"Is there no other choice?" Claymatis. Bot said this, his entire eyebrows were twisted together.

Priestess Catherina chuckled, "I can't say that there is nothing!" However, in the absence of support from both, their difficulty increases exponentially. Judging by your current strength, they are much more difficult than sea escort work. ”

"Priestess Catherina, can you give us an example?" Barrett then asked.

"Now that I've taken your money, I'm going to make sure I'm doing my job to your satisfaction. This is the duty of a priest of the Goddess of Wealth and Commerce. Priest Catherina said as she picked up one of the scrolls: "Take Mission Number 221 for example!" That mission had to go to the independent city of Saxony in the south. And as a mission to help the Chamber of Commerce fight its competitors, do you think it can be done without loiterers? ”

"Business competition in an urban context? And it's a place like Saxony, which is a big problem. Barrett immediately came up with such an answer.

The mission was carried out in a large city, so force could not solve everything. Using a spell that causes damage in public can have serious consequences - and it's good to be glad that a mage isn't there.

Different cities in the Western Continent have different rules of the game, and their changes are closely related to the local political system, geographical environment and customs. Cities in the kingdom of Nohan, for example, have relatively few restrictions in this regard - because the rulers trust their violent apparatus to be able to cope with the vast majority of emergencies.

The same Repulse City is also due to their successive victories against external forces over the years. A considerable degree of self-confidence has been accumulated. So the policies and spells are open and free for the church. But Saxony, which is also an independent city, is a different story. Trying to survive in the gap between the kingdom of Norhan and the kingdom of Cruze, it is inevitable to protect itself with layers of shells.

In Saxony, except for the nobility. Persons of other statuses are not allowed to openly carry weapons or wear armour on the streets (unless they receive special privileges). Anyone caught hiding a weapon or wearing armor under their clothing will be arrested. The only exception here is thick cloth armor, as many civilians are indistinguishable from thick cloth armor. And it's easy to hide inside a loose coat, and because it's so hard to contain, the local government directly rules that allow thick cloth armor to be worn inside the city.

At the same time, the druids and rangers were allowed to take dogs, camels, and horses to most places outside the noble quarters, but the rest of the beasts had to stay outside the city. No living thing can fly over a city without special permission – with the exception of low-altitude flights that do not exceed the height of buildings.

Also, as elsewhere, there are a lot of restrictions on casting spells in public. Using spells that can be used to commit crimes can lead to all sorts of trouble. For example, if you use invisibility in a commercial area, it will be considered a crime to steal or not. In addition, unauthorized detection of others can be problematic. Confusion is absolutely prohibited.

Soon Claymatis. Bot also chimed in: "It will be said that the only ones who are less restrictive in the local area are me and Barrett." ”

In that city, there was a clear distinction between the upper class and the poor. Those 'nobles' were allowed to carry weapons into the streets, and civilians and guards would be in awe of them. When caught in the case, he is allowed to defend himself in court. Commoners, on the other hand, were often sentenced without the need for a public trial—unless a nobleman was willing to defend them.

The upper class included knighted nobles, hereditary nobles or concubines, knights, clergy, or guild leaders. The first four are all considered nobles, but only members with titles are truly noble. While guild leaders do not receive the privileges of nobility, those who have the ability to become guild leaders often have the status of the first four.

Barrett could be regarded as a side branch of the hereditary aristocracy, as long as he carried his proof, and the nobility of Nohan was still very popular in Saxony. And Clematis. Bot was an undeniable priest.

Among the officially recognized churches in Saxony. A full-fledged cultist with at least 1 Divine Spellcaster level (not necessarily a priest. It can also make paladins and even druids) can be made priests. Priests, although not true nobles, can be treated as if they were nobles. However, official believers who do not have the rank of divine arts cannot be ordained as clerics, nor can they receive nobility.

"I think you understand the importance of stealth in that environment." Speaking of this, Priest Catherina nodded with great satisfaction, "And in terms of commercial competition, although there is also the practice of stabbing knives in the back. But this simple and brutal approach rarely leads to ultimate victory. And the other party didn't spend a lot of money to invite you there to be a bodyguard, after all, there is not such a big risk in the city. ”

"Helping the other side win a business business? Stealing competitors' secrets, spreading rumors, and disrupting their normal work are all things that a loiterer can do. Barrett nodded. It's really not possible for us to accomplish a task like this right now. But are the rest of the missions of this type? ”

"Don't forget that we are the church of the 'Goddess of Wealth and Commerce' here, and all our tasks are more or less related to business." Priest Catherina lowered the scroll in her hand. "Just like the search for horse thieves before, it is also to ensure the smooth flow of trade routes."

"Okay! I think we need to discuss this kind of thing. Barrett immediately turned his gaze to Clematis. Bote, who was now pursing his lips and looking very hesitant.

Then the players started a discussion meeting before, but fortunately, there was no special controversy among the players, but the big guys seemed a little hesitant about whether to take on a certain task. And in the end, after a show of hands, he still took over the escort work of drifting at sea.

After receiving an affirmative reply, Priest Catherina smiled and said, "In that case, ask this parishioner to use his emblem to brand under the quest scroll!" ”

And wait until Clematis. After Bot pasted his emblem on the scroll, a seal that belonged to her naturally appeared. Immediately after that, the reel was automatically divided into three. Priestess Catherina handed the players a copy: "Take this scroll to the port tomorrow." The Yorkshire Mariner, which stopped there, departed about three days later. You can meet with your employer beforehand. ”

The players who received the task began to make a large purchase before the operation, and since it was not enough, they naturally didn't need to worry too much about the supplies consumed by the daily consumption of the team. However, in order to prevent accidents, Barrett still went to the alchemy shop to buy a 2-point water purification sponge.

This special alchemical item is capable of purifying water. Turns contaminated turbid liquids into drinkable water - this purification is just as effective as seawater, providing players with fresh water to drink when needed. While Clematis. Bot has the art of making water, but using divine magic to make fresh water is a bit extravagant, even at sea.

Once again, in the port of Morbihan, the prosperity here does not seem to threaten the fish-men at all. Eight rows of stone piers are anchored by nine three-masted galleons and nearly thirty brigs. Although it is not crowded but it is also a little congested, the normal entry and exit of merchant ships is quite smooth.

A crane with a stone bottom and wooden handle on the pier is lifting a huge net bag of straw from a three-masted sailing ship. The workers who control the crane struggle to turn the winch. so that they can land smoothly on the horse's head. From the planks where the ship was connected to the dock, barrel after barrel was rolled down by the crew and then stopped by the dock workers with crowbars.

At the same time, the surveyor was holding a tape measure to measure the size of the ship's hull occupying the dock. The tax collector takes the tax collector to count the unloaded goods. Workers push or carry goods to temporary warehouses on the dockside or to horse-drawn wagons in the harbor. Even the spring sun isn't scorching, and the sea breeze can't stop people who aren't in the shadows from sweating.

In the murky air, mixed with the smell of sweat and the smell of various cargoes, the players, with the help of the dockers, quickly found their target, the Yorkshire Mariner. The first look at it. A feeling of roundness entered the minds of the players.

It was a ship based on a type of galleys in the city-states of the Northlands - a type of round boat with sails as the main power was called "Ferrut". Its shape is characterized by its shortness, width, and sturdy structure. At the same time, the cargo capacity under the same tonnage is satisfactory. But it also brings the disadvantages of deep draft, high tail and low head, slow movement, and clumsy turning. As for the serious shortage of side freeboard, whether this design is not conducive to gang warfare is good or bad -- this can reduce the workload when loading and unloading cargo.

"I finally know that the caravan needs to hire additional guards. If the ship were targeted, it would be impossible to get rid of the attackers. Barrett said, touching his chin.

However, the two ladies behind him immediately protested: "Hurry up and solve the problem, the air here is really bad." ”

Armed with a copy of the documents they had obtained from Priest Catherina, the players were soon received by the captain of the 'Yorkshire Mariner'. The large, bronzed-skinned man had only one or two spots on his face that hadn't been fully shaved. Even the head is close to a smooth inch.

'This captain is really different. The thought immediately crossed Barrett's mind.

As if he had seen through Barrett's mental activity, the man in front of him asked directly: "Are you guys muttering about my image in your stomach?" Don't rush to deny it yet. I've seen a lot of this kind of thing, and I'm not bad for a few of you. By the way, unlike the captains who can show the difference between themselves and the sailors, the stick guys on the Yorkshire Mariner were all pulled out of my hometown, and there is no need for such means. ”

Hearing this, Barrett immediately became a little conflicted in his heart. From the words of this captain, it can be known that the crew of the 'Yorkshire Mariner' is very cohesive. The situation can be said to be both good and bad, and the good thing is that most of the time they are able to serve as an effective combat force. But if there is any contradiction with the players, you will definitely be eaten to death by the other party at sea.

"Hello Mr. Captain. We are the escorts arranged by the Goddess of Wealth and Commerce Church to assist this time. Barrett said as he handed the attachment into the other's hands.

The stout man looked at the document handed over by Barrett: "That's right! Ladies and gentlemen, pray! Luck is much more important than the sword in your hand on the sea. Hopefully, there's no place for you on the rest of the journey. Those damn fish-men, I don't know why they came north. ”

Three days later, HMS Yorkshire Mariner lifted anchor on time. The sailors were busy like thieves, rushing up the mast beams, pouring buckets of salty sea water with white sails and cables, and making strong sailors' knots. This is like those noble ladies who are covered in silk, and only after getting wet can they show the two lumps of fat on their chests, drawing a heavy and full arc on the white cloth.

There were also sailors who climbed up the rope ladder to the mainmast and quickly untied the tightly tied canvas according to the captain's orders, and the heavy and strong canvas quickly stretched out under the sea breeze. The sailors, on the other hand, quickly climbed into the dragnet hammocks, grabbed the ends of the drooping sail feet, tied them tightly with rough hemp rope, and fastened them to the side holes of the boat by means of pulley rigging.

At about the same time, the untied rear shoub was slowly pulled up the jirders by means of rigging pulleys, and then fastened to the lower girders with a gripper. Sail handling equipment has always been a source of pride for Cadwallad. It allows the crew of the Yorkshire Mariner to adjust the sails without having to climb the mast in most cases, saving a lot of time. But when it comes to setting sail, heavy work is inevitable.

As the right sails are deployed, the sea breeze blows in from the southeast, blowing a wonderful arc of the thick canvas. Soon, the wind drove the Yorkshire Mariner, a giant with a mass of hundreds of metric tons, to break through the sea and glide slowly in a northwesterly direction, and the speed gradually increased.

This time, players were finally able to watch the moment the ship departed from port. Suddenly, a wave poured in, wetting Barrett's freshly washed clothes. The gale, like a naughty child, crashed the waves against the deck, sending droplets of salty water flying through the air, inadvertently wetting his curly black hair. He licked the astringency at the corner of his mouth, it was the saltiness of the seawater, but unfortunately, there was no sticky feeling of blood. (To be continued.) )

PS: Modify the wording. Thanks to the "game bug" for the big monthly pass.