above her head now, and she should also go back to the Mage Council headquarters to report on her work...... Ah, there's more. ”

"She said if you come back early, make sure you report to the temporary station." Speaking of this, the Great Shield Warrior then showed a strange smile: "Say that there is also an impromptu meeting of theirs there......"

"Another meeting? Is there an end? ”

Glaring at his eyes, Duan Qing's wail sounded next to the small camp: "If I am interrogated again, I will really die!" ”

The complaint did not get any response, and the gray-robed figure belonging to Duan Qing then appeared in the center of the crowd at the gate of Zaraha City with slow steps, and the shadow stretched by the evening sunset then wandered for a while, and came to the front of an old hut that did not look very lively. Some players and natives of the free world who were also wandering here were also looking at the door of the hut in front of them with tangled and expectant eyes at this time, and then shook their heads and left in the fruitless result, Duan Qing, who was dragging his heavy steps up the steps, then ignored the eyes of these people like fools, and reached out and knocked on the wooden door that looked extremely old: "Is anyone there?" ”

"Today's qualification is over." A vague answer followed: "I won't accept any more new business." ”

"That...... I'm not here to do anything. Duan Qing scratched his head with some embarrassment: "Someone informed me that there was a meeting here, saying that I was asked to participate......

Airplanes.

A subtle magical resonance then sounded in front of Duan Qing, accompanied by the picture of the wooden door suddenly opening inward driven by magical energy, and a magician who poked his head out then looked Duan Qing's face up and down, and then took his body in an orthodox magic uniform back abruptly.

"Come in."