ps: Fix typos. ⊙ Topline Novel,

Captain Warburton immediately glared at Barrett and his party: "You refuse to act? ”

"It's not about refusing to act, it's just about taking the necessary rest before starting to act. We are not in a position where we are right to devote ourselves to the next battle. Barrett said, turning his gaze to the sheriff's sheriff's large number of wounded.

Captain Cassandra, who had gained support, immediately emphasized his opinion: "That's right! The soldiers needed to rest, and even the Viscounts would not want to see their men die in vain. ”

If the benefits obtained are sufficient, I am afraid that the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" does not mind the death of these men in front of him. It's just that he won't say such words directly, but vaguely instructs his subordinates to make arrangements—after all, this kind of thing can be done but can't be said.

Under the gaze of the two and the vigilantes behind him, Captain Warburton could only see his gaze turn to the side. The "loyal minion" of the "Golden Thorn Bird" Viscount knew that he was powerless to prevent this from happening, but he was not ready to bow his head and admit defeat in this matter.

As he led the remnants back to the district, Barrett noticed a strange look in the eyes of a waiter at the gate of the town office. He may have been a visible surveillance point set up by Viscount "Golden Thorn Bird" outside, or he didn't expect that the majestic security team that had been on his way this morning would look like such a wolf when he returned now.

Crooked blades, the clothes of the refugees, and the blood and bandages that accompanied the low groans. Make the team in front of you look like a deserter who has lost a battle.

More importantly, Viscount "Golden Thorn Bird" gave a speech at noon today, which let the civilians who had taken refuge in the administrative district know the purpose of the security team's entry into the slums today - to exterminate the several thieves' unions that had been acting on the heads of the civilians for many years.

But the scene in front of him seemed to tell this timid commoner that the plans and actions of the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" were not going well. Screams and whispers soon erupted in the crowd. But more often than not, looking in the direction of the slums, there was a light of fear in his eyes.

The commotion among the civilians soon attracted the attention of the attendants who watched over them. Then the news quickly spread to the ears of the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird". After the thin nobleman, who looked like he was over half a hundred years old, waved his hand and ordered the waiter to retreat. The wrinkles on his forehead became like ravines ploughed by an iron plow.

At that moment, the office door creaked open. Mr. Esmunger, who came in, quickly closed the door with a "snap-". Then he said, "Lord Viscount! Looks like our Mr. Boram has come up with a great idea! ”

After grabbing a handful of silver threads on his head, the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" almost roared, "Not a bad idea? All I saw was that he had made a mess of my plans. ”

"Nope! No! No! The other party's approach is actually very clever. War inevitably brings sacrifices, and such things cannot be completely covered up. Family members who can't find their loved ones are quickly suspicious, and then the previous qiē illusion is easily punctured like a soap bubble. Mr. Esmunger smiled, "Your situation makes it necessary for you to have as much support as possible from the poor. You should be aware that the Kristol family does not have many hole cards and needs to fight for every advantage that can be fought for. ”

In the eyes of many nobles in the Western Continent, the poor people in the territory are the private property of the people who belong to them at a glance. Since it is property. Naturally, the lords would not harm their property unnecessarily. But at the same time, they seldom take the initiative to understand their psychology - in the face of great power, these civilians fall to the ground like wheat in the field.

The righteousness that the nobles fought for before starting the war was so that the other nobles in the war could not find a reason to attack them. At the same time, it was also intended to give an account to the temple and the burghers (merchants, craftsmen, soldiers, etc.) with a certain social status.

However, in Mr. Esmunger's opinion, the current Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" needs to strive for a goal that can be achieved, even the poor people who have been abandoned by the nobles in the past.

Therefore, the original practice of reporting good news but not bad news, first deceiving and then slowly calming down the influence, at most, can ensure that these bitter haha people do not make trouble. In the midst of war, these civilians are like a bunch of numb spectators, obviously affected by the war, and pretend that nothing has anything to do with them. Lucky enough to survive the war, they don't care if the nobles above their heads are replaced, let alone who rules them.

However, the actions of the Christol family, to which Viscount "Golden Thorn Bird" belongs, are different from the wars waged by other nobles. This is not a contest of equal strength, but a counterattack by the weak against the oppression of the strong.

So even with the help of the Battle League. The Kristol family still has little chance of winning in the confrontation with the royal family. That's why Mr. Esmunger, as the envoy of the Battle League, said that he needed to fight for a force that could be fought for—even the poor and the people who had been neglected by the lords in the past. Even a victory of one percent may be worth the effort.

"You're trying to please the poor?" As for Mr. Esmunger's statement, the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" is obviously somewhat unacceptable under the influence of his inherent thoughts.

"Don't worry! Lord Viscount. Do you think I'm going to let my collaborators do anything unseemly? Mr. Esmunger smiled. Judging from the news brought back by the vigilantes, they have completed the task you assigned earlier. Now that the threat of this guy has been lifted recently, we just need to boil down the vigilante's face to the price it takes to defeat the evil forces. ”

The Viscount of the Golden Thorn Bird stared at Mr. Esmunger, still puzzled, "You don't want to win the cheap sympathy of those mud-legged people, do you?" Those guys aren't going to go into battle for me for the sake of sympathy. ”

"Nope! No! No! Mr. Esmunger waved his outstretched finger, "What you need is to stir up the fear of the poor people against the thieves' union, the hatred of the past actions of the scoundrels. At the same time, the reason for the rampant thieves' unions is directed to the royal responsibility. Next, as long as you can make their lives slightly better than before, then in the battle with the royal family in the future, Lord Viscount, you will be able to have a group of free people and cannon fodder. ”

This is a world in which a new national perception has not yet been widely recognized. The members of the nation-state owe allegiance to the nobles on high and high. Rather than "compatriots" with a common sense of identity and the system they form together. The source of identity is the cult of power. Rather than traditional history, culture, language, or newly created polities.

In order to arouse the anger and passion of the common people at the lowest level of society, it is necessary to start with the things around them. What kind of words such as national righteousness, justice and justice are meaningless to these guys who can't eat enough.

"Okay! I see, it's the actions of Tong Guò before, first of all, the mud legs show that I'm on their side, right? At the same time, by the way, remind those thieves of the relationship between the union and the royal family. I'll have the speech ready. "Golden Thorn Bird" Viscount nodded in understanding.

Mr. Esmunger looked satisfied: "Don't worry! With our help, you will be able to ignite the anger of the poor against the royal family. Get a useful weight for the final victory. ”

"I can trust Mr. Esmanger's skill. But that kid from the Boreham family is really a little uncontrollable. This kind of self-assertive behavior really doesn't take people seriously. Speaking of this, the "Golden Thorn Bird" Viscount had a slight anger on his face.

Mr. Esmunger looked at the partner in front of him with a smirk and said, "That boy from the Boreham family? Viscount, do you really think it's possible for you to control him? After all, the other party is the Boreham family! Is there anything the Kristol family can compete with? ”

"Ugh!" Mr. Esmunger's words made Viscount "Golden Thorn Bird" speechless for a moment, and he really couldn't find any way to restrain the Boreham family after thinking about it left and right.

Seeing this, Mr. Esmund took advantage of the victory and pursued: "Don't forget that the reason why these people stayed in Walter Harbor to accept employment is because of the deterrence of the Battle's Alliance. In this case, the uneasiness in the other party's heart is certainly not light, in this case. Do you think it's possible that they'll follow your baton? ”

"Damn it!" The wrinkles on the weather-covered cheeks of the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" trembled for a while before he completely regained his composure.

Mister Esmunger, who sensed that the fire was already enough, now began his own fire-fighting operation: "But you don't have to worry too much, Lord Viscount. Didn't the Boreham family do a good job of completing the mission you posted earlier! From this point of view, the deterrence of our Battelle Alliance is still enough to make the other party dare not turn his face lightly. The small gestures he is doing now are not enough to make us understand that the other party has its own will. He was clearly afraid that we would use them as cheap cannon fodder for consumption. Go on a mission that will surely die. ”

"If they were really allowed to carry out such a task, would they still want to resist!" The expression of the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" was still ugly, obviously in his opinion, if the battle situation was urgent, the priority would be to consume this kind of power that did not belong to his own lineage.

In his opinion, since he has fallen into his own net, Barrett and his party should not let themselves knead. The full set of etiquette and scenes when getting along is just to maintain their aristocratic decency.

"If you do, I think they'll kill the men you've placed around them and run away! You should know that in the current situation, they do have that kind of strength. Mr. Esmunger touched the tip of his nose, "And the forces behind them are not so easy to offend." Even if the previously promised reinforcements arrived. The mercenaries of the Battelle League will not obey your orders and attack them. ”

The Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" was obviously very dissatisfied with this situation: "Then what's the use of this group of guys coming? ”

"What's the use? I have to say that they are very useful! Had it not been for them, this morning's extermination of the Boulton Brotherhood would not have been completed. And under the raid of that boxer. The other security team is probably also unlucky. Speaking of this, Mr. Esmunger made a special point: "Lord Viscount, do not be deceived by the illusion that you are now in power. You still have the ability to control a qiē. The strong should also be treated with corresponding respect. ”

As the so-called sub-lineage of the mountain wolf is rampant, after suddenly gaining power that he did not have in the past, no matter who he is, there will be a certain amount of psychological expansion. Historically, the leaders of the peasant armies who had gained power often became corrupt and degenerate within a short period of time.

Not to mention the sudden outburst after so many years of suffering. It even made the original normal mentality of the "Golden Thorn Bird" Viscount become out of control - the environment has changed, but his own mentality has not kept up.

If it weren't for Barrett and Mr. Esmunger, who each gave Viscount "Golden Thorn" a slap in the face at this time. The Kristol family's road to revival may be about to die halfway.

What happened next was exactly what Barrett had predicted. Viscount "Golden Thorn Bird" began to express his condolences to the returning security guards one by one. At the same time, he promised to heal the injured and give generous pensions to the families who died in the line of duty.

As for the players, the lord who knew his mistakes before, but was not able to get through the way, took a blind attitude. Obviously, Barrett and his entourage were standing in front of him, and Viscount Ren of the "Golden Thorn Bird" was able to pretend not to see it.

Barrett, who understood the psychology of the other party, bowed as usual, and then left the team with his teammates and went to the Temple of the Lord of Justice to see the halfling who was still lying on the bed.

However, it was clear that the crystal dragon's reasoning was not wrong, and the skilled service wanderers in the team did not seem to show signs of waking up early. And the players who have been busy for most of the day are all in shape, sitting or lying down, and they are beginning to recover.

"This aboriginal gang is really too strong! I really don't know how they feed so many thugs. "Claudia lying on top of her sleeping bag with Jiro's legs crossed. Auditore was deeply impressed by the previous battle.

The cat boy lying in Rielly's arms danced and said, "Didn't Captain Baldeck say that before. Are these thieves' guilds the stewards of order in the slums of Port Walter? Since there is such a big power, the income will not be less, right? ”

"Impossible! We've seen what the ghetto looks like. Although most of our buildings have been reduced to ruins, judging by the materials of the ruins and the remnants of the buildings. With the situation in the slums, it was a bit of a struggle to feed the Burton Brotherhood. Not to mention another thieves' union. "Claudia. Auditore sniffled and directly dismissed Laru's point. This eldest lady's educational experience makes her still more sensitive to money.

"Miss Auditore, I think you may be mistaken. Don't look at the thieves' unions in the slums. But their raids aren't just slums! Barrett snapped his fingers, "Take the Burton Brotherhood!" Although their industry is built in the slums, it is stipulated that only the people of the slums can come and consume ......"

Whether it's a red light district, a bar or a casino. They don't want to rely on the poor people in the slums. Although the quality of construction services is very different from that of similar buildings in the docklands, and it is more chaotic. But you get what you pay for. The level of consumption in these trades in the slums is also much lower than in the docks.

For merchants, captains, and aristocrats, who were more concerned about their personal safety, it was natural to choose the relatively expensive places of consumption in the docklands. But for the seafarers, the dock workers, and the shopkeepers, the slum facilities allow them to save a lot of shiny coins while venting.

This low-end entertainment venue is very important for people who have every bit of hard money. At the same time, that group was also the main source of income for the Burton Brotherhood. Otherwise, just by relying on those guys in the slums, so many thieves would not have starved to death a long time ago. How can he still have the ability to complete the tasks ordered by the royal family?

After hearing this, the cat boy immediately became indignant: "Those sailors are really, why should they patronize the property of the Thieves' Guild." Isn't that aiding and abetting? ”

"For those sailors who have been adrift at sea for a long time, the most important thing is to go ashore and find a place to have fun. Who still cares about their own happiness, who is behind it? Barrett paused, "What if he knew?" Those seafarers are not residents of Walter Harbor, so how much does a few days of docking overlap with the thieves' guild? Most people are selfish, and since it's none of their business, they naturally hang high. ”

Just as Barrett was saying this, this voice came from the door of the stone chamber: "Sir inside, I have reservations about your last sentence. Although there are many selfish people. But I think most people still have compassion and a sense of justice. ”

"Oh! Do you have any objections, sir, outside? Turning his head to look at the Barrett exit of the door, he asked.

Soon a voice came from outside the door: "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, sir. But even so, I still disagree with your previous statement. ”

"In that case, would you like to come in and talk about your opinion?" Barrett asked with interest.

"If it's your invitation." With that, the door was pushed open. Appearing in front of the players is a half-grown boy with red lips and white teeth. The big eyes that were as deep as the sea attracted the attention of the women in the team.

In Barrett's opinion, if he didn't estimate his identity, several of his companions would definitely step forward and use their fingers to ravage the expired Zhengtai in front of him.

"This little gentleman, now let me tell you that the reality and darkness of this world ......" Barrett, who had moved his muscles, made a look of preparing to do a big job.

His action fell to Claudia. Auditore and the others are like a depraved devil, constantly waving the contract in their hands to tempt the pure young man in front of them.

And just as Barrett and his entourage began to flirt with the expired Zhengtai, on the square of the administrative district, Viscount "Golden Thorn Bird" began his second speech today: "Residents of Port Walter! Today is a sad day and a day to remember. In order to dispel the dark cloud of evil that has hung over Walter Harbour for many years, our brave vigilantes have paid a very heavy price. On behalf of all the staff at the Walter Town Office, I mourn the loss of six young men who have passed away forever. ”

The heavy topic and the magic of the sad melody made the homeless poor people in the square begin to immerse themselves in the sad atmosphere created by Viscount "Golden Thorn" and Mr. Esmonk.

The oppressive aura seemed to affect even the balcony that had moved westward. The original dim sunlight was so pale at this time. It's like mourning the vigilantes who died trying to uproot the stronghold of the Thieves' Guild in the ghetto.

Just when the people below were silent with mournful faces, the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird" suddenly waved his right hand vigorously: "But the sacrifices they have made are worth it." The Walter Thieves' Guild, which is entrenched under the "McLang Tavern", has been uprooted. The estate of the Burton Brotherhood on the west side of the ghetto was also breached by the efforts of the vigilantes......"

Rather than smuggling alliances or thieves in the traditional sense, trade unions and fraternities have a greater impact on the daily lives of civilians. The Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird", who had someone catching a knife, immediately used these two victories as a breakthrough.

Sure enough, after hearing the news, most of the people in the square showed joyful expressions on their faces. Obviously, in the old days, those criminal gangs could have done them a lot of harm.

But among others, there were stiff expressions on their faces or a hint of horror in their eyes. The appearance of these alternative personnel also fell into the eyes of the guards specially arranged by the Viscount of the "Golden Thorn Bird".

Some of them may be hidden spies planted by the Etasia royal family, some are informants of the two thieves' unions, or union members who escaped the death of the "Golden Thorn Bird" Viscount list, and some are second-rate people who usually have some relationship with the thieves' union and are pretending to be powerful.

The screening of these personnel will be carried out secretly after the presentation. Obviously, until now, the Viscount of "Golden Thorn Bird" will never let go of any unstable factors in the territory. It was a decision made by him and Mr. Esmunger to unite the people before the war to deal with the impending royal action. (To be continued......)