The East of the Free Continent is teemed with pirates - something that almost all players in this era know, except that in their eyes, the guys who spend their days in tattered sailor suits and machetes burning and looting everywhere are just a bunch of monsters that send experience in front of them every day. Although today, when players ask any of the natives in Liberty City for news, they will get a reply such as "pirates are terrible, and pirates are the biggest threat to this city", judging from the fact that the major guilds that stay here organize activities every day to encircle and suppress those guys, it seems that if you want to make a fortune and make a lot of money in this city, eating and sleeping and fighting pirates seems to be a very easy project.

But that's only for the Great Guild, and it's ...... They fought almost exclusively on land.

"With the player's current level of shipbuilding and naval warfare, encountering pirates in the sea is almost always slaughtered." Teacher Zhou Xue said in a low voice: "I don't know if they have any ability bonuses at sea, or if those guys have any special skills." ”

"So we're just waiting for them to get off the ship?"

"Yes, that's the safest way."

Squatting on the bank of the river farthest from the mouth of the sea, several people hiding behind the rocks were discussing their next plans with each other: "Although there are only five of us, as long as we cooperate properly, it should not be a problem to kill a few pirates, if you are lucky...... Maybe we might be able to snatch one of their boats. Not to mention how many treasures there are on it, even if you sell the whole ship......"

"I said, will you sail?"

"Uh...... Forget it, let's leave that alone. ”

Slightly embarrassed to ignore Tian Xingjian's question, Teacher Zhou Xue leaned out half of his body again, and did not retract his gaze for a long time: "If I remember correctly, this flag should represent the Soyani Pirate Regiment, their skulls with two chains on their heads, and a small flower......"

"Hey, what's the point of figuring out who they are?"

"At least we can weigh their strength."

Turning around and pointing to their north, Teacher Zhou Xue replied to Duan Qing in a low voice: "The closer you get to the three areas in the north, the more rampant pirates are there, so many players are already stationed there, and they are fighting pirates every day. Not only can the pirates' supplies be seized there, but the heads can also be exchanged for rewards for nearby battlefield merchants, but because there are no resurrection points, if you weigh your own skills wrongly, you will be accidentally sent back...... That's a bit more than worth the loss. ”

"Over time, the people there have become more familiar with the names of these pirates and their corresponding strengths." He smiled a little helplessly: "You can put it there...... Think of it as a special battlefield dungeon. ”

“…… Lao Zhou is so familiar with there, could it be that he used to mix there? ”

"No, I'm hearsay, too."

Returning his gaze to the sail in the distance, Teacher Zhou Xue, who was called Old Zhou by Duan Qing, replied in a low voice: "Correspondingly, I don't know much about the strength represented by these flags, but ......"

"I haven't heard much about the deeds of Soyani in front of me, so I should ...... It's not a great pirate group. ”

The canvas and flags that were blown by the wind became bigger and bigger in front of their eyes, and gradually sailed into the range of the Hongshui River, and as several boats approached, the figures standing on the boats and running back and forth began to gradually become clear, they shouted and shouted at each other, moving the things on it from time to time, and at the same time, the high singing mixed with the sound of breaking waves reached the ears of Duan Qing and others. Several people quietly looked at those enemies who were more than ten times their size, and involuntarily grabbed their weapons, and those pirates who were in a certain state of excitement didn't seem to notice Duan Qing's existence, but just sang loudly and didn't know what to do, and then showed the figures of huge ships from different distances in front of them, first large and then small.

They slowly drove past the shore where Duan Qing was, heading in the direction the river had come.

"They...... Didn't you come to fight Liberty City? ”

Slowly letting go of his hands that had been soaked in sweat, Tian Xingjian, who was holding the long sword, quietly stretched out his head: "How did you go upstream?" ”

"The Hongshui River is the longest river in the Free Continent, so here we are...... Ships like theirs can be allowed to pass. Teacher Zhou Xue lowered his head and analyzed: "The farthest distance...... I guess it's to the place where the garrison is strongholding, and the river channel is not so wide and the water depth is much worse......"

"In other words, they're going to attack the garrison fortress?" Duan Qing asked.

"How is it possible, that place is now abandoned, let alone a person, not even a ghost can be found." The frying pan crouched beside him replied in a muffled voice: "If it is a whole army, it is possible to use that place as a stronghold, but there are dozens of pirates in these few ships...... What can they do? ”

"There's no point in guessing these things, after all, we don't know the other party's purpose yet." Teacher Zhou Xue immediately stopped talking: "Hurry up and decide...... Shall we just let them go, or will we continue to follow? ”

"Hmm...... There are only two of them, and the goal is not the Free City, but the strength...... We will not be afraid of them. ”

"But people are driving boats, can we catch up with them with two feet?"

"They're going upstream, they can't go fast, and their destination is probably ahead, so we don't have to run long......"

"Okay, good, you're right, I hope the final result ...... You can do what you think. ”

"If you don't have any confidence in yourself, won't you just snatch it up and die in a while? Don't show yourself around town, we'll get back to you......"

"Go, go, hurry up, if this ticket is done, we may be able to eat for a whole month."

"Pay attention to the words, we are law-abiding young people, this trip is to punish pirates, not to rob ......"

Seeing that the boats were far away, the three guys who were talking to each other slapped their bodies and stood up, and the leading guy among them waved his hand forward, and then as if he remembered something, he scratched his head and turned back and asked, "Ah, Brother Qingshan...... You're going to go with it, right? ”

"Of course."

Glancing in the direction where the cloak woman was, Duan Qing smiled and nodded: "Such a big bargain......"

"Why don't we make it, do we?"

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

Things turned out as Lao Zhou had predicted, and it didn't take long for them to stop in front of a grove on the bank of the river, because the ships flying the pirate flags had already stopped at the edge of the river there. Under the command of several of the leaders, they quickly removed the ship's crates off deck, and then, with the characteristic high-pitched air of a pirate, swooped down into the woods. The flow of the waves and the collision of magical elements from time to time are like a high wind in autumn, quietly beating the surrounding leaves, but the restored calm cannot hide the arrival of those uninvited guests, but the players who have been watching this picture do not pay attention to the boats at this time: "It seems...... They're a group of delivery people. ”

"Pirates are actually talking about business? Could it be some big guy in Liberty City? ”

"If they're going to sell the stolen goods, Liberty City is certainly the best option, but if it's these pirates...... Wouldn't it be better to go by sea? ”

Among the few people who hid behind the tree again, Teacher Zhou Xue, who was holding his arm, guessed in a low voice: "The sea is their territory, whether it is the caravan in the city, it depends on their faces when they enter and exit." If this gang really has some useless goods that they want to sell to us, and they can't just trade it at sea, why go to such trouble to transport it to land and run to our home turf? ”

"Probably no one dares to eat their food at sea." Duan Qing replied in a low voice: "If I were a merchant, I wouldn't dare to trade with pirates at sea, what if they turned their faces and didn't recognize anyone, and simply robbed me?" ”

“…… It makes sense, but it doesn't yet make it a reason for them to run to land on their own initiative. ”

Teacher Zhou Xue shook his head and said: "The victories in the previous pirate wars were almost all achieved on land, and for the land environment, these guys should be very afraid of ......."

"There is no fear that profit cannot overcome." Duan Qing replied, "As long as there is money to be made...... These difficulties are nothing. ”

"Hmm......"

A few fine lights flashed in his eyes, and Teacher Zhou Xue's eyes finally left the few boats, and then looked into the depths of the woods in the direction where the pirates disappeared before: "That is to say...... What are those things worth a lot? ”

"Unless there's a reason why they have to, it's going to be very valuable." Duan Qing replied in a muffled voice, "But...... I won't believe a large deal and say that no one will answer it. ”

“…… Let's follow it up first. ”

Seeing Teacher Zhou Xue's face groaning again, Tian Xingjian on the side took the lead in shouldering his long sword: "Let's take a look at the situation first, it's not a way to spend it here." ”

"He's thinking about snatching a boat and leaving." The frying pan snorted and replied, "But...... Let's not talk about the difficulty of these boats, even if they get to the city...... I'm afraid I can't handle it. ”

"yes, yes, we have to take those skeleton flags down first, or we won't even be able to enter the harbor."

"The most important thing is that it's not worth a few bucks, these sails look very old, probably this pirate has no skills, so there is no money to renovate and repair it......"

"Okay, okay, you don't need to hint at each other's strength."

Teacher Zhou Xue frowned and interrupted the muttering words of the two people, and finally showed a funny expression: "Then ...... Let's go ahead first, meet the Soyani pirates for a while, it's a big deal to die and go back to the city, and then drink the Northwest Wind ...... today."

"Where is it as serious as you say." Duan Qing replied in a low voice: "No matter how bad it is, you can bring back two heads and exchange them for some of the rewards you said, right?" ”

"Changing heads is a reward unique to battlefield dungeons, and this has never been promised here here in Free City."

Glancing back at Duan Qing, Teacher Zhou Xue dragged up his weapon: "The city lord of the Free City is a master who will never take care of things, and the citizens of the Free City ......"

"I never look for adventurers when I have difficulties."

With the player's unique approach, it didn't take much effort for a few people to find the unconcealed traces of the pirates, and then, with the help of these traces, they made their way through the middle of this unknown wild forest. The rocky hillside immediately appeared in the wilderness on the other side of the woods, accompanied by large and small dirt slopes surrounding them, Duan Qing, who had better eyesight, stared for a while, and finally took the lead in spotting the movement in the distance: "Over there, there is a figure over there." ”

"No need to hide, they shouldn't find out." Teacher Zhou Xue immediately gave an order: "Go, follow." ”

"Anyway, this place...... You should be in the northwest of Liberty City, right? What are they doing here? ”

"Is there anything around here that is suitable for delivery?"

"I don't know...... Well, that canyon should be very close from here, probably a little south......"

"And the Andacel Mountains, where you can see some of the silhouettes...... Hey, have we forgotten something? ”

Quickly crossed the hill in front, and the footsteps of several people running quickly immediately stopped, and then looked at the scene at the foot of the mountain, and slowly closed his mouth: "I see......

"We forgot...... That's it. ”

At the foot of the mountain, a complete iron train was so quietly parked on a railway that stretched into the distance, and the dozens of pirates were also talking to the leaders and a few other men in black, diligently carrying the goods into the carriages: "It's actually a train......

"Is this the route to where, Liberty City?" Duan Qing, who was lying on the top of the mountain, immediately asked in a low voice, "Why don't you know?" ”

"Since the release of the new version, all the NPCs in the free world seem to have accepted this premise overnight, and they have accepted this new mode of transportation in major cities without any sense of disobedience." Teacher Zhou Xue, who was lying on the side, replied in a low voice: "But the players can't do it!" I feel uncomfortable looking at those trains! And few people can afford to buy that expensive ticket, let alone be familiar with the nearby railway lines......"

“…… The trains that have appeared today are almost exclusively between the major cities of the Free Continent. ”

Xue Lingphantom Ice, who had not opened his mouth along the way, suddenly made a low and cold sound, but his eyes never moved from the figures of the few men in black: "Since this mode of transportation has not yet been popularized, then this route ...... It's almost certainly the way to Liberty City. ”

"But on the other side...... We don't know. ”

Looking at the door of the carriage that was slowly closing under the combined efforts of those pirates, Duan Qing's voice also became low: "Looking at the appearance of that carriage, it seems that they are going west." ”

"Oops, they seem to be running out." Tian Xingjian, who also discovered this, immediately wanted to get up: "Hurry, if you don't make a move, you won't be able to catch up!" ”

"Don't worry, do you want to die?" The frying pan immediately pressed the other party down again: "Let's see the situation first, it's a big deal to deal with only those pirates...... Belch. ”

"We seem to have been discovered."

In the crowd at the foot of the mountain, one of the black-clothed men suddenly pointed in the direction where Tian Xingjian stood up just now, and said a few words to the pirate leader in front of him, and the leader immediately pulled out his scimitar, turned around and rushed up in the direction where Duan Qing and the others were.