"How many?"

"Two." Dinen said.

"Two silver coins."

Dinen gave it to him. The man threw the coin into a pocket, tore off two pieces of paper, and asked as he wrote something on them, "Do you want to place a bet?" ”

"Bet?" Dineen repeated.

The other party raised his head and looked at him: "The first time you came to see a gladiatorial match?" ”

Naturally, Dineen wouldn't tell the other party that he was personally involved in it a month ago, but there was nothing wrong with saying that, they really hadn't sat in the audience. He shrugged, "Sort of." There's a first for everything – talk about betting. ”

"It's very simple, bet on winning or losing, the number of games is here." The man pointed to it, and Dineh looked up and saw a piece of paper full of words, "Win twice, lose or not, the upper limit of the bet is fifty silver coins." ”

Dineen raised an eyebrow. It was the first time he had heard of such a rule, which was almost indistinguishable from that of a child. Seeing the expression on his face, the conductor laughed: "It seems that you are not very satisfied with this rule?" ”

Dineh tilted his head slightly: "I just think it's too informal." I said, you can't do it yourself, do you? ”

"Of course not." The other man waved his hand, "I know what you're worried about, but it's a sieve, and your money is absolutely safe." ”

"Sift?"

Fortunately, there were not many people at this time, after all, Dinin came too early. The idle conductor simply followed his words and said, "Haven't you heard of 'Sifting' Naikri? He was a big merchant in Nanhai Town, and he opened most of the gambling games in the gladiatorial tournaments in this place. Well, this is the rule, which is much easier to play than those nobles, so those peasants and fishermen are happy to come to him. I heard that he made a lot of money on this. ”

Dineh's eyes narrowed.

"Not strange." He said, "Gladiatorial tournaments are all the rage now, and there is one every week, so who wouldn't come and see it? With so many people liking it, he definitely can't lose it. ”

"Actually, it wasn't that prevalent in the first place." The conductor waved his hand, "It's too much to run a game. In the past, only Dunhold could afford it. But Dunhold's gamble ...... You also know, that place belongs to Lieutenant General Blackmore, who would dare to meddle? So Nekri let it go, saying that he could take care of the venue arrangement, and that the nobles only had to prepare beasts and people. In this way, those aristocratic lords held competitions one after another, and he also made a lot of money from them. ”

"So the more gladiatorial tournaments are held, the better it is for him." Dineh said slowly, then lowered his voice suddenly, "... There will also be more corpses. ”

"What?"

"Nothing."

Dineen casually opened the topic and talked to the other party about something else. It wasn't until the crowd grew larger that Dineen left the busy conductor and found Albert, who was wandering around. The latter listened to him and asked, "Do you think this merchant is suspicious?" ”

"Not yet. Since he has earned money, there is nothing unreasonable. Dineen gave him a paper ticket in his hand, "Let's focus on the whereabouts of the dead first, starting with the simplest." ”

Dineen had no interest in watching the game, and bought tickets in a proper way just to disguise himself as a gladiator in case of suspicion. Once inside, he sat down in a corner, leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. At first, Albert thought he was closing his eyes, but as the match drew to a close, he realized that Dineen was still unmoved, and he realized that he might be asleep.

"How can you fall asleep in such a noisy place?" After waking up his partner, Albert was still a little incredulous. The cheers of the audience were so loud that he covered his ears repeatedly to endure it, and Dining, who had been sensitive and alert in the past, slept deeply.

"The people I've seen who are too demanding end up going home – standing, lying down, being carried by others." Dineen moved his neck, "The sooner you acclimatize, the safer you will be." ”

He waited quietly for a while, until he saw the cleaners carrying the body to the door under the auditorium, and then Dineh signaled, "Let's go." ”

At this time, the audience has not completely ended, and there are many people who want to relive the fierce scene just now, so their figure is not conspicuous. Dineen took Albert around to the position he had previously favored, and quietly monitored the managers of the venue.

They waited a long time. At first, it was nothing special, and the men slowly gathered the clutter, but there were no bodies in them. So Dineh patiently continued to wait.

It wasn't until the last spectator to rush home disappeared that several stretchers were lifted out, and the white cloth covering them was soaked with blood. They were put side by side in a wagon and then buried with straw, and after a little treatment, they were completely unremarkable.

If it weren't for the basic qualities of a watcher, Dineen would almost be able to clapping for them. If these people don't hide it, he will still have some doubts. But now such a move is suspicious enough.

The unsuspecting carriage departed at a slow pace, and it took them little effort to keep up. But Dineen pondered for a while, but still didn't catch up.

There's a chance they'll find a stronghold of the Cult of the Damned. But there is nothing you can do with just two people, and you may alarm each other. Dinen only made a note of the approximate location, intending to hand over the search to Thrall.

"What about us?"

"To Nanhai Town."

***

The town of Southsea was not a good place for Albert. It was one of the worst experiences he could remember. When he stepped on the first stone slab that belonged to the town, his face became quite bad.

Dineen didn't quite understand what had happened to him here, because Albert didn't want to mention it, and he fully respected the other party's idea. But it's not entirely out of sight – the traffickers' talk has given him basic information.

Generally speaking, it is unlikely that a paladin will get involved with someone just because of himself. On the one hand, faith gives them good control over their words, actions and emotions, and on the other hand, soldiers with orthodox military training are also taught how to use power, and they usually do not actively engage in conflict with civilians. Albert was able to fight on the spot - Dinein's feeling that the other party was a descendant of a nobleman seemed to explain all his doubts.

"I guess you've got somewhere to go." He volunteered, "Lead the way." ”

Albert was slightly stunned, glanced at him, and then walked forward without saying a word. Dineen followed quietly, not disturbing his memories.

He wasn't familiar with the town, and it was clear that Albert wasn't either. They circled the same street four times, until Dineen began to wonder if they had arrived long ago, when the paladin suddenly stopped.

Dineen followed his gaze at the shop, sure it had just been renovated. Albert apparently saw it too. He stared at the brand-new door for a long time, then lowered his head and sighed.

Dinen realized that he might have to say something at this point, so he tried to speak, "At least you helped them in another way?" ”

He could tell from the details of his body that the paladin was about to kick him, and he began to hesitate to dodge. But in the end, Albert held back, and just said sullenly, "You really don't have any talent for comforting, partner." ”

Because none of my former friends need comfort, and no amount of suffering can break their courage and fighting spirit. Dineen rolled her eyes inwardly and mourned for a fraction of a second of her failed attempt, before moving on.

"You can also write a letter to your father about this and ask him to find trouble with the culprit." He suggested.

Albert looked at him in disbelief.

"It's completely inconsistent with your style." He pointed this out directly, "'If you have something to solve by yourself, I won't go to my parents to complain at the age of fifteen', this is what you should say." ”

"That's because I didn't have parents after I was fifteen." Dineng replied coldly, successfully choking on all the rebuttals the paladin could think of, "Okay, partner, I'll just say it." You can't ask the common people to value glory and conscience, they can't eat this thing like you do, and they don't have the strength to defend it. Whether it was hush money or perjury, they got the money and improved their lives. If they feel guilty, then guilt is a reward for you. If they don't feel guilty, then the fall is your reward. But in any case, it has nothing to do with you. You and I both know that the path you have to take is very different. ”

Albert looked thoughtful, and Dinen didn't say any more. He crossed his arms and quietly waited for the other party to figure it out, and at the same time sighed in his heart that it was much easier to be reasonable than to comfort.

Finally, the paladin loosened his furrowed brows, but asked Dinen a question that surprised him.

"If a person's life is secured, then he will begin to value integrity and glory, right?"

Dineen was a little stunned, unable to figure out how he could get out of this point, which was obviously not the point he wanted to say, or even the point of the matter—but he nodded.

Albert's expression brightened.

"Then I know what to do." He smiled, "Start at the source, start with yourself." ”

Dinen stared at him carefully, then remembered the other identity of the paladin, and then understood what he wanted to do. Seeing the expression on his face, Albert smiled knowingly: "It seems that you also know." ”

Dineen realizes that Albert is waiting for his evaluation, to say something... But to say? Governing a country was too far away for him, and he never participated in it, or even deliberately avoided it. Fighting is the only thing Dinen will do when defending, he knows how to crush the enemy, and as long as he has a sword in his hand, he will not back down no matter what he faces. He also knew how to manage an army. But those policies, the economy, the system, and so much more that he couldn't think of but what happened day in and day out, he didn't know what to do. The populace is not a soldier and will not obey orders unconditionally.

"I don't know what to say because I don't understand. But it's bound to be a tough road, man. ”

"But this is the way I'm going." Albert said. His voice was brisk, and his eyes were bright and determined. At this moment, he looked like the people Dineen once knew, with extraordinary courage to perform difficult duties, and ready to accept any variables.

Whether as a friend, mentor, or partner, he couldn't stop one of those people.

"Then," Dinen sighed, asking for trouble for herself, "I'll be by your side too." You know. ”

"Yes, I know." Albert laughed.

The paladin's knowing and indulgent smile made Dineen feel uncomfortable. He looked around in frustration, regretting his recklessness. This emotion made him not react immediately when he swept to a somewhat familiar figure, and he subconsciously stared over there for two seconds before he suddenly came back to his senses. The frustration was swept away in an instant, replaced by the malicious joy of discovering the prey.

"Look, my brother," he whispered pleasantly, "the one over there is an old acquaintance to us, isn't he?" I think he'd be happy to talk to us, right? ”

Albert was slightly stunned and followed his gaze. It took him a moment to remember who the other was, and then nodded.

"Yes." He said it in a tone that was both sympathetic and gloating.