“…… Oh, are you the new guy over there? ”

"Ah, that's right, my name is Lin Yuan Shushui, and I am a member of the Imperial Investigation Team, because there are some things to deal with, so I came late for a while."

"Something to deal with? You're referring to you running around Fars Fort in the name of investigation? Or is it a matter of sending uninvited guests back with their own hands? ”

"It seems that you have investigated our whereabouts very clearly, and you are worthy of Yang Fatzi, who is in charge of the intelligence department of the principality...... No, what about Minister Yang, what's the matter, have you gained a few taels of meat recently? ”

Quietly walked in front of the fat man who was feasting at the table, and the conversation between Duan Qing and the fat man began in such a situation, although the two people still looked calm, and even the actions of the dining party were not changed, but the content and tone of the conversation were full of gunpowder. Before coming to this side of the hall, Duan Qing had also discussed with Xue Ling Phantom Ice about the candidates who came to test for a while, and although the result of the discussion finally turned into an almost order-like request, the reasons given by Snow Spirit Phantom Ice and the other members of the Qing Ling Adventure Group were still very consistent and very convincing.

The Minister of Intelligence of the Principality in front of him, Lux Yang, who behaved as harmless as a pig, there should be no one present who knew him better than Duan Qing.

"I saw the white-haired swordsman lady talking to Princess Rena there just now, why did it take so little time to change to you?"

"Probably because I'm a bully, of course...... In front of you, it's probably the same for whoever you replace. ”

"Yes, I have investigated every member of your party, and I know everything about that dangerous woman, including the crimes she committed on the Free Continent, the viciousness and brutality she showed in the Battle of Sky City, and how she escaped into your empire for no apparent reason...... But you? Which green onion are you? Why is it that you have never appeared in my intelligence list? ”

"I don't know if I should be glad or sad, because many of the nobles of the empire probably want to figure this out as well."

Touching his nose to hide his expression, Duan Qing's gaze was roaming back and forth on the familiar fat man in front of him: "You don't want me to introduce myself to you now, do you?" ”

"If you can introduce it yourself, I won't stop you."

Still stuffing a large amount of food into his mouth, Lux's small eyes that were squeezed to the point of indecipherability showed a sharp feeling: "Anyway, even if you and your master say anything, I won't believe it." ”

“…… Have we Imperial people become so unbearable in your minds? So Duan Qing had to let out a few wry smiles: "I don't even have the least trust between people?" ”

"There is still trust between people, but only if the object is a 'person'." Chewing vigorously on the food in his mouth, the fat man tilted his gaze as if he was looking at an animal about to be slaughtered: "For you, any rules and regulations that are used to set people are probably not applicable. ”

“…… I don't understand. ”

Putting away his desire to continue the-for-tat, Duan Qing, who forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, asked in a low voice, "Why is all this?" Why is it being so targeted at us? ”

"Don't ask why, in a common phrase among you adventurers - to ask is the enemy." The fat man slowly withdrew his gaze that was staring at Duan Qing: "Since it is an enemy, then naturally there is nothing to be polite about, right?" ”

Naturally, there's nothing polite about dealing with enemies - this is a law that players have always believed in in their hearts, and countless vicious tricks and tragic events that have occurred in the history of virtual games in the past have also happened again and again at the prompting of this concept that players believe in. This antagonism of extreme hatred of the enemy is naturally condemned by most ordinary players, but it has never died out in a virtual world full of freedom and individuality, and the reason for revenge or happiness is no longer the main reason why such ideas are rampant in the world, but because only by doing everything can you quickly and effectively defeat enemies stronger than yourself.

Just like between the empire and the principalities now.

"First of all, my companions and I still don't know what's going on."

His hands slowly pressed down on the table in front of him, ignoring Duan Qing, who was staring at him, and then said in a low voice: "But what I want you to understand is that we came here because we sincerely wanted to solve the problem, and Her Royal Highness Princess Rena, as well as the other imperial nobles who accompanied him, all had the same thoughts in their hearts. ”

"If you don't believe us, you should at least give us a chance to prove it." Speaking of this, he stroked his chest, as if he was saluting Lux Young with the standard aristocratic etiquette of the Empire: "All contradictions and disputes start from misunderstandings, if we don't even give the opportunity to communicate, then there is absolutely no possibility of clarifying the contradictions between us, right?" ”

"Even though I think you're talking nonsense, it's the most plausible thing I've heard in the last few days." The fat man's eating action paused slightly: "But this does not mean that I will agree, and I and the principality behind me will not let you in because of this." ”

"Because we've given you so many opportunities." He slashed the knife and fork in his hand into the plate in front of him, making a crisp sound of chopping through the plate and the table: "And you, a country of great arrogance, are consuming our kindness again and again, trampling on our dignity!" ”

"Do you think we're going to be stupid forever?"

He narrowed his small eyes and declared loudly to Duan Qing on the other side, and then waved them back again in the sight of the principality guards around the hall who wanted to come over: "Okay, enough nonsense has been said. ”

"Are there any other topics? If you don't have one, please go back. He looked at the food in front of him with a look of disgust, then folded his arms and quietly closed his eyes: "I don't have anything else I want to talk about." ”

“…… All right. Looking at the other party's fat posture a few thousand miles away helplessly, Duan Qing finally gave up the idea of continuing to inquire about the news: "Then if there is still a chance-"

"Your Excellency."

A vague voice then came from the side door of the hall in front of Duan Qing, accompanied by a figure of a player with a big sword walking slowly: "We're back." ”

“…… How's the news going? ”

"Lord Hui, it's exactly what you think."

As if confirming something, the big sword player set his eyes on Duan Qing in front of him: "They are the main messengers of this farce. ”

"Hey, wait." So Duan Qing, who just wanted to leave, hurriedly pressed his hands back to the table: "Don't spew blood in front of me, when did we become the main messengers of a trick again?" ”

"He's talking about the battle that just took place near the east gate of the fortress." Yang Fatzi replied with one eye open and one eye closed: "Why, with evidence and witnesses, are you still unwilling to admit that you caused this incident?" ”

"Well...... Aha. Scratching the back of his head, Duan Qing's expression gradually became embarrassed: "That battle is indeed related to us, but we are also passive victims, someone has launched an attack on us, do you want us to wait and kill?" ”

"Someone attacked you?" The fat man's expression became unkind: "Who is the attacker?" Are you going to name him? ”

“…… Looking at your expression, it seems that you have already decided that I will definitely say the principality. As if he understood the meaning of the other party's unkind eyes, Duan Qing sighed and shook his head: "Is our empire so despicable?" ”

"That's right, that's how your empire has always been." Nodding to the player next to him, Lux Young put on a natural look: "This kind of thing has happened countless times in the past, and your empire has successfully used it as a reason and excuse to come and invade our principality, since our countless rebellions and explanations are meaningless...... Don't expect us to be weak again. ”

"We will never back down, we will never compromise."

He gestured to the great sword player beside him, and then said these words word by word, and the great sword player named Ah Qiang then nodded in agreement, and at the same time waved his hand at Duan Qing and said, "Get out." ”

I didn't expect this guy to climb to such a high place by now.

Sighing involuntarily in his heart, Duan Qing, who stood up, then walked back slowly in the direction where he came, and his deflated expression then attracted the attention of several people who belonged to the empire, and at the same time showed a reasonable expression: "It seems that it still can't work." ”

"Not even Her Royal Highness Rena and Count Diplomar, how can a group of adventurers succeed?"

"That's why I opposed His Highness's decision to use Adventurers from the beginning, and I don't know why His Highness trusted them so much......"

"Shhh......h

"Sprayed again?"

The voice full of laughter then interrupted the whispers that came quietly, and at the same time interrupted Duan Qing's chaotic thoughts full of sorrow, he looked at the smiling faces of the Snow Spirit Phantom Ice that appeared in front of him and the other players who appeared not far behind her, and scratched his cheeks a little helplessly: "Ah, that's right, you shrunken turtles, you were ready to see my joke from the beginning, right?" ”

"No, we just think that this negotiation will fail 200 percent." Xue Lingphantom Bing tilted his head and looked in the direction of the principality behind the other party: "I didn't expect you to retreat so quickly." ”

"No way, they still have players to help." Pointing to the figure of the great sword player who was still talking to Lux, Duan Qing shrugged his shoulder: "If I don't leave quickly, we may have to take the blame for this morning's battle again." ”

"What? They want to blame us? Xue Lingphantom Bing raised his eyebrows: "Can't he see that our people are so badly injured?" Are they still not human anymore? ”

"If you don't treat us as human beings, these questions don't make sense." Duan Qing sighed and sat on the edge of his own wine table: "I have only figured out one thing - the trust between the principality and the empire has indeed been lowered to the lowest point in history. ”

“…… Why? ”

"I also want to know why."

Faced with the questions projected by several people in unison, Duan Qing's head also became more depressed: "In the past, when we were in the principality, we also racked our brains to resist the invasion of the empire, and even in the end, we tried our best to implement the strategy of focusing on adventurers, and built adventurers into the main force of the principality to resist the empire. ”

"This approach seems to be very successful so far, and the principality no longer seems to be afraid of the Empire." He sighed softly: "It's a pity that we are now standing on the opposite side of this spiritual defense line, which is really not happy at all." ”

"It's always gratifying to see that your hard work has been successful." Understanding the other party's complicated mood at this time, Xue Lingphantom Ice quietly sighed: "Unlike me, even the team didn't stay in the end. ”

"Don't you still have us?" After a slight silence for a moment, Duan Qing then laughed again: "And me." ”

"You?" Xue Lingphantom Ice squinted at the other party: "Can you withstand the power of the entire guild?" Do you have the mood and guts to go against your former country? ”

"Well...... this"

As if he had finally been forced to the end of the answer by the other party, Duan Qing, who had chuckled twice, then slowly stood up, and then walked to the table in front of Her Royal Highness the eldest princess Rena, in front of the eyes of everyone who had gathered: "At least be responsible for your past." ”

“…… Charge? What are you talking about? ”

"Nothing."

Putting on his polite posture, Duan Qing regained his usual calm face: "I just wanted to tell you our reply - we agreed to the commission you made." ”

"So you're willing to accept this responsibility?" With an expected expression on her face, Rena, who twisted her fingers, smiled softly: "What about the conditions?" I know you adventurers like to negotiate terms first, and we've got a big enough reward in place—"

"No, we don't need to be paid."

Shaking his head, Duan Qing then turned around and walked back in the direction where his team was: "You only need to pay attention to one thing. ”

"Please be prepared in advance—the results of our investigation may not really satisfy you and the Empire."